30 Facts About Greenleaf Fisk

Greenleaf Fisk was a pioneer, known as "the Father of Brownwood, Texas".

Greenleaf Fisk was a military veteran of the Texas Revolution and was a member of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives.

Greenleaf Fisk was a Chief Justice when he lived in Bastrop, Texas.

In 1968, the home of Greenleaf Fisk was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

Greenleaf Fisk was born in Penfield, New York on May 19,1807 to Nathan Fisk and Rebecca Canfield Fisk.

At the age of 12, Greenleaf Fisk worked on a dairy farm in New Jersey.

Greenleaf Fisk originally intended to enter the Presbyterian ministry and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Greenleaf Fisk furthered his education at Hanover College in Indiana.

Many have errorenously reported that Greenleaf Fisk was born in Albany, New York, and repeatedly cited these inaccurate reports.

In 1834, Greenleaf Fisk moved to Bastrop County in the community of Mina, which eventually became the city of Bastrop, where he met and married his first wife, Mary Ann Manlove, daughter of Col.

Greenleaf Fisk built a stagecoach inn on his property at 1005 Hill Street in Bastrop, as a wedding present for his bride.

Greenleaf Fisk enlisted in the company of Mina Volunteers, 49 Bastrop County men with Captain Jesse Billingsley, under Edward Burleson.

Greenleaf Fisk missed participation in the Battle of San Jacinto that happened on April 21,1836, due to the news of the defeat and death of James Fannin at the Goliad massacre on March 27,1836.

Greenleaf Fisk's name is on the wall of the San Jacinto Monument as a participant and he received a land grant for his participation.

In 1838, Greenleaf Fisk served one year as a legislator for the Third Congress Republic of Texas, became district court clerk in Bastrop, and in 1841 was named chief justice for Bastrop County.

Greenleaf Fisk became a large landholder in Brown County, eventually owning over 14,000 acres, including the league that he inherited from his wife, Mary Ann Manlove Greenleaf Fisk.

On November 18,1847, Greenleaf Fisk obtained a grant of 1,240 acres of the Marcus Huling survey, Abstract 405, Patent 150, in Bastrop County.

On June 7,1848, Greenleaf Fisk obtained a grant of 1476.13 acres of the John Kellogg survey, Abstract 578, Patent 478, in Brown County.

On June 17,1862, Fisk obtained a grant of 320 acres of the H Upchurch survey, Abstract 925, Patent 589, in Travis County.

On November 25,1870, Fisk obtained a grant of 288 acres in the William S Mitchell survey, Abstract 632, Patent 288, in Brown County.

On December 1,1877, Greenleaf Fisk obtained a grant of 320 acres in the Juan Armendaris survey, Abstract 1004, Patent 253, in Brown County.

In time, Greenleaf Fisk constructed a home of native limestone and added a gristmill.

Greenleaf Fisk wore many hats, as county judge, justice of the peace, county surveyor, district clerk, county clerk, county treasurer, and teacher at Brownwood school, the county's first.

Greenleaf Fisk gave land and money at his death to help establish Daniel Baker College in Brownwood.

Greenleaf Fisk donated 60 acres to relocate the county seat to the west side of the bayou on what is the current site of Brownwood, and 100 additional acres for county use.

Between May and July 1835, Greenleaf Fisk married Mary Ann Manlove, daughter of Colonel Bartholomew Manlove and Avarilla Perkins.

Greenleaf Fisk stipulated that the college be reorganized on a better financial footing, but she literally saved the college from extinction.

Greenleaf Fisk then married Mary Ann's sister, Margaret Jane Manlove was born on in 1823 and on January 20,1855, in Williamson County, Texas.

Greenleaf Fisk died on January 26,1888, and is buried at Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood, Texas.

One of Greenleaf Fisk's daughters was one of the first female students there.