10. Bowie was a business partner of San Antonio’s leading citizen
For his land speculation and other business activities, Bowie partnered with Juan Martin de Veramendi. The latter was the alcade of San Antonio, equivalent to a Mayor with virtually unlimited powers regarding administration of the city. Bowie’s award of Mexican citizenship was contingent upon him building textile mills to process wool and cotton in Texas, and the partners established a mill in Saltillo. Bowie then turned his attentions to his partner’s daughter, Ursula de Veramendi. On April 25, 1831, Bowie and Ursula were married in San Antonio. Bowie pledged a dowry to his wife of $15,000 and claimed the properties he owned were valued at over $220,000. He also claimed to be owed $45,000 for his share of Arcadia Plantation.
Nonetheless, Bowie had to borrow money for the couple’s honeymoon trip to New Orleans. $1,800 came from his business partner (and new father-in-law) and another $750 was provided by the bride’s grandmother. Bowie traveled with his wife to Natchez while on their honeymoon, where he conducted land business, before returning to San Antonio, where they were to make their home. He was not to remain there long. With his partner taking care of business affairs, Bowie turned his attention to stories of a lost silver mine, somewhere west of San Antonio near the ruins of an old Spanish mission. It was in country inhabited, and jealously guarded, by Indians. He needed permission from the Mexican government to search for the mine, if it existed at all.