Elisha Marshall Pease

19th Century Governor Project Elisha Marshall Pease was the fifth and thirteenth Governor of the State of Texas. Born in Enfield, Connecticut on January 3, 1812, son of Lorrain Thompson and Sarah Marshal Pease. Elisha worked as a clerk in a general office and postal office in Hartford Connecticut. In 1834, Elisha moved to Mina, Texas (Bastrop.) Once settled Elisha continued to study law, in continuation from Connecticut where he started. He eventually became more involved in the city’s political area. Also during which he became involved in the Revolution of Texas, where he served as the Secretary of Safety for Mina. Being first interested in Texas reconciliation with Mexico, Mina later changed his position and eventually fought at the Battle
He also wrote the Probate Code of 1846. In 1851, Elisha then took his career to another level and ran for Governor of Texas. Although unsuccessful on his first try, two years later he won office and was then reelected again in 1855. One of Elisha’s best known accomplishments was his involvement in giving a great amount of focus to the legislation to establish a system of Public Education and a State University. Even though it was not the right timing, meaning the idea was something newly introduced at the time, Pease administration did manage to start of the Permanent School Fund (to assist financially public education). Another known accomplishment of his was his encouragement on railroad construction in Texas. He also was involved in the self-support basis of the state penitentiary and established reservation for the Native Indian’s education within the state. He also led in the building of the Governor’s Mansion, the General Land Office Building, the state’s Orphan Home, and a new Capitol. Elisha also is known for his outstanding roles in the establishment of mentally ill schools and by the time of his retirement as Governor of Texas, he also left the state in a very good financial position. During the years following his retirement Elisha remained active in the start of the Civil War, where his loyalty remained with the Union. In 1866 he decided to get back in politics and in the first election following the Reconstruction Era, he lost his race to the Governor’s office. In 1867, he helped in the organization of the Republican Party in Texas. And after the removal of James W. Throckmorton as the Governor of Texas which came as a result of Throckmorton’s refusal of African American’s protection that favored the Radical Republicans, Elisha was appointed his place. During this time as Governor, Elisha’s effort to reorganize the state back to its place and following his