Milam County Once Covered one-sixth of Texas by Joy Graham

Milam County Once Covered one-sixth of Texas

Milam History by Joy Graham

Rockdale Reporter - January 17, 2013

Shortly after Texas became a U.S. state, the Texas Legislature authorized a seven-

member commission to find a permanent site for the county seat of Milam County.

Milam was part of the original 23 counties of Texas.

On December 20, 1836 the Senate of the Republic of Texas confirmed the nomination of

Massillon Farley as the first chief justice of Milam County along with provisions made

for the county court of Milam County.

At this point in history, this area was known as Robertson’s Colony.

It was Farley who announced in 1837 that all of the settlements were in the southern

portion of this county.

Thus, Nashville-on-the-Brazos River was named the first location as county seat of

Milam County’.

Farley’s letter to the Secretary of State prompted Texas’ first legislature to relocate

the county seat in the post oaks 1-1/2 miles east on a 60-acre tract of Daniel Monroe’s

headright on Little River in 1846.

The new community created by the move was named Cameron for Ewen Cameron, a Scot

Highlander, prominent in the Texas Revolution and a member of the Mier Expedition

during the war with Mexico.

History reveals Ewen Cameron was ordered to be shot by Santa Anna.

(He is buried, along with other Texans executed after the failed Mier Expedition on

Monument Hill in La Grange. Cameron County, which contains Brownsville, is also named

for Ewen Cameron.)

It is not known exactly how long the first courthouse of the county survived.

However four courthouses have been built in the county with the present one built in

1892 and historically restored as a working courthouse in 2002.

Milam County remained its original size until all or parts of from 48 plus counties

were carved from the original area which covered one-sixth the size of Texas.

Just think, how difficult it was from 1837 to about 1850 to serve as one of the elected

Milam County officials.

Milam extended from as far south as Lee County, north to Shackleford County (northeast

of Abilene).

There were attempts in 1874 and 1880 to move the county seat to Rockdale, with results

going in favor of maintaining status quo.

Research: Milam County Courthouse & Its People: Milam County Historical Commission,

2002 Taylor Publishing Company.

Wikipedia, free encyclopedia, 2013, Jan. 12, 2013.

maryjoygraham@yahoo.com