This Day In Texas History - March 24

[joe817]

1825 - The Mexican legislature, meeting in Saltillo, passed the State Colonization Law of March 24, 1825. The legislation was designed to bring about the peopling of Coahuila and Texas. It encouraged farming, ranching, and commerce. For a nominal fee, the law granted settlers as much as a square league (4,428.4 acres) of pastureland and a labor (177.1 acres) of farmland. Immigrants were temporarily free of every kind of tax. Newcomers had to take an oath promising to abide by the federal and state constitutions, to worship according to the Christian (i.e., Catholic) religion, and to display sound moral principles and good conduct. After accepting these terms and settling in Texas, immigrants earned the standing of naturalized Mexicans. Empresarios Stephen F. Austin and Green DeWitt, among others, started their colonies under this law.

1846 - The state's First Legislature established Burleson County, named for Gen. Edward Burleson, and designated Caldwell the county seat

1851 - Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg was born near Rusk. In 1891, he became Texas' first native born Governor. Hogg purchased land for his family believing that oil would be discovered on the land. Shortly after his death, oil was discovered making his children instant millionares, including legendary philanthropist Ima Hogg.

1883 - The first cowboy strike in Texas begins in the Panhandle.

1884 - Cowhands from the LIT ranch, Watkins and a Mexican named Julián Martínez shot and killed each other in a confrontation over a monte game in a Tascosa saloon. Dave Martínez, Julián's brother, was also killed in the resulting melee. The Martínez brothers were consigned to Boot Hill, while Watkins was buried on the knoll beside Dudley Parnell.

1909 - Clyde Chesnut Barrow, outlaw and partner of Bonnie Parker, was born just outside Telico, Texas.

1912 - Sam Kruger, Jewish immigrant and founder of Kruger Jewelry Company, married poet Fania Feldman in Fort Worth. He and his brother Julius immigrated to New York in 1904, then around 1907 moved to Texas. His nephews, Morris and William Zale, joined the family business and in 1912 moved to Wichita Falls and opened the Kruger Jewelry Company. In 1926, Kruger helped Morris Zale open what became the first Zale Jewelry Store, and eventually the Zale Jewelry Corporation.

1931 - Goliad State Park was established on the grounds of Mission Espíritu Santo in Goliad.

1939 - After 24 days of a pony-express style race from Texas to San Francisco, Shannon Davidson of Matador crossed the finish line at the Golden Gate International Exposition, earning himself 750 brand new silver dollars from the San Francisco Mint