| The Texas capital city of Austin was settled in the | | | | Austin caught a cold that he couldn't shake, |
| 1830's under the name of Waterloo, so called by the | | | | developing into a fatal case of pneumonia. On |
| early pioneers for its proximity to the Colorado River. | | | | December 27, 1835, Austin died at the home of |
| However, as its importance and independence grew, | | | | George McKinstry near what is today West Columbia, |
| Waterloo was designated to be the capital of the | | | | Texas. Mr. Austin was originally buried in Brazoria |
| Republic of Texas and renamed after Stephen F. | | | | County's Gulf Prairie Cemetery, however, in 1910 his |
| Austin, the "father of Texas". | | | | remains were exhumed and placed into the Texas |
| Stephen F. Foster earned his title by his crowning | | | | State Cemetery in Austin. |
| efforts to colonize the new land, bringing hundreds of | | | | Stephen F. Austin may have lived a short life of 42 |
| families into the region, who would later be known as | | | | years, but it was a meaningful one that touched the |
| 'The Old 300". During the latter years of Austin's | | | | lives and liberties of many people. Serving as an |
| father's life, he received a empresario grant from the | | | | inspiration and visionary of his day, Mr. Austin would |
| Mexican government to settle Americans on Texas | | | | be proud to see his beloved dream for the Republic |
| land, however, the senior Austin would not live to | | | | of Texas flourish into the largest state within the |
| fulfill his dream. Rather, with the encouragement of | | | | contiguous United States with a population topping 25 |
| Stephen F Austin's mother, Mary Brown Austin, her | | | | million. The city of Austin continues to thrive, ranked |
| son would follow through on the family plan and | | | | as the third fastest growing city in the nation and has |
| settle the new land. | | | | become the reality of Stephen F. Austin's last words |
| The Austin plan was taking shape until a political | | | | on his deathbed: "The independence of Texas is |
| upheaval disrupted operations, when Mexico declared | | | | recognized, don't you see it in the newspapares"? |
| its independence from Spain, and would no longer | | | | Monuments dedicated to the distinguished Stephen F. |
| honor the land grant issues by the Spanish | | | | Austin may be found at: |
| government. It would not be until 1823 that Stephen | | | | 1. Austin College, a liberal arts institution in conjunction |
| F. Austin would be granted permission to bring 300 | | | | with the Presbyterian Church located in Sherman, |
| families to the Texas frontier and make his new | | | | Texas. |
| colony a success. | | | | 2. Nacogdoches County, the home of Stephen F. |
| By December 1836, just after civil unrest and the | | | | Austin |
| Texas Revolution, Stephen F. Austin would run for | | | | 3. Gulf Prairie Cemetery in Jones Creek, which |
| president of the newly formed Texas Republic, but | | | | contains the original burial site before Austin was |
| would be defeated by political statesman and army | | | | transferred to Texas State Cemetery. |
| man, Sam Houston. However, Houston would appoint | | | | 4. Austin State Park and San Felipe State Historical |
| the young Austin as Secretary of State to the | | | | Site for a seated statue of Austin. |
| Republic of Texas, although he only served two | | | | 5. At the death site near West Columbia, Texas, a |
| months before his death. | | | | memorial stone commemorates the life of Stephen F. |
| During a brutal December winter in 1836, Stephen F. | | | | Austin. |