John Henninger Reagan

This study of the life of John Henninger Reagan covers the period from his birth, 1818 to his appointment by Governor James S. Hogg to the Chairmanship of the Texas Railroad Commission in 1891. Reagan came to Texas in May 1839, serving in the Cherokee War of that year. For two years, 1840-1842 he was surveyor of Nacogdoches County. He began the study of law in 1844, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. Reagan was member of the Second Legislature, 1847-1848. He continued the practice of law until his election as Judge of the Ninth Judicial District in 1852. He resigned the judgeship to enter Congress in 1857, serving until the outbreak of the War in 1861. He was a member of the Secession Convention and was chosen a member of the Confederate Congress. President Jefferson Davis appointed him Postmaster-General of the Confederacy which portfolio he held till the close of the War. His political disabilities having been removed in 1874 he reentered Congress in that year serving until his election to the United States Senate in 1887. At the request of Governor Hogg he accepted the chairmanship of the Railroad Commission which he held until his retirement in 1903. He died at Palestine Texas, March 1905. Work on the period from 1891 until his death in 1905 is in progressHistor