Galveston County's First Jail Was a Shipwreck

Galveston County began with the harbor at its center. After independence, the Republic replaced the older municipality system with counties. On May 15, 1838, Congress passed the act that established Galveston County.

The first county government was a short list of names, not a grand courthouse. Fenton M. Gibson became chief justice, Jacob K. Beaumont associate justice, and John N. Reed justice of the peace until voters could choose local officers. That election came on the first Tuesday of September 1838. Cephas B. Adams became the county's first elected official, while Oscar Farrish served as clerk and William F. Wilson as sheriff.

Wilson's first jail looked like it belonged to a harbor county. He used the Elbe, a brig that had run aground during the 1837 Racer Hurricane. Before Galveston County had the courthouse people know today, it held prisoners aboard a storm-stranded ship.