James Kerr (Texas)
Encyclopedia
James Kerr was a politician
in Missouri
and Texas
who was active in the establishment of the Republic of Texas
.
, Kentucky
, the son of a Baptist
minister. Reared in Missouri, Kerr fought in the War of 1812
and was later sheriff
of St. Charles County, Missouri. In 1818, he married Angeline Caldwell, the daughter of James Caldwell
, Missouri's first House Speaker
.
Kerr served in the Missouri House of Representatives
during its first two terms after statehood. In 1824 he defeated his father-in-law in a race for the Missouri State Senate. He served a single term in the body.
"Old Three Hundred
" colony in Brazoria
. In August 1825, he set out to select a site for the Dewitt Colony
. Kerr named the community Gonzales
in honor of the governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila
.
By this time, Angeline Kerr and two of the children had died. Kerr was active in area politics and law enforcement during the formative years of the Texas Republic. He acted as attorney and surveyor for Benjamin Rush Milam in 1827. He negotiated for peace before the Fredonian Rebellion, signed a treaty with the Karankawa
Indians, and fought other tribes. In 1832, he was the delegate from Port Lavaca
at the Convention at San Felipe de Austin northwest of Houston
. He also served as a member of the Second and Third conventions.
In 1834, Kerr married the former Sarah Fulton. He became a major in the Texas Rangers
in 1835 and in the army of the Texas Republic in 1836. He was elected to the Third Texas Congress in 1838. Kerr's later years were spent practicing medicine in Jackson County west of Houston.
gave the land that became the Kerrville townsite and named it "Kerrville" for his long-time friend, James Kerr, who had died six years earlier.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
who was active in the establishment of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
.
Early life and family
Kerr was born near DanvilleDanville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, the son of a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister. Reared in Missouri, Kerr fought in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and was later sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of St. Charles County, Missouri. In 1818, he married Angeline Caldwell, the daughter of James Caldwell
James Caldwell (Missouri speaker)
James Caldwell was the first Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.Caldwell was born in Virginia. During the American Revolutionary War he served under Archibald Woods and Thomas Wright. In moved Lincoln County, Kentucky where he served under William Whitley in the American Indian...
, Missouri's first House Speaker
Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
Speakers of the Missouri House of Representatives are :* 1820 James Caldwell * 1821 Henry S. Geyer * 1826 Alex Stuart * 1828 John Thornon * 1832 Thomas Reynolds * 1834 John Jameison...
.
Kerr served in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
during its first two terms after statehood. In 1824 he defeated his father-in-law in a race for the Missouri State Senate. He served a single term in the body.
Career in Texas
Kerr was appointed Surveyor General of the Texas colony of Green DeWitt in 1825. With his wife, three children and several slaves, he joined Stephen F. Austin'sStephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
"Old Three Hundred
Old Three Hundred
The Old Three Hundred is a term used to describe the 297 grantees, made up of families and some partnerships of unmarried men, who purchased 307 parcels of land from Stephen Fuller Austin and established a colony near present day Brenham in Washington County, Texas.Moses Austin was the original...
" colony in Brazoria
Brazoria, Texas
Brazoria is a city of Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 2,787.Brazoria was originally founded as a port for Stephen F...
. In August 1825, he set out to select a site for the Dewitt Colony
Dewitt Colony
The Dewitt Colony was a settlement in Mexican Texas founded by Green DeWitt. From lands belonging to that colony, the present Texas counties of DeWitt, Guadalupe and Lavaca were created...
. Kerr named the community Gonzales
Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...
in honor of the governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
.
By this time, Angeline Kerr and two of the children had died. Kerr was active in area politics and law enforcement during the formative years of the Texas Republic. He acted as attorney and surveyor for Benjamin Rush Milam in 1827. He negotiated for peace before the Fredonian Rebellion, signed a treaty with the Karankawa
Karankawa
Karankawa were a group of Native American peoples, now extinct as a tribal group, who played a pivotal part in early Texas history....
Indians, and fought other tribes. In 1832, he was the delegate from Port Lavaca
Port Lavaca, Texas
Port Lavaca is a city in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,248 at the 2010 census. The County had a 3.6% growth which brought the county population to 21,381. The city itself is bringing in more business into the area. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
at the Convention at San Felipe de Austin northwest of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. He also served as a member of the Second and Third conventions.
In 1834, Kerr married the former Sarah Fulton. He became a major in the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
in 1835 and in the army of the Texas Republic in 1836. He was elected to the Third Texas Congress in 1838. Kerr's later years were spent practicing medicine in Jackson County west of Houston.
Legacy
In 1856, pioneer Joshua BrownJoshua Brown (Texas pioneer)
Joshua D. Brown was a Texas pioneer who in the 1850s became the first settler of Kerrville, the seat of Kerr County in the Texas Hill Country west of San Antonio....
gave the land that became the Kerrville townsite and named it "Kerrville" for his long-time friend, James Kerr, who had died six years earlier.
External links
- James Kerr's entry in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas hosted by the Portal to Texas History.