Biographies of Individuals in Texas History 4

Biographies of Individuals in Texas History 4
Note: We try and put folks in their county of residence, so please check there also.

JAMES HAMILTON

James Hamilton was born in South Carolina, May 8, 1786. He was educated for the law, but entered the army and served with credit in the war of 1812. General Hamilton was representative from South Carolina and Governor of that State in 1830. He declined the secretary-ship of war, in 1828. In 1841, having become ardently devoted to Texas, he accepted the position of envoy extraordinary to the courts of England, France, and Belgium, and did much to secure for Texas credit and standing abroad. He spent his large fortune in behalf of his adopted country, and at last lost his life at sea in a voyage to her shores in 1857.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

E. W. MOORE

E. W. Moore was a native of Virginia; was in early life a lieutenant in the United States navy. He came to Texas in 1839. He was commodore of the Texas navy, and while in that capacity fought several brilliant naval battles in the service of his State. Commodore Moore died in 1863.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

THOMAS GREEN

Thomas Green was born in Amelia county, Virginia, June 8th, 1814. In 1817 his father Nathan Green removed to Tennessee, and was for many years one of the supreme court judges of that State. The subject of this sketch received a liberal education at Princetown College, Kentucky, and afterward at the University of Tennessee at Nashville. In 1834 he studied law. In the fall of 1835 he, in company with Gillispie, Finch and others, came to Texas, and enlisted in the army of the revolted colonists. He was with the Texan army in its retreat from Gonzales to the Brazos. For gallant service on the field of San Jacinto he was promoted to a lieutenancy. He then received a furlough and returned to Tennessee, whence he came again to Texas, in the spring of 1837. He was one of the clerks of congress of Texas in 1838. In that year he was by congress elected surveyor of Fayette county. In 1840, he was elected to Congress from that county. In 1841, he was appointed clerk of the supreme court, which position he filled with great fidelity and clerk of the supreme court, which position he filled with great fidelity and satisfaction to that tribunal until he laid it down in 1861, to join the army of the Confederate States. In the performance of the duties of clerk of the supreme court, Green acquired a personal popularity throughout the State which few men could boast of. In 1841, he commanded a company in the expedition against the Indians up the Colorado River under Major M. B. Lewis. In 1842 he was inspector-general under General Sommerville, and pursued the retreating Mexican invaders under Woll to the Rio Grande. Green served through the Mexican war as captain in Jack Hays' regiment of rangers. In 1847, he married Mary, eldest daughter of Dr. J. G. Chalmers, former secretary of the treasury under Lamar. When the war of the States broke out in 1861, Green, who at first strongly disapproved of secession, stood with his State and accepted a colonelcy in the Arizona expedition under General Sibley.

Returning from New Mexico, his command went to Louisiana, and in that State and in Texas he gallantly did his duty as a soldier until his death, which was caused by a grape-shot from one of the federal gunboats at Bayou de Pierre, Louisiana, on the twelfth day of April, 1864. For his gallantry and efficiency he was during the war promoted successively to the rank of colonel, brigadier-general, and major-general.

Thomas Green was a man who was almost universally beloved. He was a man without fear and without reproach. Brave, courteous, and generous, he was always approachable, always sympathetic, and always ready to help those who needed his assistance.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON

Albert Sidney Johnston was a native of Kentucky. He was educated at West Point. He served with distinction in the Black Hawk war. He came to Texas in 1830, and was for a time in command of the army of the republic in 1836. He was secretary of war, under President Lamar's administration. He participated in the Cherokee war in 1839. He commanded the second Texas regiment in the Mexican war. He was afterward appointed paymaster in the United States army. He was appointed colonel of one of the new cavalry regiments of the United States army, during President Pierce's administration, and was afterward made brevet brigadier-general. He was killed at Shiloh in 1862.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

BEN McCULLOCH.

This gallant man came from Tennessee to Texas in 1836. He served in the Texas army at San Jacinto. He was member of Congress of the republic, and a member of the legislature of the State of Texas. He served with distinction in the Mexican war of 1846, and was major-general in the Confederate army, in the war of 1861-5. He was killed at the battle of Elk Horn, in Arkansas, in 1863.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

MOSELY BAKER

Mosely Baker came from Alabama to Texas was for several years a member of congress of the republic; served in the Texas army during the revolution, and commanded a company in the battle of San Jacinto. He died in 1848.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

G. W. HOCKLEY

G. W. Hockley came to Texas in 1835, or early in 1836. He was adjutant and inspector general at the battle of San Jacinto. He died in 1851.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

MEMUCAN HUNT

Memucan Hunt was from North Carolina. He came to Texas in 1836. He was appointed by General Houston minister to the United States. He died in 1854.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

GAIL, THOMAS H. & J. P. BORDEN

Gail, Thomas H., and J. P. Borden, came from Indiana to Texas. The two former, with Joseph Baker, were the founders of the Telegraph first published at San Felipe de Austin. Gail Borden was the first collector of customs at Galveston. He is famous as the inventor of condensed milk. John P. Borden was commissioner of the general land office during the Republic. Gail Borden died in 1874.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

