Fletcher Stockdale

Fletcher Stockdale (* 1823 or 1825 in Russellville, Kentucky, † February 4, 1890 in Cuero, Texas, buried in Russellville ) was an American lawyer, railroad official, politician, he was the 11th Governor of Texas.

Stockdale was born as one of eight children of Thomas Ward and Laurinda Stockdale in Russellville. After studying law and admitted to the bar in Kentucky in 1846 he went to Texas, where he located in Anderson, in Grimes County, settled down and opened a law firm. A few years later he moved to Indianola in Calhoun County, Texas. In 1857 he married Elizabeth Pryor Bankhead Lytle and in the same year he became a representative of the 26th district of the Texas Senate until 1861. From 1860 he was also a delegate to the National Democrats in Charleston. After the escape of Governor Pendleton Murrah before the Union troops Stockdale end of May until June 19, 1865 Governor of Texas. His successor was Andrew J. Hamilton as provisional governor.

After his brief foray into politics, he returned to Indianola and initially continued his law practice. At the same time he developed a vehicle for longer transport of frozen meat. A year later he became president of the Indianola Railroad. In 1868, he went back into politics and was again a member of the Texas Senate and a member of several government committees.

Stockdale's first wife died on 17 April 1865. Twelve years later he married in Washington, DC Elizabeth Schleicher, the 17- year-old daughter of his friend and politically like-minded people in Texas, Gustav Schleicher.

1965 a monument to him was in honor in Stockdale, which was named after him, erected.