Early History of Kimble County

Duane's take

The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the one behind the wheel. Now, Kimble County didn't always have a name; it had to earn one. Created in 1858 out of Bexar County, this stretch of Texas Hill Country was, for a time, attached to Gillespie County just to keep the courts from going completely dark.

But the name they gave it: that name came at a cost. The county was named for Lieutenant George C. Kimble, slain on March 6, 1836, in the siege of the Alamo.

That's the weight this place carries before a single courthouse ever gets built. The county was organized in 1876, and on February 15th of that same year, they held their first elections. Will Potter took the judgeship.

Frank Latta stepped in as sheriff and tax collector, a combination that probably kept things efficient, if not always comfortable. E. K.

Kountz became clerk, N. Q. Patterson the treasurer, M.

J. Denman the surveyor, and William Graham, the attorney. Rounding out the new government were the county commissioners: James R.

Steffey of precinct one, Felix Burton of precinct two, H. E. Pearl of precinct three, and A.

Vancourt of precinct four. Now here's where the story gets its flavor. Spring of 1877, Kimble County was ready to hold its first regular term of district court.

And they held it; they absolutely held it; under a live oak tree, one and three-quarter miles north of right here. Judge W. A.

Blackburn presided. He had the Texas Rangers standing by to help keep order, which, in 1877 Kimble County, was not a ceremonial detail. They eventually got around to building something with walls.

The first courthouse went up in 1878, a frame building. It stood until April 22, 1884, when fire destroyed it, along with every single county record inside. All of it.

Gone. Commissioners court didn't let the ash cool too long. On May 13, 1884, less than a month later, they passed an order to replace that frame building with something more serious: a new, two-story stone structure.

Stone, they figured, doesn't burn. Well. On June 2, 1888, that stone courthouse was partially destroyed by fire.

Partially, not fully; but enough. On April 11, 1889, the commissioners court ordered it repaired under the direction of B. A.

Davey. That building, patched and stubborn, stood until 1929, when the present courthouse finally replaced it. Three courthouses, two fires, one live oak, and a county named for a man who died at the Alamo.

Kimble County didn't come easy; but it came.

What the marker says

Created in 1858 out of Bexar County, Kimble County was attached temporarily to Gillespie County for judicial purposes. It was named for Lt. George C. Kimble, slain March 6, 1836, in the siege of the Alamo. The county was organized in 1876, and the first regular term of district court was held, spring 1877, under a live oak tree 1 3/4 miles north of here. Judge W. A. Blackburn presided, aided by Texas Rangers. The first county officials, elected February 15, 1876, were Will Potter, judge; Frank Latta, sheriff and tax collector; E. K. Kountz, clerk; N. Q. Patterson, treasurer; M. J. Denman, surveyor; and William Graham, attorney. The county commissioners were James R. Steffey of precinct 1; Felix Burton of precinct 2; H. E. Pearl of precinct 3; and A. Vancourt of precinct 4. The first courthouse, a frame building erected in 1878, was destroyed, with all the county records, by fire on April 22, 1884. Commissioners court passed an order on May 13, 1884, to replace the old building with a new, two-story stone structure. On June 2, 1888, this also was partially destroyed by fire, and on April 11, 1889, it was ordered repaired under the direction of B. A. Davey. this building stood until replaced by the present courthouse in 1929. (1968)