OLD

OLD CAMP VERDE – THE FORT
Camp Verde, Kerr County, Texas

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Gate to Old Camp Verde Fort Entrance

Camp Verde Monument

Directions: From Kerrville take St Hwy 16 south to St Hwy 173, turn left and continue on SH 173 to Camp Verde Corners. Turn right onto Camp Verde road which runs along the north side of the Verde Creek. Continue past the Camp Verde Cemetery on your left and you will soon see, on your right, the
Old Camp Verde Fort monument outside a private gate with stone pillars. The monument is accessible to read and photo without going onto the private property.

This data is from “Cemeteries of Kerr County, Texas, 1859-1976” published by Kerrville Genealogical Society in 1980. Field notes were done by Arlene and Fred Tolman who copied the stones in the cemetery and provided that information to the Kerrville Genealogical Society for publication.

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The only known graves on the Camp Verde property are those of Capt. J. A. Bonnell and his wife. These are enclosed in an iron fence with rocks mounded up on them.

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Camp Verde was established as a frontier post by the United States Army 8 July 1855. It was headquarters in 1856 for 40 camels sent by secretary of war Jefferson Davis to be used in a system of overland communication with the west which proved impracticable. It was surrendered to the Confederate government in 1861, re-occupied in 1865 by the U.S. Army and abandoned 1 April 1869 . A monument was erected by the Sons of Texas in 1936.

Bennett’s "History of Kerr County 1856-1956" and Clara Watkins “Kerr County, Texas 1856-1976” both give the following account:

“John A. Bonnell, an Ohian, bought 640 acres, including Camp Verde buildings in 1874. His son, William H. Bonnell, later added some 20,000 acres; part of the land was sold in 1892, but W.H.Bonnell and family occupied the building of stone which he rebuilt as an exact replica of the original officers’ quarters.”

In the “ Kerrville Mountain Sun” of 2 Apr 1910 there is an account of the burning of Camp Verde on the 26 of March 1910. Owners were Captain and Judge W.H. Bonnell and wife. A Thomas Blair from Hamilton , Ohio , was burned to death in this fire. Ben Lacky was then the ranch foreman and burned his boots before he escaped from the fire. In 1975 the property was owned by Richard Nowlin.

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