From April, 1848, to August, 1850, the GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER of the county was the “official county seat.”
After the boundaries of the county were changed, the new “center” of the county was the county seat from August, 1850, to March, 1851.
The TOWN of KAUFMAN has been the county seat from March, 1851, to the present day. Now, let’s return to 1848!
On April 1, 1848, an election was held to choose the county seat. Even though no records of any actions of the “election committee” can be found, a number of facts do indicate an election was held and that the center of the county was chosen to be the county seat.
When the 1st District Court was held in December of 1848, it was under a post oak tree about five miles north of present Kaufman, which is the general area of what was then the center of the county.
Apparently another election was held on March 24 of 1849, and apparently it re-affirmed the first election, which was considered the official county seat, as of March, 1849. Surveyor, R. A. Terrell, was paid to ascertain the exact center in May of 1849, and the County Commissioners certified it in August of 1849.
The Texas Legislature changed the boundaries of Kaufman County in February of 1850, which meant the geographical center was no longer the same! So, the Chief Justice of Kaufman County, Gary Cobb, ordered an election for Kaufman County, June 8, 1850, and five “donations” were placed in nomination for the “county seat.”
I will not try to describe in detail each of the five “donations” (proposals of donated lands), but I will note that Donation #5 was made by William Love and consisted of 100 acres, which were probably located about one mile southwest of present Kaufman. Donation #1, the Kingsborough Donation, was made by District Judge Bennet H. Martin for Mrs. Francis Tabor, who owned but did not at the time have clear title to the land (150 acres where Kaufman now is). Donation #2, the Willow Pond Donation, 150 acres by Robert Stephens—was land to the immediate south of Kaufman in the Warsaw area. Donation #3 of 200 acres by D. M. Tullas has no listed “area” that we can ascertain today. Donation #4, which was the exact “center point,” was offered by R. M. Terrell and was three or four miles north of present Kaufman and consisted of 150 acres.
***Keep in mind that these OFFERINGS were just that, offerings to donate if selected.***
June 18, 1850—the County Court counted the votes in the election and found that Kingsborough had 51 votes, and Willow Pond had 39; the “Center” received 37. No donation had a majority as required, therefore, a “run-off” was required—even though Kingsborough definitely had the highest vote count.
Also, the law required that only those offerings which were located within five (5) miles of the actual “center” could be in a run-off! So, Commissioners ordered that James Smith should determine just how far Kingsborough and Willow Pond were from the “center.”
Apparently, Willow Pond did not fall within this limit, for it was not included in the run-off.
June 24, 1850—Gary Cobb (Chief Justice) decreed that the run-off election be only between the “Center” location and the “Kingsborough” location.
August 15, 1850— County Commissioners officially met to count the votes and found that the “Center” location had closely won the election with 113 votes, while Kingsborough had only 106!
But, and a big BUT, persons favoring Kingsborough were upset with the way the election had been run and (B. M. Ballard) argued before County Commissioners that the election was “invalid!”
But, Commissioners declared that the election “would be upheld.”
But (November 21, 1850), those favoring Kingsborough as the SEAT presented a petition to the Legislature of Texas, and the Legislature passed a new law.
December 2, 1850— This law called for another election between the “Center” and “Kingsborough.” The Chief Justice ordered the newly necessary election!
March 31, 1851—The votes were counted, and KINGSBOROUGH had narrowly won the election—93 votes to 90 votes—and had been chosen over the “Center.”
April 17, 1851—Francis A. Tabor then deeded this Kingsborough property (the present town site of Kaufman) donation over to “Special County Commissioners.”
**So, what was in it for Mrs. Tabor? She was GIVEN 12 lots inside the town, and a provision was recorded that all land in the town (owned by the County) would revert to her if the county seat were ever moved from Kaufman!***
November, 1851—By this date, all activities of the County Government were moved to the town of Kaufman.
1851—1873: Kaufman’s hold on the County Seat was FIRM during this period, but then, SOMETHING HAPPENED along the Texas and Pacific Railroad Line. A NEW TOWN was founded, and it very rapidly surpassed Kaufman in population. And guess what was starting to be discussed by 1874? *I hope you will return next week to find out!*
Oh, yes, and since so many of you have told me you like to see PHOTOS each week, I am printing some RANDOMS that I find interesting, even though they do not directly relate to this week’s topic!
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