The Sheriff Wore Petticoats LbNA #44873

Emma Dougherty Banister was the first woman sheriff in the United States. In 1894, she married John R. Banister in Goldthwaite. Banister was a former Texas Ranger and special agent of the United States Treasury Department. After several months of travel the couple settled in Santa Anna, where Emma assumed the duties of rearing John's four small children from a previous marriage and bearing five of her own. Having had experience tracking cattle rustlers, Banister began working for the Texas Cattle Raisers' Association and organized its Field Inspection Service, of which he was the first chief. He was elected sheriff of Coleman County in 1914, and the family moved from the farm to the first floor of the Coleman County Jail. Emma served as John's office deputy. She bought supplies, ran her household, and oversaw the preparation of meals for the family and the prisoners. On August 1, 1918, Sheriff John Banister died, and the commissioners of Coleman County appointed his wife to complete his term in office. Newspapers across the country did not fail to notice that a woman, even in the era before woman suffrage, had been made a sheriff in Texas. Under the heading "Woman a Sheriff!" the New York World classed Emma Banister among "a stock of westerners that does not know fear." She ran the office efficiently by day, answering mail, instructing deputies, replying to inquiries, and managing the prisoners. In the evenings she kept the records up to date, planned meals, and took care of domestic duties. She declined the county commissioners' offer to place her name on the ballot for the November elections for a further term in office. At the completion of the term the family moved back to the farm in Santa Anna.

Directions:
Santa Anna is located on US 84 in Coleman County, 9 miles southeast of Coleman, 21.5 miles west of Brownwood. From Santa Anna, go south on FM 1176, making a turn to the left at Bowie St., then back to the south to the cemetery on the left, then into the gate.
To the Box:
Pass the white metal building and do a u-turn around it. Look for the road marked Platt 2 and turn right. Look for the Banister marker on the right. Park here and you’ll find the Banisters, each with a Texas historical marker, both of which are bent over for some reason. Look in the multi-trunk tree next to Emma’s marker to find the box, which is covered with a rock.