James William Kinnear

Biographical Information top

Biographical Sketches

• Biographical sketch, "Who's Who and What's What in the Texas Legislature," by Ed Kilman, 1/22/1929, p. 7. Houston Post-Dispatch.

Other Resources

• "A young school teacher at the time, J.W. Kinnear" quoted in "Old-Timers Say 'Never Been Anything Like Spindletop," 1/20/1951, p. 9, with artist Milton Turner's drawings of the oil derricks and tank battery at the Spindletop oil field. Abilene Reporter-News.
• Quoted in "Fabulous Prices on Leases Came with Spindletop," 12/24/1944, p. 13, about the history of the Spindletop oil gusher. "He is J.W. Kinnear, tax assessor-collector for the South Park School District, a position he has held for 29 years. 'Within 30 minutes after the [sic] blew in, I was there,' Kinnear relates. 'It was a mighty sight and its great roar made many fearful that the earth would cave in.' He was almost the owner of a tract on Spindletop when the well came in." Big Spring Daily Herald.
• Oral History of the Texas Oil Industry Records, James W. Kinnear interview and transcript [part 1 of 2], Reel 107a, "Kinnear discusses teaching school and oil-field work in Beaumont area; life in Spindletop, Sour Lake, Batson, and Saratoga; and tax assessing at Spindletop." James William Kinnear, birth date 4/6/1872. Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin, 2006.
• Census of 1930 - James W. Kinnear, Jefferson County, age 58, born circa 1872 in Illinois, tax collector, spouse Mary I., sons Clarence W., Leland P., William M., Doyle F., and Robert C. FamilySearch.
• James William Kinnear, birth date 4/6/1872 in Hamilton County, Illinois; death date 11/19/1959 in Beaumont; retired tax collector, South Park Ind. School Dist. FamilySearch Texas Deaths, 1890-1977.
• James William Kinnear, birth date 4/6/1872, death date 11/19/1959, burial in Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Beaumont, Jefferson County, spouse Mary Ione Crouch Kinnear. Find a Grave.
• J.W. Kinnear mentioned in interview with grandson Robert C. 'Bob' Kinnear, Jr. "Lasting Legacies: Generations Build for the Future," Cardinal Cadence, Summer 2004. "The elder Kinnear’s career continued from school teacher to tax assessor to Texas state representative (16th Legislative District, 1925-29) where he worked to pass legislation to facilitate state funding for junior colleges. That legislation paved the way for the creation of South Park Junior College – the predecessor to Lamar University – in 1923." Lamar University.
• 39th Legislature (1925) - James W. Kinnear, postoffice Beaumont, nativity Illinois, age 52, school district tax assessor and collector.
  40th Legislature (1927) - J.W. Kinnear, postoffice Beaumont, nativity Illinois, age 54, oil business.
  41st Legislature (1929) - J.W. Kinnear, postoffice Beaumont, Box 766, nativity Illinois, age 58, accountant. Texas Legislative Manual. 39th 40th 41st

Photographs

• Photograph. J.W. Kinnear, 41st Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. J.W. Kinnear, 40th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. J.W. Kinnear, 39th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

• 39th session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, east wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 40th session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, east wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.
• 41st session composite photo of House members (3rd floor back hall, east wall. 3W.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top