Gonzales Cannon 2012 Come and Take It

Col.
John Henry Moore,

Oct. 2, 1836
You want the cannon, sir?
Well, there it is ...
Come
and
Take
It!
Cannon
The Gonzales
Reporting regional news with Honesty, Integrity and Fairness
The Cannon
Thursday, September 27, 2012
D
The Cannon Come and Take It Special Section
Page D2
Gonzales Livestock
Market
Sale Every Saturday at 10 a.m.
Working hard to insure quality service for all our customers.
830-672-2845
Hwy 90A,
Gonzales, Texas
David S. - 830-857-5394
Mike B. - 830-857-3900
Live Broadcast: www.cattleusa.com
Come & Take It
Texas T-Bone
Cook Off
Sunday,
October 7
9-11 a.m.
Awards 2 p.m.
Welcome to Gonzales!
Annual festival salutes citys long and rich history
The Come and Take It festival is the biggest civic
event of the year for the historic city of Gonzales. On
behalf of our fellow residents and businesses, we wel-
come our out-of-town visitors!
Gonzales was established in 1825 on Kerr Creek, 2
miles east of the confluence of the San Marcos and
Guadalupe Rivers in the gentle verdant hills of central
Texas. Over thousands of years the Guadalupe River
carved a fertile valley which is now 30 miles wide.
Gonzales is on the northwestern edge of the valley. For
many hundreds of years, American Indians lived at the
junction of the 2 rivers.
Gonzales was established to be the capital of a new
colony of 400 families granted by the Mexican govern-
ment to Empresario Green DeWitt. Most of the settlers
that joined his colony were German, Polish, & Czech
immigrants who entered through the Gulf of Mexico
port settlement of Indianola.
For 12 years, until the close of the Texas Revolution,
it was the western-most Anglo settlement of the north-
ern Mexican Territory of Tejas. The town was named
in honor of Don Rafael Gonzales, provisional Governor
of Tejas and Coahuila, Mexico.
In 1832, the Mexican government appointed Byrd
Lockhart to resurvey the town about a mile west of
its original site. He placed seven public squares in
the shape of a Spanish cross at the center of town and
named all of the streets in the original town site after
Catholic Saints (in alphabetical order, no less!). Two
additional strips of land, each one-block wide, were set
aside for public use only. One extended 5 miles north
and the other extended 3 miles east of the courthouse.
A number of towns in Texas were organized in this tra-
ditional fashion, but Gonzales is the only town that still
has all of the original squares from the Spanish land
grant intact and still in use as public land.
During the colonial period of 1825 to 1835, there
were many problems with the Comanche and Tonkawa
Indians. A number of settlers were killed during raids
along the perimeter of the settlement. In 1831, the
Mexican political chief in San Antonio, at the request
of the settlers in Gonzales, sent a six-pound cannon to
Gonzales as protection against the Indian raids. The
cannon is believed to have been spiked, renedering it
effectively useless save as a noise-maker.
By 1835, the political relationship between the set-
tlers of the colony and the new dictator of Mexico, El
Presidente Generalisimo Santa Anna, had deteriorated
dramatically. He decided that he needed to take back
the cannon so that it could not be used against his gov-
ernment in a revolution. After a diplomatic mission
failed, General Santa Anna responded with a detach-
ment of 100 Mexican dragoons.
On September 29, 1835, the Mexicans camped at a
ferry crossing on the Guadalupe River. There were
only 18 men living in the town. They quickly buried
the cannon in a peach orchard and secured the ferry to
the east side of the river to prevent the Mexican troops
from crossing.
This allowed an additional two days for preparations,
while the Mexican detachment searched the river for
another suitable crossing, for the citizens of Gonzales
to recruit a total of 168 Texans from the surrounding
area, re-deployed their cannon, and make a flag with
the words COME AND TAKE IT! emblazoned in
black against a pure white background (believed now
to have been made from a wedding dress).
On October 2, 1835 the two forces again met, and this
time the Gonzalians opened fire. The Mexican force,
which had been told not to engage a superior force, re-
treated quickly back to San Antonio. The first shot of
the Texas War of Independence from Mexico had been
fired! Gonzales has been known since that time as the
Lexington of Texas.
