Davis Point March 11th 1830
Dear Sir
When I came on found my hands here trying to make some
improvements and I concluded to settle here altho there is not a tree
of timber suitable for building or fencing nearer than 5 miles of
this point nor any running fresh water within 4 miles, the place
is well calculated for keeping stock which is one of my principle
objects in settling here and I intend planting and raising as much
corn potatoes and other necessary articles as I can with my force
but it will be attended with a great deal of labour and expense
extra of a situation that is convenient to Timber and water. I
hope therefore that you will let me have a piece of Timbered land
that lies most convenient to this place which is on, what is called
here Dixon's Bayou, about six miles off which would enable me to
improve this place so as to make it beneficial to the public and
myself and particularly as this league will not embrace timber
enough to make one fourth of the buildings and fencing necessary
to answer my purpose, and that little is 5 miles to six from this
point. It was customary formerly for sellers to get a certain
quantity of arrable land and a larger quantity for stock and other
purposes and if it is in your power to grant the like quantity to
any individual I hope you will extend your goodness to me, as I
have brought a large family to this country some of whom have
caused other useful emigrants to come marry and settle in the
country and I have yet several young children to provide for and
shall myself try to be as usefull to the Government as my
circumstances and abilities will permit. I regret that you did not come
to this part of the country as you intended when I saw you that
you might see the land here and country generally, and I also
regret that it is not in my power at this time to leave here to go
and see you myself for I am yet living in a tent and must stay
to try to have a shelter made for my family and put in a crop to
make us some bread etc. But I send my son to transact my busi-
ness for me with full power to do all that is necessary for me relative
to lands in this colony which I hope will be sufficient without my
personal attendance at St. Fillippe. he can explain to you the
situation of this place better than I can by letter at present, as he
has travelled all over the land.
Amos Edwards
P. S. I am requested by my son in Law Mr. Ritson Morris to
name to you that he wishes to get a league of land adjoining the
one I am on, lying on Clear Creek as he intended moving his family
on it as soon as he can go home and settle up his business there
which will be next fall early, it is the tract on which Anson
Taylor lived and I bought his improvements and have a respectable
family now living on it and there will be twenty five acres in
cultivation this season, it is very desirable to have my children near
me and if they can get the land they will all settle within your
colony. I wish also to get a league near me for Doctor Heard who
will come here before long and in the mean time I will have a
respectable family on it improving the land. My son will designate
the land for the Doctor provided you consent to let him have it.
A. E.
[Addressed:] Col. Stephen F. Austin, Austin. Monroe Edwards.