USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 56
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Becoming convinced finally that the bent of his mind was largely in favor of mechanical pursuits, he decided to move to Waco, secured a good loca- tion, and began the improvements necessary for a
foundry and machine shop and now has one of the largest and most complete establishments for machine, foundry, implement and general mechan- ical work in Central Texas. He is largely engaged in the manufacture of fronts for buildings and other structural castings, which he supplies not only to Waco, but to the surrounding towns. Recently he has begun the manufacture of cotton presses and intends in the near future to add the manufacture of other cotton machinery. At various times he has engaged in other business enterprises that have met with a fair degree of financial success and that have made his name familiar to the people of Central Texas.
He was married in September, 1850, to Miss Ellen M. Gunderson, a lady who came with his family to the United States. To them have been born five children : Caroline, now Mrs. F. W. Knight ; Mary, who was married to D. F. Durie; Lizzie, now Mrs. S. J. Smith; Oscar, who assists his father in his business; and Cora. In 1884 Mr. Canut- cson revisited his native land. He has con- ducted his business with a constant increase for over a quarter of a century without change of place or firm name. The success he has met with is the natural reward that follows bonesty of character, integrity of purpose, and a thorough knowledge of the occupation pursued. He is a citizen of sterling worth, a member of the Masonic fraternity and is highly respected by all who know him.
MOSES AND STEPHEN FULLER AUSTIN,
GALVESTON.
Moses Austin was a native of Connecticut. When but a youth he left the parental roof to seek his fortune in Philadelphia, and there, at the age of twenty, he married Miss Maria Brown. Shortly thereafter, in conjunction with his brother, Stephen, he established a commercial bouse in Richmond, Va., a branch of the importing house in Philadel- phia, of which the former was the head. The op- erations of the brothers were doubtless remunera- tive. Ere long they purebased the lead mines called " Chissel's Mines," on New river, Wythe County, Va. Moses, the younger brother, was placed in charge and at once commenced extensive mining and smelting operations.
Around the mines quite a village sprung up,
which was named Austinville, and there, November 3, 1793, was born Stephen Fuller Austin, the cel- ebrated Texian empresario and patriot. The Phil- adelphia and Richmond houses failed and the mining speculation was abandoned.
Hearing flattering accounts of the lead mines of upper Louisiana (now Missouri), Moses Austin procured the necessary passports from the Spanish Minister, visited that region, was highly pleased with it, and obtained in 1797, from Baron de Car- ondelet, Governor of the Provinces of Louisiana and Florida, a grant of one league of land, including the Mine-a-Burton, forty miles west of St. Genevieve. Closing all of his affairs in the United States, he removed his family, with a num-
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ber of others, from Wythe County, in 1799, to his new grant, and there in the wilderness laid the foundation of the settlement in what is now Wash- ington County, Mo. The early settlers of that county have borne ample testimony to his enter- prise, public spirit and unbounded hospitality. These admirable qualities are rarely found united with great prudence and sound judgment in financial matters; nor were they in the case of Moses Austin, the failure of the Bank of Missouri causing him serious pecuniary embarrassment. Once more he became involved, and, surrendering his property to bis creditors, he turned with una- bated ardor, in the decline of life, to a new and hazardous undertaking in the wilds of Texas.
In 1803 Louisiana was ceded by Spain to France, and, in the same year, by the latter to the United States, which government revived the old French claim of the Rio Grande as a boundary. But by the De Onis treaty in 1819 the question was settled, and the Sabine was made the boundary, and it was then that Moses Austin arranged his plans for au appli- cation to the government of Spain for a grant of land in Texas on which to locate a colony of Ameri- cans. As it was contemplated to bring the settlers through Arkansas Territory, Moses Austin so far anticipated matters as to send his son, Stephen, with some hands, to Long Prairie, near Red river, to open a farm there which might serve as a resting- place and provision depot for his trains of immigrants.
Having been told that the best way to lay his petition before the home government would be through the authorities of New Spain, as Mexico was then called, the elder Austin at once started for Bexar (now San Antonio), the capital of the Province of Texas.