Only four months later, in late February, 1836, Gen-
eral Santa Anna returned; this time he brought sev-
eral thousand troops with him to quell the revolution
against the dictator in this northern territory of rebels
who wanted to govern themselves and break away from
Mexico. General Sam Houston was still trying to or-
ganize a Texas army when the Mexican army pushed
northward through the valley area of Texas.
Soon, it was evident that the next major battle would
be fought at the Alamo, just 60 miles west of Gonza-
les. The citizens of Gonzales were the ONLY town to
respond to Col. Travis urgent call for re-enforcements.
A total of 32 men from Gonzales and the closely sur-
rounding area (the Immortal 32) gathered just west of
town and rode together to the Alamo to join the nine
Gonzales men who were already fighting there.
General Sam Houston learned of the devastating de-
feat and the death of all of the volunteers from Gon-
zales when the sole survivors of the Alamo siege, Mrs.
Almaron (Susanna) Dickinson, her baby, and Joe, Col.
Traviss servant, returned from the battle together to re-
port the tragedy.
General Houston quickly gathered his few troops
along with all of the citizens of Gonzales and began
the famous Runaway Scrape to gain time and muster
more troops. He burned the town and all of the provi-
sions in it to deny General Santa Anna the supplies that
he needed to pursue the growing Texas army. The first
night after leaving the destroyed town, he established
his headquarters under a beautiful oak tree now known
as the Sam Houston Oak, which still stands along rem-
nants of the Old Spanish Trail in front of the Braches
House nine miles east of town on Peach Creek.
Eventually Gen. Houston made a stand at San Jacinto
on the Texas coast where Santa Anna was defeated in a
surprise attack and Texas gained its freedom from Mex-
ico on April 21, 1836: The Republic of Texas was born.
On December 14, 1837, Gonzales County was created
by the new Texas legislature from the DeWitt Colony.
During the 1850s more Germans and Czechs moved
into the area along with Mexicans.
John Fauth was taking an apprenticeship in barrel
making in upper New York state. He heard so many
thrilling tales of adventure and success that he, along
with hundreds of others, immigrated through the port
of Indianola to ride the train from the coast northward
to Gonzales.
The destruction of the Runaway Scrape gave way to
a complete rebuilding of the town. All of the standing
buildings were constructed in the mid 1800s or later.
That is why there are so many Victorian, Edwardian,
raised New Orleans Cottage, Neo-classical, and Arts &
Crafts style homes in the town. In fact, over 165 of
the homes are still standing and identified on a driving
tour of the town. Gonzales hosts a homes tour in the
first week-ends of every December and April.
The carefully restored 1896 courthouse of Gonzales
County now sits at the junction of the two beams of
the Spanish cross, and only public areas, schools, and
churches occupy those original squares today. The
Old Jail, built in 1887, still stands on the courthouse
square. The cell blocks, furniture, and inside gallows
still wait for visitors today.
In Civil War period, about 20 volunteer military
companies were active in Gonzales County. In 1863,
the Confederate government commissioned a fort to
be built in Gonzales as protection against inland inva-
sion by Yankee troops who might want to surprise the
Confederate troops in the fortifications along the Gulf
coast.
Fort Waul, C.S.A., an earthen embankment fort sur-
rounded by a moat, was constructed on the prominent
hill just north of the town. Apparently, the use of a dry
moat to slow the charge of cavalry troops was unusual
in the confederate fortifications. This may be the only
remaining visible site of this type of fort in the south.
Its location is still visible today and is now adjacent to
the site of a historic Pioneer Village in which a number
of historic stores, homes, and a church have been relo-
cated and restored for visitors to enjoy.
Cotton and Cattle were the major industries of the
1800s and early 1900s. Cattle drives made their way
along the Chisom Trail to Gonzales as they headed
north to the railhead in Kansas. After the civil war, the
railroads moved the cattle. The cotton industry never
returned after the Great Depression of 1929. Howev-
er, Gonzales County now raises more cattle and more
chickens than any other county in Texas.
A circular road-trip, The Texas Independence Trail,
begins and ends in Gonzales. It provides a visit to all of
the Texas Independence historical sites which you can
visit at your own pace. Maps and information are avail-
able at the Old Jail on the courthouse square directly
across from the fire station.
Thursday, September 27, 2012 Page D3
726 Sarah DeWitt, Gonzales
830-672-5599
Open 24 Hours
Every Fri. & Sat.
Bar Open
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Sat. til 1 a.m.
