Austin, Travis County
Named for family of 1853-57 Texas governor, Elisha Marshall Pease (1812-83), within whose early-day plantation this area was situated. Gov. and Mrs. Pease on May 20, 1875, gave 23-acre site here on Shoal Creek to City of Austin for use as a public park. It was already a landmark, known as post-Civil War camping ground of Gen. George A. Custer (1839-76) and 200 federal soldiers. Left undeveloped until about 1913, park was nevertheless used for all sorts of celebrations such as the annual outings of volunteer firemen. It remains a spot of natural beauty. (1971)