Historical Marker - Statue of Jose Antonio Navarro

photo by Edward L. Williams

Statue of Jose Antonio Navarro

In 1932, the State of Texas passed a resolution that Texas celebrate its Centennial in 1936 and because of the Centennial celebration, a resolution was passed to place a statue of Jose A Navarro on the courthouse lawn in front of the county courthouse in Corsicana, Texas. This bronze statue, on a granite base, was erected in the fall of 1938. The unveiling of the statue was under the direction of the Clara Driscoll Sevier Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, of Corpus Christi, Texas. Mrs. C. J. Wilde, chairman, had the great grandson, D. D. Ross of Houston, to unveil the statue.

Location: South entrance of the Navarro County Courthouse, Corsicana, Texas.

Namesake honored

Birthday observance for county’s namesake Tuesday

Each year José Antonio Navarro Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), meets at the statue of José Antonio Navarro on the Navarro County Courthouse lawn. The meeting was held this year at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, Navarro’s exact birthday.

Navarro was a member of Bexar District who attended the convention held at Washington-on-the-Brazos, where on March 2, he was the seventh man to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence.

He also was a signer at the First Constitutional Convention and was a member of one of the four Spanish families who joined the fight for Texas independence.

In 1838, Navarro represented the Bexar District in the Congress of the Republic of Texas. After the failure of the Santa Fe Expedition into Mexico, when the American prisoners were released, Navarro was held and condemned to death. Although the sentence was not carried out, he was kept in prison in Vera Cruz in solitary confinement. Somehow he was allowed to escape.

Navarro was given the honor of the naming of a county in Texas in 1846. He also named the county seat “Corsicana” in honor of the isle of Corsica, his father’s birthplace.

In 1932 the State of Texas passed a resolution that Texas celebrate its centennial in 1936. The statue of Navarro was created as an outcome of this event. It was erected in the fall of 1938 and was unveiled under the direction of the Clara Driscoll Sevier Chapter, DRT. Mrs. C.J. Wilde, chairman, had D.D. Ross to unveil the statue. Also on the program were Luther Johnson and Richard Mays of Navarro County.

Present at the laying of the wreath this year were Diane Armer, Marlene Ivy, Eddie Pevehouse, Dana Stubbs, Ines Waggoner, Frances Westbrook, Gelene Simpson, Seley Fuller and Jimma Traweek.

Corsicana Daily Sun - Feb 28, 2007