Judge R. E. B. BAYLOR was one of three men who were founders of Baylor University and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor when they were founded as the same institution at Indepencence, TX, in 1845. In 1856 Coryell was still a young county since it was organized in 1854. Settlers were truly pioneers who lived among many dangers with Indian attacks for many years to come. Of necessity these pioneers had to be self-sufficient if they survived. In early Texas days, each county did not have a judge. In Hamilton County (formed in Jan. 1858) which shares a countyline with Coryell County, the sheriff would have to provide a protective escort for visiting judges from the countyline to the countyseat and then back again to the countyline after the court session. The protective escort was necessary because of lawless settlers. Hamilton County had a "Chief Justice" until 1866. Perhaps a chief justice did not function as a judge, because it was during that time that visiting judges came to Hamilton to hold court. Elreeta ---------- > From: Carole Hedger <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [TXCORYEL-L] Re: Cooke / Garrard > Date: Thursday, October 01, 1998 9:32 AM ... ... ... ... The first court opened its session (16 June 1856),when this call was destined to suffer from the hands of the prosecuting attorney. Present and presiding, the Hon.R.E.B.Baylor, judge..and here the district attorney, N.W.Battle of Waco, opened fire on the illegality of the call for grand jurors, and secured a new call, which resulted in the first grand jury of the county being made up of the following..." ... ... ... > Carole