in 1812. That year, the Territory of Orleans became the U.S. state of Louisiana. By this time, Rezin was about 19 years old.

Each of their homes had been on the frontier, and even as a small child Bowie was expected to help clear the land and plant crops. He and his siblings were educated at home, and they learned to read and write in English. With his younger brother James, Rezin learned to speak, read, and write Spanish