USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 15
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STEPHEN FULLER AUSTIN, who carried out the scheine of his father, Moses Austin, in the founding of what was known as the Aus- tin colony, was born November 3, 1793, at Austinville, Wythe county, Virginia, while his father was interested in lead mines there. In 1804 he was sent to Colehester Academy, in Connecticut, and a year afterward to an academy at New London, same State. At the age of fifteen he became a student at Transylvania University. in Kentucky, where he completed his education. When twenty years of age he was elected a member of the Territorial Legislature of Missouri, and was regularly re-elected until 1819, in which year he went to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was made Circuit Judge of that Territory. From there he removed to New Orleans, in order to co-operate with his father in the projected colonization selieme. On the death
of his father he determined to carry out the enterprise himself, in deference to the wishes of his deceased parent.
Stephen F. Austin was well adapted as a leader of settlers in an unknown country. In his childhood he had been innred to a front- ier life, and his broad intellectual capacity enabled him to utilize many lessons to be learned from the wild West. This, together with his legislative experience in Missouri, and experience as an executive of Territorial laws, enabled liim to be a good ruler, diplo- matist or commissioner. But as a military commander he had no ambition. As to his temper, he himself published that he was hasty and impetuous, and that he had forced upon himself a stringent discipline to pre- vent a fit of passion that might destroy his influence. In his disposition lie was open- hearted, unsnspeeting and aeeommodating almost to a fault. He was therefore often imposed upon, especially in the ininor de- mands of benevolence and justice in social life. He exeelled in a sense of equity, con- stancy, perseverance, fortitude, sagacity, pru- dence, patience under persecution, benevo- lence, forgiveness, etc.
He was never married. During the first years of his residence in Texas, his home was at the house of S. Castleman, on the Colorado. Later, when his brother-in-law, James F. Perry, removed to the colony, he lived, when in Texas, with his sister at Peaeh Point plantation, in Brazoria county. Besides this sister he had a younger brother, named James Brown Austin, who was well known in Texas.
COLONEL DAVID CROCKETT, one of the most original, typieal Western characters that ever lived, and the bravest hero of the Alamo, was born in east Tennessee, on the Nola Chucky river, at the mouth of Limestone
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creek, August 17, 1786, the son of John Crockett, of Irish descent, who participated in the American revolution for independence. David's grandparents were murdered by In- dians, one uncle wounded by them, and another captured. When about twelve years of age his father hired him out to a kind- hearted Dutchman in Virginia, several hun- dred miles distant, but he soon becaine home- sick, ran away, and, availing himself of the services of a man he knew, and who was passing through that section of the country withi a wagon, started home with him, but the wagon proved to be too slow in its progress for liis eagerness to reach home, and he left it and lastened along on foot.
But he was not home very long until he ran away from that, and after a time went to Baltimore to embark in a seafaring life, but the man who conveyed him to Baltimore in his wagon, concluding that the boy was too hasty, prevented him, by holding his cloth- ing and money, about $7; and the wagoner started back with liim in a homeward direc- tion, and young Crockett had to complete his journey home for the want of funds to go elsewhere. He remained with his father for some years, working on the farm and hunting, for he finally became as great a hunter as Daniel Boone himself. During this period, when about seventeen years of age, he " fell in love " with a young Quaker- ess and proposed marriage, but was refused, which event preyed upon his spirits. When about eighteen he was "smitten " by another girl, who at first agreed to marry him, and then jilted him; and this was worse than ever; he felt like committing suicide. Within a year or so, however, after this, he found still another young lady who agreed to marry him, and "stuek" to her bargain. Up to the time of his second proposal of
marriage he had had but four days' school- ing, and lie sometimes thought that it was his lack of education that caused the girls to despise him, and he managed to get a few months' schooling, and that was all he ever obtained in his life. After -marriage he moved to Lincoln county, and then to Frank- lin county, Tennessee.
The Creek war coming on, in 1813, Mr. Crockett enlisted in Captain Jones' company of mounted volunteers, and was engaged as a scout. Afterward, while a member of the main army, he participated in several engage- ments, and subsequently, under General Jack- son in the Florida campaign, he was commis- sioned colonel.