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EDITORS NOTE: The following is a re-pub-
lication of a historical column authored by local
historian Bob Burchard which originally appeared
in The Cannon in 2009:
Well, its Come and Take It time in Gon-
zales County. The time when we celebrate
the frst shot fred in the Texas Revolution for
independence from the Republic of Mexico.
The date of the battle was Oct. 2, 1835. The
fghting was sparked by the request of the
Mexican Government for the return of a can-
non previously loaned to the citizens of Gon-
zales for protection from hostile Indians.
I thought it would be of interest to know
how the Gonzales obtained the cannon in the
frst place. The Bexar Archives has a copy of
the letter sent by Green DeWitt to the Mexi-
can Government in 1835 requesting a cannon.
The letter was writtenin Spanish (all offcial
correspondence was required to be in Span-
ish), but here you see an English translation
of the letter:
Sr. Political Chief of the Dept.
Don Ramon Musquiz
Today I have been advised by two citizens
coming from the Municipality of Austin that
the Tawakoni Indians are camped in several
parties between the west bank of the Lavaca
and the east bank of the Navidad, thus cut-
ting off the road. And since I presume this
could be for the purpose of attacking the
convoy which I have mentioned is to carry
the payroll corresponding to the garrison
of Nacogdoches, as well as comitting hos-
tilities against this town, it has seemed to me
prudent to communicate this to you so that
if the aforesaid convoy comes, it will be in
this knowledge, and so that if you should
see ft you might please interpose your infu-
ence with Sr. Military Commandant for the
prompt dispatch of the detachment you men-
tion to me in your offcial note of the frst
of the month. I ask you, if at all possible,
to double it because this town is on route by
which the Tawakonis make their raids on
Victoria and Goliad.
I also beg you to have the kindness to re-
quest of the Sr. Military Commandant that
he provde us a cannon to aid int he defense
of this town, with the understanding that
even though (this piece) may be unmounted,
it will be our responsibility to oput it in work-
ing order and to return it to your city as soon
as you ask us for it.
I have the honor to present to you my con-
sideration and respects.
God and Liberty
Gonzales, January 7, 1831
Green DeWitt
Two observations about this letter: One -
Green DeWitt presents the threat of the Indi-
ans causing trouble with the payroll convoy to
Nacogdoches. Second - he did say the cannon
would be returned upon request.
But the letter was written in 1831, and at-
titudes and conditions were signifcantly dif-
ferent in 1835. Sacrifces had been made by
the Texans, and the Mexican Government had
altered the terms under which the land was to
be colonized.
Our fellow citizens could no longer be teth-
ered in their quest for freedom. They could no
longer submit to the tyrannical acts of Santa
Ana, the Dictator.
And the hearts of the citizens of the would
explode in concert with the roar of the can-
non - Freedom is ours. Freedom has come.
Freedom is our destiny. Come and Take It!
And that is part of our history, the history of
Gonzales, Texas - the birthplace of your Texas
Freedom.
By BOB BURCHARD
Special to The Cannon
The story of the Cannon
Gonzales Memorial Museum curator Oliver Davis with the Gonzales Cannon
Page D4
The China Basket
617 St. Joseph
830-672-8013
Have
fun
during
Come & Take It!
Purina Animal
Nutrition, LLC
1402 E. Sarah DeWitt, Gonzales, TX 78629
(830) 672-6565
Chicken Flying
Contest on
Confederate
Square,
Saturday,
October 6, 2 p.m.
MATAMOROS
TACO HUT
201 St. Joseph, Gonzales
672-6615
OPEN SUN.-TUES 6:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
WED.-SAT. 6:00 A.M.-8:OO P.M.
Get your tacos
before the
parade!
Bean & Chili
Cook Off
Awards
Sunday
2:30 p.m.
MBH Welding
Mark Hagen
1506 Seydler St., Gonzales
830-672-6536
HOME
AUTO
FARM
COMMERCIAL
BONDS
Travis Treasner
(830) 672-6518
Fax: (830) 672-6368
Cell: (512) 376-0773
Logan Insurance Agency
Have a fun &
safe time during
Come & Take It!
B&J Liquor
730 Seydler St.
GonzaleS, tX 78629
830-672-3107
Check out our large
Selection of
beverages for
Come &
Take It!
