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Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Harrisburg

The Kemp Sketch

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KUYKENDALL, GIBSON - Received title to 44,280 acres of land in

Colony situated in the present counties of Hopkins or Hunt.

KUYKENDALL, GIBSON - Received title to 3,321 acres of land in Colony situated in the present counties of Washington.

Harrisburg

KUYKENDALL, GIBSON - Came to Texas in 1821, as is stated in an unnumbered headright certificate issued to him March 15, 1838 for one-fourth of a league of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for Austin County. He had previously received a league of land from the Mexican Government.

Captain Kuykendall was elected commander of a company of the First Regiment of Texas Volunteers, April 8, 1836. He and most of the men of his company were at the camp opposite Harrisburg, April 21, 1836. Sometime after the battle of San Jacinto Captain Kuykendall’s company was made a part of Captain H. N. Cleaveland’s company of Mill Creek Volunteers. On page______ of the army rolls in the General Land Office he is shown as a First Leiutenant of Captain Cleveland’s company when the company was mustered on July 1, 1836. The company was either disbanded or Captain Cleveland resigned for on page ______ of the army rolls Benjamin F. Reaville is shown as captain of the company July 1, 1836 with Captain Kuykendall as First Lieutenant.

On August 8, 1838 Captain Kuykendall received Donation certificate No. 503 for 640 acres of land for having been detailed to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg, April 21, 1836. On January 22, 1838 he received Bounty Certificate No. 3926 for 640 acres of land for having served in the army from March 1 to October 1, 1836.

Captain Kuykendall was married to Elizabeth Lakey who was born in the State of North Carolina, a daughter of Joel and Nancy Lakey. Mrs. Kuykendall died prior to February 28, 1837. Captain Kuykendall died _____ (1869)? in Burleson County. Joseph A. Kuykendall was appointed administrator of his estate April 26, 1869.

Children of Captain and Mrs. Kuykendall were: Joseph A., who married _________. William Thornton, who married ___________.

___________________who married _____________________

____________________ “ “ _____________________

____________________ “ “ _____________________

____________________ “ “ _____________________

Children of William Thornton and _________ Kuykendall were Ira D. Kuykendall, 1101 Wyatt Street, Houston; ___________________________

Huson & Green Attorneys at Law Refugio, Texas

November 14, 1939

Mr. Louis W. Kemp,

214 Westmoreland Avenue,

Houston, Texas.

My dear Colonel Kemp:

I would appreciate it if you would send me anything that you have on James Hampton Kuykendall, who was a member of the Congress of the Republic, and who died at Refugio in 1882. We have located his grave and have a movement on foot to rebuild the vault and mark same, and I would like for the marking to be authentic. James Hampton Kuykendall was a son of Abner Kuykendall, and was one of the men left at Harrisburg. I will thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

I received your preliminary sketch on Colonel James Power and John White Bower. The sketch on John White Bower is about in line, but the one on Col. Power omits several interesting phases of his life. I have revised these sketches and will mail them to you tomorrow.

Very truly yours,

(signed) Hobart Huson

HH/ vb

H. A. Kuykendall

Be sure to get Page 41 H. A. K. not J. Hampton

Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.


Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Captain
  • Company: First Regiment Texas Volunteers

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1802
  • Birthplace: Kentucky
  • Origin: Arkansas
  • Came to Texas: 1821
  • Date of Death: 1861 Dec 1
  • Bounty Certificate: 3926
  • Donation Certificate: 503
  • Wife: 1. Elizabeth Lakey; 2. Martha Kuykendall Kuykendall
  • Children: Brazilla Kuykendall; Joseph A. Kuykendall, William Thornton Kuykendall; Elizabeth Kuykendall
  • Family at San Jacinto: Brothers Adam, Brazilla and James Hampton Kuykendall at Harrisburg; cousins/brothers-in-law John and Thornton P. Kuykendall at Harrisburg; second cousin once removed Matthew Kuykendall fought at San Jacinto.