Sam Houston ran for Governor of Texas in 1857 and lost. Would his chances have been more favorable if he had stopped at Greenville, Texas, instead of going to Bonham in Fannin County? Probably not, Fannin County had a larger voting population. (Texas State Historical Association)
It’s already hot here in Northeast Texas and it’s still early June. Everybody asks, “What will summer be like?” We all know that more than likely it will be hot. But the summer of 1857 was somewhat unique.
In July crops were very sorry in this part of Texas then. No rain fell for six weeks. Corn and wheat sold at $1 per bushel. Water was scarce. People were forced to share water holes in the creeks with all sorts of varmints. Baths were few and far between, but everyone else suffered.
Sam Houston decided to run for governor of Texas against Hardin R. Runnels. He hired a friend to drive him around the state in a buggy. Greenville was on the route, but Houston chose to campaign in Bonham instead. There was more people and more voters in Fannin County. In the final count, Runnels received 53.21% votes to Houston’s 46.79%. It was the only time Sam Houston lost an election. Maybe he should have come by Greenville to shake hands and give a rousing speech.
On the third of July that year a Greenville schoolteacher named Moore was “set upon and nearly murdered” by Jesse Howard and his four sons. In that era, schools taught anyone whose parents could afford the tuition. Rural schools sometimes had as many as twenty-five or thirty students ranging in age from five to twenty. Evidently the Howard boys were older and much tougher than most of their classmates.
The youngest Howard son wrote indecent language in a young lady’s book. Moore chastised the lad. Shortly thereafter Moore, whose health was feeble, was attacked by five men and beaten with clubs. Afterwards he was stabbed in several places. The names of the assailants were not published but they were arrested. However, the local newspaper doubted Moore would recover. He was a newcomer to Texas, a man of exceptional character, and a successful teacher.
The newspaper, Farmer’s Cabinet printed in New Hampshire, also took aim at the Vigilance Committee in Texas. It was rumored that the committee delighted in raking the country fore and aft, and finding every horse thief and murderer they could find. A gentleman who came down a road a few days ago stated the saw a dozen bodies suspended it one tree, and on another five. As a consequence the desperadoes are leaving Texas for New Orleans in great numbers.
So maybe this summer won’t be so hot after all.