DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the one bringin' it down the road to you. Now here's a man who never seemed to stop movin'. Albert Clinton Horton, born in 1798 in Georgia, made his way to Alabama, served in that state's legislature, and then — in 1834 — came to Texas.
If you're keepin' score, that's three states before he really got started. He set down roots along Caney Creek, in what is now Wharton County, and established a plantation there. But the ink was barely dry on that deed when Texas needed soldiers.
In 1835, Horton turned right around and headed back to Alabama — not to stay, but to recruit volunteers for the Texas army. He came back at the head of a cavalry unit, serving as its colonel during the Texas Revolution itself. With the Republic of Texas established in 1836, Horton stepped into another role entirely: the congress of that new republic elected him as one of its own.
And then President M. B. Lamar appointed him chairman of a commission — this was 1839 — charged with selecting a permanent site for the republic's capitol.
Think about that for a moment. The whole future shape of Texas government sitting on the shoulders of a commission, and Horton was runnin' it. He wasn't done.
When Texas became a state in December 1845, Horton was elected its very first Lieutenant Governor. And when Governor Henderson rode off to lead Texas forces in the Mexican War, Horton stepped up as acting governor — holding that post for over a year. Also in 1845, when Baylor University was founded, Horton was right there as a charter trustee.
That was quite a year for the man. By the 1850s, Horton had homes in both Wharton and Matagorda. He and his partner Abner Clements gave land for Christ Episcopal Church in Matagorda — the first Episcopal church in all of Texas.
He and his wife, Eliza Holliday, raised six children. Albert Clinton Horton died in Matagorda in 1865. The exact day, the records can't quite agree on — various sources give it as either September 1 or October 7.
Even in death, the man leaves you with a little mystery to sit with. Born in Georgia, forged in Alabama, built in Texas — from cavalry colonel to acting governor to church benefactor, Horton left his mark on just about every layer of this state's foundation. The marker stands in Matagorda County, and it doesn't let you forget it.
What the marker says
(1798-1865) Georgia native Albert Clinton Horton came to Texas in 1834 from Alabama, where he had served in the state legislature. He established a plantation along Caney Creek in present Wharton County. In 1835, he returned to Alabama to recruit volunteers for the Texas army, and he served as colonel of a cavalry unit during the Texas Revolution. Upon the establishment of the Republic of Texas in 1836, Horton was elected to congress. He was chairman of the commission appointed by president M.B. Lamar to select a site for a permanent capitol for the Republic of Texas in 1839. When Texas became a state in December 1845, Horton was elected its first Lt. Governor. He served as acting governor for over a year while Governor Henderson was leading Texas forces in the Mexican War. When Baylor University was founded in 1845, Horton was a charter trustee. By the 1850s, he had homes in both Wharton and Matagorda. He and his partner, Abner Clements, gave land for Christ Episcopal Church in Matagorda, the first Episcopal church in Texas. He and his wife, Eliza Holliday, had six children. Horton died in Matagorda in 1865, various sources listing the date of death as September 1, or October 7. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986