Dear Stephen F

Dear Stephen F. Austin,

> I was wondering if you would be so nice and answer these questions for

> my project.

> 1.Did you get married? If so why or why not?

> 2.Did you get a nickname? What was it?

> 3.When you won the war did more people come to Texas right away?

> 4. Was your father nice to you?

> 5.Did you think your father was cool?

> 6.Did you have a better time bening a child or an adult?

> 7.Did any Mexacans fight with you?

> 8. Did have any good friends that were Mexicans?

> 9. Once your father died, did your mother get married angain?

> 10. Did you ever want to quit what you were doing?

> Thank you for taking your time to answer these. I have enjoyed

> learning about Stephen F. Austin.

> Maggie

> Mrs. Ingram's class

> Willie Brown Elementary

Maggie,

You have asked some very interesting and difficult questions to answer. I

will do my best to answer them. I will answer them by number as I have

answers.

1. Did you get married? If so why or why not?

I did not get married. My life's duty was to rebuild my family's fortune

and I would not marry until I had done that. I was so involved in

establishing my colonies that I did not have time to think about getting

married. I finally realised that my colonists had become my children; Texas

had become my wife.

2.Did you get a nickname? What was it?

I did not have a nickname. I was, however, referred to in Spanish as Stefan

3. When you won the war did more people come to Texas right away?

You cannot draw a time line and say "yes or no". People were on their way

to Texas before March of 1836 because of the opportunity. There were a lot

of people on their way during the whole spring of 1836. Texas was open to

people who wanted land.

4. Was your father nice to you?

My father was stern but nice. He expected much of me but he always gave me

the best. He made sure I understood what my responsibilities would be.

5.Did you think your father was cool?

My father was the person I most wanted to be.

6.Did you have a better time bening a child or an adult?

One always has a better time being a child

7.Did any Mexacans fight with you?

There was a revolution happening in many parts of Mexico against Santa Anna

that did not stop after we won at San Jacinto. Although I did not

participate in any of the battles of the Texas Revolution because I was in

the United States raising money and volunteers to fight, many Mexicans

fought with us against the dictator Santa Anna.

8. Did have any good friends that were Mexicans?

Yes. Erasmos Seguin and his son, Juan, were two of them.

9. Once your father died, did your mother get married angain?

No, my mother did not remarry. Most women of that time had to remarry

because they could not support themselves, but, between by brother, sister

and myself, we were able to care for my mother.

10. Did you ever want to quit what you were doing?

There were times, just like anyone else, that I wondered if I would succeed,

but I never considered giving up.

Bob Heinonen

Texas Heroes

574 Altwein Road

Blanco, TX 78606

(830)833-0809