A Vivid, Powerful, Unpublished Description of Rough Frontier Life in the Texas Republic by One of That Republic’s First Settlers

“On their retreat [the Indians] wantonly murdered some children for the purpose of satisfying some old grudge… We succeeded in finding the Indians and brought the gentlemen to law, only taking a small piece of skin from the crown of their head about 4 inches square.

 

“A few months will decide the question whether Texas will be crowned with laurels or sink unnoticed into oblivion. But before that time the panaries will whiten alike with the works of the brave men and the coward, the food men and the villains. For Texas is settled by a few from every nation of the earth”

On the early settlers: “The long and short is: he does nothing, he makes nothing.”

Texas officially became the 28th U.S. state on December 29, 1845. Sam Houston, hero of Texan independence, who had led the Republic of Texas prior to statehood, became a U.S. Senator from that now-state. Prior to that time, from 1836, it operated as a Republic with Houston as its President.

Peter F. Rodan, although little is known of him, was evidently a member of a militia stationed at Fort Boggy, who had gone to Texas from Iowa for adventure and stayed there. He was witness to some scenes of the growth of Texas, the depravities of lawlessness, and the early development of the land.

In this remarkable, unpublished letter, Rodan, discusses:

The Texan Indian wars: Sam Houston had helped negotiate temporary treaties in 1842-43. But the peace was tenuous, as this letter attests. Just 2 months after this letter was written, a more permanent settlement would be reached. The Treaty of Tehuacana Creek was signed on October 9, 1844 between representatives from the Republic of Texas and various Native American tribes. The tribes involved in the signing of the treaty were the Comanche, the Keechi, the Waco, Caddo, Anadarko, Ioni, Delaware, Shawnee, Cherokee, Lipan Apache, and Tawakoni. Based on the terms of the treaty, both Native Americans and Texans agreed to cease all hostilities and establish more cooperative political and commercial ties.

The Mier expedition: an unsuccessful operation launched in late 1842 by a Texian militia against Mexican border settlements. The Texian attack was launched partly in hopes of financial gain and partly in retaliation for the Dawson Massacre (as named by Texans) earlier that year, in which thirty-six Texas militia were killed by the Mexican Army. Both conflicts were part of continuing efforts by each side to control the land between the Rio Grande and Nueces River. The Republic of Texas believed that the territory had been ceded to it in the Treaties of Velasco by which it gained independence, but Mexico did not agree. The expedition is best known for the Black Bean Episode, in which the Mexican Army decimated escaped prisoners, selecting for execution one in ten prisoners by drawing beans from a pot.

Autograph letter signed, by P.F. Rodan to his father David in Iowa, from Fort Boggy, Tx, August 24, 1844. Various spelling conventions have been modernized to allow for reading. “Dear Parents, It affords me much pleasure in having this opportunity of sending this by a man going to the Northwest of Arkansas. I am happy to inform you that I am well, in hope that this shall find each and all of you in health and prosperity. I am sorry to have to remind you that I have not received the scribe of a pen from you in 14 months. I have wrote to you in one of them and requested you to write and direct your letter to Vanburing (Van Buren) State of Arkansas as I expected to pass through that place.

“But on the very eve of starting to see you all, a volunteer company was wanted to spy out some Indians that had come into the settlements under the mask of friendship and on their retreat wantonly murdered some children for the purpose of satisfying some old grudge, although at that time had come upon Terms of Treaty and has since been completely ratified. No depredations like murder have been committed since that time but they have commenced upon stealing excursions and drove off fifty head of horses at one drive. We succeeded in finding the Indians and brought the gentlemen to tow, only taking a small piece of skin from the crown of their head about 4 inches square.

“This country is about to be theatened with a foreign war by England and Mexico. Drafts have been held in several counties to march to the Rio Grande to intercept the Mexicans on their approach. A great number of our citizens taken at the Battle of Meir is yet prisoners in Mexico and their prospects of their releasement is at this time very doubtful. A great number of them have died through the severity of their treatment and prevailing epidemics.

“Crops this year will be cut very short on account of the drought. Corn is worth 75 cents per bushel. Sweet potatoes 50 cents per bushel… Wheat oats and barley none. Pork heretofore has been $10 per hundred. It is now reduced to $2 per hundred. This is the best home range in the world. They live entirely in the woods. The varmint is the only obstacle to their progress. Emigration to this country is measurably stopped on account of the rumors of war.

“A few months will decide the question whether Texas will be crowned with laurels or sink unnoticed into oblivion. But before that time the panaries (?) will whiten alike with the works of the brave men and the coward, the food men and the villains. For Texas is settled by a few from every nation of the earth, some of whose crimes can not be aggravated consequently. Villainy is practiced in all its forms in many parts of the different counties. It has completely got the sway. The members of those clubs are generally large negro holders and able to protected themselves from the executing of justice. Only a few days ago 200 of them imbedded against the civil authorities. I have not heard if it has terminated.

“But I do not wish by this statement to prejudice you against Texas. For take it with all its ills and woes, its climate and its soil. It is the best poor mans country that ever I was in. They live at home. They live rough but they have not gails; nor rents to pay….. The long and short is: he does nothing, he makes nothing.

“A single gentleman of good reputation can marry well but for my part I have not intention of settling until I see you all. Tell my dear mother that I am truly sorry even on my knees. Could I supplicate her forgiveness…. When I recall my numerous failures, when I regret that I have promised her as her dutiful son and pledged my honor as a gentleman…. I have been a freeman and not a prisoner. What then shall I say for justification? I have apologized in my other letters until you have doubted my veracity. I am well aware that I have caused my dear mother to look a thousand times the way that she expected me to come. I know that she has counted the days and weeks until the set time when then she only met with the awkward feelings of disappointment. Her anxiety is equaled at this moment by my regret. I this been my fate and not my will. As such I will leave it with you.

“My love to each of my sisters. Tell to love and obey their mother, to be her comfort in old age. It is a satisfaction to me to believe they are such by so doing the will. Be a comfort to their parents, a credit to the connection, and a blessing to themselves. My respects to brother Hugh. Tell him that I wish to see him very much as I expect he is with you. I hope he will do his duty by you. I have almost forgot his resemblance… You shall hear from me soon perhaps very soon. I wish you to write as soon as this comes to hand direct. PF Rodan, Alabama Houston County TX. May the peace of God be with you all.”

Roddan is listed in the 1982 book “First Settlers of the Republic of Texas” by Carolyn R. Ericson and Frances T. Ingmire as being a recipient of a headlight land grant.