Pearland Historical Society
Pearland's Origins
The Founder and The Namesake of Pearland
Founder of Pearland:
Witold von Zychlinski
Witold von Zychlinski, a man of Polish nobility, filed a plat of Pear Land (the plat shows two words) on Sept. 24, 1894 at the Brazoria County Courthouse. Old time Pearlanders wrote of Zychlinski traveling the dirt streets of Pearland in a fancy surrey pulled by a pair of shiny black high stepping horses.
Although the old time Pearlanders spoke of Zychlinski as being of Polish nobility, it was not until 2005 when his great grandson, retired Major General William Willoughby, was found in Chicago, Illinois, that there was any actual confirmation of his nobility.
Although General Willoughby's genealogical research did offer proof that Witold von Zychinski was of Polish nobility, there has been no trace of him since he left Pearland in the 1890's.
He remains a man of mystery.
First Namesake of Pearland:
Capt. Marcus Lindsey (Mark) Belt
The town of Pearland, Brazoria County, Texas was known as "Mark Belt" during the period of about 1887-1894 due to his land, livestock, and railroad dealings in the area at that time.
He was a major contributor to, and manager of, the Confederate Home in Higginsville, Missouri, for many years.
The town of Belton, Cass County, Missouri is named after him.
Military service:
CSA, Co. E, 12th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry which was known as "Jackson's County Cavalry" or "Shank's Missouri Cavalry". He rose to the rank of Captain in the CSA during the Civil War and was alleged to have been a bushwhacker.
Provost Marshal´s Records Database, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, MO:
Statement by Andrew A. Belt to Capt. D. A. Calvert re: robbery of steamboat "Marcella" by 18 bushwhackers led by Mark Belt in October of 1863 near Holmes warehouse Four Federal soldiers onboard at the time Frank Dosier, Captain of the "Marcella,"
01-20-1864.
