Page:Don Erasmo Seguin.djvu/7

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of Canary Islanders of the best and proudest blood of old Spain who emigrated to the "New Philipines" (later to be known as "San Fernandez", San Antonio de Bexar, and now San Antonio) under the patronage of the Marquis of Casa Fuerta, and who in 1731 established the first municipal government of Texas at the site of their new home.

Among these he notes with pride Mrs. Carolina Jarvis, wife of his friend, E. L. Jarvis, a charming and cultured lady, a great, great grand-daughter of Don Erasmo Seguin; Mrs. Antonio Sandoval and her nephew, P. M. Batisto, lineal descendants of those notable heroes of Texas, Francisco Ruiz and Jose Nararro, both of whom signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, and who have preserved some of the traditions and records of their respective families.

The Ruiz, Seguin and Navarro families intermarried and many useful citizens of this section of the State resulted from those unions.

That staunch adopted son of Texas, Reverend Homer S. Thrall, preserved by the various products of his pen much of the intimate early history of Texas, and, due to his education and to the very high character of the man, to his personal acquaintanceship with many of the outstanding characters of whom he wrote and the known thoroughness of his investigations, his statements can safely be accepted as authentic.

Thrall was an accredited correspondent of The Texas Christian Advocate when it was established in 1847. He wrote many historical sketches for various publications and he wrote and published a "School History of Texas", a "Pictorial History of Texas" and "History of Texas Methodism".

Thrall in his "Pictorial History of Texas", page 666, states that the county seat of Guadalupe, Seguin, was "named for Erasmo Seguin". One familiar with the history of the period and with the record and character of those living in the town at that time can readily understand why they chose to thus honor, not Juan N. Seguin, but his more distinguished father, Don Erasmo Sequin—one justly entitled to a prominent place among the immortals of Texas History!

The facts herein set forth as to the life and services of Don Erasmo Seguin may be verified by reference to the following:

Published articles by Mildred Burrows Garrett, a loyal daughter of Wilson County; Thrall's "Pictorial History of Texas"; Texas Historical Association Quarterly; Paddock's "Texas", and other accredited histories and papers of Texas and the Deed Records of Bexar County, and are submitted with full assurance of their authenticity.

Erasmo Seguin, who after the custom of his people and as was his lineal right, was called "Don Erasmo", was born in 1772, the son of Don Basil Seguin, one of the original Canary Island settlers of San Antonio.

Don Erasmo owned large bodies of land which he obtained through various grants and deed? situated generally between San Antonio and Floresville in what is now Wilson County. His name first ap-