Photo by David PollanTrader Joseph Mink, who was likely a supplier of beef to the Texas army, settled present-day Magnolia in 1845. The settlement bore the name Mink Prairie, in his honor. Its name was officially shortened to Mink by 1885, when the Mink Post Office opened. The town later attempted to change its name to Melton. However, the Post Office would not recognize the name, as there was already a Milton, Texas, nearby. Instead, the town was officially renamed Magnolia in 1903 because of the abundance of magnolia trees in the area at the time.
"There are different versions of why the town was named Magnolia," said Celeste Graves, treasurer of the Magnolia Historical Society. "There were an awful lot of magnolia trees out in the woods, and it seems to be the common thought that it was named for the magnolia trees."
In 1901, the railroad first cut through the area. Magnolia's farmers saw the opportunity to ship their crops, including cotton and sweet potatoes, more quickly and efficiently. The town relocated one and a half miles to its present-day location to have more convenient access to the railroad. In addition to its commercial benefits, the railroad allowed Magnolia's residents to travel more easily and frequently into Houston.
The railroad depot opened in 1902. W.J. Gayle, Graves' father, was one of the early depot agents. Gayle was the longest-serving depot agent in Magnolia's history and held the position from 1912–40.
