The early history of Galveston, by Dr. J. O. Dyer Page: 12
30 p.; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
12 The Early History of Galveston.
for treasure were at work down the island. They found lots of Indian
relics, and three gold do.ubloons that year. These early treasure-seekers all
fought the Indians on sight and made the otherwise peaceable Carancahuas
the desperate enemies of the future colonists.
After 1824 the Indians failed to come to Galveston. The white men on
the mainland had driven them toward the San Antonio river.
Carl? Settlement of 3alveston anb VIicinitp.
The Spanish garrison at the quartel of Galvez was withdrawn previous
to Aury's entry on Galveston Island-a force had occasionally occupied
the stockade since 1805. Whilst Lafitte was at Galveston the mainland received
many settlers, most of whom went to Brazoria. Begun settled at
Highland Bayou, and Dr. Bostwick on the lower Trinity. In 1822 a steady
flow of immigration set in. The schooner Revenge, Captain Shires, brought
ninety emigrants, who settled at Red Bar, Bolivar, Cedar Bayou, and close
to the bay shore. Amongst these were the families of Pettus, Choate, Williamson
and Smith.
Dr. Johnson Hunter and his family, having been wrecked on Galveston
Island, settled at Morgan's Point. The Cokes had a summer camp at Red
Bluff, and there were Carancahuas at Lynchburg and on the lower Trinity,
but these Indians at no time molested the settlers. With the increasing
influx of whites they removed westward in 1823.
The schooner Only Son made regular trips, bringing most of her emigrants
to Brazoria and Matagorda. Captain Ellison induced Sam M. Williams,
the future merchant prince of Galveston; the Helms of Kentucky;
the Clares, Brays (who settled Brays Bayou near Houston), the Peytons
and Greenups (relatives of Daniel Boone), to cast their fortunes on the
gulf coast. These people were the first to have trouble with the western
Carancahua tribes, as related later by Horatio Chriesman.
The "Lively" had also brought settlers late in 1821 to Galveston Bay
and to Brazoria, amongst them many of the settlers of the Austin colony.
On her second trip she landed some families from Illinois at Galveston,
several of whom settled on the island. Only the name of the Collins family
can be recalled, and they were drowned in the storm of 1829 near Woolam's
Lake, within the present city limits. The Lively was wrecked, on her
second trip, near San Louis Pass. A family by the name of Morton was
likewise wrecked and lived on the island for some time. The records of
Lewis, in the Bryan papers, stated that the Brazoria colonists came to the
assistance of the Mortons when wrecked and two of the rescuers lost their
lives in the surf.
Thomas Duke stated that the first attempt to collect taxes' from the
early colonists was made in 1825. They had been promised free entry of
all their goods, but now custom guards were placed on Galveston Island
and at Velasco. There was more or less trouble now with these tax collectors.
In 1830 they seized the schooner Canon at Galveston. A custom
house had been built of logs, situated at the foot of Twelfth Street. George
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Dyer, Joseph O. The early history of Galveston, by Dr. J. O. Dyer, book, 1916; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth24651/m1/15/?rotate=90: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .