1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 445 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-4 honor the memory of Major Benjamin Franklin Bryant, an able and 1-5 courageous forefather possessed of great leadership ability who 1-6 helped Texas win its independence at the Battle of San Jacinto and 1-7 succeed as a nation; and 1-8 WHEREAS, A native of Wilkes County, Georgia, Major Bryant 1-9 was born March 15, 1800; he moved to Texas, along with his wife, 1-10 Roxanna, and their children, in November, 1834, settling first in 1-11 Shelby County and later relocating on the banks of Little River 1-12 in western Milam County; and 1-13 WHEREAS, When the war for Texas independence broke out, and 1-14 Sam Houston called on all Texans to fight, Major Bryant took up 1-15 arms and recruited 42 Sabine volunteers; on March 31, 1836, the 1-16 group joined Sam Houston's main army at Groces Plantation 1-17 on the Brazos River; and 1-18 WHEREAS, For his service during the Battle of San Jacinto 1-19 on April 21, 1836, as commander of the Seventh Company, Second 1-20 Regiment of the Texian Volunteers under Colonel Sidney Sherman, 1-21 Major Bryant received 640 acres from the Secretary of War of the 1-22 Texas Republic on June 9, 1838; he later received another 640 acres 2-1 for his service as a Texas Ranger and as an Indian Agent; and 2-2 WHEREAS, After Texas gained its independence, Major Bryant 2-3 continued to help lead the new nation; at the request of Sam Houston, 2-4 he and his family moved to Milam County on the banks of the Little 2-5 River and established a private fort known as Bryant Station; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Major Bryant became a key figure in the dealings 2-7 between Texas citizens and the Indians; while leading a company 2-8 of settlers, he was wounded in a battle with Chief Jose Maria, an 2-9 event which is now commemorated with an historical marker located 2-10 on State Highway 6 near Marlin; Major Bryant later negotiated a 2-11 treaty and smoked a peace pipe with Chief Maria; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Major Bryant's contributions to Texas have 2-13 also been honored on the memorial for San Jacinto Veterans of 2-14 Sabine County, in Hemphill, Texas, on the San Jacinto Monument, 2-15 and on Republic Hill in the Texas State Cemetery; and 2-16 WHEREAS, This pioneer soldier and Texas Ranger passed 2-17 away on March 24, 1857, and his wife, Roxanna, died years 2-18 later on November 10, 1871; buried first at Bryant Station, 2-19 Benjamin Franklin and Roxanna Bryant were reinterred in the 2-20 State Cemetery at Austin in 1931, at which time Governor Pat Neff 2-21 delivered a tribute speech in honor of these two eminent Texans; 2-22 and 2-23 WHEREAS, The descendants of Major Bryant have honored 3-1 his memory by continuing to work for the betterment of 3-2 Texas; Denton Bryant, the great-great-great-grandson of 3-3 Major Benjamin Franklin Bryant, resides in Houston and 3-4 currently serves as President of the San Jacinto Chapter 1 3-5 of the Sons of the Republic of Texas; and 3-6 WHEREAS, Major Bryant's service as a frontiersman, Indian 3-7 fighter, and peacemaker is well documented in Texas history, and 3-8 our state owes much to this Texas patriot and the men and women of 3-9 his era, who through their boldness, ambition, and strength, made 3-10 Texas the great state it is today; now, therefore, be it 3-11 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-12 77th Legislature, hereby honor the memory of 3-13 Major Benjamin Franklin Bryant on his 201st birthday and 3-14 extend a warm welcome to Denton Bryant, his family, the 3-15 Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Daughters of the Republic 3-16 of Texas, and the San Jacinto descendants on the occasion of 3-17 their visit to the State Capitol; and, be it further 3-18 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to 3-19 celebrate the life of this true Texas hero. 3-20 Lindsay 3-21 ______________________________________ 3-22 President of the Senate 3-23 I hereby certify that the above 3-24 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-25 on March 15, 2001. 3-26 ______________________________________ 3-27 Secretary of the Senate 4-1 ______________________________________ 4-2 Member, Texas Senate