This Day in Texas History
June
Day in Texas History
June 1, 1969 – The Lyndon B. Johnson State Historical Park opened to the public in Gillespie County, the birthplace of the former president.
June 2, 1865 – General E. Kerby Smith surrendered the Trans-Mississippi Department at Galveston during the Civil War.
June 3, 1836 – A group of mounted volunteer Texas Rangers, later known as the “Horse Marines,” captured three Mexican army supply ships.
June 4, 1827 – Members of a group of colonists known as the “Old 300" received titles to land as part of Stephen F. Austin’s Texas colony.
June 5, 1836 – By this date, between 75 to 100 men had been recruited in Cincinnati as volunteers in the Texas Revolution. They were called the “Buckeye Rangers.”
June 6, 1849 – Fort Worth was established along the Trinity River, at the same site as present-day Fort Worth. It was one of ten forts marking the western Texas frontier
June 7, 1842 – A colonization contract was granted to Burchard Miller and Henry Fisher to settle 1,000 German, Dutch and Swiss immigrants in Texas.
June 8, 1911 – Cereal millionaire C.W. Post sponsored the first of 21 “rain battles” in Texas. Explosives were fired in the air to encourage precipitation.
June 9, 1894 – The Corsicana Oilfield was accidentally discovered by a company drilling a water well for the city. It was the first major oil discovery in Texas.
June 10, 1821 – Moses Austin passed away, leaving the work of establishing his Texas Colony to his son, Stephen F. Austin.
June 11, 1865 - A group of bandits robbed the State Treasury in Austin of $17,000 before outraged citizens drove them away.
June 12, 1944 – Big Bend National Park was established in far West Texas.
June 13, 1691 – San Antonio was founded by Domingo Teran de los Rios, Father Damian Massanet and a group of soldiers.
June 14, 1907 – “The Battle of Belmont” took place when lawmen attacked the home of a family that was giving refuge to fugitive Gregorio Cortez. His flight inspired a popular ballad.
June 15, 1861 – Frank Taylor Ramsey, horticulturist, was born in Burnet County. Nicknamed “Fruit Tree,” he introduced many fruit varieties to Texas.
June 16, 1842 – Richard Nelson, a prominent black political leader and newspaper publisher, was born on this day. He later founded the Galveston Spectator.
June 17, 1897 – The Texas State Historical Association in Austin held its first annual meeting in Austin.
June 18, 1881 – D.C. Cantwell registered the peculiar brand for his new Key-No Ranch. By September of the following year, the ranch held approximately 1,300 head of cattle.
June 19, 1865 – General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston and issued a proclamation declaring all slaves in Texas to be free.
June 20, 1924 – Audie Murphy was born near Kingston, Texas. He grew up to be the most decorated soldier of WWII, and went on to star in 39 motion pictures.
June 21, 1845 – The annexation of Texas by the United States was approved by the Texas Congress.
June 22, 1876 – General Santa Anna died in Mexico City.
June 23, 1955 – Amon Carter, a successful newspaperman and entrepreneur, passed away. Works of art and funds from his estate were used to create the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth.
June 24, 1860 – Lt. William H. Echols left San Antonio with 20 camels and 25 pack mules to explore parts of West Texas.
June 25, 1941 – The contract to build Jones Field airfield base in Bonham was approved. The Bonham Aviation School there provided flight training for army pilots during WWII.
June 26, 1832 – The battle of Velasco, a prelude to the Texas Revolution, took place when colonists successfully challenged Mexican forces.
June 27, 1874 – Plains Indians and settlers engaged in the second battle at Adobe Walls, which led to the Red River War and the relocation of the South Plains Indians to reservations.
June 28, 1919 – The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was ratified by the Texas Legislature.
June 29, 1852 – Fort Riley was established near Brackettville. The name was later changed to Fort Clarke.
June 30, 1835 – Mexican troops were driven from Anahuac, an action that caused much criticism of Colonel William B. Travis by Texans and Mexicans alike.
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For more information about Texas history, explore the Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas Online
