Commissioners Court Minutes Vol. 1 Bowie County

Submitted by Anna Brett. She typed these up & got permission to put on line.   She has also submitted some copies that will be typed up and added as time permits.  These records are available at the Bowie County Court House in New Boston.

Commissioners Court Minutes, May Term, 1889
Monday the 12th day of May 1889

Be it remember that on the 12th day of May A.D. 1889 the Hon. Commissioners Court of Bowie County Texas met in regular session at Texarkana Bowie County Texas. Present and presiding Ho. S. L. Lary, County Judge, Commissioners present: C. H. Moores Commissioner Precinct No. 1, J. W. Wever Commissioner Precinct No. 2, T. A. Teel commissioners Precinct No. 3, B. T. Welch Commissioner Precinct No. 4. Also present W. H. Elliott County Clerk and Geo. W. Edwards Sheriff where the following proceedings were had and orders made..........

It is ordered by the Court that hereafter when any county or precinct officer requires any blanks or stationary that such officer send in to the Commissioners Court a proper requisition for the articles wanted.

It is ordered by the County Court that the following named person be and the same are hereby placed on the Paupers List of Bowie County............

H. A. Neal at an allowance of Five Dollars per month commencing May 15th, 1889.

Jane Johnson at an allowance of Five Dollars per month commencing May 15th, 1889.

Jennie Roach at an allowance of Five Dollars per month commencing May 15th, 1889.

Page 70
Commissioners Court Minutes, February Term, 1890
This the 19th day of February 1890

It is ordered by the court on this the 19th day of February 1890 in open Court that the office of County Superintendent of Public Instruction be and the same is hereby created. The name of James R. Wilson being presented as an applicant for the said office of County Superintendent. He is hereby appointed County Superintendent until the next election of until his successor shall take charge of the office. Feby 19th 1890.

Page 71
Commissioners Court Minutes Feby Term, 1890
This the 20th day of Feby 1890

It is ordered by the Court that a road be opened up from Edwards Lake to intersect the Summerhill Road at the nine mile post, commencing at the River at the cove between Mrs. Neslys & Mrs. Edwards farm and the following named persons are appointed reviewers: B. J. Hargett, Jule Edwards, H. P. Sutton, Geo. E. Summerhill, J. C. Watts.

It is ordered by the Court that a road be opened from Tan Yard Bridge bearing to the right to McKinney Bayou and from there north to Red River and the following name persons are appointed Reviewers: Gus Baird; A. J. Baker; Wm Russell; Sam McCrary; Pink Rochelle

Page 123
Commissioners Court Minutes, Special Term, 1890
This the 2nd day of Dec 1890

Commissioners Court in Special session on this the 2nd day of Dec 1890. When the following business was had and orders made........

Whereas at an election held on the 25th day of Nov 1890 to determine whether or not the Court House of Bowie County & Count seat of said Count should be removed from Texarkana Texas to the Geographical center of Bowie County or remain at Texarkana Texas, and after the returns of said Election were canvassed by this Court and found that the result of said count was in favor of geographical center of said Bowie County by a majority vote of Bowie County (65) Sixty-five votes, therefore it is ordered that the County seat of this Bowie County Texas be removed to the Geographical center of said County, and that the members of this Court meet on the 3rd day of Dec 1890 at the Geographical center of Bowie County for the purpose of locating a place at said center for the County buildings, to wit: Court House, Jail & C & C. Recess now being taken to meet at the Geographical center tomorrow the 3rd 
W. W. Dillard
Co. Judge
Page 125
Probate Court Minutes, Special Term, 1890
This the 9th day of Dec 1890

Commissioners Court in Special Session on this 9th day of December 1890 where the following orders were made

It is hereby ordered that a contract be let to build a Court House at the Geographical center of Bowie County Texas to be a box house 34 X 60 feet in length and to use 16 feet boxing with an addition of 40 feet by 34 feet wide with a 10 foot hall between the main building and the addition with the county offices in the addition 6 in number, 3 on each side of six foot hall running length wise of the addition. The first 2 next to the main building to be 14 X 16 feet, the second two to 12 X 14 feet and the 3rd 2 to be 10 X 14 feet. 

Also a contract to be let to build a jail house of two rooms, 10 X 10 feet of square oak pieces 2 X 4 inches 8 foot wall floored and ceiled overhead with 2 X 4 oak pieces, and jailers office between the two cells 10 by 14 feet.

W. W. Dillard
Co. Judge
Page 127
Commissioner Court Minutes, Special Term, 1891
This the 6th day of January 1891

It is ordered by the Court that the contract let by County Judge W. W. Dillard to D. R. Branon on the 2nd day of January 1891 for the building of a Courthouse, jail, and office building for the sum of $1080.00 be and the same is hereby approved in open court and it is further ordered that when the same are finished they shall be examined and approved and accepted by the Commissioners Court before being paid for.

Page 128

On the 1st day of December 1890 the following order was made and duly entered in the records of the Commissioners of Bowie County to wit:

The State of Texas
County of Bowie

Whereas pursuant in an order duly and regularly made and election was held at the several voting precincts of Bowie County Teas on the 25th day of November 1890 to determine whether the County Seat of Bowie County Texas should remain at Texarkana Texas or whether said County seat should be removed to the geographical center of said Bowie County and the returns for said election so held at each and every voting precinct in said county having been duly returned as required by law, I, W. W. Dillard County Judge of said County did on this the 1st day of December 1890 open and count said returns and it appearing therefore that there was cast in favor of removing the said County seat to the Geographical center of Bowie County Texas (2086) Two thousand and eighty-six votes, and there was cast in favor of said County seat remaining in Texarkana Texas (2021) Two thousand and twenty-one votes. And I, said W. W. Dillard did and do by these presents declare that a majority of Sixty five votes were cast in favor of removing the County seat of Bowie County Texas to the Geographical center of Bowie County Texas, and I W. W. Dillard declare by virtue of said election, the County Seat of Bowie County Texas is removed to the Geographical Center of Bowie County, Texas 

W. W. Dillard
Judge of Bowie County Texas

Page 129

Therefore I W. W. Dillard County Judge of Bowie County Texas in compliance with the above order and by virtue of the authority vested in me by law, do by these presents, order and command all the County officials of Bowie County that are required by law to keep their offices at the County seat to wit:
W. H. Elliott County Clerk
R. J. Hairston District Clerk
J. Q. McHaffey County atty
R. G. Cavin Sheriff
W. S. McCright Co. Treasurer
W. S. Proctor Co. Tax Collector
W. C. Akins Co. Tax assessor
John Reed Co. Surveyor
J. R. Wilson Co. Supt of Pub. Schools
W. W. Dillard Co. Judge
To immediately remove all of their papers, books and records and all the furniture pertaining and belonging to their said offices and the County of Bowie to the Court House at the Geographical Center of said County, January 16th 1891.
W. W. Dillard
County Judge of 
Bowie County Texas

Page 143
Commissioners Court Minutes Feby Term, 1891
This the 12th day of Feby 1891

It is ordered by the Court that County Judge Dillard be and he is hereby authorized to make a deed for one acre of (ground) or land belonging to the County of Bowie lying near the Gravel Pit on the Transcontinental Ry to the Presbyterian Church for the consideration of five dollars in cash.

Page 147
Commissioners Court Minutes Feby Term, 1891
This the 14 day of Feby 1891

It is ordered that the County Judge be and he is hereby authorized to let the contract for the building a privy and the digging of a well, also cleaning of court yard & hauling sand for the walks.

Page 148
Commissioners Court Minutes Feby Term, 1891
This the 14th day of Feby 1891

It is ordered by the court that the name of the County seat shall be "Ball" and shall be so called in the future.

Page 174
Commissioners Court Minutes Special Term, 1891
This the 8th day of July 1891

Commissioners Court in Special session on this 8th day of July 1891 County Judge and all the Commissioners being present also the Sheriff and County Clerk in attendance. And the court having decided to build a Court House and Jail have this day in open court by order of the same employed Harry R. Taylor to draw plans and specifications of said Court house and jail for which they agree to pay him the sum of Two Hundred Dollars.

On motion the plan of the Clarksville jail was adopted and the Bowie county Jail is to be erected on the same plan.

It is further ordered that the material used in the erection of both buildings, Courthouse and jail, shall be of brick in the main, that the steps of the Court House be of stone, and that the trimming be of stone, stone & concrete foundation, Concrete floor, slate roof and dome to the Court House.

