Pendleton
Temple, Bell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Called Pendletonville in 1880's; renamed 1904 for local resident George C. Pendleton (1845-1913), State Representative, 1883-1889 (House Speaker, 1886-1887). As Lieutenant Governor, 1891-1893, became first elected official to preside over both legislative houses. U. S. Congressman, 1893-1897. (1968)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Known as Pendletonville in the 1880s, this Bell County community was renamed in 1904 for George C. Pendleton (1845–1913), a local resident who rose through Texas politics with rare speed. He served in the state House, became its Speaker, and then as Lieutenant Governor became the first elected official to preside over both legislative chambers before going on to Congress.
Why it matters
Small Texas towns often took the names of native sons who made good, and Pendleton's career reflects the political maturing of the state in the decades after Reconstruction.
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Related people
- · George C. Pendleton
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
K.M. Jones Family Cemetery
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This Bell County family burial ground took its name when Keeton McLemore Jones was laid to rest here in 1890. A farmer and stage stop operator, Jones had fought in the Texas War for Independence, guarding the baggage camp opposite Harrisburg during the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto before moving his large family to the Howard community in 1865. His wife Laura Ann and a granddaughter rest beside him, making the plot a compact monument to one pioneering Texas clan.
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Bird Creek Indian Battle
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