The son of pioneer Texans. John Sterling Durst (1841-1924) was born in Leon County. After service in the Confederate Army, a sermon moved him to join the Church of Christ ministry. When the Rev. Durst bought a nearby farm and moved his family here in 1883, Kimble County was still a frontier region. He preached in this area and on summer tours around the state. A respected leader, he served as county judge, 1902-1910, and as county school superintendent. He was married to Adelaide Reed (d. 1874) and then to Lilla Kittrell and had a large family.