Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
H	9	Jan 14, 1873 - Jan 13, 1874	13th (1)	Republican	Clarksville / Red River		Red River, Titus
H	7	Nov 7, 1859 - Feb 5, 1861	8th (2) (3)		Decatur / Wise		Collin, Cooke, Denton

(1) Republican. Directory of the Members of the Thirteenth Legislature of the State of Texas, 1873.
(2) [In late 1860 and early 1861] legislators Micajah Lewis Armstrong, John L. Haynes, and Robert H. Taylor mailed circulars to their constituencies defending their unpopular Unionist positions. They joined other Unionist legislators and convention delegates on February 6 in issuing an address entreating Texans to reject secession." "Origins of Early Texas Republican Party Leadership," Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 447. Journal of Southern History.
(3) Thomas Lewellen, sworn 3/18/1861, succeeded William A. Ellett, resigned 2/5/1861. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Resolutions and Journal entries

• W.A. Elliott. House Journal. 8th R.S.

Biographical Sketches

• ELLETT, WILLIAM A. (1834-?). Died in Red River County between 1880 and 1900. Handbook of Texas Online.
• Biographical sketch and portrait. Texas Album of the Eighth Legislature, 1860.

Other Resources

• Married Thurza Reed 9/14/1859 in Clarksville, Red River County, TX. FamilySearch.
• Mentioned in Miscellaneous Notes, pp. 78-79. Pioneer History of Wise County: From Red Men to Railroads - Twenty Years of Intrepid History, 1907.
• Mentioned in "Unionism in Texas, 1856-1861," The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol.68, July 1964-April 1965, p. 191. "An address to the people of the state was issued on February 6 by Unionist members of the legislature and the convention in an attempt to persuade the voters to reject secession." Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Photographs

• Photograph. William Ellett, 13th Legislature, DeGolyer Library, SMU, Lawrence T. Jones III Collection.
• Photograph. William Ellett, 13th Legislature, State Preservation Board
• Photograph. William Ellett, 8th Legislature, Texas Album of the Eighth Legislature

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

• 13th session composite photo of Senate and House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, east wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.
• 13th session composite photo of Senate and House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, east wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.
• Pictorial Monogram of the State Government of Texas 1873 (DeGolyer Library, SMU, Lawrence T. Jones III Collection). DeGolyer Library, SMU, Lawrence T. Jones III Collection..

Committee Information top

13th R.S. - 1873 Abstracts of Land Titles   Federal Relations   Judiciary No. 1   Land Office, Examine Books and Railroad Certificates (Chair)  Printing and Contingent Expenses   Privileges and Elections   Superintendent of Public Schools

8th R.S. - 1859 Indian Affairs   Joint Indian Affairs   Land Office   Public Debt