William Goyens, (1794 – 1856) Successful businessman, peacekeeper William Goyens, the son of a slave rewarded with freedom and a pension for exemplary service during the Texas Revolution, was born in North Carolina in 1794. Goyens’ ancestry included Cherokee, which may have contributed to the success he would enjoy as a mediator and arbiter between the Republic of Texas and its Indian inhabitants. Though the exact date of Goyens' arrival in Texas is unknown, it is commonly accepted that he made his way to Nacogdoches in the early 1820s. Like many enterprising settlers of his time, Goyens pushed west determined to pursue the American dream. Goyens capitalized on his business acumen to integrate into Texas society and become a respected citizen and a man of considerable wealth, despite his second-class citizenship as an African- American. In 1832, Goyens married his common law wife Mary, a white widower from Georgia, and adopted her son, Henry. Those closest to the family remarked that they were a happy couple. A light complexion afforded Goyens social mobility in Texas and allowed easier assimilation. Under Mexican rule, Texas society was more accepting of interracial marriages, allowing Goyens the freedom to rise above a life of mediocrity and marginalization on the fringes of society and attain a social status and prestige commensurate with notable Anglo-Texans. A blacksmith by trade, an occupation he would continue until his death, Goyens set up a successful and profitable shop in Nacogdoches but quickly set his eye on other pursuits. These business interests included land deals, land speculation, money lending, freight hauling, wagon manufacturing and repairing, Indian trading, sawmill and gristmill operations, “amateur detective work, raising horses, and litigation in connection with his variegated business and social activities.” To protect his business interests, Goyens employed several attorneys to plead his cases in local courts and was a party to several dozen suits as a witness, a plaintiff, an arbiter, and on one occasion as an attorney. On one occasion he even successfully sued in the state Supreme Court against the Board of Land Commissioners for title. Such a decision was a watershed in Texas history because the courts raised no objection to a free Negro filing suit in Texas, implicitly confirming Goyens’ status as a free citizen. Land signifies wealth, prestige, status, and, as historian George Woolfolk contends, is a true mark of citizenship. Indeed, this singular event may explain the courts decision to uphold Goyens’ grievance because of his position as a land magnate. Goyens was involved in a variety of business transactions. Some were simple, such as buying and selling slaves at a small profit, while others were more sophisticated and complex. For example, Goyens negotiated a land deal with Nacogdoches resident Henry Raguet replete with conditions and waivers to safeguard his $7,000 investment. Successful real estate transactions increased Goyens’ wealth exponentially and, according to an 1841 census, Goyens had amassed a small fortune. His assets included the following: 4,160 acres of improved land, valued at $20,600, two town lots, fifty head of cattle and two work horses, in addition to other property for which he was assessed $128.50 in taxes. Missing from this census are two items indicative of true wealth at the time – a silver watch and a clock. Without moral reservation, Goyens actively participated in the slave trade, pursuing relationships with Mexican and Spanish contacts along the periphery of Texas. Furthermore, Goyens owned as many as nine slaves. Goyens probably viewed the slave trade as a pecuniary interest, an economic necessity or viable business alternative that proved immensely profitable. Though a willing participant to the slave trade, Goyens was not immune to the threat it posed to his own well-being. There are two known incidents where Goyens had to negotiate his own ransom with his captors while on business in Louisiana. Goyens is best remembered for his peacekeeping missions to the Indians of Northwest Texas. Goyens’ Cherokee heritage made him an indispensable asset to the early Republic of Texas. The pacification of the Indians was treated as a priority and needed a uniquely qualified individual to act as “Indian Agent.” General Samuel Houston selected Goyens as his interpreter to communicate a message of goodwill to the Indians. Goyens possessed an innate understanding of Indian culture, language, and custom, making him an ideal choice. As Indian Agent, Goyens led several missions to the Indians and brokered treaties beneficial to both sides. Victor Treat contends Houston and Goyens developed a lasting friendship during his time as Indian agent. Goyens’ achieved remarkable success as a free Negro in early Texas history. An industrious work ethic, a facility for Indian languages, and a penchant for diplomacy created possibilities that transformed Goyens’ life. He experienced a compass of life that few could imagine, counting some of Texas’ greatest figures as his friends, including Sam Houston, Thomas J. Ross, Charles S. Taylor, Adolphus Sterne, Erasmo Seguin, and Henry Raguet. Goyens died on June 20, 1856 and was buried alongside his wife in a small cemetery at the base of Goyens Hill near Moral Creek, west of Nacogdoches. In celebration of the Texas Centennial, the state placed on his grave a granite monument commemorating his unique contributions to the state, and, according to historian Victor H. Treat, "the only Negro so honored." Goyens’ legacy lingers in Texas, prompting one historian to conclude, he “made a strong imprint on Texas history." Contributed by Chris Berg, Sam Houston State University Sources
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| Documenting the Complete African American Experience in Texas -- "Know your history, know yourself" |
