The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-01
An Jesse I. DIxonl

I'D rather be live dog than a dead
( hero remarked a travelling man to the
& writer short time ago This expression
was drawn out by the nature of our con
8versatlon, which was concerning the neg
lected grave of George Tyler Wood, the
+ second governor of Texas. l had just re
turned from visit TO the grave and was
telling him how had found the pine trees
of forty years growth growing over 1t
and the seeming ingratitude it reflected on
the government Of Texas and her people.
About two years ago, while the writer
8 was editing small newspaper in Walker
county, he learned from II country CORE
y spondent in San Jacinto county that there
was in his community the neglected grave
4 of man who was once governor OF Texas.
iThe correspondent was himself an old
aTexan, and was personally acquainted win
Gove.nor Wood before his death. asked
he old gentleman CThomas Snow by namel
~ give his reminiS teuscs OF Governor
MOOD for publication. This he dld' ana IL
then became known that there was II step
Son of Governor Wood sun llElnS On ~
povernors old plantation. Mt. snow ,
article was published in the Local paper
Nnd copied verbatim by The Post and the
a at once began agtodng the matter
Through the columns of the local paper ana
Orged the removal of Governor Nuou
II mains ana their DufIal III tpN Ht',tS 80,
etery at Austin wrote TO Govg , hir
Savers. who was then entering up2n hlS
frst administration as cher eXecnt,ve Hl
TeXas, and laid the matter before MN. In
reply to my letter he said;
'M i" I have not the means myself with <ynlcn
10 have the remains Of eN-GoVernor WOOD
8removed, but | commend very highly your
Efforts in behalf of their removal anu
burial in the State cemetery. trust you
will call this matter 10 my attention at
The meeting of the next legislature,
3 'JOseph d. SaYerS, Governor
So From the character Of this letter In
Eferred that Governor Savers INTENDED 10
make some recommendation to the legls-
nature concerning the removal Of Governor
Moods remains to the state cemetery
ltBnt when the Twenty seventh legislature
pscnvencd the world stood aghast at the
SGaIveston horror and work of providing
Hood and clothing for the homeless and
Suffering of the island strained the re-
Sources Of the state and enlisted the sym
pathy of the world. 1t seemed more he
fling patriotic and humane, therefore, Tor
sffhe neople of Texas to feed and clothe the
people suffering than to lavish funds on
the ashes of one of her heroic dead Gnld-
ed by this sentiment. ! dlu NOT can HoV,
be had requested. Thus the matter has
Anxious 10 get at the facts however,
few weeks ago decided 10 visit the grave
myself. There are only two or three or
the old settlers who know where the grave
Is located and the thought occurred TO one me
that If the matter We're neglected until
these old settlers pass away the spot would
be entirely lost to history Mrs. Percy
n. Pennybacker's history, which Is nsed
BIS text book in the public schools states
that Governor Wood was buried in Pamela
county, and this statement though grossly
Erroneous, has been taught TO the school
boys and girls of Texas as authentic his;
tory. Texas histories contain several
other misstatements in regard 70 TINS sol
t hier and statesman, but there Is more I'M
Rritten history than has ever been enron
tcled by historians of the past. MY VISIT
81 his grave and to his old home WAS for
the purpose of collecting all the data pos
fble bearing. on his private life and pubic
From Governor Wood aged siepson, David
GindraLt who is still living ON his
M In company with friend who is well
acquainted with Mr.. Gindratt, started
1n horseback one afternoon 70 his home.
When we We're but short distance from
bis house we dlsmounted To get some
Water from spring that was gushing from
I d hillside beneath the shade of a clump or
Spreading magnolas. The water was leap
big from an aperture I'm the hank into a
pool protected by plank wall; 1t was as
elear as crystal, almost ice-eold' and
Not a fpll-blqshlng goblet could tempt US
Though diied with the nectar that Jupiter
sips"
While we were vet lingering by the
kpring resting beneath the deep magnolia
Shades, N agrhent form, with bucket In
hand, came totterng down the hillside.
Is There comes the old gentleman yon
Nish TO sec, now" remarked my friend.
booking in the direction OF tbs coming
When he had approached within a Few feet
rs he. greeted us with q cordial good
1e he gave me a hearty handshake and
had made a few preliminary remarks
MIR. Gindratt, understand you are a