WHY TEXAS, WHY DALLAS, Chapter 1

WHY TEXAS, WHY DALLAS , Chapter 1

The vast majority of information concerning La Reunion has quietly vanished over time. This information, much like the early colonist, just seemed to slip away as time quietly moved on. Very few traces of a structure, or any other noticeable sign, still remain as visible evidence that a functional colony of European immigrants once occupied a large section of West Dallas with the colony’s original townsite being located among the white cliffs of an area now known as the North Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Texas.

One of the last remnants of the La Reunion Colony was photographed sometime around 1950. The remains have long since disappeared. The house was originally built near the present day location of Davis St. and Westmoreland in 1859 after the family moved from the abandoned colony. It was built for Alphonse DeLord, a banker who came to the colony from Paris, France with his wife, son and daughter in 1856.

Sometimes we just have to stop and ponder why those early European citizens would want to leave their motherland and embark upon such a long and treacherous journey. Especially since they knew nothing at all about what they would encounter once their journey was completed. We also need to realize that most of these colonist were well known, middle-class or affluent citizens back in their homeland.

Was it that someone had planted an idea in the minds of these would be colonist? Would it be that the time was right for such a movement? The imagination can be a great hunting ground for any leader. Especially for one that desires to manipulate others. The leader in this case was Victor Prosper Considerant and he had many dreams, but his one recurring dream was to establish the perfect European Utopian Colony.

Considerant must have felt that it was finally time for his dream to come true. He had long dreamed of exploring America and was being encouraged to look at Texas in hopes of establishing a colony there. He was born Victor Prosper Considerant at Salins, France on October 12, 1808. His father, Jean Baptiste Considerant, was not only a Salins native, but he had been born into a wealthy and influential family. He was educated in the best colleges that France had to offer. Many of his friends said that he had a physique which was frequently compared to Hercules. He served as an aide for General Mouton and later was appointed Professor of Humanity at the University in Salins where he authored many essays in Spanish, Latin and English. After his death on April 27, 1827, the city officials erected a large ornate monument in honor of his memory.

Victor Considerant also received his early education at Salins. He graduated from the School of Polytechnique and later completed his education while attending La Sorbonne in Paris, France. By this time he was of military age and joined the French Army where he was made Captain of Artillery. He was discharged after his service in the Algerian Campaign. By this time he began to socialize with the various political figures and became more interested in Socialism. He seemed especially interested in Francois Charles Fourier. But, it was his wife that provided the real driving force behind his growing interest in socialism.

Considerant had been an avid student of both Marx and Fourier, but his personal beliefs were actually somewhat different from that of Marx or Fourier. By 1848 Considerant had entered the political arena. His ideas and political activities had made a significant impact on the political climate in all of Europe, but his greatest impact was felt in France. Most of his political strength stemmed from his editorial abilities. All in all, Considerant authored over twenty books in addition to numerous pamphlets and essays. He was also editor of three newspapers. It seems that Considerant was at the height of his political standing when, on June 13, 1849, he was participating in the abortive insurrection and openly went against Napoleon Bonaparte. He was immediately forced to flee to Brussels where he remained in exile for about two years.

His American friend, Albert Brisbane, soon made contact with Considerant. Brisbane had originally met Considerant back in New York. Brisbane, the son of a wealthy land developer, was born in 1809 and spent his childhood years in a community known as Batavia, New York. His wealthy father was an agent for the Holland Land Company. Brisbane was schooled at home where private tutors provided his education. And, make no mistake about it, he was well educated.

Brisbane departed for Paris sometime around his twentieth birthday. He, like Considerant, became a devout student of Charles Fourier, but Brisbane had earlier been a student of Considerant back in his native New York. Brisbane was not a novice by any stretch of the imagination. He had already participated in one of the Fourierist experiments at Brook Farm in Massachusetts. Brisbane felt that the Americans had more available fertile land and would exhibit less prejudice than the Europeans. Considerant had always disagreed with Brisbane on this subject, but his views had begin to change after being in exile after his blatant disagreement with Napoleon.

Once again, Brisbane would appeal to Considerant in an effort to establish a colony in America. Several of the influential Fourierists members convinced Considerant that he should take Brisbane up on the offer. It was on November 28, 1852 when Considerant left Antwerp, Belgaum.

For some unknown reason, Brisbane would not be able to travel until the spring. This would allow Considerant some free time once he reached New York, so he departed and arrived there on December 14th. He had traveled aboard a steam driven ship and marveled at how quick he reached his destination. Considerant took advantage of his free time in New York by studying the English language and American culture. He spent six weeks in New Jersey where he studied at the North American Phalanx. Considerant was not impressed with the American version of Fourierism. He even went so far as to send unfavorable written reports back to Belgium. Considerant returned to New York after his studies at the phalanx. He also visited Boston and spent a couple of weeks at the Oneida Community in upper New York.

