The family arrived in Austin's Colony in 1819 after the Financial Panic, and were given 1,520 acres of cheap land. They faced difficulties like harsh winters that killed most of their cattle, but were able to build a house and earn a small profit by 1823 through cotton, lumber, and cattle farming despite losses from sinking ships and disputes. Though they faced problems like Indian attacks and starvation, they managed to thrive in the growing colony and town of San Felipe for many years through hard work and persistence on their land.