The History of Kaufman County's Poor Farm

Today there are several dilapidated structures that can be seen from the south side of Texas Highway 34 and FM 1388 in Kaufman Texas - a place that for nearly 120 years has been known as the county's Poor Farm.  The Kaufman County Poor Farm is believed to be the only one left in Texas still owned by the County.  The Kaufman County Historical Commission holds a 99 year, renewable, lease agreement with the County for the use of 27 acres.   The property includes a stock pond, original 19th century buildings such as the two-story barracks & dining hall, trustee dormitory, silo, water well and well house, blacksmith shop, chicken house, barns and cellar.  20th century buildings still there include the Superintendant's House, chapel, and other outbuildings.  The old jailhouse is also located on the property.

The fencing is from the old Kaufman County Courthouse that stood on the square from 1888 - 1954.

Many vintage farm implements, tools and utensils used on the farm are still in place.  And in recent years the property and buildings have been cleaned up and renovated for use as a museum and place to hold living history functions.  Several Eagle Scouts have used the Poor Farm for their Eagle Scout Projects, bettering the place further.

This site's history began in 1879 when the county recognized a need for a dwelling for indigent, ill and insane within its jurisdiction.  Since that time it has served many purposes to the community and been a home to indigent residents, jail inmates and transients.

From the earliest county records, soon after Kaufman became a county in 1848, there is documentation that the county assisted with the care of its needy citizens.  The system which required the county to care for local paupers was a throwback to the Texas Constitution of 1845 which defined an indigent person as "one who is destitute and helpless as to be dependent for their support upon public charity."  And although the state recognized the existence of paupers as citizens the constitution made no provisions to provide care or sustenance for the poor on a state-wide level, placing each pauper within it's vast borders into the hands of each community's charitable organizations.

In Texas, according to statute definitions, a person was not considered indigent if there was a family member or any other person legally liable for his support, that was willing and able to support him.  However, the Civil War caused the demise of many lucrative charitable organizations willing and able to assist paupers, and brought the number of persons who would qualify as being indigent (according to that definition) to record high numbers, which forced a legislative change to occur.

For the period throughout the Civil War there are records within the Kaufman County Commissioner's Court Minutes of allocating money, staples and cotton cards to families in need.  And after the war ended the number of indigent persons within Kaufman County and in the entire state became so high that by 1869 an addendum to the State Constitution, Article XII, Section 26 made the care for the poor the responsibility of each county.

Under the new law Kaufman County officials found themselves delving into their budget to care for the growing pauper population by giving monthly stipends to the indigent and providing shelter in local hotels and boarding houses.  But that arrangement proved to be a wasteful endeavor and although it took ten years for them to realize a change was needed, a change was made.  In 1879 the Kaufman County Commissioners saw the need to establish a Poor House, or in this case a Poor Farm, and they began scouting for available land for use as such a place.

In 1881 the County of Kaufman purchased from Eliza Jane Thompson, for the sum of $5,104.16, a total of 408.1/3 acres of land located on the Dominico Falcon Survey, which was only 1 1/4 miles from the courthouse square in Kaufman.  By November 1883, buildings on the land had been erected to house the residents, guards and farm animals, and operation of the Kaufman County Poor Farm was underway.  Proof of this can be found in the county's Commissioner's Court Minutes of November 1883 when T. H. Boaz was paid $40.00 for two months wages as the Manager of the Poor Farm.  Also at that time a typical entry placing a resident on the farm would name the person as a pauper and would order them to remain there and support themselves by their own labor until they were either financially able to leave or until they died.

A person placed on the farm could only be released from their indenturement through a subsequent court order and although some persons "escaped" from the poor farm, most lived there the rest of their lives, seemingly content to do so.  There are some orders found in the county records where lazy and uncooperative inmates were given money and train tickets out of Kaufman, and out of the State of Texas, and ordered never to return.

Those persons sent to the Poor Farm were required to work, but there were exceptions.  It is a known fact that many people who were in ill health ended up living on the Poor Farm.  In the county records, the earliest mention of medical care to the residents of the Poor Farm is noted in 1884, when Dr. Charles R. Fox was allowed $10.00 for medical attention to Rachael Smith, a pauper living there.  In 1886 Dr. W. H. Pyle reported to the county commissioners that he had found at that time thirty three people living on the Poor Farm and that to that date they had suffered no epidemics or contagions.  He did report that there were a few persons there suffering with chronic diseases, such as Pthysis and Consumption, with the latter causing two deaths since 1883.  He had recorded at the time that two persons were suffering from the habits of opium, and that a death had occurred from heart disease, but that most of the infirm residing at the Poor Farm suffered from broken down constitutions, or general lack of health.  He diligently wrote to the commissioners in a report:  "I have done what is in my power to mitigate the sufferings of these unfortunates-and smooth their pathway to the tomb."

