WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
345
invasions of Vasquez and Woll in the spring and late summer of that year. In 1844 he was appointed Treasurer for the Republic of Texas; in 1845, he acted as secretary of the convention that framed the first state constitution; and in February, 1846, he was chief clerk of the House of Representatives for the First State Legislature, but resigned after service of a few days in order to become the first Treasurer of the State of Texas, a position to which he was continuously elected until 1858. In 1860 he began a banking business at Austin, a member of the banking house of John M. Swisher & Company, which, in 1861, changed the firm name to Raymond and Swisher, and in 1868, to Raymond and White. James H. Raymond was one of the commissioners appointed to super- vise the erection of the physical plant of A. & M. College near Bryan, Texas. He was a member of the Episcopal Church from early youth, and served as warden of St. David's Episcopal Church at Austin for fifteen years. In 1845 he was married to Margaret Johnston of Troy, Ohio. He died October 30, 1897, at his home in Austin, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas. See Biogmphical Encyclopedia of Texaf! (South- ern Publishing Company, 1880), pp. 48-49; J. De Cordova, Texas, Her Resources a.nd He,· Public 1llen, 102; E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the Senate, Republic of Texcu1, 1896-1845, 268, 285, 298, 300, 301. Monument at grave in Oakwood Cemetery.
To THOMAS G. WESTERN 1 Executive Department, Washington, July 29th, 1844.
To T. G. Western, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Sir- I was gratified to receive your communication of the 26th instant. The intelligence given by Jim Shaw accords pretty much with my general opinion. There will be some stragglers from those tribes who have made peace with us, and seek to involve their nations in trouble and war. We find the same spirit among some of our own people, and must guard against the same thing among the savages. Inasmuch as Conner has been detained, Jim Shaw can now accompany him to the Comanches. You will so advise them. Let the Comanches come in if they wish peace, by the 15th of September, to Tawoccano Creek. Assure Conner and Shaw if there is a final peace made with the Comanches I will make them a handsome recompense. I have been informed since my return, within two days pm~t, that many of the Shawnee and Delaware Indians are in the neigh- borhood of Fanthorp's'.! with their peltries. You will do all in your power to induce Sloat to secure the asso- ciation of a sufficient number of friendly Indians to give security
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