José Antonio de la Garza
Encyclopedia
José Antonio de la Garza (1776-1851?), was a Tejano
who was noted for being the first employer in San Antonio, Texas
and the first man to create a coin in this state. José Antonio de la Garza was elected mayor of San Antonio in 1813.
, on May 31, 1776. His parents were Leonardo de la Garza and Martinez Magdalena. His ancestors came from Nuevo Leon
, Mexico
. In 1813, José Antonio de la Garza was elected mayor of San Antonio. In 1818, after acquiring permission from the Spanish government of the time, Garza acquired a reputation throughout Texas when he created the first coin that existed in this state. In fact, Garza taxed his initials "JAG", which referred to the first letters of his name: José Antonio de la Garza, on one side of the coin, along with the year in which such currency was established in the state (1818) While in the other side of the coin was fixed drawing of a star. The importance of this event was not only there, as some writers have speculated that the probability of the star symbol drawn in the currency could have inspired the "Lone Star," which later became the symbol of the current Texas. Garza began issuing these currencies in some building in the streets of Houston and Soledad for a year and a half. In 1824, in Mexico
, thanks to the success of its currency, Garza was able to win the title of a large extension of land, consisting of two leagues the same, becoming thus one of the largest landowners in Bexar County
. His ranch was located between San Antonio
and Medina River
. Garza also signed the articles resulting from the Convention of 1832. Probably at the beginning of 1834 he bought San Francisco de la Espada Mission. This purchase, however, was deemed illegal by some residents, leading to a rejection of him, which was further strengthened when, in the middle of Texas Revolution
, some of the residents of the city thought that the owner's family sympathized more with the idea that Texas should remain Mexican.
In the 1840s he and his family moved to a new home near Calaveras Lake
. The house, a two-story structure was built forty years earlier, in 1801 and had a triple function: it could serve as a church, school and community center. Garza, probably died on May 5, 1851 in San Antonio, the State of Texas Bulletin. In 1876 Garza County acquired this name in honor to the family of José Antonio de la Garza.
Tejano
Tejano or Texano is a term used to identify a Texan of Mexican heritage.Historically, the Spanish term Tejano has been used to identify different groups of people...
who was noted for being the first employer in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and the first man to create a coin in this state. José Antonio de la Garza was elected mayor of San Antonio in 1813.
Biography
José Antonio de la Garza was born in San Antonio de Béjar, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, on May 31, 1776. His parents were Leonardo de la Garza and Martinez Magdalena. His ancestors came from Nuevo Leon
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
, Mexico
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...
. In 1813, José Antonio de la Garza was elected mayor of San Antonio. In 1818, after acquiring permission from the Spanish government of the time, Garza acquired a reputation throughout Texas when he created the first coin that existed in this state. In fact, Garza taxed his initials "JAG", which referred to the first letters of his name: José Antonio de la Garza, on one side of the coin, along with the year in which such currency was established in the state (1818) While in the other side of the coin was fixed drawing of a star. The importance of this event was not only there, as some writers have speculated that the probability of the star symbol drawn in the currency could have inspired the "Lone Star," which later became the symbol of the current Texas. Garza began issuing these currencies in some building in the streets of Houston and Soledad for a year and a half. In 1824, in Mexico
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...
, thanks to the success of its currency, Garza was able to win the title of a large extension of land, consisting of two leagues the same, becoming thus one of the largest landowners in Bexar County
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
. His ranch was located between San Antonio
San Antonio River
The San Antonio River is a major waterway that originates in central Texas in a cluster of springs in north central San Antonio, approximately four miles north of downtown, and follows a roughly southeastern path through the state. It eventually feeds into the Guadalupe River about ten miles from...
and Medina River
Medina River
The Medina River is located in south central Texas, USA, in the Medina Valley. Named after Pedro Medina, a Spanish engineer, by Alonso de León, Spanish governor of Coahuila, New Spain in 1689. It was also known as the Rio Mariano, Rio San Jose, or Rio de Bagres...
. Garza also signed the articles resulting from the Convention of 1832. Probably at the beginning of 1834 he bought San Francisco de la Espada Mission. This purchase, however, was deemed illegal by some residents, leading to a rejection of him, which was further strengthened when, in the middle of 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...
, some of the residents of the city thought that the owner's family sympathized more with the idea that Texas should remain Mexican.
In the 1840s he and his family moved to a new home near Calaveras Lake
Calaveras Lake (Texas)
Calaveras Lake is a reservoir on Calaveras Creek, located 20 miles southeast of downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. The reservoir was formed in 1969 by the construction of a dam to provide a cooling pond for a complex of power plants, to supply additional electricity to the city of San Antonio...
. The house, a two-story structure was built forty years earlier, in 1801 and had a triple function: it could serve as a church, school and community center. Garza, probably died on May 5, 1851 in San Antonio, the State of Texas Bulletin. In 1876 Garza County acquired this name in honor to the family of José Antonio de la Garza.