The Life and Legend of

Stephen Fuller Austin

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Stephen F. Austin• Born in 1793, son of Moses and

Maria Austin• Seat in Territorial Legislature in

Missouri • Judge in Arkansas • Studied law in New Orleans

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At the same time….• Moses Austin was going to San

Antonio to apply for a land grant• SFA was not happy about the new “Texas Venture”, but decided to go along with it (his Daddy had just lost his fortune in Missouri)

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Then…• SFA was in another city getting a

loan from a friend when he learned about his father’s death

• Austin was very loyal to his family….felt that he needed to fulfill his father’s dying request

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On To Texas He Goes…• Austin carried on with his father’s plan

• Got permission to acquire land between the Colorado and the Brazos Rivers in the Coastal Plains

• SFA offered land at 12.5 cents per acre (compared to $1.25 per acre in U.S.)

• Settlers could receive 177 acres per family for farming

• Settlers could receive a sitio (4,428 acres) per family for raising livestock

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Colony Site• Land was ideal for agriculture• River bottoms contained excellent

soil • Area received plenty of rainfall• Two water sources – Brazos and

Colorado Rivers• Site also kept the settlers far

away from the Comanches

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SFA Quote“Texas,

a second Eden, a place where all

the best things in life could be found”

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The Old Three Hundred• The first families to settle in Austin’s

colony were nicknamed the Old 300 (actually only 297)

• SFA allowed single men to form partnerships in the Old 300 to meet quota

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First Settler• First settler was Andrew Robinson• Set-up a ferry on the Brazos River• Site eventually became Washington-

on-the-Brazos• Many settlers arrived with slaves• Austin disliked slavery but feared

colonists would not come unless it was allowed

• Created a loophole in law allowing settlers to keep their slaves

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Women in the Colony• Jane Long, “Mother of Texas”, moved

to colony in 1824 and opened a hotel (3rd child was Mary James Long)• Mary Crownover Rabb raised 9

children and recorded her memories in the book “Travels and Adventures in Texas in the 1820’s”

• Women cooked, cleaned, built fires, took care of the sick, made soap, made clothing, and watched over the children

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Requirements• Pledge loyalty to Mexico• Become Mexican citizens• Adopt the Roman Catholic religion

(was usually overlooked by Austin/Mexico)

• No drunkards, no gamblers, no profane swearers, no idlers in SFA’s colony

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Empresario Duties• Austin had to be responsible for their

good conduct • Recruit people, pick the land, get

supplies, and deal with the government

• Austin was AWESOME as an empresario because he knew the Mexican law, spoke Spanish, and had many friends in the government

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Problems with Colony

• Drought• Native Americans• SFA in Mexico

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San Felipe de Austin• In 1823, Austin established a

town to serve as the heart of the colony

• Austin conducted all his “business” there

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Other Empresarios• Austin inspired other people to come

and colonize Texas – none quite as successful as Austin:

• Martin De Leon• Green DeWitt• Sterling Robertson• Haden Edwards• Lorenzo De Zavala• David Burnet

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Timeline• 1819- Moses Austin loses fortune in Missouri• 1820- Moses travel to Texas to see about

starting a colony• 1821- Moses dies, son Austin takes over;

Mexico gets independence from Spain, SFA recruits 300 families, settlers move into Texas

• 1823- SFA establishes San Felipe de Austin• 1828- SFA receives the last of his 5 grants

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Quiz • 1. What year was Mexico’s independence from

Spain?• 2. Why did Austin take over for his father?• 3. How much does an acre of land cost in Austin’s

colony?• 4. What was great about the site Austin was given?• 5. What was the nickname of the families Austin

brought to Texas?• 6. Name 2 of Austin’s duties.• 7. Why was Austin an AWESOME empresario?• 8. Name one problem with colonies.• 9. What was the name of Austin’s capitol?• 10. What year was Austin’s capitol established?

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Answers• 1. 1821• 2. Because he died.• 3. 12.5 cents• 4. Land ideal for agriculture, plenty of rainfall,

water sources, no Comanches• 5. Old 300• 6. Recruit people, get supplies, pick the land,

deal with the government• 7. Knew the Mexican Law, spoke Spanish, and

had many friends in the government.• 8. Drought, Native Americans, SFA in Mexico• 9. San Felipe de Austin• 10. 1828