Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-27
A Full Report m 10 It's History, To-
biography, Rivers, Springs, Timber,
Soils and Grasses.
The Facts al to It's Climate, Live Stock
and Farming Interests, Population,
Ohrnhes, Schools, Markets,
Railroads and Towns,
And a Correct Statement as to The Bus
iness and Leading Business Men
Of the Town of Abilene.

county reported.
Taylor county Is in north latitude
800, i5>, and west Longitude 99' 40 !;
II thirty miles square and has an area
of 900 square miles.
IL was created by an act of the
Fifteenth legislature Of the state OF
Texas, approved August u. 1876, emil.
tied, IAN act dividing Young and
lSexar territories into counties ana
defining the boundaries thereof, ana
of certain other counties herein
named.
It's boundaries rs defined 10y this
act, and ms get out In the Revised
Statutes of Texas, article SOG, are IA
| follows: Beginning at the northwest
| corner of Callahan county and the
southwest corner of Shackelfoid
county, and the southeast corner OF
Jones county, thence south thirty
miles, thence east thirty miles to the
south west corner Of Callahan county,
thence north thirty miles to the place
of beginning.
Most of tile counties of Texas have
| been named in honor of men proml-
nently and creditably identified with
the history of the state, and in all
probability Taylor county was named
10 honor Of such person; but ] have
| not been able to learn who he was,
nor what service he rendered Texas.
The county was, prior To It's organ
ization, attached to Iiastland county
for judicial aud other purposes, and
the organization was effected under
the directions of the commissioners
court of that county.
July 3, 1878, the first election of
county officers was held, when the
following were elected, to-wit:
County judge, j. w. Drury.
County clerk, NJ. G. Lambeth.
sheriff, j w. Carter.
County attorney, no selection.
Tax assessor, A. Whitehurst.
Treasurer, G. p. Gamble.
Surveyor, L.. Strickland.
Cattle and hide inspector, w. A,
Grounds.
The first county commissioners
were. II. G. Gray, j. w. Holiday,
j. l.. Clayton, w. ii. Sowell.
These officers held their places only
until their successors, elected
at the next general election, were quail
flied. This election was held in No
vember, 1878, when the following OH
GERS were elected to serve two years,
to-wit:
County Judge, L.. Y. Beauchamp;
county clerk, NJ. &. Lambeth; sheriff,
John Mann; county attorney, a. G..
Schurtletl; tax assessor, A. White
hurst; trei. urer, G., =. Gamble; sur
veyor, L. Strickland cattle and hide
inspector, A. j Gildstrap; county
commissioners, II. G. Gray, w. III.
Lowell, j. w. Holiday, A. NJ.
Hunter.
AT the November election in 1850
Luke Mathews was elected county
judge; NJ. G. Lambeth, county clerk;
J. Y. Cunningham, sheriff; Frank
Hamilton, county attorney; NJ. w.
Northington, ST., assessor; Z. p. Gam
BILE, treasurer. Liman Strickland, sur
vpyor; J. G. Walling, cattle and hide
inspector; and ID. w Wristen, l..
Il. Friend, j, w. Holiday and
w. II. Sowell county commissioners.
In the spring following Mr.. Strick-
land, an excellent OIL ser and gentle
man honored and loved by all who
knew him died, and IL. NJ. Henderson
was appointed TO ill out his unexpired
term as county surveyor
In November, 1852, John w. Muir
ray was elected county judge, which
position he held until March. 1854,
when he resigned and III. a. Porter
was appointed to succeed him, and is
now in office. AT this election David
II. Red was elected county clerk; w.
III. Lemmons, sheriff; D. G.. Hill, coun-
ty attorney; Thomas, Knaus, assessor;
G. =. Gamble, treasurer II. NJ. Hen
derson, surveyor; John u. Neil, cattle
and hide inspector, and w. III. Wicks,
J. Il. Berry, w. A. Humphrey and J.
w. Holiday, county commissioners.
Later, Mr.. Henderson resigned his
position, and j. A. Thomas was APP
pointed to succeed him AS surveyor
and is still in office.
The original county seat of Taylor
county was Buffalo Gap. but October %,
1888, an election was held for the per-
manent county seat, at which Abilene
was selected by large majority. The
result rs announced was contested in
the state courts, but the contest was
decided in favor of Abilene. In No
vember, 1883, by order of the district
judge of the Twelfth Judicial district,
The county records were moved to the
new county seat.
TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTY.
The dividing ridge between Col
orado and BRACES extends through the
county from southeast to northwest,
dividing the county about equally.
This ridge is from b TO A
miles Wide. IL is sometimes
digniiied with the name noun
tains," but the designation Is hardly
appropriate In view Of the fact that its
highest point rises but 80 feet above
the surrounding plains.
There are four passes through these
mountains, Cedar Gap Is twelve miles
south OF Abilene and through 1t runs
one of the roads from Abilene to the
town Of Runnels. which Is the county
seat OF Runnels county.
| Buffalo Gap Is three miles west of
Cedar Gap and about thirteen miles
southwest OF Abilene. The main
county and stage road from Abilene 10
San Angelo, Tom Green county. via
Runnels, passes through this gap.
Mountain Gap Is near the western
line OF the county, about twenty miles
southwest Of Abilene. Through this
gap passes the old military road, from
Phantom Hill to Fort Chadbourne. the
first road ever laid Off In the sounty.
Lyle Gap Is In the southeastern psrt
OF the county, near the Callahan county
line. about sixteen miles from Abilene
No regular county road passes through
this pass, but road that connects the
county with Coleman county and the
Jim Ned country generally, passes
through It. The general elevation Of
the county Is about l650 feet above sea