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Baxter Island, located on the Colorado River in Matagorda, Texas, has a fascinating history deeply intertwined with the settlement of the region, European exploration, and the diverse wildlife that calls it home.

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Pioneers of the bay

Baxter Family

Heritage and History

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Owen acres

Wildlife Habitat Management
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Cattle drives on the Colorado River

Fat Grass

Pioneers
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Birds of baxter island

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Maps - Paintings - Relics

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200 Years

The Events, Battles, and people that have shaped Baxter Island.

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Send texts and voice mail messages to: 512-222-3067 or you can use the online form below.

Lets talk!

Send texts and voice mail messages to: 512-222-3067 or you can use the online form below.

Baxter Island

Matagorda Texas

The Name

Reverend William P. Baxter came to Texas as an early colonist and Texas pioneer. William helped establish the town of Matagorda for Stephen F. Austin. Matagorda is the third-oldest Anglo-American town in Texas considered to be the "Cradle of Texas history."It was established in 1827 when Stephen F. Austin obtained permission from the Mexican government to build a town to protect incoming settlers.[5] Elias R. Wightman, one of Stephen F. Austin's early surveyors, traveled to Matagorda in 1829 with 60 immigrant settlers.Baxter Island was part of Stephen F. Austin's original Mexican land grant. In recognition of the Baxter families role in the establishment of Matagorda and Republic of Texas, Baxter Island is named in his families honor.

200 Years

• Heritage & History
• Baxter land grants
• Baxter Family Brands
• Owen Acres Ranches
• Pioneer Cattle Ranchers
• Maps - paintings - relics
• Birds of Baxter Island

William P. Baxter

Reverend William P. Baxter, an early Texas Pioneer, helped establish the town site of Matagorda, Texas for Steven F. Austin. William received land grant #103 for one-third league of land granted on June 7, 1832 by the Mexican government.William's family were among some of the first Texas Cattle Ranchers.Baxter, a Texian, fought for the Republic of Texas in the Texas Revolution of Independence. (Capt. Love's Co. 1st Regt, 1st Brigade, Texas Army, 24 October, 1836)He volunteered to serve at the Alamo, but was told he could be of greater service by helping families move east away from the path of the Mexican army during the Mexican scrape.On August 1, 1829, the proprietors of Matagorda met and elected town officers, as their constitution had provided. They donated lots to some individuals, including William for special roles and services to the town.William was Justice of the Peace from 1855 to 1856, and served as secretary of the public school trustees.William owned Baxter Island which was located across the Colorado River from Matagorda. He deeded this tract of land to his grandsons Robert and Henry, the sons of William A. and Ann Elizabeth Williams Baxter.Baxter Island is still owned by the Baxter family today.Historic Matagorda County, Volume I, p 49

1833: Mexican Land Grant

William P. Baxter's grant for 1 League of land located where the East bank of Old Caney, joins H. Curtis

Republic of texas bounty

William received a 640 acre bounty from Barron Bastrop after the Texas Revolution for his service to the Republic of Texas.

County: Travis
Abstract Number: 118
District/Class: Bastrop Bounty
File Number: 000166
Original Grantee: Baxter, William P
Patent Date: 01 May 1849
Patent No: 457
Patent Vol: 4
Acres: 640

Baxter Brands
1837-1874

A future with wildlife

Wildlife management

The coastal prairie region is a unique and biodiverse ecosystem that has been significantly impacted by human development, leading to the loss of critical habitats and wildlife populations.The loss of Texas' coastal prairie habitat has had a profound effect on the wildlife populations that once thrived in the region. Migratory and year-round species of waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds, including iconic species like brown pelicans, peregrine falcons, white-tailed hawks, and seaside sparrows, have faced challenges due to habitat destruction and fragmentation. These birds rely on the coastal prairie for nesting, feeding, and resting during their migrations, making the preservation of this habitat crucial for their survival.We are focused on improving wildlife habitat at Owen Acres properties. Providing supplemental food and water and restoring the native vegetation by removing non-native plants and promoting the growth of native species like yellow Indian grass, switchgrass, and big bluestem grasses are just a few of our current projects.We hope our efforts will create a more resilient and biodiverse habitat that supports a wide range of wildlife on Baxter Island and the Owen Acres ranches.

