Fentress

Fentress is on the San Marcos River at the southwestern edge of Caldwell County. A settlement, first called Riverside, began developing there in the vicinity of a Cumberland Presbyterian church established in 1869. A horse-powered cotton gin was built in the vicinity about 1870 by the partnership of Cullen R. Smith and Joseph D. Smith. The enterprise was moved to the riverfront and converted to waterpower in 1879; it was operated by family members until it closed in 1968. In 1892 the community was renamed Fentress in honor of James Fentress, its first doctor; he was also a large landholder and a participant in the battle of Plum Creek