Town of Gause Historical Marker, Gause, Milam, TX

The Town of Gause

US 79

Gause, TX

William J. Gause (1829-1914), born in Alabama, moved to

Texas in 1849, to the Brazos region in 1856, and to

this locality in 1872. Buying lumber in Montgomery, he

gave his friend Dan Fowler half in return for hauling

it here. The two built the first homes in this

settlement. In 1873, Gause gave right of way and 100

acres of land to the International & Great Northern

Railroad, and the town was platted. Gause Post Office

opened in 1874, with James S. Reynolds as postmaster.

The I. G. N. freighted out great quantities of cotton,

and the town thrived. Cotton gins, stores, blacksmith

shops, a lumber yard, a bank, hotels, livery stables, a

newspaper and other businesses were established.

Besides W. J. Gause, civic leaders included Dr. J. E.

Brown, Richard Cox, Dr. James dollar, Lafayette Ely,

Bill Faubian, Dan Fowler, J. C. Lister, C. C. Moore,

Dr. John Porter, Frank Thomas, and T. L. Watts.

Churches were organized and a Masonic Lodge chartered.

The county's first independent school was established

in Gause. Good highways, mechanized farming, and

decline of railroading halted commerce in the town of

Gause. It survives, however, as a residential site

chosen by descendants of the pioneers and by commuters

of industrial plants and businesses in this vicinity.

Erected 1974

Historical Marker located in park &

ride lot on Highway 79