Histories

Reverend Peter Kuykendall: Originally, a Baptist, Peter Kuykendall came from a family who were pioneers in what they were proud to call 'the Restoration Movement," that is the Christian church, or Church of Christ. Peter was instrumental in establishing the Christian Church in the Cookeville, TN, during the great revival of the 1830's. During the 1840s, he and his brothers were instrumental in organizing an institution of higher learning at Spencer, TN, known as Burnette College. About February 1848, following a misunderstanding among school organizers, Peter and Prudence Terry Kuykendall left Tennessee, moving to Texas.

Van Zandt County Resident Peter and his wife arrived in Van Zandt County in February 1848. According to George Benson Kuykendall's 1919 book, History of the Kuykendall Family",

"Peter Kuykendall and wife Prudence, emigrated to Texas about the year 1848, and settled in Van Zandt County, and after a few years moved to Smith County and located near Garden Valley, Texas. Here their youngest son, William Kendrick was born. They lived there and in Van Zandt County until the death of Prudence his wife. He married the second time and lived in Rockwall County until his death. Peter Kuykendall was Christian preacher, and a fine Bible scholar, and did much good in the state of Texas. His first and second wives and all his children were members of the Christian church, none of them ever became drunkards, and only one became a slave to the tobacco habit."

Since Van Zandt County was created in 1848, the 1849 Tax Rolls provide a listing of county citizens at that time. Peter Kuykendall owned land there as evidenced by Land Grant Patent 1223 dated 08 Dec 1852 in Nacogdoches District/Class, Van Zandt CO, TX. Both Peter and Prudence (Terry) Kuykendall are listed in 1849 Van Zandt County Tax Rolls, and the 1850 United States Census as Van Zandt County, Texas residents. Both Peter and Prudence (Terry) Kuykendall are also listed in the 1860 United States Census (Van Zandt County, Texas) Film Number: 805307; DGS Number: 4297449; Image Number: 00026; NARA Number: M653; and the Van Zandt, TX 1850 Federal Census(REEL NO: M6351307 PAGE NO: 221B).

Van Zandt County Treasurer: At Van Zandt County's first elections, Peter Kuykendall was elected County Treasurer on the first Monday in August, 1848.

Peter Kuykendall Civil War service: 11th Regiment, Texas Infantry (Roberts'), Co. I.: - Private. The 11th Infantry Regiment was assembled at Houston, Texas, during the winter of 1861-1862. Many of the men were recruited in the towns of Clarksville, Henderson, and Marshall, and the counties of Cherokee and Shelby. It was assigned to the Army of New Mexico, then served in H. Randal's and Maclay's Brigade, Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit skirmished in Louisiana and lost 4 killed, 15 wounded, and 32 missing at Bayou Bourdeau. During the Red River Campaign, Company A with 3 officers and 42 men was captured. It moved to Arkansas, fought at Jenkins' Ferry, then was stationed at Shreveport, Louisiana, and later Hemstead, Texas, where it disbanded in May, 1865. The field officers were Colonels A. J. Coupland, James H. Jones, and O.M. Roberts, and Majors Nathaniel J. Caraway and Thomas H. Rountree.

Van Zandt County Relatives: One of Peter's sons was Elijah Robison Kuykendall, born in Tennessee Dec. 14, 1836. Elijah settled about five miles southwest from the present town of Grand Saline, TX. In 1862, he volunteered into the confederate service and served until the surrender, in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. He served in Co. E, 11th Regiment, Texas Infantry (Roberts'), under Capt. James M. Harrison, first as a private, then lieutenant. Elijah Robison Kuykendall is a well-documented Van Zandt County resident prior to 1860.