My subject is a near and dear one. San Augustine was my childhood's home; around its hills and valleys, its placid streams and hawthorn thickets the sweetest memories cluster. The haws, the ratans, the grapes, the persimmons, and all the wild berries and fruits and flowers that had their homes in the environments of the town were eagerly sought for in my early years with the companionship of a dearly loved brother, making the memories of those haunts doubly precious.
In speaking of the early days of San Augustine I heard my mother say she and her husband were the first persons to drive on Columbia Street, now the main street; as she came into the town the street was just being cleared, and the workman made way for her to pass. That was in '33 or '34. The town, however, was established in '31, and was growing rapidly.
Of course, my knowledge of the early days of San Augustine consists of the reminiscences of my father and mother. It was a very charming place to visit, the society being cultured and refined and the people wonderfully hospitable. Parties in which the old and young took part were of frequent occurrence, and the gentlemen visited in the evenings with their wives. I remember, myself, those social calls, for they were not out of date till some time after the Civil War.
San Augustine was the gateway of Texas and for a time boasted of being the Athens of the State. The three-story University and two-story College showed the respect paid to education. I have heard that as many as two hundred pupils have been enrolled at one time in each school. I know there were handsome homesteads in early days, for my father's house was built in '37, and his was of later date than several others. All of them bear the wear and tear of time's usage remarkably well, showing that our fathers knew the value of good lumber, and built substantially.
There is no civilization without the refining influence of Christianity, and with the emigrants came religion. Churches were established and suitable buildings put up as soon as practicable. Just which branch of religion was first represented I do not know, neither is it of importance to the non-sectarian reader. Masonry, itself a companion to religion, established a lodge in the thirties, one of the proofs of high civilization.
Among the notable names I recall that shed lustre on the history of this time honored town may be mentioned J. Pinkney Henderson, O. M. Roberts, whose career kept him before the public so many years, R. T. Wheeler, R. S. Walker, and Judge Amos Clark. The last three were familiar to the older citizens of Nacogdoches, as they afterwards came here and lived many years. They were lawyers and honored the profession. Alexander Evans, Otis Wheeler, Elijah Price, C. I. Alexander, A. Huston, Jacob Garrett, William Seigler, Henry Augustin, K. L. Anderson, David Kaufman, Alex. Greer, Thos. Scurry with his sons Dick and Bill, and B. R. Wallace were all representative men. Alexander Horton, Samuel Davis and William Kimbro were three heroes of San Jacinto fame. Martin Parmer, E. O. Le Grand, and my father, were signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Tom Ochiltree was there, too, a mere boy, perhaps, for it was his father's home awhile; and Col. John S. Ford, familiarly known as “Old Rip,” was a one time citizen who afterwards made his home in San Antonio.
For district judges San Augustine furnished Cullum, Corzine, Terrell, Richardson, and others whose names I have previously mentioned. Judge Terrell afterwards became a member of Houston's cabinet. Col. F. B. Sexton, who grew to manhood and became a prominent lawyer in San Augustine, and was a member of the Confederate Congress, now resides in El Paso.
David Crockett, on his way to the fighting grounds, stopped in the classic town, where his fame had gone before him. It was customary in those good old times to give a hearty welcome to the stranger who claimed recognition, and David Crockett's coming was celebrated by a complimentary ball.
Is not this a galaxy of names worthy to adorn the history of the proudest town in Texas? Where can be found a greater list? Ah! those old days when San Augustine was adorned with the presence of men and women whose names live in history! I have not mentioned a woman's name, and this a woman's club! Know, then, that all the men I have mentioned, with but two or three exceptions, had wives, women worthy their positions and the times. And Sam Houston, whose name is cherished by Texas, Sam Houston, who led our fathers to victory, has rested beneath the shade of San Augustine's stately trees, has dwelt for whiles within the homes of admiring friends there; and when fate blessed him with a loving wife he took her to the old, old town of which I write to show her to his friends, who received her with kindly hospitality. With them she danced, to them she sang and played, and only two or three—it may be only one—of those old timers are still alive to freshen memory with a talk of the days when Sam Houston always found a welcome with the Red Landers.
Among the first papers in the State may be mentioned the Red Land Express, published by Capt. A. W. Canfield and honored with contributions from the pens of Rusk, Roberts, Henderson, and others of cherished memory.
San Augustine, in the years that have come and gone, has passed through many and great changes, but the foot-prints are there. Can we not hope that she has reached her lowest ebb, and that the tide will come in again? When the promised railroad for which she is looking shall come will not the valleys sing? San Augustine is sleeping, but she is not dead. The fine forests that surround her, the oil and ores that lie in her bosom, the fertility of her soil, will yet bring her to the front, and she may some day compete with her sister towns for the eminence which was once hers alone.
How to cite:
Shindler, Emma B., "SAN AUGUSTINE ", Volume 003, Number 1, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 41 - 43. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v003/n1/article_5.html
[Accessed Tue Dec 2 20:21:53 CST 2008]
