SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 656          WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to   join the Harris County Historical Commission in celebrating the   dedication of an official Texas Historical Marker for the   Morse-Bragg Cemetery, which is taking place May 12, 2017; and          WHEREAS, Agur Tomlinson Morse and his wife, Grace Baldwin   Morse, left their cotton plantation in Mississippi and settled in   Texas in 1851; they established the Pleasant Bend plantation,   which eventually grew to encompass nearly eight square miles of   land; today, that area includes much of modern Houston's   Tanglewood, Post Oak-Galleria, River Oaks, West University   Place, and Southside Place neighborhoods; and          WHEREAS, Through the years, numerous additions were made   to the plantation, including a grist mill, a cotton gin, a steam   sawmill, and a cemetery; the cemetery was used from the early   1850s by the Morse family and the Pleasant Bend community; and          WHEREAS, The cemetery is the final resting place for many   of the early citizens of rural Harris County, including Thaddeus   Bell, the first male child born in Stephen F. Austin's colony,   several members of the African American Banks family, and   numerous Confederate veterans; the land was deeded in 1874 for   continued use by the Morse family with an additional section sold   to Benjamin A. Bragg; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th   Legislature, hereby commend the Harris County Historical   Commission on its commitment to preserving the area's heritage   and extend to its members best wishes for a memorable Texas   Historical Marker dedication for the Morse-Bragg Cemetery; and,   be it further          RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in   honor of this special occasion.     Huffman                 ________________________________          President of the Senate               I hereby certify that the     above Resolution was adopted by     the Senate on April 24, 2017.                 ________________________________          Secretary of the Senate                 ________________________________           Member, Texas Senate