December 10th in 1838, Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was inaugurated as the second president of the Republic of Texas. Known as the “Father of Texas Education,” Lamar made significant contributions to the establishment of the education system in Texas.
In 1879, the New York and Texas Land Company was formed when the property owned by the International-Great Northern Railroad Company was deeded to New Yorkers John S. Kennedy, Samuel Thorne, and William Walter Phelps. This event marked an important development in the state’s land and property ownership.
A notable birth also took place on this day in Texas history, as Eli Whiteley was born in Georgetown in 1913. Whiteley would go on to receive a Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts against the Germans in World War II, making him a celebrated figure in the state’s military history.
In 1928, actor Dan Blocker was born in DeKalb, TX. Blocker is best known for his role as Hoss Cartwright on the television show “Bonanza,” which aired from 1959 until his untimely death in 1972.