PROMINENT PERSONS
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the territorial legislature of Missouri in
1813, and annually reelected until iSig.vvhen
he removed to Arkansas, where he was ap-
pointed circuit judge. His father had re-
ceived from Mexico a large grant of land
near the boundary of Texas, for colonization
purposes, conditional on his locating three
hundred families. At his death, in 1820,
Stephen, in pursuance of his father's request
proceeded immediately to colonize the tract.
After many delays and much difficulty, he
finally had the grant confirmed and planted
on the present site of Austin a colony of
some two hundred families. He was con-
stituted governor by Mexico, and as such
possessed dictatorial powers: but he gov-
erned with justice and clemency. In 1833
the American settlers became discontented,
and Austin was appointed by the colony as
a commissioner to carry a petition for the
separation of Texas and Coahuila, which
then constituted one state. The Mexi-
can government, however, failing to con-
'sider the petition, Austin wrote to his peo-
ple in October to form themselves into a
separate colony, without awaiting Mexico's
consent. This letter being intercepted, Aus-
tin was thrown into prison for many months.
President Santa Anna, in May, 1834, called
a council to hear the petition. Austin ap-
peared before it, and by his eloquence won a
promise of the repeal forbidding citizens of
the United States from immigrating into
Texas. The council also promised to estab-
lish a postal system and to station four
thousand soldiers at Bexar to protect the
frontier; but declined the prayer for separa-
tion. Austin was detained as a prisoner.
but at the end of two years was allowed to
return to his colony. At their first consul-
tation, in 1835, Austin advised that any at-
tempt by the Mexican government to dis-
arm the colonists should be met by armed
resistance. To this the colonists gladly ac-
ceded. Austin endeavored to effect a re-
conciliation, but all terms were haughtily
rejected by the Mexicans ; he determined to
make no further overtures for peace, hos-
tilities followed, the revolutionists were vic-
torious at Gonzales, Conception and San
Antonio, and Austin was made commander-
in-chief of the army by acclamation, and
forthwith sent to Gen. Sam Houston for aid
in carrying on the revolution. Austin was
sent as commissioner to Washington in No-
vember, 1835, to appeal to the United States
government for aid, and made a favorable
impression at the national capital. In 1836
the independence of Texas was declared,
Sam Houston was elected first president of
the republic, and he appointed Austin secre-
tary of state. He died December 27, 1836.
Hunt, Thomas Poagc, born in Charlotte county. \'irginia, in 1794: was graduated at Hampden-Sidney College in 18 13, then took a course in theology, and in 1824 was licensed to preach the Gospel ; for a number of years he was pastor of churches in Virginia and North Carolina, after which he changed his line of work, becoming a temperance lec- turer, in which capacity he attained a wide reputation; in 1836 he took up his residence in the city of Philadelphia, remaining there for three years, at the expiration of which time he removed to the Wyoming Valley and there spent the remainder of his days ; in addition to the work above mentioned, he served as agent for Lafayette College dur- ing the years 1840-41-42-43-44-45, and was the author of the following articles which he published: "History of Jesse Johnson
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