Bunton, John Wheeler, 1807-1879

Texas pioneer and politician John Wheeler Bunton (1807-1879) was born in Sumner County, Tennessee. Educated at Princeton College, Kentucky, and a student of law in Gallatin, Tennessee, Bunton also served in the Tennessee State Militia. In 1833, at the age of 25, Bunton settled in Mina, Texas, later renamed Bastrop. A man of commanding personality and build, Bunton was chosen to represent Bastrop at the Convention of 1836, where he signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. As a member of the First Texas Volunteer Regiment, he also fought at the battle of San Jacinto, the siege of Bexar and the battle of the Alamo. As a representative in the First Congress of the Republic of Texas, convened in 1836, Bunton made the Republic’s first congressional motion, engaged in and won its first debate, and led action on laws creating a postal service, the Texas Rangers, and a judiciary system. Bunton was also a member of the Republic’s Third Congress (1838-1839).

In 1836, Bunton married Mary Howell, to whom he was introduced by Sam Houston. The Buntons first settled in Bastrop, before moving to Mountain City in 1857. Follwing Mary’s death in 1862, and John married Hermine C. Duval in 1865.

Sources:

“Memorabilia of famous Texan now in archives.” The Daily Texan . March 18, 1931.

Strom, Ann Miller. " Bunton, John Wheeler ." Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed October 27, 2010.

From the guide to the Bunton, John Wheeler, Papers 1936., 1751, 1837-1880, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)