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CHAPTER VI SETTLEMENT AND COUNTY ORGANIZATION With assured protection from the Comanche, settlers began to come into the country. In 1849, Thomas Scott settled below Ft. Gates, and to his wife was born Joel Scott (formerly of Purmela) who was probably the first child born of white parentage in what is now Coryell County. In 1853, the following lived near Ft. Gates: Robert and Prior Childress, Daniel Moore, Thomas Griffin, J. L. Montgomery, Reuben Queen, Thomas Bertrong, T. H. Robinson, J. C. Russell, B. Hood, Jesse Howell, James Kell, R. G. Grant, O. T. Tyler, McKay Dalrymple, and Hugh Sheridan, a discharged soldier. These early settlers, with a few others about the fort, furnished the troops with corn, hay beef, and such other supplies as could be produced in the settlement. The houses of the settlers were built of logs with cedar poles for rafters. The roofs were made of riven oak boards. We are told that R. G. Grant's first trading station had a roof of bear skins. The little farms were fenced with rails or brush. For comfort and utility, the houses had stone fireplaces, and it was on the fires in these that most of the cooking was done. -- 26 -- On the Cowhouse, there was a settlement made by Thomas Kinsey and family. Mr. Pidcoke had been there before and returned and established a ranch. There were others numbering about twenty-five. Near Eagle Springs was E. A. Culpepper, Harvey Howard and Bob Barren, the two latter had drifted back from the California Gold Rush of 1849. There were others near Eagle Springs, including F. M. Grimes, and Jesse Jones. On Station Creek, there were several families. On Rainey Creek, there were William Miller, Thomas Warren, C. C. Sadler, Mr. McClinton, James Hicks, A. Flannery, James McGee, a Mr. Templeton and others. Then came the Hammacks, B. W., William, Lemuel, and W. W. with D. A., brothers with their families. They had with them fourteen Negroes, and there were already a number of slaves in the settlement. These arrivals, with a few others, made about 250 people in the settlement in the autumn of 1853. This was the year that O. T. Tyler began his agitation for the new county of Coryell. In order to find the sentiment of the people on the point of organizing a new county, an election was held. Forty-three votes were cast. On February 4, 1854, the Governor of Texas, G. M. Pease, signed the bill that created Coryell County. O. T. Tyler became the first Chief Justice. Very early in 1854, the first election was held under a live oak tree to elect officers for the new county. J. C. Russell, the new County Clerk, wrote in the record book: "O. T. Tyler, Chief Justice; John L. Montgomery, Thomas Tremier, James Hicks, Aaron Flannery, Commissioners; John C. Russell, County Clerk; T. B. Pollard, District Clerk; John Turney. Sheriff; David R. Franks, Assessor and Collector, Samuel Moore. Treasurer; Samuel Carson and Thomas Caufield, Justices of the Peace." The organization of the County of Coryell was on March 15, 1854. To illustrate clearly the difficulties of bringing a new county's business into form, and the time it took, we will attach court records covering a period of years. COURT RECORDS OF CORYELL COUNTY BEGINNING MARCH 15. 1854 At Ft. Gates, March 15, 1854. -- 27 -- County Court organized, T. T. Tyler, Chief Justice, presiding. Commissioners, James Hicks, Thomas Trimmier, John L. Montgomery, A. Flanery. Ordered that the Court appoint a competent surveyor to find the center of the county. That the Clerk of the county be authorized to borrow, on faith and credit of the County, the sum of twenty-five dollars, to pay legal interest on same, which sum shall be exclusively applied by said Clerk to the purchase of stationery for said County. Court adjourned to meet the 25th, Inst. Ft. Gates May 5, 1853. Special term, County Court. O.T. Tyler, Chief Justice, presiding. Field notes of surveyor Herman Aiken, showing center of County accepted. May 17th, A. D. 1854, it was ordered that the following expense account be paid to survey by Herman Aiken, for location of center of Coryell County. $15.00. Assistance by J. C. Russell $23.00. Cash advanced $10.00. Camp provisions furnished company $5.00. Total expense $53.00. That the County Clerk be ordered to move the County archives to Gatesville, the seat of Justice of the County. Reuben Queen appointed referee to appraise value of buildings at Ft. Gates, offered by J. D. Giddings, should the County Seat be located there. August 17, 1854 Thomas Caufield appointed Justice of the Peace, first class, in Precinct No. 2. Charles Thomas, A. Kell, J. D. Dilts, W. C. Hatton, appointed road overseers. Gatesville August 27, 1854 That-- Prior Childress, James Pugh, Hugh Sheridan, J. E. Alsop, B. J. Colmsley, J. C. Nowlin, and M. M. Turney, be appointed a jury to view a road to connect with Belton, county seat of Bell County. That--Jonathan Dilts, Green Franks, John E. Temple, Elias Edens, and Mames Morris, to locate the best and nearest route for a road to Waco. That John McElroy, L. H. Allen, A. Kell, Thomas Bertrong, and W. W. Hammack, to locate the nearest and best route for a road to Meridian, county seat of Bosque County. -- 28 --