From the beginning the purpose of the Poor Farm was to offer a place where the persons residing there could grow their own food.  Farm animals were purchased by the county to do work and to be bred as future work animals and for slaughter.  Farm implements were gathered so the land could be planted as a garden.

In 1895 the Poor Farm was ordered to plant 100 acres in corn, 60 acres in wheat, 20 acres in cotton, 10 acres in sorghum to feed the farm's animals and the balance of the land to used as a vegetable garden.  However, as early as 1886 the county was paying outside vendors for services to aid the residents of the poor farm.  During winter months from 1886-1890 John L. Matney, a local restaurant and boarding house owner, and his step-son, George Kelley, who was the county's jailer, were paid to furnish the inmates at the Poor Farm with meals.

By 1889 another demographic change had caused a new development at the Poor Farm.  The number of female inmates living there had risen to a number that required the county to employ the first Matron to reside there with her sole purpose being to watch after their needs and protection.

County records in 1898 show improvements to the Poor Farm which added accommodations for the growing number of inmates housed there with the building of a barracks.  The Kaufman County Poor farm was also used as an Epidemic Camp in 1900, when smallpox hit the county.  During this time there were tents erected to house the patients and any of their family members who had been exposed to the disease and tents for guards, who were stationed to regulate the rules of quarantine.

In 1902 a telephone was added and in 1914 a new barn was constructed.  In 1917 a cistern was put on the site and an actual Jail was built to house the convicts who worked there, which eliminated the hassle of transporting the convicts from the courthouse to the farm and back, each day.

In 1931 the county poor farm was used in the Farm Demonstration Program and placed the acreage set aside for that project under the jurisdiction of the County Agent.  The use of the Poor Farm, as such, was continued until the 1960's and the first division of the original site came in 1972 when 57 acres were sold for $143.00.00

This was taken summer 1936 at the Kaufman County Poor Farm -
a Rehabilitation Client coming out of the Cellar that still exists there.

Below is photo of her son inside the Cellar - summer 1936.

These two photos made by the Conservation Corp.

The following Dallas Morning News article appeared in the January 29, 1940 edition.  The barn it refers to has been demolished.  The silo seen in the photo still stands.

The original farm acreage now contains several official County buildings where fields were once planted.  To the north of the farm is the County Livestock Pavilion and Fairgrounds, with the Kaufman County Annex Courthouse is to the northeast and the County Appraisal District Office and Kaufman County Library to the east.  The Kaufman County Veteran's Memorial Park was erected in 2005 and stands due east of the farm.

In March 1998, during Kaufman County's Sesquicentennial celebration, a Texas State Historical Marker was erected on the Hiway 34 side of the Poor Farm site by the Kaufman County Historical Commission.  In 2003 the Kaufman County Historical Commission requested and received permission from the Texas Historiccal Commission to move the marker to its present site on the eastern fence line so it can be better seen.

      The marker reads:

      "As did many Texas counties of the era Kaufman County created a Poor farm in 1883 in order to provide the indigent residents and families of the area with food, shelter and medicine. This work program replaced earlier relief efforts. All able-bodied persons were required to work, including resident guards and county inmates convicted of minor crimes who were originally brought from the jail daily for labor; by 1893 they were housed on the farm. In the 1930's the farm was used to demonstrate new agricultural techniques. Usually filled to capacity, the farm operated until the 1970's. By 1997 only a cemetery and a few buildings remained."

This is a 19th century tractor that was restored by the Kaufman County Historical Commission in the 1980's by Margaret & Don Moffitt.  It sits at the front gate of the Poor Farm, about 100 feet east of the Superintendant's house.

The old Bars standing against the building were once covering the jail windows on the third floor jail of old 1888 courthouse.  The grinding wheel was used on the Poor Farm in the 1890's - 1950's.  The table was once used to feed prisoners and farm inmates inside the jail, as were the old cast iron kettles.

