The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-13

IIle ACQUISITION Oh HOul0S, eIcNdIc'
lives, and impair5 the general happi
ness of the human family.
THE FUTURE EMPIRE STATE OF TIL
UNION.
Texas few years ago was third il
wealth among her southern sister
hood, but now she is first on the list
with property valued at over $500,
100000. Two hundred and twenty
| six counties are on the map of this
great state, having producing power
when fully utilized, of supplying the
wants of 100000 of people. Des-
tined in twenty-five or thirty years to
equal the state of New York in popu-
lation, wealth, and representation in
congress, her future :, .Htness is i'm
measurable. * levia-
than of imperial .Iia as she is
viewed from all paItS u he globe,
with heroic landmarks wht i only an
infant republic, which challenges ID
comparison the noblest deeds of valor
-tih her battles for liberty and indie
pendence.
SCHOOLS OF KAUFMAN COUNTY-A
PLEA FOR POPULAR EDUCATION.
There are seventy-one school COM
munities, with an enrolment of 2, 1893,
not including the city of Terrell.
which has charge of its own schools.
The total enrolment of the county is
2,808. The state and county school
fund is $l3,062. Sixty-four of the
schools are in active operation, with
efficient teachers and good attend
ance. The county judge has not been
oalled upon to settle any differences
between teacher and parent. The
progress is encouraging in the educa-
tiOnal field. The system of free
education in Texas is the grandest
in point of resources of any state
in the American union, and it is truly
a benefaction to all, imparting as it
does enlightenment on broad basis
commensurate with our imperial do
main, and letting in the sunlight Of
| knowledge in place of ignorance, vice
and corruption. In order that educa
tion shall be thorough and practical
for the duties of life, the heart, as
well as the mind, need to be trained
and humaniZed, and softened in the
highest degree. Good impulses, noble
aims, and character developed so as to
make up homogeneous population,
are the essentials necessary for
| oGdIClJ 1ONC1J "Olhoh-
| hood. Out of such material society is
| formed and government among men
made agreeable as well as enduring.
The Importance of better school
buildings and more approved apparatus
is looming up il the public mind all
over the state. AS the writer has said |
on former occasion, education on a
broader basis is the order of the day.
Build more and larger school houses, |
then there will be less need OF impoS- |
ing jail structures. Enlighten the
masses, civil1ze and eXalt the mind,
thereby lessening crime and improv-
ing citizenship.
FIRST ELECTION IN THE COUNTY.
About one year after the organiZa-
tion of the county, in 1848, the town
of Kaufman was selected as the coun- |
ty seat. A spirited contest a few
years ago to remove the ancient rec
ords to Terrell and declare that enter
prising city the future capital was de-
feated by a small vote. The first
election in the county was held at the
house of Nathaniel Dougherty, on
Warsaw creek, about eight miles from
the present site of Kauf man, the vote
then being taken for county officers
and the location of the county seat.
The town of Kaufman, then known as
Kingsborough, was chosen, and has
since held in its firm grasp the county
records.
old Buffalo, in the southeast corner
of kaufman county, near the line OF
Henderson, on the Trinity river, was
the home of Hon. John II. Reagan in
the early pioneer days. His head
right survey of 320 acres is located
near Kemp City. the present terminus
of the Texas Trunk railroad.
A PARTIAL LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
Among the pioneers who
have been made known to the
writer are the following: John
10. Heath, Garry Cobb, Rev.
E. P. Chism, Vincent A. Wade, Charl-
ton Howard, Nathaniel Dougherty, j,
IL. Henry, r. A Terrell, P. M. Moore
bouse, VIM. Nash, DR.. S. G. Parsons,
Dubart Murphy, Jacob Sheitman,
VIM. Becker, S. o. Gibbs, Geo. Sawyer,
Geo. Barnett, Abner johnson, VIM.
johnson, Matt. Carter, DR.. A. NJ. Nor
row, VIM. Carter. Thomas Carter,
Jason Hyatt, Jas. Eagan, Jas. Gard
ner, o. Stephenson, Jack Dougherty,
Abner Cobb, John Kyser. DR.. Peed,
David Allen, J. S. Noble, Obed Van
pool, James T. Rayel, l.. W. Sweet,
John. Williams, Arthur Rem
shaw, Henry Wilson. Bluford Shankle,
A. j. Dougherty, Jacob Sheltman, Jas.
Peel, John DamerOn, Squire ShultZ,
VIM. Erwin, Geo. PASCAL. Jacob Gill
espie and Hon. John III. Reagan.
| There are others to be added to this
list, which will be gathered in the gen
eral grouping of the county when the
full history of Kaufman county
appears in book form. The writer IN
| dulges the hope that all the survivors
will unite in furnishing the names of
all who have been omitted, with the
characteristic incidents in the lives of
early pioneers, so that reliable hiStor-
ical data may be obtained.
COURTHOUSE AND JAIL BUILDINGS.
The first district court in the county
was held under large post oak tree,
about four miles north of Kaufman.
The first courthouse was a small
frame building, about 20 by 80 feet in
size, having only one room. 1t was
an unpretentIous structure, painted
red, and was located on the southeast
corner of the public square. In 1860
an elegant brick courthouse was built
in the centre of the public square. 1t
stood but few months. The founda-
ton was bad and the material worse.
1t soon cracked, and becoming dam
gerous was condemned by the COM
missioners' court and sold for a mere
nominal sum. For several years
during the war and afterwards, the
site where the structure had been
reared in such striking magnihcence
was covered with desolation and d
: huge pile Of brickbats, during
l which time the various courts
!, were held in little red frame build
! ing. The present court house was sub
Z seGuently built at cost of $1,000
:, 1t is large frame building 50X50 feet
in size, with four rooms for offices be
low and the upper story used for &
l court room. 1t is rather modest anC
2 unassuming in appearance, but ha!
4 been ample for the purposes to which
8 it is devoted, until recently, the in
8 creasing population and business o.
= the county demand more capaciou'
3 and snowy building. A new cour
# house will be built when it is impera
10 lively needed.
le The first jail was made of large
l. nestly hewed logs, and answered tn
t. purpose fully as well as the fines
II and strongest in the state when 1t ha
le no occupants. 1t never was know
a to hold but one prisoner, who earn
4