Site of the First Court House Built in Reagan County

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's how Reagan County got its first courthouse up and running. On May 8, 1903, a whole slate of officials was installed right here on this very ground. Joseph J.

Boyd came in as judge. J. B.

Lucas took the clerk's post. Henry Japson drew the duties of sheriff and tax collector, which, if you think about it, is a combination of jobs that keeps a man very busy and very unpopular all at once. Frank Ramsey stepped up as treasurer.

W. C. Shamlin took on the surveyor's role.

M. D. Sutherland was installed as assessor.

And rounding out the founding crew, four commissioners took their seats: Jno. E. Gardner, W.

C. Castlebury, A. J.

Kerchville, and G. F. Kirk.

Nine men, one courthouse, and a brand new county ready to conduct its business. Now, nothing out here on the Texas range stays put forever. In 1925, the county seat packed up and moved down the road to Big Lake.

This spot, where all those names were read aloud and all those hands were sworn in back in 1903, was left to the memory of the land. The State of Texas put up this marker in 1936 to make sure that memory had somewhere to stand.

What the marker says

The following officials were installed May 8, 1903 Joseph J. Boyd, judge, J. B. Lucas, clerk, Henry Japson, sheriff and tax col., Frank Ramsey, treasurer, W.C. Shamlin, surveyor, M. D. Sutherland, assessor, Commissioners: Jno. E. Gardner, W. C. Castlebury, A. J. Kerchville, G. F. Kirk. The county seat was moved in 1925 to Big Lake. Erected by the State of Texas 1936