Houston is the largest city in Texas and one of the biggest in the United States. The history of this metropolis began on August 30, 1836, when brothers Augustus and John Allen purchased land along Buffalo Bayou and announced the creation of a new city. Today, we’ll take a closer look at this remarkable family that left a permanent mark on Houston’s history. Read more on houstonka.com.
What We Know About Augustus and John
Augustus and John Allen were born in Texas. At just 17, Augustus graduated from the Polytechnic Institute in Chittenango and began teaching mathematics there. In 1827, he left his professorship to work as a bookkeeper for H. and H. Canfield in New York. Within two years, he and his brother had purchased a stake in the business. By 1832, the brothers had relocated to Texas, settling in San Augustine.
John started working at the age of seven as a porter in a hotel in Orrville. By age 11, he had taken a job as a clerk in a retail store. At just 16, John co-founded a partnership with a friend who managed a hat store in Chittenango, New York.
In 1833, the brothers became involved in land speculation in Nacogdoches. When the Texas Revolution broke out, the Allens did not join the army. Instead, they outfitted the ship Brutus to defend the Texas coast and ensure safe passage for troops arriving in the region. While not everyone appreciated their efforts, the Allens continued their work despite criticism and gossip.
How the Allen Brothers Founded Houston
Augustus was married to Charlotte, who inherited a significant sum of money. Using Charlotte’s funds ($5,000), the brothers purchased 6,600 acres of land along Buffalo Bayou on August 30, 1836. This marked the founding of a new city, which they named after General Sam Houston, a hero of the time.
Around the same period, John Allen was elected as a representative for Nacogdoches County in the First Congress of the Republic of Texas. He also served as a major in the president’s staff and actively lobbied to make the new city of Houston the capital of the republic.
On April 13, 1838, Allen was elected to the board of directors of the Galveston City Company, a joint-stock company established by the Republic of Texas to develop the city of Galveston.
After John’s death, Augustus and Charlotte divorced. Augustus left Houston and transferred most of the business to Charlotte. He later moved to Mexico to restore his health and start anew.
In 1852, Augustus was appointed U.S. consul at the Pacific port of Tehuantepec. Six years later, he received the same position in Minatitlán, giving him oversight of U.S. consular affairs throughout the Isthmus of Tehuantepec — a strategically important commercial post. He also built a large private shipping business. Despite his success, Augustus’s health declined, and he died in 1864 at the age of 58.
The Allen family played a monumental role in the founding and development of Houston. Its strategic location, about 50 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico on the coastal plain, made it ideal for trade and port development. Over time, Houston became not only a major railway hub but also a vital port city, later growing into a center for oil production.
The Allen family will always be remembered as the founders of Houston, whose vision shaped the city into the powerhouse it is today. We hope this article gave you new insights into the history of our hometown.