Freestone County, Texas
Biographies 




Biography of Beden Stroud


[Source: Biographical Directory of the Texan Conventions and Congresses: 1832-1845 
  Page: 176-177; Created by Texas Legislature. House of Representatives. October 
  1, 1941. ]

STROUD, Beden, a native of Georgia probably came to Texas soon after the Revolution. 
He first appears in 1838 as Senator for Milam and Robertson Counties at the Third 
Congress. At the Fourth and Fifth Congresses, 1839-41, he held the same position. 
He and his brother Ethan were Indian agents, living at Stroud's Station on the 
upper Brazos. Their station was a government trading station for commerce with 
the Indians, and for keeping in touch, and on friendly relations, with the various
tribes. Both Beden and Ethan rendered the Texas Government very valuable service 
in this connection. In his later life, Beden Stroud probably retired to his farm 
in Limestone County, the census of 1850 showing him to have been the owner of 
substantial property and livestock there. On November 20, 1854, he was still 
living on his farm in what had been, since 1850, Freestone County. He
signed at that time a document concerning the deceased Ethan's estate.
  No further material has been found. -See Williams-Barker, Writings of Sam 
Houston, III, 91, IV, 313; Johnson, Texas and Texans, IV, 1892; History of 
Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, 639-40; 
Public Debt Papers; Winkler, Secret Sessions of the Senate, 1836-45; Census 1850, 
Agricultural Schedule.

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Beden Stroud appears: 
   1844 census for Robertson County, TX. as 1 male over 45 years old and no others 
in the household.
   1850 census for Precinct 1 Limestone County on 243/243 as: 
Beden            Stroud     52 M    Farmer  $1,820    Georgia
Ruffeon?         Lawson     37 M    Farmer            North Carolina
   1850 slave schedule for Limestone County, Texas shows him with 38 slaves.
   1850 agricultural census shows him with 200 improved acres and 1940 unimproved
acres.
   [By 1851, his land is in the newly formed Freestone Co., TX. ] 
   A list of Jurors for the Commissioner's Court for February 1852? for Freestone 
Co., TX.
   The 1852-1858, 1860 tax assessment lists for Freestone Co., TX. 
   Juror lists for Freestone Co., TX. for 1853-56, 1858, 1860-61.
   The 1855 scholastic census for for Freestone Co., TX. with 3 school-age daughters:
Mary Delaney, Georgianna Delaney, Amanda Delaney        
      
Beden dies in 1865 at Pleasant Grove, Limestone Co., TX. Beden is probably in an 
unmarked grave in Freestone or Limestone Co., TX.  Maybe the Burr Oak Springs area 
or the Stroud family cemetery or on his land in Freestone County, Texas.