L. Travis Dashiell

L. Travis Dashiell
Dashiell's portrait for the 25th Texas Legislature
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 10, 1893 – January 10, 1899
Preceded byRufus Young King (56th)
John Addison Wayland (64th)
Succeeded byJoseph Fontaine Randolph (56th)
Henry Ezekial Ellis (64th)
Constituency56th (1893–1897)
64th (1897–1899)
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 12, 1897 – January 10, 1899
Preceded byThomas Slater Smith
Succeeded byJames S. Sherrill
Secretary of State of Texas
In office
January 1907 – February 1908
GovernorThomas Mitchell Campbell
Preceded byO. K. Shannon
Succeeded byWilliam Richardson Davie
Personal details
BornLevi Travis Dashiell
(1869-04-30)April 30, 1869
Chappell Hill, Texas, US
DiedOctober 21, 1924(1924-10-21) (aged 55)
PartyDemocratic
OccupationPolitician, lawyer

Levi Travis Dashiell (or Dashiel;[1] April 30, 1869 – October 21, 1924) was an American politician and lawyer. A Democrat, he was Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and the Secretary of State of Texas.

Biography

Dashiell was born on April 30, 1869, in Chappell Hill, Texas, the son of Benjamin D. Dashiell and Julia A. Dashiell.[2] He attended the University of Texas System between 1886 and 1890. For some months, he worked for the Texas Geological Survey. He read law, and in 1891, he was admitted to the bar at Centerville,[2] after which he began practicing law in Jewett.[3] From January to November 1892, he was the district attorney of Leon County.[3]

Dashiell was a Democrat.[1] He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, from January 10, 1893, to January 10, 1899. For his first two terms, he represented the 56th district, and for his last term, the Texas's 64th district.[1] He was Speaker of the House from January 12, 1897, to January 10, 1899;[1] He was the first Speaker to be a native of the state. While Speaker, he helped pass laws granting Texas students the first state textbooks.[3]

While in the House, Dashiell was chairman of the Committee on Education, and was a member of the Committees on Constitutional Amendments; on Enrolled Bills; on Impeachment of Land Commissioner; on Judicial Districts; on the Judiciary No. 2; on Penitentiaries; on Roads, Bridges and Ferries; and on State Asylums.[1]

Dashiell was a delegate to the 1896 Democratic National Convention.[3] From January 1907 to February 1908, he was the Secretary of State of Texas,[2] having been appointed by Thomas Mitchell Campbell. In 1908, he was made chairman of the state tax board. He was an unsuccessful candidate to the Railroad Commission of Texas.[3] In 1916, he was on the legal counsel for T. R. Watson, murderer of banker John S. Patterson.[4]

Dashiell died on October 21, 1924, aged 55, from suicide by firearm[2] using a .38 caliber pistol.[5] He was buried at Jewett.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Member profile for L. Travis Dashiell - Texas Legislative Reference Library". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Association, Texas State Historical. "L. Travis Dashiell: Life and Legacy of a Texas Lawyer and Legislator". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature 1846-2016" (PDF). Texas Legislature. 2016. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  4. ↑ "Dashiell Added to Counsel For Accused Banker". The Houston Chronicle. 28 October 1916. p. 4. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  5. ↑ "Trav Dashiell Dead Once House Speaker". Bryan-College Station Eagle. 22 October 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
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