McNeil's estate near Brazoria, by J. T. Hammond. Engraving. From A Visit to Texas (New York: Goodrich and Wiley, 1834). Courtesy The Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin; CN 02343. By 1834 approximately 20,000 Americans had settled in Texas. Many built dogtrot homes like the one depicted here. McNeil's was described as a fine estate and his hospitality as generous.

Mapa Geográfico de la Provincia de Texas, by Stephen F. Austin, 1822. Manuscript. Stephen F. Austin Map Collection, The Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin; SA11 1822. Stephen F. Austin, founder of Anglo-American Texas, carried this map when he went to Mexico City to confirm his empresario contract. It was the most complete and accurate map of Texas to that date.