Roadwork Details in Rusk County from the 1860s

Roadwork Details in Rusk County from the 1860s

These non-consecutive pages from the Minutes of the Commissioners Court in Rusk County between 1865 and 1869 show how the county dealt with changes wrought by emancipation. Prior to 1865, overseers were assigned to sections of public roads and the "hands" of local whites were detailed to work on these roads. After emancipation, the court initially ordered that any "hands" assigned to work on the roads the previous year were required to remain at that task, even if they were now freed people of color. Later orders called for hands within the premises of a certain farm, or hands formerly owned by named individuals, to be assigned to a particular stretch of road.

Rusk County Commissioners Court

Rusk County, Texas, Commissioners Court Minutes, 1859-1870, Microfilm Reel 1020941 of Texas County Records Available on Microfilm

Published here by W. Caleb McDaniel

Between 1865 and 1869

This item is believed to be in the public domain. No copyright in the item is asserted or implied by its publication here.

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