DR. FRANCIS MOORE
Dr. Francis Moore came to Texas from Ohio in June, 1836. He was a native of New York State. He come to Texas as a volunteer in the "Buckeye Rangers." In company with J. W. Creuger, he published the Telegraph newspaper early in 1837, and was connected with it until 1856. He was an energetic mayor of the city of Houston, and all who rode on "Dr. Moore's mud road" through the prairies from Houston, through the bottom to the Brazos River, will recollect this first harbinger of the railroad system which now spreads out from Houston in every direction. Dr. Moore was afterward appointed State Geologist, which office he held about two years until his death in 1864.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

GEORGE W. SMYTH

George W. Smyth came to Texas as early as 1832. Was commissioner of one of the colonies, was a member of the consultation and constitutional convention. He was for years commissioner of the general land office of Texas. He was elected a member of congress from Texas. He died in 1866, while a member of the constitutional convention.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

ALBERT C. HORTON

Albert C. Horton was a native of Georgia. He came to Texas from Alabama in 1835. He had previously been a member of the Alabama Legislature. He commanded the advance guard of Fannin's regiment, when he retreated from Goliad, and being cut off from the main body, he made his escape with his command. He was a member of the first congress of the republic, and was also a member of the constitutional convention in 1845. He was the first lieutenant-governor of the State of Texas, and acting governor while Governor Henderson was in Mexico, in 1846. He died in 1865.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

R. M. WILLIAMSON.

This gentleman was born in Georgia in 1806. In his fifteenth year he was attacked with a disease known as the white-swelling, which made him a permanent cripple and rendered it necessary for him to wear a wooden leg, which gave him his common sobriquet
"Three-legged Willie." He came to Texas in 1826, was judge of the third district of the Republic of Texas; was member of congress from 1840 to 1850. He died in Wharton county, 1859. Judge Williamson was an able lawyer and a man of noble and generous impulses.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

WYLIE MARTIN

Wylie Martin came to Texas prior to the year 1830. He was formerly a captain in the United States army. He was a member of the ayuntamiento (Corporation of judges, A court.) of the municipality of Austin. He commanded a company in the campaign of 1836. He served several years in the congress of the republic. He died, in the year 1842, in Fort Bend county.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

BENJAMIN C. FRANKLIN

Benjamin C. Franklin was a native of Georgia. He came to Texas in April, 1835. He served in the battle of San Jacinto; was appointed by President Burnet, under the government ad interim, judge of the district of the Brazos. He was elected by the first congress judge of the third judicial district of the Republic; was often in the legislature of Texas, from Galveston county. He was senator elect at the time of his death, which occurred in the .year 1873, at which time he was 68 years of age.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

HENRY SMITH

Henry Smith was a native of Kentucky. He emigrated thence to Missouri and afterward to Texas. He was the first political chief of the department of the Brazos, and afterward was first secretary of the treasury of the Republic of Texas. He was elected by the consultation in November, 1835, first provisional governor of Texas. After annexation he removed to California, where he died in 1853. He was a gentleman of agreeable manners, well informed and having social qualities. (From Baker's Texas.)

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

BAILEY HARDEMAN

Bailey Hardeman came from Tennessee to Texas in 1835 and died in 1836. He was a member of the convention of 1836 and secretary of the treasury under the government ad interim.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

DAVID THOMAS

David Thomas came from Tennessee to Texas in 1835, and died April, 1836. He was a member of the convention of 1836, and was attorney-general of Texas under the government ad interim.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

ROBERT POTTER

Robert Potter came from North Carolina to Texas in 1835. Had been a member of United States Congress from that State; was a member of the convention which declared the independence of Texas in 1836. Was secretary of the navy under the government ad interim, and was afterward senator in the congress of the Republic of Texas. Was killed in 1841, in Eastern Texas.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

JOSHUA FLETCHER

Joshua Fletcher was a native of New Hampshire. Went thence to St. Louis, and for many years was engaged in the Santa Fe trade. He came to Texas in 1832. Was first treasurer of the provisional government. He afterward left Texas; and the writer has been unable to ascertain the time and place of his death.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

JOHN RICE JONES

John Rice Jones came from Missouri to Texas about the year 1831. He was postmaster general under the first provisional government. He was for years a merchant, and he died in 1845.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]

JAMES W. ROBINSON

James was a native of Ohio. He came to Texas in 1834, was a member of the consultation from Nacogdoches. Was lieutenant-governor of the provisional government under Henry Smith. He served in the battle of San Jacinto. Was first judge of the fourth judicial district of the Republic. He was captured by the Mexicans while attending court at San Antonio in 1842, and carried to the castle of Perote in Mexico. He removed to California in 1850, and settled at San Diego. He died in California in 1857 or 1858.

[A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875, transcribed by Cathy Danielson]