Isaac Best, one of the Old 300 settlers of Stephen F. Austin's colony, spent his early life in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, where he built a mill and Best's Fort, a pioneer refuge during the War of 1812. About 1824, he brought his wife Mary Margaret (Wilkins) and some of their nine children to Texas. He received a land grant east of the Brazos River about 30 miles north of San Felipe, later sold that tract, and purchased additional land until his holdings reached about 8,000 acres. Best Creek, one-half mile west, is named for him.