Martin Varner
Encyclopedia
Martin Varner was one of the original American settlers in Mexican Texas
, known as the Old Three Hundred
, and was a veteran of the Texas Revolution
.
, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
, he moved with his family to Warren County, Ohio
in 1791.
In 1815, Varner moved to Arkansas Territory
and joined with a group of like-minded individuals who moved on to the land south of the Red River
. They established the town of Jonesborough in what is now Red River County, Texas. Varner married Elizabeth Inglish (English) at Jonesborough on September 26, 1818.
.
Varner heard of Stephen F. Austin
's colony on the Brazos River
, and he went to see him, signing with the Old Three Hundred. Varner settled in Independence
temporarily.
In 1824, Varner was given Mexican
land grants in Brazoria
and Waller counties. His Brazoria County property was located outside of what is now West Columbia
, at what is now known as the Varner–Hogg Plantation State Historical Site
. Varner raised sugar cane on the property, and built a rum
distillery there. In 1834, Varner sold the property to Columbus Patton.
Varner participated in the Battle of Velasco
in 1832. He later served in the Army of the Republic of Texas
from April through July, 1836. He was awarded 320 acres (1.3 km²) of land in Wood County
for his service, but he and his family were forced to abandon their land during the Runaway Scrape
. For his service during the Battle of San Jacinto
, he received a further 640 acres (2.6 km²) in Wood County. He later joined his family in Lamar County, where he bought 1700 acres (6.9 km²) near Fort Lyday. He later moved back to Wood County, where he and his family became the first permanent settlers. He used the money from the sale of his plantation in Brazoria County to buy up the lands of other San Jacinto veterans.
During a land dispute with a neighbor, Varner was shot in the back and his son, Stephen F., was shot and killed by a Mexican named Gonzales. Martin Varner died three days later. A marker has been placed on the Wood County property by the Texas Historical Commission
.
Mexican Texas
Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico. The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very...
, known as the Old Three Hundred
Old Three Hundred
The Old Three Hundred is a term used to describe the 297 grantees, made up of families and some partnerships of unmarried men, who purchased 307 parcels of land from Stephen Fuller Austin and established a colony near present day Brenham in Washington County, Texas.Moses Austin was the original...
, and was a veteran of the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
.
Early years
Born in German TownshipGerman Township, Pennsylvania
German Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,595 at the 2000 census. McClellandtown is the township's largest village...
, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, he moved with his family to Warren County, Ohio
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
in 1791.
In 1815, Varner moved to Arkansas Territory
Arkansas Territory
The Territory of Arkansas, initially organized as the Territory of Arkansaw, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1819 until June 15, 1836, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas.-History:The...
and joined with a group of like-minded individuals who moved on to the land south of the Red River
Red River (Mississippi watershed)
The Red River, or sometimes the Red River of the South, is a major tributary of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in the southern United States of America. The river gains its name from the red-bed country of its watershed. It is one of several rivers with that name...
. They established the town of Jonesborough in what is now Red River County, Texas. Varner married Elizabeth Inglish (English) at Jonesborough on September 26, 1818.
Texas
In 1821, many of the Spanish colonies in the Americas gained independence. Among the new countries created as a result of the revolutions was MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Varner heard of Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
's colony on the Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
, and he went to see him, signing with the Old Three Hundred. Varner settled in Independence
Independence, Texas
Independence is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Texas, United States. Located twelve miles northeast of Brenham, it was founded in 1835 in Austin's colony of Anglo Americans. It became a Baptist religious and educational center of the Republic of Texas...
temporarily.
In 1824, Varner was given Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
land grants in Brazoria
Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a...
and Waller counties. His Brazoria County property was located outside of what is now West Columbia
West Columbia, Texas
West Columbia is a city in Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas within 50 miles of Eastern Columbia. The population was 4,255 at the 2000 census....
, at what is now known as the Varner–Hogg Plantation State Historical Site
Varner–Hogg Plantation State Historical Site
The Varner–Hogg Plantation State Historic Site is a historic site operated by the Texas Historical Commission. The site was the home of former Governor of Texas James S. Hogg and his family. The site is located outside of West Columbia, in Brazoria County....
. Varner raised sugar cane on the property, and built a rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
distillery there. In 1834, Varner sold the property to Columbus Patton.
Varner participated in the Battle of Velasco
Battle of Velasco
The Battle of Velasco, fought June 25–26, 1832, was the first true military conflict between Mexico and settlers in Texas. It began when Texan insurgents attacked Fort Velasco, located in what was then Velasco and what is now the present day city of Freeport...
in 1832. He later served in the Army of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
from April through July, 1836. He was awarded 320 acres (1.3 km²) of land in Wood County
Wood County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,752 people, 14,583 households, and 10,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 17,939 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
for his service, but he and his family were forced to abandon their land during the Runaway Scrape
Runaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight and subsequent hostilities that occurred, as Texan, Tejano, and American settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836....
. For his service during the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
, he received a further 640 acres (2.6 km²) in Wood County. He later joined his family in Lamar County, where he bought 1700 acres (6.9 km²) near Fort Lyday. He later moved back to Wood County, where he and his family became the first permanent settlers. He used the money from the sale of his plantation in Brazoria County to buy up the lands of other San Jacinto veterans.
During a land dispute with a neighbor, Varner was shot in the back and his son, Stephen F., was shot and killed by a Mexican named Gonzales. Martin Varner died three days later. A marker has been placed on the Wood County property by the Texas Historical Commission
Texas Historical Commission
The Texas Historical Commission is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the state of Texas. It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas....
.