But, before starting, it had been decided to aban- don the scheme of a farm at Long Prairie and to adopt for the future colonists the route through New Orleans by water to Texas. Accordingly, Stephen F. Austin, proceeded to that city to perfect arrangements for transportation, supplies, etc., while his father started, on horseback, on his tire- some and perilous journey across the vast prairies of Texas. It was early in December, 1820, that the elder Austin arrived in Bexar, the capital of Texas. On presenting himself to the Governor, he was not even allowed to explain the object of his visit, but was peremptorily ordered to leave the capital instantly, and the province as soon as he could get out of it, the Governor being very angry that he had violated the well-known Spanish law excluding foreigners, without specifie passports, from Spanish territory in the New World,
There was nothing left but to obey, and Austin, much dejected, withdrew, with as good graee as possible under the circumstances, from the Gov- ernor's mansion to prepare for his return home, when, in erossing the plaza, he had the good luck to meet the Baron de Bastrop, with whom many years previous he had become acquainted in Lower Louisiana. The Baron recognized his old friend, cordially embraced him, took him home with him, and was soon informed of all Austin's plans and troubles. It was the turning-point in the fortunes of the Austins; and that chance meeting on the plaza was pregnant with great events.
Baron de Bastrop was a gentleman of culture and refinement, and in high favor with the Governor ; and on the morrow, when he laid before that irate functionary the documentary proof that Austin had become a regularly naturalized Spanish subject in Lower Louisiana, in 1799, and stated that he was now lying in bed very ill from the effects of his pro- tracted journey, the order for his departure was countermanded and his memorial received. In a few days, thanks to the kind offices of De Bastrop, the intelligence and the pleasing address of Austin, the memorial asking permission to settle 300 fam- ilies in Texas was forwarded to the superior gov- ernment of the eastern internal provinces, in whose jurisdiction Texas was, strongly recommended by the local authorities of this province. Austin left Bexar in January, 1821, anxious to get home and complete his arrangements for moving to Texas as soon as he could hear of the success of his applica- tion. The journey was one which few would have ventured upon at that season of the year. Over the dreary wastes of the trackless prairie he took his course. Losing his way at times, swimming the creeks now swollen by the winter rains, rafting himself and horse across the rivers which he met, and suffering greatly from exposure and want of provisions, Austin, some time in the spring, reached the town of Nachitoches, La. From thence he pro- ceeded at once to Missouri, where he died soon after his arrival, his health having been completely shattered by the hardships undergone on his Texas trip. His last request was that his son, Stephen, should prosecute the enterprise which had been commenced at so costly a sacrifice. And never did filial piety execute more faithfully the dying injunc- tion of a revered parent.
The memorial of Moses Austin was approved by the supreme government of the eastern internal provinces of New Spain, at Monterey, on the 17th of January, 1821, and the Governor of Texas was at once informed of it. He thereupon dispatched Don Erasino Seguin (after whom the present town
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of Seguin is named), an influential citizen of Bexar, to the United States as a special commissioner for the purpose of communicating to Mr. Austin the result of his application, and of conducting the proposed immigrants into the country in a legal manner. Hearing of the arrival of the commissioner at Nachitoches, Stephen F. Austin hastened from New Orleans to that point, and soon after reaching it, learned for the first time of his father's death.
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Thus, in the twenty- eighth year of his age, the son, unknown, with limited means, with a heart crushed by a sore affliction, found resting upon him the weighty responsibility of an enterprise which nothing but the resources and influence of a pow- erful government seemed adequate to carry to a Austin now returned to New Orleans, and ad- dressed himself earnestly to the work of procuring colonists. Advertisements widely scattered made universal attention. successful issue. Was he fitted for the task? Let the testimony of that sturdy band which followed him into the wilderness reply. Did he meet his . the public acquainted with his project and attracted responsibilities in full? History has answered that question by inscribing upon its immortal pages as the unanimous verdict of his compeers : "Stephen F. Austin was the father of Texas." He who was to be the founder of a great State was no mere adven- turer, with rude manners and uneducated mind. On the contrary, he was cultivated and polished to a degree rarely seen in the Southwest in those days. When but eleven years old his father placed him at one of the best academies in Connecticut to be pre- pared for college ; and in his fifteenth year he was duly matriculated as a student in Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., an institution then of high reputation. Here he remained for several years and was distinguished among his fellow- students for his gentlemanly deportment, applica- tion and progress in studies. The next we hear of young Austin is in the year 1813, when we find him, at the age of twenty, representing Washington County in the Territorial Legislature of Missouri ( where he met Thomas II. Benton, whose friendship he retained through life), a position to which he was regularly returned until 1819, when he left the ter- ritory to open a farm at Long Prairie. He resided in the territory of Arkansas the greater portion of the years 1819-20, and while there was honored with the appointment of Circuit Judge. Thus he was unconsciously being prepared by a special training for the great work, which, all unknown to him, the future had in store.
