COUNTY NAMED IN HONOR OF GEN. JAS. HAMILTON

Hamilton County is one of the 254 counties, that comprise the great state of Texas. It is in the most central county in the state and is often called "The Heart of Texas." It is rich in natural resources and offers many splendid opportunities for buying homes and establishing businesses.

Hamilton county was organized in 1858, four years after the first settler came to the county. It was named in honor of General James Hamilton, former governor of South Carolina. This famous southerner was commissioned by the Congress of the Republic of Texas to sell Texas bonds in Europe, to raise the money to pay its debts. The bonds were practically sold to the French government when the death of a pig caused the cancellation of the entire agreement. The story as told in C. E. Wharton’s "Texas History," is to this effect: A pig belonging to an innkeeper in Austin got loose and managed to prove itself a great nuisance to the French Minister. An argument between the innkeeper and the minister’s servant resulted in a thrashing for the servant and the death of the pig. Highly indignant, the French minister reported the whole affair to the French government representing the Texans as boorish and unprincipled. The sale was canceled and Hamilton returned home a disappointed man. Texas failed to pay its debt on borrowed money but it honored the efforts of Hamilton by naming one of its counties for him.

Perhaps the first settler in the county was Robert Carter, who came in 1854. He settled in the southern part of the county. He was soon followed by Asa Langford who located in Evant. Then came Jim, Dal, and Henry Carter, whom many Hamilton people remember.

In 1855 Jim Rice, Henry Standifer, and E. Manning arrived. These men constituted the front line of immigrants that soon followed. The first house in Hamilton was built of hewn logs with a puncheon floor. It housed the first stock of general merchandise brought to Hamilton. Jim Rice and Henry Standifer were the proud owners of the store, the only one in the county. This stock of goods was bought in New York and shipped to Galveston. Then it was hauled overland to Hamilton by ox-wagons. There were no horse drawn vehicles in the county; all traveling was done by horseback or on foot.

Hamilton county was originally part of Comanche county, but through the continuous effort of Jim Rice and Henry Standifer, it was separated from it. After it was organized into a county, an election of county officials was ordered: Jim Rice was elected county judge; Zeke Manning, Sheriff; I. S. Standifer, County clerk; and John A. Baugh, County surveyor. There seems to be no record of voters at this election.

The Indians were very troublesome at that time. Lives and property being in constant danger. A company of state rangers was organized for protection and Robert Carter, John and Adam Witcher, Simpson Loyd and many other notable men were members of this company. With the close of the Civil war and the return of the soldiers to their homes, there were fewer Indian raids and hey were finally driven from this section of the state. The settlers, feeling more secure, gave their attention to other things, such as stock raising and the development of their community. The streams were full of water, the prairies and hills were covered with luxurious grass and for many years there were no barb-wired fences--the anathema of the cowman and the cause of many a feud between the cow man and the sheepherder. Land had no value, grass was free and water plentiful. An industrious cowhand climbed to the heights and became a cattle baron in short time. With the coming of the wire fence this free life on the ranches began to disappear. Homes were built, churches, schools, small towns, and farms came into being. Thoroughbred stock took the place of the longhorn breed. The cattle baron and his vaquero were replaced by the farmer, lawyer, doctor, and other businesses.

The county of Hamilton lies between the Brazos and the Colorado rivers. It was watered by the Cowhouse, Leon and Bosque rivers. The general surface is broken; partly timbered and partly prairie with a few low hills. There are four types of soil; all are productive, yielding diversified farming and all fruits and vegetables grown in the south. Thoroughbred cattle, goats, sheep, and chickens are found on the present farm-ranches.

The small towns to be found in the county are: Carlton, Hico, Fairy, Indian Gap, Pottsville, Shive, Lanham, Aleman and Ohio. All of these places have a post office, schools, mercantile houses, and businesses necessary to the life of each community.

The county has three Federal designated highways and one state highway. Number 66 [now US281] is the Federal highway that will eventually connect Canada with Mexico, passing through Hico, Hamilton, and Evant. The east to west or coast to coast highway will connect somewhere west of Hamilton with the Broadway of America and will make an outlet for the travel to the coasts. With these immense arteries of highways completed Hamilton, while an inland town, will have splendid outlets in every direction to the playgrounds and business centers of the continent. It is served by the Cotton Belt Railroad, a branch operating from here to Waco.

The Town of Hamilton has its own sewer and water system; splendid schools taught by college trained teachers; a fine golf course; active lodges and clubs; a marble yard that utilizes native stone for monuments and tombstones.

The county of Hamilton has never had a bank failure. It has a low tax rate; being 51 cents on 100 dollars, including the Court House. It is in the heart of the pecan groves of Texas. It has more farmers who own their own homes than any other county of a similar size. Its foreign population composes a large percent of its citizenship, and they are thrifty, intelligent, energetic, and conservative.

Hico is the next largest town in the county. It is served by the M. K. T. Railroad and is on the main highway to Fort Worth and Dallas. Like Hamilton, it boasts of its own sewer and water system, air port, golf club, active lodges and up-to-the-minute mercantile stores.

Hamilton county is fortunate in having abundant natural beauty. With its many trees and streams that run the greater part of the year, the entire county is far ahead of the average Texas county in beauty. It is within easy reach of the petrified forests of Erath and Bosque counties and has many natural curiosities within its own borders. Petrified specimens of trees, animal life, and Indians have been found in various sections of the counties.

The Hamilton County News, Vol. IV, Number 11--Section Two

Historical and Trading Expansion Issue

W. F. Billingslea, Editor-Publisher

Subscription Price ONE YEAR ..$1.00

June 29, 1934