# Martin Varner

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{{Short description|American settler}}
{{Texas History}}
'''Martin Varner''' (March 3, 1785 – February 14, 1844) was one of the original American settlers in [Mexican Texas](/source/Mexican_Texas), known as the [Old Three Hundred](/source/Old_Three_Hundred), and was a veteran of the [Texas Revolution](/source/Texas_Revolution).

==Early life==
Born in [German Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania](/source/German_Township%2C_Fayette_County%2C_Pennsylvania), he moved with his family to [Warren County, Ohio](/source/Warren_County%2C_Ohio) in 1791.<ref name=TSHA>{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fva20|title=Varner, Martin|publisher=The Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)| accessdate=2008-03-14}}</ref>

In 1815, Varner moved to [Arkansas Territory](/source/Arkansas_Territory) and joined with a group of like-minded individuals who moved on to the land south of the [Red River](/source/Red_River_of_the_South).  They established the town of [Jonesborough](/source/Jonesborough%2C_Texas) in what is now [Red River County, Texas](/source/Red_River_County%2C_Texas).<ref name=TSHA/>  Varner married Elizabeth Inglish (English) at Jonesborough on September 26, 1818.<ref name=TSHA/>

==Texas==
In 1821, many of the Spanish colonies in the Americas gained independence.  Among the new countries created as a result of the revolutions was [Mexico](/source/Mexico).

Varner heard of [Stephen F. Austin](/source/Stephen_F._Austin)'s colony on the [Brazos River](/source/Brazos_River), and he went to see him, signing with the Old Three Hundred.  Varner settled in [Independence](/source/Independence%2C_Texas) temporarily.<ref name=TSHA/>

In 1824, Varner was given [Mexican](/source/Mexico) land grants in [Brazoria](/source/Brazoria_County%2C_Texas) and [Waller](/source/Waller_County%2C_Texas) [counties](/source/County_(United_States)).  His Brazoria County property was located outside of what is now [West Columbia](/source/West_Columbia%2C_Texas), at what is now known as the [Varner–Hogg Plantation State Historical Site](/source/Varner%E2%80%93Hogg_Plantation_State_Historical_Site).  Varner raised [sugar cane](/source/sugar_cane) on the property, and built a [rum](/source/rum) [distillery](/source/distillery) there.  In 1834, Varner sold the property to Columbus Patton.<ref name=TSHA/>

Varner participated in the [Battle of Velasco](/source/Battle_of_Velasco) in 1832.  He later served in the [Army of the Republic of Texas](/source/Army_of_the_Republic_of_Texas) from April through July, 1836.  He was awarded {{convert|320|acre|km2}} of land in [Wood County](/source/Wood_County%2C_Texas) for his service, but he and his family were forced to abandon their land during the [Runaway Scrape](/source/Runaway_Scrape).  For his service during the [Battle of San Jacinto](/source/Battle_of_San_Jacinto), he received a further {{convert|640|acre|km2}} in Wood County.  He later joined his family in [Lamar County](/source/Lamar_County%2C_Texas), where he bought {{convert|1700|acre|km2}} near [Fort Lyday](/source/Fort_Lyday).  He later moved back to Wood County, where he and his family became the first permanent settlers.  He used the money from the sale of his plantation in Brazoria County to buy up the lands of other San Jacinto veterans.<ref name=TSHA/>

== Death ==
During a land dispute with a neighbor, Varner was shot in the back and his son, Stephen F., was shot and killed by a Mexican named Gonzales.  Martin Varner died three days later.  A marker has been placed on the Wood County property by the [Texas Historical Commission](/source/Texas_Historical_Commission).<ref name=TSHA/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varner, Martin}}
Category:Army of the Republic of Texas personnel
Category:People from Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Category:People of the Texas Revolution
Category:1785 births
Category:1844 deaths
Category:People from Wood County, Texas
Category:People from Brazoria County, Texas
Category:American emigrants to Mexico

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Martin Varner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Varner) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Varner?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.