Fletcher Stockdale
Encyclopedia
Fletcher Summerfield Stockdale (c. 1823 – 4 February 1890) was a U.S.
politician
in Texas
.
Stockdale was born in either 1823 or 1825 in Russellville, Kentucky
as one of eight children of Thomas W. and Laurinda Stockdale. He studied law and was admitted to the Bar
in Kentucky
. Stockdale moved to Texas in 1846 and settled in Grimes County.
By 1856, Stockdale had moved to Calhoun County
, which he represented in the Texas Senate
from 1857 to 1861. He was elected Lieutenant Governor
in 1863, and served in that post until late May 1865 when he became the Governor of Texas after then-Governor
Pendleton Murrah
fled to Mexico
. Stockdale served until provisional governor Andrew J. Hamilton
assumed office in August 1865.
In the late 1860s, Stockdale served as president of the Indianola Railroad and promoted the development of refrigerated cars
for carrying beef
to markets.
Stockdale married his second wife, Elizabeth, the daughter of Texas politician Gustav Schleicher
, in 1877 in Washington, D.C.
They resided in Cuero, Texas
, until his death 4 February 1890.
Stockdale, Texas
, was named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Stockdale was born in either 1823 or 1825 in Russellville, Kentucky
Russellville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile...
as one of eight children of Thomas W. and Laurinda Stockdale. He studied law and was admitted to the Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Stockdale moved to Texas in 1846 and settled in Grimes County.
By 1856, Stockdale had moved to Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Texas
Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, the population was 20,647. Its county seat is Port Lavaca. It is a part of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, which he represented in the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
from 1857 to 1861. He was elected Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Texas
The Lieutenant Governor of Texas is the second-highest executive office in the government of Texas, a state in the U.S. It is the second most powerful post in Texas government because its occupant controls the work of the Texas Senate and controls the budgeting process as a leader of the...
in 1863, and served in that post until late May 1865 when he became the Governor of Texas after then-Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Pendleton Murrah
Pendleton Murrah
Pendleton Murrah was the tenth Governor of Texas. His term in office coincided with the American Civil War.A native of South Carolina, Murrah graduated from Brown University in 1848. He moved to Texas and opened a law practice in Marshall. He ran and was defeated for the U.S...
fled to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Stockdale served until provisional governor Andrew J. Hamilton
Andrew J. Hamilton
Andrew Jackson Hamilton was a United States politician during the third quarter of the 19th century. He was a lawyer, state representative, military governor of Texas, as well as the 11th Governor of Texas during Reconstruction.-Early life:Hamilton was born in Huntsville, Alabama on January 28, 1815...
assumed office in August 1865.
In the late 1860s, Stockdale served as president of the Indianola Railroad and promoted the development of refrigerated cars
Refrigerator car
A refrigerator car is a refrigerated boxcar , a piece of railroad rolling stock designed to carry perishable freight at specific temperatures. Refrigerator cars differ from simple insulated boxcars and ventilated boxcars , neither of which are fitted with cooling apparatus...
for carrying beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
to markets.
Stockdale married his second wife, Elizabeth, the daughter of Texas politician Gustav Schleicher
Gustav Schleicher
Gustav Schleicher was a German-born Democratic United States Representative from Texas. He was an engineer who served briefly in the Texas legislature, and was a veteran of the Confederate Army.-Early life:Schleicher was born in Darmstadt in the German principality of Hesse in 1823...
, in 1877 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
They resided in Cuero, Texas
Cuero, Texas
Cuero is a city in DeWitt County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,571 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of DeWitt County. It is also unofficially known as the "turkey capital of the world"...
, until his death 4 February 1890.
Stockdale, Texas
Stockdale, Texas
Stockdale is a city in Wilson County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Stockdale is located at ....
, was named in his honor.