George F. Horton Home
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
404 Hanover, Edna
 

George F. Horton Home

Built 1876 in Old Texana by Confederate veteran, businessman, postmaster, George F. Horton. Dismantled and moved to Edna in 1882. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1965.
 

Photo courtesy of G. W. Franzen
 

Courtesy of Texas Historical Commission and The Portal to Texas History
 

Courtesy of Texas Historical Commission and The Portal to Texas History
 

Courtesy of Texas Historical Commission and The Portal to Texas History
 

Courtesy of Texas Historical Commission and The Portal to Texas History
 

George F. Horton Home

This house was built in Texana, Texas in late 1875 by George Frederick Horton. He was a native of Indiana, where he was born on December 28, 1840, the son of John E. and Elizabeth Baskins Horton.

In 1849, the Horton family members in Indiana were caught up in the gold rush in California. They traveled down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, and planned to take the southern route through Texas to the Pacific. Mrs. John Horton fell victim to cholera and, although she survived, the family lost enthusiasm for the western journey and settled in South Texas. They were instrumental in interesting other Indiana families, notably the Brackenridges, to come south.

At the beginning of the War Between the States, George F. Horton enlisted in the Confederate Army and served the entire period of the war with courage and distinction. He was in Company K, Duff's Regiment. After the war, he entered the mercantile business in Texana. He was postmaster in Texana, and later in Edna, for over ten years.

Mrs. John Horton and Miss Florence Horton, who had been residents of Indianola, Texas, moved to Texana after the hurricane of September 16, 1875 and lived in the cottage with Mr. Horton. In 1880, George F. Horton married Miss Albertina Kaapke, whose family also had moved to Texana from Indianola after the storm.

When Edna was established in 1882, Mr. Horton had the house moved from Texana to the new town and placed on the lot at the southeast corner of Brackenridge and Hanover Streets.  It was completely dismantled in Texana and put together again on its present site. When the house was rebuilt in Edna, the area was open prairie. The large trees that now stand on the block were all seedlings when planted by the Horton family.

Four children were born in the house. The eldest was George, Jr., who became city engineer in Houston and later was one of the owners of Horton & Horton building material firm.

The second child was Bertha Horton. She was valedictorian at Sam Houston Normal, did special work in the University of Texas, and taught English in the Edna High School for many years.

Charles K. Horton was also a graduate engineer, served in World War I as an engineer in France, and later was prominent in the construction industry in South Texas.

EBA Horton, the fourth child, taught school for several years and married Dr. J. C. Dobbs of Cuero. The only surviving member of her generation, Mrs. Dobbs now resides in Aurora, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.

The last family member to occupy the structure was Miss Bertha Kaapke, who died July 2, 1949 at the age of 92. She was a native of Indianola, Texas and was Mrs. George F. Horton, Sr.'s sister.