Wavell's Colony

Projected in 1826 by General Arthur G. Wavell, Scottish-born soldier of fortune. By terms of a Mexican grant, he agreed to introduce 400-500 families into an area on the Red River. Ben Milam, frontiersman, was agent. Many pioneers were actually brought in, but because Mexico and the U. S. disputed part of the grant, no titles were ever issued by Wavell. Some settlers, however, later received titles from the Republic of Texas. The colony included virtually all of present Bowie, Red River counties (Tex.), Miller county (Ark.), and possibly others to the west. (1969)