Brisbane returned in early April and Considerant met him at Batavia, Ohio which is near Cincinnati. (This writer does not yet know the connection between Batavia, Ohio and Batavia, New York.) Both Considerant and Brisbane met with a group of Fourierists led by Benjamin Urner. Urner strongly encouraged Considerant to give his utmost consideration to Texas and make plans for establishing a phalanx there. They departed Cincinnati on April 30th with plans of traveling through the Southwest. They had also assured Urner that they would pay special attention to Texas. After all, Texas had a coast, could be reached by ship and Galveston already had an established port.

Both Brisbane and Considerant were now southbound. Their travels were recorded and later published in Considerant’s book entitled Au Texas. His book was first released in 1854 and widely circulated in Europe with hopes of enticing future members for a new Texas colony. He knew that the revolutions, unrest and wars in Europe would cast a favorable light on his eloquently portrayed “Garden of Eden.” He also portrayed America as a country that held out liberty with great esteem and expressed his feelings in more detail by saying that liberty was the life, the soul and the honor for which Americans lived.

They spent time with the last of their friends at Patriot, Indiana and left there with only their saddles and the strictly necessary items for a horseback journey through the forest and prairies of the Indian territory and of Texas. Captain Marcy of the United States Army had advised them to buy more horses and supplies at Little Rock and then pick up a trail through the forest and follow it to Preston Point which would be the last inhabited point of Texas on the Red River. (The route from the Red River to Dallas was known as the Preston Trail in those days. It is now known as Preston Road.)

From Cincinnati, they took a steamer down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and then up the Arkansas River to Little Rock. He reported that the country began to rise and forest covered mountains appeared on the horizon. At Van Buren they met with a group of Osage Indians and Considerant reported that they were friendly and one of the best samples of the Red-Skinned species. He later wrote that he found amusement in the fact that the Indians were taking lessons on the violin from a Negro Slave.

On the 19th of May they crossed from Fort Smith on a scow (flat bottom boat), over a stream called Poteau, into the Choctaw territory. It was night when they arrived at the Choctaw Agency in a small Indian village. That was the only village they found during their travels through Indian Territory. Considerant described his experience as follows: “Towards the middle of the fourth day, every thing around us changed as by enchantment. Although I have very present with me the impression of scenes then suddenly revealed, I can never transmit their charm, their freshness and their wondrous power.”

Considerant had strong feelings about the untamed virgin land in Texas and he continued to glorify his experience. Sometimes to the point of exaggeration. He even described the vast wilderness by calling it a Rolling Prairie that was divided lengthwise by lines of woods which follow the river courses, and are cut traversely by other lines, which border their affluents and are never absent from the smallest streams. He went on to describe the open prairies as having vast crops of wild wheat and barley that appear as if planted.

Eight days out from Fort Smith the two explorers found their way to Preston which was located on the cliffs looking over the Red River. A brief description of Considerant’s notes are as follows:

The landscape was classic and charming. Its character surprised us beyond all expression. In all civilized and cultivated America, I have seen nothing so sweet, so bewitching, so ornate and complete as the solitudes by which we entered the high basin of the Red River.

Brisbane and Considerant remained at Preston for about two days. A guide then escorted them on to Clarksville, but Considerant had managed to obtain a letter of introduction from one of the military officials before their departure. The letter was to be used when they reached Fort Worth and was intended to serve as a formal introduction to the military officials located at the fort.

News of their travels had preceded their arrival at Clarksville. The Northern Standard of Clarksville printed a story about the two on May 21, 1853. The story, in part, stated that “Albert Brisbane and Victor Considerant, two of the most eminent living Socialists, of the Fourier school, were in Cincinnati on the 5th. Both of these Gentlemen are able, popular advocates for the Phalansterian system for the great French associationists above named. They are on their way to Northern Texas and the Red River country, for the purpose of selecting from twelve to fifteen thousand acres of good land, with a view to the importation of a colony of French and American Socialist.” It should be noted that Americans were not introduced into the La Reunion Colony, but it was strongly stressed in Fourier’s teaching that the races should be mixed in order to produce the perfect example of mankind.

Their travels from Clarksville then led the two on southward toward the village of Cedar Springs and then on to the Three Forks where they were quite amazed by the vast amount of wild grapevines. Considerant reported in his notes that the vines were the kind that overspreads the bottoms and reach forth on all sides its gigantic branches and climbs to the summit of the largest trees, balancing between them its clusters of black grapes. They met a Mr. M. Gouhenans near the village of Dallas. He reported that he gathered the grapes and made a fine tasting wine out of them which he then sold for one dollar per gallon. For some reason Considerant was very interested in Mr. Gouhenans wine making business and included mention of it in his book Au Texas.

Considerant and Brisbane stayed in Dallas for a few days before Considerant headed for Fort Worth. It was on the trail to the fort (That trail is now known as Davis Street or Highway 80.) that Considerant discovered the white cliffs of an area now known as North Oak Cliff. It was here that Considerant felt that he had found the “promised land”, but he continued to explore the areas around Gainsville and Fort Worth in his search of an ideal home for his communal location. Some even theorize that he was actually searching for several future homes with Dallas being the center of the apex.

