Early Statehood - Part 1, 1846-1853

Born: March 31, 1808 in North Carolina

Early Career: Henderson came to Texas in 1836 from Mississippi after raising a company of volunteers to fight for Texas independence. President David G. Burnet commissioned Henderson to raise troops for Texas in the United States. Once Texas became a republic, Henderson served as attorney general and then secretary of state under President Sam Houston in 1836 and 1837, acted as special minister to England and France from 1837 to 1840, assisted Isaac Van Zandt in negotiating an annexation treaty in 1844, and served as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1845.

Accomplishments: Politically savvy, Henderson ran for governor after the death of Kenneth Anderson, who was his law partner and a leading contender in the governor's race. Lieutenant Governor Albert Clinton Horton became acting governor on May 19, 1846 when Henderson led a regiment of Texas volunteers to fight in the Mexican War. Henderson returned to his duties as governor on December 13, 1846.

Later Years: Henderson did not seek reelection after his term as governor expired, but returned to his San Augustine law practice. He filled the United States Senate seat of Thomas J. Rusk from November 9, 1857 until his death on June 4, 1858 in Washington, D.C.

Handbook of Texas article about Governor J. Pinckney Henderson

Henderson to Lt. Governor Horton, announcing he is leaving to take field command of Texas troops

Born: March 12, 1795 in Georgia

Early career: Wood was a veteran of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend at nineteen and served in the Georgia state assembly. In 1839, he brought his family and 30 slaves to Texas where he settled a plantation along the Trinity River. Wood served in the Sixth Congress (1841) and the Annexation Convention of 1845. He resigned his seat in the state senate to become a regimental colonel in the Mexican War. Considered by his men to be a hero at the Battle of Monterrey, he was slighted by James Pinckney Henderson in the general's report; the incident may have been decisive in Wood's election as governor in 1847.

Accomplishments: Issues in his administration included increased defense of the frontier against Indians, payment of the large public debt, and establishment of Texas' right to the territory east of the Rio Grande above El Paso. The tough-talking Wood was defeated by the anti-Houston faction in 1849.

Later years: Wood made two more unsuccessful attempts at reelection before he died on September 3, 1858.

Handbook of Texas article about Governor George T. Wood

Wood to the Texas Senate, explaining his decision to send Texas Rangers to protect Corpus Christi against Indian attacks

Born: March 11, 1808 in Virginia

Early Career: Bell came to Texas in 1836 and fought as a private in Henry Karnes' cavalry company at the Battle of San Jacinto. After serving as inspector general in 1839, he joined the Texas Rangers under Jack Hays in 1840 and was a major in the Somervell Expedition of 1842. Bell was in command of the Corpus Christi District when the Mexican War broke out. He served as lieutenant colonel in Colonel George T. Wood's regiment and fought at Buena Vista; he then rejoined the rangers to protect the Rio Grande frontier. In 1849, Bell traded his military career for a political one, defeating George T. Wood for governor. He was reelected in 1851.

Accomplishments: The major event of Bell's tenure was the settlement of the western boundary dispute by the Compromise of 1850 (see Texas Treasures Online Exhibit - Early Statehood - The 1850 Boundary Act for more on this historic event). Bell had requested troops from the state legislature to occupy Santa Fe, and Mississippi had promised to help Texas should war break out with United States troops. Despite this, the federal government obtained the cession of the area (amounting to 56 million acres) in exchange for $10 million in U.S. securities, with which Texas paid its public debt. In addition, Austin was re-named the temporary capital.

Later years: A few months before the expiration of his second term, Bell resigned to take the vacant seat in the U.S. Congress from the Western District of Texas. Lieutenant Governor James Wilson Henderson completed the last month of Bell's term. In 1857 Bell married and moved to North Carolina, his bride's home state. Impoverished by the loss of slaves in the Civil War, Bell was awarded a pension by Texas in 1891. He died in North Carolina in 1898.

Handbook of Texas article about Governor Peter Hansbrough Belle

Bankers Chubb & Schenck to Bell on an investment opportunity for the $10 million settlement from the 1850 Boundary Act

Born: August 15, 1817 in Tennessee

Early Career: Henderson came to Texas at the age of 19 to participate in the struggle for independence, but arrived too late. He settled in Harris County and became the county surveyor, also studying law. In 1842 he enlisted in the Somervelle Expedition. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1843, and in 1847 became speaker of the House. He was elected lieutenant governor in 1851.

Accomplishments: Henderson served the last 28 days of Peter H. Bell's term of office.

Later years: Henderson was reelected to the legislature in 1857. During the Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army as a captain under John B. Magruder. After the war, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1866, a member of the executive committee at the Democratic state convention in 1868, and vice president of the state Democratic convention in 1871. He died on August 30, 1880.

Handbook of Texas article about Governor James W. Henderson

Petition from the citizens of Corpus Christi for the appointment of a new pilot for Aransas Pass