Near Austinville in Wythe County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Stephen F. Austin's Birthplace

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 17, 2023

1. Stephen F. Austin's Birthplace Marker

Inscription. Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836) was born near Austinville, three miles west of here. His father, Moses Austin, operated a substantial lead mine and smelting business nearby before moving the family to what is now Missouri in 1798. Moses Austin won permission in 1821 to establish the first large-scale Anglo-American colony in Spanish Texas but died that year. Stephen took over, brought thousands of people to Texas (by then part of Mexico), and negotiated with Mexican officials to promote the colonists' interests. During Texas's war for independence from Mexico (1835-1836) he was a commissioner to the United States, and he became the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas in 1836.

Erected 2018 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KD-8.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.

Location. 36° 50.98′ N, 80° 51.411′ W. Marker is near Austinville, Virginia, in Wythe County. It is at the intersection of Fort Chiswell Road (U.S. 52) and Lead Mine Road (Virginia Route

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69), on the right when traveling north on Fort Chiswell Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Austinville VA 24312, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Carroll County / Wythe County (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); River Crossing Old & New (approx. 1.6 miles away); Jackson's Ferry (approx. 1.6 miles away); History of the Shot Tower (approx. 1.6 miles away); Shot Tower at Jackson's Ferry (approx. 1.6 miles away); Shot Tower Historical State Park (approx. 1.6 miles away);

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 17, 2023

2. Stephen F. Austin's Birthplace Marker

Jackson’s Ferry and Shot Tower (approx. 1.8 miles away); The New River (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austinville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Austin's Birthplace (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Stephen F. Austin. Wikipedia entry on the empresario known as the "Father of Texas" for leading the successful Anglo-American colonization of the Tejas (later Texas) region of Mexico in 1825. (Submitted on July 15, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Stephen Fuller Austin image. Click for full size.

Yinan Chen via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain), January 13, 2014

3. Stephen Fuller Austin

He initially sought to keep good relations with the Mexican government, even helping suppress the Fredonian Rebellion. But, despite Mexican opposition, he introduced slavery to Texas and led attacks against the indigenous Karankawa people.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,198 times since then and 178 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 15, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.