John James Park, now covering 89.6 acres on the east bank of Salado Creek, started as a 43-acre gift from the federal government on Dec. 21, 1973, through the Federal Land Surplus Program. Originally named Fort Sam Houston Park, it was later renamed John James Park on June 20, 1974.
John James, originally from Nova Scotia, came to San Antonio in 1837. He served as Bexar County chief surveyor, defining the city's boundaries in 1846. He played a role in the 1842 Battle of Salado and surveyed and planned Castroville in 1844. In 1853, he and Charles de Montel founded Bandera and established a horse-powered lumber mill. James initiated San Antonio's first lumberyard and introduced Merino sheep to Bandera.
In 1854, with 35 others, he headed to California with over 1,000 cattle. James surveyed Fort Davis, Boerne, D'Hanis, and Quihi, earning a reputation as Texas's most prolific surveyor. He was also the father-in-law of the renowned architect Alfred Giles. John James passed away on Nov. 26, 1877, at the age of 56.