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A Short History of the Position
BEXAR COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK
[ This is an ongoing historical research project. We are attempting to obtain accurate
dates and other details. We welcome contributions from everyone. ]
Clerks of the District Courts have been elected since the beginning of the Republic. The Constitution of 1836 Article IV, Section 6 states, "The Clerks of the District Courts shall be elected by the qualified voters in the counties where the courts are established and shall hold their offices for four years, subject to removal by presentment of a grand jury, and conviction of a petit jury."
The Constitution of 1845, 1866 and 1868 changed the District Clerk´s term to 2 years. This was the law until the amendment in 1956 changing the term of office to 4 years. In 1837 there were 2 cases filed with the District Clerk while in 1970 there were17,262 cases filed.
Manuel Perez
May 1, 1837
John R. Block
February 1, 1841
James L. Truehart
* John James - Pro-Tem while Truehart was a prisoner of General Adrian Woll
and incarcerated in Perote Prison in Mexico.
March 4, 1841
Rafael C. Garza
February 3, 1845
John M. Carolan
July 17, 1846
John M. Carolan
August 3, 1850
John M. Carolan
August 7, 1854
John M. Carolan
August 4, 1856
John M. Carolan
August 4, 1860
Killed in Civil War
Nat Mitchell
Appointed to fill seat, elected in 1862. Resigned Jan. 21, 1865)
August 4, 1862
John A. Forbes
Appointed by John H. Duncan, Judge, 4th Administrative District
Fall 1865
Conrad Seabough
Appointed by Provisional Governor A. J. Hamilton.
Aug. 12, 1865
W. H. Jackson
Brigade General in Confederacy - elected
June 26,1866
Mortimer Slocum
Appointed by General J. J. Reynolds
Nov. 5, 1867
Mortimer Slocum
Nov. 2, 1869
Samuel S. Smith
Dec. 2, 1872
George R. Dashiell
Feb. 15, 1876
George R. Dashiell
Nov. 3, 1878
George R. Dashiell
Nov. 2, 1880
Theordore Boldus
Nov. 7, 1882
George R. Dashiell
Nov. 4, 1884
George R. Dashiell
Nov. 2, 1886
George R. Dashiell
Nov. 4, 1888
George R. Dashiell
Nov. 4, 1890
Henry Umcheid
Nov. 4, 1892
Nat Lewis
Nov. 4, 1894
Nat Lewis
Nov. 3, 1896
Nat Lewis
Nov. 3, 1898
George Surkey
Nov. 4, 1900
George Surkey
(Appointed June 14, 1906. See "S. A. Light Thru the Years" 1976 for 1906)
Nov. 4, 1902
During this term Minutes of the Courts were in longhand and then typewriters were used.
C. L. Nevil
Died in office and succeeded by daughter, Alice Nevil to finish term
November 3, 1904
Andres Coy, Jr.
November 4, 1906 - 1919
Osceola Archer
January 1, 1917 - (died in office in 1925)
Howard Archer
Apppointed to complete wife, Osceola´s term
1925 - December 31, 1926
Hart McCormick
Jan. 1, 1927 - 1966
Elton R. Cude
Jan. 1, 1967 - 1979
Tom Rickhoff
January 1, 1980
Herb Schaefer
1981
David Garcia
Reagan Greer
January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2002
Margaret Montemayor
January 1, 2003 - [term ends 2006]
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