Site of Home of James Pinckney Henderson

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, if you ever find yourself in San Augustine County and you feel like the ground underneath you has a little extra weight to it, a little extra history pressed into the soil, well, there's a reason for that. Because this is the site of the home of James Pinckney Henderson.

And that name, friend, carries some serious freight in the story of Texas. Henderson lived here from 1840 to 1856, right here on this ground. Born in North Carolina on March 31, 1803, he made his way to Texas and Texas, it turned out, had plans for him.

Big plans. Because when Texas stopped being a republic and became a state, when that whole grand, complicated transformation finally happened, somebody had to be the very first governor. The first one.

Ever. And that somebody was James Pinckney Henderson, who held that office from 1846 to 1847. Think about what it means to be first.

No blueprint, no predecessor to call up for advice. Just the weight of a brand new state on your shoulders. He carried it.

He went on to serve Texas as a Senator in Washington, D.C., and that is where he died, on June 4, 1858, still in service, still at his post. But here is the part that gets me. He didn't stay in Washington.

In 1930, his remains were removed to the state cemetery at Austin, brought back to Texas, where they belonged all along. This marker was erected by the State of Texas in 1936. The first governor, finally home.

What the marker says

Site of the home from 1840 to 1856 of JAMES PINCKNEY HENDERSON First governor of the state of Texas, 1846-1847 Born in North Carolina, March 31, 1803 Died in Washington, D. C., June 4, 1858 while serving as Senator from Texas His remains were removed to the state cemetery at Austin in 1930 Erected by the State of Texas 1936