Description
In 1839, Gideon White and his family travelled from Alabama to central Texas. That same year, Gideon purchased land and built a small cabin in a grove of live oaks close spring on Shoal Creek. At time, this was very remote land with few neighbors close to help provide protection from the elements, sickness or the Indian attacks that were becoming more and more common.
That very same year (1839), Austin had been named the capital of the Republic of Texas. Only preliminary planning had begun to layout a city center about 3 miles south of the Gideon cabin. The countryside was very unsettled – wild and dangerous for new settlers.
In 1842, Gideon had been working alone on his property one afternoon and was returning home when a Comanche Indians on horseback attacked him. Gideon was able to run into a group of live trees, and managed to hold off the Indians by hiding behind the largest of the oaks by occasionally firing off a pistol shot to keep them at bay. Gideon was finally wounded and then killed, but not before disposing of a few Indians in the process. For many years, scars from the arrows and bullets could be seen on the massive live oaks alongside the creek.
Gideon’s daughter (Louisa) later married a man in the grocery and livestock business named Ed Seiders. They lived in the Gideon cabin for many years and the area became known amongst locals as Seiders Springs. Over time, Ed and Louisa worked hard to make it a popular venue for recreation. The Seiders built cabins, picnic table, walking trails and even a dance hall along Shoal Creek. In addition, the Seiders provided transportation from their customers that traveled to downtown and back once a day.
The Seider’s Oak can be found in a scenic and tranquil public park that is located on both sides of Shoal Creek – between 34th and 35th in Austin. The state of Texas placed a historical marker by the trees in 1967 to recognize the significance of the Seider’s Oaks.
Planting and caring for your Legendary Tree is easy — see the Tree Care page for more information. The saplings we sell are just over a year old, approaching 3 feet tall, and in 1-gallon containers. They are shipped in a well-designed, eco-friendly recycled paper box. We use FedEx ground and guarantee arrival within 5 business days of your order.