John Richard Thomas (1820-63) of Alabama came to Texas in 1854. Developing a 1060-acre plantation, he built wharves here on the Trinity for shipping his cotton, corn, molasses, and other goods. Thomas' Landing was a regular port of call, giving riverboats considerable business. The Civil War (1861-65) and Thomas' death brought adversity to his people. After 1872, when a railroad was built into Walker County, river shipping ceased. The landing, the plantation "big house" and other buildings once stood near the site now retaining the cemetery.