DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells this one, and I'm just the voice it found. Now, Texas has had its share of men who showed up and did one thing worth rememberin'. Maybe they fought in a battle, maybe they built a church, maybe they drew a county line and called it a day.
Dr. Daniel Rowlett was not that kind of man. He was born in Virginia in 1786, and by 1836 he had made his way to Texas — which, if you know anything about 1836, was not exactly the peaceful moment to go house-huntin'.
But Rowlett came anyway. And he got busy. One year after arrivin', in 1837, he caused Fannin County to be created.
The marker's word is caused. Not suggested. Not petitioned politely with hat in hand.
Caused. There's a man who understood how things get done. That same year, 1837, he took a seat as a Congressman of the Republic of Texas.
He'd go back again, 1839 to 1840, and again, 1843 to 1844. Three separate terms serving a republic that was still figurin' out what it was. In 1840, right in the middle of that second term, he helped organize Constantine Lodge No. 13 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons — and they made him its first Worshipful Master.
Of course they did. The marker sums him up plain and true: the most versatile pioneer here. He died in Texas in 1848, the place he'd helped shape from nearly nothing.
Virginia gave him his start. Texas got the best of him. And Fannin County, well — it exists because Daniel Rowlett decided it should.
What the marker says
(b. Virginia, 1786 - d. Texas, 1848) Came to Texas 1836. Caused Fannin County to be created, 1837. Served as Congressman, Republic of Texas, 1837-38, 1839-40, 1843-44. Helped (1840) organize Constantine Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M., and was its first Worshipful Master. Was most versatile pioneer here.