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Just as the Hasinai
Indian girl named Angelina extended a "hand of friendship and welcome" to
Spanish explorers in 1690, we welcome you to Angelina County, located in the
heart of the East Texas pineywoods.
The Spanish Franciscan priests, who
established the early Indian missions, found a strong ally in the young
Indian girl that they named Angelina or "Little Angel." Eventually her
village became known as Angelina's village and the stream where it was
located became Angelina's river. In 1693 she traveled to Mexico with the
Spanish priests and then returned to East Texas where she kept the spark
of Christianity alive for her Spanish Fathers. Angelina also served as
an interpreter for early French explorers. The Marquis de Aquayo noted
in his journal of 1721 that Angelina stood with the other village tribal
chieftains and wielded considerable influence as well as directing much
of the tribal functions. Spain's "Little Angel" probably died several
years later and is thought to be buried in the vicinity of Mission
Conception near the Angelina River. Angelina stitched her life into the
whole fabric of East Texas. Her name is given to a river, a village, a
National Forest, and to our county.
(Excerpted from They Left No Monuments by Bob Bowman) |
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