Lou Ann Herda, Ed. D County Seat - Cameron, County Courthouse as
it appeared in 1939| Photo courtesy TXDoT |"Who will go with Old
Ben Milam into San Antonio?"| Those fateful words rung in my
ears as I neared the town of Cameron, county seat of Milam
County. Ben Milam, for whom the county was named, is one of
Texas' legendary heroes, losing his life in San Antonio early in
Texas' battle for independence. Originally, Milam County,
established in 1836, covered a huge portion of Texas. Over the
years, fifty counties have been carved out of it, from Hall
County in the Panhandle Plains to Burleson County in the
Prairies and Lakes Region. Like most Texas county seats, Cameron
is just about in the middle of the county. It's named for
Scotsman Ewen Cameron, who was shot by the Mexicans during the
Mier Expedition in 1843. George Erath, whose name sure shows up
a lot when you read about the beginnings of Texas, surveyed the
area and laid out the town. The first courthouse, a crude wooden
structure only 30' X 20', was al