Personnel Of The Texas State Government 1887
Jno. M. Claiborne

JNO. M. CLAIBORNE, a member of the Senate of Texas from the Tenth Senatorial district, composed of the counties of Galveston, Brazoria and Matagorda, was born in the State of Tennessee, February 27, 1839, came to Texas with his father, Colonel Phil. Claiborne, in the early part of the year 1846 and settled in Bastrop county, and was educated at the Bastrop Military Institute and at Baylor University, Independence, Texas. He read law with his father, with a view of practicing the profession, but abandoned the idea to go into commerce and farming, in both of which he is now engaged. Her served as clerk in the Comptroller's Office in 1860 and 1861; was both district and county clerk of Bastrop county since the war; was chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee for two years; was Aide-de-Camp on the staff of Governor Roberts for four years, and Major-General of the Texas Volunteer Guards for three years.

In 1861, at the breaking out of the late war between the States, he left the city of Austin as a private in company D, Terry's Texas Rangers, and was, in 1863, appointed adjutant of the regiment. In July, 1864, he was detached and placed in the secret service department by General John B. Hood, who, on December 14, 1864, promoted him for gallantry in front of Nashville, and recommended him to the War Department for an adjutant-generalcy of division with the rank of colonel. He participated in every battle fought by the Army of Tennessee, except while wounded, and bore the last order ever delivered to the lamented Claiborn, General Claiborn having been killed while the order was being delivered, at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, at 9:50 at night. He received three dangerous and two slight wounds, and lost in action, killed under him, four horses, had two wounded, two being killed in the one engagement at Farmington, Tennessee, 1864, thus speaking louder than words for his gallantry in battle. Yet, with one exception, he has had not personal difficulty since the close of the war.

General Claiborne's popularity is sustained by the overwhelming majority he received over all four of his competitors in his recent election, although from a district Republican by some 450 majority.

He is chairman of one, if not the most, important Senate committees, that of Commerce and Manufactures, and is second on Military Affairs.

General Claiborne is one of the straightest Democrats in the State, and is entirely in accord with the principles of the party.

General Claiborne married Miss Sue M. Phillips, of Kentucky, in 1865. They have three children, two sons, R. Sidney and Tom Jack, and one daughter, Hattie Overton.

General Claiborne has a taste for political and military life, and has manifested the peculiar ability of a successful one. He has a striking and attractive appearance, genial manners, and a bonus socius that admits him readily to the people, of whatever occupation or class. He is a man of great general intelligence, and an easy and fluent public speaker.

He is in the prime of his life, well known throughout the State, and has the best possibilities ahead of him, and, fortunately for him, he has the laudable ambition and enterprise to take advantage of all his splendid endowments, and is destined to make a conspicuous figure in the political and military history of Texas. His term of office is for four years.

General Claiborne's platform is, that the people are capable of self-government, and that this is "a government of the people, for the people; equal and exact justice; equal privileges to all; exclusive privileges to none."

Daniell, L. E. Personnel Of The Texas State Government 1887. Published by Press of the City Printing Company, Austin, Texas 1887. Page 70-72.