Born in Lumpkin County, Georgia, in 1830, William B. Fleming came to Texas before 1850 where he enlisted in Company C of the Texas Rangers Mounted Volunteers and later the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war, Fleming moved to . . . — — Map (db m128145) HM
Established about 1850 by Miles G. Dikes (1804-1872). An original member of DeWitt Colony, Dikes emigrated from Georgia in 1829. In 1839 , married Eady Hodges (1810-1868). First known burial, in 1859, was Dikes' son, Lovic. Cemetery contains 20 . . . — — Map (db m128147) HM
One and one-half mile from
here the first shot of the
Texas Revolution
was fired from a small cannon
by Texans under the command
of Col. John H. Moore
October 2, 1835 — — Map (db m128146) HM
In the 1890s, children of families living in the Cost community, originally known as Oso, attended area schools that were part of the White School District No. 38 and County School District No. 38-1/2 to the east. By 1903, the county built the Cost . . . — — Map (db m128148) HM
Near here on October 2, 1835 was fired the first shot of the Texas Revolution of 1835-36 - the shot heard round the world. At Gonzales the Texans defied the Mexican government and refused their demand for the Gonzales cannon with the "Come and Take . . . — — Map (db m118445) HM
Site of the home to which two of the survivors of the Alamo returned, March 13, 1836. Susanna Dickinson, with her infant daughter, brought news of fall of Alamo into Mexican hands (March 6) and of the death of its heroic defenders from Gonzales, . . . — — Map (db m128171) HM
Born in Virginia to William and Isabella (Mooreland) Ponton, Andrew Ponton came to Texas in December 1829 and settled in Green DeWitt's Colony, receiving a land grant near Hallettsville. He became active in area politics, and in 1834 he was named . . . — — Map (db m36591) HM
On March 11, 1836, Sam Houston, leader of Texas Revolutionary Forces, arrived here to organize the second volunteer army.
On March 13, he heard of the massacre of Alamo defenders and that the Mexican army was advancing toward Gonzales. He . . . — — Map (db m128172) HM
Green DeWitt in 1825 appointed James Kerr to select and survey the capital for DeWitt's Mexican land grant colony. Kerr named the capital Gonzales for Don Rafael Gonzales, Governor of Coahuila and Texas.
This was central square in 49-block . . . — — Map (db m128166) HM
This block of the inner town of Gonzales was set aside in original plans of surveyor James Kerr for religious uses. Kerr's plans were approved by Don Rafael Gonzales the Provisional Governor of Coahuila and Texas. This block is still used for . . . — — Map (db m128168) HM
Pioneer Texas Baptist minister Z. N. Morrell organized the first Baptist congregation in Gonzales in 1841. It disbanded after about four years, but by 1847 a new congregation, led by the Rev. Richard Ellis and nine charter members, had taken its . . . — — Map (db m123658) HM
Circuit-riding Methodist preachers conducted worship services in this area as early as 1824. In 1841 the Rev. J. P. Sneed organized a Methodist church here as part of his circuit, which included Victoria, Port Lavaca, and Seguin. By 1843 the . . . — — Map (db m123645) HM
Named for Confederate General Thomas N. Waul, Fort Waul was built to defend inland Texas from possible Federal advances up the Guadalupe River from the Gulf of Mexico, as well as to provide protection for military supply trains. Construction of the . . . — — Map (db m155559) HM
On this site
September 29, 1835
the Mexican government troops
demanded the return of
the Gonzales cannon.
After two days delay,
awaiting recruits, the colonists
answered, "Come and Take It." — — Map (db m128151) HM
On this site
September 29, 1835
the Gonzales cannon was buried
from the 150 Mexican Dragoons
sent to demand it.
Two days later it was mounted
on ox-cart wheels, loaded with
chains and scrap iron, and fired
at the Mexican Army, the . . . — — Map (db m128170) HM
In county organized 1837, first courthouse burned 1893. This second one was built 1894-1896 at cost of $64,450.
