History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 15

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Texas > Harris County > Houston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 15
USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 15

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Bean's many friends in Chihuahua soon obtained for him again the freedom of the city, and he made a second effort to escape, but was again taken. He was this time sent under a strong guard to the south of the city of Mexico. On their way they came to the city of Guanajuato, where they remained several days; and while there, Bean's noble and manly bearing won the heart of a beautiful Mexicnn señorita of rank, who wrote a letter to him avowing her passion, and promising her infinence to ob- tain his liberation, when she would marry him; but he was hurried uway and never per-

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mitted again to see her. Poor Bean was next conveyed to Acapulco, one of the most sickly places on the Pacific, and thrown into a filthy dungeon, where no ray of the light of heaven penetrated, and the only air admitted was through an aperture in the base of the mas. Five wall, which was six feet thick! In this foul abode his body was covered with vermin; no one was allowed to see him, and his food was of the coursest and most unhealthy kind. In his confinement his only companion was a white lizard, which he succeeded in taming, and which became very fond of him. The only air hole had to be closed at night, to prevent ingress of serpents. One night, having neglected to close it, he was awakened by the crawling of a monstrous serpent over his body. His presence of mind enabled him to lie perfectly still, until, getting hold of a poeket-knife which he had been able to keep concealed upon his person, he pierced the monster in the head and escaped his fangs. This exploit so astonished the keeper of the prison that by his influence a petition was sent to the governor for a mitigation of his confinement; and that dignitary graciously docreed that he might work in chains, and under a guard of soldiers. Even this was a relieť.

While thus engaged his desire for freedom again overcame his prudence. He sueccoded in freeing himself from his shackles, and with a piece of iron killed three of the guard and fled to the mountains. Again he was hunted down and recaptured, nearly starved. His cell now became his only abode, and flogging and other indignities were heaped upon him. Another year passed and he was again al- lowed the liberty of the prison yard, under strict surveillance.

Once more he made a desperate attempt to escape, killing several soldiers and taking the

road to California. This time he had traveled 300 miles, when he was once more recaptured and carried back. He was now confined upon his back, and for weeks was alnost devoured by vermin! Ilis appeals for mercy were treated with mockery. But his freedom drew nigh. The Mexican revolution of 1810 broke out. The royalists became alamined. They had learned to look upon Bean as a chained lion, and now, in the hour of their trouble, they offered him liberty if he would join their standard. He promised, secretly determin- ing that he would desort the first opportunity. In a few days he was sent out with a scout to reconnoitre the position of General More- los, the chief of the republicans. When near the camp of that officer, Bean proposed to his comrades that they should ali join the pa- triots. His persuavive eloquence was so successful that they all agreed, and at once reported to Morelos.

Upon the information Bean was able to give, an attack was planned and executed against the royalists, resulting in a complete victory. For this Bean received a captain's commission, and his fame spread like a prairie fire throughout Mexico. For three years he was the chief reliance of Morelos, and when he fought victory followed. He was soon conducted, with flying banners, into the town of Acapulco, the scene of his sufferings. The wretches who had persecuted him now on bended knees begged for mercy, expecting nothing but instant death. But Bean scorned to avenge his wrongs upon them, and dis- missed them with warnings as to their future conduct.

Three years later it was agreed that he should go to New Orleans and obtain aid for the republicans of Mexico. With two com- panions, he made his way across the country. On the route, while stopping a few days at

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Jalapa, Mexico, he became suddenly and vio- lently enamored of a beautiful lady and mar- · ried her, promising that he would return to her after accomplishing his mission. After various adventures he reached New Orleans, two days before the memorable battleof Jan- nary 8, 1815. He at once volunteered as aid . to General Jackson, whom he had known when a boy, and he fought bravely in that decisive action.

He afterward returned to Mexico and joined his wife, with whom he lived happily many years. In 1827, when the Fredonia war broke out at Nacogdoches, Texas, he was colonel commanding the Mexican garrison at that place. In 1835 he returned to Jalapa, Mexico. In 1843 he was still living in Mex- ico, as an officer on the retired list of the army of that nation, A volume containing an account of his almost fabulous adventures was written by himself in 1817, and pub- lished soon afterward.

