George C. Pendleton
Encyclopedia
George Cassety Pendleton (April 23, 1845 - January 19, 1913) was a Democratic
politician
who served as Texas State Representative
and Speaker, Lieutenant Governor of Texas
, and U.S. Representative from the 7th District of Texas.
. Pendleton enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army after the beginning of the Civil War
and saw action with the Nineteenth Texas Cavalry in the Trans-Mississippi Department. After the war he returned to Texas and enrolled in Waxahachie Academy, but was forced by illness to withdraw. In an effort to regain his strength through work, Pendleton accepted a job as a traveling salesman for a Dallas
implement company. He remained with the firm for ten years. In 1870, he married Helen Embree of Belton, Texas
. The couple raised five children. During 1881 and 1882 Pendleton lived in Bell County, Texas
, first in Old Howard, and later, after the Santa Fe Railroad bypassed that village, at Pendleton, where he was involved in various business pursuits for a short time. His experiences as a farmer apparently drew him to the activities of the Grange for a time. In 1882 he moved to Temple
, where he entered the land abstract and title firm of his brother-in-law, William E. Hill, and A. M. Monteith.
State convention from 1876 to 1910. Pendleton was selected as state representative of the Twenty-fourth District, which included Bell County, and retained office for the Eighteenth
, Nineteenth
, and Twentieth legislatures
; he served as Speaker of the House
in 1887-1889. Between 1883 and 1889, while a member of the state legislature, he held a number of positions within the state's Democratic Party
, including chairman pro tem of both the antiprohibition state convention of May 1887 and the state convention in 1888. The 1890 Democratic state convention, cognizant of Pendleton's Granger past, nominated him as gubernatorial candidate James S. Hogg's running mate on a platform designed to appeal to the state's agrarian voters during this period of farmer activism. Following Hogg's victory Pendleton served as Lieutenant Governor of Texas from 1890 through 1892. In 1892 he successfully sought election to Congress from the state's Seventh District
, which included Bell, Falls, McLennan, Freestone, Limestone, Milam, Brazos, and Robertson counties. He served two terms in Washington and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in Chicago in 1896.
's relationship with the Standard Oil Company. After the election of Woodrow Wilson
to the presidency in 1912, Pendleton was to be appointed Postmaster
of Temple, a post no doubt intended as a reward for his long service to the Democratic party. The appointment was never made, however, for he died on January 19, 1913, after suffering a stroke. He was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Temple.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as Texas State Representative
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
and Speaker, Lieutenant Governor of Texas
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...
, and U.S. Representative from the 7th District of Texas.
Early life and service in the Civil War
Pendleton was born to Ned E. and Sarah (Smart) Pendleton near Viola in Warren County, Tennessee. In 1857, the family moved to Ellis County, TexasEllis County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 111,360 people, 37,020 households, and 29,653 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile . There were 39,071 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
. Pendleton enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army after the beginning of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and saw action with the Nineteenth Texas Cavalry in the Trans-Mississippi Department. After the war he returned to Texas and enrolled in Waxahachie Academy, but was forced by illness to withdraw. In an effort to regain his strength through work, Pendleton accepted a job as a traveling salesman for a Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
implement company. He remained with the firm for ten years. In 1870, he married Helen Embree of Belton, Texas
Belton, Texas
Belton is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bell County.Belton is part of the Killeen – Temple – Fort Hood metropolitan area.-Geography:...
. The couple raised five children. During 1881 and 1882 Pendleton lived in Bell County, Texas
Bell County, Texas
Bell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Bell County was founded in 1850. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2000, the county's population was 237,974; in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that its population had reached...
, first in Old Howard, and later, after the Santa Fe Railroad bypassed that village, at Pendleton, where he was involved in various business pursuits for a short time. His experiences as a farmer apparently drew him to the activities of the Grange for a time. In 1882 he moved to Temple
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
, where he entered the land abstract and title firm of his brother-in-law, William E. Hill, and A. M. Monteith.
Political career
Pendleton was a delegate to every DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
State convention from 1876 to 1910. Pendleton was selected as state representative of the Twenty-fourth District, which included Bell County, and retained office for the Eighteenth
Eighteenth Texas Legislature
The Eighteenth Texas Legislature met from 9 January 1883 to 6 February 1884 in its regular session and one called session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1882 General Election.-Sessions:...
, Nineteenth
Nineteenth Texas Legislature
The Nineteenth Texas Legislature met from 13 January to 31 March 1885 in its regular session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1884 General Election.-Senate:...
, and Twentieth legislatures
Twentieth Texas Legislature
The Twentieth Texas Legislature met from 11 January to 4 April 1887 in regular session, and from 16 April to 15 May 1888 in a called session. All members of the House of Representatives and a portion of the members of the Senate were elected in the 1886 General Election.-Sessions:* 20th Regular...
; he served as Speaker of the House
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Texas House of Representatives. The Speaker's main duties are to conduct meetings of the House, appoint committees, and enforce the Rules of the House...
in 1887-1889. Between 1883 and 1889, while a member of the state legislature, he held a number of positions within the state's Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, including chairman pro tem of both the antiprohibition state convention of May 1887 and the state convention in 1888. The 1890 Democratic state convention, cognizant of Pendleton's Granger past, nominated him as gubernatorial candidate James S. Hogg's running mate on a platform designed to appeal to the state's agrarian voters during this period of farmer activism. Following Hogg's victory Pendleton served as Lieutenant Governor of Texas from 1890 through 1892. In 1892 he successfully sought election to Congress from the state's Seventh District
Texas's 7th congressional district
Texas District 7 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves a small area of western Harris County...
, which included Bell, Falls, McLennan, Freestone, Limestone, Milam, Brazos, and Robertson counties. He served two terms in Washington and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
1896 Democratic National Convention
The 1896 Democratic National Convention, held at the Chicago Coliseum from July 7 to July 11, was the scene of William Jennings Bryan's nomination as Democratic presidential candidate for the 1896 U.S. presidential election....
in Chicago in 1896.
Life after Congress
After returning to Temple in 1897, Pendleton entered banking and studied law in his spare time. He was admitted to the bar in 1900 and practiced law until his death. He also remained active in Democratic politics during his later years, serving as a chairman pro tem of the state convention in 1902 and holding a seat on the committee on platform and resolutions in 1904. In the latter position he presented a minority report that encouraged state control over interstate corporations operating in Texas. He also called for an investigation of Senator Joseph W. BaileyJoseph Weldon Bailey
Joseph Weldon Bailey, Sr. was a United States Senator, United States Representative, lawyer, and a Populist political figure. He served as a Congressional Representative between 1891 and 1901, and as the House minority leader from 1897 until 1899...
's relationship with the Standard Oil Company. After the election of Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
to the presidency in 1912, Pendleton was to be appointed Postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Temple, a post no doubt intended as a reward for his long service to the Democratic party. The appointment was never made, however, for he died on January 19, 1913, after suffering a stroke. He was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Temple.