DUANE
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Duane's take
Now, I'm drawing straight from the official marker here, so let me tell you what the record says about the man this county was named for. O. M.
Roberts. Born 1815, died 1898, and in between those two years, he packed in enough to fill several lifetimes worth of Texas history. The marker calls him a prominent Confederate colonel, and it doesn't stop there.
Not even close. Roberts served as President of the Secession Convention in 1861, and that role drew a remark from Sam Houston himself. Houston said, and I want to get these words exactly right because they're worth savoring: 'I don't know what they will do, but Roberts is honest.' Now think about that.
Sam Houston, of all people, granting a man that particular compliment at that particular moment. The marker lets those words hang in the air, and so will I. Roberts went on to raise the 11th Texas Infantry, and he gallantly led a brigade at the Battle of Bayou Bourbeau in Louisiana.
He was named Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court under the Confederacy, and he held that same position under the state after the war. Then came Reconstruction. Federal Reconstruction policy caused his removal from the bench in 1865, and denied him a United States Senate seat in 1866.
But here's the thing about O. M. Roberts.
The people of Texas weren't done with him. They elected him governor in 1878, and then they elected him governor again in 1880. The marker describes this county as a memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy, erected by the State of Texas in 1963.
Roberts was honest, Sam Houston said so. And apparently, Texas had a long memory.
What the marker says
1815-1898. President Secession Convention 1861, resulting in comment by Sam Houston, "I don't know what they will do, but Roberts is honest." Raised 11th Texas Infantry. Gallantly led brigade Battle Bayou Bourbeau, La. Chief Justice Texas Supreme Court under Confederacy and state. Federal Reconstruction policy caused his removal from bench 1865, denial U.S. Senate seat 1866. Elected governor by people, 1878 and 1880. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy. Erected by the State of Texas 1963.