SECOND AND LAST OF ONLY THREE SHERIFFS OF BEXAR, REPUBLIC OF TEXAS
FIRST SHERIFF OF BEXAR COUNTY, STATE OF TEXAS
George Thomas Howard, soldier, explorer, consummate businessman and frontier entrepreneur, and Texas patriot, was born in Washington, D.C., U.S. of A, on Friday, September 2, 1814. This was only shortly after the sacking and burning of Washington by the British Army. He was the son of Thomas William Howard and Ann Bean Howard. He immigrated to the Republic of Texas in 1836. After landing at Galveston, he joined the Texas army and advanced to a captaincy by June 4, 1837, when he became commanding officer at the Galveston post. Indian depredations at San Antonio led to his assignment in the spring of 1839 with Company C in the outskirts of that town. Near Opossum Creek he planned an ambuscade for prowling Indians and singly decoyed a marauding band of Comanche into a trap. Captain Howard distinguished himself in the Council House Fight on March 19, 1840, where Sheriff Joseph L. Hood was stabbed to death with a hand wielded Comanche arrow. Howard was appointed Sheriff of Bexar County, the next day.
At the battle of Plum Creek in August 1840 he was cited for "essential service" by Gen. Felix Huston. Howard procured provisions for the Texan Santa Fe expedition and, with the rank of major, accompanied the expedition as both merchant and aide-de-camp to Gen. Hugh McLeod. Howard was captured, marched to Mexico, and confined in prison at Puebla. He soon escaped, however, and returned to Texas in time to join the Somervell expedition. In this campaign he became lieutenant colonel by popular election among the troops.
For a number of years, 1840s–48, he served Bexar County (San Antonio) as its' 2nd Sheriff. He was the longest serving Sheriff of Bexar County during the years of the Republic (1836 to 1845), one of only three. He was the second, and last Sheriff of Bexar for the Republic of Texas, and the first Sheriff of Bexar for the State of Texas.
His interest in the growth of the republic was reflected in his assistance to Henri Castro in colonizing Castroville. His partnership with Duncan Campbell Ogden, never the less, benefitted greatly from their supplying the settlers of Medina County with necessary tools and needed supplies.
In 1846 Howard joined the Texas Volunteer Cavalry in the Mexican War. Again his bravery in battle and exemplary leadership distinguished him even among non-Texan companies.
Howard married Mary Frances McCormick on Thursday, October 7, 1847, in Washington, D.C., the 14 year old daughter of Hugh McCormick, a Clerk of the US Patents Office.
Back in San Antonio in 1848, with other leading merchants, he helped finance and joined the Chihuahua-El Paso Pioneer expedition to explore the possibilities for a road and mail stations to El Paso through the unmapped southwestern part of the state. In succeeding years he devoted a good portion of his time to a widespread freight business in partnership with Duncan C. Ogden. In 1850 public alarm over Indian raids led to his appointment by the Department of the Interior as Indian agent, and within two months Howard was promoted to superintendency of the Texas agents. He engaged in a rancorous controversy with Maj. Robert S. Neighbors, the U.S. Indian Agent at San Antonio, and resigned in 1855 to retire to private contracting for the government. Howard, by the end of his career would rank right up with Capt. John Coffee Hayes as top Indian Fighters in Texas. ("Capt. Jack" Hayes, elected Surveyor of Bexar County would survey a highway from San Antonio to San Diego, and not return from California, being elected as the first Sheriff of San Francisco, and then appointed State Surveyor of California by the President of the United States.)
Although ill during the later stages of his life, and too old to lead troops into the field, Howard accepted a commission in the Confederate Army with the rank of Brigadier General and was instrumental in supplying cattle for the Southern forces and negotiating cotton-exchange contracts with Mexican suppliers. He arrived in Washington soon after the cessation of hostilities, and acquired a full amnesty and pardon from President Andrew Johnson, on December 1, 1865.
Howard died in Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 6, 1866 at the age of 52. His remains were removed to The Congressional Cemetery on the banks of the Potomac, his body was placed into the Public Vault, on August 8th, until burial could be arranged. He was buried in the McCormick plot where his wife would be eventually placed beside him in 1909. He lies among many of his fellow combatants of the US Army from the Mexican War, and is likely the only Confederate States General.
He and his wife had one son and seven daughters by 1864, to include Frances (Fannie), Kate, Isabel, Clara, Annie, and Agnes.
Howard's tombstone has mysteriously disappeared from his grave, although a brick foundation remains beneath the grass, as evidence of its' prior existence, and this was duly noted by cemetery staff as of 2012, and vouch that his grave lies undisturbed.
Source: www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles.
Children:
George Thomas Howard Jr.
