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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Barrett are celebrating the 150th |
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anniversary of their community with a Founders Day event on |
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June 14, 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, Harrison Barrett, the community's founder and |
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namesake, was born in Texas around 1845 to Simon and Eliza Barrett; |
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his parents, who came from Louisiana, had several other children, |
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but during slavery, the family members were separated; and |
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WHEREAS, Immediately after emancipation in 1865, Harrison |
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Barrett and his wife, Annie Jones Barrett, made a 30-mile trek to |
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Houston to have a justice of the peace legally formalize their |
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marriage; Mr. Barrett spent several years finding his relatives and |
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reuniting them on land east of the San Jacinto River that he planned |
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to purchase; he cut down trees on the property to build seven houses |
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and helped his family members start farms; he and his wife were |
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blessed with 12 children; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Barrett established a sawmill, gristmill, and |
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coffee mill, and he granted open access to the fish and crawfish in |
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the spring and gully near his homestead; in 1889, the White owner of |
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the land finally agreed to sell it to Mr. Barrett for 50 cents an |
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acre, and the holding was one of the largest to be acquired by a |
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freedman in Harris County; the community initially became known as |
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Barrett's Settlement, and as it grew, Mr. Barrett donated land for |
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Shiloh Baptist Church, which also served as a school; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1917, Mr. Barrett passed away; he, his wife, and |
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four other family members are interred in the Journey's End |
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Cemetery near his original homestead; twice rebuilt by descendants, |
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the house still stands today; in 1947, the community gained a high |
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school and a post office branch, known as Barrett Station; today, |
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the area is home to approximately 5,000 people; and |
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WHEREAS, Harrison Barrett inspired generations through his |
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resilience, determination, and deep commitment to his loved ones, |
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and it is truly a pleasure to join in marking this milestone in rich |
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history of the community that he founded; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 150th anniversary of Barrett and |
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extend sincere best wishes to all those taking part in the 2025 |
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Founders Day celebration; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the community as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |