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190 Our Catnouc Heritage in Te:za.s early June Moses Austin was ready to start from Mine a Burton on his great enterprise. Desiring to visit his daughter, Mrs. James Bryan, before setting out for Texas, he went to Hazel Run. There the intrepid pioneer, well beyond sixty, weakened by his return journey and his feverish activities in preparing for the venture, contracted pneumonia and died on June 10, 1821. 27 Tiu Ste,plun F. Austin colony. Upon the broad shoulders of his son Stephen now fell the gigantic task of carving an empire out of the Texas wilderness, for it was Moses's dying wish that Stephen "go on with the business in the same way he would have done." A young man of twenty-seven, Stephen was singularly well prepared for the heavy responsibility. With more than a fair education for the times, he had served five years in the Missouri Territory Legislature and had subsequently been appointed a district judge in the Territory of Arkansas. He had, moreover, engaged in various kinds of business in Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana. More important still, he was "acquainted from childhood with the characteristic social types that mingled on the south- western border." 21 This patient, methodical, energetic young man faced calmly the task which was to be his all-absorbing interest for the rest of his life. Eight days after his father's death, Stephen F. Austin, with eight or ten men, boarded the steamboat Beaver for Natchitoches on June 18, 1821, where he was to meet the escort sent by Governor Martinez. There he was greeted on June 26 by Erasmo Seguin, J. M. Beramendi and several other Spaniards. The party arrived in San Antonio on August 12, and was cordially received by Governor Martinez. Stephen was formally recognized as the heir to his father's grant, and arrangements were made for the early establishment of the proposed colony. It was agreed that Austin was to explore the lands along the Colorado to its mouth for a suitable site. Provisions, tools and farm implements were to be introduced free of duty through the -fecently authorized port of St. Bernard. Austin was to pass on the good character of the immigrant candidates, and to govern the colony .until a local administration could be set up and start functioning. Austin drew up a memorandum setting forth a plan for the distri- bution of land to the colonists who were to be introduced under the
27 Barker, o;. eil., 30-31. •Ibid., 24.
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