William Pendleton, the seventh mayor of Fort Worth, took office in 1890 only to resign three months later amidst scandal. He had married a 19-year-old while still legally married to his initial wife, prompting his hasty departure from office. This scandalous incident, detailed in Richard F. Selcer’s new book “Fort Worth Characters 2,” sheds light on forgotten historical figures and stories in Fort Worth history. Selcer, a renowned Fort Worth historian, meticulously researches and tells the tales of 31 individuals in this latest publication.
One such figure is Mayor Pendleton, who left his position in disgrace after his affair with the “Telephone Venus” was exposed. Pendleton and his new wife settled in Shawnee, Oklahoma Territory, where he reinvented himself as an upstanding lawyer and pillar of the community. Despite the scandal, Pendleton and Addie remained married until her untimely death in 1906.
Selcer’s expertise in Fort Worth history is evident throughout his 15 published works, including his first book “Hell’s Half Acre.” His passion for local history was ignited during his high school history classes and further fueled by his research at TCU. The story of Mayor Pendleton serves as a cautionary tale of love, scandal, and reinvention in the colorful history of Fort Worth.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
