River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-07-10
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THE LONE STAR STATE.
A Condensed Account of Tho Early His
tory of Texas.


tory of Texas.
The first white settlement was made
in 1857 by the Chevalier de LaSaile,
bet all the members of this colony per.
ished. A few years later Spanish
mission was established on the site of
La Salle's fort and subsequently other
Spanish settlements were made, in
spite of the protests of the French, who
claimed the country by virtue of La
Salle's discovery. For twenty years
the Spaniards held full sway, but in
1885 French colony from the Red River
was taken into Texas, and this time
the Spaniards protested without effect.
Both the French and the Spanish, how
ever, had much trouble with the In
dians, and in 1858 brutal massacre of
all the settlers at San Saba mis-
sion by the red men caused the influx
of eolonists to decline. In 1863 France
gave up all her claims on the Louisiana
Territory to Spain, but in 1903 the coun-
try was receded to France, and the same
year was sold to the United States. As
there had been no well-defned- divid
ing line between Louisiana and the old
Spanish possessions west of it, con-
troyersy as to the boundaries immedi-
ately arose, Spain claiming that her
territory extended TO the east of the
Sabine, and the United States urging a
right to the country as far west as the
Rio Grande river This difficulty was
compromised by making the territory
between the Sabine river and the Ar
royo Honda neutral territory. This in
tervening ground offered such conven-
ientopportunity for carrying on an Illicit
trade between the United States and
Mexico that many adventures settled
on it, and a number of revolutionary eff
forts were made to secure possession of
it. In 1919 the United States agreed to
take the Sabine river as a boundary
line between the United States and
Mexico, but this treaty caused much dis
satisfaction in the Western and South
western States. The same year another
expedition was raised in Mississippi
and Louisiana to take possession Of the
country, but it was defeated, and its
leader, Dr. James Long, was soon after
murdered. Texas, by means of these
several revolutionary attempts, had be-
come nearly depopulated, but in 1873
stephen f. Austin, of Missouri,
whose father had obtained a grant
Of land in Texas from the Mex
lean Government, took thither a
large number of colonists, and laid the
foundation of the permanent growth of
the territory. Texas was then united
in government with the Mexican prov
ince of Coahuila, and there was much
difficulty between the Mexican officials
and the American settlers. In 1880 the
Mexican Governor undertook to forbid
.olonists from the United States enter
ing the Territory, and this precipitated
| she revolution which eliminated in
Texan Independence. Fighting began
1t Gonzales October ., 1885, and Novem-
Ger IL following the provisional govern
nent was formed. Colonel Stephen Aus
i'm was sent as envoy to the United
States, and General Sam Hous-
Ton was made colnmander-in-chief
Of the army. The Mexican army
was defeated at San Antonio
ie Bexa' December 10, 1885, and driven
from the country. The next year Gen
sral Santa Anna came over the border
with a large force, and March 6, 1886,
after bombardment of eleven days,
captured the fortress of the Alamo and
put the entire garrison TO the sword.
April 81 following was fought the battle
IF San Jacinto, in which the Mexicans
we're defeated and their leader taken
prisoner This ended the war. In the
meantime a convention had been held,
constitution adopted and a provis-
ional President chosen. In March,
1887, the United States recog-
nized the independence of Texas.
For nearly ten years Texas
maintained her existence as republic,
turing which time she twice asked to
be annexed to the United States, only
to have her requests refused. AS the
State became more populous and pros
porous, however, the United States be-
came anxious TO take Der into the Union.
Annexation was finally accomplished
by the vote of Congress December %,
1916. and the act was accepted by the
Texan people February 10, 1916. This
led to the war with Mexico, which was
ended in 1s4S The result of this war
was not only the giving up of Mexico of
all claim DDon Texas, but the cession OF
large extent of additional territory.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.