DOVE SEASON
South Zone

Sept. 14 - Oct. 27, 2024
Dec. 13, 2024 - Jan. 21, 2025Special White-winged Dove DaysSept. 1 - 2, 2024
Sept. 6 - 8, 2024
Sept. 13, 2024

Gear Up and set sail

Coming soon!

Islander Apparel

Salt Grass Pioneers

Nearly 200 years ago, the Baxter family regularly undertook the arduous task of driving their herds of cattle from the winter pasture located on the Matagorda Peninsula to the summer pasture on Baxter Island in Matagorda, Texas. Mounting their horses, they would skillfully guide the cows across the formidable Colorado River, marking the transition from the winter grazing grounds to the summer sanctuary. Roaming across the 30-mile stretch of coastal land between the Matagorda Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the cattle would feast on the lush and nutritious salt grasses that flourished in the region, a region that would become quintessential of the first pioneers of Stephen F. Austin's colony.The journey across the Colorado River was not without its perils. The swift currents and unpredictable tides of the river posed a formidable challenge to both the Baxter family and their cattle. The treacherous nature of the river added an element of danger to their annual migration, requiring skillful navigation and unwavering determination to ensure the safe passage of both man and beast. The very act of traversing the Colorado River symbolized the courage and resilience of the early pioneers who were willing to brave the uncertainties and risks of the untamed landscape in pursuit of a better life.Grazing on the abundant coastal grasses served as a vital component of the cattle's sustenance and well-being during their sojourn between the Matagorda Peninsula and Baxter Island. The nutrient-rich grasslands provided essential nourishment for the cattle, enabling them to thrive and prosper in the challenging coastal environment. The act of grazing on the coastal salt grasses not only sustained the cattle but also represented a harmonious relationship between man, animal, and nature, where each played a crucial role in the delicate ecosystem of the region.In retrospect, the epic journey of the Baxter family across the Colorado River epitomizes the spirit of adventure, perseverance, and dedication that characterized the early pioneers of Stephen F. Austin's colony. Through their daring exploits, the pioneers laid the foundation for future generations to settle and prosper in the rugged wilderness of Texas, transforming the untamed landscape into a land of opportunity and promise. The legacy of the Baxter family and their courageous cattle drives continues to resonate with us today, serving as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the enduring bond between man and nature in the ever-changing tapestry of history.

Baxter Brands
1837-1874

Fowl play

Baxter Island sits smack-center of the central flyway, one of four principal migratory bird routes in North America and part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, providing visitors with unparalleled glimpses of 300 species of birds, including many on the endangered species list.

Baxter island's location makes it an ideal habitat for a variety of waterfowl species, including ducks such as mallards, pintails, teal, and wigeons, among others. The diverse wetland areas, marshes, and freshwater ponds provide an abundant food source and shelter for these birds, attracting them in large numbers during the hunting season.Duck migration over the Colorado River to Matagorda is a fascinating natural phenomenon. Each year, thousands of ducks embark on a long-distance journey from their breeding grounds in the Northern United States and Canada to their wintering grounds in Matagorda, Texas.Birdwatchers and sportsman alike, flock to Matagorda during the peak of duck migration to witness this awe-inspiring spectacle. It's a great opportunity to observe and hunt various species of ducks, such as mallards, pintails, teal, and many more, as they make their way over the Colorado River and settle in the wetlands and coastal areas of Matagorda.As the weather begins to turn colder in the north, ducks start their migration, driven by instinct and the need to find more favorable conditions for feeding and survival.The Colorado Rivers serves as a crucial migratory pathway for these ducks as they make their way south. The ducks typically follow well-established flyways, which are like highways in the sky, guiding them along their journey

Island Birds

Mallards

Mallards are one of the most common duck species found throughout North America. They can be seen in large numbers during their migration along the Colorado River to Matagorda Bay.

Green-winged Teal

These small ducks have distinctive green patches on their wings. They migrate along the Colorado River to Matagorda Bay in search of suitable feeding and breeding grounds.

Northern Pintails

2. Northern Pintails (Anas acuta): Pintails are elegant ducks with long, slender necks and pointed tails. They migrate in large flocks and can be spotted along the Colorado River and Matagorda Bay during the migration season.

American Wigeons

(Anas americana): Known for their unique call and striking plumage, American Wigeons also migrate through the Colorado River and Matagorda Bay. They can often be seen in mixed flocks with other duck species.

