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June 4, 2024
Today in Texas History
By Bandera Spirits of Texas
The Bandera Prophet
On this day in 1845, David Catchings Dickson was elected justice of the peace of Precinct Two in Montgomery County.
He had graduated from medical school in Kentucky and moved to Texas in 1841. Throughout his political career he practiced medicine intermittently.
After his small beginning, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives (1849). He ran successfully for lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate Elisha M. Pease in 1853, but lost in his attempt to unseat Pease in 1855.
In the latter election, though he was a Democrat, he was supported by the American (Know-Nothing) party. After another stint in the House, he commanded a local militia company during the Civil War. In 1866, Governor James W. Throckmorton appointed Dickson financial agent of the state penitentiary at Huntsville, where, in addition to his primary duty, he cared for the inmates during a yellow fever epidemic.
When Throckmorton was removed from office as an "impediment to Reconstruction," Dickson retired to Grimes County. He had become quite wealthy over the years.
He had graduated from medical school in Kentucky and moved to Texas in 1841. Throughout his political career he practiced medicine intermittently.
After his small beginning, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives (1849). He ran successfully for lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate Elisha M. Pease in 1853, but lost in his attempt to unseat Pease in 1855.
In the latter election, though he was a Democrat, he was supported by the American (Know-Nothing) party. After another stint in the House, he commanded a local militia company during the Civil War. In 1866, Governor James W. Throckmorton appointed Dickson financial agent of the state penitentiary at Huntsville, where, in addition to his primary duty, he cared for the inmates during a yellow fever epidemic.
When Throckmorton was removed from office as an "impediment to Reconstruction," Dickson retired to Grimes County. He had become quite wealthy over the years.