Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-09

they settled on rich bottom lands
near the BRACES River. and that Moses
austin was no favoraDS impressed by
the conditions generally. that lie de-
termincd to establish a colony OF
friends aud acquaihtdnces from .rcnn-
syivhnia: Virginia and Missouri.
Death CurtnIlcd Plans.
therefore, he became what Was
known as an "i5mpresario" and the
Mexican authorities made liberal
grant OF lands To him as such, with
ne Locate at least 500 families there.
hut he died before the colonization
plans were carried out. Immediately
after his death. however. his son.
stephen. took In. :nattcr up ana not
only completed ali that his rather had
contracted To do. but later carried
cut several other similar schcmes.
,Leunwhiic. the Mexican authorities
.fihcAed texas to the State oil Goa
.iulia. soon after which they enacted
certain important laws which always
Disseminated against the Americans.
ana hnally refused TO permit any
more Immigration from the United
continued. but grew worse until 1893,
when convention of Texans. iuclud-
ing our stephen Austin. assembled
al san Felipe and prepared "a strong
from the State Of cSahaiia.
stephen Austin took very active
part In the preparation OF this me-
mortal, and ne w;s one Of the first.
IL not the first. American TO sign il.
after which he volunteered TO carry
sonally to presen, 1t 10 the authori-
ties. which he did. but his mission
failed entirely. After being refused.
he started to return TO his people via
Saltilio-the capital OF Coahuila-
where he was arrested and without
trial. was put into a prison. where he
ner of his release Is not clear How
ever II seems that II was about two
years after he left, his people in
Texas. before he could return to them.
Founder OF Texas.
His report quite convinced tho
Texans that the Mexican government
separated from Coahuila: therefore.
they determined Ia sever all CON
neetions' and II was largely due to
| finally obtained their independence.
| which ultimately resulted In the great
Lone star state becoming one or the
stephen Austin's worth. and per.
sonal popularity as a statesman and
citizen are clearly evidenced by the
tAct that Austin. the capital Of Texas.
was named in honor of him; and the
reverence with which he Is rcmem-
bered is clearly indicated by the in
selected to appear on the tablet over
| the sercoDhagus at the Stephen AUS
| tin Monument. in the capital city. 1t
| reads as follows:
THE FATHER OF TENAS.
! was Born IN Wythe County, Virginia.
| November the 3rd. 1893. and died in
2Ith. 1896. Wise, Gentle. Courageous
and Patient He was the Founder OF
| Mighty Commonwealth"
| State Takes Over Mines.
AS stated. In the year 1900. the lead
mines were rented TO Captain James
| Newell. who continued the operations
for several years; that is. until the
State authorities again took posses
s!on OF the property owing TO the
fact that the Aust!ns had never fully
however. that Colonel Newell was
permitted 10 continue mining even
a Alter the property had been adver-
| Richmond In year 1906. provided Il
were not sold privately before n par
| Gcular date.
the property. and believing il best TO
purchase y privately Colonel Newell
wen, TO Richmond and contracted 10
tl6,6e6.33). hut soon af,crward can
celed the contract. having decided to
buy at auction. II at all. Therefore
Captain Newell! was a strong bidder.
but Thomas Jackson was decidedly
more so. However, the entire prop
$1,000 sou 10 '"e '"''er '0r ABOUT
Mr.. Jackson, had evidently de-
,sermiaed 20 buy Il possible. though
that several dayg before the date OF
sale he published that nc was going
70 niGhm s,l, in order 70 purchase
tools for his shop. He walked the
cntire distance and purposely arrived
At Richmond Just before the sale.
liter which he hastily walked bnck to
duccd his friend. David Peirce. to
move from Poplar Camp Into cabin
near the mine and take charge Of the
| I'd al, Nv
small chiidren for The journey. and
as could be packed and carried on ono
horse, they FASTENED TO the mine cab
in. where they dwelt until better
! quarters could be provided.
| Many Stories Told.
! According to one story; when Mr.
Jackson walked to Richmond. as
stated above he carried In belt f5.,-
| for the lead mine property. On the
other hand, IL is claimed by those who
| seem hest informed that he did not.
Of which were indorsed by David
PIERCE and Daniel Shemey. with the
understanding and agreement that
! with Jackson in the enterprise, and
| further that each Of the three should
| paw equal amounts as the notes ma
the deiinauent should forfeit his-or
their--intercst to the one-or two
who did pay.
II seems that they all failed TO
make the payments. but that Sheffcy
claimed to have paid. hence litiEa-
tion. and finally proof that he also
| was Delinquent. at least to some ex-
| tent. However. the matter was COM
promised and Shelley was given full
control of the mines and all profits
\ thercfrom for term of two years.
at the expiration of which he was
to rclinquish all claims.
Daniel Shelley Immediately enGag-
| ed his brother. Major SheffGy. TO on
crate the mines. which he did with
| evident determination. to make the
utmost of ii In n given time by m In
| ing only the large funnel.shaped de-
| posits of carbonate of lead.
At the expiratio of Shefey's term.
as stated above. Jackson and PIERCE
| became joint owners of the entire
| premises and continued mining oper-
| atlons. but they soon very seriously
disagreed as to their respective in
terests. PIERCE claimed n two-third
| interest. which resulted In a holly
| contested law suit. which, according
to reliable authority, was decided In
| favor of Jackson, !. G. the court al
lowed him eleven twenty-fourths.
After pronouncing the decree, the
| judge is said to have remarked that
jackson would have been allowed
another twenty-fourth. had he de-
manded IT,"
I, Agree 10 Disagree
1t seems that Immediately after the
law suit, PIERCE and jackson practi-
Cally npraeb m diso gree and N ro