George H. Noonan
Encyclopedia
George Henry Noonan was a U.S. Representative
from Texas
. He was the first Republican congressman from Texas not elected during Reconstruction.
Born in Newark, New Jersey
, Noonan received a liberal education, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar
and practiced law. He moved to Texas in 1852 and settled in Castroville, Texas
in Medina County, where he resumed the practice of law.
Noonan was elected judge of the eighteenth judicial district of Texas in 1862 and served until 1894 when he resigned.
Noonan was elected as a Republican
to the Fifty-fourth Congress
(March 4, 1895-March 3, 1897). Among Noonan's backers for Congress was George B. Jackson
, an African-American
businessman called the "wealthiest black in Texas" in the second half of the 19th century. Jackson was also instrumental in the organization of the Republican Party in Tom Green County.
Noonan was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth Congress
. He then resumed the practice of law in San Antonio
and died there on August 17, 1907. He is interred at St. Mary's Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 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...
. He was the first Republican congressman from Texas not elected during Reconstruction.
Born in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Noonan received a liberal education, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and practiced law. He moved to Texas in 1852 and settled in Castroville, Texas
Castroville, Texas
Castroville is a city in Medina County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,664 at the 2000 census. Prior to 1893, Castroville was the first county seat of Medina County....
in Medina County, where he resumed the practice of law.
Noonan was elected judge of the eighteenth judicial district of Texas in 1862 and served until 1894 when he resigned.
Noonan was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fifty-fourth Congress
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
(March 4, 1895-March 3, 1897). Among Noonan's backers for Congress was George B. Jackson
George B. Jackson
George B. Jackson was a businessman, sheep rancher, and Republican politician from San Angelo who was believed to have been the wealthiest African American in Texas during the second half of the 19th century.-Background:...
, an African-American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
businessman called the "wealthiest black in Texas" in the second half of the 19th century. Jackson was also instrumental in the organization of the Republican Party in Tom Green County.
Noonan was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth Congress
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
. He then resumed the practice of law in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and died there on August 17, 1907. He is interred at St. Mary's Cemetery.