Henry Millard
Encyclopedia
Henry Millard was an American
businessman, military officer, and public servant. He founded the city of Beaumont, Texas
, in 1835 and fought in the Battle of San Jacinto
in 1836 during the Texas Revolution
.
, to Josiah and Nancy (Tower) Millard in about 1796. In 1804 his family moved to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
, and then in the 1820s to Natchez, Mississippi
.
On August 24, 1826, Millard married Mary Dewburleigh Barlace Warren Beaumont, the daughter of William Henry Beaumont and Elizabeth (Duncan) Beaumont.
Millard's first son, Frederick Sipe Millard was born in 1827. That same year he opened a store with his brother-in-law, Franklin Beaumont. They sold medicine, toy trains, books, and stationery.
Millard started a drug firm with a man named Samuel Mason in New Orleans in 1832. Mason died in 1833, which caused difficulties for the firm. During that same year Millard's second son, Henry Beaumont Millard was born Then Millard's wife Mary died in 1834.
Millard formed a new partnership with Joseph Pulsifer and Thomas Huling.
.
The three of them decided to invest in land. They purchased 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land between the settlements of Tevis Bluff and Santa Anna. On that land they laid out the town of Beaumont, which Millard apparently named after Jefferson Beaumont. As a delegate to the Consultation of 1835 in San Felipe, he helped found the municipality of Jefferson, which later became Jefferson County. He was elected to the General Council of the Consultation, but resigned in order to accept a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Texas revolutionary army.
. Then in 1836 he went with General Sam Houston
to a conference with the Cherokee people. A short time later he took command of a battalion and marched them to San Jacinto, where they fought on April 21, 1836, in the successful battle
against the Mexican forces under President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
.
In his report of the battle, Houston wrote
After the battle, Houston gave Millard two pistols that had belonged to Santa Anna. Millard’s descendants later loaned them to the Republic of Texas Museum where they reside today.
, to explore new business possibilities and became the tax assessor for Galveston County.
An historical marker outlining the life of Millard was dedicated in 1991 in the city of Beaumont. It is located at 800 Pearl Street. At the Battleground Golf Course in Deer Park, Texas
, the thirteenth hole is named "Millard" in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, military officer, and public servant. He founded the city of Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, in 1835 and fought in the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
in 1836 during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
.
Early life
Millard was born in Stillwater, New YorkStillwater, New York
Stillwater is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,522 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village called Stillwater...
, to Josiah and Nancy (Tower) Millard in about 1796. In 1804 his family moved to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve is a city in and the county seat of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,654 at the 2000 census...
, and then in the 1820s to Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
.
On August 24, 1826, Millard married Mary Dewburleigh Barlace Warren Beaumont, the daughter of William Henry Beaumont and Elizabeth (Duncan) Beaumont.
Millard's first son, Frederick Sipe Millard was born in 1827. That same year he opened a store with his brother-in-law, Franklin Beaumont. They sold medicine, toy trains, books, and stationery.
Millard started a drug firm with a man named Samuel Mason in New Orleans in 1832. Mason died in 1833, which caused difficulties for the firm. During that same year Millard's second son, Henry Beaumont Millard was born Then Millard's wife Mary died in 1834.
Millard formed a new partnership with Joseph Pulsifer and Thomas Huling.
Texas
Millard left his sons with foster parents in New Orleans and moved to Texas in 1835. He and his business partner Pulsifer opened a store in the settlement of Santa Anna, while the third partner, Huling, opened a store in ZavallaZavalla
Zavalla may refer to:* Zavalla, Santa Fe, Argentina* Zavalla, Texas, United States...
.
The three of them decided to invest in land. They purchased 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land between the settlements of Tevis Bluff and Santa Anna. On that land they laid out the town of Beaumont, which Millard apparently named after Jefferson Beaumont. As a delegate to the Consultation of 1835 in San Felipe, he helped found the municipality of Jefferson, which later became Jefferson County. He was elected to the General Council of the Consultation, but resigned in order to accept a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Texas revolutionary army.
Military career
At first, Millard acted as a recruiting officer in Nacogdoches, TexasNacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the city's population to be 32,996. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County and is situated in East Texas. Nacogdoches is a sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.Nacogdoches is the home of...
. Then in 1836 he went with General Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
to a conference with the Cherokee people. A short time later he took command of a battalion and marched them to San Jacinto, where they fought on April 21, 1836, in the successful battle
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
against the Mexican forces under President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
.
In his report of the battle, Houston wrote
- The artillery under the special command of Col. Geo. W. Hockley Inspector Gen'l. was placed on the right of the first Regiment; and four companies of Infantry under the command of Lieut Col. Henry Millard, sustained the artillery upon the right.
After the battle, Houston gave Millard two pistols that had belonged to Santa Anna. Millard’s descendants later loaned them to the Republic of Texas Museum where they reside today.
Public service
Millard acted as the chief justice of Jefferson Country from 1838-1840. He was an alderman for the city of Beaumont and a justice of the peace. In 1842 he moved to Galveston, TexasGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, to explore new business possibilities and became the tax assessor for Galveston County.
Death and legacy
Millard suffered a series of illnesses and died on August 28 or 29, 1844. His remains were buried in the Episcopal Cemetery on Broadway.An historical marker outlining the life of Millard was dedicated in 1991 in the city of Beaumont. It is located at 800 Pearl Street. At the Battleground Golf Course in Deer Park, Texas
Deer Park, Texas
Deer Park is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The city is located in Harris County and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Deer Park was 32,010....
, the thirteenth hole is named "Millard" in his honor.