It is ordered that the names of the County Judge W. W. Dillard and the County Commissioners, C. H. Moores, T. C. Morris, T. A. Teel and B. T. Welch be placed on the corner stone of the Court House.

It is ordered that notice of the letting of the Court House & jail be placed in the Dallas News and the St. Louis Republic.

Page 175

It is ordered that contracts for the building of the Court House and Jail be let at one & 1/2 o'clock on Wednesday the 12th day of August 1891. The Court reserving to itself the right to reject any and all bids.

It is ordered that the contract to build two cisterns holding 1000 barrels each be let on the 12th day of August 1891 to be built of brick and cement & 3 coats of cement within.

Page 183
Commissioners Court Minutes August Term, 1891
This the 12th day of August 1891

Court in regular session August 12th 1891.
Present W. W. Dillard, Co. Judge, Presiding
C. H. Moores, Comm. Precinct No. 1
T. C. Morris, Comm. Precinct No. 2
T. A. Teel, Comm. Precinct No. 3
B. T. Welch, Comm. Precinct No. 4

The time having arrived to open bids for the erection of a Court House & Jail at Boston Bowie County Texas and all bids having been received, The Court proceeded to open and record the following bids to wit:
Sanifield and Emans
Courthouse $33,900
Jail 10,250
$44,150

J. M. Brown
Court House & Jail $53,000

Breneman
Court House & Jail $57,900

Frank Varner
Court House & Jail $47,610

Sanifield & Emons bid; being the lowest bid for the erection of the Court House & Jail the contract for the building of the same was awarded to said Sanifield and Emmons.

Page 250
Commissioners Court Minutes, Special Term 1892
On the 13th day of May 1892

It having come to the knowledge of the Commissioners Court through the County Clerk that the election books of Bowie County, which contain a record of returns, have been tampered with, by some unknown person in that the vote of Governor Hogg of the last election in Ward One in Texarkana Texas has been changed from 107 to 167. Not therefore the Clerk is hereby ordered to change and correct the same to 107 Democratic votes in said Ward.

Also at Dalby Springs box. The records have been changed by unknown parties & the Democratic vote for Governor at last election has been changed so as to read 189 instead of 89 as it should be & the Clerk is also ordered to correct the record and make it read 89 votes as shown by the returns. And it is ordered that the County Atty be and he is hereby instructed to investigate the matter and prosecute the guilty parties if found out.

Page 257
Commissioners Court Minutes August Term 1892
On the 8th day of August 1892

The Court House of Bowie County being completed by Soriefield Enius & Albight, the contracts for said house, and tendered to the Court said commissioners are due and careful inspection of said building are of opinion that said building is fully in accordance with contract to build same and is hereby accepted by said Court as fully completed, and that the officers of the County immediately move the records of the County into the same.

Be it ordered by the Court that the various officers of the County are hereby notified to occupy their offices in the new courthouse in the next 10 days or their offices will be declared vacant.

It is ordered that the collector will occupy the office in the southwest corner of the courthouse building.

It is ordered by the Court that the work on Court House & Jail having been completed, and the work received by the Court, that D. A. Carpenter superintendent of said works is hereby released from further duty as said superintendent to take effect from the 6th day of August 1892.

Page 275
Commissioners Court Minutes Special Term 1896
This the 18th day of Oct 1892

It is ordered that Jno Thomas be paid $35.00 for taking down the old Court House, in a good and careful manner, so as to split as few planks as possible, and to take the brick down, and to have all the lumber and brick piled in good shape, also windows and doors, at least 10 feet north of the old court house. The house to be taken down by the night of the 21st and moved from the public square and should then five dollars for each day after the 21st is to be deducted from above amount of $35.00.

It is ordered that County Judge, W. W. Dillard, sell the lumber, doors, windows and all material of which the old courthouse is composed should he get a decent order.

Page 305
Commissioners Court Minutes Feby Term 1893
This the 15 day of Feby 1893

The application of W. A. Wever asking the Commissioners Court to grant him a Certificate of Moral Character for the purpose of obtaining License to practice law was granted.

Page 336
Commissioners Court Minutes May Term 1893
This the 11th day of May 1893

The County Clerk is authorized & instructed to buy charcoal fire bucket to be used in the vault for the purpose of keeping the records dry & he is instructed to air & wipe the mold off the said records.

