Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Moses Austin came to Missouri in 1797 after receiving a 3 square mile Spanish Land Grant, which included a lead mine, called "Mine a Breton"; opened about 1773 by Francois Azor. Moses was granted by the Spanish Governor the right to colonize, and he brought Missouri's first settlers. Here, Moses sank the first mine shaft, he established "Potosi" and established it as the seat of Washington County. Moses also founded Herculaneum (Jefferson County) on the Mississippi river, as a lead depot and shipping point. His son, Stephen F. Austin, grew up in Washington County, was schooled here, developed his views on colonizing new lands, here. Moses and his wife, Maria, are buried in Potosi's Presbyterian Cemetery. Moses died (1821) soon after the Spanish Governor of Texas granted his petition to settle 300 families there. His son Stephen, now called the "Father of Texas", took up his fathers mantel, creating the "Colony of 300".

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