Just as the Hasinai Indian girl named Angelina extended a “hand
of friendship and welcome” to Spanish explorers in 1690, we
welcome you to Angelina county, located in the heart of the East
Texas piney woods. The Spanish Franciscan priests, who
established the early Indian missions, found a strong ally in
the young Indian girl that they named Angelina or “little
angel.” eventually her village became known as Angelina’s
village and the stream where it was located became Angelina’s
river. In 1693 she traveled to Mexico with the Spanish priests
and then returned to east Texas where she kept the spark of
Christianity alive for her Spanish fathers. Angelina also served
as an interpreter for early French explorers. The marquis de
aquayo noted in his journal of 1721 that Angelina stood with the
other village tribal chieftains and wielded considerable
influence as well as directing much of the tribal functions.
Spain’s “little angel” probably died several years later and is
thought to be buried in the vicinity of Miss