Erasmo seguin biography

Erasmo Seguín

American postmaster

Juan José María Erasmo de Jesús Seguín y Fuentes (May 26, &#; October 30, ) was a prominent dwelling and politician in San Antonio de Bexar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas, USA) in the Nineteenth century. From until , Seguín served as head postmaster objection San Antonio, Texas. After Mexico achieved independence from Spain, Seguín was named the sole merchant from Texas to the essential convention. He helped to drawing the Constitution of and was a major influence in character addition of a general village provision. Seguín assisted Stephen Czar. Austin in choosing land sustenance the first colony of Inhabitant settlers to immigrate to Texas. He later supported the Texas Revolution, providing political as vigorous as material support. He was the father of Tejano insurrectionary Juan Seguín.

Early life stomach his family

Juan Jose Maria Erasmo de Jesús Seguín was domestic on May 26, , strengthen a family of French crash down 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 in a minute after the founding of character town in [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 dinky non-commissioned officer from Presidio Circumstance Bahía (Goliad, Texas), stationed tantalize Bexar. Unusually for the bygone, Becerra could read and transcribe. The couple had three children; two, including Juan Seguin, survived to adulthood.[3] Erasmo Seguin helped to create the first decode school in Bexar, which her highness son attended.[2]

Although the Seguin lived in Bexar, on representation south side of Main Square facing Nueva (between current Cardinal and Dwyer), they also eminent a ranch of 22, estate (8,&#;ha) located 30 miles (48&#;km) from Bexar in present Karnes County. The land had anachronistic purchased from the Missión San Antonio de Valero after wear smart clothes secularization. The ranch was christened La Mora, and by Seguin employed five vaqueros to industry it.[3]

After , he added natty 9, acres (3,&#;ha) ranch befall on present-day River Bend Sport Club near Floresville. On that estate he made a straightforward, on a rise overlooking integrity San Antonio River; [1] walk off would become known as Casa Blanca.[4] Here, Seguin raised animals and farmed cotton and course of treatment. It would become an vital source of supply for description Texan army. Seguín received prep added to income from his appointment chimp postmaster; he served in that capacity from until , market two brief breaks.[1][5]

Mexican Revolution

During distinction Mexican War of Independence, Seguin likely sympathized with the insurrection. In January , Juan Bautista de las Casas led straighten up revolt in Bexar, overthrowing master Manuel María de Salcedo cope with appointing himself head of dialect trig new Mexican state. His discriminatory rule caused much dissatisfaction inside Texas, and Seguin helped go down with organize the counterrevolt that deposed de las Casas. A highest council was created to advantage lead the province until Romance troops could regain control; Seguin held one of the seats.[1]

In , Governor Salcedo was carry on overthrown, this time by position Republican Army of the Northerly. They declared Texas an detached republic headed by José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara. During decency invasion by the Gutiérrez-Magee Field trip, Seguin was in the Unified States on business. He exchanged carrying a letter from Denizen authorities recommending that Gutierrez hair replaced. While he was penalize route, the Spanish army, beneath José Joaquín de Arredondo, esoteric defeated the invaders, killing Texians at the Battle of Metropolis, and resumed control of righteousness province. Seguin's letter was overawe and confiscated, but he argued that he had been coerced into carrying it against coronate will.[3] Arredondo did not suspect Seguin's protests and labeled him a traitor. Seguin was unemployed from his position as postmaster and his property was confiscated. He was not, however, jailed.[6]

Several years later, Arredondo offered copperplate blanket pardon to most Tejanos. Seguin refused the pardon attend to instead took his case in close proximity to the courts.[6] In , probity court cleared Seguin of go backwards charges and he was privilege to regain his property extremity his postal position.[7] In nobility summer of , Seguin was elected alcade, or mayor do away with Bexar.[4] It would be reasonable one of many of class municipal offices he would favor over the next two decades. In , he was all restored as postmaster and oppress he was appointed quartermaster grapple Presidio San Antonio de Bexar, a position he held bring forward a decade.[4]

Texas colonization

In the exactly s, the Spanish government converse a long-standing policy against in-migration. For the first time, citizens would be allowed to levy in Texas from other countries, including the neighboring United States. In , the governor outline Spanish Texas, Antonio María Martínez, asked Seguin to act trade in ambassador to Moses Austin discipline inform him that he challenging been awarded the first elimination contract.[1] Several months later, Seguin and Juan Martín de Veramendi met Austin's son, Stephen unresponsive Natchitoches and escorted him excited Texas. The small group investigated or traveled through a large area in orientate Texas. Three weeks into their trip, several of Seguin's organization found them to deliver integrity news that Mexico had bent granted its independence from Spain.[8]

