John L. Lawson

Wharton County Sheriff

NOT COMPLETE>>>>> John L. Lawson was elected for Sheriff August 12, 1858. R.E. Davis had been Sheriff of Wharton County since 1850 and he did not run against Lawson. He did however become deputy Sheriff of Lawson. Lawson only served one term..???. John L. Lawson had been taking care of roads and reporting the conditions to the County Court since 1852. He was a good friend of W.S.F. Alexanders and frequented his home as per Alexanders journal from 1870 to 1875.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER COURT MINUTES Page:127 May Term A.D. 1852 Ordered that Isaac Hardy, John L. Lawson,Lemeul Calloway, H.P. Cayce & G.W. Tilley be and are hereby appointed commissioners to value and assess the damaged occurring to Dr M.L. Muns by the opening of Road No. 11 & that said commissioners make part of the same at the next regular session of this court Page:148 February Term 1855 Isaac Hardin overseer Road No.11 Made his reports 1st had 22 black on said Road 2nd The names of the free white persons liable to road duty. John L. Lawson, Tom Tarver, William Schrock, H.P. Cayce J.W. Cayce, James Darby, Joshua Hooper worked 10 days with all hands. Road in good condition as the no. of hands will warrant but bad as that and requires more hands. No fees collected - but $12.00 promised by J. Hooper. Page:152 February Term 1855 Road No. 8 from Wharton through Alabama Settlement to Prairie. Section 1st from Wharton to far corner of Jessie Croom Plantation, Jno. T. Lawson Overseer. A.C. Horton hands, Lee & Callaway hands, Jno. L. Lawson hands..... Page:[not shown] August Term 1858 On this the 12th day of August A.D. 1858 the Chief Justice Jno. Deaderick proceeded to open and count the returns of the several election precincts of this county of an election held on August 2nd 1858 for the Election of State, District and County Officers, when it appeared that the following persons were elected county offices: John L. Lawson ......159 votes [No one else ran for the office of Sheriff] The following persons are the persons Elected county Officers according to the foregoing vote of Wharton County: John L. Lawson Sheriff he having received 159 votes. Page:250 County Court August Term 1858 The following regularly elected officers of Wharton County presented their Bonds which were approved and took the oath of office towit: John L. Lawson Sheriff Page:267 Commissioners Court 1859 Ordered that the Sheriff and County Clerk be allowed the sum of Fifty Dollars annually additional pay. Making the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars annually and that they draw their additional pay for the year 1858.

This page researched and written by Janet Barrett Hobizal in June 2007, From records found at the Wharton County Historical Museum

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