After his return and in concluding his details of their journey to the area originally known as Three Forks, but now called the village of Dallas, Considerant wrote, “I have seen the light of the Burning Bush, and in the last days of that journey, my mind was opened to a study, henceforth blended with hope, and stimulated by a superior and a social interest. I repressed, however, the outflow of these sentiments, and waited to examine every point more thoroughly, before welcoming without reserve a faith which might fascinate my reason.”

Upon his arrival to the tiny village of Dallas, Considerant was surprised to meet one of his countryman, Maxim Guillot. Guillot had arrived in Texas in the spring of 1848 as part of a group of sixty-nine fellow French Colonist. This colony, formed by Etienne Cabet, was known as the Icarians. They located in an area now known as Denton County, Texas which is about twenty miles north of Fort Worth. Cabet decided to relocate the Icarian Colony to Nauvoo, Illinois after twelve months. The colonist expelled Cabet and then disbanded. A pioneer photographer by the name of L. Gouhenans was the only member of the Icarian Colony to remain in Texas and later become a member of La Reunion. He later became a well known photographer and a prominent citizen of Dallas.

Dr. Eugene Savardan would join the La Reunion colony once it was established and become their leading physician as well as their chief magistrate. He would also later become very critical of Considerate and accuse him of being disorganized and ill prepared to commence such an undertaking. Savardan later published his account of La Reunion life in a book entitled Naufrage au Texas which translated means Shipwreck in Texas. Savardan accused Gouhenans of being misleading and deliberately deceiving Considerant about the Texas weather and more specifically the soil conditions in the area of the future La Reunion townsite.

Considerant later reported that he had derived much valuable information about the country from Guillot.. He also made several observations about climate, land prices, local conditions and historic facts. He reported that the prevalent wind of Texas was from the south and that it was fresh air from the Gulf of Mexico with a gentle breeze continuing to blow until three or four P. M. every day. He reported that the soil was so rich that one could easily plant two crops per year, but the local farmers only bothered to plant one since the soil was so rich and fertile it yielded more than enough for the entire season. He also mentioned that he had never seen such vegetables. Beets that were two feet in circumference and corn that was as high as a man’s head. He even reported that the climate was suitable for growing tropical fruit. But more than anything, he was amazed by the over abundance of wild grapes. He later wrote, “One of our countrymen who lives here, M. Gouhenans, has gathered wild grapes and pressed them, the wine he obtained brought a dollar a bottle. I think there is no doubt that vineyards of the finest kind could be raised on the rocky slopes of the country.”

For some reason Considerant felt that it was important to advertise that Texas was a young Republic and had only gained its independence from Mexico in 1836. He wanted his prospective colonist to know Texas was now free since withdrawing from the Union in 1845. And as if that wasn’t enough, he boasted about the abundant, cheap land by telling his followers that each and every person would receive 160 acres of free land. Additional land could be purchased for fifty cents per acre. Land in other nearby states had already reached $1.25 per acre.

Overall, we can now see that there was a combination of many factors that brought the colonist to Dallas. Some of those factors are as follows:

1. The many revolutions and recent wars had brought much unrest to Europe, causing many of its citizens to live in despair.

2. Considerant originally wanted to found his colonies in Europe, but was unable to create interest in his homeland.

3. Unable to organize European colonies, Considerant began to look elsewhere.

4. The northern, western and eastern states were excluded because of the length and severity of the winters.

5. Considerant greatly exaggerated the wonders of Texas.

6. The majority of the colonist believed that Texas was the true promised land.

7. There was much prejudice in the northern states toward the colonist, but the Texans showed little sign of intolerance.
8. Considerant realized that the Europeans did not know how to build log cabins, but he knew that the limestone rock could be used to make rock houses and they did know how to do that.

9. Considerant was looking for a place remote from civilization where the ideals of their society could be developed in peace and security. He felt that Texas would provide that.

10. Considerant was extremely fascinated by the fact that there was an over abundance of wild grapevines. (If he found the same wild grapevines that were around when I was growing up, then they could never be used as table grapes. Those grapes,
while being very large, were known as mustang grapes and would take the hide right off your tongue.

11. He believed the soil conditions in and around the white cliffs of North Oak Cliff and West Dallas were very similar to that found in the wonderfully productive vineyards of his homeland. He believed that the rocky soil, while not desirable for farming, would be ideal for the colony’s vineyards.

12. He thought that the state would give each and every new settler 160 acres of free land. While it is true that those immigrants that signed on with the Peters Colony Agents did receive free land, the government did not recognize the La Reunion colonists as being eligible.

13. Land was cheap in Texas. The average price in those days was fifty cents per acre. The price had already reached $1.25 per acre in other southern states.

14. In view of these facts and all of the many other considerations, the main driving force behind the push for Texas was the fact that Considerant fell in love with this part of Texas. He even wrote that it was like a romance.

Considerant and Brisbane would continue to explore other areas of Texas, but there was one area where the walls of the cliffs were lined with a white rock which gave the appearance of a bright, white hue when the sun was located in a favorable position. And, it was this area, now known as the white cliffs of Dallas, that Considerant had fallen in love with and nothing would compare to that.