Jacob Harrell is often referred to as the first citizen of Waterloo (Austin, Texas). In fact, when Edward Burleson set out to create the town, Jacob Harrell had already been living there for three years. In 1835, he moved from the Bastrop area and set up a tent at a bend near the mouth of Shoal Creek on the Colorado River. After erecting a more permanent residence near what is today Cesar Chavez and Congress Avenue, Harrell's family joined him in 1838. A historical marker near the Congress Avenue bridge in Austin indicates the site of his home.
When the first public auction was held, Harrell bid on two lots in the city of Austin: lots one and two in block five, the site of the home he built in 1838. Jacob's son, Anderson Harrell, also received a grant of one city lot, and he selected lot three in the same block. As a blacksmith, Harrell was instrumental in the building of the city of Austin, and he remained an active citizen, participating in the Austin vigilance committee during the Archives War and ultimately serving a term as mayor in 1847.
In the spring of 1848 he moved to Brushy Creek, where he was listed as a blacksmith on the 1850 census. Jacob Harrell was one of the first settlers of what was to become Old Town. In 1851 Brushy Creek was renamed to Round Rock, Texas. He died on August 23, 1853, at his home on Brushy Creek.
https://medium.com/save-texas-history/original-austinites-identifying-the-citizens-of-waterloo-48e18cbca1c8#_ftn8
When the first public auction was held, Harrell bid on two lots in the city of Austin: lots one and two in block five, the site of the home he built in 1838. Jacob's son, Anderson Harrell, also received a grant of one city lot, and he selected lot three in the same block. As a blacksmith, Harrell was instrumental in the building of the city of Austin, and he remained an active citizen, participating in the Austin vigilance committee during the Archives War and ultimately serving a term as mayor in 1847.
In the spring of 1848 he moved to Brushy Creek, where he was listed as a blacksmith on the 1850 census. Jacob Harrell was one of the first settlers of what was to become Old Town. In 1851 Brushy Creek was renamed to Round Rock, Texas. He died on August 23, 1853, at his home on Brushy Creek.
https://medium.com/save-texas-history/original-austinites-identifying-the-citizens-of-waterloo-48e18cbca1c8#_ftn8
Jacob Harrell is often referred to as the first citizen of Waterloo (Austin, Texas). In fact, when Edward Burleson set out to create the town, Jacob Harrell had already been living there for three years. In 1835, he moved from the Bastrop area and set up a tent at a bend near the mouth of Shoal Creek on the Colorado River. After erecting a more permanent residence near what is today Cesar Chavez and Congress Avenue, Harrell's family joined him in 1838. A historical marker near the Congress Avenue bridge in Austin indicates the site of his home.
When the first public auction was held, Harrell bid on two lots in the city of Austin: lots one and two in block five, the site of the home he built in 1838. Jacob's son, Anderson Harrell, also received a grant of one city lot, and he selected lot three in the same block. As a blacksmith, Harrell was instrumental in the building of the city of Austin, and he remained an active citizen, participating in the Austin vigilance committee during the Archives War and ultimately serving a term as mayor in 1847.
In the spring of 1848 he moved to Brushy Creek, where he was listed as a blacksmith on the 1850 census. Jacob Harrell was one of the first settlers of what was to become Old Town. In 1851 Brushy Creek was renamed to Round Rock, Texas. He died on August 23, 1853, at his home on Brushy Creek.
https://medium.com/save-texas-history/original-austinites-identifying-the-citizens-of-waterloo-48e18cbca1c8#_ftn8
When the first public auction was held, Harrell bid on two lots in the city of Austin: lots one and two in block five, the site of the home he built in 1838. Jacob's son, Anderson Harrell, also received a grant of one city lot, and he selected lot three in the same block. As a blacksmith, Harrell was instrumental in the building of the city of Austin, and he remained an active citizen, participating in the Austin vigilance committee during the Archives War and ultimately serving a term as mayor in 1847.
In the spring of 1848 he moved to Brushy Creek, where he was listed as a blacksmith on the 1850 census. Jacob Harrell was one of the first settlers of what was to become Old Town. In 1851 Brushy Creek was renamed to Round Rock, Texas. He died on August 23, 1853, at his home on Brushy Creek.
https://medium.com/save-texas-history/original-austinites-identifying-the-citizens-of-waterloo-48e18cbca1c8#_ftn8
Inscription
First settler of Austin and Round Rock.
Seventh mayor of Austin, Texas.
Gravesite Details
Husband of Mary (McCutcheon) Harrell, son of Thomas and Nancy (Earley) Harrell
Family Members
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