CHAPTER XXXVI.

County Officials-Removal of Sheriff and Clerk-Judge Landers-A.J. Wright

The first elected officials were not all allowed to enjoy their places undisturbed to the end of their term, as several of them had served in the Confederate army, and the laying down of arms and resumption of peaceful pursuits was not, in the estimation of the powers at Washington, sufficient to restore them to citizenship, and when the Military Governor of the state assumed power he overthrew for the time every remaining claim of the right of local self government. But though those who could not subscribe to the oath, to the effect that they had not aided the rebellion, were removed, yet as there were then no carpet-baggers who seemed willing to venture thus far on the frontier, necessarily the offices had to be filled by democrats who had remained at home and taken no active part upon the side of the confederacy. Those removed under this rule were A.J. Wright, who as sheriff was succeeded by J.C. Hightower; A.S. McCamant, county clerk, was succeeded nominally by J.F. Nutt, but McCamant continued under Nutt to perform the duties of the office. The other county officers not having served in the Confederate army, were allowed to retain their offices; and so far as the facts are now known, all of these served out their terms of four years. And aside from the all-absorbing county site questions there was little of importance transpiring in their official lives to disturb them. It is not probable that the fees of office then were sufficient to be any incentive in itself, but there was great promise, no doubt, of future successes; and those who had aspirations must have employed themselves in the absence of other duties in plans for the future.

Judge Landers having enjoyed distinction in public life prior to coming to Texas, and now being in the decline of life, with a large and interesting family of sons and daughters, who were settling about him, had probably little expectation of his own personal advancement, and evidently was contented to serve his friends and his county with as little friction as possible; and many quite amusing incidents remain in the traditions of the county connected with his administration of justice. He was too far advanced in life and too much addicted to creature comforts to now post himself thoroughly in the laws of the state, but possessing good natural abilities and a large experience in the affairs of the state generally, with a strong sense of justice, he with such aids as were readily at hand, discarded many of the forms of procedure, and reached conclusions with but meagre [sic] respect for laws that obstructed his views. Upon one occasion he was engaged in trying a criminal case, well defended by a lawyer of good technical qualifications. Judge Landers was already convinced that the defendant was guilty, and when the state's witnesses were testifying, he allowed them to state everything without interruption, but when the defendant's witnesses begun to testify he repeatedly warned them to be cautious how they swore. He called to his side Capt. W.H. Milwee, an honorable lawyer, and requested him to advise and post him as to the rules of law. After the attorney for defendant began to speak in his client's behalf, he no doubt realizing the futility of securing any favorable decision from the court, while making his address held his head down in a dejected way; whereupon the Judge aroused him saying, "Hold up your head, sir, and look like a man." But no appeal from the lawyer could change the current of his course for crude justice, and while the lawyer was still talking in his client's cause, there suddenly came the pre-emptory order from the Judge that the court adjourn to the grocery for refreshments. While retiring to that favorite resort his honor could hear the rumblings and cursing of a disappointed and chagrined lawyer.

Capt. A.J. Wright, the sheriff chosen by the people of the new county, had settled his family at Stockton at the beginning of the war, having himself enlisted as Captain of a company of Missouri volunteers in the Confederate army. His wife, a sister of the Nutt brothers, with her children, remained here, thus separated from her husband most of the while during that trying period, but at its close Wright returned and by his activity and spirit soon became a prosperous and leading man here. He engaged in farming and stock raising, being the first man who ventured to plant a considerable crop of cotton, which he had to haul to near the eastern limits of Johnson county to reach the nearest gin; but his greatest success was probably in stock dealing. He often bought up and drove to the markets in the east large herds of beef cattle, and usually received good profits. Removing from Stockton to Granbury he was also engaged in mercantile business for a short time. So that his displacement from the office of sheriff was no great disadvantage to him, and when the disabilities were removed, he and McCamant, the clerk, being in great favor before the people, were both several times re-elected to their offices. During the time Wright was sheriff-till 1876-was a troublesome period in our territory. Several hieneous crimes, including the burning of the court house and all the county records by incendarism, occurred during this period. These will be noticed in their proper place. Wright, while sheriff, was extensively spoken of by his friends as a fit representative for the legislature, and when the representative district convention of the democratic party assembled at Granbury in 1872 to make a nomination, his name and that of Capt. W.H. Milwee were placed before that body, and the result was a locked convention, till the name of Dr. J.N. Doyle was placed before the convention and accepted by the friends of both the former aspirants. Capt. Wright having lost his first wife shortly after the war, and in 1871 was married again, to Miss Margaret Bond of Stockton, removed several years after retiring from office to Coleman county, where he died; and his wife and children returned to Hood county. His surviving widow and children all, except Jake, reside in Granbury. Mrs. Margaret Wright, who came with her father, Amon Bond, to Stockton, as heretofore noted, is entitled to be classed with the names of those veteran heroines of the frontier referred to in a former chapter.

2000 HOOD COUNTY TEXAS HISTORICAL DOCUMENT TRANSCRIPTION TEAM