Relics

Views Of The Past

Image Courtesy of Heritage Auctions

Town of Matagorda Lot/Block Certificate SignedOne partially-printed page, 8" x 10", Matagorda, September 16, 1832, granting permission to "Thos. Decram to take posession [sic], occupy, settle, and improve . . . Lot No. 3 in Block No. 3 . . . the improvements to be completed by the first day of March 1833." Signed by Ira Ingram as president of the board of proprietors and his brother, Seth Ingram, as secretary. Docketed on the verso. Weakened folds are separating at the edges, which show moderate toning. Areas of ink burning have caused some loss of paper. Ink ghosting in places.Ira Ingram (1788-1837) arrived in Texas in January 1826 as a member of Austin's Old Three Hundred where he settled in what is now Waller County. In the Convention of 1832 he served as a representative for the Mina District and for San Felipe during the Convention of 1833. He was the first alcalde of Matagorda in 1834 and authored the Goliad Declaration of Independence the following year. During the Texas Revolution, he first was involved in the capture of Goliad and later served in the Matagorda Volunteers. By April 1836 he was a major in the Texas Army ordered on a recruiting mission to the United States by General Sam Houston. After the war, he served as the first speaker of the House for the Republic of Texas.Seth Ingram (1790-1857), the younger brother of Ira Ingram and a veteran of the War of 1812, was also a member of Austin's Old Three Hundred and worked for Stephen F. Austin as a surveyor where he laid out the town of San Felipe de Austin (late 1823-early 1824). He spent sixteen months of imprisonment for the killing of John G. Hotham, who had accused his brother Ira of being a "coward, a rogue, and a man without honor," and was finally released in January of 1832. He was arrested a second time for murder shortly after, but was acquitted a few months later.Reference: Streeter 18.2.

Image Courtesy of Heritage Auctions

William A. Baxter

He served in the Civil War, 6th Texas Infantry. His wife, Anne Elizabeth, lived to be nearly 102, and was buried beside him.

He was justice of the peace in Matagorda from June to December of 1869, filling in when W. H. Burkhart died. In the probate minutes, William A. Baxter was made administrator of his wife's estate, which consisted of one hundred acres of land on the Peninsula and the following children were named:

Hernry Samuel Baxter

Henry grew up helping with the family ranching in Matagorda. He lived for several years in Refugio County while his father served as minister of the Christian Church at St. Mary's. During that time Henry met Mary Elizabeth "Bettie" Ellis who was born November 19, 1857, in San Saba, Texas, the daughter of Francis Marion and Martha Whitehead Melton Ellis.Henry and Bettie were married September 17, 1874, at St. Mary's by William P. Baxter. Bettie's sister Kate Ellis married Paul Baxter, Henry's brother. Her brother Stonewall Jackson Ellis married Cora Louise Baxter, daughter of Henry's brother William A. Baxter. After their marriage, Henry and Bettie made their home in Matagorda County where their four older children were born. In 1884 they moved to Bee County, bought land there, and their four younger children were born. Henry died on April 20, 1892, and was buried in Beeville, Texas. Bettie moved the family to Bay City where all of thechildren attended school. About 1907 Bettie and her two youngest, unmarried sons, Walter and Stonewall "Stonie," moved to Houston. Stonie married in 1917, and Bettie lived with him in Houston until she died on August 23, 1944.Henry and Bettie's eight children were: Martha Esther, William Francis, Birdie Lee, Florence Alice,
Mary Omega, Allen Stonewall who died in infancy, Walter Henry, and Stonewall Jackson. Martha "Mattie" Esther (1875-1967) married her
cousin, Paul Franklin "Frank" Franz, son of Conrad Franz and Demis Baxter in 1896. The were the parents of five children: Harvy Arthur, Camille Elizabeth, Mary Omega, Percival Burton, and Weldon Franklin who died in infancy.