Having resolved to accept the important trust which his dying father had bequeathed him, Austin, with seventeen companions, and accompanied by the Spanish Commissioner, set out on horseback for Bexar, where they arrived August 10, 1821. He was duly recognized as the legal representative of his father by the Governor, Don Antoino Martinez,
who received him most cordially. With the Gov- ernor's permission lie explored a large section of country on the lower Guadalupe, Colorado and Brazos rivers, and determined to locate his colony between the last two rivers. At the suggestion of the Governor, Austin now drew up the following plan for the distribution of land among the settlers : Each head of a family, and each single man, over age, was to receive 640 acres, 320 aeres in addition for the wife, should there be one, and 80 acres ad- ditional for each slave. This plan was approved by Governor Martinez, who commissioned Austin to take absolute control of the local government of the colony.
Applications to join the colony came in rapidly, but how was Austin, broken in fortune, to procure the means of transportation? Among the influential citizens of New Orleans was Joseph Hawkins, a lawyer, who came forward promptly and advanced the greater part of the needed funds for fitting out a vessel. He had confidence in the success of the enterprise because he had confidence in its head. Many years before the two men had been class- mates and fast friends at Transylvania University, and the friendship then formed endured through life. With the generous assistance of Hawkins a small schooner, the " Lively," was dispatched in November for Matagorda Bay. She had on board eighteen men and the provisions, arms, ammunition, farming implements, etc., necessary for the estab- lishment of an outpost in a new and savage country. But, as if some evil influence hovered around the fatal shores of the bay where perished, in 1698, the ill-starred colony of La Salle, the "Lively " failed to reach her destination, and was never heard of more. Another cargo sent by Hawkins, in 1822, was landed on the beach at the mouth of the Colorado, were it was plundered by the Carancahua Indians, and four men murdered. In the meantime, how- ever, Austin had arrived by land on the Brazos, in the last days of December, 1821, with the first immi- grants, and the new settlement was begun in what was then an entire wilderness. Accessions to the body of colonists followed ; the seed of a new civil- ization was newly planted, and notwithstanding its many mishaps, the settlement began to wear a thrifty aspect. It had been a terrible struggle, though, with the colonists. They suffered great privations, were without bread and salt, and were forced to subsist on wild game and wild horses, the latter the best
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food, being fat and very abundant. The Indians annoyed and robbed them and the settlers dared not punish their crimes nor their insolence.
It will be remembered that Moses Austin's grant had been made by the Spanish Government in Mex- ico. But on the 24th of February, 1821, the eele- brated "Plan of Iguala " was promulgated by Iturbide. It declared the independence of Mexico and was confirmed by the Mexican cortes ; so that the official acts of Martinez relative to the new settlement, dated August, 1821, were from a Gov- ernor of the independent Mexican nation, and not from a Spanish official. Hence it came about that when Stephen. F. Austin arrived at Bexar in the spring of 1822, to make his report to the Governor of the condition of the colony, he was informed by the latter that it was necessary for him to at once proceed to the city of Mexico and procure from the Congress, then in session, a confirmation of his father's grant, together with special instructions as to the distribution of land, issuing of titles, etc. Here was an embarrassing dilemma. His absence at this critical period was certain to cripple his col- ony - might destroy it; but were he to remain, he and his men would be without titles to their homes, which, with so much toil and suffering, they had won from the wilderness.
