Manor --"The town of Manor is situated on the north bank of Gilleland creek, about twelve miles east of Austin on the Western Branch of the H. and T. C. railroad. It was named after James Manor, one of the first settlers on the creek, who owned a large plantation covering the town site. The town was laid out in the early winter of 1871, at the coming of the railroad. The place now has a population (1899) of about 1,000, and is a growing and prosperous community. It has a body of country surrounding it not excelled anywhere for fertility. The soil is a deep, rich, black-waxy, and produces enormously large crops of corn, cotton, sorghum, grasses, fruits and vegetables. The surrounding country is becoming densely populated, with an intelligent and progressive people. The town is adorned with several handsome church buildings and a large number of business houses, represented by active and capable men, noted for integrity and reliability. Manor is a fine cotton market. Many thousands of bales are marketed each season."
In this 1889 photo, cotton bales sit on railroad cars while a line of wagons extending down the street wait their turn to be unloaded.
The Railroad -- "On the 18th of November, it was announced that the track on the Western Branch was complete to a point four miles West of Hog-Eye, (now Elgin,) and that a mile of rails per day was being placed. The rails were laid to Manor, November 27. On November 30, it was announced that the road was completed to Wheeler’s store the present town of Manor."
In this December 26, 1871 photo, the first train of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad arrives in Austin after having previously having passed through Manor.
Information about "Manor" and "The Railroad" taken from Annals of Travis County and of the City of Austin (From the Earliest Times to the Close of 1875) by Frank Brown - Volume 11 - covering events of significance from 1871 to 1872
Photos from "The Portal to Texas History" and "Austin History Center".
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