Anson Jones

On November 21, 2009 the Texas Heritage Society sponsored the Anson Jones Texas Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas

Anson Jones:  January 20, 1798 - January 9, 1858

Last President of Texas:  December 9, 1844 - February 19, 1846

At least, I have the approbation of my own conscience, a reward in itself above all price,  and repose upon the assured belief that history and posterity will do me no wrong.

Anson Jones, Valedictory, February 19, 1846

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of the

Anson Jones Marker Dedication Ceremony

November 21, 2009

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

Some of the members of the Texas Heritage Society, the Harris County Historical Commission, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Sons of the Republic of Texas who were present at the Anson Jones marker dedication ceremony. 

The Texas Heritage Society sponsored its first Texas State Historical marker dedication ceremony with the marker granted by the Texas Historical Commission for Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas.   The Anson Jones Texas Historical marker dedication ceremony was a huge success.  More than 110 people attended the dedication ceremony on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at   Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas. 

Anson Jones Marker Planning Committee:

Melinda R. Cagle, Texas Heritage Society

Brenda Horton, Texas Heritage Society

David Martin, Texas Heritage Society

Carole Lynn O'Neal, Texas Heritage Society

Kameron Kent Searle, Texas Heritage Society

Marisa Searle, Texas Heritage Society

Pat Spackey, Texas Heritage Society

Carolyn Terrell, Texas Heritage Society

Bernice Mistrot, Harris County Historical Commission

Debra Blacklock-Sloan, Harris County Historical Commission

Loy Anderson, Glenwood Cemetery

Bonnie Ambrus, Glenwood Cemetery

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

The Texas State Historical marker for Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas, was unveiled by Patrick Van Pelt, Chairman of the Harris County Historical Commission and W. Vernon Burke, Jr., Past Grand Master of Masons in Texas. 

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

Text of Anson JonesTexas Historical Marker.

Special thanks to Texas Heritage Society Editor, Melinda Reeves Cagle, for the spectacular job she did on the Anson Jones marker dedication ceremony printed programs.  We have already received a number of compliments from people who have been attending historical marker dedication ceremonies for years who advise us that it is one of the finest programs that they have ever seen.  Click here to see and print the 12 page p rogram:

Anson Jones Program PDF file.

The Anson Jones Texas Historical marker Ceremony was sponsored by the Texas Heritage Society and the Harris County Historical Commission.

The pledges to the United Sates flag and the Texas flag were led by William Haddock, Past President of the San Jacinto Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and Vice-President General of the San Jacinto Descendants.  The Invocation was led by Francita Ulmer of the San Jacinto Descendants. 

Houston Mayor Bill White appeared and gave an inspiring speech concerning the importance of preserving the early history of Texas.

The State of Texas does not pay for Texas State Historical markers.  The $1,500 dollars for the casting of the Anson Jones marker was paid to the Texas Historical Commission by the San Jacinto Descendants.  The San Jacinto Descendants were represented at the dedication ceremony by President General Nan White Morris who spoke about Anson Jones' important roles in the Battle of San Jacinto and the early Republic of Texas.

Anson Jones married Mary Smith McCrory in 1840.  She was later elected the first President of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.  Eron Brimberry Tynes, President of the San Jacinto Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, spoke about Mary Smith McCrory Jones and the early history of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas under Mary Jones' leadership.

As Anson Jones helped found Masonry in Texas, Texas Masons also took a major role in this ceremony.  Jones was the first Worshipful Master of a regularly formed Masonic lodge in Texas.  Anson Jones was also the first Grand Master of Masons in Texas when the Grand Lodge of Texas was founded in Houston, Texas. 

Past Grand Master of Masons in Texas, W. Vernon Burke, Jr., spoke about Anson Jones and Masonry in Texas at the dedication ceremony.  He also spoke about the contributions of the Masons in the early history of Texas.  Many Masons from around Texas attended the ceremony wearing their Masonic aprons.  Prior to the dedication ceremony, W. Vernon Burke, Jr. opened a Representation of the Grand Lodge of Texas at Holland Lodge #1 located at 4911 Montrose, Houston, Texas. 