FIRST SHERIFF OF BEXAR COUNTY, STATE OF TEXAS
George Thomas Howard, soldier, explorer, consummate businessman and frontier entrepreneur, and Texas patriot, was born in Washington, D.C., U.S. of A, on Friday, September 2, 1814. This was only shortly after the sacking and burning of Washington by the British Army. He was the son of Thomas William Howard and Ann Bean Howard. He immigrated to the Republic of Texas in 1836. After landing at Galveston, he joined the Texas army and advanced to a captaincy by June 4, 1837, when he became commanding officer at the Galveston post. Indian depredations at San Antonio led to his assignment in the spring of 1839 with Company C in the outskirts of that town. Near Opossum Creek he planned an ambuscade for prowling Indians and singly decoyed a marauding band of Comanche into a trap. Captain Howard distinguished himself in the Council House Fight on March 19, 1840, where Sheriff Joseph L. Hood was stabbed to death with a hand wielded Comanche arrow. Howard was appointed Sheriff of Bexar County, the next day.
At the battle of Plum Creek in August 1840 he was cited for "essential service" by Gen. Felix Huston. Howard procured provisions for the Texan Santa Fe expedition and, with the rank of major, accompanied the expedition as both merchant and aide-de-camp to Gen. Hugh McLeod. Howard was captured, marched to Mexico, and confined in prison at Puebla. He soon escaped, however, and returned to Texas in time to join the Somervell expedition. In this campaign he became lieutenant colonel by popular election among the troops.
For a number of years, 1840s–48, he served Bexar County (San Antonio) as its' 2nd Sheriff. He was the longest serving Sheriff of Bexar County during the years of the Republic (1836 to 1845), one of only three. He was the second, and last Sheriff of Bexar for the Republic of Texas, and the first Sheriff of Bexar for the State of Texas.
His interest in the growth of the republic was reflected in his assistance to Henri Castro in colonizing Castroville. His partnership with Duncan Campbell Ogden, never the less, benefitted greatly from their supplying the settlers of Medina County with necessary tools and needed supplies.
In 1846 Howard joined the Texas Volunteer Cavalry in the Mexican War. Again his bravery in battle and exemplary leadership distinguished him even among non-Texan companies.
Howard married Mary Frances McCormick on Thursday, October 7, 1847, in Washington, D.C., the 14 year old daughter of Hugh McCormick, a Clerk of the US Patents Office.
Back in San Antonio in 1848, with other leading merchants, he helped finance and joined the Chihuahua-El Paso Pioneer expedition to explore the possibilities for a road and mail stations to El Paso through the unmapped southwestern part of the state. In succeeding years he devoted a good portion of his time to a widespread freight business in partnership with Duncan C. Ogden. In 1850 public alarm over Indian raids led to his appointment by the Department of the Interior as Indian agent, and within two months Howard was promoted to superintendency of the Texas agents. He engaged in a rancorous controversy with Maj. Robert S. Neighbors, the U.S. Indian Agent at San Antonio, and resigned in 1855 to retire to private contracting for the government. Howard, by the end of his career would rank right up with Capt. John Coffee Hayes as top Indian Fighters in Texas. ("Capt. Jack" Hayes, elected Surveyor of Bexar County would survey a highway from San Antonio to San Diego, and not return from California, being elected as the first Sheriff of San Francisco, and then appointed State Surveyor of California by the President of the United States.)
Although ill during the later stages of his life, and too old to lead troops into the field, Howard accepted a commission in the Confederate Army with the rank of Brigadier General and was instrumental in supplying cattle for the Southern forces and negotiating cotton-exchange contracts with Mexican suppliers. He arrived in Washington soon after the cessation of hostilities, and acquired a full amnesty and pardon from President Andrew Johnson, on December 1, 1865.
Howard died in Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 6, 1866 at the age of 52. His remains were removed to The Congressional Cemetery on the banks of the Potomac, his body was placed into the Public Vault, on August 8th, until burial could be arranged. He was buried in the McCormick plot where his wife would be eventually placed beside him in 1909. He lies among many of his fellow combatants of the US Army from the Mexican War, and is likely the only Confederate States General.
He and his wife had one son and seven daughters by 1864, to include Frances (Fannie), Kate, Isabel, Clara, Annie, and Agnes.
Howard's tombstone has mysteriously disappeared from his grave, although a brick foundation remains beneath the grass, as evidence of its' prior existence, and this was duly noted by cemetery staff as of 2012, and vouch that his grave lies undisturbed.
Source: www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles.
Children:
George Thomas Howard Jr.
