A History of Montgomery County, Texas

Montgomery County, Texas, was visited early by the Spanish explorers and missionaries. At one time the county was a site for a Spanish mission and several of the early famous Spanish itineraries passed through its boundaries.

During the empresario regime in Texas, Montgomery County was settled by the empresarios Stephen F Austin and Joseph Vehlein. Later their colonists took an active part in Texas' struggle for independence from Mexico. In the Consultation and Declaration of Independence conventions Montgomery County was well represented by men who later became her citizens. In combat with the Mexicans a whole company from Montgomery County served in Sam Houston's army in the battle of San Jacinto.

Montgomery County is the third county created by the Republic. It had its beginning by an act of the First Congress December 14, 1837. Ever since that date it has taken an active part in the making of history for Texas. Its towns and communities are among the oldest and most interesting in the state. Its churches, schools, lodges, and newspapers were among the first to be organized in Texas.

Throughout its existence Montgomery's citizens have taken a leading part in public affairs. During Adrian Woll's invasion of Texas from Mexico a company of Montgomery County's militia turned out to aid General Somervell; again during the Civil War a group of the county's citizens formed a company which fought bravely in General Hood's famous Texas Brigade.

In industries Montgomery County is richly endowed with three of the most important that Texas offords: oils, lumbering, and ranching. Farming also played an important part in Montgomery's industrial expansion. At one time it was noted for its tobacco industry, and cotton, before the Civil War, was raised extensively throughout the county. Its railroads have been active in helping Montgomery to expand.

The purpose of this thesis, therefore, has been to present a story of the history of Montgomery County for the first time, showing in that story the importance of the county as related to the history of Texas. Since no continuous history of the important events of the county has ever been compiled chronologically, this study attempts to give to the reader a panoramic view, integrating the available information concerning the origin and progress of the county.

 

Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION... 1
The study... 1
Purpose of the study... 1
Importance of the study... 1
Other studies... 2
Source of data and method of procedure... 2
Sources... 2
Method... 3
Organization of remainder of the thesis... 4
II. GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE AND EARLY INHABITANTS... 6
Geophysical and geographical structure... 6
Geophysical... 6
Geographical... 7
Indians... 9
Crcoquisac... 10
Bidai and Kickapoo... 12
Cenis... 13
Explorers and missionaries... 13
Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle... 13
Alonso de Leon... 15
Don Martin de Alarcon... 16
Pedro de Rivera... 17
Joaquin Orobio y Basterra... 17
Missions... 18

III. EMPRESSARIOS AND SETTLEMENT... 22
Empresarics... 22
Moses Austin... 22
Stephen F. Austin... 24
Hayden Edwards... 27
Joseph Veblcin... 31
Settlement... 33
Settlers... 33

IV. ORGANIZATION AND EARLY POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT... 38
Organization... 38
Creation... 38
Naming... 45
Political development... 48
County seat... 49
Courthouses... 49
Division of the county... 57

V. CITIES, TOWNS, AND COMMUNITIES... 63
Montgomery... 64
Danville... 79
Willis... 82
Conroe... 88
Security... 101
Cut 'n Shoot... 105
New Caney... 109
Fostoria... 109
Splendora... 110
Magnolia... 110

VI. IMPORTANT EVENTS, ISSUES, AND PEOPLE... 112
Consultation convention... 112
Declaration convention... 112
Battle of San Jacinto... 113
Selection of capitol site... 115
Well invasion... 118
Annexation convention... 124
Montgomery versus Willis... 126
Biographical sketches

VII. CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION... 144
Civil War... 144
Plantation and slaves... 144
Secession... 149
Army and county militia... 153
Reconstruction... 167
Emancipation... 167
Atrocities... 171
VIII. INSTITUTIONS AND INDUSTRIES... 178
Institutions... 178
Churches... 178
Baptist... 179
Methodist... 180
Schools... 182
Montgomery... 182
Montgomery Academy... 182
Jones Academy... 184
Public... 185
Conroe... 187
Newspapers... 191
Industries... 192
Early... 192
Lumbering... 196
Farming... 197
Ranching... 199
Oil... 199

IX. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS... 203
Summary... 203
Conclusions ... 208
BIBLIOGRAPHY... 209
APPENDIX... 215

 

Read the Book - Free

Download the Book ( 8.3 MB PDF ) - Free

Purpose of the study. The primary purpose of this study is (1) to give historical and unbiased facts concerning the county of Montgomery, Texas; (2) to present the events of historical significance as nearly as possible as they actually occurred; (3) to aid the people of Montgomery County, Texas, who are interested in the history of their county; and (4) to help preserve the historical data of the county.