Typed as spelled and written
- Lena Stone Criswell
THE DAILY
DEMOCRAT
Thirty-First Year Number --
Marlin, Texas, Monday, November 9, 1931
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COURTHOUSE COMPLETION
RECOUNTED IN MINUTES
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Well Ordered Sunk in Courthouse
Yard Few Months Later
Records Show
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The courthouse, "forty feet square, two-stories high, with hallways running two
ways through the center of the first floor, east-and-west and
north-and-south--with square zinc roof--etc" was completed in July 1855.
It was painted white "to beautify and protect." A rail fence was built
around it five feet high with steps leading over the fence. Instead of
opening a gate to pass through, you walked up a flight of steps to the top of
the fence and then down on the opposite side. Steps were placed on the
east, south and west sides.
* * *
A few months later, May, 1857, Chief Justice F. W. Capps and Commissioner S. S.
Ward were authorized to "have a well sunk on the courthouse yard for the
convenience of citizens of said Falls county." Was the well dug?
Probably---, but if it is positively known, the knowledge comes from the
memories of these who lived before the Civil war or from people who received the
knowledge from those who now have passed on to their reward. Important
records which would be interesting, indeed, because they contained happenings
preceeding, during and following that memorable struggle between the states are
not available. Records from August 17, 1857, to November 24, 1872, were
not found in the archives at the courthouse. Were they burned when the
courthouse burned, or did they simply disappear during re-construction days?
* * *
Memoranda preceeding the Civil war show evidences of increasing anti-slavery
agitation. One company of "pateroles" after another was appointed.
Their duties consisted mainly of looking after escaped slaves and preventing
escape. Four companies were appointed early in 1856. The following
served, W. S. Lang, W. J. Morgan, Gene G. W. Morgan, B. F. Francks, I. D. Reed,
Wm. Moore, John Coleman, H. H. Fortune, Robert Thompson,--Smith, A. Rabourn,
James McDonald, Thomas Norwood and others.
* * *
Naturalization papers and the oath of allegiance were issued to new arrivals.
Damnick Bitschnan a subject of France, renounced all allegiance to Louis
Napoleon, King of France, and took the oath oof a citizen of this country.
James Weltman renounced allegiance to the King of Prussia and likewise became a
citizen of America.
* * *
One of the last notations of early court days of Falls county, shows Churchill
Jones was granted a permit to operate a ferry on the Brazos river. Rates
he was allowed to charge were listed in the minutes.
(To be continued.)
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Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing by
The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.