SECOND AND LAST OF ONLY THREE SHERIFFS OF BEXAR, REPUBLIC OF TEXAS
FIRST SHERIFF OF BEXAR COUNTY, STATE OF TEXAS
George Thomas Howard, soldier, explorer, consummate businessman and frontier entrepreneur, and Texas patriot, was born in Washington, D.C., U.S. of A, on Friday, September 2, 1814. This was only shortly after the sacking and burning of Washington by the British Army. He was the son of Thomas William Howard and Ann Bean Howard. He immigrated to the Republic of Texas in 1836. After landing at Galveston, he joined the Texas army and advanced to a captaincy by June 4, 1837, when he became commanding officer at the Galveston post. Indian depredations at San Antonio led to his assignment in the spring of 1839 with Company C in the outskirts of that town. Near Opossum Creek he planned an ambuscade for prowling Indians and singly decoyed a marauding band of Comanche into a trap. Captain Howard distinguished himself in the Council House Fight on March 19, 1840, where Sheriff Joseph L. Hood was stabbed to death with a hand wielded Comanche arrow. Howard was appointed Sheriff of Bexar County, the next day.
At the battle of Plum Creek in August 1840 he was cited for "essential service" by Gen. Felix Huston. Howard procured provisions for the Texan Santa Fe expedition and, with the rank of major, accompanied the expedition as both merchant and aide-de-camp to Gen. Hugh McLeod. Howard was captured, marched to Mexico, and confined in prison at Puebla. He soon escaped, however, and returned to Texas in time to join the Somervell expedition. In this campaign he became lieutenant colonel by popular election among the troops.
For a number of years, 1840s–48, he served Bexar County (San Antonio) as its' 2nd Sheriff. He was the longest serving Sheriff of Bexar County during the years of the Republic (1836 to 1845), one of only three. He was the second, and last Sheriff of Bexar for the Republic of Texas, and the first Sheriff of Bexar for the State of Texas.
His interest in the growth of the republic was reflected in his assistance to Henri Castro in colonizing Castroville. His partnership with Duncan Campbell Ogden, never the less, benefitted greatly from their supplying the settlers of Medina County with necessary tools and needed supplies.
In 1846 Howard joined the Texas Volunteer Cavalry in the Mexican War. Again his bravery in battle and exemplary leadership distinguished him even among non-Texan companies.
Howard married Mary Frances McCormick on Thursday, October 7, 1847, in Washington, D.C., the 14 year old daughter of Hugh McCormick, a Clerk of the US Patents Office.
Back in San Antonio in 1848, with other leading merchants, he helped finance and joined the Chihuahua-El Paso Pioneer expedition to explore the possibilities for a road and mail stations to El Paso through the unmapped southwestern part of the state. In succeeding years he devoted a good portion of his time to a widespread freight business in partnership with Duncan C. Ogden. In 1850 public alarm over Indian raids led to his appointment by the Department of the Interior as Indian agent, and within two months Howard was promoted to superintendency of the Texas agents. He engaged in a rancorous controversy with Maj. Robert S. Neighbors, the U.S. Indian Agent at San Antonio, and resigned in 1855 to retire to private contracting for the government. Howard, by the end of his career would rank right up with Capt. John Coffee Hayes as top Indian Fighters in Texas. ("Capt. Jack" Hayes, elected Surveyor of Bexar County would survey a highway from San Antonio to San Diego, and not return from California, being elected as the first Sheriff of San Francisco, and then appointed State Surveyor of California by the President of the United States.)
Although ill during the later stages of his life, and too old to lead troops into the field, Howard accepted a commission in the Confederate Army with the rank of Brigadier General and was instrumental in supplying cattle for the Southern forces and negotiating cotton-exchange contracts with Mexican suppliers. He arrived in Washington soon after the cessation of hostilities, and acquired a full amnesty and pardon from President Andrew Johnson, on December 1, 1865.
Howard died in Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 6, 1866 at the age of 52. His remains were removed to The Congressional Cemetery on the banks of the Potomac, his body was placed into the Public Vault, on August 8th, until burial could be arranged. He was buried in the McCormick plot where his wife would be eventually placed beside him in 1909. He lies among many of his fellow combatants of the US Army from the Mexican War, and is likely the only Confederate States General.
He and his wife had one son and seven daughters by 1864, to include Frances (Fannie), Kate, Isabel, Clara, Annie, and Agnes.
Howard's tombstone has mysteriously disappeared from his grave, although a brick foundation remains beneath the grass, as evidence of its' prior existence, and this was duly noted by cemetery staff as of 2012, and vouch that his grave lies undisturbed.
Source: www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles.
Children:
George Thomas Howard Jr.