Some of the residents of the Poor Farm were in bad health and remained on the place until they died.  From the earliest annals of Kaufman County history there had always been a "place of burial" for transients and persons who died while in jail, and a place where "quarantined" persons were buried away from the populace.  It is not known the exact date that this practice began, but in 1871 persons who were victims of a typhoid fever epidemic were ordered buried on "Dr. Snow's place" and that site is now know as the Kaufman County's Indigent Graveyard and is located on the north side of Highway 34 on land that was once a part of the County Poor Farm.  That land is still used today as a burial site for indigent dead.

Below are records for Sarah Cook, a woman who was insane and kept incarcerated on the Poor Farm.  They are typical of files for persons who were kept on the Poor Farm, for several reasons.

No. 904-A
PROBATE COURT,
Kaufman County:

Sarah Cook, non compas
J. D. Cunningham, Guardian
Filed 9 August 1898;
D. C. McNair, Clerk, J.H. Reeves, Deputy;
Issued 9 August 1898
In the interest of Sarah Cook, Noncompos,
Application of J.D. Cunningham, be approved Guardian;
Filed  9 August 1898, D.G. McNair, clerk of County Court, Kaufman Co., TX.
By J.H. Reeves, Deputy;
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File No. 904, In Kaufman County Court,
J.D. Cunningham, Guardian  vs. Sarah Cook, Non compas;
Issued this 9th day of Aug. A.D. 1898.
D. C. McNair, County Clerk, by J.H. Reeves, Deputy.
Came to hand 10th  day of August 1898 and executed  10th day of August 1898, by posting copies of the within Notice in 3 public places said County, one of which was at the court House door, one at Kemp, and one at Terrell, signed; Jim P. Reeves, Sheriff.
Sheriff's fee, $1.00.

The STATE OF TEXAS;
To the Sheriff or any Constable of Kaufman County, Greetings;
You are hereby commanded to cause to be posted (for ten days, exclusive of the day of posting, in three of the most public places in your county, one of which shall be at the Court House door, and no two in the same city or town, copies of the following notice;

The STATE OF TEXAS;
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE,  Person and Estate of Sarah Cook, Non Compass Mentis,
J.D. Cunningham, has filed in the County Court of Kaufman  County, an application for Letters of Guardianship of the Person and Estate of Sarah Cook, non compas mentis, which will be heard at the next regular term of the Hon- County Court of Kaufman Co., Texas, to begin and holden  on the third Monday in September  1898 the same being the 19th day of Said Month.  At the court house thereof, in the town of Kaufman at which time all persons interested in said Person & Estate may appear and contest said application, if they see proper .
Herein Fail Not, under penalty of the law, and of this Writ make due return.
Given under my hand and seal of office, in the town of Kaufman, the 9th day of August 1898.
Attest D. C. McNair Clerk County court, Kaufman County,
By, J.H. Reeves, Deputy;

To Hon. J.F. Stout, Judge - Navarro County, Texas.
The petition of R.E. Dodson a resident of the aforesaid county and state would respectfully show to the Court the following:
First,  Sarah F Cook a female lunatic, about 54 years of age, who is now on the poor farm in Kaufman Co., Texas, is the owner of real property with this state of the probate value of Five Hundred Dollars, and that said lunatic will soon be precluded by the statue of limitation from its recovery from parties, who are now on it unless immediate actions is taken, and it is waiting for the proper care and attention.  The said lunatic has a brother George Cook of Frost, Texas, who does not wish the Guardianship of the said Sarah F Cook and request your petitioner is not legally disqualified from performing the duty thereof.  Your petitioner would further show that Bryan T Barry of  Dallas, Texas, qualified as the guardian of the said Sarah F Cook in 1876 and has remained in that capacity down to the present time.  That on May 1st, 1899 the said Bryan T Barry filed herein his final account, and application to resign said guardianship.  That on the hearing there of and his discharge your applicant asks to be appointed in his place and stead. Wherefore your petitioner prays, that citation issue and that at next term of said court your honor will grant your petitioner letters of guardianship of the person and property of said minor, and your Petitioner will ever pray. Etc.
Signed: R. E. Dodson         Filed September 2, 1899.
J H Galbreath, C.C.C. N.C.T.
By HC Talbot deputy,