STEPHEN FULLER AUSTIN, who carried out the scheme of his father, Moses Austin, in the founding of what was known as the Ans- 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 Colchester Academy, in Connecticut, and a year afterward to mi nendemy nt New London, same Stato. At the age of fifteen he hoenme a student nt 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 scheme. On the death

of his father he determined to carry out the enterprise himself, in deference to the wishes of his doceased parent.

Steplien 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 le sons to be learned from the wild West. This, together with his legislative experience in Missouri. and experience as an executive of Territorial laws, enabled him to be a good ruler, diplo- matist or commissioner. But as a military connnander 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 he was open- hearted, unsuspecting. and accommodating almost to a fault. lle was therefore often inaposed npon, especially in the minor de- minds of benevolence and justice in social life. Ile excelled in a sense of equity, con- stancy, perseverance, fortitude, sagacity, prn. 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. Inter, when his brother-in-law, James F. Perry, removed to the colony, he lived, when in Texas, with his sister at Peach 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, typical 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 Linestone

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creek, August 17, 1786, the son of John Crockett, of Irish descent, who participated in the American revolution for independenec. David's grandparents wore murdered by In- dians, one unele wounded by them, and mother captured. When about twelve years of age his father hired him ont to a kind. hearted Dutchman in Virginia, several hun- died miles distant, but he soon became 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 with a wagon, started home with him, but the wagon proved to be too slow in its progress for his eagerness to rench home, and he left it and hustoned nlong 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 und money, about $7; and the wagoner started back with him in a homeward direc- tion, and young Crockett had to complete his journey home for the want of funds to go elsewhere. Ile 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 uge, ho " fell in love " with a young Quaker- ess and proposed marriage, but was refused, which event preyed upon his spirits. When ahont eighteen he was "smitten " by another girl, who at first agreed to marry him, and thon jilted him; and this was worse than ever; he felt like committing snicide. Within a year or so, however, after this, he found still another young lady who agreed to marry him, and " stuck" to hor bargain. Up to the time of his second proposal of

marriage he had had bnt four days' school- ing, and ho sometimes thought that it was his lack of education that cansod the girls to despise him, and he managed to get a few months' schooling, and that was all he ever obtained in his life. Aftor marriage he moved to Lincoln connty, and then to Frank- lin connty, Tennossee.

The Creek war coming on, in 1813, Mr. Crockett enlisted in Captain Jones' company of mounted volunteers, and was engaged as a scont. Afterward, while a member of the . inain 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.

Ilis 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 luxuries from a dis- tant market in exchange for peltry. killed many a bear, one specimen weighing 600 pounds, and of course he had many hair- raising adventures and huirbreadth escapes with his life.

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Boing again elected to the Stato legislature, as a Whig, he voto I against General Jackson for United States senator, becoming a candi- date for tho oflico himself. 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; but, running the third time, he was defeated, his district having been gerrymanderod to keep him out; and the fourth time a eandi- 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 statestnanship. This disgust with his fellow- citizens in Tennessee was the spur that incited him to think of a distant pioneer field, and he decided upon Texas, theu a part of Mexico, struggling for independence. At Little Rock, Arkansas, on his way, he endeavorod to enlist a number of assistants, but failed to obtain auy volunteers. Ou arriving in Texas, how- ever, he succeeded in picking up four or five attachés, and soon hal a scrimmage with some fifteen Mexicans, and of course whipped them out completely. Giving the fugitives chase they soon arrived at the fortress Alamo, con- mandod 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 ubont 1,200 inhabitants, nourly 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 inan, but not eruel toward prisoners. Crockett's life had just been spared from the first massacre, with five others; and Castrillon marehed these fated six patriots up to that part of the fort where stood Santa Anna and his murderons crew. The steady, fearless step and undaunted tread of Colonel Crockett on this occasion, together with the bold de- meanor of the hardy veteran, had a powerful effect upon all prosent. Nothing daunted, he marched up boldly in front of Santa An- na and looked him sternly in the face, while Castrillon addressed " his excelleney," "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 aet 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 Roekbridge 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 cireninstances, to Tennessee, then the verge of civilization. There he received a seanty 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 clerk 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 soveral occasions that at the con- clusion of the war he had risen to the rank of lientenant, but on the return of peace he re- signed his commission in the army and be- gan the study of law at Nashville. His po- litical enreer now commeneed. After hold- ing several minor offices he was sent to Con- gress from Tonnessoe 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 he became the ngent of the tribe, to represent their interests at Washington.

