Nearly Forgotten History: How the Tonkawa Tribe Saved Austin

In March 1842, just three years after its founding, President Sam Houston declared martial law in Austin and ordered families to evacuate due to vulnerability to Comanche or Mexican attacks. Austin's population dropped from 800 to 200. Houston's attempt to relocate the Republic of Texas Congress failed thanks to Innkeeper Angelina Eberly, who fired a cannon to alert townspeople.

During this time, Austin's unlikely saviors were the Indigenous Tonkawa, who set up camp on Little Shoal Creek, protecting the city's western flank from Comanche raids. The Tonkawa bolstered Austin's population and trade for two years, coexisting peacefully with the remaining settlers.

The Tonkawa's Historical Presence in Texas:

• Homeland: The Tonkawa considered the land between the Colorado and Brazos rivers their homeland, "The Land of Good Water," known for its deer habitats and flint mining sites.
• Alliances: Tonkawa Chiefs Carita, Placido, and Campo collaborated with Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston to ward off Comanche and Wichita threats.
• Support for Austin: President Mirabeau B. Lamar, despite his anti-Native American stance, allowed the Tonkawa to stay in Austin due to their willingness to fight against Comanche raids.
• Daily Life: Eyewitness accounts describe easy familiarity between the Tonkawa and settlers, with children playing together.
• Defenders: The Tonkawa served as an early warning system for possible Comanche raids and joined posses to chase down raiders.
• Departure: The Tonkawa left Austin in the fall of 1843, coinciding with the reinstatement of Austin as the seat of government. They faced forced relocation and endured three "trails of tears" before settling in northern Oklahoma.
• Red Mountain: In 2022, the Tonkawa returned to reclaim Red Mountain in Milam County as a sacred site, reinforcing their strong connection to their traditional homeland.

A Forgotten Hero:

• Austin's history is incomplete without acknowledging the Tonkawa's vital role in its survival.
• The Tonkawa have received little recognition in monuments or commemorations, despite their contributions.
• San Marcos and Pioneer Farms in Austin have erected statues and replicas honoring Chief Placido and Tonkawa campsites.
• Austin has an opportunity to redeem itself by openly honoring the Tonkawa for their selfless service in the city's time of need.

The full story of the Tonkawa's residence in Austin, along with research highlights, can be found in Bob O'Dell's paper, "How the Tonkawa Tribe Came to Live in Austin," at the Austin History Center. O'Dell is also producing a documentary, "Tonkawa: They All Stay Together," set for release later this year.