Josserand, Texas
History
Josserand was founded in 1882 by Peter and Frank Josserand, who established a sawmill in the community. They acquired 60,000 acres (24,000 ha) of virgin forest for lumber between 1880 and 1900, causing the community to rapidly grow. In 1887, a post office opened in the community, and by 1892 Josserand had 550 residents as well as two churches and a store. When Peter Josserand died in 1905, this sparked the community's decline. In 1909, the sawmill ceased operations; the post office closed in 1948. A few scattered houses remained in the early 1990s and the population was reported as 29 in 2000.
Geography
Josserand is located near U.S. Route 287, 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of Groveton in south-central Trinity County.
Education
Josserand had schools for Black and White students in 1892. The schools were consolidated with Groveton's schools in the 1930s.
Notable people
- Mildred Hughes, mother of Army veteran Lloyd Herbert Hughes, was born in Josserand.
- James Marion West Sr., businessman, married schoolteacher Jessie Gertrude and lived in Trinity County.
References
- ^ "Josserand". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Josserand, TX". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
- ^ Prime, John Andrew (September 7, 2010). "State Medal of Honor recipients, heroes due honors". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. Archived from the original on September 8, 2010.
- ^ Whatley Clarke, M. (1952). Jim West of Houston, The Cattleman, December, 1952, pp. 74, 76, 78, & 80.