Elias R. Wightman

Summarized from Scraps of Early Texas History by Mary Sherwood Helm. According to Austin Colony records, Wightman arrived in Texas by Jul 1825 and received title to a league of land on 28 Oct 1830 as one of the "Old 300" original colonists. Wightman was involved in establishment of the town of Matagorda where he operated a salt factory and was a teacher. In Oct. 1829, he surveyed the town of Marion on the Brazos River. He married Mary Sherwood who married Meredith Helm after his death in 1841. Wightman was an official surveyor commissioned by Austin in 1830 and was probably in the DeWitt Colony during the 1828 census in that capacity or on a cattle trading mission (he held 30 head of cattle at the time of census.). Wightman, born 1792, was one of eleven children of Benjamin and Esther (Randall) Wightman in Herkimer County, New York. Benjamin Wightman was a Baptist minister. Elias was a school teacher in New York married a student, Mary Sherwood. In 1826, Wightman petitioned Austin for permission to build a town at the mouth of the Colorado River on Matagorda Bay. In 1828 Elias returned to New York to recruit settlers for Matagorda and with 39 persons, many of them relatives, came to the site of the proposed town of Matagorda. Beginning Nov 1828 at the head of the Alleghany River, the party journeyed down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. Reaching New Orleans just before Christmas, they chartered the schooner Little Zoe to Matagorda Bay reaching the mouth of the Colorado River on 27 Jan 1829. Austin commissioned Wightman as a surveyor in Dec 1830 and on the 6th, he was appointed municipal surveyor for the District of Mina. Wightman's homeplace was on the Matagorda Peninsula to the east of Caney Creek. His field notes and map shows the town of Manhattan at the mouth of Caney Creek and what is known presently as "East Bay" was shown as "Manhattan Bay."

Wightman's Compass The field notes written by Elias R. Wightman during the year 1838 consists of surveys and notes of practically all land in Matagorda County.Wightman lived in Matagorda County until 1841, serving as a surveyor of the county and and taking part in the life of the young Republic. He died in Covington, Kentucky, in 1841. The Colorado Gazette and Advertiser, Matagorda, December 18, 1841, reported his obituary: We regret to learn that our old friend, Elias R. Wightman, Esq. died a few weeks since, in Covington, Kentucky, whither he had gone to take possession of an extensive property, for which he had sold his residence in this county. Judge Wightman came to Texas as a surveyor to the first band of colonists brought out by Stephen F. Austin, and continued a resident of this county until within a month or two of his lamented death. He has left a large circle of relatives and friends among us, who feel this sad dispensation of Providence most sensibly. [inscription on Monument] ELIAS R. WIGHTMAN Died October 26,1841 Age 49 years 9 months Being born in 1792. He had a heart to contrive A heart to conceive A hand to execute Angels could do not more.

Elias R Wightman was a surveyor in Texas for Stephen F. Austin in the early days of the Austin colony circa 1827. He is enumerated among the "Old 300" shoe were the initial colonists of the Moses & Stephen F. Austin colony in what was then the State of Coahuila & Tejas in Mexico. The following is excerpted from a Texas State Historical publication cited below.WIGHTMAN, ELIAS R. (1792–1841). Elias R. Wightman, one of the founders of Matagorda and a Stephen F. Austin Old Three Hundred colonist, was born early in 1792 in Herkimer County, New York, one of eleven children of Esther (Randall) and Baptist minister Benjamin Wightman.Wightman taught school in New York, eventually marrying one of his students, Mary Sherwood (see HELM, MARY S.W.), whose book, Scraps of Early Texas History (1884), includes gleanings from her husband's surveying field notes. Wightman was in Texas as early as 1824, and by July 1825 he had been appointed by Stephen F. Austin as one of the appraisers of goods damaged on the schooner, Lady of the Lake.In August 1826 Wightman and several other persons petitioned Austin for the establishment of the town of Matagorda, and Wightman himself petitioned for a league of land on the east side of the Colorado River. As one of the Old Three Hundred colonists, he received title to a sitio of land in the area of present Matagorda County on May 25, 1827.In 1828 Austin sent Wightman and David G. Burnet to the United States to help recruit settlers for his colony. Wightman went to New York, beginning his return journey south in November 1828 with approximately fifty to sixty colonists, including his parents, whose 1830 burials, the first in the Matagorda Cemetery, are commemorated by a Texas Historical Commission historic marker. Traveling by wagon train, river, and finally from New Orleans on the schooner Little Zoe, they reached the mouth of the Colorado and the small fort built there for the protection of the incoming settlers in late January 1829.Wightman may have been at an 1829 meeting in San Felipe de Austin to discuss the founding of a Masonic lodge there, and by August 1829 he had been elected surveyor for Matagorda, where he had built his home. By that October he had surveyed the town of Marion on the Brazos River. Around that time he was also corresponding with Austin about operating a salt works and had agreed to teach school at Matagorda for a year. Wightman was working for Austin as a surveyor in 1830, and the Austin Papers contain voluminous correspondence between the empresario and the surveyor.The Wightman family participated in the Runaway Scrape in 1836. In 1837 Wightman was among the first justices of the peace elected in newly organized Matagorda County and the following year was involved with the Caney Navigation Company, a group organized to improve transportation on Caney Creek by clearing its channel and adding connecting canals.In October 1840 Wightman and other citizens of Matagorda signed a letter to Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar recommending John Delap as successor to Silas Dinsmore as county judge. Wightman died on October 26, 1841, shortly after he had sold his Matagorda County land and moved to his new property in Covington, Kentucky. In the 1980s some of Wightman's field notes were housed at the Matagorda county clerk's office and in the Matagorda County Museum in Bay City.BIBLIOGRAPHY: Eugene C. Barker, ed., The Austin Papers (3 vols., Washington: GPO, 1924–28). Eugene C. Barker, ed., "Minutes of the Ayuntamiento of San Felipe de Austin, 1828–1832," 12 parts, Southwestern Historical Quarterly 21–24 (January 1918-October 1920). Lester G. Bugbee, "The Old Three Hundred: A List of Settlers in Austin's First Colony," Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association 1 (October 1897). Charles Adams Gulick, Jr., Harriet Smither, et al., eds., The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar (6 vols., Austin: Texas State Library, 1920–27; rpt., Austin: Pemberton Press, 1968). McAllister Junior Historians, Research Papers on Historic Matagorda (Bay City, Texas, 1973). Matagorda County Historical Commission, Historic Matagorda County (3 vols., 1986–88) Info courtesy of LinnR (#47874140)

