Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-27

John H. Reagan is a native of Tennessee.
] He IS seventy-three years OF age. in full
! health, and vigorous apparently as a man of
| fifty. He has been citizen OF Texas about
ffty-three years. He came to the republic
of Texas in May, 1899, where he had neither
kindred, friends or money. Soon after he
arrived in Texas he entered the volunteer
army of Texas, and participated in the
campaign and battles with the Cherokee
and other Indians in 1889, as private SOL
der. For some years following that he
was deputy surveyor, engaged in survey
ing the public lands of Texas; alternating
with this, however, campaigning against
the Indians. working on the farm and
school teaching. In 1912 he was elected
captain of company Of militia, and justice
OF the peace for his precinct and in 1913
was for short time captain of a company
in active service. In 1S45 ne commenced
the study of the law. In 1916 he was
elected colonel of militia of Henderson
county which then embraced in its terri
tory the present counties of Kaufman, Van
Zandt, Raines, Wood and half of Upshur
The same year he was elected probate
Judgesof Henderson county. In 1S47 he was
szsleeted member of the Second legislature
of Texas from the Nacogdoches district, COM
posed of the present counties of Nacog-
doches, Angelina, Cherokee, Smith, Hen
derson. Kaufman, the north half of Dallas,
Rockwell, the south part of Hunt, Raines,
Wood, and the west half of Upshur. In
1859 he was elected judge of the district
court Of the old Ninth judicial district for
the term of six years. In 1856 the legisla-
ture increased the salaries of the district
judges from s175G to S2250, for the
salary was not sufficient to command the
:Re5t legal talent for the bench Mr.
Reagan, in view Of this, resigned the Office
of district judge in 1856 and offered himself
for reelection, stating in the announcement
of his resignation and candidacy that if the
increased salary would secure to the people
OF the district better judge it was his duty
to give them the chance to make the
selection; and that if they could do no bet
ter than re-elect him he was entitled to the
i1a0reased salary. And the people reelected
Him again for term Of six years. The next
year, 1851, he was nominated for seat in
the Thirty-tifth congress of the United
States by the Democratic convention of the
First (the Eastern) congressional district.
He resigned the Office of Judge before ac-
cepting the nomination, and was elected |
over the sitting member, who was what |
was called Know Nothing or American, by |
1Ana jority of over 1000 votes. In 1859, after |
a struggle of unusual bitterness, he was re-
elected to congress by majority of over |
1900 votes, to the Thlrty-sixth congress.
He was what was called conservative or |
national Democrat, and sought as long as |
there was hope of success to secure some |
basis Of adjustment of the sectional troubles !
by which the Union could be preserved |
But after thirty odd propositions Of COM
promise had been made in the Ihirty-sixth
and allof then; either by Demo-
Gratis or Southern 1Ien. looking to the
preservation of tha Union, and after each
Of those propositions had been received by
the Republicans in congress with hootings
and derision, leaving no hope for compro-
mise or for safety for the rights of
lhe Southern people in the Union, Mr..
Reagan in February. 1861, left his seat in
congress and returned TO Texas. On reach
ng New Orleans he learned that he had
been elected as a member to what is known
IS the secession state convention of Texas
And instead of going to his home, as he
lad intended, he went directly to the city
# Austin, reaching there on the morning
VI the third day after it was assembled
after participating in the proceedings of
hat convention, he was. chosen by it as one
t the delegates to the provisional congress
f the Confederaey, along with Senators
Iemphi1 and WigfalI, Judge Oldham,
Judge Ochiltree, Gen. Ward and Judge
iregg as his colleagues.
In March, 1861, me was appointed by
PRESIDENT Davis to be postmaster general
f the provisional government of the Con-
ederacy; and served as such, and as a |
lember Of the provisional congress, until |
he constitutional government was organ I
ed in February, 1862. On the organiza- ]
on of the constitutional government he
'as reappointed by MIR. Davis to be post {
laster general of the Confederate states. {
lr. Reagan served in this position success :
lily, managing the affairs of the postofice
apartment until the fall of the Confeder- {
~. And it marks the confidence s
hich Mr.. Davis and his cabinet had {
i the fidelity Of Nj. Reagan to important :
'usts, that near the close of the war, when &
ON sickness MIR. Trenholm resigned the t
nee OF secretary Of the treasury of the [
Mr.. Reagan was appointed
,cretary of the treasury ad interim, and ]
larged with the duties Of that Office in ]
EDITION to the duties OF acknowledgement t
On the 10th day Of May, 1865, Mr. Rea- v
IN was made a prisoner Of war by the r
nited States forces in the state of Geor- I
a. He was captured in company with I
resident Davis and Governor Lubbock {
Id Col. William Preston Johnston, two
smbers Of his staf, and Burton Harrison, C
s private secretary. When he and his +
low prisoners reached Macon, Ca, then Il
e headquarters of Mai.-Gen. Wilson of t
e Federal cavalry, they met the Hon. O. a
Clay of Alabama, who had voluntarily {