It was long after the conquests of the 1500’s that the northern part of Mexico would be settled. The Spanish Viceroy, chief executive of New Spain, had given the command of the undertaking to Don Jose de Escandon in the mid-1700’s. These lands had to be settled in order to secure the areas from others such as the French or English. It was in 1685 that French explorer LaSalle and hundreds of colonists occupied the area of Matagorda Bay, Texas, after being shipwrecked while searching for the Mississippi.  Soldiers and settlers were promised land in exchange for the move. The leaders, captains, were also promised land in larger portions in addition to their regular pay. The choice was lucrative; an opportunity for a better life for themselves and their descendants. But the challenges were enormous; taming a land while facing many other adversities. The river settlements of Escandon included Camargo, Mier, Revilla, Dolores, Laredo and Reynosa.  In 1801 the town of Reynosa had to be moved due to the unpredictable floods of the Rio Grande river which had already destroyed the town, washing away homes, livestock and killing some of the settlers. In the areas were both docile Indian tribes such as the Naza, Nariz, Tejones and the Comecrudos as described in the census report of 1757 of Reynosa and hostile Indians such as the Comanche and Lipan Apache living in areas of Texas. Armando Alonzo states that between 1835 and 1836 Indian raids in Laredo resulted in 24 deaths and the loss of 1,000 livestock. Also that in February 1837 500 Comanches destroyed property and slaughtered 900 head of livestock. Some of the ranches north of the Rio Grande were abandoned for these reasons, getting help or retreating from these attacks were hindered by the river. It was in 1810 that Father Miguel Hidalgo led the cry for Mexican independence from Spain. This revolt continued until 1821 when independence was finally achieved.

They continued to cultivate their land working hard in the most trying circumstances. Through the political disorder of the country, harshness of their climate and other problems they faced while attempting to populate the areas they persevered.

In the 1820’s more Americans from the east were arriving and settling the areas of Texas through Moses and then his son Stephen F. Austin.  Disagreements between these settlers and the Mexican government eventually led to several conflicts including the battle of the Alamo in 1836 and the massacre of  352 troops in Goliad including Col. Fannin.  A memorial stands at the site today next to El Presidio La Bahia where they were held as prisoners prior to the massacre. General Santa Anna de Lopez lost the battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. Upon his capture he signed a treaty that marked the Rio Grande as border between the new country of Texas and Mexico. Mexico did not recognize the treaty and considered the Nueces River the border. Not until 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was this settled making the Rio Grande the official border.  During the conflicts between the United States and Mexico many families found themselves caught in the middle.  Afterwards many of them would lose the lands that they had inherited and earned.