Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, George Childress was born January 8, 1804 in Nashville, Tennessee, where he spent his youth between attending school and working on his father's property. He studied law and graduated Davidson Academy in 1826; after two years of further study he was admitted to the bar in 1828. He married Margaret Vance that same year.
He visited Texas for the first time in late 1834 to visit his uncle Sterling Robertson and help him organize his new settlement. He returned to Tennessee and continued to practice law and take care of his wife and son until summer 1835, when his wife passed away. Childress and his son left for Texas late 1835 and settled in his uncle's colony, setting up a law practice.
In February of the next year, he and his uncle were chosen to represent Milam Municipality at the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. He was chosen chairman of the committee to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, and although he had five members to assist him, he is acknowledged as being the sole author of it; signing it when it was accepted by the delegates. Within two weeks of the signing, Childress and Robert Hamilton were sent to Washington DC to seek recognition from the United States as a separate Republic from Mexico; however, they were replaced in May by James Collinsworth and Peter Grayson.
In December of 1836 Childress married Rebecca Jennings. His life after the revolution was not prosperous; he failed three times to establish a law practice that was successful enough to support his family. Distraught by his inability to earn a living, George Childress committed suicide October 6, 1841 at his home in Galveston.
Five years later, Childress County was named after him in recognition of his service to the Republic of Texas.
He visited Texas for the first time in late 1834 to visit his uncle Sterling Robertson and help him organize his new settlement. He returned to Tennessee and continued to practice law and take care of his wife and son until summer 1835, when his wife passed away. Childress and his son left for Texas late 1835 and settled in his uncle's colony, setting up a law practice.
In February of the next year, he and his uncle were chosen to represent Milam Municipality at the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. He was chosen chairman of the committee to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, and although he had five members to assist him, he is acknowledged as being the sole author of it; signing it when it was accepted by the delegates. Within two weeks of the signing, Childress and Robert Hamilton were sent to Washington DC to seek recognition from the United States as a separate Republic from Mexico; however, they were replaced in May by James Collinsworth and Peter Grayson.
In December of 1836 Childress married Rebecca Jennings. His life after the revolution was not prosperous; he failed three times to establish a law practice that was successful enough to support his family. Distraught by his inability to earn a living, George Childress committed suicide October 6, 1841 at his home in Galveston.
Five years later, Childress County was named after him in recognition of his service to the Republic of Texas.
Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, George Childress was born January 8, 1804 in Nashville, Tennessee, where he spent his youth between attending school and working on his father's property. He studied law and graduated Davidson Academy in 1826; after two years of further study he was admitted to the bar in 1828. He married Margaret Vance that same year.
He visited Texas for the first time in late 1834 to visit his uncle Sterling Robertson and help him organize his new settlement. He returned to Tennessee and continued to practice law and take care of his wife and son until summer 1835, when his wife passed away. Childress and his son left for Texas late 1835 and settled in his uncle's colony, setting up a law practice.
In February of the next year, he and his uncle were chosen to represent Milam Municipality at the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. He was chosen chairman of the committee to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, and although he had five members to assist him, he is acknowledged as being the sole author of it; signing it when it was accepted by the delegates. Within two weeks of the signing, Childress and Robert Hamilton were sent to Washington DC to seek recognition from the United States as a separate Republic from Mexico; however, they were replaced in May by James Collinsworth and Peter Grayson.
In December of 1836 Childress married Rebecca Jennings. His life after the revolution was not prosperous; he failed three times to establish a law practice that was successful enough to support his family. Distraught by his inability to earn a living, George Childress committed suicide October 6, 1841 at his home in Galveston.
Five years later, Childress County was named after him in recognition of his service to the Republic of Texas.
He visited Texas for the first time in late 1834 to visit his uncle Sterling Robertson and help him organize his new settlement. He returned to Tennessee and continued to practice law and take care of his wife and son until summer 1835, when his wife passed away. Childress and his son left for Texas late 1835 and settled in his uncle's colony, setting up a law practice.
In February of the next year, he and his uncle were chosen to represent Milam Municipality at the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. He was chosen chairman of the committee to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, and although he had five members to assist him, he is acknowledged as being the sole author of it; signing it when it was accepted by the delegates. Within two weeks of the signing, Childress and Robert Hamilton were sent to Washington DC to seek recognition from the United States as a separate Republic from Mexico; however, they were replaced in May by James Collinsworth and Peter Grayson.
In December of 1836 Childress married Rebecca Jennings. His life after the revolution was not prosperous; he failed three times to establish a law practice that was successful enough to support his family. Distraught by his inability to earn a living, George Childress committed suicide October 6, 1841 at his home in Galveston.
Five years later, Childress County was named after him in recognition of his service to the Republic of Texas.
Bio by: Screwtape
Inscription
Erected by the State of Texas in memory of George Campbell Childress. Co-author and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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