Headquarters for many Texas leaders; scene of
important court decisions. — — Map (db m123635) HM
The commission created by the Texas Legislature in 1935 to oversee Texas' centennial joined with the Public Works Administration to build a memorial to Texas Revolution events in Gonzales. The memorial includes a museum, amphitheatre and . . . — — Map (db m128176) HM
Green (1787-1835) and Sarah (Seely) (1789-1854) Dewitt moved their family from Missouri to Texas in 1826 after he successfully petitioned the Mexican government for an Empresario Grant to settle 400 Anglo-Americans on lands southwest of Stephen F. . . . — — Map (db m128149) HM
First mapped in 1825 as "Market Square," but had become "Jail Square" prior to 1836 when Gonzales was burned by order of Gen. Sam Houston to prevent buildings and supplies falling into possession of oncoming enemy, Gen. Santa Anna. — — Map (db m128167) HM
James Hodges, Sr., came to Gonzales in April 1835. Soon after his arrival he purchased four leagues (17,721 acres) of land at the forks of San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers for $3,000 in silver. On September 26, 1835, in an election, held . . . — — Map (db m155555) HM
First Lieutenant Governor of Texas James W. Robinson (1800-1857) Born in Indiana. Came to Texas in 1833. Elected lieutenant governor in November, 1835, Served as governor January to March 1836, then fought as a private in the Battle of San Jacinto . . . — — Map (db m123611) HM
To comply with wishes of governor of Coahuila and Texas, the 1825 plans for Gonzales followed usual plans for Spanish towns. Surveyed by James Kerr, agent for colony's contractor, Green DeWitt, and Kerr's assistant, Byrd Lockhart. This was named . . . — — Map (db m123661) HM
Gonzales town tract of 4 square leagues had 49 squares in inner city - 7 of these squares for public use. This one was for municipal buildings, but became plaza.
Now called Texas Heroes Square, in honor of all Gonzales men who fought in the . . . — — Map (db m128169) HM
Stricken with news of the fall of the Alamo and threatened by a massive Mexican army, Sam Houston gathered the nucleus of a Texan army here, issued orders to burn this town (to hinder the Mexicans) and marched east, March 13, 1836. He won Victory . . . — — Map (db m128177) HM
1/8 mile north is
Sam Houston Oak
where General Sam Houston
established his headquarters camp
March 13, 1836
after burning the town of Gonzales
Under this oak his
small army was joined by
many volunteers from the
eastern . . . — — Map (db m128178) HM
Extending from this point
one-quarter mile west is
Santa Anna Mound
formerly De Witt Mound
now site De Witt Family Cemetery.
Here Mexican troops camped
between September 29 and
October 1, 1835, awaiting delivery
of the Gonzales . . . — — Map (db m128152) HM
Sarah Ann Ponton, the youngest child of William Ponton and Isabella (Mooreland) Ponton, was born September 16, 1820 in Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri. She migrated to Texas with her parents in 1829. After her father's massacre by Indians in . . . — — Map (db m158403) HM
Who with her daughter
Evaline
made the first battle flag of Texas
used by the colonists in the
Battle of Gonzales, October 2, 1835
Born in Virginia, 1789
came to Texas in 1826
with her husband
Green De Witt, Empresario,
and their . . . — — Map (db m128150) HM
An Indian raid July 2, 1826, left one Gonzales settler dead, another shot, homes plundered. Settlers fled to Burnham Station on the Colorado, or moved to Lavaca River. In 1827 DeWitt's colonists were ordered back here.
On this lot they built . . . — — Map (db m128173) HM
The Eggleston House was one of the first houses built in Gonzales after the Runaway Scrape and burning of the town in 1836. Horace Eggleston built this house in 1848 and it was one of the first permanent type in Gonzales. The house . . . — — Map (db m155582) HM
In Memory of the Immortal 32 Gonzales men and boys who, on March 1, 1836 fought their way into the beleaguered Alamo to die with Colonel William B. Travis for the Liberty of Texas. They were the last and only reinforcements to arrive in answer to . . . — — Map (db m128175) HM
On this site,
September 29, 1835
began the strategy of
the 18 Texians who by advising
with Alcalde Andrew Ponton, held
for two days 150 Mexican dragoons
sent to demand the Gonzales cannon,
allowing colonists time to mass
recruits for . . . — — Map (db m123671) HM
On February 29, 1852, the Presbyterian Church of Gonzales was constituted with eight charter members, led by the Rev. Joel T. Case. The Rev. John McRae served as the first permanent pastor and the congregation held worship services once a month in . . . — — Map (db m123660) HM
To the Women
of
the Confederacy
whose hearts bled, whose
hands healed, whose pride
was crucified, yet who
were never conquered by
the bitterness of war
nor the devastation of
the Reconstruction.
To their glorious memory . . . — — Map (db m128349) WM
In 1875 and 1876, when the Galveston Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad built through Gonzales County, this town was laid out to serve as a shipping point for the surrounding agricultural and ranching area. Hopkinsville, a thriving community five . . . — — Map (db m6978) HM
RSS Feed