Tha lack of successful Spanish missions in East Texas before the immigration of the Anglo-Americans was mainly because the Caddo Indians and associated groups that were native to that area did not have any enemies and had no reason to embrace Catholicism.

On the other hand, in south and west Texas, the Indians native to that area welcomed the Spanish missionaries and encouraged the construction of missions, mainly for protection from the Comanche invasion from the northern plains. The last Spanish mission built west of the Brazos River was the San Clemente mission at the confluence of the Colorado and Concho Rivers. The mission was abandoned in three months due to constant attacks by the Kiowa-Apache Indians.

Nothing remains of the San Clemente mission today because the rocks and stones of the structure was used to build Rich Coffey's Flat Top Ranch buildings and corrals in 1862. The whole area is now under Lake Ivie, near the community of Leaday,Texas.