Hoopla
219 St. Lawrence
Gonzales
672-3511
Have fun at the
Texas T-Bone
Cook Off
Sunday, October 7
Saturn Sales
4421 Hwy. 97E, Gonzales, TX
830-540-4422
Washer Pitching
Saturday
2:00 p.m.
Persons Flower
Shop
1030 East St. Louis, Gonzales, Texas 78629
830-672-2883
Fax: 830-672-7447
Jan Wurz, Owner
Enjoy Bingo
During
Come & Take It
Stop by and have a
good cold beverage
to cool you off.
Come see us on
Sunday for Chicken
Poop Bingo!
Lotties Bar
207 US Hwy.
90A E.
Gonzales
Be sure and attend the
DRT Memorial Service
at the Memorial
Museum at 414 Smith
Street at 12:15 p.m.
Sunday, October 7
Capitol Monument Co.
Hwy. 183 North
Gonzales
830-672-7929
Come and Take It Schedule
Fridays Events
Saturdays Events
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Old Jail Museum open
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Memorial Museum
open
5-7 p.m. Gonzales Art Group Show at
426 St. Paul, 1st UMC
5-8 p.m. Gonzales County Camera
Club
Photo Contest - 511 St. Joseph (Cafe
on the Square)
6 p.m. Celebration & Carnival open in
historic downtown Gonzales
6-10 p.m. Bingo - Confederate Square
11 p.m. Carnival Closes
Music at the Biergarten:
6 -7:30 p.m. Hole in the Floor Band
8-9:30 Tejano Crew
10-11:30 Thom Shepherd
7:45 a.m. 5K Walk/Run at Indepen-
dence Park
9 a.m. Old Jail Museum Opens
9 a.m. Masonic Ceremony at Market
Square
10 a.m. Come and Take It Canoe race,
Lake Wood to the U.S. 183 Bridge
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Gonzales Memorial
Museum Opens
10:30 a.m. Come & Take It Parade
begins
12 Noon Pride of Texas Carnival
opens
Noon-5:30 p.m. Local Bands Jam
Session
12:30 p.m. Gonzales: The Begin-
ning Historical Program at Court-
house
1 p.m. Pioneer Village opens US 183
N. (admission)
1-6 p.m. Photo Show - Cafe on the
Square
2 p.m. Washer Pitching First 15
teams to pre-register by calling the
Chamber office
2 p.m. - Gonzales: The Beginning
Historical Program at Courthouse
2 p.m. - Chicken Flying Contest on
Confederate Square
2-5 p.m. J.B. Wells House open for
tours, 829 Mitchell Street - admission
3 p.m. Battle Re-Enactment at Pio-
neer Village
3:30 p.m. Eating Contests on the
Square entry fees
6-7 p.m. Come & Take It Square
Dancers
6-10 p.m. Bingo - Confederate Square
Midnight Carnival Closes
Music at the Biergarten:
6:30-8 p.m. Live Practice
8:30-10:30 p.m. Pale Horses
11 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Curtis Grimes
Sundays Events
9-11 a.m. Set up for Car Show
9-11 a.m. Texas T-Bone Cook Off
9-11 a.m. Texas Bean & Chili Cook
Off
9:30 a.m. Pioneer Village Memorial
Service
11 a.m. Ticket booth opens
12 noon Celebration opens in histor-
ic downtown Gonzales
12 noon Carnival opens on texas He-
roes Square
12:15 p.m. DRT Memorial Service at
Memorial Museum 414 Smith St.
1 p.m. Pioneer Village opens (admis-
sion)
1-3 p.m. Gonzales County Camera
Club Photo Contest - Cafe on the Sq.
1-5 p.m. Old Jail Museum, Memorial
Museum, Eggleston House open
1-5 p.m. Shiner Hobo Band at Bier-
garten
2 p.m. Texas T-Bone Cook Off Awards
2 p.m. Car Show Awards
2-5 p.m. J.B. Wells House open for
tours 829 Mitchell Street - admission
2-6 p.m. Bingo on Confederate
Square
2:30 p.m. Bean & Chili Cook Off
Awards
6 p.m. Carnival Ticket booth closes
(formerly Luxury Inn)
830-672-9611
1804 E. Sarah DeWitt Dr., Gonzales, Texas 78629
www.carefreeingonzales.com fax: 830-672-3078
Enjoy Come & Take It!
