DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Joseph Jefferson Mansfield — and friend, this one's worth the listen. Now, the man started life with a different name altogether. Born February 9, 1861, in Wayne County, West Virginia, he came into the world as Beauregard Mansfield.
But his father — a Confederate colonel — was killed not long after that birth, and so the boy's name was changed. He became Joseph Jefferson Mansfield, carrying his father's name forward into a life that would turn out to be something else entirely. Mansfield came to Texas in 1881.
He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1886, and opened a law office in Eagle Lake, just eleven miles southeast of where this marker stands. Eagle Lake suited him. He served as mayor, as city attorney, as newspaper editor — a man who apparently couldn't walk past a responsibility without picking it up.
And in 1888, he married Annie Scott Bruce. Together they had three children. But Eagle Lake was just the beginning.
In 1892, Mansfield was elected county attorney and moved to Columbus. Four years later, in 1896, he was elected county judge. And while he was servin' as judge, between 1912 and 1913, Mansfield also found time to serve as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas Masons.
The man kept a full calendar. Then in 1916, Joseph Jefferson Mansfield was elected to the United States Congress. Now here's where the story gets big — because in Congress, Mansfield became Chairman of the House Rivers and Harbors Committee, the body responsible for federal funding of flood control on the Colorado River.
That committee work had real consequence. Mansfield Dam, ninety-five miles northwest of here, was constructed in 1934 and named in his honor. Early in 1947, near the end of his life, Mansfield donated this very property to Columbus for the construction of a public library.
He died on July 12, 1947, in Washington, D.C. His funeral was held in Columbus, and among the dignitaries who attended was a congressman by the name of Lyndon B. Johnson — who would, of course, go on to become president.
Mansfield was buried at Eagle Lake, the town where he had first hung out his shingle all those decades before. Born Beauregard. Remembered as Mansfield.
And if you want to see his legacy in stone and water, just drive ninety-five miles northwest and look at that dam.
What the marker says
(Feb. 9, 1861 - July 12, 1947) Born in Wayne County, West Virginia, as Beauregard Mansfield. His name was changed to Joseph Jefferson Mansfield for his father, a Confederate colonel who was killed soon after Mansfield's birth. Mansfield came to Texas in 1881, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1886, and opened a law office in Eagle Lake (11 miles SE). While in Eagle Lake, he served as mayor, city attorney, and newspaper editor, and in 1888, married Annie Scott Bruce. The couple had 3 children. In 1892, Mansfield was elected county attorney and moved to Columbus, where in 1896, he was elected county judge. During his tenure as judge, in 1912-13, Mansfield served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas Masons. In 1916, he was elected to the United States Congress. As a congressman, Mansfield served as the Chairman of the House Rivers and Harbors Committee, which was responsible for federal funding of flood control on the Colorado River. Mansfield Dam (95 miles NW), constructed in 1934, was named in his honor. Early in 1947, Mansfield donated this property to Columbus for construction of a public Library. He died in Washington, D.C. and many dignitaries, including congressman (and later president) Lyndon B. Johnson, attended the funeral in Columbus. Burial was at Eagle Lake.