Austin Saw New Empire
San Antonio Express newspaper, Oct. 20, 1910, Thursday.Stephen F. Austin was the son of Moses and Mary Brown Austin and was born in Austinville, Wythe County, Virginia, November 3, 1793. In 1798 he moved with his parents to that part of the original Territory of Louisiana which now forms the State of Missouri. His primary schooling was obtained at St. Genevieve, Mo., and in 180 he was sent to Springfield, Conn., and placed under the instruction of a tutor, the Rev. Horace Holley. Later he pursued an advanced course in education at Cichester and New London, and in 1808 he sought collegiate training at Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky. Later spending two years in collage, Austin returned to Missouri and entered the lead mining and smelting business with his father.
Austin soon sought the preferment of public service and was elected to membership in the Territorial Legislature of Missouri in 1813, filling that responsible post for six years.
The great Texas colonization scheme which now continues with augmenting rapidity was conceived in the minds of Austin and his father in 1819, and in the same year they went to Arkansas to perfect their plans. Here they established a town which was named Little Rock by James Bryan, Austin's brother-in-law. Remaining in Arkansas for a time, Austin was in 1820 appointed one of the circuit judges by the territorial governor. Later in this year Austin went to New Orleans to make arrangements for aiding his father, who had proceeded him to Bexar, the colony which has blossomed into the metropolis of the Southwest in the municipal identity of San Antonio. June 18, 1821, he embarked from New Orleans to Texas in the steamboat Beaver.
Austin arrived in San Antonio August 12, 1821. The first important news he received upon reaching here was that Mexico had obtained its independence. He returned to Texas in December, 1821, with his first immigrants, and proceeded the next year to Mexico to have his colonization plans validated by the new government. Unsettled conditions in Mexico required his remaining there a year. On Austin's return to Texas in 1823 the town of San Felipe de Austin was established as the headquarters of the colony.
Austin next concerned himself with increasing his colony, and devoted his time during the years 1824, 1825 and 1826 to the perfecting of arrangements for the settlement of additional families to the 300 provided for in the original grant, sufficient to bring the total up to 1200. In 1827, besides his work in behalf of his colony, he devoted a great deal to time to the suppression of the Fredonian rebellion.
Austin left Texas June 1, 1833 for Mexico in the effort to have a burdensome decree of the Mexican government set aside and have Texas made a separate State. By December 10 he had measurably succeeded in this undertaking and he then turned his face again toward Texas. He was arrested, however, February 13, 1834. Returning hastily to Texas he prepared with the colonies to resist Mexican authority and preserve their rights. Austin became commander-in-chief of the Texas army in the war of independence, October 10, 1835.
In December, 1835, Austin was chosen to represent Texas before the United States as a commissioner, his selection having been made by the convention which formed the provisional government and declared principles of liberty and freedom.
Austin secured a loan of $250,000 in 1836 to aid Texas in its struggle for independence. Returning from this mission in July of the same year, Austin interested himself in the release of Santa Anna, who had been captured at San Jacinto after the battle by which Texas independence was accomplished.
In October, 1836, Austin and Smith were defeated for the presidency of the republic by General Sam Houston.
Austin died December 27, 1836. His body was conveyed to Peach Point by the steamer Yellowstone and buried there with appropriate honors.
Nearly 74 years later, October 19, 1910, the dust of Austin's body was disinterred and placed in the State Cemetery at Austin.
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