Garza County
Post, Garza County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Created in 1876, attached to Borden County 1891-1907. Organization came July 8, 1907 at the OS Ranch. According to legend, even the horses "voted" to gain the required 75 ballots. First court was held under a tent; first courthouse built in 1908. It is to the memory of these pioneer men who became the first county officials that this marker is dedicated in sincere appreciation for the part they played in the organization and development of Garza County: J.M. Boren, County Judge; O.B. Kelly, Sheriff; H.B. Murray, Clerk; B.F. Wilks, Treasurer; D.W. Stiles, Tax Assessor; M. L. Harkey, County Attorney; A.L. Duren, Justice of the Peace; Marion McGinty, Constable; H.C. Callis, Hide & Animal Inspector; Commissioners: Sam C. Wilks, Jobie Davies, J.L. Barrow, W.V. Roy. (1965)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Created on paper in 1876 and attached to Borden County until it could stand on its own, Garza County was finally organized on July 8, 1907, at the OS Ranch — where, by local legend, even the horses "voted" to reach the 75 ballots required. The first court convened under a tent before the first courthouse was built in 1908, and this marker honors the pioneer men elected its first officials.
Why it matters
County organization on a working ranch shows how thinly settled West Texas grew its civic institutions out of the cattle frontier itself.
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Related people
- · J.M. Boren
- · O.B. Kelly
Related events
- · Organization of Garza County
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Charles W. Post
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Charles W. Post (1854-1914), the internationally known creator of Post Cereals and an advertising genius, turned his fortune to town-building in 1906. Buying the Curry Comb Ranch and adjoining land — some 225,000 acres — he laid out Post City as a self-contained model community of towns and farms. He financed and supervised the work without profit, offering settlers homes and businesses far below cost in pursuit of his vision of debt-free private ownership.
Mason Memorial Building
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Dedicated to Garza County pioneers Marshall and Gladys Mason, this building was donated by their children for use as a community museum and recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967. It honors the settler families who helped establish this corner of the West Texas plains in the early 20th century. The gift turned a family memorial into a public keeper of local history.
Old Post Sanitarium
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Built in 1912 by the Double U Company of cereal magnate C. W. Post, this was the first hospital in its corner of West Texas and boasted remarkably modern facilities for its time — an X-ray laboratory, private rooms with steam heat, a diet kitchen, and nurses' training. It rose in the planned town Post created out of the ranchlands he bought on the plains. Its arrival brought medicine and modern comfort to a still-raw frontier region.
Verbena Community Church
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