[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E242-E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMEMORATING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF BONHAM, TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PAT FALLON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 24, 2025

  Mr. FALLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 175th 
anniversary of the founding of Bonham, Texas.
  Bonham's rich history began in autumn of 1837 as Fort Inglish, a 
small, fortified blockhouse and stockade constructed by Mr. Bailey 
Inglish and his neighbors to protect against

[[Page E243]]

raids by Native Americans at the time. As the prior elected sheriff of 
nearby Miller County, Arkansas, Mr. Inglish was familiar with these 
attacks and determined to protect families who sought refuge at Fort 
Inglish. The fort and its settlement quickly grew, and in 1840, Mr. 
Inglish was appointed to lead its newly established post office. 
Initially known as Bois D'Arc, the settlement was renamed in 1844 in 
honor of James Butler Bonham, who died in 1836 as a messenger and one 
of the final defenders during the Battle of the Alamo. On February 2, 
1848, Bonham officially became incorporated as a city.
  From its early beginnings, Bonham has been enriched with deep 
history. The city rapidly grew as a trading post and key point for 
settlers heading west. Throughout the late 1800's, Bonham became a 
center for agriculture, especially cotton, and later developed a strong 
industrial base. The city saw the rise of various industries, including 
manufacturing, and Bonham became a regional hub for trade and commerce. 
Moreover, the concurrent evolution of the railroad further connected 
Bonham to other regions in Texas and beyond, opening the gate to new 
economic opportunities and westward expansion that built the Nation we 
know today.
  I have requested the United States flag be flown over our Nation's 
Capitol to commemorate this historic occasion. We should always look to 
the past every now and then to protect and preserve our Nation's 
history for future generations to admire.

                          ____________________