Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-07-05
A BIT OF TEXAS HISTORY.
The Man In Whose Honor the City
Of Austin In That State
Was Named.

The historical conundrum, namely,
In whose honor, Moses Austin OF bis
son, Stephen F. Austin, was the capital
city of Texas called, involves recall
of some facts Of special interest to
number of the readers of the Globe
Democrat in Missouri and Texas.
writes William F. Switzler, in that pa
per. And for the reason, among 9TH
ers, that Moses Austin once lived IN
Missouri, and the history of the name
Of the capital of any state IN the union
is of interest TO the people of the state.
Mr. Perry s. RAIDERS History Of Mis-
souri," page 50, and some other publ
cations, also claim that Austin. Tex
was so called in honor Of Moses Austin.
This is incorrect. The name was con-
ferred to perpetuate the memory Of
his son Stephen, the founder Of the
state.
Moses Austin was born in Durham,
Conn. about the beginning Of the
American revolution. So was his son
native of Connecticut. Moses came
to Missouri in 1898 and engaged in lead
mining in Washington county, OF what
Is now Washington county. and about
260s became the partner in Potosi Of
sohn D. Cook, afterward Judge Of the
supreme court, IN the practice Of law.
Judge Cook resigned in 1928. and died
In Cape Girardeau, gear not known.
IN 1920 Moses Austin moved t. TexaR
and soon after forwarded from BeAar.
now In Bexar county. to the Mexican
commandant at Monterey . petition
asking permission to bring 70 that SEQ
ton and COLOMBO there 800 American
families. Permission was granted,
whereupon he returned to Missouri! In
search Of the enigrants. On HE way
he was robbed by Mexican bandits and
exposed to hardships that caused his
death In Louisiana on June 10, 1891.
During the same year his son, 6teph'
en- F. Austin. conducted party Of emf
grants from New Orleans 30 occupy
the tract Of land which had been grant
ed 70 his father In Texas by Ahe Mexi
can government. Led by Stephen Ans
tin, the eInigrants settled Oh the Col.
orado river near where the city o6Aus-
tin now stands. The town was orig
inally built on beautiful plateau In
the bend Of the river, and 1t now, with
a population IN 1890 of 1900. extends
back from the original front about two
miles, and along the river about e11
miles. The Moses Austin grant Of land
was confirmed to his son Stephen In
1929.
In 1888 the Texas colonists formed a
constitution, and Stephen Austin and
other delegates visited the City of Mex
| leo to secure its ratification and the
| admission of Texas to the Mexican con-
federacy. Owing to the existence of
revolution and anarchy in Mexico they
failed of their object. and Austin was
| taken prisoner and detained In Mexico
until September, 1888. On bis release
| he returned to Texas, and was made
| commandment of the Texas army, and
| went as commissioner to Washington
| 10 obtain from the United States gov
| eminent & recognition of Texas as an
Independent 7epublic, and its admis-
sion into the American union as a
state. But he did not live to see the
| accomplishment of bis desires, for he
| died in Texas December 81, 1880.
Texas proclaimed her independence
| AID seeded from Mexico on March z,
1880, nearly ten months before tn,
| death of Austin. But Texas was not
| annexed to the United States until De
cember 20, 1S45, ten years after his
death. The capital was called "Aus.
Nm In honor of Stephen F. Austin. and
| not of his father.