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From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article, sharing with others to learn of Hopkins County and its people.
Author unknown, published in 1927
R. D. Allen has a swivel chair in his office which several district judges have sat while presiding over the District Court. Many old-timers used to say that this chair was moved from Old Tarrant, the then county seat, to Sulphur Springs at the time the court was moved from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs, the county site, in 1870; while others maintained that it became the court’s chair at the time of the organization of the court in Sulphur Springs by Judge W.W. Andrew from McKinney. If the chair was moved from Tarrant, then it is most likely that Judge John T. Mills, who organized and held, at Old Tarrant, the first district court in Hopkins county, on October 5, 1846, occupied this chair, and who was succeeded by Judge William S. Ladd and Judge Winston Banks, respectively, the three judges filling the period from 1846 to 1870, when W. H. Andrews became the first judge after the removal of the court from Tarrant. Some said this chair was first placed in the new brick courthouse which succeeded the old wooden courthouse then situated on the Ashcroft brick lot opposite and just west across the street from the Baptist church; that time is not likely.
Judge Andrew, whose home was in McKinney and who held the office of district judge for over six years, was succeeded by Green J. Clark of Kaufman, who served for eight years and died in Kaufman a few years ago. Judge Clark was succeeded by Judge J. A. B. Putman of Sulphur springs, a most able jurist and just judge. He held the office for four years from 1885, voluntarily retiring, Judge Putman is the first judge, Mr. Allen says, he ever saw sitting in the court chair above referred to and presiding over court. However, Mr. Allen had heard so much about Judge Green J. Clark that he visited him at home in Kaufman in 1902, and found him a most interesting man.
Judge Putman was followed by Judge E.W. Terhune of Greenville, who filled this chair full, physically, intellectually and legal learning and culture. The judge was a very, very large man, though handsomely so, and would attract favorable attention in any body of men. In those days, under the law, the lawyers would make their speeches before the court would read his charge on the law to the jury; and while the lawyers were making their arguments to the jury, Judge Terhune would write his charge on the law; and, many times, knowing the law so well and thoroughly and so quick to catch all possible theories in a case, he would have his charge written before the evidence was closed. Judge Terhune was the last judge to sit in this chair on the bench. In 1892, Sulphur Springs had a big fire which included the burning of the brick courthouse which stood practically where the present beautiful granite courthouse now stands. Mr. Allen reached the fire in time to go into his office on the second floor of the burning courthouse (he being county attorney at the time) and threw the county’s law books and other property, including the judge’s chair, out the window. The chair, strange to say, not being injured except to break out one of the rollers and a little rip in the mat on the back. For his efforts in rescuing this property from the flames, the commissioner’s court of the county made Mr. Allen a present of the chair, which he has always appreciated and holds in high value.
When the present courthouse was built following the fire, the cushioned chair now occupied by Judge Sellers was installed; and the following district judges have sat, as a court, in the present big judge’s chair: Judge Terhune dying before the expiration of his firs term, Judge Templeton, then an attorney of the Sulphur Springs bar and now practicing law in the city of San Antonio, was appointed to succeed Judge Terhune, and subsequently elected by the people; but while holding this judgeship he resigned to make the race for the Court of Civil Appeals at Dallas and was successful. Under the resignation of Judge Templeton, Judge L. A. Clark of Greenville, at that time, 1900, a young practicing attorney of that city, was appointed by the governor to fill out such unexpired, refusing to be a candidate to succeed himself; and is now practicing law in Greenville.
Judge Clark was succeeded by Judge H. C. Connor, an attorney of Sulphur Springs at the time of his election by the people; but during the latter part of his first term of office, he resigned to form a partnership for the practice of law in Greenville and where he practiced for a number of years, and then returned to Sulphur Springs where he so practiced until his death in 1924.
Judge R. L. Porter followed Judge Connor by appointment from the governor to fill such unexpired term; and , in 1905, succeeded himself by election of the people for two successive terms of four years each. Judge Porter is now practicing his profession in Greenville.
Judge Wm. Pierson of Greenville came after the two terms of Judge Porter; and at the election of the people, held the office for two consecutive terms covering a period of eight years. Judge Pierson is now a associate Justice in Supreme Court of Texas.
Judge Geo. B. Hall was next elected by the people after Judge Pierson went out of office, and served one term and was elected for the second term but died in Greenville before he entered upon his second term.
Judge J. M. Melson, practicing law in Sulphur Springs at the time of his appointment, succeeded Judge Hall by an appointment from the governor, and filled out the unexpired second term of Judge Hall. Judge Melson is now practicing his profession in the city of Dallas.
Judge Grover Sellers in now writing the present chapter in the brilliant history of our judiciary.
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