Guardians Bond and Oath

State of Texas, County of Navarro, In County Court.  Navarro County, Texas.
Know all men by these presents: That we, R. E. Dodson as principal and Northwest Surety Company as sureties, are held and firmly bound unto Hon. J.F. Stout, County Judge of the County of Navarro and his successors in office, in the sum of One Thousand Dollars, conditioned that the above bound R. E. Dodson who has been appointed by the County Court of Navarro County.  Guardian of the Estate of Sarah F Cook, Idiot, will truthfully discharge the duties of Guardian of the Sarah F Cook estate of the said Idiot, according to law.  
Witness our signatures, this 29th day of November A.D. 1899.
R.E. Dodson, Principal, National Surety Co., Surety. by E.J. Gammon, Rres. Vice Pres.
Charles F. Cutcher, Res. Asst Sec.

Approved this 9th day of December A.D. 1899
J.F. Stout, County Judge, Navarro County, Texas

 Probate Minutes, Special - August Term, 1901;
Be It Remembered, that there came on and was held a Special Term of the County Court, of Kaufman Co., on Monday the 12th day of August 1901. Present and Presiding; the Hon., C.M. Crumbaugh, County Judge;  T.J. Broughton, County Clerk; and Bill Henderson, Sheriff;
Among others the following proceedings were had;

The State of Texas VS Sarah Cook, Lunacy;
County of Kaufman]  In the County Court, on 12th day of August 1901 came on to be heard before  C.M. Crumbaugh, Judge of the County Court of Kaufman County, Texas, a complaint in writing and under oath charging Sarah Cook with being a Lunatic, whereupon came the said Sarah Cook in Person, and also came a Jury of six good and lawful men of Kaufman County, hereinafter named, who having heard the complaint, the evidence and the charge of the said Judge, said jury having previously been impaneled and sworn according to law), returned  their verdict in response to the Special Issues submitted, as follows, to wit;

The STATE OF TEXAS ]
   Vs
SARAH COOK-Lunacy ]

County Court, Kaufman County, 12th day of August A.D. 1901, the following Special Issues are submitted to the Jury of the above entitled cause;
1. Is Sarah Cook, the  Defendant of unsound mind ?
Ans.   (YES)
2. If the Defendant is of unsound, mind, is it necessary that she be placed under restraint?
Ans.  (YES)
3. If you answer both the foregoing questions in the affirmative, then what is the age and nativity of the Defendant?
Ans.  (About 48 years, Texan)
4. How many attacks of insanity has she had, and how long has the present attack existed?
Ans. (one all of her life)
5. Is insanity hereditary in the family of Defendant or not?
Ans. (No)
6. Is the Defendant possessed of any estate; and if so of what does it consist and its estimated value?
Ans.  (Yes-One hundred acres of land in Navarro County, Texas. Five hundred and sixty nine acres of land in Williamson County, Texas and a claim in some land  in Leon County, Texas. The estimated value of her estate is about $2,000.00)
7. If the Defendant is possessed of no estate, are there any persons legally liable for her support? If yea, name them.
Ans. (NO)
Signed; B. R. Powell, W. G. Douglass, B. F. Fox, J. S. Bow, J.A. Boggs, N. E. Osborne, Jurors.
WHEREUPON IT IS ADJUDGED, That the said Sarah Cook is a Lunatic, and it is ordered by the Court that she  be conveyed to the Lunatic Asylum at Terrell, County of Kaufman for restraint and treatment, and that the cost of this proceeding be adjudged against the Said Sarah Cook. It is further ordered that the above named Jurors be allowed the sum of $2.00 each for which let script issue.  C.M. Crumbaugh, County Judge;
The Foregoing Minutes read, approved and signed in open Court, this the 12th day of August 1901, C.M. Crumbaugh, County Judge.
Attest: Thad J. Broughton, Clerk County Court, by Jim T. Boggs, Deputy.
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No. 1059,  APPLICATION FOR GUARDIANSHIP;

The State of Texas }
County of Kaufman}
To the Honorable County Court of said County ,l your petitioner W.J. Weaver a resident citizen of Navarro County , Texas, respectfully shows to your Honor, that Sarah Cook who is now a resident citizen of Kaufman County, Texas, in an institution for the insane, is of unsound mind.  That she has some property situated in Navarro and Williamson Counties, State of Texas.  And is without any Lawful Guardian of her person or estate.  That her condition is such as to render  it necessary that this court appoint a Guardian to take charge of her property-for the welfare of herself and in justice to the County and General Public.  Wherefore petitioner prays that your Honor have said Sarah Cook, brought before you and that you then and there inquiry make as to her insanity-and that petitioner be appointed Guardian for her.  And of her said estate with all due  and proper orders.  Which may be necessary to enable him to proceed under said appointment and duty bound and petitioner will ever pray and etc.  W.J. Weaver