Austin's sense of duty quickly decided his course. Placing Mr. Josiah Barbell in charge of the colony, he started at once for Mexico, with one companion. After a perilous land journey of 1,200 miles, a great portion of it made on foot and dis- guised as a beggar, in ragged elothes and blankets, on account of the numerous banditti, he arrived safely in the capital on the 29th of April.
Owing to the revolutionary changes which rap- idly succeeded to each other, it was necessary for Austin to remain for more than a year in Mexico before the government became sufficiently stable to resume its legislative fuuctions. The time, how- ever, lost was not lost to him, as it enabled him to form many valuable friendships and acquaintances ; to perfect himself in the Spanish language, which he could not speak when he left Bexar; and to lay the foundation of that great influence which he ever exerted over the Mexican officials. Finally, on the 14th of April, 1823, the supreme executive power issued a decree confirming in full the previous grant to Austin, and on the 28th of the same month he set out for Texas.
Reaching Monterey, the capital of the eastern internal provinee, be presented a copy of his decree to the Commandant, Don Felipe de la Garza, and requested special instructions for the local govern- ment of the colony committed to his charge.
The provisional deputation of Nueva Leon, Coa- huila and Texas, was then in session; and the mat- ter being referred to it, it was deereed that Austin's authority, under the decree of the central government, was full and ample as to the admin- istration of justice and of the civil local government of the colony and the command of militia; that his grade as a militia officer should be Lieutenant-Colonel; that he could make war on the Indian tribes which were hostile, that he could introduce, by the harbor of Galves- ton, provisions, munitions, etc., needed for the infant settlement ; in short, that he should preserve good order and govern the colony in all civil, judi- cial and military matters, according to the best of his abilities and as justice might require, until the government . was otherwise organized. Never, before or since, in the history of this country, were such extensive powers conferred upon an Ameri- ican, and never has despotic power been less abused or used for less selfish purposes. Austin's civil administration of his colony is the brightest chaplet in his wreath of fame. It was not until July that the weary traveler reached his little eolony on the Brazos, where he was welcomed with every demon- stration of joy.
The colony had suffered sadly in his absence- Discontent bred disorders which scattered the col- onists. Some had left for the States, others moved into Eastern Texas, and many immigrants on the way to join the colony, frightened by the reports which reached them of Austin's failure to secure lands for his colonists, settled on the Sabine. His return and the happy issue of his mission restored at onee life and confidence to the settlement.
Don Luciano Garcia was now Governor of Texas, and on the 16th of July he appointed Moses Aus- tin's old friend, the Baron de Bastrop, to act as commissioner on the part of the government to take the necessary steps, in conjunction with Stephen F. Austin, to put the settlers in possession of their lands. On the 26th of the same month, the Governor, by an official act, gave the name of San Felipe de Austin to the town which was to be laid off as the capital of the new colony, saying that he wished to show his respeet for Col. Austin by uniting his name with the name of his own patron saint, San Felipe. Time has given the saint a decided advantage, for to-day that town bears the name of San Felipe only. Austin used jocu- larly to complain that he was near losing his right- ful name of Stephen in consequence of Don Luciano's compliment, for many persous supposed that the town had been called after the Colonel and, therefore, concluded that his name was Philip
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(Felipe), and he frequently received letters thus addressed.
Austin and Bastrop now commenced the dis- tribution of lands and the issuance of titles. The return of the Colonel bad so strengthened the en- terprise that the three hundred families authorized were duly settled. Upon the payment of the fees established by the Mexican Commissioner, titles were issued to the settlers. The whole expense on a league of land only amounted to $165. The lands selected were among the most productive in the State, the immigrants being scattered from the east bank of the Lavaca to the ridge dividing the waters of the San Jacinto and Trinity rivers, and from the old San Antonio road to the Gulf.