That--A. J. M. Shaw, John Taylor, B. Hartgraves, and Sam L. Wilson review a road from near Mr. May's home, near the County Line, to Gatesville. August 22, 1854. Ordered that--James Collard be ordered to transcribe so much of the record of the Land Office at Cameron as noted to Coryell County. Gatesville, August 23, 1853. Ordered that--a certain piece of land, one acre, donated by R. G. Grant, for the use of any Christian denomination that will erect a church house on the same, of not less than 36 x 24 feet which said church house shall not be of value of less than One Thousand Dollars. Ordered that--A. D. Merony be appointed Justice of the Peace of Precinct 1, and Charles T. Harris be appointed Constable and Justice of the Second Class. September 25, 1854. J. M. Harrell's bond for Sheriff received. December 25, 1854--William Mussett, Dr. Bryant, John Smith, Anderson Polk, John Blackburn, appointed to review route for road to Austin, as far as County line. George F. Adams appointed to define line between Coryell and Bosque counties, said survey to commence on the ninth day of January, 1855. February A. D. 1855. Ordered that Madison McCutcheon, Alexander Pinkerton, John Boen, Jonathan Dilts and Green Franks locate a route for a road to the county line of Coryell and McLennan Counties, for a road to Waco. Charles Thomas appointed road overseer in Precinct 2. Madison McCutcheon overseer in Precinct 5. George Adams received $2 for serving notice on Bosque County. Received $100 per league for locating four leagues of school land for Coryell County. J. L. Montgomery and R. G. Grant located burying ground at Gatesville. Mr. Grant donated the land to the county. One acre. R. G. Grant received $100 a year for the use of one of his houses as a court house for Coryell County. Jesse M. Harrell served as ex-officio sheriff for which he received $11.25. February 21, 1855. Special Term, June 2, 1855--Court appointed a committee consisting of J. L. Montgomery, Sam Friend, J. -- 29 -- C. Russell, T. I-I. Robertson and J. A. Haynes, to draw plans for the erection of a serviceable jail. August Term, 1855--George T. Adams, L. H. Allen, J. A. Haynes, J. L. Montgomery and T. H. Robertson, be appointed to locate a road to Sulphur Springs on the Lampasas River. September 27, 1855--J. H. Chrisman received $984 for the erection of the first jail, in addition, two extra jobs totaling $101.13, raised the amount to $1085.13. November, 1855--J. C. Coddel received $115.18 for assessing Coryell County taxes in 1854. August 20, l856--County Court in Session. B. W. Hammack, presiding. Commissioners, Henry Boyd, W. R. Beauchamp, Madison McCutcheon, David Gray. Ordered by the Court that the sum of $326.50 be allowed R. B. Wells and R. H. Robertson for materials furnished to build a court house in Gatesville, they being contractors, the contract for which, was this day rescinded by the parties. County Court, November 17, 1856--Presiding, S. T. Clymer. Commissioners, Madison McCutcheon, W. K. Beauchamp, Henry Boyd, David Gray. September Court ordered County Treasurer to draw on the State Treasurer for $672.06, that being the amount due Coryell County from the State School Funds. S. W. Squires received license to sell spirituous liquors. Special Term, October 6, 1857. Grand Jurors--The following "Good men and true, freeholders in the State, and householders in the County", were drawn as follows: John M. Costly, Henry Williams, William Moorhead, Jr., Elijah Cutbirth, John Shipman, Daniel M. Ellems, Thomas Warren, Green Franks, Jesse Jones, James M. Lelland, Daniel McCarty, James E. Alsup, Davis Caufield, John L. Montgomery and W. W. Hammack. August 18, 1857--Commissioners to review road from Waco to Sulphur Springs (Lampasas) from McLennan County line to Lampasas county line: Joshua D. Robinson, Rheuben Ross, Jesse Graham, I. N. Costly, and B. D. Latham. Rheuben