About the close of the Florida war his wife died; but he soon married a soldier's widow and emigrated to Shoal creek, where he had an amusing time endeavoring to serve as a justice of the peace. He was subsequently elected a member of the State legislature, despite his backwoods character, as he was a witty humorist. He made the campaign a characteristic one as a humorous, typically Western-pioneer electioneering canvass, which snited the tastes of the people of the time and place.
His next removal was to Obion, Tennessee, to a point seven miles distant from the near- est house, fifteen from the next, twenty from the next, and so on; but, being a passionate hunter, and living in a forest noisy with abundant game, he found it easy, the height of his life's pleasure, to keep his family sup- plied with fresh meat of the highest order, besides obtaining many Inxnries from a dis- tant market in exchange for peltry. He killed many a bear, one specimen weighing 600 pounds, and of course he had many hair- raising adventures and hairbreadth escapes with his life.
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Being again elected to the State legislature, as a Whig, he voted against General Jackson for United States senator, becoming a candi- date for the office hinself. After the ad- journment of this legislature he engaged in lumber speculation. Making a trip down the Mississippi with a splendid cargo of lumber, he was wrecked and lost all. In 1827 he was elected to Congress, and in 1829 re elected; bat, running the third time, he was defeated, his district having been gerrymandered to keep him out; and the fourth time a candi- date, he was again triumphant, but the fifth time he was beaten.
The last disapointment disgusted him, es- pecially after he had so great an ovation in northern cities, where everybody was running after him, more for his humor than learned statesmanship. This disgust with his fellow- citizens in Tennessee was the spur that incited him to think of a distant pioneer field, and he decided npou Texas, then a part of Mexico, struggling for independence. At Little Rock, Arkansas, on his way, he endeavored to enlist a number of assistants, but failed to obtain any volunteers. On arriving in Texas, how- ever, he succeeded in picking up four or five attachés, and soon had a scrimmage with some fifteen Mexicans, and of course whipped them out completely. Giving the fugitives chase they soon arrived at the fortress Alamo, com- manded by Colonel William B. Travis. This was situated at the town of Bejar (now San Antonio), on the San Antonio river, about 140 miles from its month. At that time it had about 1,200 inhabitants, nearly all native Mexicans, but was afterward greatly reduced by Indian depredations. It was started by the Spaniards establishing a military post at that point in 1718, the village actually start- ing three years later, by emigrants sent out from the Canary islands by the king of Spain.
Colonel " Davy " Crockett kept notes, as a foundation for an autobiography, and they end with his death in the Alamo fortress, March 5, 1836.
General Castrillon, commanding under Santa Anna, as a besieger of the fort, was a brave man, but not cruel toward prisoners. Crockett's life had just been spared from the first massacre, with five others; and Castrillon marched these fated six patriots up to that part of the fort where stood Santa Anna and his murderous crew. The steady, fearless step and undaunted tread of Colonel Crockett on this occasion, together with the bold de- mneanor of the hardy veteran, had a powerful effect upon all present. Nothing daunted, he marched up boldly in front of Santa An- na and looked him sternly in the face, while Castrillon addressed "his excellency," " Sir, here are six prisoners I have taken alive: how shall I dispose of them ?" Santa Anna looked at Castrillon fiercely, flew into a violent rage and replied, " Have I not told you before how to dispose of them? Why do you bring them to me?" At the same time his hard-hearted officers plunged their swords into the bosoms of the defenceless prisoners! Crockett, seeing the act of treachery, instantly sprang like a tiger at the ruffian chief, but before he could reach him a dozen swords were sheathed in his indomitable heart, and he fell and died with- ont a groan, with a frown on his brow and a smile of scorn and defiance on his lips!
GENERAL SAM HOUSTON, the father of Texas, was born in Rockbridge county, Vir- ginia, March 2, 1793. Left an orphan in early life by the death of his father, he went with his mother, in destitute circuinstances, to Tennessee, then the verge of civilization. There he received a scanty education, spend- ing most of his youthful years among the Cherokee Indians. During a portion of this
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period he served as elerk for one of the trad- ers, and also taught a country school.
