CORYELL, JAMES (1803-1837). James Coryell, for whom Coryell County was named, was born near West Union, Ohio, in 1803, the son of Lewis and Sarah (Voshall) Coryell. He left home at the age of eighteen and made his way to Texas. He was in San Antonio in 1831, when he joined James and Rezin P. Bowieqqv on an exploring expedition to the San Saba region in search of silver mines. After his return to San Antonio, Coryell went with Andrew Cavitt to a site near that of Marlin and made his home with the Cavitt family. In 1835 he explored the Leon River country and located his headright near the mouth of Coryell Creek in what is now Coryell County. During the spring and summer of 1836 he was a member of Sterling C. Robertson'sqv ranging company, and in the fall of 1836 he joined Capt. Thomas H. Barron'sqv company. On May 27, 1837, while encamped near the falls of the Brazos River, Coryell and three companions were raiding a bee tree a short distance from the camp when they were attacked by Indians. His companions escaped, but Coryell was shot and killed. His burial place is not known.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Zelma Scott, History of Coryell County (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1965).
Carolyn Hyman