Ross appointed overseer. School teachers in Coryell. County in 1857 received: Mary Chism, $36.20; Raleigh Haggard, $50.68; A. S. Thomas, $57.40; K. O. Calhoun, $43.34; John B. Clark, $9.60; A. B. Camier, $88.94; A. J. Blackwell, $55.39; S. A. Oxford, $47.85; Madison McCutcheon, $63.60; -- 30 -- E. H.Quillens, $21.43; J. B. Pollard, $39.26; John Armstrong, $88.50; William Wiggins, $45.60; Susan Moorhead, $24.43; Raleigh Haggard, $42.05; Miss M. E. Dunson, $61.65; James H. Dodson, $41.90; John Armstrong 2nd, $93.60; Miss Parafine Wilson, $35.56; Mrs. Laurena Shool, $67.10; Thomas A. Hickox, $41.28; William B. Edmond, $18.43; David Caufield, $66.09; Laurena Shook $28.12; T. B. Pollard, $10.35; John Armstrong, $7.07. Grand Jury, July 5, 1858--S. T. Clymer, Chief Justice; Jurors, John M. Brown, Chance R. Puckett, L. Haggard, O. F. Davenport, James W. Pugh, Thomas Warren, John K. Shipman, A. T. Latham, T. T. Ragsdale, A. W. Wolters, A. Fore, Newton Parks, A. G. Gholson, John I. Lamb, N. W. Cook. County Court, January 3, 1859--M. McCutcheon, Chief Justice; Commissioners, Wm. Moorhead and E. Pinkerton; Grand Jurors: O. T. Tyler, J. D. Ribinson, W. W. Hammack, F. L. Miller, Washington Boyd, G. W. Haley, E. P. Gibson, John Hendrickson, David Elms, L. White, Joe Powell, Lemuel Dodson. The county as organized embraces an area of 1,085 square miles, located in Central Texas, in the western area of the great Brazos River drainage basin. It was originally a part of Milam County. When Bell County was organized in 1850 it was attached to that county for convenience in administrative purposes. The County was named for James Coryell. In 1854 when the county was organized it had a population of approximately 300, including some slaves and Negroes. The 1940 census showed a population of about 20,286, or about 18.4 to the square mile. It also showed the wealth of the county to be approximately $30,000,000. When the United States entered the Global War and established the great army training center, Camp Hood, in the southern section of the county, and the Bluebonnet Ordnance Plant, which lies partly in the eastern section of the county, a great number of laborers were needed to develop the two projects, and thousands of laborers and their families moved in. Every village and town received their share of the influx, so that the population doubled within a few months. Housing this vast number of people was a serious problem. Hundreds of trailer houses, tents and shacks of all sorts, were located wherever a location could be found. -- 31 -- The county is located in that part of Texas known as the Grand Prairie. The terrain is a rolling prairie traversed by deep, broad valleys. The prairies present an undulating table land topping a rugged hill country, The prairies belong to the rich black lime lands, while the valleys present a variety of rich alluvial soils. The Leon River traverses the county diagonally from northwest to southeast, threading its way thru wonderfully rich, wide, valleys. The tributary streams flowing into the Leon from the east are Station Creek, Peugh Creek, Coryell Creek, and other small creeks. Tributaries from the west are Owl Creek, Evans Branch, Dobbs Creek and Plum Creek, with other small streams. In the western section of the county is crossed by Cowhouse Creek, a fine stream which takes on almost the dignity of a river. It has for tributaries, Perryman's Creek, Table Rock Creek, Bee House Creek and numerous other small streams. Between these streams are ranges of rugged limestone hills which are topped by undulating prairies. The hills are generally covered with a fine growth of the various species of mountain oak, liveoak, and extensive forests of cedar, so that the country has an abundant supply of firewood and fencing timber. Wild grapes, wild plums, wild cherry and numerous other wild fruits and berries thrive in their proper locations. The river and creek valleys are the native habitat of the pecan. The northern section of the county slopes to the Bosque drainage basin, and in that section are the beautiful streams, Cave Creek, Hogg Creek, and the Middle Bosque. In this section a great soil conservation project was developed by the U. S. government engineers commanding a Civilian Conservation Corps which was headquartered in Gatesville. This is the most extensively terraced section of the county. Cotton, corn and small grain are the chief crops grown. At one time, Coryell County produced the most oats and the most mule colts of any county in the state. This is the ideal land