http://www.htcomp.net/jcgs/vb/HTML/VB.htm The History of Johnson County and Surrounding Area by Viola Block - 1970 http://htcomp.net/jcgs/vb/html/vb1.htm Cleburne had three hangings of men named John. On June 26, 1896 on the north side of Harrell St. just west of the Buffalo Creek bridge a man named John Wilkins was hanged for the supposed killing of Grince Taylor, who lived near Grandview. This hanging drew a crowd of 10,000 people. John W. Renfro was hanged for the murder of M. M. Williams, prominent Egan farmer. Williams was shot five times in rapid succession at the south door of the courthouse in Cleburne in 1899. The killing grew out of a case in the county court. Renfro had been charged with slandering Williams' daughter. Both parties were on their way to attend the trial when the shooting occurred. A lynching was feared, but prevented. John Shaw was hanged for the murder of Tom Crane in 1898. A Negro accomplice, Lee Wilson, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Shaw escaped from prison once, but was recaptured and hanged. The site of Joseph Shaw's log cabin was later Compton's drug store. Joe Shaw also operated the Cleburne House, established by Mrs. Wren, which had a livery stable behind it, run by Fowler & Lister. The Cleburne House had many proprietors. From a log cabin it became a three-story brick. T. Lowrence, Cleburne jeweler, was a long time resident of the Cleburne House, moving here in 1875. Rev. Joshua Cook (Boone), famous hunter and writer, moved into the Cleburne House in 1889.