This Day In Texas History - January 26
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:23 pm
1824 - Elisabeth Ney was born. She was one of the first professional sculptors in Texas with works that included Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston and can be seen in the state Capitol.
1836 - James Bonham was appointed one of a committee of seven to draft a preamble and resolutions on behalf of the Bexar garrison in support of Governor Henry Smith's campaign in the election of delegates to represent the garrison at the Texas constitutional convention.
1837 - The steamship Laura successfully navigates the Buffalo Bayou but misses the new city of Houston, due to dense vegetation. She docked at Allen's Landing on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou and a fork of White Oak Bayou in central Harris County.
1839 - The Congress of the Republic of Texas passed two important pieces of legislation: a homestead act and an act setting aside land for public schools and two universities. The homestead act, patterned somewhat after legislation of Coahuila and Texas, was designed to encourage home ownership. It guaranteed every citizen or head of family in the republic "fifty acres of land or one town lot, including his or her homestead, and improvements not exceeding five hundred dollars in value." The education act was inspired by President Mirabeau Lamar's determination to establish a system of education endowed by public lands, but failed to produce the desired results immediately because land prices were too low for this endowment to provide revenue.
1839 - The Republic of Texas chartered the Houston and Brazos Rail Road, one of four lines chartered by the Republic. The company was granted the right to build railroads and turnpikes from Houston to the Brazos River. The ceremony marking the beginning of construction was set to coincide with the fourth anniversary observance of the Odd Fellows in Texas.
1877 - John Barclay Armstrong, a Texas Ranger known as "McNelly's Bulldog," as named second lieutenant of the Special Force of Texas Rangers under 1st Lt. Leigh Hall. He was assigned to the Eagle Pass area, where he operated on both sides of the border, assisted in the breakup of several bands of outlaws, and helped arrest John King Fisher in April 1877. While recovering from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound suffered at Goliad, Armstrong asked to be allowed to arrest the notorious gunman John Wesley Hardin. The ranger pursued Hardin first to Alabama, then to Florida, then confronted him and four of his gang on a train in Pensacola. In the affray that followed, Armstrong killed one of Hardin's men, rendered Hardin unconscious with a blow from his handgun, and arrested the remaining gang members. After considerable delay in the execution of extradition papers, Armstrong returned Hardin to Texas, where he was tried and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison in September 1877. In July 1878 Armstrong was involved in the killing of outlaw Sam Bass at Round Rock.
1893 - Robert L. Williams produced the first piece of ware in the new McDade Pottery plant. The plant was the successor to a "jug shop" begun in 1853 in the vicinity of what is now Bastrop State Park.
1927 - Just days after a terrific bus-train accident that kill ten members of the Baylor Basketball team, the Texas Legislature introduced a bill today to construct overpasses or underpasses at all places where state highways intersect with railroads. As a result of the Legislatures actions today, U.S. Highway 81 through Round Rock later became the first railroad overpass in Texas (1935). The new overpass is within sight of the 1927 tragedy which prompted today's bill in the legislature.
1945 - Audie Murphy, born near Kingston, TX in 1924, was the most-decorated soldier in United States history, earned the Medal of Honor by single-handedly repelling a German attack. The Texas native enlisted in the United States Army in June 1942. During World War II he received thirty-three awards, citations, and decorations. After the war he starred in numerous movies, wrote country-and-western songs, and pursued other business interests. Murphy was killed in an airplane crash in 1971 and was buried near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
1948 - The Texas State Guard Reserve Corps, established by legislation approved on May 22, 1947, was activated by order of the adjutant general on January 26, 1948, under the command of Lt. Gen. Claude V. Birkhead. The TSGRC originally had an authorized strength of 18,000 officers and enlisted men. The TSGRC originally had an authorized strength of 18,000 officers and enlisted men. [ http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... /qqt1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ]
1960 - Lamar Hunt was made President of the new American Football League. Not a single game had been played at this point.
1836 - James Bonham was appointed one of a committee of seven to draft a preamble and resolutions on behalf of the Bexar garrison in support of Governor Henry Smith's campaign in the election of delegates to represent the garrison at the Texas constitutional convention.
1837 - The steamship Laura successfully navigates the Buffalo Bayou but misses the new city of Houston, due to dense vegetation. She docked at Allen's Landing on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou and a fork of White Oak Bayou in central Harris County.
1839 - The Congress of the Republic of Texas passed two important pieces of legislation: a homestead act and an act setting aside land for public schools and two universities. The homestead act, patterned somewhat after legislation of Coahuila and Texas, was designed to encourage home ownership. It guaranteed every citizen or head of family in the republic "fifty acres of land or one town lot, including his or her homestead, and improvements not exceeding five hundred dollars in value." The education act was inspired by President Mirabeau Lamar's determination to establish a system of education endowed by public lands, but failed to produce the desired results immediately because land prices were too low for this endowment to provide revenue.
1839 - The Republic of Texas chartered the Houston and Brazos Rail Road, one of four lines chartered by the Republic. The company was granted the right to build railroads and turnpikes from Houston to the Brazos River. The ceremony marking the beginning of construction was set to coincide with the fourth anniversary observance of the Odd Fellows in Texas.
1877 - John Barclay Armstrong, a Texas Ranger known as "McNelly's Bulldog," as named second lieutenant of the Special Force of Texas Rangers under 1st Lt. Leigh Hall. He was assigned to the Eagle Pass area, where he operated on both sides of the border, assisted in the breakup of several bands of outlaws, and helped arrest John King Fisher in April 1877. While recovering from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound suffered at Goliad, Armstrong asked to be allowed to arrest the notorious gunman John Wesley Hardin. The ranger pursued Hardin first to Alabama, then to Florida, then confronted him and four of his gang on a train in Pensacola. In the affray that followed, Armstrong killed one of Hardin's men, rendered Hardin unconscious with a blow from his handgun, and arrested the remaining gang members. After considerable delay in the execution of extradition papers, Armstrong returned Hardin to Texas, where he was tried and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison in September 1877. In July 1878 Armstrong was involved in the killing of outlaw Sam Bass at Round Rock.
1893 - Robert L. Williams produced the first piece of ware in the new McDade Pottery plant. The plant was the successor to a "jug shop" begun in 1853 in the vicinity of what is now Bastrop State Park.
1927 - Just days after a terrific bus-train accident that kill ten members of the Baylor Basketball team, the Texas Legislature introduced a bill today to construct overpasses or underpasses at all places where state highways intersect with railroads. As a result of the Legislatures actions today, U.S. Highway 81 through Round Rock later became the first railroad overpass in Texas (1935). The new overpass is within sight of the 1927 tragedy which prompted today's bill in the legislature.
1945 - Audie Murphy, born near Kingston, TX in 1924, was the most-decorated soldier in United States history, earned the Medal of Honor by single-handedly repelling a German attack. The Texas native enlisted in the United States Army in June 1942. During World War II he received thirty-three awards, citations, and decorations. After the war he starred in numerous movies, wrote country-and-western songs, and pursued other business interests. Murphy was killed in an airplane crash in 1971 and was buried near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
1948 - The Texas State Guard Reserve Corps, established by legislation approved on May 22, 1947, was activated by order of the adjutant general on January 26, 1948, under the command of Lt. Gen. Claude V. Birkhead. The TSGRC originally had an authorized strength of 18,000 officers and enlisted men. The TSGRC originally had an authorized strength of 18,000 officers and enlisted men. [ http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... /qqt1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ]
1960 - Lamar Hunt was made President of the new American Football League. Not a single game had been played at this point.
