Brachfield
FM 840 at FM 1798Marker Text
This rural community has been known by many names. First called Gibsontown, it changed to Murval
when a post office operated from 1853 to 1866. During the 1890s, The Rusk County News labeled the locale Needmore, and a
hotel and school soon opened. Brachfield post office (1900-1906) was named for Charles Louis Brachfield (1871-1947), who
made a stump speech here while campaigning for political office. Brachfield served 23 years as state senator and county
and district judge; in 1926, he ran for attorney general as the first Jewish candidate for statewide office. The school
merged with Patrick School in 1912. Sawmills, cotton, dairy, cattle, poultry, oil and gas have supported the local
economy. (2007)