In 1813 he enlisted as a private in the United States Army, and served under Gen- eral Jackson in his famous campaign against the Creek Indians. He had so distinguished himself on several occasions that at the con- clusion of the war he had risen to the rank of lieutenant, but on the return of peace he re- signed his 'commission in the army and be- gau the study of law at Nashville. Ilis po- litical career now commenced. After hold- ing several minor offices he was sent to Con- gress from Tennessee in 1823, and continued a member of the House until 1827, when he was elected governor of the State, but before the expiration of his term he resigned that office, in 1829, and went to Arkansas and took up his abode among the Cherokees. Soon lie became the agent of the tribe, to represent their interests at Washington.
placed in jeopardy the independence of Texas. and because he scorned to resent with brute force the abuse that was heaped upon him by political and personal enemies seeking his blood.
In October, 1836, our hero was inaugn- rated the first president of the new Repub- lic of Texas, and afterward served as the chief executive in this realm twice, besides acting in many other capacities. On the breaking out of the great Civil war he was a strong Union man, but the excited Texans had nearly all espoused disunion principles, and Houston was forced to retire from public life. He died July 25, 1863, at Huntsville, Walker county, Texas, after having witnessed for some years, with a broken spirit, the wild rush of the Sonth for a goal that she could not obtain, and suffering in his own person physical ailments and general declining health. His last days were embittered by the fact that even his own son, Sam, had en- listed early in the Confederate ranks, and had been wounded and was a prisoner.
On a first visit to Texas, just before the election of delegates called here to form a constitution preparatory to the admission of Texas into the Mexican Union, he was Houston was a remarkable man. This fact has frequently been illustrated in the forego- ing pages. He was a better and a more ca- pable man than George Washington. His greatest failings were vanity and its com- panion, jealousy. He also caused some en- mity by his inclination to clothe himself and his movements in a robe of mystery, but whether this was a natural trait involuntarily exhibited or a habit intentionally exercised, is itself a problem. Mistakes, of course, he made. The sun has its spots. But these mistakes were more in the direction of giv- ing offense to his opponents than in the ad- ministration of public affairs. All person- ality was merged into altruistic patriotism. IIe had hard men to deal with, and these nnanimously chosen a delegate to that body. The constitution framned by that convention was rejected by the Mexican government. Santa Anna, president of the Mexican Con- federated Republic, demanded of Texas a surrender of their arins. Resistance to this demand was determined upon. A military force was organized, and Houston, under the title of general, was soon appointed. com- mander-in-chief. He conducted the war with great vigor, and brought it to a suc- cessful termination by the battle of San Ja- cinto. ITis enemies had accusel him of cowardice, because he had the firmness not to yield to hiot-headed individuals, who would have driven him, if they could, to engage Santa Anna prematurely, and thereby have ! men, of course, " knew" they could do bet-
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ter than he. His military strategy was ex- traordinary. The instances are too numerous to mention here. The reader will have to consult nearly half the pages of Texas history to discover them all. His intuitive quick- ness of perception, his foresight and far- reaching mental grasp, his penetration and ready comprehension of the drift of parties, and his sagacity and tact in devising means for the attainment of specific ends, were in- deed exceptional. In self-possession and con- fidence in his own resources he was unrivaled ; his influence among the masses was extraor- dinary, and as a speaker his power over a Texan andience was magieal.
As president of the Republic his adminis- tration was marked by economy, by a pacific poliey toward the Indians, and by a defensive attitude toward Mexico. Ile would rather feed Indians than kill them; he was ever ready to ward off threatened invasion and adopt protective measures against predatory inenrsions on the frontier, but not organize such undertakings as the Santa Fe expedition; and such an enterprise as the one attempted by Colonel Fisher and his followers in their attack on Mier was never contemplated by him.
In the Senate of the United States, where he represented Texas for nearly fourteen years, he was persistently conservative and democratic. Ile voted against the extension of the Missonri compromise line to the Pa- citie coast, and thereby favored free territory south of that parallel; he voted for the Ore- gon Territorial bill with the slavery exclusion clause, and he voted against the Kansas- Ne- braska bill of Stephen A. Douglas, thereby favoring free territory where the Missouri compromise had fixed it, and by this last act he inenrred the displeasure of his Southern adherents more than by anything else he had
ever done. He also became identified with the " Know-Nothing " party, and by this means also alienated many of his old Demo- eratie friends. But who can gnard the rights of the righteons withont ineurring the dis- pleasure of the nurighteous? For the iguor- ant, the hasty and the iniquitous will not only promulgate falsehoods, but even truths in such a way as to turn friends into enemies. Gossip, especially in haste, will unavoidably distort everything.
