Indelible Footprints in San Felipe de Austin: Trailhead to Texas Independence

by Kathleen Dennis Kelly

San Felipe de Austin was Ground Zero for the establishment of Texas, yet little is written about it. One of the most important figures of the time was Samuel May Williams, the secretary of Stephen F. Austin and the person who issued land titles to the original colonists. Yet Williams' name has been virtually erased from the narrative of Texas history. Why? This book pulls back the curtain on the story of how Texas was established and looks at the settlers, the land and the lives of the "Old Three Hundred". Instead of rehashing the laws and politics of the time, first-hand accounts, letters, diaries and receipts piece together the thoughts and actions of those first intrepid settlers creating a fulsome understanding of the times they lived in. Samuel May Williams managed the land office on his property on Garden Lot 26 in the colonial headquarters. Even after he moved away, the land was pressed into service in many important ways. Both Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston used the property before the Texas Revolution. What happened there? Was the entire town really burned to the ground? Therein lies the story and the house and land become the protagonist of the story.

242 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2019

Reviews

[Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy Texas history, this book is a must read. Simple, straightforward, and to the point. Kelly does not beat around the bush getting to the point and what she’s examining. Many books would take 3 times as many pages to cover the same information.