Texas Times Weekly - Our State's First "First Family"

Statement

Texas Times Weekly - Our State's First "First Family"

By: Sen. John Cornyn

When Texas became a state in 1845, its population was about 150,000, and its seat of government had shifted several times. Austin finally was chosen as the state capital, despite lingering fears that Mexican troops and Indians still posed a threat there.

The rough-hewn capital city numbered only 200 people, and years would pass before the present day Governor's Mansion and State Capitol building were constructed. Nevertheless, a big job in a small town awaited the state's first Governor, James Pinckney Henderson.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of his birth. His story is incomplete without describing the accomplishments of the gifted first "First Lady," Frances Cox Henderson. Together and individually, they played an important role in the birth and development of Texas statehood.

Their worlds had been far apart when they first met in Europe. Frances Cox was a 19-year-old Philadelphian studying in Paris. According to the Handbook of Texas, she had "learned to speak at least 18 languages, was proficient in mathematics, became an accomplished musician, and wrote and translated short stories."

The future Texas Governor, a North Carolina native who had earned a law degree, was 10 years older. He came to Paris as Texas' envoy to France and England. Before turning 30, he had served the Republic of Texas as Attorney General and Secretary of State.

They married in London in 1839, and then headed to Texas. After practicing law in San Augustine, he was named a delegate to the Convention of 1845, where annexation and a state constitution were adopted. The following year he became Governor.

At this junction, the story of the First Family took an interesting turn. Frances, then 25, chose to stay in thriving San Augustine. The Hendersons had lived there five years, and this well-established East Texas town was a good place to raise their children. It had schools and universities, churches, a newspaper, hotels, other businesses, and fine homes.

She may have had other reasons. The term of Governor was two years, and Governor Henderson had served only three months when he left to lead Texas troops during the Mexican War. He was gone more than half of his term and declined to run a second time.

Equipped with education and experience abroad, she used her capabilities to the utmost. She studied law and maintained her husband's law practice when he was away on state business. Some have called her the first female lawyer in Texas. Frances supported women's suffrage nearly 80 years before the right to vote became a reality for Texas women.

She played an important part in establishing Episcopal churches in East Texas, contributing to San Augustine's reputation as "the birthplace of Protestant religion in Texas." Community children benefited from the speech and music education she gave them.

After his term as Governor, followed by a decade practicing law, James Pinckney Henderson was elected to fill an open U.S. Senate seat. He served less than a year before dying in office. Frances lived another 39 years. The young widow moved to France during the Civil War, eventually spending her final years with her daughter in New Jersey. She died there in 1897.

The Hendersons' education, experiences abroad and contributions to the new state made them, as some would say today, a "power couple." In their case, power was not just what they had learned and acquired, but how they used it for the advancement of Texas and the model of dedicated public service they established for future generations. Important now as it was then, their example served Texas well.

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