Henderson Yoakum

Henderson Yoakum came to Huntsville in 1845. He was admitted to the Texas Bar as a lawyer. He was a close friend and advisor to General Sam Houston.  Yoakum was instrumental in making Huntsville the county seat of Walker County. After serving in the Mexican War, he returned to Huntsville and his friendship with the Houston family. Yoakum wrote the charter for Austin College and served as librarian for the school. He helped establish the Andrew Female College in Huntsville, as well as serving as director of the Texas State Penitentiary in 1849. In 1855, he completed his two volume “History of Texas from Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846.” Sam Houston was an integral part to Yoakum’s writing. Henderson Yoakum is best known for writing the earliest history of Texas. This makes the mural motto ”Huntsville- Where Texas History Was Born” very appropriate for our historic downtown.