Peg Leg : the improbable life of a Texas hero, Thomas William Ward, 1807-1872 / by David C. Humphrey.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Humphrey, David C., 1937-2021.

Contributor:

Ellis D. Williams, College 1865, Endowment Fund.

Series:

Watson Caufield and Mary Maxwell Arnold Republic of Texas series ; no. 1.

Watson Caulfield and Mary Maxwell Arnold Republic of Texas series ; no. 1

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ward, Thomas William, 1807-1872.

Ward, Thomas William.

Texas. General Land Office--Officials and employees--Biography.

Texas.

Texas. General Land Office.

Consuls--United States--Biography.

Consuls.

Texas--History--Revolution, 1835-1836.

History.

Texas--History--Republic, 1836-1846.

Texas--History--1846-1950.

United States.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xi, 340 pages, 24 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Denton : Texas State Historical Association, [2009]

Summary:

With Peg Leg: The Improbable Life of a Texas Hero, Thomas William Ward, 1807-1872, David C. Humphrey offers a compelling portrait of one of the Texas Revolution's most intriguing figures. Born in Dublin, Ward arrived in Texas in 1835 as a member of the fabled New Orleans Greys, losing his leg on his first day of battle. Overcoming the immense physical trauma of amputation and deep depression-an ordeal he would undergo again four years later following the loss of his right arm-Ward devoted the rest of his life to serving his adopted home of Texas as commissioner of the General Land Office, military officer, three-time mayor of Austin, and federal customs official. Ward also served three tumultuous years as U.S. Consul to Panama at a time when many thousands of Americans crossed the isthmus seeking their fortunes in California-until he clashed with shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt and, with characteristic grit, refused to back down from what he felt was right. Far from being just the story of Ward's professional life, however, Peg Leg examines his personal life, too, especially his ill-fated relationship with his wife, Susan, providing readers a warts-and-all picture of a deeply courageous and dedicated, though flawed, hero.

Contents:

Pt. 1. Peg Leg, 1807-1845

Introduction

From Dublin to New Orleans

The storming of San Antonio

With Green's Brigade

Launching Houston

"Autocrat of the land office"

"Old Peg" and the Archive War

Recovery and reform

Pt. 2. Peg Leg and Susan, 1844-1874

Susan

Downfall

A time of troubles

On the isthmus

In jeopardy

The Watermelon War and the Commodore

Reunion and separation

Civil wars

Final years

Retrospect.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Ellis D. Williams, College 1865, Endowment Fund.

ISBN:

9780876112373

0876112378

OCLC:

277201342

Publisher Number:

99934630615