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Texas
| People
JONES, ANSON (1798-1858)
Ten Things You Should Know About...
ANSON
JONESby
John Troesser |
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- Born
in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on January 20, 1798.
- He
wanted to be a printer but became a physician. In 1820 he was licensed to practice
in New York State.
- In
1824 he spent two years in Venezuela.
- In
October 1832 he became a merchant in New Orleans where he had a series of disastrous
business ventures.
- In
October 1833 he came to Texas where John Wharton
and other citizens of Brazoria encouraged him to practice medicine. He soon prospered.
-
In 1835, Jones (with four others) established the
first Masonic lodge in Texas (in Brazoria).
- When
war came he enlisted in Robert J. Calder's company where he served as Surgeon
(with the rank of Private).
- On
the field of battle
at San Jacinto, he found the journal of Juan N. Almonteal and had it published
in 1836.
- In
1853 he helped found the Medical Association of Texas which later became the Texas
Medical Association.
-
He committed suicide at Houston
on January 9, 1858, and is buried in Glenwood
Cemetery at Houston.
|
| Barrington,
his plantation home (named after his birthplace) is preserved at Washington-on-the-Brazos
State Historic Site. Known today as Barrington Farm - it is a hands-on
educational facility demonstrating early 19th Century Texas life/ agriculture
and animal husbandry. |
Barrington
Living History Farm - Anson Jones Home
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, September 2010 |
Various
Offices held by Anson Jones
and Some highlights of his Public Life
He
served briefly as "Apothecary General of the Texas Army"
President Sam
Houston appointed him minister to the United States in June 1838
He was
recalled by President Mirabeau B. Lamar in May 1839
Houston appointed
Jones his secretary of state in December 1841
Jones was elected president
of The Republic of Texas in September 1844 and took office on December 9th.
He helped formulate legislation to regulate medical practice and advocated
a uniform system of education. He also left an endowment for a university.
He was the last president of the Republic of Texas. On February 19, 1846,
at the ceremony setting up the government of Texas as a state in the Union, Jones
declared, "The Republic of Texas is no more." Then he retired to Barrington, his
plantation near Washington-on-the-Brazos.
Anson,
Texas and Jones County are both named after him. |
First
published July 2002
© John Troesser | |
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