Francis Richard Lubbock's Impact On The Future Of Texas

Francis Richard Lubbock

“What we see depends on what we look for.” - Francis Lubbock. Francis Lubbock was a man who greatly impacted the future of Texas. He and his family had such an impact that, Lubbock, Texas and Lubbock County were named after them. Francis Lubbock lived during the Civil War in the United States, and was a part of the Confederate States of America. He supported slavery and worked through business, politics, and war to protect and spread his views. Francis Lubbock fought, and believed in his actions; and was an important man in Texas’ history. He was born on October 16, 1815, in Beaufort, on the coast South Carolina, to Dr. Henry Thomas Willis and Susan Ann Lubbock who married in 1812. His sister, his parent’s

He was a life-long Democrat and had been ever since he lived in South Carolina. Lubbock was appointed comptroller (a term used for a controller in financial offices) by Sam Houston. Then, he was elected district clerk of Harris County and served from 1841 - 1857. In 1857, Lubbock won the vote for lieutenant governor. He served for two years until the next election came around. Lubbock ran for re-election, but lost to Edward Clark in 1859. Sam Houston was elected to be governor that year. In 1861, however, Francis Lubbock became the ninth governor. He won the election by 124 votes. While being Governor, he assembled a frontier regiment against Indians, expanded industrial resources, and helped to replenish revenue by selling bonds from the U.S.. Lubbock modified the conscription laws so that every healthy man from 16-60 years old liable for fighting in the military. He staunchly supported the Confederacy and it was his main goal to improve the military capabilities of Texas. “He chaired the state military board, which attempted to trade cotton and United States Indemnity Bonds for military goods through Mexico. He also worked with the board to establish a state foundry and percussion-cap factory.” ( tshaonline.com ) After his term, he did not want to be

In November, 1863, he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a lieutenant colonel. He served under John B. Magruder and as a personal assistant or aide-de-camp to Jefferson Davis in August 1864. Lubbock was in-charge of troop transportation and bringing supplies for the Red River operations. Jefferson and Davis traveled to Richmond to help with the war west of the Mississippi. Lubbock was an expert on the trans-Mississippi department and was able to provide Davis with first-hand information on the attack. Sadly, at the end the war, Lubbock and Davis were captured in 1865. He fled from Virginia with Davis, but he was caught in Georgia and incarcerated in Fort Delaware. He was kept in solitary confinement for eight months straight before being paroled. When he was released, he went back to Texas in search of something new. He had decided to pursue to farming next. Soon later, he grew tired of ranching and went back to business in Houston and Galveston. In Galveston, he was a tax collector for three years. Then he became state treasurer from 1879 to 1891. He had served under Governor James Hogg, and then retired at the age of 80. In 1882, his wife died, so he married Mrs. Sarah E. Black Porter, a widow. In 1900, he published his autobiography, Six Decades In Texas. When Mrs. Porter died (date unknown), he married Lou Scott, in 1903. From 1891, until his death, on June 22, 1905, he had remained living in