Born in New York, John Pettit Borden moved to Texas in 1829 and settled in Stephen F. Austin's second colony in 1832. During the Texas Revolution, he fought at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 and helped lay out the town of Houston that same year. At age 24, he became the first Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office. He later practiced law and served as County Judge. A surveyor before moving in 1866 to Harvey's Creek, 4 mi. east, he married twice and had 9 children by his second wife, Mary (Hatch).