The following is one of the numerous in- stances illustrating the hmmnor as well as the sternness of character of that eminent states- man:
In 1860, while IIonston was governor of Texas, an expedition was fitted out for frontier protection. In the purchase of medieal sup- plies, the governor gave strict orders that no liqnor should be included, under penalty of his serions displeasure. In the requisition for medical stores made by Dr. T-, surgeon of the regiment, were included, "Spts. Vini Gallici, bottles 24. " This was duly furnished with the other artieles, and the bill was taken to General Houston for his approval. The old gentleman settled his spectacles upon his nose, and, gravely putting his eagle quill be- hind his ear, read the bill through slowly and carefully until he came to the item in ques- tion, when he turned to the druggist and said: " Mr. B-, what is this,-Spts. Vini Gallici?" " That, General, is brandy. " " Ah, yes! and do yon know that I have given posi- tive orders that no liquor should be furnished for this expedition ?" " No, General; I was not aware of it. "
The general rang his bell. " Call Dr. T -. " The doctor was summoned. "Dr. T-, what is this 'Spts. Vini Gallici' for?" "That. Governor, is for snake-bites." Appealing to the druggist the governor continued, "Mr.
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B-, is Spts. Vini Gallici good for snake- bites?" "Yes, sir; it is so considered." "Yes", replied General Houston, in slow and meas- ured tones; " and there is Dr. T-, who would cheerfully consent to be bitten by a rattle- suake every morning before breakfast in order to obtain a drink of this Spts. Vini Gallici!" Having thins delivered himself, he approved the acconnt.
In private life Mr. Houston was affable and courteous, kind and generous. When thwarted, however, he became harsh and sometimes vindictive. He never failed to repay with compound interest, sooner or later, any insinnation or coarse attack; and those who crossed his political pathway were chas- tised with a scathing invective which they never forgot. Acts of friendship and enmity were equally retained in his memory, and met with corresponding return. Majestic in person, of commanding presence and noble countenance, he was a striking figure. Sorrow for the miseries of his country, poverty in his household and a broken-down constitu- tion, saddened his later days. So straitened were his means that his family were often stinted for the necessaries of life! He was married the second time, and at his death left a widow and seven children, all under age.
LORENZO DE ZAVALA, a prominent champion of Texan freedom, was born in Merida, Ynca- tan, in 1781, where he was educated and practiced as a physician till 1820, when he was elected deputy to the Spanish Cortes. On his return he was first made depnty and then senator in the Mexican congress. In March, 1827, he was governor of the State of Mexico, which office he held until the revolution of Jalapa in 1830, which forced him to leave the country. In 1833 he was again elected to congress, and also governor of the State of Mexico, the house passing a unanimous
resolution permitting him to hold both posi- tions. During the following year he was ap- pointed minister to France. but as soon as lie saw the direction toward centralism which the party in power was taking he resigned that position. He was too liberal a republi- can and too honest in his principles to take part in the overthrow of the federal constitu- tion. He served his country faithfully, but ou his retirement to Texas he was stigmatized as a traitor and vagabond. March 6, 1829, he acquired a grant in Texas, contracting to colo- nize it with 500 families. He was one of three commissioners to represent Texas and Coahuila at the Mexican government in 1834; signed the declaration of independence; was the second vice president of the Texan Re- public; and was entrusted with many other important public matters. He died at Lynch- burg, Texas, November 15, 1836.
Of WILLIAM B. TRAVIS, a Texan patriot in the early times of strife and feud, compara- tively little is known. His name figures oc- casionally in the previous history in this volume, his career winding up at the terrible battle of the Alamo, where he was killed early in that short tight. The capital county of Texas is named in his honor.
RICHARD B. ELLIS, after whom Ellis connty is named, lived in one of the disputed set- tlements in the Red river conntry. He was a prominent citizen and represented his municipality in the convention of 1836, being president of that body. He died in 1840. Doubt existing as to which goverment his section belonged, to be certain of representa- tion somewhere, his son, who lived in the same house with him, was elected to the leg- islature of Arkansas as a citizen of Miller county, of that State, and accepted.
