Draft:John Howell Burnett

John Howell Burnett (July 8, 1830 – June 24, 1901) was a state senator and soldier who founded the city of Pasadena, Texas.

Life
Born in Greene County, Tennessee, Burnett moved to Crockett, Texas in 1854 and became a farmer. In 1857 he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. From 1861 to 1862 he served on the Texas Senate before resigning to take command of the Thirteenth Texas Cavalry. He resigned from this position in 1864 citing illness and disability. He moved to Galveston, Texas in 1866 setting up the construction company John H. Burnett and Company with business partner W. B. Wall. The company built many buildings in Galveston and expanded the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway. The railway expansion led to the founding of Pasadena in 1893. Burnett passed away on June 24th, 1901.