William Crump
William Edmund Crump (1809 or 1810 – January 3, 1889) was the first Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives following statehood. A representative from Austin County, Crump was a novice in political circles, having held no previous public office in Texas either in the Republic or at the local level. Despite his lack of experience, he was elected Speaker on the first ballot without any substantial opposition.
William Edmund Crump | |
|---|---|
| 1st Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office February 16, 1846 – March 3, 1846 | |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | John Brown |
| 1st and 2nd representative of the Texas House of Representatives, Austin district | |
| In office February 16, 1846 – November 5, 1849 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Charles Railey |
| 4th Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office March 16, 1846 – May 1, 1846 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Thomas Branch |
| Succeeded by | William H. Bourland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1809-1810 North Carolina, USA |
| Died | January 3, 1889 |
Life
Crump was born in North Carolina. Nothing is known of his early life, until his marriage to an Rosa C. Ballantine in North Carolina in 1836. Subsequently, he moved his family to Vicksburg, Mississippi and in the early 1830s moved his family to Texas. Settling his family along the Brazos River east of Bellville, and established Crump"s Ferry, which can be seen on Texas Maps of 1836. Crump's Ferry was not far north of San Felipe, where Stephen F. Austin had earlier founded the headquarters of his first colony, Crump established a plantation, Crump's Ferry. Both of them had 1 child together, William Edmund Crump Jr.
In Texas, Crump became involved in one brief military venture, the Vasques Campaign that countered a Mexican raid on San Antonio in 1842. Crump remained in Austin County for the rest of his life, at one point becoming County Judge. He died in Bellville on January 3, 1889.
Politics
Crump was reelected state representative twice. He served in the 2nd Legislature and part of the 3rd Legislature, then resigned and vacated legislative office completely and returned to his home near Bellville. A large landholder, Crump eventually became one of the wealthiest men in the region.
Elected to the Texas House of Representatives following statehood, he presided as Speaker for most of the 1st Legislature. His tenure was punctuated by a leave of absence from March 3 to March 16, 1846 and by his subsequent resignation on May 1, 1846, 12 days before the 1st Texas Legislature adjourned. Among its other accomplishments, the 1st Legislature created over 30 counties, organized a set of courts, established a militia, authorized a state penitentiary, and provided for a regular census and a system of taxation.
References
- Research Division of the Texas Legislative Council (February 2002). Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846–2002 (pdf) (Revised 2002 ed.). Austin, Texas: The Council. Retrieved 2006-09-02.
| Preceded by None |
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives February 16,1846–March 3, 1846 |
Succeeded by John Brown |
| Preceded by Edward Thomas Branch |
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives March 16, 1846–May 1, 1846 |
Succeeded by William H. Bourland |
| Preceded by District created |
Texas House of Representatives, Austin district February 14, 1846-November 5, 1849 |
Succeeded by Charles Railey |
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