History of Nacogdoches, (Nacogdoches County) Texas United States of America

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Biographies:

Thomas Jefferson Rusk, senator, was born in Camden, Pendleton district, S.C., Dec. 5, 1803, of Irish descent, his father being a stone mason. He was educated under the direction and personal instruction of Jehn C. Calhoun; was admitted to the bar, and began practice in Georgia, where he married a granddaughter of Gen. Ben Cleveland, , removing to Nacogdoches, Texas, early in 1835. He was a member of the convention that declared Texas an independent republic, March 2, 1836, and a signer of its declaration; was first secretary of war of the republic; served with distinction as adjutant general in the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, and was appointed brigadier-general in command of the army, May 5, 1836, during General Sam Houston's absence, Colonel M. B. Lamar succeeding him as secretary of war. General Rusk ratified and signed the treaty with Filisola, May 25, 1836, and to him belongs the honor of sparing the lives of Santa Anna and his chief lieutenant. He was elected a delegate to the convention at Washington, D.C., and by that convention again appointed secretary of war in November, 1836, resigning after a short time; was in command of various expeditions against the Indians; a member of the Texan legislature, and chief-justice of the supreme court, 1838?12. He was elected major-general of militia, 1843; was a delegate to and president of the convention that effected the annexation of Texas to the United States, Dec. 29, 1845, and in the same year elected a U.S. senator. He took his seat, March 6, 1846, and served by two re-elections until his death by his own hand during a temporary condition of insanity, caused by the loss of his wife. While in the senate he was chairman of the committee on post-offices and post-roads, and was elected president pro tempore of the senate, March 14, 1857, in special session. He was succeeded as senator by James Pinckney Henderson, who took his seat, March 1, 1858, died the following June 4, and was succeeded by Matthias Ward, who in turn was succeeded, Jan. 4, 1860, by Lewis T. Wigfall, elected by the legislature to complete the term, March 3, 1863. Senator Wigfall left the senate to join the Confederate government, soon after taking his seat. Senator Rusk died at Nacogdoches, Tex., July 29, 1857.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Peck Ochiltree, representative, was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, Oct. 26, 1842; son of Judge William B. and Novaline (Kennard) Peck Ochiltree. When a boy he volunteered in Capt. John G. Walker's company of Texas Rangers and marched to the frontier against the Apache and Comanche lndians. He was admitted to the bar by special act of the legislature of Texas, being non-age; was editor of the Jeffersonian at Jefferson, Texas; a delegate to the Democratic national convention at Charleston and Baltimore, 1860; witnessed the surrender of Fort Sumter in 1861, and entered the Confederate service as a private in the Marshall guards, 1st Texas infantry, which became a part of the Texas battalion, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Louis T. Wigfall. He was subsequently assigned to the 1st Texas infantry in Hood's brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. He was on the staff of Gen. H. H. Sibley in the Army of New Mexico, and was mentioned for gallantry in official reports. He was sent to Richmond with important dispatches and joined the staff of General Longstreet as assistant adjutant-general, serving in the battle of Seven Pines and in the seven days' battles around Richmond. On returning to the lower Mississippi, he was made chief of General Sibley's staff, and afterward was assigned to Gen. Richard Taylor, taking part in the campaign that led to the capture of Brashear City, La. He was engaged under orders of Gen. S. B. Maxey in the battle of Poison Springs, Ark., and with General Raines the defence of Richmond, Va., 1864. At Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6, 1865, he was wounded and captured. He visited Europe, 1865-66; was editor of the Daily Telegraph, Houston, Texas, 1866; visited Europe again, 1867, securing a the of direct steamers from Galveston, and was made commissioner of emigration for Texas. He was U.S. marshal under General Grant for Texas. He was a representative from the seventh district of Texas in the 48th congress, 1883-85, and at the end of his term removed to New York city, and became counsel for the Mackay-Bennett cable company. He died Nov. 25, 1902.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor