The Mormons are credited with construction, in 1846, of one

of Travis County’s oldest roads to the northwest, the one that

today is a scenic drive along Bull Creek to the Spicewood Springs

Road, and which then led to a mill on Bull Creek used after the

Mormon Mill washed away.Over a hundred years ago, in 1850, a big tract just above

the dam sold for $80, and this did not include the four acres

of the old mill site, of the Mormons, above the dam.

There was a little feuding over the ownership of the spring

with the large cypress tree in it, located between the Taylor and

Walsh tracts. The claim to it was challenged several times; on

August 2, 1856, Joseph Warren, being ousted, said he was on

Mormon Spring and that Cypress Spring was down river a mile

and a half, and on May 6, 1858, he was again challenged on his

claim to Cypress Spring.

On August 11, 1860, $2,817.50 was paid for nearly 560 acres,

and the Mormon Mill tract of about four acres, with the owners

being from Brazoria County, Louisiana and Miississippi, and

the owner, Robt. J. Townes, from the latter place brought his

slaves to this section and built Edgemont Place, an old Southern

plantation.