W.R. Shannon

William Russell Shannon

Full Name: William Russell Shannon
Date of birth: January 15, 1825
Date of death: June 17, 1910

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
S 20 Jan 9, 1883 - Jan 11, 1887 19th (1) (2)   18th (3) (4)   19th (1) (2)   Democrat Weatherford / Parker Senate President Pro Tempore (19th)   Jack, Parker, Tarrant, Wise
S 23 Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 9, 1883 16th (7) (8)   17th (5) (6)   Democrat Weatherford / Parker   Clay, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wise, Young
S 20 Aug 6, 1866 - Feb 7, 1870 11th (9) (10) (11)     Buchanan / Johnson   Erath, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant
H 42 May 4, 1864 - Aug 6, 1866 10th (12)     Cleburne / Johnson   Ellis, Johnson, Parker
H 44 Nov 7, 1859 - Nov 4, 1861 8th     Buchanan / Johnson   Ellis, Tarrant
H 44 Nov 2, 1857 - Nov 7, 1859 7th (13) (14)     Buchanan / Johnson   Ellis, Tarrant

(1) 19th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, elected 1/13/1885, Regular Session. Senate Journal.
(2) Democrat, p. 163. Burke's Texas Almanac and Immigrants' Handbook for 1885, 1885.
(3) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Eighteenth Legislature of Texas, 1883.
(4) 18th Legislature, Regular Session - All Senators except District 3 and 21 are listed in Roll Call as taking the oath of office, 1/9/1883, p. 2; resolution by Sen. Gooch that the Senators shall now be divided by lot into two classes, 1/10/1883, pp. 5-6; drew term of 4 years. Senate Journal. January 10, 1883 January 9, 1883
(5) Democrat, 11/17/1880, p. 2. Galveston Daily News.
(6) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Seventeenth Legislature of Texas, 1881.
(7) Democrat, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(8) 16th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll call of newly elected Senators, oath of office administered, 1/14/1879, p. 3. Senate Journal.
(9) 11th Legislature - All 33 Senate districts listed in roll call presenting credentials, oath of office administered, 8/6/1866, pp. 2, 4-5. Senate Journal.
(10) Constitution of 1866, Article III, §§ 29, 30, retained the apportionment of 1860 for Senatorial districts. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(11) Entire Senate went up for reelection - Constitution of 1869, Article III, § 39. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(12) William R. Shannon, in special election 5/4/1864, succeeded John H. Prince, died 4/18/1864. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(13) Members of the Seventh Legislature, Biographical Notes - Members, April 1937 issue. Southern Historical Research Magazine, 1937.
(14) Democrat. Roster of 7th Legislature, "Texas Legislature Complete for 1857-8," Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Texas), 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Terms of Service top

Senate District 20
Jan 9, 1883 - Jan 11, 1887
Legislatures: 19th (1) (2)   18th (3) (4)   19th (1) (2)  
Senate President Pro Tempore (19th)
(19th)
(19th)
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Weatherford / Parker
Counties in district: Jack, Parker, Tarrant, Wise
Senate District 23
Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 9, 1883
Legislatures: 16th (7) (8)   17th (5) (6)  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Weatherford / Parker
Counties in district: Clay, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wise, Young
Senate District 20
Aug 6, 1866 - Feb 7, 1870
Legislatures: 11th (9) (10) (11)  
Home City/County: Buchanan / Johnson
Counties in district: Erath, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant
House District 42
May 4, 1864 - Aug 6, 1866
Legislatures: 10th (12)  
Home City/County: Cleburne / Johnson
Counties in district: Ellis, Johnson, Parker
House District 44
Nov 7, 1859 - Nov 4, 1861
Legislatures: 8th  
Home City/County: Buchanan / Johnson
Counties in district: Ellis, Tarrant
House District 44
Nov 2, 1857 - Nov 7, 1859
Legislatures: 7th (13) (14)  
Home City/County: Buchanan / Johnson
Counties in district: Ellis, Tarrant

