The First Congress of the Republic of Texas, consisting of the Senate of the Republic of Texas and House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas, met in Columbia at two separate buildings (one for each chamber) and then in Houston at the present-day site of The Rice from October 3, 1836, to June 13, 1837, during the first year of Sam Houston's presidency.
All members of Congress were officially non-partisan. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Texas of 1836, each member of the House of Representatives was elected for a term of one year. Each county was guaranteed at least one representative.
Each Senator was elected for a three-year term to represent a district that each had a nearly equal portion of the nation's population. Each district could have no more than one Senator.
Members
Senate José Francisco Ruiz – District of Bexar James Collinsworth – District of Brazoria (1st session) William Green Hill – District of Brazoria (2nd session) Alexander Somervell – District of Colorado and Austin counties Edwin Morehouse – District of Goliad, Refugio, and San Patricio Robert Wilson –District of Harrisburg and Liberty Stephen H. Everitt – District of Jasper and Jefferson Albert Clinton Horton – District of Matagorda, Victoria, and Jackson Sterling C. Robertson – District of Milam James S. Lester – District of Mina and Gonzales Robert Anderson Irion – District of Nacogdoches Richard Ellis – District of Red River Shelby Corzine – District of San Augustine (1st session) Henry William Augustine – District of San Augustine (2nd session) Willis H. Landrum – District of Shelby and Sabine Jesse Grimes – District of Washington
House of Representatives
Austin County Moseley Baker
Bexar County Thomas Green
Brazoria County Branch T. Archer, from October 4, 1836 John A. Wharton, from October 4, 1836
Colorado County John Gallimore Robison
Goliad County John M. Chenoweth
Gonzales County William S. Fisher
Harrisburg County John W. Moore, until October 11, 1836 Jesse H. Cartwright, from October 11, 1836
Jackson County Samuel A. White
Jasper County Col. Samuel S. Lewis
Jefferson County Claiborne West
Liberty County Edward Thomas Branch
Mina County John Wheeler Bunton Jesse Billingsley
Matagorda County Ira Ingram, 1st session* Daniel Davis D. Baker, 2nd session
Milam County Francis Marcus Weatherred, Jr., until October 31, 1836 Samuel Tabor Allen, from October 31, 1836
Nacogdoches County John Kirby Allen Haden Edwards, 1st session Hayden S. Arnold, 2nd session
Refugio County Elkanah Brush
Red River County Mansell Walter Matthews George Washington Wright William Becknell, until October 13, 1836 Collin McKinney, from October 13, 1836
Sabine County John Boyd
San Augustine County William W. Holman Joseph Rowe
San Patricio County John Turner, until October 20, 1836 John Geraghty, from October 20, 1836
Shelby County Richard Hooper Sydney Oswald Penington
Victoria County Richard Roman
Washington County William Warner Hill W. W. Gant, from October 21, 1836
Standing committees
Senate Ways and Means Judiciary Post Office and Post Roads State of the Republic Military Affairs Roads, Bridges, and Ferries Claims and Accounts Public Lands Indian Affairs County Boundaries Naval Affairs
House of Representatives Ways and Means Judiciary Post Office State of the Republic Military Affairs Roads, Bridges, and Ferries Claims and Accounts Public Lands Indian and Indian Affairs County Boundaries Naval Affairs Foreign Relations
Employees
Senate Sergeant at Arms – William King (1st session), Noah T. Byars (2nd session) Clerk – Richardson A. Scurry (1st session), Arthur Robertson (2nd session) Doorkeeper – Joshua Canter (1st session), Marshall Mann (2nd session)
House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms – A. L. Harrison (1st session), George S. Stratton (2nd session) Clerk – Willis A. Farris (1st session), William Fairfax Gray (2nd session) Doorkeeper – W. T. Hendricks (1st session), Abner S. McDonald (2nd session), S. L. Johnson (2nd session)
References
Senate Journal: 1st Congress Regular Session. G. & T. H. Borden, Public Printers. 1836. Senate Journal: 1st Congress Second Session. Telegraph Power Press. 1838. House Journal: 1st Congress Regular Session. Telegraph Power Press. 1838. House Journal:1st Congress Second Session. Telegraph Power Press. 1838.