History of the First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas Page: 4
31 p. illus. 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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Introduction
When in 1845 the seat of government of the Republic
of Texas was returned to Austin, the faith and
courage of the two or three hundred rugged pioneers
who had remained in the town during its years of
eclipse began to be justified. To be sure there was
no certainty until the election of 1850 that the capital
would not be changed at any time, yet the fact that
the government was here naturally brought many
new citizens. Besides numbers of people from the
United States began to pour into Texas after she
became a State in 1846, and some of them naturally
found their homes in the village that even then was
remarked by travelers for the beauty of its situation.
By the time the official census of 1850 was taken, the
population had increased to 628. Austin then was
just a struggling frontier village with log houses
scattered about on the hills, far enough apart to be
true to the desire of the old Texan not to have any
very close neighbors; and this in spite of the fact that
Indian attacks were likely enough to require the constant
presence of United States troops. On the hill where
the city hall now stands was the capitol building, at
first surrounded by a high palisade supplied with
numerous loop holes in case defense was necessary.
About half a mile east of this on what is known as
"Robertson Hill" stood the French embassy started
in 1840. Up the Avenue, whose width was expressive
of high hopes for a future city, straggled here and
there double log cabins, the quarters of the Treasurer,
the Comptroller, the Secretary of State, and the other
members of the official family. Yet there was a newspaper-The
Gazette-and a hotel. Everyone had
plenty of room, for though money was scarce, property
was not dear. In 1849 a lot on the Avenue actually
sold for $14.00.
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Brooks, Mrs. V. L. History of the First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas, book, 1923; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth33019/m1/5/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.