Page 410
Commissioners Court Minutes Special July Term, 1893
This the 10th day of July 1893

It is ordered that J. H. Lynch & J. L. Howell be and they are hereby appointed as a committee to confer with a committee from the Commissioners Court from Cass County upon the question of building a bridge over Sulphur River, and they shall report their action to the Court as soon as practicable.

Page 428
Commissioners Court Minutes Aug Term, 1893
This the 18th day of Aug 1893

Contract for thirty spittoons is hereby let to Jno. E. Thomas, at eight cents each.

Page 446
Commissioners Court Minutes Special Term, 1893
This the 20th day of Decr 1893

The contract to build a bridge on Barkman's Creek to be built according to specifications furnished is let to W. D. Sharp at $1.00 per foot.

The Co. Judge is authorized and directed to order two metallic cases for civil and criminal papers in Court House.

Page 471
Commissioners Court Minutes Special Term 1894
This the 26th day of Apr 1894

On this the 26th day of April 1894 the Court met on call of the County Judge in special session to consider the matter of quarantine against the City of Texarkana Ark. And other infectious local cities; and such other business as many come before the same present and presiding Jno. J. King, County Judge; Chas Gallagher, Comm. Prect. No. 1; J. H. Lynch, Comm. Prec. No. 2; J. L. Howell, Comm Prect. Prec 4.
When the following order was on made and ordered spread on the minutes:

Whereas it has been made know to the Commissioners Court of Bowie County that there is now prevalent in the City of Texarkana, Ark. A number of cases of small pox, the same being a contagious disease, and whereas there is great danger that said disease may spread throughout the County, and believing that an imperative public necessity demand such action for the protection of the people of Bowie county from said disease. Therefore it is ordered and decreed by the Commissioners Court of said Bowie County that local quarantine for said county be and the same is hereby established against the said City, Texarkana, and against all other points & places where said disease may exist, and the County Physician of said Bowie Co. is hereby empowered to carry out and enforce the provisions of law contained in the laws of the Twenty Second Legislature of the State of Texas acting only as the emergency manager & where acting to co-operate with the quarantine office in the State of Texas & of the City of Texarkana Texas.

It is ordered by the Court that the local quarantine for said Co. be & the same is hereby established & the Co. Physician is authorized to carry out the quarantine laws of the State. Read & approved in open court this the 26th day of April 1894.
Jno. J. King, Co. Judge.

Page 481
May 1894

It having been brought to the attention of the Court that a severe Cyclone has blown down a great many trees across the road leading from Ingersol to Bobo's Ferry, and otherwise rendered said road impassable and there not being a sufficient hands on said road to make same passable, and it having been made to appear to the Court that R. L. Bingham, overseer of the adjoining road are willing to assist in working and putting said road in a passable condition. Therefore it is ordered by the Court that the said R. L. Bingham be & he is hereby authorized to work and the hands under him and work said road for not more than two days.

Page 488
Commissioners Court Minutes May Term, 1894
This the 18th day of May 1894

It is ordered by the Court that the salary of the County Physician, Dr. T. J. Watlington, while in active service, attending the small pox cases as the Quarantine Health Officer of the County be and the same is fixed at Seven & 50/100 dollars per day with board. This salary to terminate as soon as his services are not required or as soon as necessity for his services ceases to exist and the Court is to judge from all the facts when such necessity ceases to exist.

Page 552
Commissioners Court Minutes February Term, 1895

It is ordered by the Court that the County Judge is directed to sell the old cistern pump for Three Dollars.

Page 578
Commissioners Court Minutes Special Term 1895
20th day of April 1895

The proposition of J. R. Miller to put lightning rods on the Court House for Two Hundred Dollars came on to be heard by the Court and afterwards was accepted by said Court.

Page 608
Commissioners Court Minutes August Term 1895.
Beginning the 12 day of August 1895

It is ordered by the Court that the contract is hereby awarded to E. W. Cavin for the erection and completion of a privy at the Courthouse and a two-room box house at the Poor Farm according to plans and specifications agreed upon at One Hundred and Eighty-five Dollars. Building to be put up of good material and to be completed by October 1st next.

05/14/05