CHAPTER XXXIX.

County Officers Under the Constitution of 1870-Court House and Other Buildings of 1871-Kingsbury, First Merchant-Cattle Driving-A Stampede, etc.

When on the 30th day of March, 1870, the Constitution made for the state by the adherents of the republican reconstruction policy, went into effect, it brought but little change in our county's official list, except that it provided for no County Judge, but made the Justice of the Peace residing in the precinct wherein the county site was situated, the presiding Justice of the county's Police Court, [the other Justices of the Peace throughout the county sitting as associate members], Judge Landers' office was no more; and A.S. McCamant now became clerk of both District and County Courts, combined into one office under this constitution. A.V. Shropshire held the office of J.P. for Granbury precinct for awhile, but being a man of accommodating disposition and much wanting in the firmness of character, he was led into the act of officially certifying to an affidavit purporting to have been made before him by a gentleman, who was some miles away at the time, and though he insisted that the gentleman in question would have sworn as certified had he been present, yet there were some who were not lenient enough toward him to entirely excuse the act, and he was forced to step out of office, and turn the duties of this now highly responsible office over to J.B. Sears, his successor.

The funds arising from sales of town lots now coming into the treasury and the apparent urgent necessity for a larger court house brought the consideration of this subject before the Police Court early in 1871, and in the summer of that year a contract was let to Joseph W. Anderson, to erect a two-story rock court house on the spot occupied by the log cabin court house. Work was at once begun and the building completed to the satisfaction of the court early in the following year. It was 50x50 feet, with four rooms on the ground floor, separated by halls, for the officers and juries; the upper story being, at first, one large court room, afterward contained two jury rooms. This building was without any superfluities in ornament, but it was the pride of the new county, and the attention of passing travelers directed to it with about as much satisfaction as in subsequent years we have pointed to our present temple which occupies the same ground. The cost of this building, amounting to about $10,000, though largely paid out of the town lot fund, yet was partly paid by taxation, Anderson, the contractor, received several town lots, and he and others about this time built a number of houses, both business and dwelling houses. The rock business houses commenced and built fronting the square during the year 1871 are still standing mementoes of the architecture then in fashion. They are the "Granbury House," built by James Counts; the connecting store room on its east, built by two Robertson Bros., and the two stores, one occupied by J.C. Lees and the other lately by Steele & Son, built by J.W. Anderson. The little rock "Beef Market" at the southwest corner, now threatened to be supplanted, was built several years prior to the before mentioned, by Wm. Hightower, an active and thrifty little man. It was the first rock house ever erected in Granbury. Hightower also built the now dilapidated old dwelling at the Doyle spring, formerly called Hightower spring. The business houses about the square were generally log cabins, till Holland & Anderson's mill furnished from the native timber, what was known as "raw hide" lumber, with which some were built; they were few in number but with the friendly aid of the post oaks, it is surprising how much of the "business" current in early days was turned off in the town.

W.H. Kingsbury, as before noted, had moved his mercantile establishment from Stockton, and he occupied the corner, where at this time McGaughy's livery stable now stands. He had a very good sized stock of general merchandise suitable to the frontier trade, and kept it well up. Kingsbury was a popular and successful merchant here, doing an extended business. Often collecting up considerable herds of marketable cattle, which he drove to the markets beyond the Indian territory. These long drives to markets having become things of the past, a short description of one with its difficulties and perils will scarcely be deemed out of place here. For several weeks beforehand the numerous cattlemen are negotiated with to deliver certain grades of steers-usually 2 to 4 years old-to Kingsbury, who announces that he will start with a herd on a given date. At the appointed time often one to two thousand head of such steers, sleek and fat from the range are put into the herd, driven by some ten or fifteen cowboys, with three or more ponies to each, following the herd for reliefs and pack horses. An experienced man is employed as "boss" and under his direction they proceed; Kingsbury accompanies the herd with his wife, who desires to make a trip to the cities. There are no wire fences or other incidents of civilization to obstruct their way, and the grass being abundant they drive from twelve to fifteen miles daily, only having to take care that water is duly reached at proper intervals. Finally on a hot, sultry evening they draw near the bottoms of the Red river. The experienced eye detects signs of a stormy night and every precaution is taken, the cattle are carefully "rounded-up," the guards are placed at advantageous stations, and instructed to keep the herd soothed if possible, by song and refrain. Kingsbury takes his wife to a remote grove and they go into camp. After they have retired to rest the storm approaches, the thunder rolls and the lightnings play through the heavy timber of the bottom, and the uneasy herd have been lowing for some time and the cowboys have grown hoarse with keeping up their constant refrain as the ride about the outskirts of the herd; the night is dark and nothing seen save when the glare of the livid lightning is thrown upon the scene. Kingsbury is on the watch, his own horse is saddled and several of his men with him. Presently an ominous silence prevails in the great herd, instantly, followed by the dreadful tramping of thousands of hoofs and loud clashing of horns; they have stampeded, in what direction nobody knows, till the lightnings reveal their course, then every man in his saddle urges his pony through the darkness to gain their front, and finally a few fearless cowboys have placed themselves in the lead of the onward moving herd, and in the darkness and storm lead them in the circling movement. Presently it is discovered by Kingsbury that the herd is now heading toward the station where he is guarding his family. No time is lost; with a few of his men they make to the head of the angry, surging column, which no human power could check in its irresistible career, and succeed by their soothing voices to lead them in a circling line from their direction; so that by the time the camp is reached, the dashing mass pass it but a few feet to one side, then to avoid further danger, the herd is led on far away to the prairies, where after they have been severed into several bodies, and have finally exhausted themselves, they are left till the morning light enables the cowboys to again gather them up for the trail, which is resumed and accomplished without further serious adventure. But through the wild uninhabitable plains, meeting here and there parties of half civilized Indians, and the many adventures and diverting scenes passed on the long overland trail, made by short daily rides, possessed no doubt much to fascinate the spirited and brave little woman who had chosen to accompany her husband on this trip, yet it is not likely she again ventured to share the perils from which, by the cowmen's skill, she had such a narrow escape. But though such stampedes were common, the cowboys' experience and skill were unusually sufficient for his own protection, however burdensome and fatiguing the task of night-herding on stormy nights. When he reached Kansas City or Chicago, he, with his broad-brimmed sombrero, mounted upon his bronco, with elaborate trappings dangling from his saddle, and quirt in hand, was an object of sufficient attraction to insure him a good time; thus accoutered, and hailing from Texas, he possessed immunity from interference by the "cops" enjoyed by few other classes. And most of the cowboys relished these trips kept up till railroads and wire fences destroyed their trade. Kingsbury, known as the first merchant in Granbury, and very largely influential in its location and early advancement, was succeeded in business about 1872 by J.A. Formwalt, and moved to the newly developing mining regions beyond Texas, but is now residing in El Paso, having experienced vicissitudes of fortune and broked health. He was in the spring of 1895 again in Hood county visiting his many old friends who have long held encased in their memory the image of his genial face.

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