Isaac Van Zandt Historical Marker Dedication in Canton: Friday, June 28
A historical marker in honor of Isaac Van Zandt, for whom our county is named, will be dedicated at a ceremony on Friday, June 28, 2019, at noon at the Van Zandt County Courthouse in Canton, in the District Courtroom. In the same ceremony, a framed lithograph photo of Van Zandt (recently acquired from the Van Zandt family) will be unveiled. The lithograph will hang in the courthouse in the future. The historical marker will be permanently displayed on the courthouse lawn.
Isaac Van Zandt was an early settler in the Republic of Texas, who quickly rose to prominence as a Congressman of the Republic and as Ambassador to the United States. He was running for Governor of the new State of Texas in 1847 when he died of yellow fever, contracted while campaigning. He was 34 years old and left a wife and 5 young children. (His wife and children all later became influential citizens in the towns of Marshall and Fort Worth.) The State of Texas Legislature created the new county of Van Zandt in his honor in 1848.
The public is encouraged to attend the June 28 ceremony.
