DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Richard Bennett Hubbard — and friends, this one's worth hearing. Born in Georgia in 1832, Hubbard made his way to Texas in 1853, set up a law practice in Tyler alongside a fellow named B. T.
Selman — who would go on to become a state senator himself — and promptly got to work making a name for himself. Now, Tyler wasn't exactly the center of the known universe in those days, but Hubbard seemed to think it was a fine enough launchpad. He threw himself into Democratic Party politics and became one of its leading spokesmen.
Before long he was serving as U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas from 1857 to 1859, then turned around and walked straight into the state legislature from 1859 to 1861.
The man did not sit still. Then the Civil War broke out — and Hubbard didn't wait for someone to hand him a rifle. He raised a battalion himself.
That battalion grew into the 22nd Texas Infantry Regiment, and Hubbard was its only colonel. They fought at the Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana, in 1864, along with other skirmishes. Only colonel.
Think about that a moment. When the war ended, Hubbard came back to Tyler, but Reconstruction had a way of narrowing a man's options. His law practice was restricted by the Reconstruction government, so he turned his attention to something else entirely — railroads.
And he wasn't just along for the ride; he was instrumental in the early development of area rail lines. Then politics came calling again, loud as ever. Hubbard was elected lieutenant governor of Texas in 1873.
Three years later, Governor Richard Coke resigned the office to go serve as a U. S. Senator — and just like that, Richard Bennett Hubbard became governor of Texas.
Not elected to it. Elevated to it. There's a difference, and he knew it.
But if he had anything to prove, he went right on proving it. Later, in the administration of President Grover Cleveland, he served as ambassador to Japan. Georgia boy, Tyler lawyer, infantry colonel, governor, ambassador.
The marker notes he was known for his oratorical ability and his devotion to public service, and that his leadership was instrumental in Texas' growth during the latter part of the 19th century. Richard Bennett Hubbard died in 1901. Some men leave a mark on one chapter of a place's story.
Hubbard had a hand in writing several of them.
What the marker says
(1832-1901) Georgia native Richard Bennett Hubbard came to Texas in 1853 and set up a law practice in Tyler with B. T. Selman, later a state senator. Politically active, Hubbard became a leading spokesman for the Democratic Party. His early career in government included service as U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, 1857-59, and state legislator, 1859-61. At the outbreak of the Civil War Hubbard raised a battalion, which later became the 22nd Texas Infantry Regiment. He was the only colonel of the unit, which participated in the 1864 Battle of Mansfield, La., as well as other skirmishes. After the war he returned to Tyler but found his law practice restricted by the Reconstruction government. As a result, he turned his attention to railroads and was instrumental in the early development of area rail lines. Hubbard was elected lieutenant governor of Texas in 1873. Three years later he became governor when Richard Coke resigned the office to serve as U. S. Senator. An ambassador to Japan in the administration of President Grover Cleveland, Hubbard was noted for his oratorical ability and his devotion to public service. His leadership was instrumental in Texas' growth during the latter part of the 19th century.