When Clay County was formally organized in 1860, only a few brave settlers ventured into the area. The
earliest settlers included J.B. Earhart, Charlie Wantling, and Jim Dumas. They established ranches in
various sections of the county. These pioneer ranchers were followed closely by farmers. One of the
earliest of the farmers was Ben Hubert, who established a small farm in the area around the mouth of the
Little Wichita River.
The first county election was held at the crude frontier settlement of Henrietta, the first county seat. At that
time the total population of the county stood at only 109, of which two were Negro slaves.
The secession of Texas and the beginning of the Civil War were severe blows to the settlement of Clay
County. The tragic conflict caused most of the troops in the area to be withdrawn, leaving Clay County
settlers almost completely at the mercy of the marauding Indians. Before the Civil War had ended, every
white settler in the county had been forced to return to the more thickly settled counties to the east.
Soon after the war ended, troops began to return to Clay County. Fort Buffalo Springs, Camp Wichita, and
Fort Burnham were established within the county, but were in service for only a short time. What little
protection the returning settlers received came mostly from troops garrisoned at forts in surrounding
counties. In spite of the constant threat of death at the hands of Indians, the settlers trickled back into the
county. Led by H.A. Whaley in 1869, the settlers were numerous enough for the legislature to order the
county reorganized in 1873.
County organization was followed by a lengthy and very spirited struggle over the location of the county
seat. Although the county seat was rightly Henrietta, residents of Cambridge sought for several years to
maintain the seat of government. In the end Henrietta was again named the official county seat.
In 1883, the increased use of barbed wire and the competition for land and water between farmers and
ranchers led to a tragic page in the history of Clay County. The Fence Cutting War plunged some areas of
the county into a state of near anarchy. The issue became very confused with both sides bearing
responsibility for the blame. After several men were shot to death and numerous others wounded, the
conflict ended with an emergency act of the legislature which recognized the rights of both groups.
With the end of this conflict, the frontier era came to a close in Clay County. The stage was then set for the
development of Clay County into one of the finest farming and ranching areas in the state.
| CLAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. P.O. Box 483 . 116 N. Graham Corner of Graham & Ikard Streets Henrietta, TX 76365-0483 . 940-538-5655 cmuseum@wf.quik.com |
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| Henrietta 1880 Street Scene |
| Branding |