THE LIFE AND TIMES OF STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Part 9: TEXAS?!
by Bob
Heinonen
Like Thomas Jefferson, Moses
Austin lost his fortune in the financial Panic of 1819. Unlike the 76 year old Jefferson, who had to
depend on gifts from friends for the rest of his life, Moses was young enough
at the age of 55 to start over.[i]
Two days before Christmas of
1829, Moses arrived in San Antonio de Bexar, the capital of Texas and immediately went to the office of Governor
Antonio Martinez to discuss his colonization plan for Texas. Governor
Martinez not only rejected Moses’ proposal but he also told Moses to leave San
Antonio de Bexar…in fact to leave Texas…immediately or be thrown in jail. Mexico had been in turmoil since 1811 because of its revolution
for independence against Spain. And, Mexico was leery of the United States intentions of expanding west. For many years, American adventurers had come
to Texas and attempted to take Texas by force.
Governor Martinez was under orders to not allow any American to enter Texas.[ii]
As Moses dejectedly returned
to his quarters to prepare for his return to Missouri, he had to cross the plaza. By pure chance, he encountered an old
acquaintance from some 20 years earlier in New Orleans – Baron de Bastrop.
After exchanging greetings with de Bastrop, Moses told him of his
encounter with Governor Martinez. It
turns out that Baron de Bastrop was a friend of the governor. De Bastrop took Moses back to meet with
Governor Martinez again. De Bastrop
pleaded Moses case saying that the Austin family had been loyal Spanish citizens for many years
back in Missouri.[iii]
Moses’ trip home to Missouri was a difficult one.
He had left San Antonio de Bexar in the company of Jacob Kirkham who, as
it turns out, was about to break Spanish law by taking a herd of mules to the United States. When Moses
learned of this venture, he objected.
Kirkham responded by stealing Moses’ horses, pack mules and provisions
leaving Moses and his servant, Richmond, stranded. After
eight days of traveling afoot in cold, damp weather without food or proper
clothing, both Moses and Richmond
ended up with pneumonia.[iv] Moses took time to partially recover as he
tried to get home.
Although Moses finally made
it home to Missouri three months later, he collapsed into bed upon
arriving. This is when he actually found
out his Texas grant had been approved.[v] Letters from almost one hundred people
awaited him asking for information about settling in his new colony.[vi] Moses was excited.
Over the next few months,
Moses settled the remainder of his financial affairs in Missouri as he attempted to get his family out of debt. But he didn’t take care of himself. On June 10, 1821, Moses Austin died of pneumonia. On his death bed, he begged his wife, Maria, to “tell dear Stephen that it is his dieing fathers last request to prosecute the enterprise he
had Commenced…”[vii] Moses wanted Stephen to assume responsibility
for his new Texas colony.
Stephen, not aware his father
had died, had already started for San Antonio de Bexar to help his father with
his Texas project. He
was about half way there when a messenger overtook him and informed him of his
father’s death…and his dying wish. And
how could Stephen say no to his father?
Next Month - Part 10: Starting A Colony
Information in the article
was derived from prior knowledge and the books Moses Austin: His Life by David B. Gracy
II, Stephen F. Austin: Empresario of Texas by Gregg Cantrell, and Executive Privilege by Jack
Mitchell. Bob Heinonen is the founder of
Texas Heroes and has been portraying Stephen F. Austin since 1993. Copyright© by Bob Heinonen
2008.
[i]
Executive Privilege by Jack Mitchell, Hippocrene
Books Inc, New York, NY,
1992, pp 39-40
[ii] Moses
Austin: His Life by David B. Gracy II, Trinity
University Press, San Antonio, TX, 1987, pp 200-202
[iii] Moses
Austin: His Life by David B. Gracy II, Trinity
University Press, San Antonio, TX, 1987, pp 201-202
[iv] Moses
Austin: His Life by David B. Gracy II, Trinity
University Press, San Antonio, TX, 1987, pp 204
[v] Moses
Austin: His Life by David B. Gracy II, Trinity
University Press, San Antonio, TX, 1987, pp 207
[vi] Stephen
F. Austin: Empresario of Texas
by Gregg Cantrell, Yale University
Press, New Haven, CT,
1999, pp 98
[vii] Moses
Austin: His Life by David B. Gracy II, Trinity
University Press, San Antonio, TX, 1987, pp 215