The David W. Breeding Family of Fayette County

Footprints

David and Sarah Davis Breeding and five of their sons, John, Richard Landy, Napoleon Bonaparte, Fidelio Sharp, and Benjamin Wilkens Breeding came to Texas from Christian County, Kentucky in late 1832 and early 1833. The family settled along Cummins Creek near present day Willow Springs. Before the end of 1833 David Breeding’s four young nephews joined the family after the death of David’s widowed brother. David and Sarah had a house full of youngsters who needed schooling but there were no schools in the colony. A log cabin on the Breeding homestead was used as a school house and a Mr. Rutland served as the teacher. David Breeding’s nephews attended as did the Alexander children, including Emily who later married Joel Robison. Jesse Burnam lived fifteen miles away across the Colorado River but brought his children to the school as well. He built a shed tent with a long bedstead for his daughters to sleep in while his sons slept under the trees.

Within two years of settling in Texas, the Breeding family found themselves in the middle of the Texas Revolution and four of the brothers served in the army in one way or another. Napoleon participated in the Siege of Bexar in December 1835 and he and John both served as Texas Rangers. Napoleon, John and Fidelio enlisted in the Texas Army but only Fidelio was on the battlefield at San Jacinto on April 21, 1846 serving under the command of Colonel Edward Burleson in the First Regiment, Texas Volunteers. Napoleon and John missed the battle because they were ill, possibly with the measles, and were detailed to guard the army camp. According to the pension application papers of Benjamin Breeding he served in the Texas Army and participated in an engagement at the Brazos River ferry crossing in San Felipe where a detachment of Santa Anna’s army was prevented from crossing the river. From there he was sent with his wagon team to help haul two cannons, the “Twin Sisters,” from Harrisburg to Sam Houston’s army. A few days before the battle he obtained a leave of absence so he could help his elderly parents and brother Richard flee during the Runaway Scrape.

Fayette County was created by an act of the Second Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837 and the Breeding family served their new government in one way or another.

David Breeding was a member of the first Board of Land Commissioners, responsible for granting land to settlers and soldiers. He also served as a juror during the first District Court session. He died on December 28, 1843 and Sarah followed him ten years later. Both are buried at the Breeding family cemetery, five miles northeast of Fayetteville.

John Breeding was elected to serve as the first Fayette County Sheriff on January 1, 1838 and received his 1/3 league of land two weeks later. The first county jail was a wooden structure but it was not sufficient to confine prisoners so Sheriff Breeding boarded the prisoners out to local residents at great expense to the fledgling county. Breeding served as sheriff until 1840 and then served under Colonel John Henry Moore on a three month campaign against the Comanche Indians. He married in 1842 and had eight children. He died 1869 and is buried alongside his parents in the Breeding Family Cemetery.

Richard Landy Breeding was paid by the Republic of Texas for hauling lead for the government during 1837. On February 2, 1838, he received 1/3 league of land in Fayette County from by the Board of Land Commissioners. He married in 1844 and had at least 12 children. He was in the mercantile business for many years and lived near the Breeding homestead until he moved to Hays County in 1877. He was the last member of the Breeding family to own his father’s, homestead which he sold in December 1877, reserving 1/2 acre referred to as the Breeding Family Grave yard.

Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding married Charlotte O’Bar on January 19, 1838 and it was the first recorded marriage in Fayette County. He also received his land grant of one league and one labor on his wedding day. N. B. Breeding served as juror during the first District Court session on October 22, 1838 and then as a member of the first Grand Jury. “Pole” Breeding was a member of the Snively Expedition in 1843. Napoleon and Charlotte had at least six children before he died in 1861.

Fidelio Sharp Breeding received two land grants for his military service to Texas during the revolution. In 1847 he sold his interest in his father’s estate to his brother Benjamin and joined the U.S. Army to serve in the Mexican War during 1848. Fidelio never married and died in 1849 in San Antonio while on his way to the California gold fields with his brother, Benjamin.

Benjamin Wilkens Breeding was only 16 years old when he participated in the Texas Revolution of 1836. His name appears on no official roster even though he did receive a land grant for his service and all the rest of his family participated. In 1840 he served alongside his brother John under Colonel John Henry Moore on a three month campaign against the Comanche Indians. In 1842 he participated in the campaigns against Vasquez and Woll. He served alongside his brother Napoleon as a member of the Snively Expedition in 1843. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Confederate Army. Benjamin married in 1852 and had seven children. He died in San Marcos in 1902.

Of Fayette

Fayette County is one of the most historic counties in Texas. In this weekly feature from the County Historical Commission, a rotating group of writers looks back at local history.