Yorktown, located in Texas, holds the distinction of being the site of the oldest known Lithuanian-American community in the United States.

Among the many European immigrants arriving in Texas in the mid-19th century was a small group of Lithuanians who settled in the Yorktown vicinity of De Witt County.

Due to their eventual assimilation with the numerous German immigrants in the area, the Lithuanians and their contributions to the history of this region were overlooked for generations.

Leaving their homeland for a variety of religious and political reasons, the Lithuanians arrived in Texas primarily through the ports of Galveston and Indianola.

[12] The unique history and longevity of Yorktown's Lithuanian community have attracted various researchers from both the United States and Lithuania.

From its inception in February, 1848, this road remained the chief thoroughfare for this part of the state to New Braunfels and San Antonio.

Early in 1848, after the founders had the proposed town surveyed, they offered 10 acres (40,000 m2) and the choice of a lot free to the first ten families to settle the townsite.

Many German, Bohemian, Lithuanian and Polish families came and soon changed this wilderness into one of the most prosperous sections of the entire state.

In October 1848, in a battle with Marauding Indians, Captain York and his son-in-law, James Madison Bell, were killed.

In 1852, on an inspection of some of his properties in Central America, Eckhardt contracted yellow fever and died at sea on his return trip.

A showman and promoter, Leslie Mueller gathered the rodeo cowboys to ride horseback through downtown Yorktown.

In the spring of 1958 Mueller, in cooperation with the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce, planned a Western parade to involve the entire community, as well as out-of-town organizations.

The April 2, 1958, edition of The Yorktown News reported that the parade was "conceived on the spur of the moment, with no time make elaborate plans, appoint committees or work out details…."

The newspaper further reported that the success of the venture was due "…to the spontaneous and whole-hearted cooperation of local business men…" In spite of this last-minute planning, on Saturday, March 29 at 3 p.m. Yorktown welcomed a crowd that jammed the downtown sidewalks to see the parade led by the VFW Color Guard.

The "Bronc Busters" (the Yorktown High School marching band), led by Mary Gail Kerlick, followed close behind.

This team of matched Shetlands was outfitted with ten gallon hats and six shooters and pulled a miniature covered wagon.

A parade highlight was Monroe Woods' mustang team pulling a frontier wagon carrying an ancient two-seater Chick Sale (outhouse), complete with corn cobs and a Sears catalog.

The parade also included colorfully-garbed mounted groups, several floats, new tractors, trucks and automobiles, as well as the four-piece Disintegrated Brotherhood of Near Musicians.

With a broom and shovel, Sparky, the rodeo clown, brought up the rear and proclaimed that Yorktown was not a one-horse town indeed.

The Yorktown News also reported that most of the western parade watchers "…hightailed it out to Les Mueller's Smith Creek Arena…to take in the rodeo....We saw cars bumper to bumper all the way over the hill and as they wended their way into the grounds more and more kept coming....The show got underway about nine o'clock, and a thriller it was…with mean, ornery broncs and bulls, and fast elusive calves, there were plenty of spills, thrills and chills…as good a show as we've seen anywhere."

In 1962 the Chamber sponsored the first Western Days royal court with Jo Ann Boone crowned as queen.

Throughout the years, the rodeos featured celebrated cowboys such as Bud Humphrey, Glen Dorn, Pat Doyle, Glenn McQueen, Billy Bridges, Cotton Proctor, Sonny Berry and Phil Lyne.

Working ranch cowboys from the area who rode as pick-up men included Carl Hoefling, John Horny and Lester Davis.