Lanham, Governor S.W.T.

(July 4, 1846 - July 29, 1908) A South Carolinian, Samuel Willis Tucker Lanham volunteered at age 15 and fought 1861-65 in the Civil War. In 1866 he married Sarah Beona Meng and moved to Texas. The Lanhams taught school, first in Bowie County, then in Weatherford. Admitted to the bar in 1869, Lanham in 1871 became district attorney for five counties, including Parker. Also in 1871 he began to build his home at this site, enlarging it later. His speeches in 1871 at the trial of Indian chiefs in the Warren Wagon Train Massacre brought him fame at age 25. Elected United States Congressman in 1882 for the 98-county "jumbo" district of West Texas, he served as a national lawmaker for 17 years. S.W.T. Lanham was the last Confederate veteran to be governor of Texas, 1903-07. He led in reviving East Texas iron works, began fiscal balance practices in state government, and invoked social justice. Laws made in response to his policies covered vital tax reforms, child labor curbs, uniform textbooks, and the Terrell Election Law to enable voters to nominate officials by ballot rather than in conventions. Governor and Mrs. Lanham had eight children, including U.S. Congressman Fritz Lanham. The Ex-Governor died here at his home and is buried in Weatherford. (1978)

Lanham, Governor S.W.T. is a historical marker in Weatherford, Parker County, dedicated in 1978. It is one of 74 historical markers documented in Parker County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 205 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.7542, -97.8002 near Weatherford. The nearest cataloged historic site is Twentieth Century Club (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include First United Methodist Church of Weatherford, Weatherford, and Parker County Courthouse.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5367002235. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.