Histories

Antonio Rivers was born in Nacogdoches about 1806. He married Benina Simes there in 1828. They moved with her extended family to central Texas near where Madison County is now. He received a Spanish land grant and was among the first settlers in this area. He raised a family and increased his land holdings. He served in the Army of the Republic of Texas. He may have married a second time after Benina's death, but this has not been documented. He seems to have been a fairly well-to-do citizen when he died in 1855.

Land records. Journal of Dr. Pleasant Kittrell. Diary of Col. William P. Gray. Pay chit for Army of the Republic. 1854 school records of Madison County. Also appears on many tax rolls and census enumerations.