Colorado County Courthouse

            This classic revival building—erected in 1890-1891 in form of a Greek Cross—is now one 28 oldest existing courthouses in Texas’ 254 counties.

            Contractors Martin, Byrne & Johnson built the structure of brick and Belton stone.  Local Masonic lodge laid cornerstone.

            In 1909 a tornado severely damaged building.  Large bell in cupola-clock tower fell 120 feet and was completely buried in the earth.  $15-a-month job of clock-winder was subsequently canceled.  During repairs, present copper dome was added.  In 1939 entire building was remodeled.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark—1969

The Rangers of Austin’ Colony

            By March 1822, Stephen F. Austin had attracted about 150 colonists of Texas.  The pioneers faced many hardships, including concern for their protection from Indians along the Colorado and Brazos Rivers.  In December of that year, Trespalacios, the Mexican Governor divided the conony into two districts, each having and alcalde to preside over matters of local administration and a captain to handle protection of the colonists.

            In 1823, after several Indian attacks on members of Austin’s colony, Captain Robert Kuykendall and Alcalde John Tumlinson of the Colorado District requested permission form Trespalacios to raise a company to protect the colonists.  Ten men were recruited to serve under the command of Moses Morrison.

            When Stephen F. Austin returned form Mexico City in August 1823 he found the colony still plagued by Indian disturbances and announced that he would employ ten additional men, at his own expense to serve as “Rangers” for the common defense.

            Although the law enforcement group known as the Texas Rangers was not formally organized until 1835, the “Rangers” of Austin’s Colony are the earliest recorded force of this type raised in Texas and served as a model of the later formation of the Texas Rangers.

Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986

William Menefee

            William L. Menefee, born ca. 1796 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Served in the Tennessee Militia in the War of 1812.  He studied law and was admitted to the bar sometime prior to 1824.  When he moved to Alabama in 1830 he and his wife Agnes (Southerland) and their seven children moved to Jackson County, Texas.

            Menefee became involved in Texas’ affairs with Mexico and represented Lavaca County as a delegate to the conventions of 1832 and 1833.  In 1835 he represented Austin Municipality at the consultation at San Felipe and later served as a member of the General Council of the provisional government of Texas.

            Menefee was elected Colorado Municipality’s first Chief Justice in 1836.  On March 2, 1836, he was among the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.  In late 1836 Menefee was appointed Colorado County’s first County Judge by Republic of Texas president Sam Houston.  Elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1837, he was one of the five congressmen chosen to select the site for the Texas Capital.  An unsuccessful candidate for the Republic of Texas vice-Presidency in 1841, he later served as Fayette County’s State Representative from 1853 to 1857.  He died on October 29, 1875 and is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

(1995)

1890 Cornerstone Ceremony

            The building of the Colorado County courthouse began with a public celebration on July 7, 1890.  About 3,000 people attended a barbeque in a grove north of town.  They later marched to the courthouse square in a procession led by a local marching band.  Members of Caledonia Loge No. 68, A.F. & A.M. laid the cornerstone with Masonic ceremonies.  Following the ceremony the crowd gathered together for a return procession to the grove.  Later that evening a grand ball was held at the Stafford Opera House.  The new courthouse was completed in February 1891.

(1990)

Tumlinson Family

            John (1776-1823) and Elizabeth Plemmons (1778-1829) Tumlinson were born in Lincoln County, North Carolina and lived in Tennessee, Illinois and Arkansas before coming to Texas with their seven children.  As members of Austin’s Old Tree Hundred Colony, the Tumlinson family settled on the Colorado River.  Austin’s Colonists were divided into two districts; the settlers of the Colorado District elected John Tumlinson their first alcaide.  The chief executive in a Spanish municipality.  Among his duties were administering justice and organizing a militia among the colonists.

            In May 1823 the first official Texas Ranger Company was organized to protect settlers form Indian attacks.  John Tumlinson was killed in such an attack by Waco Indians in July of that year while en route to San Antonio to buy gunpowder for his militia.

            Elizabeth Tumlinson was granted a league of land in a desirable location in the center of the Colorado district in August 1824.  She and her children remained in Austin’s Colony.  John J. Tumlinson, Jr. became a Texas Ranger Captain in 1832 and was the first of many of his descendants to serve the Rangers.  His brother Peter joined the Rangers in 1835.  Fourteen other men who related to John and Elizabeth Tumlinson by blood or marriage served in the Texas Rangers between 1859 and 1912, and several other Tumlinsons were frontier lawmen.  The town that grew up around the Elizabeth Tumlinson league became known as Columbus in 1835.  The legacy of the Tumlinson family, Old Three Hundred Colonists, farmers, alcaldes, landowners, Rangers and lawman continues to be felt throughout the region.

(1999)