San Marcos in Hays County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla
Photographed By Richard Denney, July 10, 2003
1. Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla Marker
At the request of Antonio Cordero, interim governor of the Province of Texas, Spanish-born Felipe Roque de la Portilla (1768?-1841) established a colony here on El Camino Real. With his own family of eight, he brought 51 persons from the interior of Mexico and founded San Marcos de Neve in April 1808. Titles were issued to 13 lots, and homes were built, only to be washed away in June floods. Hardships plagued the colony: the defensive troops departed; no priest arrived; seed and a farm irrigation system did not materialize; horses and cattle were lost to Indians, and the people feared for their own lives. In 1809 new settlers brought the population to 81 without bettering living conditions. Portilla lost his health and fortune and was forced to lead his people back to Matamoros, Mexico, in 1812.
In 1829, however, he helped his son-in-law, James Power, and Power's associate, James Hewetson, plant their colony at Refugio, near Copano Bay. Portilla received land there in 1834, but left for Mexico in 1836. Because he invested his own fortune in the colonizing effort, he is sometimes called the First Empresario, and recognized as a forerunner of Stephen F. Austin, “The Father of Texas”.
Erected 1976 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10256.)
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Location. 29° 51.326′ N, 97° 53.904′ W. Marker is in San Marcos, Texas, in Hays County. Marker is on North Old Bastrop Highway (County Route 266) 1.2 miles south of San Marcos Highway (Texas Highway 80), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located just south of the San Marcos River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Marcos TX 78666, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of the First Town of San Marcos (here, next to this marker); Lt. Zebulon M. Pike (here, next to this marker); Charles Lewis McGehee Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Col. Ignacio Elizondo’s 1813 Campaign (approx. ¼ mile away); McGehee Crossing (approx. 1.1 miles away); Cheatham-Hohenberg Cemetery
Photographed By Richard Denney
2. Panorama of this marker (left) and adjacent markers
Photographed By Richard Denney, October 5, 2013
3. Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla Marker
A view of this marker (left) and two adjacent markers.
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, May 8, 2023
4. Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla Marker
Photographed By Richard Denney, October 30, 2018
5. Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla Marker
Marker appears to have been struck by a vehicle; there are skid marks leading to where the marker was located. Texas Historical Commission advised.
Photographed By James Hulse, September 20, 2020
6. The Don Felipe Roque de la Portilla Marker is missing
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2013. This page has been viewed 1,557 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on May 9, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on October 2, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on October 6, 2013, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 4. submitted on May 9, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 5. submitted on October 30, 2018, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 6. submitted on October 7, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
