Stephen F. Austin
Introduction
Stephen Fuller
Austin (1793-1836)
Also, known by many names such as: “The Founder of Anglo-American Texas,” The Father of Texas,” or “The Empresario.” Austin was the first person to legally settle a colony in Texas. At that time, it was still a province of Mexico, but he was able to see it grow into a thriving independent republic. Stephen F. Austin took his destiny by the horns, defeated all odds, and helped make Texas what it is
today, with his original three hundred settlers.
Austin was born to Moses and Maria (Brown) Austin, in the southern mining part of Virginia. Five years after his birth, Moses moved
the family to Missouri to establish a town called Potosi, which is now called Washington County. After attending
school at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, Austin had a variety of accomplishments, including:
· He managed a store
· served the public as adjutant of a militia battalion
· member of territorial legislature
· obtained a charter for the Bank of St. Louis
· was appointed as circuit judge of the 1st judicial district of Arkansas
All before he went to Texas.
While Austin was busy on his own endeavors, his father, Moses, laid the foundation for what was going to be Austin’s greatest
achievement. While in San Antonio ,Moses died before he was able to execute his plans of settling 300 families in Texas. While Austin was not enthusiastic about the idea of settling in Texas, he was supportive of his father’s dreams, and followed in his father’s
footsteps.
Austin (1793-1836)
Also, known by many names such as: “The Founder of Anglo-American Texas,” The Father of Texas,” or “The Empresario.” Austin was the first person to legally settle a colony in Texas. At that time, it was still a province of Mexico, but he was able to see it grow into a thriving independent republic. Stephen F. Austin took his destiny by the horns, defeated all odds, and helped make Texas what it is
today, with his original three hundred settlers.
Austin was born to Moses and Maria (Brown) Austin, in the southern mining part of Virginia. Five years after his birth, Moses moved
the family to Missouri to establish a town called Potosi, which is now called Washington County. After attending
school at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, Austin had a variety of accomplishments, including:
· He managed a store
· served the public as adjutant of a militia battalion
· member of territorial legislature
· obtained a charter for the Bank of St. Louis
· was appointed as circuit judge of the 1st judicial district of Arkansas
All before he went to Texas.
While Austin was busy on his own endeavors, his father, Moses, laid the foundation for what was going to be Austin’s greatest
achievement. While in San Antonio ,Moses died before he was able to execute his plans of settling 300 families in Texas. While Austin was not enthusiastic about the idea of settling in Texas, he was supportive of his father’s dreams, and followed in his father’s
footsteps.