Settlers for Kids

Life was hard on the frontier. Lots of families left the security of home and family and traveled to an unknown land where they faced, not just the hardships of life but the dangers of marauding Indians and other enemies. They survived though and the tiny settlement that began as Hamilton Valley is now the city of Burnet, Texas. This page is dedicated to some of those early pioneers.

Settlers came to Texas in a lot of different ways. Some came by ship to the Texas Coast and others came overland using the trails established by those who had traveled before them. But when it came to getting to the beautiful valley that was nestled in the center of what was to become Burnet County, they had to drive wagons, ride horses and even walk through the rugged country. Many traveled in covered wagons, known as Prairie Schooners. They took what they could carry and what they absolutely had to have to survive.

When settlers got to Hamilton Valley they saw rolling and broken hills for as far as the eye could see. Elevations ranging from 700 to 1,700 feet and marked by fertile plateaus and valleys between the Colorado River on the West and South, the San Gabriel River which rises in three forks across the northern and central parts of the area, and the Lampasas River which cuts across the northeastern corner. They saw an abundance of wildlife including deer, coyotes, bobcats, beaver, opossums, ring-tailed cats, foxes, raccoons, turkeys, badgers, weasels, skunks, and squirrels. They saw lots of lizards and snakes, even rattlesnakes.

The presence of troops had encouraged settlers to make their homes in Burnet County. Among these were such notables as Samuel Holland, Noah Smithwick, Logan Vandeveer, and Peter Kerr. A group of Mormons led by Lyman Wight established a colony at the falls of Hamilton Creek in 1851. By December, 1851 the population of the region was large enough to petition for the foundation of a new county. Burnet County was named for David G. Burnet, president of the provisional government of the Republic of Texas.

At first efforts for civilization were hampered by the constant threat of Indian attacks. In the 1850's early schools were held under the shade trees and the older boys had the task of keeping rifles ready for protection of the students.

Most of the early residents of Burnet County came from other Texas counties or other Southern states.

Reference:

"BURNET, TX." The Handbook of Texas Online. <http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/BB/hgb13.html>