Yorktown Bicentennial Chapter
Yorktown, DeWitt County, Texas
Organized: 1981
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Yorktown, Texas
In 1871, Yorktown became
the first incorporated city in DeWitt County. It was founded by
Capt. John York and Charles Eckhardt.
Captain York was born in Kentucky, and came to Austin County in 1821. He was in command of a group of citizens who defeated General Cos in 1835 at the battle of Bexar. For his military services, York received many acres of land in the Coleto Creek area. In 1846, he founded the town of Yorktown.
Charles Eckhardt, the
other founder, came from Germany in 1832 and started a business in
Indianola. He participated in the Texas War of Independence, where
he met Captain York. Mr. Eckhardt, who owned a mercantile business,
contracted with John A. King to survey a road from Indianola
through Yorktown to New Braunfels. This was later known as Old
Indianola Trail.
After the proposed town
was surveyed in early 1848, the founders offered free 10-acre plots
and the lot of choice to the first 10 families who settled the town
site. German, Bohemian and Polish families soon changed this
wilderness into one of the most prosperous sections of the entire
state. After the town was incorporated, the railway constructed
their first line into this territory.
Yorktown is still a
vibrant city with active community organizations, businesses,
restaurants and historic places to visit.
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