for small ranching and individual farming, and there are many herds of highly bred Hereford cattle, sheep, goats and dairy herds. Dairying is highly developed in parts of the county. The 4-H clubs of the county have won many first prizes in the ton-litter contests sponsored by the fat stock associations thruout the state. -- 32 -- Turkeys and chickens are raised as a foundation proposition by many farmers. Fruit and truck farming is practiced in many parts of the county. Grapes, pears, peaches, plums, black berries, persimmons and most fruits adapted to the temperate climates, are grown in merchandisable quantities. The topography of the county is such that it is ideally suited to extensive irrigation. There are hundreds of sites suitable for building impounding dams to hold irrigation water. Most of these sites, or many of them, could be so arranged that a gravity flow of water could be brought to the fields. For home use, the people generally depend upon artesian wells for a water supply. This is because the county is underlaid by a sheet of inexhaustible, highly pure, artesian water. The beautiful scenic hills and valleys of this county present a park like view from whatever angle they are seen, interspersed with blue cedared hills and ranges spreading and reaching into the blue distance; and wide valleys dotted with farms. Every landscape inspires beauty. The location of every farmhouse is romantic. It is a poetic land with music and harmony expressed in every line. It is no wonder at all that pioneer men sought locations in this wonderful land. The early settlers had their trials. The first few years were marked with recurring droughts of severe intensity. Crops were short and the people suffered for breadstuffs, however, the range was good, livestock did well and game was plentiful, so that the hardy pioneers with great fortitude maintained their homes. The Civil War came on and Coryell County sent forth her full quota of men for the Confederate Armies. The ranchmen furnished large numbers of horses and beeves for the armies of the South. Other companies of men were sent to protect the frontier from raiding Comanche. The close of the war found the flower of our young manhood had been laid to rest on the battlefields of the South, but the homes had been maintained by the heroic women and children left behind. From 1865 to about 1880 saw a period of lawlessness prevail in this state that more or less affected Coryell County. Ruffians flocked to Texas. The open range cattle business reached its zenith. Contending big cattle interests, disputing the rights of the range, brought on range wars, -- 33 -- during which time many outfits were driven out or killed. There was another element of freebooters, the cattle and horse rustlers who stole stock from all who were not aligned with them. Out of this condition grew a period of mob rule during which time there was no effective law. Each clan was a law unto itself. It thus came about that mob violence dispatched the lives of many outlaws and some good citizens. One old pioneer related that "We buckled on our six-shooters as often as we drew on our boots. There was no law." In 1872 a new courthouse was built, occupying the site of the present building, but it was to be occupied for only about twenty-five years and then gave way to the present one, erected in 1897. By this time outlawry had been stamped out and Coryell County, whose foundation had been laid by a people of sterling worth, was on the way to prosperity. An event of the greatest importance to Coryell County was the entrance of the St. Louis-Southwestern Railway in 1882. At first a narrow gauge line was operated. It, however, enabled the people of the country to get speedier deliveries of consignments of freight. Previous to 1882, goods had been freighted into the county by wagon trains. In earlier years, by ox teams, from as far away as the Gulf ports. As the railroads penetrated further into Texas, shipping terminals for railroads were established at Bremond, Waco and other points along the advancing rail lines, so that each extension of the railroads shortened the wagon haul for goods to Coryell County. With the coming of railroads, the old team freighting and stage lines were relegated to the past. A short time after the St. Louis Southwestern Railroad reached Gatesville, the Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe crossed the southwestern corner of the county and Copperas Cove became a railroad town. -- 34 --
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