Tod-Milby Home Site

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, some men are born restless, and John Grant Tod was one of them. A Kentuckian, born in 1808, he left home at seventeen years old to go to sea.

Not exactly a stroll down to the fishing hole. The man went to sea. He went on to serve in the Mexican Navy and the United States Navy, and by the time he set his eyes on Texas in 1837, he had already lived a life most men only dream about around a campfire.

But Texas, well, Texas had plans for him. He served in the Republic Navy from 1837 to 1845, and his roles kept stacking up like cordwood. Naval agent, supervising the purchase and equipment of vessels of the second Texas Navy.

Commander of the naval yard at Galveston. Acting Secretary of the Navy. Commodore.

The man collected titles the way some folks collect debts. Then came the moment that would put his name in the history books for good. Tod carried the official notification of Texas' annexation from the Congress of the United States, and he presented it personally to President Anson Jones on January 13, 1846.

Think about that. One man, one document, one day. The formal word that Texas was joining the union, and John Grant Tod was the one who put it in the president's hands.

After that, he went back to the U.S. Navy as an agent of the Quartermaster's Department during the Mexican War, serving from 1846 to 1848. Then assistant state engineer from 1857 to 1859.

And if that weren't enough, he was one of the organizers and builders of Texas' first railroad, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado. He came to Harrisburg to serve as its treasurer. In November of 1866, he purchased a cottage right there on that spot and moved in with his family.

That cottage would remain the family residence for seventy-six years. His son-in-law, C. H.

Milby, made additions over time, and what started as a modest cottage grew into a large brick house. It became known as the Milby House, an historic landmark in its own right, until it was demolished in 1959. Captain Tod himself passed in 1877.

He and his family are buried in Glendale Cemetery, five blocks southeast on Magnolia Street. A man who carried news of a nation's future to its last president, buried just a few blocks from the home he made at the end of a very long road.

What the marker says

John Grant Tod (1808-1877), a Kentuckian, left home at 17 to go to sea. Served in Mexican, U.S. navies. Came to Texas, 1837; served in Republic Navy, 1837-1845, as naval agent, supervising purchase and equipment of vessels of second Texas Navy; commander, naval yard at Galveston; acting secretary of Navy; commodore. Tod carried official notification of Texas' annexation from the Congress of the United States, presenting it to President Anson Jones, January 13, 1846. Served in U. S. Navy as agent of the Quartermaster's Department during Mexican War, 1846-1848. Assistant state engineer, 1857-1859. Was one of organizers and builders of Texas' first railroad, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado; came to Harrisburg to serve as its treasurer. Purchased cottage here and moved into it with his family in November, 1866. This remained the family residence for seventy-six years. Additions made by son-in-law, C. H. Milby, resulted in a large brick house. This structure, known as the "Milby House," was an historic landmark until demolished in 1959. Captain Tod and his family are buried in Glendale Cemetery, five blocks southeast on Magnolia Street. (1967)