1852- Trails, Ferries and river crossings

The Sabine River marked the border between Louisiana and Texas. Pioneers crossed the river along established trails at four main points.

The "Upper Route" came into Texas from Shreveport (Red River)
The "Lower Route" came in from Opelousas (New Columbia ferry)
The El Camino Real came into Texas from Natchitoches. (Bevil's/Haddon's Ferry)
The "Old Beef Trail" came in from Alexandria (Burr's Ferry)

It is likely that our ancestors used the "Old Beef Trail" from Alexandria. This trail had been used to drive cattle to Alexandria (which were then shipped to New Orleans via the Red River) as early as 1830 and was an important route in the 1840's. The trail followed the Nolan Trace from Leesville, Louisiana, along what is now Louisiana Hwy. 8- also known as the Nolan Trace Parkway.

This 1882 railroad map shows a route that likely followed the Old Beef Trail from Alexandria, showing the branching of the trail at Burkeville.

Railroad likely following the Old Beef Trail

The Trail forked near Burkeville, with one fork going northwest to Bevil's (Hadden's) Ferry at Toledo Bend and the other going southwest to Burr's Ferry in order to cross the Sabine River. The trail followed through what is now Zavalla and Jasper to Burkeville. According to the "History of Angelina County," the trail then went north of Jasper, crossed the Angelina River, and headed northwest just south of Zavalla.

After crossing the Sabine River, the Old Beef Trail went westward through Jasper. We know that from Jasper, our ancestors would have continued westward to cross the Neches River at Town Bluff, where they stayed for some time.

After their stay in Town Bluff, they would have likely rejoined the Old Beef Trail, now heading north to Zavalla before the trail turned westward passing north of Diboll and continuing westward north of Apple Springs- where we know that they crossed the river and found their land.


Burr's Ferry
The ferry and town were named for Dr. Timothy Burr, a second cousin of the vice president Aaron Burr. His family operated the ferry from the 1840's.  There was a cotton gin as well as warehouses and goods could be shipped from here west to Burkeville Texas or east to Leesville, Louisiana.

Sources:

The History of the Old Beef Trail

Burr's Ferry on the Louisiana border

Burr's Ferry