Murvaul, Texas, Panola County.
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MURVAUL, TEXAS


Panola County, East Texas

FM 10 at Murvaul Creek
6 Miles S of Carthage the county seat
2.5 Miles N of Gary
6 Miles SE of Clayton
Population: 110 (1990, 2000)

Mauvaul, Texas Area Hotels › Carthage Hotels

Murvaul TX - Murvaul highway sign
Approaching Murvaul
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2011

History in a Pecan Shell

Settled either shortly before or after the Civil War, the fledgling community wasn�t given a post office until 1874. It closed in 1880 and reopened from 1899 until it closed permanently in 1918.

The population in 1882 was reported as 200. Although it gained a railroad connection around the turn of the century, it�s proximity to the county seat dashed hopes of growth.

The decline of Murvaul occurred long before the Great Depression. The decline started with the closing of the post office in 1918. No reports from the 20s through the 50s are unavailable.

A smaller, community under the same name appeared on maps after WWII, also about 8 miles from Carthage, but on FM 699.

The 1990 census counted 110 residents, the same number used for the 2000 census.


Murvaul TX - road signs
FM 10 & CR121
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2011

Photographer's Note:

A town with two names
"I have possibly got one of the most confusing submissions of all. It is a town with two names. My software map shows it as Daniels. The Handbook of Texas also list it, Daniels. The Handbook of Texas also shows the town of Murvaul in the same exact location. My photographs shows all feature here as Murvaul. I found this town in Panola County, on FM-10 at the junction of CR121, 6-miles south of Carthage, 2.5-miles north of Gary, 6-miles southeast of Clayton." - Gerald Massey


Re. Town name confusion
I was noticing your comments on the confusion surrounding the location of Murvaul. Don't know if it will help much, but I thought I'd quickly share my knowledge of the Murvaul post office. In its 1874-1918 history it had an unusually precarious existence - opening no fewer than seven times! Often such changes involved minor relocations, from one house/store to another. However it did have two very distinct locations. the first in 1874 was on the railroad where the community of Gary now exists. In 1899, however, you could find it on the same railroad but 2-3 miles north of its first site.

I am not familiar with the name "Daniels" but at Gary there was a prominent citizen named Dr. Zack Daniel. I wonder if that is the origin of the name?

There was another Murvaul post office in the area. This one was the first, opening in 1853 and shutting down during the Civil War. It was located along the same bayou, but was in Rusk County.

I hope that this information might be of help rather than adding to the confusion. - John J. Germann, May 26, 2014



Native Son

Tex Ritter—A Texas Original by C. F. Eckhardt

Woodward Maurice Ritter—his childhood nickname was �Woody�—was born near Murvaul, Panola County, in the piney woods of deep East Texas in 1907... more



Murvaul TX - United Methodist Church
Murvaul United Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2011

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Murvaul TX - Murvaul Cemetery
Murvaul Cemetery
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2011

More Texas Cemeteries


Murvaul TX - cows in pasture
Cows in Murvaul
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2011


Murvaul TX - RR Tracks
RR Tracks
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2011
See Texas Railroads


Panola County TX 1920 Map
1920s Panola County Map showing Murvaul
S of Carthage

Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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East Texas
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Murvaul, Texas Nearby Towns:
Carthage the county seat
Gary
Clayton
See Panola County

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