Native Americans had long known of Texas’ naturally occurring oil seeps. The substance was first known for its curative properties. When Spaniards explored Texas in 1543, they noticed oil along the shore and used it to caulk boats and waterproof boots. Centuries passed before Lyne Barret made his discovery at Nacogdoches County. In 1866, he was able to drill the first oil well here. Soon, Nacogdoches County hosted the state’s first commercial oil field. Still, oil was not that coveted a product; early drillers prized water, not oil. They discovered substantial oil deposits in 1894 at Corsicana, but disregarded them. In 1896, H.G.Damon, Ralph Beaton, and John Galey successfully extracted oil in Corsicana but passed on the chance to develop a business around it. Nevertheless, the Corsicana field produced huge quantities of oil and started Texas’ first refinery. On January 10, 1901, Captain Anthony Lucas and Patillo Higgins hit the fabled oil gusher at the Spindletop salt dome in Beaumont. It was the world’s largest, blowing oil more than 150 feet high. By 1902, Spindletop had yielded over 17 million oil barrels. A wildcatting frenzy ensued and small farming communities became boomtowns. Many American oil companies began their operations in the wake of the discovery including Humble Oil (presently Exxon), Gulf Oil, and the Texas Company (presently Texaco). More oil discoveries swept the state, particularly in North Central Texas. In 1921, drillers started extracting from the Panhandle. East Texas turned out to be the state’s biggest oil field when Columbus Marion Joiner hit the first of the field’s many gushers, Daisy Bradford, on October 3, 1930.
To learn more about famous Texans such as politician Ben Barnes, visit the De Leon, The Heart of Texas site.
Texas political memoirs, such as Barn Burning Barn Building, are explored on Texas political memoirs.
Distinguished Alumni such as Ben Barnes are profiled on The Distinguished Alumni of the University of Texas site.