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In 1838, Joseph P. Sneed crossed the prairies on horseback to bring his family and the Bible to a new home in Texas. He and his young wife Achsah Harris Sneed first settled in Port Sullivan. Eleven years later they packed their things and moved to the Cross Roads community, about 30 miles north of Cameron. As a circuit-riding preacher, Sneed was on the road much of the time, so he built a home for his wife and another for their servant and companion, a black woman known as Aunt Frances. Sneed died in 1881, 21 years after his wife, but before he died he deeded the sturdy log cabin to Aunt Frances along with five acres of land.

The Sneed Plantation continued to thrive. Other members of the family went into the cotton and cattle business and in the early 1900's the plantation supported a commissary for the farm hands and their families. When the Sneed family sold the plantation, the Log Cabin was deeded to the Milam County Historical Commission for a tax write off.

The original side walls and inside beams are the backbone of the 15-foot square building. The beams are hand-hewn logs, made by chipping or cutting all the bark away to fashion a square board, about five inches on each side. The half-hewn logs which form the outside walls are logs, originally about 10 inches wide, split, then flattened on round side. The corners are joined in square notch corners, the ends cut to resemble a horizontal "T" then laid on top of each other and pegged together.

The restoration of the cabin since it has been moved to the Museum grounds has been done to restore and preserve it. The floor, porch and roof have been replaced with treated lumber. The chimney was built of matched iron ore stone given by the Citizens National Bank of Milam County from the old Oxsheer Smith Farm. Milam County Pct. 1 Commissioner V. W. Hauk, Travis Morren and O. J. Tomasck assisted in moving the stone to the cabin site.

Sonny Raymond of Cameron furnished brick and assisted Charles Brady in laying and finishing the fireplace and chimney. Milam Transit Mix furnished the cement slab for the chimney.

After moving the cabin to its present location, Judy McDaniel, member of the Historical Commission, asked Charles Brady to rebuild the cabin, so with volunteers; Edmond Templer, Carl Grothe, William Wand and Sonny Raymond, replaced all materials except the logs and two beams. The stones for the fireplace were given from the Oxsheer Smith farm by Goodhue Smith. Milam County Precinct #1 moved the stones and Charles Brady laid them in the old style with the mortar at the back. Charles Brady crafted the furniture.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

S. S. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church

Through the efforts of fellow immigrant Joseph Russek, many Czech families came to this area of Milam County in the 1880s. The first Catholic Mass in the Maraksville settlement was conducted by a visiting priest in the Kaspar Kubecka home in 1883, and later services were held in other homes. In 1889

Cameron, TX Historic Churches

Milam County Courthouse

This is the fourth structure to serve as the Milam County Courthouse. The local Masonic Lodge laid the cornerstone for the building on July 4, 1891

Cameron, TX Historic Courthouses

All Saints Episcopal Church

Episcopal worship services were held in Cameron as early as 1860, though All Saints Episcopal Church was not organized as a mission until 1901. The Diocese of Texas purchased this property from A. J. and Jennie Dossett in 1906. This structure was completed in 1907

Cameron, TX Historic Churches

Confederate Veterans Memorial

The Confederate Veterans Memorial stands in memory of the 670 men from Milam County who served in the Confederate Army during the War Between the States, and those who supported them on the home front during the years 1860 - 1865

Cameron, TX Memorials


Things to do near Cameron, TX

Olde Oaks Golf Course

Course Access: Semi-PrivateHoles: 9Reserve Advance Tee Times: 1 days...

Bardwell Lake Boating

Bardwell Lake has boat ramps at 5 parks. These boat ramps are of concrete construction with four lanes. Courtesy docks are av...

Presto Logistics

Presto Logistics 320 S Belt Line Rd. Irving, TX 75060 (972) 313-3333 Website: http://www.prestomoving.com Contact Emai...

Casino Beach Golf Academy

Course Access: PublicHoles: 9Reserve Advance Tee Times: Yes...

Turner-Chapman Gallery

This fine art gallery features the work of regional artists such as Ken Turner, Paulina Kearney, Lynda Counts, and Charles Fo...