Honoring a Pioneer Legacy: Milam County Dedicates Historical Marker to Eliza Tice Hall

CAMERON, TX — History came alive in Milam County on April 11, 2026, as the community gathered to honor the enduring legacy of the James and Eliza Hall family. The Milam County Historical Museum, in collaboration with the Betty Martin Chapter (Temple) and the Three Missions Chapter (Cameron) of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), hosted a day of dedication, unveiling, and historical reflection.

A Proclamation for a Pioneer

The morning began at the Milam County Historical Museum, where Museum President Melanie Reed welcomed over 100 attendees, including 30 descendants of the Hall family who traveled from across Texas and beyond.

A highlight of the program was a visit from Cameron Mayor Nathan Fuchs, who issued an official proclamation declaring April 11, 2026, as Eliza Tice Hall Day. The proclamation recognized not only Eliza but all pioneer women who braved the hardships of early settlement to establish families in Milam County.

Treasures of the Past

The event featured the unveiling of several extraordinary historical artifacts now on display:

• The Hall Family Bible (1770): On loan from the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, this Bible is the third oldest in the Lodge’s collection. Saved from the ravages of the Texas Revolution, it contains births, deaths, and marriages recorded in Eliza’s own handwriting.
• The Silver Sugar Bowl: Donated by Eliza’s second great-granddaughter, Clare Dyer, this bowl was a wedding gift to Eliza from her father, Richard Tice, in 1816.
• "A Needle, a Fife, and Texas": Denise Bennett captivated the audience with a costumed portrayal of Eliza Hall. Her performance, based on 19th-century family letters, transported listeners back to the struggles and triumphs of early Texas life.

The Graveside Dedication**

Following the museum program, the assembly moved to the historic Ad Hall Cemetery in Pettibone. Against the backdrop of the land the Halls settled in 1835, a Daughter of Revolutionary War Soldier Marker was unveiled at the grave of Eliza Tice Hall (1792–1869).

Eliza was the daughter of Richard Tice (1762–1848), a soldier of the American Revolution buried in Washington County, Texas. The ceremony included a performance of the National Anthem by Casey Stanislaw and a keynote address, "Heritage and Hope," by Lynn Young, Honorary President General of the NSDAR.

A Driving Force for History

The dedication was the result of extensive collaboration between local DAR chapters and museum leadership. Melanie Reed credited Pamela Baker, Chapter Chair of the America 250! Committee, as the "driving force" behind the research that brought Eliza’s journey to light.

"The impact of the Hall family as early settlers led to the creation of the Ad Hall community, where families prospered," Reed noted. Today, descendants of the family still own portions of the original league of land purchased nearly two centuries ago.

Visit the Exhibit

The Eliza Tice Hall and Hall Descendants Exhibit will remain on display through July 30, 2026, as part of the museum's America 250! celebration. Residents and visitors are encouraged to view these rare artifacts and learn more about the 190-year history of Milam County.

Location: 112 West 1st Street, Downtown Cameron

Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Contact: 254-697-8963 | www.milamcountyhistoricalmuseum.com

Media Contact: Melanie Reed

President, Milam County Historical Museum

254-482-0908