History of Galveston, (Galveston County) Texas United States of America

Samuel Hitt Elbert, governor of Colorado, was born in Logan county, Ohio, April 8, 1833; son of Dr. John Downs and Achsa (Hitt) Elbert; grandson of John Downs Elbert, M.D.; and a descendant of Hugh Elbert who purchased a plantation of 3d Lord Baltimore in Talbot county, Md., in 1683. He was graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan university in 1854 and was admitted to the bar in 1856 at Dayton, Ohio, practising at Plattsmouth, Neb., 1856-62. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1860. In 1862 he was appointed secretary of the territory of Colorado and thereafter made his home in Denver. He was a member of the territorial legislature in 1869, and held numerous political offices. In 1873 he was appointed by president Grant governor of the territory and served one term. In 1876 he was elected justice of the supreme bench of Colorado and was advanced to the chief justiceship in 1880, serving until 1883. He was re-elected in 1885, but resigned in 1888 on account of failing health and went abroad. He received the degree of LL.D. from Ohio Wesleyan university in 1880. He married a daughter of Gov. John Evans, q.v. He died at Galveston, Tex., Nov. 27, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

David Gouverneur Burnet, president of Texas, was born in Newark, N. J., April 4, 1788; son of William Burner, surgeon-general of the Continental army. He left school before graduating and in 1806, joining Miranda's expedition, took up arms on behalf of Venezuelan liberty. He was lieutenant in command of a launch, and gave the order for the first shot fired in the campaign. Returning to the United States he engaged in mercantile pursuits, at Nachitoches, La., and some years later commenced the practice of law at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1826 he took up his residence in Texas, and his first efforts were directed toward freeing the state from Mexican rule. He was a member of the San Felipe convention of 1833, which presented a memorial to the Mexican government, written by him, praying that Texas be separated from Coahuila. In 1834 he was appointed district judge of Austin, and on March 16, 1836, was chosen provisional president of the new republic formed upon the declaration of independence. Santa Anna drove the new government from Austin, and Burner escaped to Galveston, which he made the capital, and though he discharged the onerous duties of his position with great skill and prudence he did not escape the charge of treason. On Oct. 22, 1836, he turned the government over to Sam Houston, the president elected under the new constitution. In December, 1838, he was elected vice-president of the republic, and during the last year of his three years' term of office, owing to the illness of President Lamar, he once more occupied the presidential chair. He was defeated by Ex-President Houston in the presidential election of 1841. He took an active part in the civil war, and though he deplored secession he remained in the south with his people. In 1866 he was elected to the United States senate under President Johnson's plan of reconstruction, but was not permitted to take his seat. The latter years of his life were spent in retirement on his plantation near Houston, and his death occurred at Galveston, Texas, Dec. 5, 1870.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Amelia Edith Barr, author, was born at Ulverton, Lancashire, Eng., March 29, 1831, daughter of the Rev. William Huddleston. She was married in 1850 to Robert Barr, a Scotchman, and in 1854 immigrated to America, settling at Galveston, Texas. Her husband and three sons were victims of the yellow fever in 1867, leaving her to support three daughters. She removed to New York city, in 1869; became a contributor to the New York Ledger, Christian Union, and other papers, and also taught school. Henry Ward Beecher became interested in her efforts to keep her family together, and helped her in many ways. In 1884 an accident confined her to her room for some weeks, and during this enforced leisure she wrote "Jan Vedder's Wife," her first novel, which was published in 1885. Its immediate popularity decided her to devote herself exclusively to novel writing. Her books include: "The Young People of Shakespeare's Dramas" (1882); "Scottish Sketches" (1883); "Cluny MacPherson" (1883); "The Lost Silver of Briffault" (1885); "The Hallam Succession" (1885); "Between Two Loves," "The Bow of Orange Ribbon," "A Daughter of Fife," and "The Last of the Maccallisters," published in 1886; "Paul and Christina," "The Squire of Sandal-side," in 1887; "Master of his Fate," "Remember the Alamo," "A Border Shepherdess," "Christopher and Other Stories," in 1888; "Feet of Clay," in 1889; "Friend Olivia," in 1890; "The Beads of Tasmer," "Love for an Hour is Love Forever," "A Sister to Esau," "A Rose of a Hundred Leaves," and "She Loved a Sailor," in 1891; "Michael and Theodora," and "The Preacher's Daughter," in 1892; "The Lone House," "Girls of a Feather," "The Mate of the 'Easter Bell' and other Stories," and "A Singer from the Sea," in 1893; "Bernicia," in 1895, and "A Knight of the Nets" (1896); "Prisoners of Conscience" (1897); "The King's Highway" (1898); and magazine serials.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Henry Crain, representative, was born in Galveston, Texas, Nov. 25, 1848, son of William Davis and Emily Matilda (Blake) Crain; grandson of Phebe Crain, a Texas pioneer; and a descendant of Jasper Crayne, one of the founders of New Haven, Conn., 1689, and Newark, N.J., 1666. William was left fatherless when six years old and was thereupon sent to New York city, where he was placed in the school of the Christian brothers. When fourteen years of age he entered the College of St. Francis Xavier and was graduated valedictorian of his class in 1867. He returned to Texas, worked two years as a cowboy on a ranch and then taught school at lndianola, studied law in the office of Stockdale & Procter and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He was married in July, 1873, to Angelina G., daughter of Capt. I. N. Mitchell of Mitchell's Point, Calhoun county. He was district attorney of the 16th judicial district, 1872-76, and state senator from the 28th senatorial district in 1877, when he resigned, having changed his residence to Hallettsville, where he was a law partner of Col. S.C. Patton for four years. He was an elector for the state at large on the Democratic electoral ticket in 1880 and canvassed the state for Hancock and English. In 1881 he removed to Cuero, Dewitt county, which was included in the 7th congressional district, under the apportionment of 1881. Here he became the law partner of the Hon. Rudolph Kleberg, and represented the 7th district in the 49th, 50th, 51st and 52d congresses. In 1890, by the redistricting of the state, he came within the 11th district and represented it in the 53d and 54th congresses. He was the first native son of Texas to represent the state in the national congress. In the House he was a ready debater, an eloquent orator, and a careful and painstaking legislator. He died suddenly from pneumonia in Washington, D.C., and was buried at his home in Cuero, Texas. His funeral was attended by the governor, state officials and a large delegation from congress. Bishop Forest officiated at the funeral services, and Father Smith of San Antonio in speaking of the dead, designated him the "Catholic American." The date of his death is Feb. 10, 1896.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Galveston, (Galveston County) Texas

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