FIRST SHERIFF OF BEXAR COUNTY, STATE OF TEXAS
George Thomas Howard, soldier, explorer, consummate businessman and frontier entrepreneur, and Texas patriot, was born in Washington, D.C., U.S. of A, on Friday, September 2, 1814. This was only shortly after the sacking and burning of Washington by the British Army. He was the son of Thomas William Howard and Ann Bean Howard. He immigrated to the Republic of Texas in 1836. After landing at Galveston, he joined the Texas army and advanced to a captaincy by June 4, 1837, when he became commanding officer at the Galveston post. Indian depredations at San Antonio led to his assignment in the spring of 1839 with Company C in the outskirts of that town. Near Opossum Creek he planned an ambuscade for prowling Indians and singly decoyed a marauding band of Comanche into a trap. Captain Howard distinguished himself in the Council House Fight on March 19, 1840, where Sheriff Joseph L. Hood was stabbed to death with a hand wielded Comanche arrow. Howard was appointed Sheriff of Bexar County, the next day.
At the battle of Plum Creek in August 1840 he was cited for "essential service" by Gen. Felix Huston. Howard procured provisions for the Texan Santa Fe expedition and, with the rank of major, accompanied the expedition as both merchant and aide-de-camp to Gen. Hugh McLeod. Howard was captured, marched to Mexico, and confined in prison at Puebla. He soon escaped, however, and returned to Texas in time to join the Somervell expedition. In this campaign he became lieutenant colonel by popular election among the troops.
For a number of years, 1840s–48, he served Bexar County (San Antonio) as its' 2nd Sheriff. He was the longest serving Sheriff of Bexar County during the years of the Republic (1836 to 1845), one of only three. He was the second, and last Sheriff of Bexar for the Republic of Texas, and the first Sheriff of Bexar for the State of Texas.
His interest in the growth of the republic was reflected in his assistance to Henri Castro in colonizing Castroville. His partnership with Duncan Campbell Ogden, never the less, benefitted greatly from their supplying the settlers of Medina County with necessary tools and needed supplies.
In 1846 Howard joined the Texas Volunteer Cavalry in the Mexican War. Again his bravery in battle and exemplary leadership distinguished him even among non-Texan companies.
Howard married Mary Frances McCormick on Thursday, October 7, 1847, in Washington, D.C., the 14 year old daughter of Hugh McCormick, a Clerk of the US Patents Office.
Back in San Antonio in 1848, with other leading merchants, he helped finance and joined the Chihuahua-El Paso Pioneer expedition to explore the possibilities for a road and mail stations to El Paso through the unmapped southwestern part of the state. In succeeding years he devoted a good portion of his time to a widespread freight business in partnership with Duncan C. Ogden. In 1850 public alarm over Indian raids led to his appointment by the Department of the Interior as Indian agent, and within two months Howard was promoted to superintendency of the Texas agents. He engaged in a rancorous controversy with Maj. Robert S. Neighbors, the U.S. Indian Agent at San Antonio, and resigned in 1855 to retire to private contracting for the government. Howard, by the end of his career would rank right up with Capt. John Coffee Hayes as top Indian Fighters in Texas. ("Capt. Jack" Hayes, elected Surveyor of Bexar County would survey a highway from San Antonio to San Diego, and not return from California, being elected as the first Sheriff of San Francisco, and then appointed State Surveyor of California by the President of the United States.)
Although ill during the later stages of his life, and too old to lead troops into the field, Howard accepted a commission in the Confederate Army with the rank of Brigadier General and was instrumental in supplying cattle for the Southern forces and negotiating cotton-exchange contracts with Mexican suppliers. He arrived in Washington soon after the cessation of hostilities, and acquired a full amnesty and pardon from President Andrew Johnson, on December 1, 1865.
Howard died in Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 6, 1866 at the age of 52. His remains were removed to The Congressional Cemetery on the banks of the Potomac, his body was placed into the Public Vault, on August 8th, until burial could be arranged. He was buried in the McCormick plot where his wife would be eventually placed beside him in 1909. He lies among many of his fellow combatants of the US Army from the Mexican War, and is likely the only Confederate States General.
He and his wife had one son and seven daughters by 1864, to include Frances (Fannie), Kate, Isabel, Clara, Annie, and Agnes.
Howard's tombstone has mysteriously disappeared from his grave, although a brick foundation remains beneath the grass, as evidence of its' prior existence, and this was duly noted by cemetery staff as of 2012, and vouch that his grave lies undisturbed.
Source: www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles.
Children:
George Thomas Howard Jr.
Inscription
THE MARKER IS NOT ADJACENT TO HIS WIFE'S MARKER
Gravesite Details
Mary McCormick's marker indicates she is the: WIFE OF GEORGE T. HOWARD AND DAUGHTER OF HUGH McCORMICK
Family Members
Siblings
