1718265

[byrne.ftw]
!James grew up in France and Belgium where he met his future wife,
Harriet Smith Odin, a relative of the first Catholic Bishop of Texas,
the Most Reverend John Mary Odin. In 1818 James immigrated to the
United States with his father's family. He bought and sold city real
estate in Cincinnati, Ohio. In his mercantile pursuits he acquired
three large wholesale houses: two in Cincinnati and one in New
Orleans in partnership with Thomas M. Sloo. He also established the
first line of river steamboats that ran up on the Ohio river. He was
caught in a financial crisis, as a result of which he turned over all
of his property to his creditors and decided to move to Texas. From
the beginning of his entry into Texas in 1834 or 35, Captain Byrne
seems to have lead a varied and interesting life. Hobart Huson in his
book on REFUGIO first refers to Byrne as a member of Fraser's Refugio
Militia. He also states the James W. Byrne was one of the members of
Capitan Fraser's Company who were saved after the Battle of Coleto
"upon the recommendation of Captain Carlos de la Garza". Captain
Byrne is listed by Huson as a minute man in "Power and Cameron's Spy
Company" which was organized in May or June 1836.