Reagan County News

STILES

April 2, 1903
Acts of the Legislature
Act of creating a new county out of the western portion of Tom Green County, and naming it Reagan in honor of John H. Reagan.

April 25,1903
Stiles, Texas
New County Of Reagan
An Election Held This Week for County Officers
An election of officers for the new county of Reagan was held this week and the following were elected: W. E Dunbar, County Judge, James Lucas County and District Clerk, Henry Japson, Sheriff, M.D.Sutherlin, Assessor, J. F. Ramsey, Treasurer, R. E. Covington, Surveyor, Sim Thorp, Hide and Animal Inspector, John Gardner, Pick Castleberry, G. C. Kirk, A. J. Kercherville, Commissioners.   The election passed off quietly. A grand ball was given at Stiles, the county seat. The Sterling City coronet band furnishing the music.
 submitted by Janice Rice

Stiles. Reagan Co.. Texas Aug. 4.— Stiles Business Men's Club met tonight and appointed a committee to circulate a petition asking the Commissioners' Court to grant an election authorizing the issuance of bonds to build a court house here in Stiles.8-8-1910

Courthouse work begun Special to the News Stiles. Reagan Co.. Tex March 17 Workman broke dirt Tuesday for the foundation of the courthouse. 3/18/1911

House  Destroyed by Fire. Special to The News. Stiles, Tex.. Dec 8.—The residence of Sheriff Japson on the south side of the square, was burned. The building and furniture was partially insured.12/9/ 1911 Dallas Morning News

ORIENT REACHES BIG LAKE. Reagan County Given Its First Railroad Connection. Special. to The News. Stiles. Reagan Co.. Tex.. Aug. 30.—The Orient work train has reached Big Lake, In this county, and Reagan County now has railroad connection with the outside world. The operation of accommodation trains will begin in a few days. 8/31/1911 Dallas Morning News

House  Destroyed by Fire. Special to The News. Stiles, Tex.. Dec 8.—The residence of Sheriff Japson on the south side of the square, was burned. The building and furniture was partially insured. 12/9/ 1911 Dallas Morning News

 

Heavy Rain Drowns Sheep. Special To The  News. Stiles. Tex„ May 8.—Reagan County, excepting a small portion In the northwest corner, has been visited by another fine rain. About two weeks ago there was a two-inch precipitation. Last Saturday afternoon and night 2, inches fell Some sheep were drowned. R. H. Coates lost about 400. John Carr lost about forty head and others lost a few. 5/9/1913

J. R. WARREN PHONES THAT TWO ARE DEAD AND THERE WILL SOON  BE ANOTHER. EVIDENCES OF II STRUGGLE Warren and his Wife Dead In Bedroom and Body of T. R. Pierce is Found in Dining room. Special to The News. San Angelo, Tex.. .—Long distance  telephone reports early this morning brought the news of a shocking tragedy, which occurred eighty miles from San Angelo In Reagan County late yesterday afternoon. as a result of which J. R. Warren, a well-known ranchman; Mrs. J. R. Warren, his wife, and T. R. Pierce of Hillsboro, Tex., are dead. At 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon the telephone operator at Stiles was called up. The speaker said: -This is J. R. Warren. Send Sheriff Japson out to my place at once. There are two dead people here now and there I will be another in a few minutes."* Sheriff Japson and a physician went out at once. When they arrived at the ranch they were met at the gate by James Cotton, Warren's hired man, who told them where to find the bodies. In the family bedroom were found the bodies of J. R. Warren and Mrs. Warren. The body of T. R. Pierce was lying on me floor of the dining room. Blood was spattered on the walls and floor of both rooms and there were many evidences of a terrific struggle. Mrs. Warren had been shot twice in the forehead, either shot being sufficient to cause death. Pierce was shot in the head, the bullet ranging downward, breaking his neck. Warren was shot through the head. There were no witnesses to the tragedy. Cotton was out in the cow lot with the six year-old daughter of the Warrens. He states that he heard the shots, but was afraid to go in the house. The cause. of the killing is a mystery. Warren and his wife were both young and well-to-do, and Pierce was a visitor, who came to their house only a few days since from the ranch of A. D. Warren, a  brother of J. R. Warren, near Sonora. No one seems to have known of any previous trouble. On the contrary, the Warrens were a model couple. Mrs. Warren was a daughter of ex-Sheriff Tom Bell of Hill County, and she and her husband and T. R. Pierce grew up together in Hill County and were warm friends. Pierce had recently come to this section in search of health. The Reagan County Coroner viewed the bodies this morning and returned a verdict in accord with the above facts. The bodies were taken overland to Midland this afternoon, from which point they will be shipped to Hillsboro for Interment. Friends of J. R. Warren In San Angelo are confident that Warren was temporarily insane. May 29. 1906

RANCH TRAGEDY VICTIMS Bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Warren and W. W. Pierce Are Buried. Special to The News. Hillsboro. Tex.. May 30.—The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Warren and W. W. Pierce, the parties killed in the tragedy on Warren's ranch near Stiles in Reagan County Sunday afternoon, reached here over the Missouri. Kansas and Texas road sit 10:40 o'clock this morning by way of Fort Worth The platform at the depot was thronged with relatives and friends of the deceased parties. Including Mrs. Tom Bell, mother of the late Mrs. Warren, who within the past three months has lost her husband, a son and this daughter. The remains of young Pierce were conveyed to Peoria to be buried by the side of his recently deceased wife and those of Mr. and Mrs. Warren were interred here. 5/31/1906 Dallas Morning News

COUNTY CLERK CONTEST. Special to The News. SAN ANGELO Texas, Jan. 24. —W. E. McDermott is County Clerk of Reagan County for the present, but his right to the office, will be contested by E. I. Cunningham in District Court at Stiles at the April term. As a result of the contest. Reagan County recently had three County Clerks on the job for the first time, perhaps, in any county in Texas.1/25/1925  Dallas Morning News

BIG LAKE