October Timeline
October 1
1832 - The Convention of 1832 met at San Felipe de Austin. The colonists stated their support for a state givernment and asked for the repeal of the Law of April 6, 1830, or of the anti-colonization clause of this law.
1910 - The infamous Bonnie Parker was born on this day. She and Clyde Barrow would team up and cause untold death and destruction through Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma before finally being shot down by Texas Ranger Frank Hamer and his men.
October 2
1835 - The Battle of Gonzales was fought on the Guadalupe River. "Come and Take It" was the battle cry as the Texans hung on to a cannon given them by the Mexican government to discourage Indian attacks.
October 3
1788 - Lorenzo de Zavala was born.
1836 - The first Congress of the Republic of Texas met with 29 representatives and 14 senators.
1842 - President Sam Houston ordered that the Somervell Expedition (Mier Expedition) be organized.
October 4
1761 - Moses Austin was born in Connecticut.
1795 - Stephen F. Austin's friends and principal assistant, Samuel May Williams, was born.
1876 - Texas A & M began classes today and was dependent on state and federal aid.
October 5
1836 - William "Big Foot" Wallace came to Texas. When he was with the Mier Expedition, he drew a white bean and not an unlucky black bean.
October 6
1821 - Stephen F. Austin issued one of his first colonization permits to a personal friend, Josiah H. Bell. Columbia, the first capital of the Republic of Texas, was included in Bell's land.
1873 - Southwestern University in Georgetown began classes on this date.
October 7
1854 - Jefferson Davis, U.S. Secretary of War, ordered the establishment of Fort Davis in far West Texas. It served as a rest and water stop for miners, traders, settlers and army troops on their journey westward.
October 8
1838 - The Battle Creek Fight happened between surveyors and Kickapoo Indians in Navarro County. Twenty-five surveyors fought over three hundred Kickapoos, seven surveyors surviving.
October 9
1835 - At the Battle of Goliad, Texans led by James M. Collinsworth and Ben Milam captured Goliad from a group of about thirty Mexican soldiers. The soldiers were guarding provisions and weapons left in storage at Goliad by Gen. Cos before he marched to San Antonio.
October 10
1835 - The newspaper "Telegraph and Texas Register" was begun at San Felipe de Austin by Gail Borden.
1859 - M.B. Lamar returned to Texas after nearly two years as American minister to Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
1862 - Gen. J.B. Magruder was sent to Texas to command the Confederate forces here.
October 11
1878 - William Preston ("Wild Bill") Longley, killer of at least thirty-two men, was hung for the third time in Giddings, TX. He was first hung by a group of vigilantes, but as they rode away a shot was fired which severed the rope, and Bill lived. He was later hung again, and the rope broke. He was rehanged after this incident and died...third time the charm.
October 12
1849 - Fort Croghan was built in Burnet County.
October 13
1835 - The New Orleans Greys were organized to fight in the Texas Revolution.
1835 - Stephen F. Austin, who on the 11th had been elected commander-in-chief of the Texas Army, began marching with his volunteers to San Antonio.
1845 - Texans voted to accept annexation to the U.S. and a state constitution.
October 14
1890 - Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the U.S., was born in Denison.
October 15
1836 - The ad interim government was in effect from March 16, 1836 until October 16, 1836.
1853 - The first organized song festival in the state was held in New Braunfels. It was hosted by the German Singing Society.
October 16
1851 - William P. Longley, gunfighter, was born on this day in Austin County.
October 17
1830 - The Mexican Government established Fort Tenoxtitlan to stop immigration into Texas.
1835 - Daniel Parker introduced a resolution to create the Texas Rangers.
October 18
1839 - The Wharton arrived in Texas to become a part of the Texas Navy. In June, 1840, it protected the Texas coast when the Texas fleet left for Yucatan.
October 19
1909 - The Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers originated in Dallas. They helped organize parent-teacher associations in the schools of Texas.
October 20
1788 - Ben Milam was reportedly born on this day in Kentucky.
October 21
1822 - The Banco Nacional de Tejas, the first national bank in Texas, was established in San Antonio by order of Gov. Jose Felix Trespalacios.
October 22
1836 - David G. Burnet's term as ad interim president ended. Sam Houston, the only man to serve two terms as president of the Republic, took office.
October 23
1835 - During October, the Mexican Constitution of 1824 was officially voided by the Mexican government. The constitution had been supported by Texans but when Santa Anna declared himself dictator, Texans withdrew their support.
October 24
1835 - The Permanent Council, the first state government, organized at San Felipe this month. Three weeks later it was dissolved.
October 25
1693 - The last remaining priests and soldiers left the missions of East Texas. A decree ordering them to leave was issued by the Spanish government, but before the order was received the priests found out that the Indians planned to attack the inhabitants of the missions. Burying the mission bells, they packed what they could and left.
October 26
1848 - Fort Ringgold was established in Starr County.
1849 - Fort Gates was established near Gatesville to protect the area from Indians.
October 27
1806 - Juan Seguin was born in San Antonio.
October 28
1835 - James Fannin and James Bowie, with about 90 men, found themselves surrounded by nearly 400 Mexican soldiers near Mission Concepcion. The Texans won in 30 minutes' time.
1852 - Fort Chadbourne was established near Bronte.
1866 - Judge Roy Bean married Virginia Chavey. The union produced four children.
October 29
1858 - Having been wounded by Comanches the day before, Sul Ross started back to his home with a girl about eight that he had recaptured from the Comanche. He never found the girl's family so he raised her as his daughter.
1894 - The name of the Galveston Historical Society was changed to the Texas Historical Society.
October 30
1784 - Mary Austin Holley was born in England. She was the sister of Stephen F. Austin and did visit Texas in her lifetime. Her book "Texas" was marketed in November, 1836.
October 31
1917 - The Austin State School opened for children.