RUNNELS, Hardin R., 

governor of Texas, was born in Mississippi. 
In 1841 he removed to Bowie county, Texas, 
where he started a cotton plantation. He 
represented his county in the state legislature, 
1847–55, being speaker of the house, 1853–54; 
was re-elected to the legislature in 1855, and 
owing to a strong Know-nothing agitation, 
was on short notice elected lieutenant-governor 
in the same year. He declined his seat in the 
legislature, served as lieutenant-governor, 
and in 1857 defeated Sam Houston for the 
governorship by a large majority. He was 
defeated by General Houston in 1859, and 
served in the secession convention of 1861 
and the constitutional convention of 1866. 
He died in Bowie county, Texas, in 1873. 

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