Erasmo Seguín facts for kids

Juan Jose Maria Erasmo Seguín (born May 26, 1782 – died October 30, 1857) was an important leader and politician in San Antonio, Texas during the 1800s. He worked as the head postmaster for San Antonio from 1807 to 1835. After Mexico became independent from Spain, Seguín was chosen to represent Texas at a special meeting to write a new constitution.

He helped create the Constitution of 1824. He also played a big part in adding a rule that allowed people from other countries to settle in Texas. Seguín helped Stephen F. Austin pick land for the first American settlers in Texas. Later, he supported the Texas Revolution, giving both political help and supplies. He was the father of another famous Texan leader, Juan Seguín.

Erasmo Seguín's Early Life and Family

Juan Jose Maria Erasmo de Jesús Seguín was born on May 26, 1782. His family was of French background and lived in San Antonio de Bexar. Today, this city is known as San Antonio, Texas. His grandfather, Bartolomé Seguin, had moved to Spanish Texas from Mexico. This was soon after San Antonio was founded in 1718. Erasmo was the third of seven children born to Santiago Seguín and Maria Guadalupe Fuentes.

Seguín married María Josefa Becerra. She was the daughter of an officer stationed in Bexar. It was unusual for women at that time, but María Josefa could read and write. They had three children, but only two lived to be adults. One of their surviving children was Juan Seguin, who also became a famous leader. Erasmo Seguin helped start the first public school in Bexar, which his son Juan attended.

The Seguín family lived in Bexar, near the Main Plaza. They also owned a large ranch called La Mora. This ranch was about 22,000 acres and was located about 30 miles from Bexar. Today, this area is in Karnes County, Texas. The family bought this land from the Alamo Mission after it was no longer a church. By 1810, Seguín had five vaqueros (cowboys) working on his ranch.

After 1824, he bought another ranch of 9,000 acres. This ranch was near Floresville, Texas. He built a home there called Casa Blanca, which means "White House." It was on a hill overlooking the San Antonio River. At Casa Blanca, Seguín raised animals and grew cotton and corn. This ranch became an important place for supplying the Texan army. Seguín also earned money as the postmaster, a job he held from 1807 to 1835.

Erasmo Seguín and the Mexican Revolution

During the Mexican War of Independence, Seguín likely supported the fight for freedom. In January 1811, Juan Bautista de las Casas led a revolt in Bexar. He took over as governor, but his rule caused many problems. Seguín helped organize a counter-revolt to remove de las Casas. A council was formed to lead the province, and Seguín was one of its members.

In 1813, Governor Salcedo was overthrown again. This time, it was by the Republican Army of the North. They declared Texas an independent republic. During this time, Seguín was in the United States for business. He returned with a letter from American officials. This letter suggested that the new leader, José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara, should be replaced.

While Seguín was traveling, the Spanish army defeated the invaders. They killed many Texians at the Battle of Medina. The Spanish regained control of Texas. Seguín's letter was found, and he was accused of being a traitor. He lost his job as postmaster and his property was taken away. However, he was not put in jail.

Several years later, the Spanish general offered a pardon to most Tejanos (Texans of Mexican heritage). Seguín refused the pardon. Instead, he went to court to clear his name. In 1818, the court found him innocent. He got his property and his postmaster job back. In 1820, Seguín was elected alcade, or mayor of Bexar. He held many local government jobs over the next twenty years. In 1822, he was fully restored as postmaster. In 1825, he became the quartermaster for Presidio San Antonio de Bexar, a job he kept for ten years.

Texas Colonization and New Laws

In the early 1820s, the Spanish government changed its rules about immigration. For the first time, people from other countries, including the United States, could settle in Texas. In 1821, the governor of Spanish Texas asked Seguín to meet Moses Austin. Seguín was to tell Austin that he had been given the first contract to bring settlers to Texas.

A few months later, Seguín and Juan Martín de Veramendi met Austin's son, Stephen, and brought him to Texas. The group explored a large area in eastern Texas. During their trip, Seguín's employees brought news that Mexico had won its independence from Spain.

Mexico faced many political challenges in its early years. In late 1823, leaders called for a meeting to write a constitution. Seguín was chosen as the only person to represent Texas. For eight months, he and other representatives worked on the new constitution. The Constitution of 1824 was signed in October 1824. This new Mexican constitution was similar to the United States Constitution. However, it made Catholicism the official national religion.

Seguín argued against it, but Texas was combined with Coahuila to form a new state called Coahuila y Tejas. Still, Seguín succeeded in adding a rule that allowed Texas to ask for its own statehood later. He also helped create the General Colonization Law. This law allowed state governments to give land to empresarios (land agents). These agents could then give land to individual settlers. However, if fewer than 100 settlers moved to the land within six years, the grants would be canceled. Seguín also worked to reduce restrictions against Catholicism.

After the meeting, Seguín returned to Bexar.

Erasmo Seguín and the Texas Revolution

Texas colonists held several meetings to discuss their problems with Mexican rule. Most of these meetings were against Mexican law. Not many native Texans attended them. Stephen F. Austin tried to convince Seguín to support the colonists' requests. Austin went to San Antonio de Béxar to meet with Seguín after a meeting in April 1833.

Seguín then called a series of meetings from May 3 to 5. Important local leaders discussed the convention's ideas. Seguín was the only politician from Béxar who fully supported Texas becoming a separate state.

The Texas Revolution began in October 1835. General Martin Perfecto de Cos arrived in Bexar to take command of all Mexican troops in Texas. Unlike most other people in Bexar, Seguín stayed at his home. Mexican authorities questioned his loyalty because his son, Juan, also strongly supported the rebellion. Before the end of the year, Cos forced Seguín to leave the city. At the same time, Seguín lost his job as postmaster and never got it back.

During the revolution, Seguín provided the Texian army with food like beef, cattle, horses, and corn. He also supplied rockets for the Siege of Bexar. Seguín traveled eastward with the Texians during the Runaway Scrape, a time when many people fled from the Mexican army. He brought a large group of sheep with him, but he eventually lost them. Both the Texian and Mexican armies raided and took supplies from Seguín's ranch. Later, the Republic of Texas paid him for his help to the army.

Later Life

After the revolution, Erasmo Seguín worked to rebuild his wealth. He was named a Chief Justice of Bexar County from December 18, 1837, to January 9, 1840. Things were going well for him. But in 1842, problems arose again. He was accused of not being loyal to Texas. His home, Casa Blanca, was raided by Texan cattle thieves, and his herds were stolen. His son had to leave the country for his safety and suggested Erasmo join him. However, Erasmo stayed. Most other Anglo-Texans trusted and supported Erasmo Seguín, and the accusations against him did not lead to any charges.

In 1848, his son returned to the ranch. Erasmo continued farming and ranching until he passed away on October 30, 1857. Erasmo was buried next to his wife in the family burial ground at Casa Blanca, in Floresville, Texas.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Erasmo Seguín para niños