January 12th in 1841, the Franco-Texian Bill, a short-lived bill authorizing the formation of a French-Texan immigration company, was introduced in the Texas Congress. The bill aimed to introduce 8,000 immigrant families to occupy three million acres of the Republic of Texas. While the bill passed the House, it was never presented to the Senate due to concerns about a potential presidential veto.
The year 1886 saw the closing of the El Paso Lone Star by editor Simeon Newman, marking the end of an era for the publication. Two years later, in 1888, the “Schoolchildren’s Blizzard” hit several states, including Texas, resulting in a tragic loss of 235 lives.