County Already Planning for America’s 250th Birthday

The marker for Revolutionary War Veteran John Sorrell will be placed at the Veterans Memorial on the northeast corner of the Courthouse Square in La Grange. Sorrell, born in Virginia around 1763, served in the Continental Army in North Carolina. After the war, he moved to Georgia and then Texas, where he bought land and settled near the present-day community of Plum. Sorrell is believed to be buried in an unmarked grave in West Point. 

Local Connection to Revolutionary War Soldier Discovered, Dedication Set for July 3; 250 Trees May Be Planted 

The United States turns 250 years old next year, and work is already underway here in Fayette County to mark the Nation’s Semisesquicentennial.

The Smith-McMillian Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) met with the Fayette County Commissioners Court last Thursday, July 24. The local DAR chapter has been researching a local man who served in the American Revolution. They plan to unveil a marker in his honor at the Veterans Memorial on the Courthouse Square in La Grange next year.

Pvt. John Sorrell, born in Virginia circa 1763, served in the Continental Army in North Carolina. He later moved to Fayette County and died here in 1841.

“He came to Fayette County in the 1830s and was a land speculator,” said Carolyn Caflisch, Regent of the Smith-McMillian DAR Chapter.

Caflisch said Sorrell purchased a half-league of land in Fayette County for just a penny an acre back in those days. He settled in the Plum area. He also purchased land in Travis County. Caflisch said Sorrell had 12 children, including one daughter who lived in La Grange.

“We would like to put his name on a DAR plaque commemorating those who served in the American Revolution,” Caflisch told the Commissioners.

Caflisch said the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution want local chapters all across the nation to work on projects celebrating America’s 250th anniversary next year.

The Smith-McMillian Chapter is seeking funding for the marker project through LCRA’s Community Partnership grant program. The Commissioners Court authorized County Judge Dan Mueller to sign a letter to LCRA expressing the County’s support for the DAR marker.

After the Commissioners Court meeting last Thursday, Mueller told the Record that he would like to see a big local celebration next year to celebrate America’s birthday.

“In 1976, the Bicentennial was a big deal,” Mueller said. “You couldn’t go into any business without seeing 1776 memorabilia. So I intend to shoot towards that. But I’m going to defer to a committee to see what exactly will take place.”

Mueller said he would like to see community projects celebrating the Nation’s anniversary throughout the year leading up to July 4, 2026. One idea he has is to work with local volunteer groups, perhaps Boy Scout troops or 4-H, to plant 250 trees around the County over the next year.

“I’d like to possibly get 250 trees planted at different places in the County in remembrance of this, with a plaque under each one,” Mueller said. “I’m open to having discussions to see what other people’s thoughts are.”

No plans have been set in stone yet, but Mueller said a committee will meet in the next month to discuss the details.

Fayette County already hosts two annual Fourth of July events that draw thousands of people every year – the Independence Day Parade in Round Top and the annual July 4th Picnic at St. John.

In order to not conflict with those events, the Smith-McMillan DAR chapter plans to unveil the John Sorrell marker on July 3 of next year, which falls on a Friday.