165
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1850
2 This was Robert Simpson Neighbors (November 3, 1815-September 14, 1859), son of William and Elizabeth (Elam) Neighbors, who was born and reared to young manhood in Virginia. He was the youngest of nine children. His father, a Virginia planter who owned twenty-five slaves, also was a preached and a teacher. Both parents died when Robert was scarcely a year old. He was taken into the home of his maternal grandmother, where he remained until he was nineteen years old. All his brothers and sisters had emigrated westward, some stopping in Kentucky, others going on to Belleville, Illinois. Robert Simpson came south. He lived for a few months in Louisiana, but arrived in Texas in the spring of 1836. He came just a little too late to participate in the battle of San Jacinto, but he immediately enlisted in the Texas volunteer army, and on August 24, 1836, we find him a member of Company C, 1st Texas Rangers, Robert Coleman being captain. (See Munster Roll Book, p. 127, General Land Office of Texas.) In 1839 he joined the regular Texas army, and on January 30, was com- missioned a first lieutenant (E. W. Winkler, Secret Jom-nals of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 18J6-1845, p. 136), and served as acting quarter-master for two years, during which time he handled and controlled large sums of money. (See Public Debt Papers, Texas State Library.) While he was acting as quartermaster, President Lamar gave him a captain's commission on December 11, 1841. In this position his salary was $50 per month. (See Army Disbursements, Accounts, and Vouchers, 1839-1840), Texas State Library.) During 1842 he served out several short-period enlistments: as first lieutenant, Louis P. Cooke's company of Mounted Gunmen, April 2-27. Throughout this entire enlistment he commanded the company, Cooke being sick (See Comptroller's Military Service Records, Texas State Library); next he enlisted under General Burleson after the capture of San Antonio by Vasquez, but after six weeks the company was disbanded ,vithout having seen any service (Army Papers, 1842, Texas State Library); and on Sep- tember 11, 1842, he was one of the forty-three prisoners taken at Bexar by General Adrian \Voll, when he captured the members of the District Court and other citizens. Along with these prisoners he was carried to Mexico, and after many bitter experiences was imprisoned at Perote. (See Frederick C. Chabot, The Perote P1·isoners, 95, and all other accounts of the Mier expedition.) Through the influence of Waddy Thompson, United States Minister to Mexico, the Bexar prisoners were released from Perote on l\larch 24, 1844, and were transported to New Orleans on the United States brig B<iinb1·idge. (See Tclegmvh <ind Tex<i,s Register, May 1, 1844.) From New Orleans, Neighbors arrived in Galveston on the Ne])t1mc, April 24, 1844. He went directly to Houston. As he himself says, he was almost starved to. death, and was determined again to have all he could eat; consequently, he was induced to open a hotel, the 1lfo.nsion House, at Houston. But his appetite was soon satisfied, and he discovered that he did not like the hotel business, so he sold out to T.. J. Perkins. (See Telegraph, and Texas Rcg·ister, January 10, 1845.) On February 12, 1845, Anson Jones appointed him agent to the Lipans and Tonkawas, and from that time until his death, he was destined to give much of his time to Indian affairs. He was an Indian agent after Sam Houston's own heart, for he was sympathetic, just, careful and always considerate of his uncivilized charges. Like Houston, he frequently asserted that the Indians were never the first to break a treaty or promise made
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