Although the county was part of the 1842 Fisher–Miller Land Grant, no resulting settlement happened in the area. Fur traders, Texas Rangers, and federal troops passed through the area between 1800 and 1860. Settlers began arriving after the American Civil War, after the demise of the buffalo herds and the departure of Indian tribes. Indian fighter and buffalo hunter W. S. Sterling settled in the area around 1858. Two decades later, Sterling became a U.S. Marshal in Arizona and was killed in an Apache ambush near Fort Apache. Fellow buffalo hunter S. J. Wiley also settled in the county about the same time as Sterling. According to legend, Frank and Jesse James hid out on Sterling Creek in the 1870s to raise horses and hunt buffalo. Camp Elizabeth began as a Texas Ranger camp circa 1853. It became an outpost hospital facility of Fort Concho in 1874–1886.
although the county was part of the 1842 fisher–miller land grant no resulting settlement happened in the area fur traders texas rangers and federal troops passed through the area between 1800 and 1860 settlers began arriving after the american civil war after the demise of the buffalo herds and the departure of indian tribes indian fighter and buffalo hunter w s sterling settled in the area around 1858 two decades later sterling became a us marshal in arizona and was killed in an apache ambush near fort apache fellow buffalo hunter s j wiley also settled in the county about the same time as sterling according to legend frank and jesse james hid out on sterling creek in the 1870s to raise horses and hunt buffalo camp elizabeth began as a texas ranger camp circa 1853 it became an outpost hospital facility of fort concho in 1874–1886