THE FIRST ELECTION IN SMITH COUNTY, Smith County, TX *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Peggy Brannon - peggybrannon@hotmail.com 28 May 2001 ********************************************************************** REMINISENCES OF THE PAST "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter II - Pages 10-12 THE FIRST ELECTION IN SMITH COUNTY Chapter II The first county election held in Smith county was on the 8th day of August, 1846. The following county officers were elected and duly installed: S. W. Farmer, county judge; A. W. Martin, county clerk; C. C. Alexander, district clerk; William Wooton, sheriff; W. B. Thompson, assessor and collector; Craig Wren, treasurer. The county commissioners elected were: Rob't Bond, Thomas Webb, James Dollahite and Samuel Rogers. It took the county machinery time to adjust itself to the new order of things, hence, the first session of the county commissioners' court was held on the 10th day of November, 1846. This court tax -- less than 12-1/2 per cent on the hundred dollars-- made a special levy for a county court house and jail, two necessary adjuncts to an advancing growth of civilization. The court house was built on the ground where the present one now stands, the jail just east of the I. & G. N. depot, a very little north of the fashionable De Colored Hotel, kept by Polly Howard, the ruling spirit of the colored Howard family. The buildings were of log structures from the forest timbers, almost in a stone's throw of the ground they were built on. The logs were roughly hewed before placed in position. The court house was the seat of justice, from which the rights and wrongs of the weakness of human nature should be settled by the highest scales of justice and equity-- blind justice presiding--the right protected and innocence vindicated. The same building was a town hall and used for religious worship. Here the pioneer preacher told of gospel truths with power and burning eloquence. Here the gay dance was held. The town meetings were called and local matters were discussed and determined for the betterment of the people. Eminent men addressed the people on political and other questions of the day. The seeming conflict of the location of the court house had been definately settled by the county election deciding in favor of the court house square. The locaters, however, had built a log house on the North Side, where the courts were held until the building of a new one, which was done in 1847. The old court house was an historic one; many thrilling appeals of logic and eloquence were given the early jurors to weigh, digest and then apply to the law as given in the charge of the court. The county election was a spirited one, but good humor prevailed. The arguments, pro and con, were told from the stump in every part of the county. The very first Smith county election was an interesting one and has grown in momentum and force ever since. The coming elections here meant that studied political tactics held the winning cards, hence, Smith county politicians soon became well known throughout the State. Her first election laid the ground-work for a political school; her young and rising statesmen were not long in "catching on" to the wheels of popular success. J. D. G. Adrian and C. C. Cowsar were the first justices' of the peace, and John C. Bulger was the lawful and high constable of precinct No. 1. Of the three last officials--neither alike in personality--were marked personalities in their day and generation.