This is the earliest known illustration of a likeness
of Sam Houston as President of the Texas Republic.

    In his final term as President of the Texas Republic, Sam Houston's primary concerns were Indian relations, another impending war with Mexico and Texas' annexation into the United States.  Houston, who had lived with the Cherokees for years as a young man, had a fondness for the tribes and wanted them treated fairly as their lands were taken over by civilization despite their depredations against the settlers in Texas.

    For months Houston sent messages to his Indian friends proclaiming he would hold a Grand Council of the Tribes at Fort Bird during the full moon of August 1843.  Houston sent Indian Commissioner Joseph C. Eldridge out months in advance of the date to bring the Comanches and others to the treaty council.

    It was in July 1843 when Sam Houston and an expedition of about 30 men departed Crockett in East Texas, and began their trek to the Three Forks of the Trinity to negotiate with the chiefs of the Indian tribes.  It is well-documented Sam Houston passed by Kingsborough (now the town of Kaufman) when he made his way to the peace talks.

    A person who was travelling with Houston - an Englishman named Edward Parkinson - wrote an account of Houston's journey, mentioning Kingsborough, and a typescript of his diary is in the collections of the Dallas Historical Society.  Another illustrious Kaufmanite, John H. Reagan, made the journey from Crockett with Houston's entourage, but became ill with a fever and could not proceed to the final destination.  However a few future Kaufman countians were at those same talks, namely Dubart Murphy and Alexander Love.

    Parkinson described in his diary the difficulties and trials encountered by the expedition.  The men had to literally hack their way through groves of Bois d'arc trees in the Trinity River bottoms west of Kingsborough before crossing the river, were overtaken by hordes of insects and killed buffalo to sustain themselves.

    When Houston arrived at Ft. Bird, several tribes had shown up but did not want to go near the garrisoned fort fearing a trap.  Houston moved the negotiations and camps six miles north to Grapevine Springs.  He felt the Springs offered better water, more shade in the summer heat and less mosquitoes.  However the group camped there for more than a month while awaiting the Comanches, and was described by Parkinson as:  "there were some fine though rather monotonous days, only relieved by finding a bee tree or killing our beeves."

    Finally Houston realized the Comanches weren't coming and decided to have a council with those in attendance.  Known as a flamboyant dresser, Houston's attire for the occasion was noteworthy.  "Donned in a purple velvet suit, with a huge Bowie knife thrust in his belt, and a folded Indian blanket draped over one shoulder to proclaim his brotherhood with the red men, Houston eloquently promised the chiefs that a favorable treaty line would be drawn beyond which the Indians could live unmolested by white men."

    At this time, along with the negotiations with the Indians, Houston was still President of the Republic and having to deal with the Mexican situation and annexation of Texas.  Before the actual treaty was signed, he had to go back to Washington on the Brazos to deal with these issues personally.  To deal with the Comanches when, and if, they arrived he assigned Gen. Edward H. Tarrant and Gen. George Whitfield Terrell, brother of Robert Adams Terrell.

The treaty was signed in the last three days of September 1843.

 **Sketch of a Trip to the Wilderness and Forks of the Trinity River, Edward Parkinson's Diary.  Typescript from the Dallas Historical Society
**Additional information provided by Justin Sanders