Montgomery in Montgomery County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Sam McCulloch, Jr.
Republic of Texas Hero
— 1835 —
On October 2, 1835, Texian soldiers in Gonzales opened the Texas Revolution by firing on Mexican soldiers with a small cannon. Three days later, on October 5, the younger McCulloch joined the Matagorda Volunteer Company as a private under George M. Collinsworth. On October 9, McCulloch became the first casualty of the revolution for the Republic of Texas' independence when he stormed the Mexican officers' quarters at Goliad and a musket ball shattered his right shoulder, crippling him for life. He was transported to his home in Jackson County where he remained until April 1836 when he and other settlers were forced to flee the advancing Mexican Army during the event now known as the Runaway Scrape. On July 8, 1836, more than two months after Texas' victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, a surgeon in the Texas Army, possibly Dr. Nicholas D. Labadie, removed the musket ball from McCulloch's shoulder.
Those of African or Native American descent were denied citizenship in the new Republic of Texas, and free blacks wanting to live in the new nation had to apply to Congress. McCulloch petitioned the Texas Congress in 1837 for citizenship and the right to own land. This petition was effectively rejected, though McCulloch's right to residence and land was granted on June 5, 1837, when Sam Houston signed a bill into law giving permanent residence rights to all free blacks who were residing in Texas at the time of the Texas Declaration of Independence. McCulloch became eligible for land by an act of the Texas Congress on December 18, 1837, which entitled persons permanently disabled in the service of Texas to one league (4,428 acres).
Sam McCulloch, Jr. married Mary Lorena Vess on August 11, 1837, the white daughter of one of Stephen F. Austin's colonists, Jonathan Vess. The marriage was illegal under the law against interracial marriage but the couple was never prosecuted. Together they had five children, Samuel McCulloch, III, William Robert McCulloch, Lewis Clark McCulloch, Andrew Jackson McCulloch, and Mary McCulloch. Mary Lorena Vess died on November 8, 1847, shortly after giving birth to twins Andrew and Mary.
On February 5, 1840, the Ashworth Act passed which required all free blacks to leave Texas within two years or be sold into slavery. McCulloch petitioned the government asking that he, his three sisters, and a relative named Uldy be exempted from the law and a relief bill was passed for them on November 10, 1840.
Samuel McCulloch continued to serve his country by fighting the Comanche Indians at the Battle of Plum Creek on August 11-12, 1840, and by serving in espionage for Texas under Col. Clark Owen when Mexican General Adrian Woll invaded San Antonio in 1842. In 1852 McCulloch moved with his family to present day Von Ormy, in Bexar County, where he farmed and raised cattle. He died at Von Ormy on November 2, 1893, and is buried in McCulloch Cemetery in San Antonio. God rest his soul, and Gold bless Texas.
Erected 2019 by Simmons Bank and Sculptor, Craig Campobella.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • War, Texas Independence • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is February 5, 1840.
Location. 30° 23.267′ N, 95° 40.584′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Texas, in Montgomery County. Marker is at the intersection of Lone Star Parkway (Farm to Market Road 2854) and State Highway 105, on the right when traveling west on Lone Star Parkway. The marker is located in front of the bank building at the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 165 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery TX 77356, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of the Home of Dr. Charles B. Stewart (approx. 0.2 miles away); Crane Family Cabin (approx. 0.9 miles away); Frontier Colonial Home (approx. 0.9 miles away); James Jordan (Jardine) Log House (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Montgomery Town Goat (approx. 1.2 miles away); N. H. Davis Cottage (approx. 1.2 miles away); Lake Creek Settlement (approx. 1.2 miles away); Davis Law Office (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.
Also see . . . McCulloch, Samuel, Jr. (1810–1893). Texas State Historical Association
Samuel McCulloch (McCullough, McCullock), Jr., free Black soldier in the Texas Revolution, was born in the Abbeville District of South Carolina on October 11, 1810. He moved with his White father, Samuel McCulloch, Sr., to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1815. In May 1835 Samuel McCulloch, Sr., describing himself as a single man, moved to Texas with his son and three daughters, Jane, Harriet, and Mahaly. The family settled on the Lavaca River in what is now Jackson County. Samuel McCulloch, Jr., and his sisters were considered free Blacks. On October 5, 1835, the younger McCulloch joined the Matagorda Volunteer Company as a private under the command of George M. Collinsworth.(Submitted on October 8, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 307 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 8, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.