José Antonio de la Garza (May 31, 1776 – 1851?), was a Tejano who was the first landowner in San Antonio, Texas and the first man to create a coin in this state. Antonio de la Garza was elected mayor of San Antonio in 1813 and 1832.
According to the different countries to which Texas belonged, he was Spanish (1776-1821) Mexican (1821-1836) Tejano (1836-1845) American (1845-1851?; his death)
Antonio de la Garza was born in San Antonio de Béjar, Texas, on May 31, 1776. His parents were Leonardo de la Garza and Magdalena Martinez. His ancestors came from Nuevo Leon (modern Mexico).[1] In 1813, he became the first elected mayor of San Antonio.[2]
The first coin in Texas
In 1818, after acquiring permission from the government of Texas, he created the first coin that existed in Texas. "On one side of the coin", de la Garza imprinted his initials "JAG" (José Antonio de la Garza) as well as, the year it was minted (1818). On the other side of the coin, he fixed a drawing of one star.
The importance of this event was not only the creation of the first coin of Texas, but also that the star symbol drawn in the currency is said to have served of inspiration to the symbol of modern State of Texas, the "Lone Star."
De la Garza used a building located between the Houston and Soledad streets for the minting of coins. He minted them for a year and a half.[1]
Landowner
In 1824, thanks to the success of its currency, de la Garza obtained a large extension of land (which consisted of two leagues) between San Antonio and Medina River. In doing so, he "became one of the largest landowners in Bexar County".[1]
Mayor
In 1832, de la Garza became Mayor of San Antonio.[2] That year he signed the articles from the Convention of 1832. Probably at the beginning of 1834 he bought the San Francisco de la Espada Mission. This purchase, however, was deemed illegal by some residents, leading to a rejection of him. This rejection was further strengthened when during the Texas Revolution (1835-1836), some Texas residents thought that his family defended the idea that Texas should remain Mexican (Texas was a province of Mexico previous to the Revolution).
In the 1840s, de la Garza and his family settled near Calaveras Lake. Their house there, "a two-story structure", had been built forty years earlier (1801) and had three functions: as a church, a school and a community centre.[1]
Personal life
José Antonio de la Garza married Maria Gertrudis de Jesus Rivas Irenaeus on October 21, 1813 at "La Villa de San Fernando de Béjar". They had 3 children; Carmen, Vicente and Rafael. Later, on July 20, 1824, he married María Josefa Menchaca and they had four children. One of his sons, Leonardo Garza, became a banker, business owner, and one of the wealthiest citizens of Bexar County in his time.[1] De la Garza died on May 5, 1851 in San Antonio, according to the State of Texas Bulletin.[1]
Legacy
In 1876 Garza County was named after the family of José Antonio de la Garza, which lived in San Antonio for more than two hundred years.[1][3]
References
^ abcdefgCynthia E. Orozco (November 26, 2008). "Handbook of Texas Online: De la Garza, José Antonio". Handbook of Texas Online. Consulted in May 22–26, 2010.
^ abLa Odisea de los canarios en Texas y Luisiana (The Odyssey of the canarians in Texas and Louisiana), by José Manuel Balbuena Castellano. Chapter IV. Organización de los isleños: Los Ediles de San Antonio (Of the Islanders organization: The city fathers of San Antonio), page 46. Anroart Ediciones, SL. 2007.
^Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 135.
May 05, 2023
josé, antonio, garza, 1776, 1851, tejano, first, landowner, antonio, texas, first, create, coin, this, state, antonio, garza, elected, mayor, antonio, 1813, 1832, 79th, 99th, mayor, antonioin, office, 1813, 1814preceded, byclemente, delgadosucceeded, byjosé, a. Jose Antonio de la Garza May 31 1776 1851 was a Tejano who was the first landowner in San Antonio Texas and the first man to create a coin in this state Antonio de la Garza was elected mayor of San Antonio in 1813 and 1832 Jose Antonio de la Garza79th and 99th Mayor of San AntonioIn office 1813 1814Preceded byClemente DelgadoSucceeded byJose Antonio SaucedoIn office 1831 1832Preceded byJose Maria SalinasSucceeded byJose Miguel de ArciniegaPersonal detailsBornMay 31 1776 1776 05 31 San Antonio de Bejar Tejas Viceroyalty of New SpainDied1851 1852 aged 74 San Antonio Texas U S NationalityAccording to the different countries to which Texas belonged he wasSpanish 1776 1821 Mexican 1821 1836 Tejano 1836 1845 American 1845 1851 his death SpouseMaria Gertrudis de Jesus Rivas IrenaeusProfessionLandowner and politician Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years 1 2 The first coin in Texas 1 3 Landowner 1 4 Mayor 2 Personal life 3 Legacy 4 ReferencesBiography EditEarly years Edit Antonio de la Garza was born in San Antonio de Bejar Texas on May 31 1776 His parents were Leonardo de la Garza and Magdalena Martinez His ancestors came from Nuevo Leon modern Mexico 1 In 1813 he became the first elected mayor of San Antonio 2 The first coin in Texas Edit In 1818 after acquiring permission from the government of Texas he created the first coin that existed in Texas On one side of the coin de la Garza imprinted his initials JAG Jose Antonio de la Garza as well as the year it was minted 1818 On the other side of the coin he fixed a drawing of one star The importance of this event was not only the creation of the first coin of Texas but also that the star symbol drawn in the currency is said to have served of inspiration to the symbol of modern State of Texas the Lone Star De la Garza used a building located between the Houston and Soledad streets for the minting of coins He minted them for a year and a half 1 Landowner Edit In 1824 thanks to the success of its currency de la Garza obtained a large extension of land which consisted of two leagues between San Antonio and Medina River In doing so he became one of the largest landowners in Bexar County 1 Mayor Edit In 1832 de la Garza became Mayor of San Antonio 2 That year he signed the articles from the Convention of 1832 Probably at the beginning of 1834 he bought the San Francisco de la Espada Mission This purchase however was deemed illegal by some residents leading to a rejection of him This rejection was further strengthened when during the Texas Revolution 1835 1836 some Texas residents thought that his family defended the idea that Texas should remain Mexican Texas was a province of Mexico previous to the Revolution In the 1840s de la Garza and his family settled near Calaveras Lake Their house there a two story structure had been built forty years earlier 1801 and had three functions as a church a school and a community centre 1 Personal life EditJose Antonio de la Garza married Maria Gertrudis de Jesus Rivas Irenaeus on October 21 1813 at La Villa de San Fernando de Bejar They had 3 children Carmen Vicente and Rafael Later on July 20 1824 he married Maria Josefa Menchaca and they had four children One of his sons Leonardo Garza became a banker business owner and one of the wealthiest citizens of Bexar County in his time 1 De la Garza died on May 5 1851 in San Antonio according to the State of Texas Bulletin 1 Legacy EditIn 1876 Garza County was named after the family of Jose Antonio de la Garza which lived in San Antonio for more than two hundred years 1 3 References Edit a b c d e f g Cynthia E Orozco November 26 2008 Handbook of Texas Online De la Garza Jose Antonio Handbook of Texas Online Consulted in May 22 26 2010 a b La Odisea de los canarios en Texas y Luisiana The Odyssey of the canarians in Texas and Louisiana by Jose Manuel Balbuena Castellano Chapter IV Organizacion de los islenos Los Ediles de San Antonio Of the Islanders organization The city fathers of San Antonio page 46 Anroart Ediciones SL 2007 Gannett Henry 1905 The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States Govt Print Off p 135 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jose Antonio de la Garza amp oldid 1141975045, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
