Thomas Jefferson Shannon

Full Name: Thomas Jefferson Shannon
Date of birth: January 17, 1808
Date of death: February 18, 1864

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
H Fannin Dec 13, 1847 - Nov 5, 1849 2nd (1) (2) (3)     Sherman / Grayson   Collin, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt

(1) Sherman, Grayson County. "On March 17, 1846, Grayson County, named for Peter W. Grayson, attorney general of the Republic of Texas, was marked off from Fannin County."
"After Grayson County was formed from Fannin County in 1846, James Shannon [brother of Thomas J. Shannon] was one of the original commissioners appointed by the legislature to locate the county seat, to be named Sherman. The town was first established four or five miles northwest of the present site. Shannon and his brother bought and divided the J. B. McNair survey, a large tract in central Grayson County. Shannon moved to this property. When the original site of Sherman proved to be deficient in timber and water, and when difficulties arose in obtaining title from the Peters colony, [Thomas J.] Shannon ran for the Second Texas Legislature and campaigned for relocation of the town." Handbook of Texas Online. GRAYSON COUNTY SHANNON, THOMAS JEFFERSON SHERMAN, TX
(2) Fannin—Thomas J. Shannon. Roster of members of the 2nd Legislature, The Texas Democrat (Austin, Texas), 12/15/1847, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(3) "Thomas J. Shannon came to Texas in 1839 and settled in what became Grayson County in 1845. Elected first Grayson County representative to the Texas Legislature . . ." Historical marker, Thomas Jefferson Shannon, Sherman, Grayson County. Texas Historic Sites Atlas (Texas Historical Commission).

Terms of Service top

House District Fannin
Dec 13, 1847 - Nov 5, 1849
Legislatures: 2nd (1) (2) (3)  
Home City/County: Sherman / Grayson
Counties in district: Collin, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt

(1) Sherman, Grayson County. "On March 17, 1846, Grayson County, named for Peter W. Grayson, attorney general of the Republic of Texas, was marked off from Fannin County."
"After Grayson County was formed from Fannin County in 1846, James Shannon [brother of Thomas J. Shannon] was one of the original commissioners appointed by the legislature to locate the county seat, to be named Sherman. The town was first established four or five miles northwest of the present site. Shannon and his brother bought and divided the J. B. McNair survey, a large tract in central Grayson County. Shannon moved to this property. When the original site of Sherman proved to be deficient in timber and water, and when difficulties arose in obtaining title from the Peters colony, [Thomas J.] Shannon ran for the Second Texas Legislature and campaigned for relocation of the town." Handbook of Texas Online. GRAYSON COUNTY SHANNON, THOMAS JEFFERSON SHERMAN, TX
(2) Fannin—Thomas J. Shannon. Roster of members of the 2nd Legislature, The Texas Democrat (Austin, Texas), 12/15/1847, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(3) "Thomas J. Shannon came to Texas in 1839 and settled in what became Grayson County in 1845. Elected first Grayson County representative to the Texas Legislature . . ." Historical marker, Thomas Jefferson Shannon, Sherman, Grayson County. Texas Historic Sites Atlas (Texas Historical Commission).

Biographical Information top

Biographical Sketches

  • Biographical sketch and photos, "Col. Shannon Last of Famed Texas Family," "Pioneers in Building Sherman," 3/14/1926, p. 7. ". . . the late Thomas Jefferson Shannon and his wife, who located in Grayson County in 1846, coming here from Red River County." Includes remembrances of Thomas Jefferson Shannon's son, R.E. Shannon, about his father's service in the Texas Legislature. Dallas Morning News.
  • SHANNON, THOMAS JEFFERSON (1808-1864). Handbook of Texas Online.

Other Resources

  • Col. T.J. Shannon, birth date 1/17/1808, death date 2/18/1864 on grave marker, burial in West Hill Cemetery, Sherman, Grayson County. Includes photo of historical marker, Thomas Jefferson Shannon. Find a Grave.
  • Historical marker, Thomas Jefferson Shannon, Sherman, Grayson County. Texas Historic Sites Atlas (Texas Historical Commission).
  • T.J. Shannon, birth date 1/17/1808, death date 2/18/1864, West Hill Cemetery transcript. Grayson County, TXGenWeb Project.

Committee Information top

2nd R.S. - 1847
Internal Improvements  
Public Buildings  
Public Lands  

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