KAUFMAN COUNTY, TX HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

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Kaufman County, Texas: A Genealogical Overview

Located on the rolling blackland prairies just to the east of the Dallas metroplex, Kaufman County represents a crossroads of Texas history. It evolved from a frontier outpost and a vital part of the Peters Colony into a rich agricultural region dominated by cotton, and is now a rapidly growing area balancing its rural heritage with suburban expansion. For genealogists, the county’s records tell the story of North Texas settlement, the impact of the railroads, and the deep roots of families who have worked the land for generations.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Kaufman County was created in the early years of Texas statehood. Understanding its parent and child counties is critical for successful genealogical research in the region.

  • 1848: County Formed: Kaufman County was established on February 26, 1848, by the Texas Legislature.
  • Parent County: It was created entirely from the northern portion of Henderson County. All land, probate, and court records for individuals living in the area prior to 1848 must be sought in the records of Henderson County.
  • Subsequent Formations: The county’s original territory was much larger. On March 1, 1873, the northern part of Kaufman County was partitioned off to create Rockwall County, the smallest county in Texas. Researchers with ancestors in the modern-day Rockwall, Royse City, or Fate areas must check Kaufman County records prior to 1873.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for David Spangler Kaufman, a prominent Texas politician, diplomat, and the first Jewish Texan to serve in the U.S. Congress. He was a key figure in advocating for Texas’s annexation into the United States.
  • County Seat History: The first sessions of court were held in a private home. The original settlement in the area was King’s Fort, established in 1840 as a defense against Native American raids. In 1851, the county seat was officially established and named Kaufman, and it has remained the seat of government ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The area was traditional territory for the Caddo, Cherokee, and Kickapoo peoples. A significant Cherokee settlement existed in the area until they were driven out by the Republic of Texas in 1839.
  • Anglo-American Settlement: The first permanent Anglo-American settlement was King’s Fort in 1840. The primary driver of settlement in the 1840s was the Peters Colony, a large North Texas empresario grant that offered land to new families. Many of Kaufman County’s founding families arrived as part of this colony.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Antebellum Era: The county’s fertile black soil made it ideal for cotton cultivation. A plantation economy developed, and by 1860, enslaved African Americans made up nearly a quarter of the county’s population.
    • The Railroad Boom: The arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1873 was a transformative event. The railroad bypassed the county seat of Kaufman, leading to the founding and explosive growth of Terrell, which quickly became the county’s commercial and economic powerhouse. The town of Forney also developed as a major railroad shipping point.
    • Terrell State Hospital: In 1885, the North Texas Hospital for the Insane (now Terrell State Hospital) opened. It became a major state institution and a significant employer for the county.
    • Outlaw Era: During the 1920s and 30s, the county’s rural backroads were sometimes used as a hideout by notorious outlaws. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were known to frequent the area, and members of their gang were involved in local altercations.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Records for Kaufman County are primarily located in the county seat of Kaufman, with important historical collections also available in Terrell.

  • County Courthouse: The Kaufman County Courthouse, 100 W. Mulberry St., Kaufman, TX 75142, is the central repository for records.
    • County Clerk’s Office: This office holds land records (deeds, mortgages), marriage licenses, marks and brands, and official birth and death records. Probate records (wills, administrations) are also kept here.
    • District Clerk’s Office: Maintains records of civil and criminal court cases, including divorce decrees and naturalization records filed in the district court.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration began in Texas in 1903. Records from that time to the present are available from the County Clerk.
    • Marriage Records: The County Clerk holds marriage records from the county’s formation in 1848 to the present.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Kaufman County Genealogical Society: An essential resource for anyone researching in the county. The society has published numerous volumes of abstracted records, including cemetery surveys, marriage records, and probate indexes.
    • Kaufman County Library: Located in Kaufman, it has a local history and genealogy collection.
    • Terrell Carnegie Library: This historic library in Terrell has an excellent local history collection with a particular focus on the city of Terrell and its prominent families.
  • Land Records:
    • Texas General Land Office (GLO): Located in Austin, the GLO is the primary repository for original land grant records, including the invaluable files of the Peters Colony settlers.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Hunt County (north)
    • Rockwall County (northwest)
    • Dallas County (west)
    • Ellis County (southwest)
    • Henderson County (south)
    • Van Zandt County (east)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks