Hardeman County was created on February 1, 1858, recreated on August 21, 1876, and organized on December 30, 1884. It was named in honor of Bailey Hardeman, 1785-1836, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Jones Hardeman, 1788-1854, a member of the Texas Congress and Legislature. The county seat was Margarette from 1884 to 1890, and has been Quanah since, in honor of Quahan Parker, a Comanche Chief.