Soldier and politician Henderson Yoakum (1810-1856) arrived in Texas in oct. 1845 from Tennessee. In Dec. 1847, he purchased 640 acres from J.H. Shepherd seven miles east of Huntsville. At this site Yoakum built a center-hall country home from hand-hewn logs and mill-sawn framing and moved from Huntsville. He divided his time between practicing law, teaching at Austin College, and researching and writing. It was here that he wrote a comprehensive two volume history of Texas, published in 1855 and still significant among historical writings. In 1876, the Texas legislature created and named Yoakum county in his honor. A Texas centennial historical marker was placed at the site of his home in shepherd’s valley in 1936.