History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson Counties. Page: 258

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retain a very distinct recollection of it. It
was a rude structure of small dimensions,
but abundantly large enough and sufficiently
ornate for the plain people who used it. It
was thirty feet east and west by twenty feet
north and south, about nine feet high to the
eaves, built of upright studding mortised
into sills and plates, weather-boarded on the
outside, floored with plank cut out by hand
with a whipsaw, and covered with boards
rived and shaved. There was a door on the
north side and one on the south side and a
window in each end. On the south side two
shed rooms about ten feet square were added
which were used as clerks' offices, there being
a passage way between leading to the courtroom.
Jacob Gross and Wiley Jones took
the contract and erected the building.
" The second house built in the new town
was put up by C. M. Hubby-a hewed-log
affair-which was opened as a mercantile
establishment, the principal article of merchandise
sold being whisky. This building
stood near the present site of Davis' livery
stable on the east side of the square, and
and was thus sufficiently near the courthouse
for all practical purposes. A little
later on George E. Burney and John Blair
put up a tavern near where the jail uow
stands. The style of architecture was changed
a little in this building from what had
been observed in the erection of the courthouse
and grog-shop. Instead of making it
of studding, weather- boarded on the outside,
the owners simply drove 'stubs' in the ground
sufficiently far to make them steady, then put
on a few cross pieces and weather-boarded
the whole. My recollection is that this
made a very substantial structure. I know
that if the guests ever 'kicked' they never
succeeded in kicking it down. Other buildings
- some residences and some business

houses-followed them shortly afterward and
the town soon began to put on the 'airs' of a
regular business center. Perhaps I should
mention that among the early buildings was
a double-walled log jail, the interior of which
was reached by a trap door from the top, and
which was supposed to be, and I believe was,
' bomb-proof' against assaults from without
and within.
" The first election in the county was held
in August, 1846, and the officers who were
selected to serve the people at the time were:
Isaac Standifer, Chief Justice; John McLennan,
Sheriff; F. T. Duffau, County Clerk;
and myself District Clerk. The first term
of the district court was held in November
of the same year and was presided over by
that versatile, eccentric and truly noblehearted
man, R. E. B. Baylor, Judge and
preacher. I do not doubt that a faithful
pen picture of that term of the district court,
with some side-lights on incidents and
men present, would be read with interest
and would indeed be a valuable souvenir
for the descendants of the old settlers.
I wish I could. draw such a picture, but my
literary accomplishments are not equal to the
task, and I shall not attempt even an oral
description. I may mention, however, that
among the lawyers who attended that sitting
of the court were J. D. Giddings, afterward
well known -in State history and politics;
William H. White, who later became a resident
of this county and was a very good
lawyer as well as a good citizen; A. M.
Lewis, of Brenham, and James Norris of
Caldwell, both of whom became regular practitioners
at the Milam county bar; -and
another, who was indeed a character, John
Taylor by name, a man who possessed a sound
knowledge of the law, was an interesting
conversationalist and one who might have

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HIS~TORYOPTEAS