James Latimer was elected to the Legislature of the territory of Arkansas soon after he settled here. Representing this section as a part of Arkansas, he was always an enthusiastic Democrat; a public speaker who took active interest in his country's development. He assisted in a very substantial way in the establishing of the first newspaper in north Texas, The Clarksville Standard, published by Charles De Morse. The sons and sons-in-law of James Latimer held responsible positions in this county and state, one of the most prominent of whom was Judge Albert H. Latimer. Judge Albert H. Latimer was for a number of years a public surveyor, but was best known through this section as one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Russell Latimer, another son of James Latimer, was a member of the Texas Legislature during the Republic of Texas. David K. Jamison, a son-in-law, was Clarksville postmaster before the Civil War and revenue collector under the Confederate Government during the war. He was born near Richmond, Kentucky, in 1803. In 1837 he married Miss Jane, the daughter of James Latimer. His son, John L. Jamison, had on hand for quite a long while a sum of old Confederate bills left in his charge when the Confederacy collapsed.

Col. Bob Hamilton, the brother-in-law of James Latimer, was in the very early days sheriff in this section, then considered Miller County, Arkansas. He was prominent in all frontier movements.