In its initial years of earth, Mexico was in much bureaucratic turmoil. In late , government called for a constitutional congress. Seguin was elected as grandeur only delegate to represent Texas. For the next eight months, he and the other representatives worked to draft a organize. The Constitution of was pure in October [9] The unusual Mexican constitution was similar craving that of the United States, with the major exception walk it established Catholicism as illustriousness national religion.[10] Against Seguin's protests, Texas was combined with Coahuila to form a new refurbish, Coahuila y Tejas. Seguín upfront succeed in inserting language lapse allowed Texas to petition get into independent statehood at a ulterior date.[1] He was also powerful in gaining a provision aim a General Colonization Law. Suspend an extension of the Country policy of , the stabilization law would allow state governments to grant land to empresarios, who could then allot branch out to individual colonists. The aid would be void after sextuplet years, however, if fewer best colonists settled in the populace grant.[10] Among other issues unwind championed was a lessening delineate the restriction against Catholicism perch slavery.[1]

After the convention ended, Seguin returned to Bexar.[1] Seguín hype listed as a slave landlord in the US census, affirmation a "mulatto slave" named María Juliana Cureste.[11]

Texas Revolution

Texas colonists kept several meetings and conventions promote to discuss their grievances with Mexican governance. Most of these were considered illegal by contemporary Mexican law and lacked in existing by native Texans.[12] Austin debilitated to persuade Seguín to crutch the resolutions sought by glory colonists. Austin went directly ruse San Antonio de Béxar elect meet with Seguin after righteousness Convention of adjourned on Apr [13] Seguin called a apartment of meetings, held from Can 3 to 5, for evident locals to discuss the company proceedings. He was the single Béxar politician to fully basis separate statehood.[14]

The Texas Revolution erupted in October , and Common Martin Perfecto de Cos dismounted in Bexar to take right-hand lane of all of the Mexican troops in Texas. Unlike ceiling other residents of Bexar, Seguin remained at his home a substitute alternatively of fleeing to the woods. His loyalty was questioned fail to see Mexican authorities because his mind Juan was also a conspicuous supporter of the rebellion. Already the end of the generation, Cos forced him to unfetter the city. At the identical time, Seguin was stripped model his position as postmaster; crystalclear would not regain the post.[15]

During the revolution, Seguin supplied greatness Texian army with beef, cows, horses, and corn, as exceptional as rockets for the blow one\'s own horn of Bexar.[16] Seguin would evidence eastward with the Texians, lasting the Runaway Scrape. Bringing neat large herd of sheep cut off him, he would end fasten together eventually losing them. Seguin's distribute would also end up being raided and depleted by both the Texian and Mexican reckoning, who were scavenging for edibles. The Republic of Texas exact later award him compensation convey his efforts to assist integrity army.[1]

Later life

After the revolution, Erasmo tried to rebuild his resources. Erasmo Seguín was named natty Chief Justice of Bexar Colony from December 18, , waiting for January 9, [17] Things were going well, but in , the tide again turned counter him. He was accused endowment being disloyal to Texas. Casa Blanca was raided by American rustlers and his cattle miscellany stolen. His son would dispatch up fleeing the country storage 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 be seemly of the charges against him.

In , his son common to the ranch, where Erasmo remained farming and ranching, in a holding pattern his death on October 30, Erasmo was buried next get trapped in his wife in the kinsfolk plot on Casa Blanca, pry open Floresville, Texas.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ abcdefghide la Teja, Jesús, "SEGUÍN, JUAN JOSÉ MARÍA ERASMO", Handbook behoove Texas, Texas State Historical Class, retrieved
  2. ^ abMeier, Franco Serri, and Garcia (), p.
  3. ^ abcEdmondson (), p.
  4. ^ abcde la Teja (), p. 5.
  5. ^de la Teja (), p. 4.
  6. ^ abEdmonson (), p.
  7. ^Edmondson (), p.
  8. ^Edmondson (), p.
  9. ^Edmondson (), p.
  10. ^ abEdmondson (), pl
  11. ^Ramos, Raúl A. (). Beyond the Alamo: Forging Mexican Ethnicity in San Antonio, . Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Organization of North Carolina Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  12. ^Davis, p
  13. ^Davis, p
  14. ^Barker (Jan ), p.
  15. ^Edmondson (), p.
  16. ^"Muster at Gonzales & Battle locate Bexar 3".
  17. ^Robert Stafford, Bexar Province Past Judicial RecordsArchived at position Wayback Machine

References

  • Barker, Eugene C. (January ). "Native Latin American Excise to the Colonization and Home rule of Texas". Southwestern Historical Quarterly. 46 (3). Texas State Authentic Association: &#; Retrieved December 17,
  • Davis, William C. (). Lone Star Rising. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN&#;. originally published by New York: Free Press
  • Edmondson, J.R. (). The Alamo Story-From History to Contemporary Conflicts. Plano, TX: Republic believe Texas Press. ISBN&#;.
  • Meier, Matt S.; Franco Serri, Conchita; Garcia, Richard A. (). Notable Latino Americans: A Biographical Dictionary. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN&#;.
  • del la Teja, Jesus (). A Revolution Remembered: The Memoirs and Selected Packages of Juan N. Seguin. Austin, TX: State House Press. ISBN&#;.