Rayner, Texas, Stonewall County ghost town. (original) (raw)
The former Stonewall County Courthouse on US 380
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com
History in a Pecan Shell
The man "Captain" W.E. Rayner later went on to found one of the two settlements that merged into the present Lubbock, but in 1888 he was busy organizing a movement to separate Stonewall from Jones County. An election in December of 1888 did exactly that.
The town of Rayner was platted in 1889 just after it became the first county seat of Stonewall County. Not everyone was happy with the choice and in 1898 there were two elections to move the county seat of government to Aspermont. Old Glory never seemed to be a consideration. The vote of the second election overwhelmingly favored the more centrally located Aspermont, which has remained the county seat.
The former rock courthouse from 1888 remains and a historical marker 7 and a half miles east of Aspermont marks the spot. The former Rayner town cemetery lies south of US Highway 380.
The 1891 former Stonewall County Courthouse is now a private residence.
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson May 2002
The 1891 former Stonewall County Courthouse
"According to the Kelsey/Dyal book under the Throckmorton County courthouse page, the Rayner courthouse was designed by Martin, Byrnes (sic) and Johnston (sic.) which is similar to the Throckmorton courthouse. According to the THC, the architect of the Rayner courthouse was the town's founder, W.E. Rayner. (??)" - Terry Jeanson
The present Stonewall County in Aspermont ›
Another view of the former Stonewall County Courthouse
Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson May 2002
Rayner, Texas Forum
- Rayners of New Zealand. Just a call of interest. Our branch of the family origated from Yorkshire England. - John Rayner, Blenheim, New Zealand, 16/Dec/2002
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