WHAT DO YOU KNOW about Stephen F. Austin?

September 3, 2020 Stephen F. Austin was an entrepeneur and a diplomat, a cut above the public figures on the frontier both in education and political instinct. He took up his late father's (1) work as a land developer in Texas. He attempted to work with the Mexican government, and did with some success, until Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. A few years later the village of Waterloo was renamed after Stephen F. Austin who became the new nation's first Secretary of State. Spanish missionaries were the first white men attempting unsuccessfully to deal with the Native American tribes. Austin made treaties with the friendlier eastern tribes in Texas. The Karankawa Indians along the east Texas coast killed many colonists so militias were formed to drive the threat away. Spain accepted Mexican Independence from Spain in 1821. Mexicans living in Coahuila y Tejas, called Tejnos, settled north of the Rio Grande River, mostly around and in San Antonio de Bexar. It was 1832 when the government of Mexico granted Stephen F. Austin its first legal colonaization, settling 300 families near the mouth of the Brazos River. The Aglos were called Texians(2) and known as "the Old Three Hundred." Austin was away two years, taveling to Meico City to argue for rights expected by his American colonists. Waiting many weeks to meet with President Santa Ana, he finally was granted most of his requests. However Santa Ana refused the colony's plea for self-government. While traveling home, Stephen Austin was arrested. His letter, critical of his time in Mexico City was intercepted and he was taken back and put into prison. Mexican governmenrt officials did not trust Americans and migrants to Texas. Likewise the Texians did not appreciate the ways of the Mexicans. They wanted the freedoms they had in America, especially the right to govern themselves. Austin was kept in solitary confinement and denied a trial. Finally two attorneys rode to Mexico and accomplished his release on bail Christnmas Day 1834. Liberal leader, Vice President Gomez Farias alternated with Santa Ana as President of Mexico enabling Santa Ana to become General of the Mexican army. The discontent of the Texians multiplied leading to the Convention at Washington on the Brazos and a Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 17, 1836, and a new nation was born Ref: LONE STAR. A HISTORY OF TEXAS AND TEXANS by T. R. Fehrenbach copyright Carole Sikes (1)Moses Austin (2) Texians was the name for Americans living in Texas under Mexican rule. )