San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-21
Early History of San Antonio
Is Told in Students Thesis

San Antonio Founded.
Immediately upon receipt of the IN
structions. Alarcon set out Cor Texas
and on reaching the San Antonio river
founded San Antonio de los llanos
near its,headwaters. where FatEer Oil
wares had already begun the establish
ment of mission. The settlement was
composed of the Villa de Bejar and the
mission of San ANTONIO de Valera.
Alarcon succeeded in making the
friendship of the Indians. and attic; a
short stay in the new settlement. con-
tinued his journey to the eastern mis-
SONS.
With the establishment OF tl,is first
settlement. the permanent octIpation
of Texas may be said TO begin. u ap-
pears, however, that settlement e&-
listed on this site as early as 171I. The
location had been recognized as n suit
able place for the establishment Of n
settlement by Padre Margil and St.
Denis. who referred 70 il as ''the most
pleasant place" in the province Of
Texas. The little village grew rapidly
and rose in importance until il be-
came the rallying point FOR the Span
ish forces in the entire province. VIXEN
the eastern missions werc abandoned.
San Antonio became the new center OF
missionary activity.
In 1921. as n result of the French
invasion of 1119, San Miguel J.
Aguayc was sent 10 Texas with a large
force to reinforce the presidios and
missions and drive out the Fren IL. He
moved the preside of Bexar TO a
stronger location. left IS soldie's. and
founded the missions of San Jose &c
AguayO and San N!vier de Paxert in
the vicinity OF Bexar. while Padre
Espinosa settled q number Of families
this time.
For the next ten years. however
San Antonio and all the other Spanish
posts in Texas barely maintained them
selves due to the lack of interest of the
government. In 1927 Pedro de Rivera
reported. after his visit of inspection
that the missions had failed TO settle
the Indians in villages and that strong
garrsons were not needed in Texas
since the danger from the French had
passed. Thus the result was that in
1870 the three Queretaran' missions or
the eastern frontier were removed tC
Bexar making total of five at this
place. not counting the mission of San
Xavier de Naiera. for it seems to have
been very short lived. and there arc
no records concerning ii.
OrGers for Settlement.
Cp to this time there had been nc
purely civil settlements established in
Texas; the settlement made by Alar
con was of married soldiers. The plan
had occurred very early to the mission
aries. and as early as 1851. Padre
Francisco de Jesus Maria suggested the
settlement OF families among the Ash
naiS Indians. From that time on the
missionaries, continued to request
plead, implore and petition for the set.
Element of families as the only means
of securing the permanent occupation
of the country and the settlement oil
the Indians. They argued that the
civil settlements would set an example
to the Indians of the mode of life they
should lead, and induce them to settle
in villages. Gradually the idea begar
to find favor in the eyes of the govern
ment. The Marques de Aguayo had
advised in 1923, the establishment Of
civil settlement, and on that yeal
two royal orders were issued for tin
transportation of families to Texas
one on March is. and the other on
Nav 10. Nothing came of these orders
and it was not until February II
1923. that similar order was agar
issued. This provided. by order Of the
king. that four hundred families. in
Guiding the two hundred for which or
ders had been previously issued, b
transported from the Canary Islands
that they should be transported and
maintained: and that they were to be
settled in the different posts in Texas
As the result of this order ten fami
lies from the Canary Islands reache.
Bexar on March 9. 1871. This marks
the beginning of the civil settlement o'
San Antonio which was at that time
officially designated as Villa de Sar
Fernando de Bexar. According to The
orders of the viceroy. it was to be the
capital of the province. The settler
were given the right TO organize ;
cab;ldo or city council TO govern them
selves, and the new cabildo was oil.
cially installed in office on Angus
/. 1881. by Don Juan Antonio Pere;
de Alamzan, captain Of the presidi'
DC Bexar.
From now on. We have in San An
tonic three different institutions sid
by side: the preside. the mission, All.
the civil settlement. Though the thrr
were supposed TO get alon', in perfec
harmony and give each other mutua
helm. it was not long before dispu' 81
arose between them which often deget
crate into open diScord and even per
sonal auarrels. Thus, life in the vi
lage offered variety. In time of dan
ger. however. the minor disputes an,
| iealousieS were fOreDtten and all Joine,
in maintaining Spanish sovereignty il
the province of Texas.
The Early Settlers.
4 word should be said as TO th'
| character of the early settlers of Sal
Antonio. The lists of the original Ca
nary Islanders shows n discrepancy 4.
the number of families which starte'
| out and those that arrived in Bexar OF
/ March Q. 1871. The first list consist!
Of ten families while the last one
| taken in 1882, shows fifteen. Th
difference. however, was due TO mar
riages which took place in the mean
| time.
The Canary Islanders were extrcme
" proud of being the first settlers
This is evidenced in all their officia
communications and other papers il
which they invariably refer to them