Erasmo Seguín
Juan José María Erasmo de Jesús Seguin | |
---|---|
Postmaster of the City of San Antonio | |
In office 1807–1835 | |
87th Mayor of San Antonio | |
In office 1820–1821 | |
Quartermaster of Presidio San Antonio de Béxar | |
In office 1825–1835 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Chief Justice | May 26, 1782
Juan José María Erasmo de Jesús Seguín y Fuentes (May 26, 1782 – October 30, 1857) was a prominent citizen and politician in San Antonio de Bexar (modern-day
Early life and his family
Juan Jose Maria Erasmo de Jesús Seguín was born on May 26, 1782, to a family of French descent in San Antonio de Bexar (now San Antonio, Texas, USA).[1] His paternal grandfather, Bartolomé Seguin, had moved to Spanish Texas from the Mexican interior soon after the founding of the town in 1718.[2] Seguin's parents, Santiago Seguín and Maria Guadalupe Fuentes, had seven children; Erasmo was the third.[1]
Seguin married María Josefa Becerra, daughter of a non-commissioned officer from
Although the Seguin family lived in Bexar, on the south side of Main Plaza facing Nueva (between current Main and Dwyer), they also owned a ranch of 22,000 acres (8,900 ha) located 30 miles (48 km) from Bexar in present Karnes County. The land had been purchased from the Missión San Antonio de Valero after its secularization. The ranch was named La Mora, and by 1810 Seguin employed five vaqueros to work it.[3]
After 1824, he added a 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) ranch located on present-day River Bend Golf Club near Floresville. On this estate he made a home, on a rise overlooking the San Antonio River; [1] it would become known as Casa Blanca.[4] Here, Seguin raised animals and farmed cotton and corn. It would become an important source of supply for the Texan army. Seguín received additional income from his appointment as postmaster; he served in this capacity from 1807 until 1835, with two brief breaks.[1][5]
Mexican Revolution
During the Mexican War of Independence, Seguin likely sympathized with the rebellion. In January 1811, Juan Bautista de las Casas led a revolt in Bexar, overthrowing governor Manuel María de Salcedo and appointing himself head of a new Mexican state. His arbitrary rule caused much dissatisfaction within Texas, and Seguin helped to organize the counterrevolt that deposed de las Casas. A governing council was created to help lead the province until Spanish troops could regain control; Seguin held one of the seats.[1]
In 1813, Governor Salcedo was again overthrown, this time by the
Several years later, Arredondo offered a blanket pardon to most
Texas colonization
In the early 1820s, the Spanish government reversed a long-standing policy against immigration. For the first time, people would be allowed to settle in Texas from other countries, including the neighboring United States. In 1821, the governor of Spanish Texas, Antonio María Martínez, asked Seguin to act as ambassador to Moses Austin and inform him that he had been awarded the first colonization contract.[1] Several months later, Seguin and Juan Martín de Veramendi met Austin's son, Stephen at Natchitoches and escorted him into Texas. The small group explored a large area in eastern Texas. Three weeks into their trip, several of Seguin's employees found them to deliver the news that Mexico had been granted its independence from Spain.[8]
In its initial years of existence, Mexico was in much political turmoil. In late 1823, authorities called for a constitutional convention. Seguin was elected as the only delegate to represent Texas. For the next eight months, he and the other representatives worked to draft a constitution. The
Texas Revolution
Texas colonists held several meetings and conventions to discuss their grievances with Mexican governance. Most of these were considered illegal by contemporary Mexican law and lacked in attendance by native Texans.[12] Austin tried to persuade Seguín to support the resolutions sought by the colonists. Austin went directly to San Antonio de Béxar to meet with Seguin after the Convention of 1833 adjourned on April 14.[13] Seguin called a series of meetings, held from May 3 to 5, for prominent locals to discuss the convention proceedings. He was the only Béxar politician to fully support separate statehood.[14]
The
During the revolution, Seguin supplied the Texian army with beef, cattle, horses, and corn, as well as rockets for the
Later life
After the revolution, Erasmo tried to rebuild his wealth. Erasmo Seguín was named a Chief Justice of Bexar County from December 18, 1837, until January 9, 1840.[17] Things were going well, but in 1842, the tide again turned against him. He was accused of being disloyal to Texas. Casa Blanca was raided by Texan rustlers and his cattle herds stolen. His son would end up fleeing the country for his life, suggesting that Erasmo should join him. However, Erasmo held on. Most other Anglo-Texans would trust and support Erasmo Seguin and nothing would become of the charges against him.
In 1848, his son returned to the ranch, where Erasmo remained farming and ranching, until his death on October 30, 1857. Erasmo was buried next to his wife in the family plot on Casa Blanca, in Floresville, Texas.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i de la Teja, Jesús, "SEGUÍN, JUAN JOSÉ MARÍA ERASMO", Handbook of Texas, Texas State Historical Association, retrieved 2009-02-04
- ^ a b Meier, Franco Serri, and Garcia (1997), p. 359.
- ^ a b c Edmondson (2000), p. 51.
- ^ a b c de la Teja (1991), p. 5.
- ^ de la Teja (1991), p. 4.
- ^ a b Edmonson (2000), p. 52.
- ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 53.
- ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 60.
- ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 71.
- ^ a b Edmondson (2000), pl 72.
- ISBN 9780807888933.
- ^ Davis, p.91-93.
- ^ Davis, p.99.
- ^ Barker (Jan 1943), p. 331.
- ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 219.
- ^ "Muster at Gonzales & Battle of Bexar 3".
- ^ Robert Stafford, Bexar County Past Judicial Records Archived 2011-06-20 at the Wayback Machine
References
- Barker, Eugene C. (January 1943). "Native Latin American Contribution to the Colonization and Independence of Texas". Southwestern Historical Quarterly. 46 (3). Texas State Historical Association: 317–335. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
- ISBN 978-1-58544-532-5. originally published 2004 by New York: Free Press
- Edmondson, J.R. (2000). The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts. Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press. ISBN 1-55622-678-0.
- Meier, Matt S.; Franco Serri, Conchita; Garcia, Richard A. (1997). Notable Latino Americans: A Biographical Dictionary. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-585-38908-0.
- del la Teja, Jesus (1991). A Revolution Remembered: The Memoirs and Selected Correspondence of Juan N. Seguin. Austin, TX: State House Press. ISBN 0-938349-68-6.