Robert N. Stafford

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Robert N. Stafford, up in Wood County. Now settle in, because this man packed a considerable amount of living into one life.

Born November 6, 1856, down in Georgia, the son of a Methodist minister. Whether that upbringing gave him his sense of civic duty or his gift for public speaking, well, the marker doesn't say, but it's hard not to wonder. What we do know is that in 1880, Robert N.

Stafford made his way to Mineola, Texas, and he did not waste a single year after his arrival. The very same year he got there, 1880, he was already serving as county attorney. He held that post through 1882, and then, because apparently that wasn't enough, he went on to serve two terms as district attorney.

By 1894 the people of this district sent him to the Texas Senate. And if all that wasn't keeping him busy enough, he served twice as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Twice.

The man clearly enjoyed a good convention. But here's the part that deserves a moment of its own. Stafford was a longtime advocate of public education, and in 1902 he donated two acres of land to the city of Mineola for an African American school.

That's not a footnote. That's a man putting land where his principles were. Now, somewhere in between all that civic service, Stafford also edited the Quitman Record, worked for the International and Great Northern Railroad, and managed the Mineola Ice and Light Company.

Politician, editor, railroad man, utilities manager, school benefactor. Robert N. Stafford passed on June 18, 1911.

The marker's been standing in Wood County since 1999, and it's got a lot of ground to cover.

What the marker says

(November 6, 1856 - June 18, 1911) A Georgia native and son of a Methodist minister, Robert N. Stafford moved to Mineola in 1880. He was county attorney from 1880 to 1882, served two terms as district attorney, and was elected to the Texas Senate in 1894. He served twice as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. A longtime advocate of public education, he donated two acres of land to the city of Mineola for an African American school in 1902. In addition to his public service, Stafford edited the Quitman Record, worked for the International and Great Northern Railroad, and managed the Mineola Ice and Light Company. (1999)