Biographies of Individuals in Texas History 5

Biographies of Individuals in Texas History 5
Note: We try and put folks in their county of residence, so please check there also.

SAMUEL P. CARSON

Samuel P. Carson came from North Carolina to Texas in 1835. He had been for several years member of the United States Congress from North Carolina. He was a member of the convention which declared the independence of Texas in 1836. He was appointed secretary of state under the Burnet government ad interim. He left Texas in bad health, in 1836, and soon afterward died in North Carolina.

[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 J. CHAMBERS.

He was a native of Virginia, was a lawyer by profession, and emigrated to Mexico at an early day. He was licensed to practice law in the Mexican courts, and was appointed surveyor-general of Coahuila and Texas, and afterward, in 1834, superior judge of the District of Texas. In 1836, by authority of the provisional government, he went to Kentucky, and raised for the service of Texas, a division of men. General Chambers was a gentleman of quiet deportment, and easy, dignified manners. He was largely engaged in land matters, and was well and prominently known in Texas until his death, which took place in 1863. (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]

THOMAS JEFFERSON GREEN

Thomas Jefferson Green was a native of North Carolina; came to Texas with a regiment of volunteers in April, 1836, just after the battle of San Jacinto. He served in the first congress of the republic; was with Colonel Fisher in the Mier expedition, about which he wrote and published a history. After being released from the captivity in Mexico, he returned to Texas and was elected to congress from Brazoria county. He died in North Carolina, 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]

HUGH McLEOD

Hugh McLeod came to Texas from Georgia in 1837. He was a graduate of West Point. He served in the campaign of 1839 against the Cherokees. General McLeod commanded the Santa Fe expedition of 1841, served in the congress of the Republic of Texas. His death occurred in Virginia in 1862, while commanding a regiment in the Confederate army.

[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]

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WARD

Lieutenant-Colonel Ward came from Georgia to Texas in 1835, in company with the volunteers from his State. He entered with his whole heart into the defense of the cause of Texas, and was captured and afterward killed with Fannin at Goliad.

[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]

FELIX HUSTON

Felix Huston was from Mississippi, whence he came to Texas in 1836. General Felix Huston was for a short time commander of the army of the republic, succeeding Rusk in that position. After the war, he went back to Mississippi. He came again to Texas, and led the Texans in the memorable Plum Creek fight with the Indians. After this he returned again to his home, where he died 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]

DOCTOR JAMES GRANT

Doctor James Grant was a Scotchman by birth. Being of an adventurous disposition, he came to Mexico and Texas at an early day. He was a man of education, and was a member of the congress of the States of Coahuila and Texas. Colonel Grant entered heartily into the cause of Texas, and joined the expedition against Matamoras in company with Colonel F. W. Johnson, in which he was killed by the Mexicans.

[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]

PETER W. GRAYSON

Peter W. Grayson came to Texas in 1832. He was sent as a commissioner to Washington by the Burnet government ad interim. He was subject at times to fits of deep gloom and despondency, and during one of these attacks took his own life.

[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 MORRIS.

This gallant soldier of Texas was first captain of the first company of New Orleans Greys. He came to Texas and participated in the storming of Bexar in 1835, and afterward joined the expedition of Colonels Johnson and Grant, and was killed with Grant on the Agua Dulce.

[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]

ASA BRIGHAM

Asa Brigham came to Texas from Massachusetts in 1832. He was alcalde of the municipality of Brazoria, was a member of the constitutional convention of March, 1836. Was first treasurer of the Republic of Texas under the constitutional government. He died in 1844.

[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 COLLINGSWORTH

James Collinsworth came from Tennessee to Texas in 1834. He was a member of the convention at Washington which declared the independence of Texas. Before coming to Texas he held the position of district attorney in Tennessee. He was the first chief-justice of the Republic of Texas. He died in 1838.

[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]

PHILIP DIMMITT

Philip Dimmitt was an early emigrant to Texas, and was for some time a merchant. Captain Dimmitt commanded the post of Goliad for some time after its capture in 1835. He was killed in Mexico in 1841.

[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]

W. S. FISHER

W. S. Fisher was a native of Virginia, came to Texas in 1833. He was in command of a company at the battle of San Jacinto. Colonel Fisher was appointed by General Houston, secretary of war during his first administration. He commanded the Mier expedition, was captured and a prisoner at the Castle of Perote. 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]

S. RHOADS FISHER

S. Rhoads Fisher was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Came to Texas in 1830, or '31. He was a member of the constitutional convention of March 1836. He was secretary of the navy under the first constitutional government. He died in 1839.

[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]

RICHARD ELLIS

Richard Ellis came to Texas from Alabama in 1833. Was president of the constitutional convention. Was senator in the first Texas Congress, and he died soon afterward.

[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]

SAMUEL M. WILLIAMS

Samuel M. Williams was from Baltimore, Maryland; came to Texas as early as 1823. Was for several years secretary of Austin's Colony. He served in the congress of the republic, from Galveston, was for years president of the Agricultural Bank at Galveston. He died in September, 1858.

