Crockett county was organized on July 1, 1891 and a week later they voted to
create the county seat at E. M. Powell's site. The people of Emerald
literally moved their settlement to the site of Ozona and became the county
seat's first citizens. A pioneer lawyer in Crockett County, Charles E.
Davidson, was elected the first county judge and was instrumental in the
town's development. Having grown up on an Iowa farm, here received his
education from the University of Iowa and then received a law degree in
California. He practiced law in California, Austin, Texas, and in 1883 moved
his practice to San Angelo, 85 miles from present day Ozona. When the
citizens of Crockett County began organizing the county, Davidson, who owned
cattle and some property there, was petitioned to run for county judge.
First elected in 1891, he held the same office for 52 years and was largely
responsible for the erection of the present courthouse in 1902.
The first courthouse was wood frame structure built in 1891 by the town carpenter Sam T. Smith. The building served the county until 1902 when the present stone courthouse and jail were built. Oscar Ruffini, a San Angelo architect was chosen to design the stone courthouse. Ruffini had earlier acted as the supervising architect for the first San Angelo courthouse in 1884, and designed the original stone courthouses of Concho, Mills, Sutton, and Sterling Counties. He had also designed numerous schools, banks, hotels and commercial buildings in West Texas. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Ruffini followed his older brother, F. E. Ruffini, to Austin and joined him in architecture practice. In 1883 Oscar moved to San Angelo for health reasons and lived there until his death in 1957.
The Oscar Ruffini courthouse is the finest example of Victorian public architecture in the area. Although the county has outgrown the facilities of the old structure, the citizens of Ozona plan to restore the building for a museum and public library.
“The Tie That Binds”
by Judy Black
December, 1996
A heritage appreciation sculpture dedicated to the pioneers of Crocket County
Crockett County
Formed from Bexar Territory
Created January 22, 1875
Organized July 7, 1891
Named in honor of
David Crockett
1786-1836
Member of the United States
Congress from Tennessee
Killed at the Alamo
Ozona County seat