In 1837, Anson Jones was a charter member of the Philosophical Society of Texas.  The Philosophical Society of Texas was represented at the dedication ceremony by Dr. Jon Fleming who read the preamble of the charter of the Philosophical Society of Texas written by Anson Jones and Mirabeau B. Lamar in 1837.  Both of these gentlemen would later be  elected Presidents of the Republic of Texas.  The charter members of the Philosophical Society of Texas were some of the most influential citizens of the Republic of Texas.

Carlos R., Hamilton, Jr., M. D., Past President of the Harris County Medical Society, spoke about Anson Jones' role as surgeon following the Battle of San Jacinto, his many contributions to development of medicine in early Texas and the Anson Jones, M. D. Awards presented annually by the Texas Medical Association.

Anson Jones' home has been preserved at Barrington Living History Farm at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park. Curator Pam Skaggs appeared and spoke about Barrington Living History Farm.  She provided the history of Anson Jones' Barrington plantation, the Anson Jones home and their ongoing efforts to preserve the home and history of the Last President of Texas.

Glenwood Cemetery historian, Joanne Seale Wilson, spoke about the three different burial sites of Anson Jones and the early history of Glenwood Cemetery.

Photo Courtesy of Pat Spackey

Colonel John Martin, the executive officer of the Texas Army, led the members of the Texas Army at the Anson Jones marker dedication ceremony.  The Texas Army in period attire fired three black powder rifle salutes following the unveiling of the Anson Jones marker.  The Texas Army also be provided an exceptional color guard at the beginning and at the end of the ceremony.

Debra Blacklock-Sloan, Chair of the Marker Mentorship Committee of the Harris County Historical Commission presented the many proclamations honoring Anson Jones from the Governor, the City of Houston and the Harris County Commissioners.  

Anson Jones was the last President of the Republic of Texas.  He was an early doctor in the Brazoria Municipality when Texas was still part of Mexico.  Anson Jones was the surgeon of the Second Regiment at San Jacinto and he fought in the Battle of San Jacinto as a private on April 21, 1836 and treated the wounded at Lorenzo de Zavala's house following the battle. 

Anson Jones was a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas.  Later, Sam Houston appointed him the Minister Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Texas to the United States.  Following his return from Washington, he found that he had been elected to the Senate.   He    was later appointed the Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas.   Anson Jones was elected the last President of the Republic of Texas and is known as the "Architect of Annexation" because his activities and diplomatic strategies led to Texas being annexed by the United States.  Following annexation, Jones retired to his plantation, Barrington, where he wrote the detailed history of his role in the annexation of Texas.

Jones is the only President of a nation buried in Houston and Harris County, Texas.   The Texas Heritage Society was proud to sponsor the Anson Jones Texas Historical marker dedication ceremony.  Pictures from the ceremony will be posted on this site in the next few days. Special thanks to Loy Anderson, Bonnie Ambrus, Dick Ambrus and the whole staff of Glenwood Cemetery for the all your help and wonderful hospitality in making the Anson Jones marker dedication ceremony such a huge success.

Financial Contributors Anson Jones Marker Ceremony:

Dr. and Mrs. Carrol Dean Cagle

Mrs. Steve Horton

Mrs. Jerry  O'Neal

Mr. and Mrs. Kameron Kent Searle

Mr. and Mrs. Ted  Spackey

Mrs. Carolyn Terrell

The Texas Heritage Society, Inc. 

Publicity and Proclamations:

The Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes Magazine - December 2009

THS and Anson Jones Marker in Ultimate Conroe

THS and Anson Jones Marker in Ultimate Woodlands

THS and Anson Jones Marker in The Woodlands Villager

THS and Anson Jones in The Potpourri

Houston Chronicle - Bayou City History Blog

Texas Army Newsletter - December 2009

Anson Jones Letter of United States Senator John Cornyn

Anson Jones Proclamation of Governor Rick Perry

Anson Jones Proclamation of State Representative Garnet F. Coleman 

Click here to see the gravesite of Anson Jones in Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Representatives of the Texas Heritage Society, Harris County Historical Commission and Glenwood Cemetery met on October 19, 2009 to plan the Anson Jones Texas Historical Marker dedication ceremony scheduled for November 21, 2009.  Pictured, front row, left to right: Brenda Horton, Melinda Cagle, Kameron Searle.  Back row, left to right:  Debra Blacklock-Sloan, Bernice Mistrot, Loy Anderson, Pat Spackey and Bonnie Ambrus.

Map to Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas 

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