| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 229 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | join citizens around the state in celebrating July 21, 2017, as |
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| 4 | 4 | | First Lady Frances Cox Henderson Day; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia on July 21, 1820, Frances Cox |
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| 6 | 6 | | was educated in Europe; she met James Pinckney Henderson in Paris |
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| 7 | 7 | | when he was serving as the envoy from the Republic of Texas to the |
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| 8 | 8 | | Tuileries Palace, and the couple married in London in 1839; they |
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| 9 | 9 | | moved to San Augustine, Texas, the following year; and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, James Henderson was elected the first governor of |
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| 11 | 11 | | Texas in 1845; during his term, the Texas First Lady worked to |
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| 12 | 12 | | establish Episcopalian churches in East Texas, and in her |
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| 13 | 13 | | efforts, she became the first woman to address the clergy of the |
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| 14 | 14 | | diocese; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, The family moved to Marshall, Texas, in 1856, and |
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| 16 | 16 | | Mrs. Henderson continued her endeavor to promote the |
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| 17 | 17 | | Episcopalian Church by establishing the Trinity Episcopal Church |
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| 18 | 18 | | in her new hometown; in addition to tirelessly supporting the |
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| 19 | 19 | | church, she was an active supporter of women's suffrage; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, In 1857, Mr. Henderson was appointed to fill the |
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| 21 | 21 | | seat of United States Senator Thomas J. Rusk, who died during his |
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| 22 | 22 | | term in office; Mr. Henderson's health declined quickly after |
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| 23 | 23 | | taking office, and he passed away later that same year; |
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| 24 | 24 | | Mrs. Henderson eventually moved to New Jersey, where she spent her |
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| 25 | 25 | | remaining years as a community leader in East Orange; she died in |
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| 26 | 26 | | her daughter's home on January 25, 1897; now, therefore, be it |
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| 27 | 27 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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| 28 | 28 | | Legislature, hereby recognize July 21, 2017, as First Lady |
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| 29 | 29 | | Frances Cox Henderson Day in Texas and encourage citizens around |
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| 30 | 30 | | the state to honor the memory of Lady Frances Cox Henderson as the |
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| 31 | 31 | | first First Lady of the Lone Star State; and, be it further |
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| 32 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 33 | 33 | | the State of Texas Anniversary Remembrance Day Foundation as a |
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| 34 | 34 | | token of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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| 35 | 35 | | Nichols |
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| 36 | 36 | | ________________________________ |
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| 37 | 37 | | President of the Senate |
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| 38 | 38 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 39 | 39 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 40 | 40 | | the Senate on February 21, 2017. |
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| 41 | 41 | | ________________________________ |
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| 42 | 42 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 43 | 43 | | ________________________________ |
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| 44 | 44 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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