JAMES BOWIE, brother of the gentleman who invented the " bowie knife, " was a na-
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tive of Georgia. While Lafitte ocenpied Galveston, the three brothers, James, Rezin l'. and John, engaged in bnying negroes of Lafitte's men, conducting them through the swamps of Louisiana for sale. They are said to have made $65,000 by this traffic. James Bowie was connected with Long's expedition in 1819. In October, 1830, he became a naturalized citizen of Saltillo, and soon after married a daughter of Vice Governor Vera- mendi, of San Antonio de Bejar. November 2, 1831, he fought a remarkable battle with Indians on the San Saba river, in which, with his brother Rezin, nine other Americans and two negroes, lie defeated 164 Telinacanas and Caddoes, the Indians losing nearly half their number, while the Anglo-Texans had only one man killed and three wounded! When hostilities broke out he attached himself to the Texan cause. A county in this State is named in his honor.
REZIN (or RAZIN) P. BOWIE, first made a new style of knife, which was nsed in con- bat by his brother, Colonel James Bowie, and it has since been improved npon from time to time by eutlers and dealers.
STEPHEN M. BLOUNT, who was in 1888 the oldest living survivor of the signers of the declaration of Texan independence, was a na- tive of Georgia, born February 13, 1808, and moved to Texas in July, 1835, settling at San Angustine. In 1836 he was elected a member of the convention that declared the independence of Texas, and nominated Gen- eral Houston for commander-in-chief of the Texan forces. Blount was a close personal friend of Houston, whom he always after- ward regarded as a grand man. In 1837 Blount was elected clerk of San Augustine county, and held that position four years. His whole life has been one of activity. Prior to his emigration to Texas he served in
several official capacities in his native State. He was colonel of the Eighth Regiment of Georgia militia, and was aide-de-camp to military generals in 1832-'34.
COLONEL JAMES W. FANNIN participated in the battle of Conception in October, 1835; was stationed in command at Velasco directly afterward; appointed military agent early in 1846 to raise and concentrate all volunteers who were willing to take part in an expedi- tion against Matamoras; assisted in the de- fence of Goliad early in 1837, but made a fatal mistake and was defeated. He was a brave and intrepid officer, but somewhat deficient in cantion. He was inclined to underestimate the force of the Mexicans, was with his men taken prisoners, and as such massacred, with over 300 others!
MIRABEAU B. LAMAR was appointed secre- tary of war in 1836 for the new republic, and as such was strongly opposed to entering into negotiations with Santa Anna; was ap- pointed major general of the Texan army, in 1836, but his hasty advice cansed him to be unpopular among his men, and he was in- dneed to retire; was the same year elected vice-president of the republic; was left in command of the general government by President Honston, who left the executive office for the seat of war; elected president in 1838; advised in his inangural address "extermination or extinction" of the Indians; encouraged the Santa Fe expedition, which proved so disastrous; and on the whole he was a rather unfortunate "statesman." His ad- ministration as governor, etc., was extrav- agant financially, and many of his measures demoralizing.
JOSE ANTONIO NAVARRO, in whose honor Navarro county was named, was born in San Antonio de Bejar, February 27, 1795, his father being a native of Corsica and an off-
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eer in the Spanish army. Ile was a stanch Federalist and a foe to military depotism. In 1834-'35 Navarro was a land commissioner for Bejar district; a member of the conven- tion in 1836; and a member of the congress in 1838-'39. He was condemned by Santa Anna to imprisonment for life, though during his captivity he was several times offered pardon, liberty and high office if he would abjure his native country, Texas, forever. These propositions were rejected with scorn.
In December, 1844. just before the fall of Santa Anna, he was removed from San Juan de Ulua and allowed to remain a prisoner at large in Vera Cruz, whenee he escaped Jann- ary 2, arriving at Galveston February 3, 1845, after an absence of more than three years and a half. On his return he was elected delegate to the convention held that year to decide npon the question of annexation, and was afterward senator from Bejar district in the State congress. He died in his native city in 1870.
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