Came from Tennessee to Texas colony, 1835. In 1836 signed Declaration of Independence; helped write Constitution of the Republic; Became first Attorney General; Soon also Secretary of War; died in office.

In Texas the Attorney General advises the Governor and district and county attorneys; represents the state in proceedings before the Supreme Court and Court of Civil Appeals; inquires into and reports on handling of public monies; examines and approves bonds of counties, towns and special districts; has anti-trust powers over corporations; approves the leases on public lands; prosecutes election frauds involving 2 or more counties; is ex-officio member of many state boards; is entrusted with advising 153 different state agencies and 315 local officials. Traditionally the protector of public funds, the Attorney General in 1954 sustained claim of Texas to tidelands valued at more than $3,500,000,000.

The Republic of Texas set the Attorney-General's salary at $3,000 a year, but soon lowered it to $1,000. Now the figure is $22,500. Many men have gone from this office to the U.S. Senate, Texas Supreme Court or other high posts in public service. Since Thomas, 49 different men have been Attorney General.

Mt. Vernon was established in 1849 on land donated by Stephen and Rebecca Keith, and a public square was surveyed in the 24-acre plat. When Franklin County was created in 1875, Mt. Vernon was voted county seat, and a wooden building northeast of the square was used as the first courthouse. Lots on the block north of the square were soon purchased for $150 for a 2-story wooden jail costing $1,600. In 1878 a brick courthouse was built on the square at a cost of $5,500.

In 1910 County Commissioners ordered an election to decide the building of a new courthouse and jail. The Commissioners' Court then rescinded that order, called for construction warrants to be issued without election, and levied a property tax to pay for the new buildings. Citizens filed suit against the county, and in January, 1911, the District Court prevented construction from proceeding.

An appellate court overturned the decision and by December, 1911, the Texas Supreme Court had affirmed this method of financing county buildings. Within days of the landmark decision, Franklin County Commissioners awarded a contract to L.R. Wright & Co. to construct this courthouse and adjacent jail. The buildings were completed in 1912 at a cost of $55,000.

Created 1860; until 1896, one of largest counties in Texas. Organized at Old Mobeetie, northwest of here. In 1880s settlement was rapid; by 1892 nearly 2,500 pupils were in county's schools. A post office, jail and many houses were built, and over 60,000 cattle grazed the 3,480 square miles of the county's area. But for a half-century (1846-1896) the United States and Texas waged a heated dispute over Greer County. Controversy had origin in an 1819 treaty fixing the line between United States and Spanish territory. A map designating the Red River and 100th meridian as boundary lines was part of treaty; but map aroused dispute, for it incorrectly marked 100th meridian and showed only one fork of two-forked Red River. Texas claimed the North Fork and meridian shown on map defined territory, and legislation and occupancy by Texans decided sovereignty. United States contended South Fork (larger of the two) and true 100th meridian marked boundaries. Three joint survey commissions failed to settle the issue. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1896 ruled that the region was in 1819 part of the Union and thus, was actually part of Oklahoma. Named for John A. Greer, Senator, Secretary of State, Republic of Texas; Lieutenant Governor, 1847-1853.

Formed from Shelby County; created January 28, 1839; organized June 12, 1842. Named in honor of Jonas Harrison, a pioneer statesman of New Jersey, who came to Texas in 1820. A member of the First Convention of Texas held at San Felipe in 1832. Died in 1836. Marshall, the county seat. Named in honor of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Formed form Young and Bexar territories. Created, August 21, 1876. Organized, July 5, 1886. Named in honor of John Hemphill, 1809-1862. First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Texas. Adjutant General of the Somervell Expedition. Member of the First State Constitutional Convention. Member of the United States Congress. Canadian, the county seat.

Built in 1890, first permanent public building in both town of Canadian and Hemphill County. Erected under administration of E.E. Polly, first County Judge.

