William Stiles, Sr.

William Stiles was living at the mouth of Mulberry Creek on the Arkansas River during 1816-18. By 1821, his family had moved and was living in the Red River area. In 1822, he and most of his family left there to join the families who were headed south to Austin's Colony in Texas, (known as the "Old Three Hundred"). Making him one of the first settlers in Texas. William received a labor of land in Fort Bend Co. and died there June 2, 1836. He is buried in the family cemetery located in what is today the George Ranch Historical Park which includes some of his original land. His Will was the first filed in Fort Bend County. His grave marker is pictured left. His daughter had the first child born in Austin's Colony. The famous English botanist Thomas Nuttall, wrote that he stayed in William's home during his travels. He was the curator of the Harvard botanical gardens.

During the Battle at San Jacinto for Texas Independence, Stiles, Isiah Lawson, and another man were named by Capt. William Becknall and Lt. James Clark to have personal charge of Santa Anna just hours after his capture. Gen. Sam Houston knew Mr. Stiles quite well and as soon as "Old Man" Stiles was named, Gen. Sam Houston remarked, "The very man! I know that if anybody would take the life of Santa Anna, it would be over the dead body of Old Man Stiles."