85R19599 KSM-D
By: Dean H.R. No. 1155
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Upshur County are gathering in
Austin on March 28, 2017, for Upshur County Day at the State
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, This wooded, rolling region of East Texas was
inhabited at the dawn of recorded history by the Caddo people;
during the early 19th century the Cherokee passed through the area
on the Cherokee Trace, and the first known Anglo inhabitant, Isaac
Moody, settled near West Mountain in 1836; and
WHEREAS, The First Texas Legislature established Upshur
County on April 27, 1846; the county was named after Abel P. Upshur,
secretary of state under President John Tyler, and Gilmer was
established as the county seat in 1848; and
WHEREAS, Corn, cotton, and cattle were the foundations of the
county's economy, while the region's virgin forest made it an
important center for the lumber industry; the arrival of the
railroad in the 1870s linked the area to national markets and drew
in more residents; and
WHEREAS, Today, Upshur County is a leading producer of
poultry and dairy products; the reseeding of the forests between
the end of World War II and the 1980s has helped to maintain the
county's primacy as a lumber producer, and manufacturing and oil
and gas have also become important industries; and
WHEREAS, Gilmer is the site of the East Texas Yamboree, one of
the oldest continuing festivals in East Texas; first held in 1935,
this celebration of the sweet potato draws 100,000 visitors every
October with a parade, cooking contests, live music, livestock
exhibits, and an antique and classic car show; and
WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the fine
recreational opportunities offered by the county; Lake Gladewater
is popular with boaters, fishermen, swimmers, and picnickers, and
the county's wide variety of game makes it a destination for
hunters; and
WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their rich heritage, the
hardworking citizens of Upshur County are looking ahead to the
opportunities of the future, and it is indeed fitting to honor them
and their unique contributions to the story of the Lone Star State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 28, 2017, as Upshur County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.