George W. Terrell

The following is a brief synopsis of the life of George W. Terrell, Indian Commissioner for President Sam Houston, and one of two men appointed to conclude negotiations for the Treaty of Bird's Fort (the other man being General Edward H. Tarrant, namesake of Tarrant County, Texas). This information was drawn primarily from Two Hundred and Fifty Years: History of Alto, Texas, 1686-1936.

George Whitfield Terrell was a prominent citizen of the Texas Republic and the founder of the Cherokee County branch of Terrells. He was born in Kentucky in 1803. He studied law and was admitted to the bar of Tennessee, in which state he held many offices of trust and honor. He also won the friendship of Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston while the three of them lived in Tennessee.

Terrell came to Texas in the early days of the Republic and settled on the north side of the San Antonio Road, on the west bank of the Angelina River. He bought the southeast block of the Helena Kimble grant, which had been given to Delilah Dill, wife of Joseph Durst. At first the Terrells occupied the old Joseph Durst home, which had been built with port holes near the roof as a means of defense in case of Indian war.

Terrell was the first district judge in East Texas. He was attorney general of the Republic of Texas during President Houston's Administration, also serving as Indian Commissioner. It was in the latter capacity that he and General Edward H. Tarrant were appointed by President Houston to counsel with several Indian tribes and conclude negotiations for the Bird's Fort treaty which was signed on September 29, 1843.

Terrell later served as special Minister to England, France, and Spain for the purpose of winning international recognition of the Republic of Texas. After the annexation of Texas to the United States, Terrell returned to Texas. He died while on a business trip to Austin on May 13, 1846, a few weeks after he had organized the Masonic Lodge at Alto, which bears his name, Terrell Lodge No. 83, one of the oldest in Texas.