Today’s Tidbit is a continuation of an article I did several weeks ago with a focus on the men who served Shelby County for the period of 1832-1845. This article will by no means include everyone who served the County during this time frame. The information was obtained from “A Biographical Directory of the Texan Conventions and Congresses 1832-1845” compiled by Elizabeth LeNoir Jennett, October 1841. You might find an ancestor in the list. If you would like to see the complete list be sure to visit the museum. While there you can also see our newest exhibit “Working on the Farm.”  Enjoy!!

Johnson, Middleton Tate, soldier and jurist, was born in Spartanburg District, South Carolina, 1810 and lived in Georgia and Alabama before coming to Texas in 1840. He had been elected to the Alabama Legislature in 1832 and re-elected seven times when he decided to come to Texas. Settling in Shelby County, he represented it at the Ninth Congress, 1844-45, as a member of the House of Representatives. At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he raised a company of volunteers, was made Captain, and served with Colonel Wood’s regiment and later with Colonel Jack Hays. Still later he was elected Lieutenant Colonel of Hill’s regiment of Texas Rangers and served on the western frontier until relieved by United States troops, about 1850. In 1866, he attended the Reconstruction Convention held at Austin, and en route home died, May 15, at the home of a Mr. Burditt near Austin.

Landrum, Willis H., farmer, merchant, and soldier, was born in Tennessee in 1805, and came to Texas in 1834. At the Siege of Bexar, 1835, he was captain of a company; and in the Cherokee War, in 1839, Landrum was in command of a company of volunteers, the Third Brigade, Third Regiment of Texas Militia, and assisted in expelling the Cherokees from Texas. In the meantime, he had served in 1836 as an associate member of the Board of Land Commissioners of Shelby County; and from October 3, 1836, to June 13, 1842, had represented the district composed of Shelby and Sabine Counties in the Senate of the First Congress. Again, in the Sixth Congress, November 1, 1841, to July 23, 1842, Colonel Landrum represented Sabine County, this time in the House of Representatives.  On August 23, 1852, he transferred to Benjamin Bacus for eighty dollars cash a bounty grant of 320 acres. Beyond this point, nothing is known.

Looney, Samuel, was a delegate from Snow River (Tyler County) to the Convention of 1832. There is no record of his arrival in Texas or of his participating in public affairs, other than his military record. During the Texas War of Independence, he was major for part of the three hundred men from the district of Ayish Bayou, Tenaha, Sabine, and Bevil. A contemporary said of Looney that his feats of daring bravery and superior abilities well fitted him for the part, and that he was thought to be a good man, while later events had proved him capable of even murder, for which he paid the penalty. So it was that Samuel Looney’s career in Texas ended on April 8, 1834, he being hanged on that date for the murder of Charles Luigi.

Parmer, Martin, pioneer statesman and leader in the Fredonian Rebellion, was born Jun3 4, 1778, in Virginia. Moving in early life to Missouri, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in that state, 1821, and a Senator in its Legislature. Upon the death of his wife, Parmer came to Texas and settled near Mound Prairie. In a reckless state of mind, caused by his recent bereavement, he joined forces with Haden Edwards, in 1826, in leading the rebellion at Nacogdoches, and setting up the Republic of Fredonia. When the movement collapsed and warrants had been issued for the arrest of the leaders, he fled first to Gonzales, then to Louisiana, where he remained until pardoned and permitted to return to Texas, about 1833. When the Consultation met in 1835, Parmer attended as a delegate from Tenaha (later Shelby County); in 1836, he served at the Constitutional Convention, from San Augustine. Here he was a member of the committee appointed to draft the Constitution of Texas and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Although no record exists of his participation in a military capacity in the Revolution, it is known that he gave financial aid to the Texas army. He died March 2, 1850, in Jasper County, his remains being moved later to the State Cemetery at Austin.

Payne, John, probably came to Texas during or soon after the Revolution. At the first election in Sabine, after the organization of the county in 1837, he was elected Justice of the peace of the Patroon District. On February 6, 1838, Payne obtained his land certificate, describing himself at the time as a married man.  Further information has not been found.

Wallace, Benjamin Rush, a pioneer attorney and citizen of San Augustine, was born at Warrenton, Virginia, in 1800, entered West Point, tired of it, and left apparently on his own volition. In 1837 he came to Texas and took out citizenship papers at Nacogdoches. Settling at San Augustine, he engaged in the practice of law, operated a large store, andin 1843 acted as the Secretary of the Hamilton Town Company in Shelby County, to sell lots and assist in establishing the new town. He died in Tarrant County, on August 28, 1878. He was buried on family property near the Lake.

I wanted to also share information regarding the Poultry Fest broiler auction which was held earlier in the month. The information is taken from the Light and Champion paper dated Friday, October 9, 1992.

The 1992 East Texas Poultry Festival broiler sale brought more than $34,000 with the grand selling for $5000.

More than 120 Shelby County youth entered this year’s show, with 40 pens of broilers making the sale.

David Jackson of the Shelbyville FFA sold his grand champion pen of broilers to Parrish Construction Co. of Orange for $5000.

Zack Bonner of the Joaquin 4-H won reserve champion honors with his pen of broilers, which sold to Farmers State Bank for $2,500.

County Extension Agent James Greer noted that the grand champion broiler at the Texas State Fair was sold for less than $1000 and the pens sold here Saturday averaged more per pen than at the state show sale.

The following information was taken from Shelby County Today on October 5, 2024.

October 5, 2024 - The 2024 Shelby County Poultry Festival Broiler Show Sale brought in over $161,000. The unofficial results are listed below.

Grand Champion - Cori Lawson, Shelby Co. 4-H, birds sold for $10,500 to Farmers State Bank
Reserve Champion - Kenley Ramos, Center FFA, birds sold for $9,500 to Shelby Savings Bank

What a difference 32 years make!!!!