JOHN OVERTON AUSTIN - c. 1870

Photo from the 1870 Texas Almanac.  John Overton Austin served in the 12th Texas Legislature that convened February 7, 1870.  He was represented Fannin County as a "Conservative."

There were 3 parties during Reconstruction:

• Radical  Republicans which included the Freedmen, relocated northern whites--"carpetbaggers," the occupying military and German settlers in South Texas.
  

• Conservative Republicans (Austin's affiliation).  These were white Texans who, prior to the Civil War, had supported staying in the Union.  (The Austins had been Unionists and relocated to California during the Civil War to avoid participating in the conflict.)
  

• Democratic Party that was closely associated with the old Confederacy - although their agenda differed little from Conservative Republicans during Reconstruction.  The 2 groups merged before the 1871 elections.

One of the first acts of the 12th Texas Legislature was to ratify the 14th and 15th Amendments.  As a result, President Grant signed an act of Congress on March 30, 1870, admitting the Texas delegation to the U.S. Congress.