James H. Durst

Full Name: James H. Durst
Date of birth: 1819
Date of death: April 24, 1858

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
S 29 Nov 8, 1853 - Nov 5, 1855 5th (1) (2)     Rio Grande City / Starr   Kinney, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Webb

(1) Roster of members elect of the 5th Legislature, state elections, 1853. Texas State Gazette (Austin, Texas), 8/20/1853, p. 3, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(2) 5th Legislature - Senators elect M.M. Potter, Isaac L. Hill, William T. Scott, and James H. Durst "came forward, presented their credentials, were qualified and took their seats," 11/8/1853, p. 6. Senate Journal.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 29
Nov 8, 1853 - Nov 5, 1855
Legislatures: 5th (1) (2)  
Home City/County: Rio Grande City / Starr
Counties in district: Kinney, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Webb

(1) Roster of members elect of the 5th Legislature, state elections, 1853. Texas State Gazette (Austin, Texas), 8/20/1853, p. 3, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(2) 5th Legislature - Senators elect M.M. Potter, Isaac L. Hill, William T. Scott, and James H. Durst "came forward, presented their credentials, were qualified and took their seats," 11/8/1853, p. 6. Senate Journal.

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

  • 5th Legislature - Roll of Members, James H. Durst, age 34 (born circa 1819), native state Texas, farmer, postoffice Rio Grande City, Starr County. House Journal.

Biographical Sketches

  • Biographical sketch, born 1819 in Nacogdoches, left for Starr County in south Texas after death of his wife in late November, 1843. Elected to state Senate from Starr County in 1853, serving until 1855; died on his ranch in Nueces County, Texas, on 4/24/1858. John B. Armstrong: Texas Ranger and Pioneer Ranchman by Chuck Parsons, pp. 75-76. Google Books.
  • DURST, JAMES H. (ca. 1819-1858). "From 1838 to 1839 Durst was captain of a company of Texas Rangers and was involved in actions against the Cherokees." Handbook of Texas Online.

Other Resources

  • "An Interesting Document: Paper Containing the Names, Ages and Occupations of the Fifth Texas Legislature," The Democrat (McKinney, Texas), 8/5/1897, p. 2, crediting Collin County Genealogical Society. "The two native Texans in that body were James H. Durst, aged 34, a farmer from Rio Grande City, Starr county, a member of the senate, and Burwell J. Lewis, aged 26, a lawyer from San Augustine, in the lower house." Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
  • Biographical notes, p. 246. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.

Committee Information top

5th R.S. - 1853
Indian Affairs  
Judicial Districts  
Militia  
Printing and Contingent Expenses  
Privileges and Elections  
Spirituous Liquors, Sale of  
State Affairs  

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