GOD & TEXAS: Emily Austin

Future United States President Rutherford B. Hayes visited Texas in 1848 hoping to find better health. On his visit to Peach Point Plantation near Jones Creek, he met Emily Margaret Austin Bryan Perry. In a letter home, Hayes described Emily as “an excellent motherly sort of woman, whose happiness consists in making others happy.”

Emily was born in 1795 to Maria and Moses Austin. One of her brothers was Texas empresario Stephan F. Austin. Her first marriage to James Bryan in 1813 ended with his death. She then married James Perry in 1824. They came to Texas in 1831 and established a home at Peach Point plantation in Brazoria. Emily was the mother to 11 children and was one of the wealthiest and most notable women in Texas history. 

When Stephen was imprisoned in Mexico from January 1834 to August 1835, Emily was the leading voice in calling for him to be set free. After Stephen's death in December 1836 from an illness contracted while in prison, Emily inherited his entire estate, which comprised thousands of acres of valuable land.

There are many stories that would illustrate Emily’s strong character and “can-do” spirit, but one event that occurred during the war against Mexico is most telling. Following the fall of the Alamo on March 6, 1836, General Sam Houston ordered all settlers to escape east ahead of the bloodthirsty army of Mexican General Santa Anna. This widespread panic is known as the Runaway Scrape. 

While there were several escape routes, one of the most congested trails was through the bottleneck at Cedar Bayou near present-day Baytown. When Emily arrived with her family, no one could get across because one woman and her overloaded cart were blocking the pass. Her tired and stubborn oxen refused commands to move.

Emily, who was caring for her newborn, handed her child to someone else and waded out into the bayou and took charge. Former official State Historian of Texas Light Townsend Cummins records: “Mrs. Perry spoke tenderly yet firmly to the woman, encouraging her to once again try to spur the oxen into action. The woman responded, ‘Up Buck! Up Ball! Do Your duty!’ Emily also yelled encouragement." Movement restored.

In her years at Peach Point, Emily was revered by the community as a nurse, physician and spiritual advisor. She was instrumental in the founding of the first Episcopal church in Texas and was a major donor in launching the Episcopal Diocese in Texas. Her life revealed the hardships and successes women in early Texas provided for a budding Republic.

While Emily may not have made everyone happy, she certainly fulfilled Proverbs 31:25-26 NIV, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”

Influential women such as Emily Margaret Austin Bryan Perry played a significant role in shaping Texas into the great state it is today. And we are grateful.

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