A mysteriously missing historical marker has been returned safely to its caretakers.

The Texas historical marker honoring early-day Wichita Falls entrepreneur John Hart Wilson is back in the hands of the Wichita County Historical Commission.

Becky Trammell, the commission’s marker chair, retrieved the plaque on Saturday from property owner George Molnar.

The county commission had erected the marker on the grounds of Wilson’s home at 4015 Lake Park Drive in 2011. Parts of the property were sold, and new housing has been built in the area. At some point in recent years the marker vanished.

Trammell discovered the marker and its post had been taken down and placed in storage on private property.

Because the marker was dedicated to Wilson rather than his home, the commission will try to find an appropriate new location for it.

Trammell said one possibility is at Wichita Clutch in the Wichita Falls Business Park. Wilson was the founder of the company.

“That is a location that is in the running,” Trammel said.

She said the company is eager to have it.

The commission must get permission from the state for any new location and will ask the city or county for help in re-erecting it.

“We depend on the kindness of strangers,” she said.

The marker notes that Wilson, who died in 1970, moved to the Wichita Falls area in 1920 and created a manufacturing company that specialized in oil field equipment. During the course of his career, he was credited with getting patents on 118 inventions.