Who was John Henninger Reagan? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 86

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Edwina Moss Nelms Reagan

father: Timothy Richard

mother: Elizabeth (Lusk) Reagan

Political Leaders American Men

political ideology: Democratic Party

Died on: March 6, 1905

place of death: Palestine, Texas, U.S.

U.S. State: Tennessee

Founder/Co-Founder: Texas State Historical Association

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Childhood & Early Life

John Henninger Reagan was born on October 8, 1818 in Sevier County, Tennessee, as the eldest son of Timothy Richard and Elizabeth Reagan, who made their living by trading and farming. He had four brothers and one sister.

While he was 13, his mother died. He was thrust with the responsibility of taking care of his brothers and sister.

To support his family and to meet out his schooling expenses, he worked as a planter, tanner, supervisor and as a salesman. Simultaneously, he continued his law studies.

While he was 20, he moved to Texas with the hope of finding more employment opportunities. His search did not go in vain as his study of law gained him an entry to the bar.

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Career

In 1839, he moved to Texas and joined the army of Republic. He took part in the Cherokee War in which Chief Bowl, the leader of the Indians was killed and the Indians overthrown.

After the war, he worked as the deputy surveyor of public lands near Nacogdoches until 1843. Later, he became the justice of the peace and captain of a militia company in Nacogdoches.

He continued to study law and in 1846 after obtaining a temporary license, and started his office at Buffalo. Two years later, he gained admission to the bar and practised both in Palestine and Buffalo.

In 1847, he became a member of the Texas House of Representatives. Five years later he became the first judge of the Henderson County - the term extended for five years.

In 1857 he became the United States congressman representing the Democratic Party of the Eastern Texas. He later joined the secessionist and was elected to Secession Convention of Texas.

In 1861, President Jefferson Davis made him the Postmaster General of the Confederacy. Reagan wielded his ability and brought out remarkable improvement in the U.S. economy through improvised and diligent postal service.

When the Civil War came to an end, he was imprisoned in Fort Warren in Boston. He was detained in solitary captivity for 22 weeks. He returned home to Palestine in December 1865.

He resumed his career as a lawyer and also got involved in restructuring the politics of the State of Texas. In 1875, he was elected to the State's Constitutional Convention.

He contested for his earlier position as the U.S. House of Representative. He was elected as a Democratic Representative and continued in the position for 13 years.

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In 1887, he contested for the U.S. Senate and won it. He also held the office as the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce and remained in the position for four years.

In 1891 he resigned his post and returned to his hometown. He accepted the offer from the Governor of Texas and became the Director of the Texas Railroad Commission.

In 1897 he was appointed as the Chairman of Texas Railroad Commission and served for six years. During this time, he also helped in the formation of Texas State Historical Association.

In 1903, after completing his tenure, he retired from politics. He spent his time in completing his “Memoirs,” that was published two years later.

A pneumonia attack took his life at the age of 85. He was buried in the East Hill Cemetery in his hometown Palestine, Texas.

Awards & Achievements

In 1861, he was appointed as the Postmaster General of Confederacy. Reagan made remarkable achievements in the economy of the States by implementing revision in the postal rate and improvising the mail delivery system.

In 1875, he became a member of the Constitutional body of the Texas State. The same year he won a seat to the U.S. House of Representatives and retained the position for 13 years.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married three times in his life. He married Martha Music in 1844 and she died the following year. Seven years later, he married Edwina Moss Nelms with whom he had six children.

He married Molly Ford Taylor in 1866 three years after the death of his second wife. Through this marriage, he had five children, two of whom died before his death.

The Reagan County in Texas is named after him. Schools in Texas State like John H. Reagan Elementary School in Dallas and Reagan High Schools in Austin and Houston are named in his honor.

A statue of Reagan is commemorated in the University of Texas at Austin. The Texas State Capitol holds John H. Reagan State Office Building at its premises.

Trivia

This renowned American politician of the nineteenth century started his career as a surveyor. During his career, Colonel Robert Porter assigned him the task of surveying and mapping out the city of Porter's Bluff.

This American Congressman was a long-time friend of President Jefferson Davis. His funeral was attended by the whole State Legislature of Texas.

John Henninger Reagan Biography