Ironically, deception plagued construction of this jail, as building contracts were found to be fraudulent and citizens took legal action all the way to the Texas Supreme Court (1889). In mid-1920s, jail held outlaws from notorious oil boom town of Borger (65 miles southwest).

Vigorous, forthright and humane Chief Executive of Texas in years 1935-1939. Born in Bowie, one of nine children of Renne and Mary Henson Allred worked in youth as a soda pop bottler, shoeshine boy, newsboy. Attended local schools, Rice University, Cumberland Law School; was in U.S. Navy during World War I. Admitted to the Bar in 1921, his early law practice was with firm of Bernard Martin and Ben G. O'Neal, Wichita Falls. After experience as Assistant District Attorney, was named in 1923 by Governor Pat Neff to office of District Attorney, 30th District, where he earned a strong reputation in fight against Ku Klux Klan. Married Joe Betsy Miller, of Wichita Falls, and had three sons: James V. Jr., William David, and Sam Houston Allred. As Texas Attorney General 1931-1935, won many victories over monopolies; put "teeth" into gasoline tax law, to halt evasions; corrected a number of unfair trade practices; defended oil proration laws, winning the very first test case; successfully fought attempts of Federal officials to tax the income of Texas schools; established school fund's title to West Texas oil royalties worth over twenty million dollars. In 1934 race for Governor, James V. Allred was victorious over five opponents. In 1935 he was named "Outstanding Young Man in America" by the National Junior Chamber of Commerce. Won second term by landslide, in 1936. As Governor, 1935-1939, he implemented strong executive, legislative and judicial programs to correct social and economic ills; led fight that outlawed parimutuel gambling in Texas. During his administration, Social Security amendments were added to Texas Constitution, and on Nov. 19, 1935, he signed the state's first Old-Age Assistance Bill; soon instituted Aid to Dependent Children, Aid to Needy Blind, and a Teachers' Retirement Fund. Secured for schools the greatest per capita apportionment that they had known; obtained for the instructors fairer salaries; advanced building programs for colleges and other state institutions. Set up a Board of Pardons and Paroles to correct old system whereby it was alleged a Governor might "sell" pardons; initiated prison reforms; revised Industrial Labor Commission; instituted Unemployment Insurance system. Combined Texas Rangers and Highway Patrol to form State Department of Public Safety. In 1937 gave encouragement to an aspiring statesman, Lyndon B. Johnson, then running for Congress and later to be 36th President of the United States. Befriended many others seeking high public office, including later U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough, Secretary of Treasury Robert B. Anderson, and Chief Justice of Texas Supreme Court Robert Calvert. Named to Texas Judiciary its first woman member -- Judge Sarah T. Hughes, of Dallas. After his two terms as Governor, Allred was twice appointed United States District Judge, and was on bench at time of his death. He is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Wichita Falls.

Soldier-statesman of the Republic of Texas. A hero of San Jacinto. Commander in chief of the army 1836. Chief justice of the Supreme Court 1839. President of the Constitutional Convention, 1845. United States Senator, 1846. He called Nacogdoches his home from 1835 to 1857.

In 1874 this church was founded to serve the black community of this growing railroad town. Ministers from several Baptist churches in the county helped organize the new fellowship. Some of the charter members transferred from St. John Baptist Church in Preston Bend. In 1877 fire destroyed the congregation's first meeting place. A frame building erected at this site was replaced in 1891 by a brick edifice. The present church was begun in 1915. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall spoke here in 1950, when Hopewell was host to the NAACP Regional Convention.

Born in Tennessee, 1806. Drowned in Galveston, July 11, 1838, and his remains brought by boat up Buffalo Bayou to Houston. His remains interred in this cemetery under the auspices of Temple Lodge No.4. First Masonic funeral ever held in Texas.

Delegate to the Consultation held at San Felipe, 1835. Signer, from Brazoria municipality, of the Texas Declaration of Independence. "Bore himself as a Chief" at San Jacinto. Secretary of State, 1836. Senator in the Congress of Texas, 1836. First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. A county in Texas was named in his honor.