The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 54, July 1950 - April, 1951 Page: 224
544 p. : ill., ports., maps. (some col.) ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
was Cameron, and Limestone County, formerly Milam County
(or District), county seat of which was then Springfield. Two
petitions to the legislature carried o07 names.
The legislature responded and passed an act on January 28,
1850, creating Falls County and designating Viesca as the county
seat. But Viesca was west of the river and practically everybody
lived east of it; so the people again petitioned the legislature-
that they be permitted to select the place of the county seat by
popular vote.
Because of losses by fire, when a Falls County courthouse, a
Milam County courthouse, and the state capitol burned in the
1870's, information is meager, but records show an election was
held (probably in August, 185o) and "Adams" chosen county
seat. Adams was the place centered around the home of Dr. Al-
lensworth Adams. Early Commissioners Court minutes refer to
"Adams" as the county seat until March 22, 1851, when it refers
to it as "Marlin." Name of the place (selected by vote, as
"Adams") was fixed by the legislature, when it passed a final
act, which created the county on September 4, 185o. The name,
presumedly, honors the Marlins, who owned land upon which
the site was located and were famous for suffering Indians raids
and clearing the area of savages.
FALLS COUNTY GROWS
The county grew steadily; many farmers and stockmen were
attracted by its fertile lands, abundance of water, and natural
grasses. Churchill J. Jones, the county's richest and largest slave-
owner, arrived with his family in 1851, having purchased exten-
sive lands in the preceding year.
The cattle industry and other farm pursuits flourished, and
the people were prosperous. The county was predominantly pro-
slavery; the people believed they possessed the right to own
slaves under the Constitution.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
Falls County voted almost unanimously to secede and to join
the Confederate States of America. One citizen, Benjamin G.
Shields, spoke openly against secession and became extremely
unpopular in the county.224
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 54, July 1950 - April, 1951, periodical, 1951; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101133/m1/300/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.