The greatest care was taken by Austin that the titles for all his settlers should be duly perfected under the Mexican law, and where immigrants were too poor to pay the legal fees he generally paid them himself, or procured eredit for them from the government. Without compensation, and with much labor he, in conjunction with Mr. Samuel M. Will- iams, whom he had appointed his private secretary, in 1824, copied into a large bound register or rec- ord book the land documents, title deeds, and de- crees relating to the colony. This record book, together with his land papers, are now in the land office at Austin. Austin's private papers, jour- nals, etc., a most valuable collection of historic documents, are now in the possession of his nephew, Hon. Guy M. Bryan, of Galvestou. The machinery for the civil government of the settlement was very simple. By consent of the Governor, the colony was divided into districts, each presided over by an alcalde, or justiee, elected by the settlers. To these alcaldes Anstin gave jurisdiction to $200, with an appeal to him as judge of the colony on all sums over $25. A code of provisional regulations in civil and criminal matters was also drawn up by him and approved by the Governor.
Stephen F. Austin was the first who ever ob- . tained permission to settle a colony in Texas; and, in the language of President Burnet, he was " thie only empresario who fully carried out his con- tracts with Mexico, and he labored sedulously in doing so."
The colonization law of the State of Texas and Coahuila, passed in 1825 in conformity with the enaetments of the national colonization law of 1824, opened the vacant lands of Texas to all persons who were desirous of becoming empresarios, or contractors, for the settlement of bodies of immi- grants, and who would comply with the require- ments of the law. Under this general act grants were made to many persons, among them Hayden,
Edwards, Leftwich, DeWitt, Milam, Burnet, and Velilein. Colonies were thus started in various parts of the State (but few of them introduced set- tlers, and none of them completed their contracts except DeWitt), and the Anglo-American popula- tion increased. But Austin was not idle.
In 1825 he contraeted to bring in 500 families, in 1827 one hundred families more, and in 1828 signed a eontract for three hundred families. By the gen- eral act referred to above, all settlers who were farmers were entitled to a labor of land, one hun- dred and seventy-seven acres ; all stock-raisers a sitio, or square league; and the empressarios were to receive as compensation, for each one hundred families, five leagues and five labors.
The letter of the law required that "the new settlers who present themselves for admission must prove their Christianity, morality and good habits by & certificate from the authorities where they formerly resided." The State required for each sitio or pasture land a payment of thirty dollars, and for each labor two and a half or three and a half dollars, according as the land was or was not capable of irrigation. Unmarried men were only allowed one fourth as much as married men were, but at marriage their full share was made up to them. And so as to encourage the more intimate fusion of the new element with the old, the adven- turous foreigner who would wed a senorita of the Mexican blood was compensated with an extra fourth. Austin's last contract was made in the name of Austin and Williams, in 1831, and embraced eight hundred families.
The foundations of a great State were now laid, and the career of the colony was one of uninter- rupted growth and prosperity in spite of the out- breaks in 1827 and 1832. In 1827, in cousequence of what is known as the Fredonian War, the inhab- itants of Eastern Texas would have been expelled from the country but for the earnest intervention of Austin in their behalf, with the political chief, Saucedo, who, after their leaders had retired beyond the Sabine, permitted them to remain undisturbed in their rights of person and property. In 1831 bodies of Mexican troops had been established at several points in Texas, and Col. Bradburn, at Anahuac (mouth of the Triuity), had arbitrarily displaced civil authorities and appointed others, and had imprisoned prominent citizens of that sec- tion, threatening to send them to Mexico for trial. This aroused the colonists, who captured all the posts and soldiers east of San Antonio. Santa Anna promptly dispatched Gen. Mexia with five armed ves- sels and troops to " suppress the rebellion." Austin was then attending the Legislature of Coahuila and
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Texas at Saltillo as member from Texas. When be heard what had taken place in Texas, he hastened to Matamoras, joined Gen. Mexia, with whom he was well acquainted, and sailed with him to the mouth of the Brazos for the express purpose of effecting somne amicable settlement of the whole affair. He now assumed the friendly office of mediator between the contending parties, and they, (the colonist) thus extricated themselves from the impending ruin by receiving the olive branch obtained by the influence, and passed to them through the hands, of Stephen F. Austin. Austin was welcomed back by the people with every demonstration of joy, with balls, speeches, firing of eannons, etc., at the mouth of the Brazos, Brazoria and especially at San Felipe. Six miles below the latter place he was met by a military company under Lieut. Day, and escorted into town, where he was received and addressed by William H. Jack in behalf of his fellow-citizens.
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