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Welcome to the Peters Colony Historical Society

 of Dallas County.

Come and join us !!!
Public Invited
 

Information about our next meeting:

Dear Peters Colony Historical Society Members and Friends,

Our meeting on Monday, October 13, 2025 will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Carrollton Public Library at Josey Ranch Lake, 1700 Keller Springs Road, Carrollton, TX 75006 in the small Environmental meeting room at the back of the library. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OUR MEETINGS THROUGH MAY 2026 WILL BE IN THE SMALL MEETING ROOM.

Our speaker this month will be Deb Cornelius, author of Rivers and Destinies, which �tells the story of how Mabel Gilbert, despite his privileged beginnings, and Henry, despite his enslavement, find liberation together on a journey that changes their lives."

Mabel Gilbert was a true Texas pioneer and settler. He helped establish Bird's Fort, the first settlement in Tarrant County in 1841. He was the first white man known to navigate the Trinity River to Dallas in 1842. His son Morris was the first white child born in Dallas in 1842. He owned Dallas' first log cabin on the east bank of the Trinity River. He was the first white settler in Wichita County. He had 3 creeks, two springs, a post office and a town named in his honor in Texas. [Description from FindAGrave.]

Deb "was born within ten miles of where the Gilbert's settled in Dallas, Texas, and she and her husband Tim currently reside on Gilbert's Historical Wichita County property and Gilbert Creek close to the Red River."

Upcoming events:

�       Texas State Genealogy Lock-in - Oct 17, 2025 9am to 5pm, Carrollton Public Library at Josey Ranch Lake. Free, but must register online beginning October 1st:

https://www.cityofcarrollton.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/50309/1273

�       Dallas County Pioneer Association Sesquicentennial - Oct 19, 2025 4pm to 6pm at El Fenix Mexican Restaurant at Northwest Highway & Hillcrest. Guests will enjoy a TexMex buffet and a full cash bar. A silent auction will feature unique historical items never before offered for purchase. Free, but you must obtain a ticket here:  https://dallaspioneer.org/events/150th-anniversary-reception/

Please mark your calendar for these meeting dates and programs:

Nov 10, 2025 - Art Sahlstein - Dinosaur Finding in Arlington

Feb 9, 2026 - Evelyn Montgomery - Dallas Museum

Mar 9, 2026 - Rick McCaslin - Washington on the Brazos

Apr 13, 2026 - M.C. Toyer - Peters Colony contracts

May 11, 2026 - Show and Tell

Richard Monroe

President, Peters Colony Historical Society

We are an organization that has worked diligently since September, 1971 to preserve the history of the Peters Colony settlers of Dallas County and their descendants. 

The Peters Colony Historical Society (PCHS) published a journal called Elm Fork Echoes semi-annually from 1973-1989 and annually from 1990 to 2005. Those issues have been digitized and are accessible for free on the Portal to Texas History. The society has also sponsored the publication of the book Elm Fork Settlement: Farmers Branch and Carrollton, which was compiled and written by Georgia Myers Ogle. It has been republished and is available for purchase from PCHS. 

The Peters Colony Historical Society meets on the 2nd Monday of each month from September through May (except December and January). The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Carrollton at the Josey Ranch Lake Public Library, 1700 Keller Springs Road on the southwest corner of Josey and Keller Springs.                      ...Read more....

                                                 

We encourage you to attend our meetings. Guests are welcome and dues which are minimal go towards preservation projects.

The Society mission and vision are:

• To arouse interest in the past, especially the history of the Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and surrounding areas.

• To collect, preserve, and disseminate historical information such as genealogies, directories, papers and pamphlets, manuscript material, relics and material objects illustrative of life, events, conditions, and activities past to present.

• Cooperation with officials, Societies or Associations in assuring the preservation of the records and archives of the community as well as preservation of historic buildings, monuments, markers, and trails.

 

Activities of the Peters Colony Historical Society

• Publication of Historical Journals

• Monthly Guest Speakers

• Participation in Local Community Programs

• Involvement with the Historical section in the Josey Ranch Lake Library

• Elm Fork Echoes (1973-2005) � preserved facts and stories of yesteryear.
   
  Peters Colony Historical Society of Dallas County is a non-profit organization.

Tax deductible donations are used for the preservation of local area projects, including historical buildings, monuments, trails, markers, and the records and archives of the community.

 

See Membership Information & Constitution for more information