Stephen F. Austin

1
Stephen F. Austin

2
Early Years of Stephen F. Austin

• At age 21 Stephen F. Austin won a seat in
  Missouri legislature.
• Later became a judge in Arkansas.
• Studied law in New Orleans.

3
After Moses Dies

• Carries on with his dads request to found a
  colony in Texas.
• Meets with Governor Martinez in San Antonio for
  approval to continue with his fathers colony.
• Austin chose land that will be ideal for
  agriculture in Southeast Texas, between the
  Brazos and Colorado rivers.

4
Why settle with Austin?

• The U.S. sold an acre for 1.25.
• Austin sold land for 12.5 cents per acre.
• The only thing different than settling in the
  United States was that they had to become Mexican
  citizens.
• Austin had to find reliable people for settlement
  he did not want bad apples spoiling the bunch.

5
Mexico is Independent

• Mexico won freedom from Spain in 1821.
• Stephen F. Austin had to go to Mexico City to see
  if Mexico still honored his grant for his colony,
  because the grant his father received was from
  Spain.
• In 1823 he received approval to found his colony.
• The deal was now better than before, because they
  allowed him more settlers and choice of land.

6
Trouble in the Colony

• Austin was away for over a year in Mexico City
  trying to get permission to settle there.
• A drought made growing crops difficult plants
  dont grow without water.
• Karankawas raided his settlements, making life
  harder.
• A supply ship, the Lively, got lost and couldnt
  find his colony.

7
Austins Return

• When Austin returned, he founded a militia, and
  prosperity and new settlers returned.
• His first 300 families that lived on his colony
  were called the Old 300.
• In 1823 (soon after he returned from Mexico City)
  Austin founded a town to be the center of his
  colony San Felipe de Austin (near present day
  Sealy).
• Austins colony flourished, he received the
  rights for more land and 900 more families.
• He was very grateful to Mexico for his successes,
  but it was largely due to his diligence and hard
  work.