(1) 19th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, elected 1/13/1885, Regular Session. Senate Journal.
(2) Democrat, p. 163. Burke's Texas Almanac and Immigrants' Handbook for 1885, 1885.
(3) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Eighteenth Legislature of Texas, 1883.
(4) 18th Legislature, Regular Session - All Senators except District 3 and 21 are listed in Roll Call as taking the oath of office, 1/9/1883, p. 2; resolution by Sen. Gooch that the Senators shall now be divided by lot into two classes, 1/10/1883, pp. 5-6; drew term of 4 years. Senate Journal. January 10, 1883 January 9, 1883
(5) Democrat, 11/17/1880, p. 2. Galveston Daily News.
(6) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Seventeenth Legislature of Texas, 1881.
(7) Democrat, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(8) 16th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll call of newly elected Senators, oath of office administered, 1/14/1879, p. 3. Senate Journal.
(9) 11th Legislature - All 33 Senate districts listed in roll call presenting credentials, oath of office administered, 8/6/1866, pp. 2, 4-5. Senate Journal.
(10) Constitution of 1866, Article III, §§ 29, 30, retained the apportionment of 1860 for Senatorial districts. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(11) Entire Senate went up for reelection - Constitution of 1869, Article III, § 39. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(12) William R. Shannon, in special election 5/4/1864, succeeded John H. Prince, died 4/18/1864. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(13) Members of the Seventh Legislature, Biographical Notes - Members, April 1937 issue. Southern Historical Research Magazine, 1937.
(14) Democrat. Roster of 7th Legislature, "Texas Legislature Complete for 1857-8," Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Texas), 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

  • Member roster, 11th Legislature, Regular Session: W.R. Shannon, Buchanan, Johnson County, nativity Kentucky, lawyer, age 40 in 1866 (born circa 1826). Senate Journal.

Biographical Sketches

Military Service Notes

  • Volunteer, Mexican War. Confederate States Army, Captain, 10th Texas Infantry, and Captain, Rock Creek Guards, eventually absorbed into Parson's Brigade. Handbook of Texas Online.

Other Resources

Photographs

  • Photograph. W.R. Shannon, 19th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. W.R. Shannon, 18th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. W.R. Shannon, 17th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. W.R. Shannon, 11th Legislature, By the Austin Photograph Co., Prints and Photographs Collection, [identifier number: di_03923, di_03924], The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Photograph. Wm. R. Shannon, 8th Legislature, Texas State Library and Archives Commission
  • Photograph. Wm. R. Shannon, 8th Legislature, Texas Album of the Eighth Legislature

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

Committee Information top

19th R.S. - 1885
Capitol Contract (Co-Chair) 
Education  
Federal Relations  
Finance  
Frontier Protection  
Internal Improvements (Chair) 
Judiciary No. 1  
Laying the Cornerstone of the New Capitol (Co-Chair) 
Military Affairs  
Public Lands  
Retrenchment and Reform  
Stock and Stockraising  
18th R.S. - 1883
Comptroller's Books and Records on Common School Bonds  
Constitutional Amendments Address  
Federal Relations  
Frontier Protection  
Internal Improvements (Chair) 
Judiciary No. 1  
Lunatic Asylum  
Military Affairs  
Public Lands  
Retrenchment and Reform  
Stock and Stockraising  
17th R.S. - 1881
Agricultural and Mechanical College and State Normal Schools, Visit  
Congressional Districts  
Congressional Districts, Apportionment  
Constitutional Amendments  
Counties and County Boundaries  
Educational Affairs  
Frontier Protection  
General Land Office  
Internal Improvements (Chair) 
Judicial Districts  
Judiciary No. 1  
Military Affairs  
Privileges and Elections  
State Indebtedness  
Stock and Stock Raising  
16th R.S. - 1879
Agricultural and Mechanical College, Consider Report of the Joint Committee Appointed to Visit  
Constitutional Amendments  
Contingent Expenses  
Federal Relations  
General Land Office  
Indian Affairs and Frontier Protection  
Internal Improvements (Chair) 
Judicial Districts (Chair) 
Judiciary No. 1  
Military Affairs  
New Judiciary Article to the Constitution  
Public Claims and Accounts  
Retrenchment and Reform  
Stock and Stock Raising  
11th R.S. - 1866
Finance  
General Land Office, Select (Co-Chair) 
Indian Affairs (Chair) 
Judicial Districts, Select  
Militia  
Southern States, Draft Resolutions Expressive of Sympathy to  
8th R.S. - 1859
Court of Claims  
Enrolled Bills  
Indian Affairs  
Indian Difficulties on Frontier  
Joint Indian Affairs  
Judicial Districts  
Private Land Claims (Chair) 
Public Lands  
7th R.S. - 1857
Judicial Districts  
Land Office  
Land or Money Claims Recommended by Court of Claims  
Petition of Citizens on the Frontier, Relative to Indian Depredations  
Private Land Claims  
Public Lands  
San Saba County, Memorials Regarding Indian Depredations  

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