DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the one passing it along. Now, George Tyler Wood is not a name that rolls off the tongue of every Texan today, but this man left his mark on the map — literally — and the story of how he got here is worth every mile. He came into this world in Georgia in 1795.
Georgia is where he fought in Indian wars, kept a merchant's books, and took a seat in the State Legislature. A full life already, and he hadn't even crossed the Sabine yet. Then, in 1839, Wood packed up his family and moved to Texas, settling right here in this area of San Jacinto County.
Texas had a way of pulling people in like that. He didn't sit still once he arrived. He won a seat in the Sixth Congress of the Republic of Texas, serving 1841 to 1842.
Then, when the big question came — whether Texas would join the United States — Wood was there as a delegate to the 1845 Annexation Convention. History was being made, and George Wood had a chair at the table. After annexation, he moved into the first Senate of the new state of Texas, 1846 to 1847.
And here's where it gets interesting — while he was sitting in that Senate chamber, Wood introduced a bill to create Tyler County. Woodville, the county seat, was named for him. Wood County, created later, was named for him too.
The man was literally writing his name onto the Texas map while doing his day job as a senator. But then he resigned. Not out of scandal, not out of disgrace — he resigned to raise a regiment and go fight in the Mexican War.
That kind of move tends to make an impression on voters, and sure enough, George Tyler Wood became Governor of Texas. He was sworn in December 21, 1847, and served until December 21, 1849. Two years on the dot, and he was busy every day of it.
Governor Wood rallied state defenses against recurring Indian depredations — particularly around Corpus Christi, in Navarro County, and along the Red River. Boundary disputes flared up in Santa Fe County, which was then part of Texas and is now part of New Mexico. He had opinions about that too.
On the domestic side, Wood advocated selling public lands to liquidate the public debt. He urged the establishment of public schools. Texas laws were coded at his request.
He established the state library. And he had the state penitentiary built. For a two-year term, that is a ledger that does not leave much blank space.
Back in 1837, before Texas was even a gleam in his eye, Wood had married in Georgia a widow named Mrs. Martha Evans Gindrat, who came to the marriage with three children of her own. George and Martha went on to have several other children together.
They built a life in Georgia, then rebuilt it in Texas. George Tyler Wood died in 1858, and he is buried near here — close to the land where he settled, the land he helped shape into a state. Two counties carry a version of his name.
A county seat bears it outright. The marker stands near where he rests. Not bad for a Georgia merchant who decided one day that Texas sounded like the right direction.
What the marker says
(1795-1858) Born in Georgia, where he fought in Indian wars, was a merchant, and member of State Legislature. In 1839, he moved with family to Texas, settling in this area. He was a member of 6th Congress of the Republic of Texas, 1841-1842; a delegate to the 1845 Annexation Convention; a member of first Senate of the state, 1846-1847. He resigned from the Senate to raise a regiment and fight in the Mexican War. While a senator, he introduced a bill to create Tyler County. Woodville, the county seat, was named for him. So was Wood County, created later. Governor of Texas, Dec. 21, 1847 - Dec. 21, 1849, Wood rallied state defenses against recurring Indian depredations, particularly around Corpus Christi, in Navarro County and along the Red River. Boundary disputes arose in Santa Fe County (then in Texas, now in New Mexico). Governor Wood advocated sales of public lands to liquidate the public debt. He also urged establishment of public schools. Texas laws were coded at his request. He established the state library and had state penitentiary built. Wood married in 1837 in Georgia Mrs. Martha Evans Gindrat, a widow with three children. Several other children were born to George and Martha Wood. (1970)