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 unanimously chosen a delegate to that body. The constitution framed 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 arms. Resistance to this demand was determined upon. A military force was organized, and Honston, under the title of general, was soon appointed com- mander-in-chief. He conducted the war with great vigor, and brought it to a snc- cessful termination by the battle of San Ja- cinto. Ilis enemies had accused him of cowardice, because he had the firinness not , to yield to hot-headed individuals, who would have driven him, if they could, to engage Santa Anna prematurely, and thereby have

place l in jeopardy the independence of Texas, and because he scorned to resent withi brute force the abuse that was heaped upon him by political and. personal enemies seeking his blood.

In October, 1836, our hero was inangu- rated the first president of the new Repub- lie 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 esponsed disnuion principles, and Houston was forcel to retire from public life. Ile died July 25, 1863, at Huntsville, Walker county, Texas, after having witnessed for some years, with a broken spirit, the wild rush of the South for a goal that she could not obtain, and suffering in his own person physical ailinents 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.

Ilouston 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 inade. 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 patriotismn.

IIe had hard men to deal with, and these meu, of course, " knew" they could do bet-

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ter than he. ITis 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 diseover them all. llis 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 audience was magieal.

As president of the Republic his adminis- tration was marked by economy, by a pacitic policy 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 ineursione 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 democratie. Ile voted against the extension of the Missouri compromiso line to the Pa- cific 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 incurred 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 guard the righte of the righteous without incurring the dis- pleasure of the unrighteous? For the ignor- ant, the hasty and the iniquitons 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 humor as well as the sternness of character of that eminent states- man :

In 1860, while Houston was governor of Texas, an expedition was fitted out for frontier protection. In the purchase of medical sup- plies, the governor gave strict orders that no liqnor should be included, under penalty of his serious displeasure. In the requisition for . medical stores made by Dr. T-, surgeon of the regiment, were included, "Spts. Vini Galliei, bottles 24. " This was duly furnished with the other articles, 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, yesl and do you 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 Ilonston, in slow and meas- ured tones; " and there is Dr. T-, who would cheerfully consent to be bitten by a rattle- snake every morning before breakfast in order to obtain a drink of this Spts. Vini Galliei!" Having thus delivered himself, he approved the aceonnt.

In private life Mr. Houston wns affable and courteous, kind and generous. When thwarted, however, he became harsh and sometimes vindietivo. He never failed to repay with compound interest, sooner or later, any insinnation or coarse attack; and those who crossed his political pathway were ehas- tised with a scathing invective which they never forgot. Aets of friendship and emity were equally retained in his memory, and met with corresponding return. Majestic in person, of commanding presence and noble countenance, he was n striking figure. Sorrow for the miseries of his country, poverty in his household and a broken-down eonstitu- 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, Yuca- 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 deputy and then senator in the Mexican congress. In March, 1827, he was governor of the State of Moxieo, 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 manimons

resolution permitting him to hold both posi- tions. During the following year he was ap- pointed minister to France, but as soon as he 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. Ile served his country faithfully, but on his retirement to Texas he was stigmatized as a traitor and vagabond. Mareli 6, 1829, he acquired n grant in Texas, contraeting to eolo- nize it with 500 families. Ile 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. Ile died at Lyneh- burg, Texas, November 15, 1836.

Of WILLIAM B. TRAVIS, a Texan patriot in the early times of strife and feud, eompara- tively little is known. His name figures oc- easionally 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 fight. The capital eounty of Texas is named in his honor.

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Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895 Number of Pages: 1532

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532