|
|
Ten
things you should know about
GEORGE CAMPBELL
CHILDRESS
(1804-1841)
Author of the
Texas Declaration of Independence
and namesake of Childress County
by
John Troesser |
 |
- Born on January
8, 1804, at Nashville, Tennessee his sister Sarah married James
K. Polk. Polk was later President of the United States during
the Mexican War.
- A nephew
of Sterling C. Robertson, Childress first saw Texas
in 1834 while his uncle was establishing Robertson’s colony along
the Brazos River.
- Before moving
to Texas permanently, Childress raised
money and recruited volunteers in Tennessee for the Texas army.
- Childress
and Sterling Robertson were elected representatives for the Milam
Municipality.
- Childress’
first wife died shortly after giving birth to the couple’s son.
- At the Convention
of 1836, Childress was named chairman of a committee to write
a Texas Declaration of Independence and he is generally acknowledged
as the author.
- Childress
and Robert Hamilton were sent to Washington D. C. as ambassadors
from Texas - seeking official recognition
for the Republic.
- Childress
married Rebecca Stuart Read Jennings in December 1836 and their
union produced two daughters.
- Childress
attempted to open a law practice in Galveston
and Houston but failed.
- Childress
then attempted suicide (by Bowie knife) in Galveston
– this time his efforts were successful (October 6, 1841).
|
Lagniappe:
- On August
21, 1876, Childress County was named in his honor.
- The statue
(above) was cast for the Texas Centennial in 1936 by French-born
Naturalized Sculptor Raoul Jossett.
- Childress’
grave is in Galveston’s
City Cemetery.
- Childress
was one of three “founding fathers” to die by suicide – the other
two were Anson Jones (who
died by a self-inflicted gunshot) and Thomas Rusk – who drown
off Galveston
after throwing himself overboard.
© John
Troesser |
|
|