Governor Edward Clark

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Edward Clark. Born in Georgia, 1815, and if you'd told that Georgia boy what was coming, he might not have believed a word of it.

He came to Texas in 1842, and Texas, well, Texas had a way of putting a man to work. Clark served as a member of the Annexation Convention, the very gathering where Texas hammered out its future. Then came the war with Mexico, and he fought in that too.

The man was not one for sitting still. He held office as State Representative. Then Senator.

Then Secretary of State. Then Lieutenant Governor. And in 1861, Edward Clark became Governor of Texas.

That is a climb, friends. That is a genuine climb through the machinery of a young and restless republic turned state. But even the Governor's chair couldn't keep him out of the field.

When the Civil War came, Clark raised and led the 14th Texas Infantry Regiment in the Red River campaigns. Led them himself. And in the Battle of Pleasant Hill, in 1865, he was wounded.

Not watching from a distance. Right there in it. After the war, he came home and built a life as a lawyer and a businessman.

Edward Clark died in 1880. Born in Georgia, made in Texas, and every office and every battlefield in between was just part of the one long road he walked.

What the marker says

(1815-1880) Born in Georgia. Came to Texas in 1842. Served as a member of Annexation Convention. Fought in war with Mexico. Held office as State Representative, Senator, Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor; Governor in 1861. Raised and led 14th Texas Infantry Regiment in Red River campaigns of Civil War. Wounded in Battle of Pleasant Hill, 1865. Was a lawyer and businessman after the war.