Texas on my mind

One of the local papers, The Leader Union, always has an history article in the Opinion section.  Up until now my favorite articles have been about the time Abraham Lincoln lived in the area when Vandalia was the capital of the state and Abe was a member of the state legislature.  However, this week's article called 'Fayette County's early ties to Texas' really grabbed my attention.

Writer Linda Hanaberger said our area in Illinois actually has two ties to early Texas both having to do with the family tree of famous Texans.  First we have Elkanak Smith who was kin to Henry Smith, an elected governor of the Provisional Military Government in 1835 in San Felipe.  Elkanak lived in nearby Fayette County.  Henry, according to legend, is the man who first associated the five pointed star symbol with Texas.

Ms. Hanaberger writes, 'According to the story, Henry was presented with documents that required an official seal.  Governor Smith was in a dilemma, because the new government did not own one.  Cutting a button from his overcoat, Governor Smith stamped it in the sealing wax on the document leaving an impression of the button design - a fire-pointed star.  The star has remained the symbol of Texas since that time.'

Our other connection to Texas involves cousins Sam Houston and Sam Houston.  Our local cousin Sam was 'an old soldier, having fought the British and Indians in the War of 1812, and 20 years later, he fought in the Black Hawk War of 1832 in Northern Illinois.''  The younger Sam invited the older Sam to join him in moving to Texas but older Sam supposedly had enough of fighting and chose to stay here in Bond County.  I have to admit I too would have a hard time leaving a place that was named after me.  The area of Illinois that was named Houston during his time is now called Mulberry Grove which is my current address.

The Illinois Sam Houston was very civic minded.  He was sheriff in bond county, a surveyor and teacher in Effingham County and was elected to the Illinois State Senate for one term.

In case you were wondering the younger Sam Houston did really well in Texas.  General Sam Houston is remembered for a decisive and successful battle between his Texas forces and the more experience and professional Mexican Army led by Santa Anna at San Jacinto.  In 1836, he became President of the new Republic of Texas (running against the aforementioned Henry Smith) and later he was the Governor of the State of Texas as well as a US Senator.

This statue of Sam Houston is found in Huntsville Texas.
It is 67 feet high and supposedly the second largest free standing statue in the United States.
Only the Statue of Liberty is bigger.