The original courthouse and hanging tree were about 50 yards inside the pasture fence. Hardin was located on the north-south Concord to Woodville road and on the Batson to Sour Lake Road. As Hardin grew, there were two two-story boarding houses and hotels, one owned by Elbert Smith, who also had a general store and one by a Mr. Simmons and bought by Lee Langston in the late 1890s. The original courthouse burned in 1886, destroying almost all records, Court was held for a while in Copley Hall. Hardin had the only post office between Concord and Woodville. By 1870 it was famous for its boarding house and the saturday night fights. They were called Bull Pens and Warren Collins the source of the fight. The pen had one man in the center who pitched a ball to the circle until someone missed and the they then changed places. May Hooks was in the middle with bald-headed Collins stooped over, pawing the ground and bellowing like a bull. May pitched the ball and hit him on the head, and a free for all was on. Hardin was the headquarters for the mail route from Beaumont to Woodville. Despite being county seat, Kountze won the right of way for the Texas and New Orleans Railroad and things started moving. In 1883 there was a vote to move the courthouse, amid political maneuvering, fist fights and threats, yet Hardin won. Rumors credited Gus Hook with burning down the courthouse. He lived six miles east of Kountze on Village Creek and someone had spotted a man running like the wind from the scene of the kerosene fueled fire. Gus was considered the fastest man on foot. His accusers lashed their horses to get to his house but found him in bed snoring when they arrived. The next vote awarded the courthouse to Kountze and Hardin soon died.