Wightman, Elias R. (1792–1841).Elias R. Wightman, one of the founders of Matagorda and a Stephen F. Austin Old Three Hundred colonist, was born early in 1792 in Herkimer County, New York, one of eleven children of Esther (Randall) and Baptist minister Benjamin Wightman. Wightman taught school in New York, eventually marrying one of his students, Mary Sherwood (see HELM, MARY S.W.), whose book, Scraps of Early Texas History (1884), includes gleanings from her husband's surveying field notes. Wightman was in Texas as early as 1824, and by July 1825 he had been appointed by Stephen F. Austin as one of the appraisers of goods damaged on the schooner, Lady of the Lake. In August 1826 Wightman and several other persons petitioned Austin for the establishment of the town of Matagorda, and Wightman himself petitioned for a league of land on the east side of the Colorado River. As one of the Old Three Hundred colonists, he received title to a sitio of land in the area of present Matagorda County on May 25, 1827. In 1828 Austin sent Wightman and David G. Burnet to the United States to help recruit settlers for his colony. Wightman went to New York, beginning his return journey south in November 1828 with approximately fifty to sixty colonists, including his parents, whose 1830 burials, the first in the Matagorda Cemetery, are commemorated by a Texas Historical Commission historic marker. Traveling by wagon train, river, and finally from New Orleans on the schooner Little Zoe, they reached the mouth of the Colorado and the small fort built there for the protection of the incoming settlers in late January 1829.Wightman may have been at an 1829 meeting in San Felipe de Austin to discuss the founding of a Masonic lodge there, and by August 1829 he had been elected surveyor for Matagorda, where he had built his home. By that October he had surveyed the town of Marion on the Brazos River. Around that time he was also corresponding with Austin about operating a salt works and had agreed to teach school at Matagorda for a year. Wightman was working for Austin as a surveyor in 1830, and the Austin Papers contain voluminous correspondence between the empresario and the surveyor. The Wightman family participated in the Runaway Scrape in 1836. In 1837 Wightman was among the first justices of the peace elected in newly organized Matagorda County and the following year was involved with the Caney Navigation Company, a group organized to improve transportation on Caney Creek by clearing its channel and adding connecting canals. In October 1840 Wightman and other citizens of Matagorda signed a letter to Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar recommending John Delap as successor to Silas Dinsmore as county judge. Wightman died on October 26, 1841, shortly after he had sold his Matagorda County land and moved to his new property in Covington, Kentucky. In the 1980s some of Wightman's field notes were housed at the Matagorda county clerk's office and in the Matagorda County Museum in Bay City.