Personally appeared before me, W. J. Weaver known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument and who being sworn says that the facts therein set forth are true.
T. J. Broughton, County Clerk Kaufman Co., Texas;

Filed August 12, 1901;
T.J. Broughton, County Clerk, by Jim F. Boggs, Deputy;
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No. 1059;                    CHARGE OF THE COURT

The County of Kaufman}
           Vs
Sarah Cook}

In County Court of Kaufman County, Texas, Vacation Aug.  12, 1901;
Gentlemen of the Jury;
This is a proceeding instituted in the name of Kaufman County against Sarah Cook in which it is alleged  that said Sarah Cook is of unsound mind-the only issue submitted for your consideration is whether or not the said Sarah cook, defendant is of unsound mind.
Now if you believe from the evidence that the said defendant Sarah Cook is of Unsound Mind you will so find and say by your Verdict, "We the Jury find the Defendant Sarah Cook to be of unsound mind"------If you believe from the evidence the Defendant is Sane you will so say by your Verdict.
C.M. Crumbaugh, Co., Judge, Kaufman Co., Texas

Whereupon said jury returned into open court the following verdict;
"We the jury find the defendant Sarah Cook to be of unsound mind",
B. R. Powell, Foreman,
Filed August 12, 1901; T. J. Broughton Co., Clerk, By Jim T. Boggs, Deputy;
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No1059                 ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN

Kaufman County}
Vs
Sarah Cook}            In Vacation, August 12, 1901;

On this day came on to be heard the above entitled and numbered cause in the County Court of Kaufman County Texas, and both parties appearing in court by attorneys announced ready for trial. Whereupon came a jury of good and lawful men to wit;
B. R. Powell and five others who being duly sworn and impaneled in said cause and having heard the information  and pleadings of both parties and the evidence adduced thereon and having personally examined the defendant and received the charge of the court retired  to consider of their verdict and afterwards returned into open court the following verdict to wit;
"we the jury find the defendant Sarah Cook to be of unsound mind":. "B. R Powell, Forman"
It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by the court in accordance with said verdict of the jury that the defendant in this cause Sarah Cook is of unsound mind and that she be and is hereby adjudged by the court to be insane and it appearing to the court that the said Sarah Cook is entitled to and possessed of a small estate- of the probable value of Two Thousand ($2,000) Dollars. And that she has no lawful Guardian of her person or of said estate and that W. J. Weaver  has applied for letters of Guardianship of her person and estate and it further appearing to the court that a necessity for the appointment of such Guardian exists and that the said Weaver is in no wise disqualified to receive and fill such appointment.

And no objection being made thereto. It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by the court that the said  W. J. Weaver be and he is hereby appointed Guardian of the estate and of the person of Sarah Cook  here now adjudged to be of Unsound mind.  And the clerk of this court is hereby ordered and directed to issue letters of Guardianship to the said W.J. Weaver upon his filing bond herein in the sum of Four Thousand ($4000.00) Dollars payable and conditioned by law- as required by law-
Attest; T. J. Broughton, County Clerk,
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No. 1059 ORDER SETTING ASIDE APPOINTMENT;
Kaufman County}
Vs
Sarah Cook }
In Probate Court of Kaufman County Texas, Vacation August 21, A.D. 1901

This Day the Court of it's own motion sets aside the former order of this court of date August 12, 1901, appointing W. J. Weaver, Guardian of the person and estate of Sarah Cook-Lunatic.
C.M. Crumbaugh, County Judge Presiding;
Attest; T.J. Broughton,  County Clerk,  by Jim T., Boggs, Deputy }
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No. 1059---PROBATE COURT-Sarah Cook, ncm---12 August 1901
In re-estate, Sarah Cook, Lunatic,
Application for letters of Guardianship; Filed Aug 12, 1901, T. J. Broughton, County Clerk, by Jim T. Boggs, Deputy, Book 3, Page 510
We, the Jury find the defendant Sarah Cook to be of Unsound Mind, (signed) B. R. Powell, Foreman;