Mr. Williams was always an active business man. He was for years in partnership with Thomas F. McKinney, and furnished material aid to Texas during her early struggle.

[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 F. McKINNEY

Thomas F. McKinney was born in Kentucky, in 1801. He went to Missouri in 1818. Engaging in mercantile speculations he went to Sante Fe, and Chihuahua, in Mexico. In 1829 he came to Texas, and in company with Samuel M. Williams, did a large business at Quintana, opposite to Velasco. The firm of McKinney & Williams furnished both money and supplies to Texas in the day of her need. After annexation, he served in the State legislature, both in the house and senate. He died in 1873.

[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]

MICHAEL B. MENARD.

This man, who may with propriety be called the founder of Galveston, was a Canadian. He moved from Illinois to Texas. Was a member of the Texas Congress from Galveston county. 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]

OLIVER JONES

Oliver Jones was a native of Massachusetts. Was in Texas as early as 1823 or 1824. Was sheriff of the municipality of Austin. In 1835, was a member from Texas to the congress of Coahuila and Texas. He was member of congress of the Republic of Texas for several years. He died in 1868.

[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]

Pillans, Job Palmer

PILLANS, JOB PALMER, lawyer, civil engineer, was born January 30, 1816, at Edisto Island, Colleton District, S. C., and died June 22, 1898, Mobile; son of John Christopher and Elizabeth (Palmer) Pillans, who lived at Charleston, S. C., where the former was born, at Edisto, S. C., and in Madison County, Fla.; grandson of Robert and Ann (Clark) Pillans, of Charleston, S. C., natives, respectively of Edinburgh and of Glasgow, Scotland, who emigrated to South Carolina about 1780, the former a descendant of a Huguenot family who fied to Scotland after the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and of Job and Sarah (Morgan) Palmer, of Charleston, S. C., the former a native of Falmouth, Mass., born August 26, 1747, died in 1845, who moved to Charleston in March, 1772, the latter a native of Bermuda, who died in 1797; great-grandson of Rev. Samuel and Mercy (Parker) Palmer, respectively of Middlebury, Mass., and of Boston, the former a pastor in Falmouth, Mass., for forty-five years, whose son, "Esquire" Palmer served in the Revolutionary Army, and who was fifth in descent from William Palmer of Nottinghamshire, England, who emigrated to Plymouth in 1621 in the Fortune, the second ship to reach that place, his wife following him in the Ann, in 1623. Mr. Pillans was educated at Charleston, S. C., in Courtney's, Coates' and Bruns' schools, being a tutor in the last named; and was graduated from Charleston College, A. M., 1835, in a class of thirteen members. He read law in the office of Holmes & Bentham, Charleston, S. C., 1834-1835; taught school a year; volunteered in 1836 for the Seminole War, going out as sergeant, and later being commissioned lieutenant of Capt. Tripp's company, South Carolina volunteers; was engaged as a civil engineer in the survey of a railroad through Rabun Gap, Ga., from Charleston to Cincinnati; was in the service of the U. S. topographical reconnaissance of the Cherokee country, in North Carolina and Georgia, and in the early railroad project there; went to Texas and received a commission of major in the army of the republic of Texas from Sam Houston; later as a civilian and an owner in the Mercer colony, resided for a time in northern Texas and then went to Santa Fe, N. Mex.; led the party in opposition to a pure military autocracy in New Mexico; defeated the government party; was selected by the first convention for organizing a state as chief justice of New Mexico, but the state was denied admission. He was licensed to practice law in South Carolina and Florida, but never practiced except in Texas and New Mexico. He returned to Mobile in 1853; was city surveyor and later city engineer of Mobile, 1853-1871; a member of the police board of the port of Mobile; member of the board of commissioners of Mobile, 1880-1883. During the War of Secession, he was captain of the Mobile Grays, and later lieutenant colonel of the Second Alabama state regiment; and was engineer-in-chief in the field in connection with the fortifications of Mobile. He was a Democrat; a Presbyterian; a Master Mason; and was at one time grand master ot the grand lodge of Alabama. Married: in 1845, at Mobile, to Laura Malvina Roberts, daughter of Dr. Willis and Asenath (Alexander) Roberts, of Putnam County, Ga.; granddaughter of Willis Roberts, of North Carolina, a Welshman, and his wife a Miss Herndon, and of Col. Samuel and Olivia (Wooten) Alexander, who moved from Georgia to North Carolina, the former of whom served in the Continental Army with his brother James. Children: 1. Ida, Mobile, m. Or way B. Norvell, deceased; 2. Harry (q. v.); 3. Edith, m. Rev. Howard R. Walker, Mobile; 4-7. sons, all four of whom d. in infancy. Last residence: Mobile.
[History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume 4 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, 1921 - Transcribed by AFOFG]