December 5th in 1818, scientist Ferdinand von Roemer, who would go on to write the first monograph on Texas geology, was born in Hildesheim, Hanover. His work, “The Cretaceous Formations of Texas and Their Organic Inclusions,” was published in Bonn in 1852 and remains an important contribution to the field of geology.
Another significant figure in Texas history, Thomas S. Gathright, was born in Monroe County, Georgia in 1829. Gathright went on to become the first president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, which is now known as Texas A&M University.
In 1836, American folk hero David Crockett arrived in Texas, further solidifying his place in the state’s history. That same year, the Texan Navy schooner Williams Robbins was commissioned, later becoming known as the Liberty.
The first telegraph company in Texas was chartered in 1854, marking a significant advancement in communication technology for the state. The Texas and Red River Company opened its first office in Marshall on February 14.
Texas has also experienced its share of conflict, as evidenced by the Indian raid in Cooke County in 1865. Approximately 100 Indians from Indian Territory raided a new settlement, resulting in the deaths of nine people and the theft of numerous horses. This raid is often referred to as the last Indian raid in Cooke County.