Thomas Jefferson Rusk
Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Secretary of War for the Republic of Texas, Brigadier General of the Army and hero at San Jacinto, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas, United States Senator, he was a soldier, a jurist and a statesman.
1803-Born in South Carolina, December 5
1824 - Passed his Bar Exam at age 21
1825 - Opened his law office in Clarksville, Georgia
1827 - Married Mary Cleveland, January 4
1835 - Moved to Nacogdoches in January
1835 - Led volunteers in the October siege of Bexar under Stephen F. Austin
1835 - Became Inspector General of the Army
1836 - Attended March Convention and Signed Declaration of Independence
1836 - Unanimously elected Secretary of War
1836 - Joined Sam Houston at Groce's Ferry, April 4
1836 - Led and fought at San Jacinto on April 21, then formulated the Treaty of Velasco
1837 - Served as Representative from Nacogdoches in Second Congress from September until April, 1838
1839 - Participated in the Indian Wars as Major General of the Militia from January through October
1843 - Reappointed as Major General of the Militia
1845 - Served as President of the Constitutional Convention
1846 - Elected as United States Senator, served through 1857
1857 - Died in July, buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Nacogdoches
Bold, intrepid, and daring in Battle, he was yet more honored for wise forbearance, sound judgement, and fine character. He helped form Texas and set an example for men and women to follow -- then, now, and in the future. He gave of himself.
Marker is at the intersection of North Street and Main Street, on the right when traveling north on North Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