Gonzales, Texas
Gonzales Poultry
830-672-7954
1006 N. St. Paul, Gonzales, TX 78629
Kick Back & Relax
while listening to
Shiner Hobo Band
Sunday at the
Biergarten!
Welcome to
Come & Take It
Festival where
family & friends
gather!
Welcome
to
Come & Take It!
Welcome To
Gonzales!
Enjoy
Come & Take It
Oct. 5, 6, 7
Annie Oakley Pest Control
Well Get em With The Best Shot
Complete Pest & Termite Service
Residential & Commercial
Sherry Hill, Owner
830-672-1870
Drive up Window Available
102 W. Wallace
Gonzales
830-672-9477
Steve & Jane Wehlmann, Owners
D&D Liquor
Liquor for every
occasion - great
selection of beer,
wine, whiskey,
etc.
Stop by and browse
around.
See yall at the
Chili & Bean &
Texas T-Bone Cookoff
on Sunday
Hodges Construction
1404 N. Sarah DeWitt Dr.
Gonzales
672-7924
Welcome to the
Come & Take It Festival
Downtown Gonzales, Texas
Bingo - Confederate Square
Friday - 6 p.m. to10 p.m.
Saturday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Southern Clay
Products Inc.
1212 Church St., Gonzales
830-672-2891
Have fun at
Come & Take It!
FARMERS
INSURANCE GROUP
Gets You Back
Where You Belong!
Lisa D. Gaspard
Agency Manager
TDI #001113854
Gieser Insurance Agency
941 St. Joseph
Gonzales, Tx 78629
830-203-5325
Toll Free:
(800) 358-5298
Leticia M. Cenotti
Agency Producer
TDI #001243345
Have fun during Come & Take It!
Have fun
at Bingo!
Want Out?
Call 3G Bail Bonds
George Reese
830-857-4060
Glenna Reese
830-857-4090
Lillian H. Smith
Texas Ranch Specialist
offce: 830-236-5330; cell: 830-857-6012
lilliansmith@mac.com
Michael Ruschhaupt
offce: 830-236-5330
michaelruschh@gmail.com
www.buyertexas2000.com
www.turnquistpartners.com
Check out all the
happenings at
Come & Take It!
CATI Chili & Bean Cookof
The Come and Take It Chili and Bean Coo-
kof, sponsored by Adams Extract & Spice LLC,
is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7 on the square
behind the Gonzales Fire Station.
Check-in time is 8-11 a.m. You may begin
cooking as soon as you have checked in. Cook-
ers must prepare at least two pounds of chili
and two pounds of beans. Prizes will be award-
ed for frst, second and third places, as well as
Showmanship.
Entry fee is $15 per team prior to 4 p.m.
Oct. 5, and $20 thereafter. For details, contact
Dorothy Gast at The Gonzales Cannon at 830-
672-7100, 254-931-5712 or by e-mail at dot@
gonzalescannon.com, or contact teh Gonzales
Chamber of Commerce ofce at 830-672-6532.
Come & Pitch It!
There will be a Washer Pitching Tournament
at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. We only have room
for 15 teams, so call the Gonzales Chamber of
Commerce at 830.672.6532 to reserve your
spot. Entry fee is $20 per team.
Historical Programs
Come & Take It celebrates its history with
many historical programs!
This year we will feature the following:
Gonzales: The Beginning at 12:30 p.m.
and 2 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 6 at the Gonzales
County Courthouse;
J.B. Wells Home Tour from 2-5 p.m. on both
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6-7;
Come & Take It Battle re-enactment at 3
p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at Pioneer Village;
Pioneer Village Memorial Service, Sunday
October 7th at Pioneer Village;
Daughters of the Republic of Texas Memo-
rial Service on Sunday October 7th at 12:15 PM
at the Gonzales Memorial Museum
The race is on!
Register now for the 5K Come & Take It Run/
Walk at Independence Park. The race begins at
7:45 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. Early registration
is $12, or $15 after Sept. 28. For details or entry,
contact the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce
at (830) 672-6532.
CATI Car Show
The 17th Annual Come & Take It Car Show
will be held Sunday, October 7 in downtown
Gonzales.
Entry fees are $15 prior to Sept. 28, or $20
thereafter. The event is hosted by the Gonza-
les Classic Cruisers. For details or entry, contact
the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce at (830)
672-6532.
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda & The Tigress will appear
from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 6 at the corner of St. George
& St. Joseph Street.
Art Show
The Gonzales Art Group is looking for art-
ists of all ages to help them fll the Fellowship
Hall at the First United Methodist Church with
great artwork. Please help us and bring your
artwork on Thursday, October 4 from 2:30 to
5:00pm. All of the information needed should
be on the enclosed rules. If you have any
questions please dont hesitate to call Steve
Lewis at 830-857-0914, Janice Williamson at
830-857-5694, Gina Alford at 830-672-6025
or Sarah Bailey at 830-857-5695. We look for-
ward to see your wonderful artwork. Be sure
to tell all your friends to come in a vote for you
for the peoples choice awards for students
and adults.
Come and Take It Special Events
The Gonzales Memorial Museum at 414 Smith Street
Page D6
Proud sponsor of the
Gonzales
Come and Take It
Festival
Come by and visit us at our booth.
SAWS Gonzales
609 N. St Joseph Street
Gonzales, TX 78629
830-672-3803
SAWS San Antonio
2800 U.S. Hwy 281 North
San Antonio, TX 78298
210-704-7297
saws12-018 gonzalez festival ad 8/24/12
Visit us at
www.thetotestores.com
Sign up for Specials and Deal
Alerts
$1.50 for 20 lb bag
Ice Machine
$1.00 for 10 lb bag
12 pk. sodas 3/$11 or regular each
Natural Light
18pk cans $9.99
Bud Family
20pk cans and nrs
$14.99
Miller Family
12pk cans and nrs
$9.99
Coors Family
12pk cans and nrs
$9.99
Come and Compete in It!
The Come and Take It 5K Run/Walk kicks of at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6
The Come and Take It Canoe Race begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at Lake Wood
The Texas T-Bone Cook-Of is set for 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7
We plan on furthering our services &
great sales!
Every Thursday - Pre-Pay 10% off
Military & Senior Citizens 10% off everyday!
We are the only cleaners in town and
area that are members of The Laundry &
Dry Cleaning Services Institute!
NEXT DAY SERVICE - Drop off by 2 p.m. and
returned next day after 4 p.m.
Done in our own plant locally!
Speedy alterations, great spot/stain removal!
Exceptional Customer Service Care!
Come & Clean It!!
510 St. Andrew
Kristen Matias-Meeh,
Mgr.
Ronda Vannatta,
CSR
We would like to give
a Huge Thank you to our
community, faithful/new
customers & oil feld
workers for the
continued support & business
Enjoy the fun of Come and Take It
The annual Come and Take It Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6
Gates open for the Pride of Texas Carnival at 6 p.m. Friday,
Oct. 5. The carnival runs through 6 p.m. Sunday
Eating contests including jalapenos! begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 The Come and Take It Car Show is set for 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7
The
Best
Service
&
Prices In The Area on
Chevrolets & GMC
Before going to the Come
& Take It Celebration
Come & Take A Vehicle
off of Our Lot in
Hallettsville
Grafe Chevrolet
407 Fair Winds
Hallettsville, TX
361-217-3089
800-798-3225
Page D8
US Hwy. 90A E, Gonzales, TX 78629 830-672-7573
Walmart Layaway
Get Ready for Christmas Now With Walmarts layaway plan
10% down and $5.00 open fee
($5.00 will be refunded on Walmart gift card upon full payment)
Total purchase must
be over
$50.00, individual
items must be $15.00
or more
Jewelry, toys, electronics, small
appliances, select sporting goods, guns/accessories/safes, game ta-
bles, basketball goals/balls, trampolines and large exercise equipment. No wireless phones.
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Standing back row: Ann Haub, Lillian Molina, Scherrell Salazar, Patricia Mitchell and Lydia Grifaldo
Middle row: Madison Short, Liliana Borjon, Kinsley Voigt, Michael Meeh, James Sanchez,
Brandon DuBose, Isaac Mendez, Emma Riojas and Mia Guerra
Sitting: Addison Pustka, Khloe Rodriguez, Jordyn Gonzales and Kamryn Riojas
Now Enrolling all ages. Come check out our Pre-K for 4s & Jr. Pre-K for 3s
921 St. Peter
672-6865
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Preschool/Daycare
Pre-K Ages 3-4 group
The ever-popular Chicken Flying contest is back again this year and will take
place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. Make sure to give the feathered contestants
plenty of room ... theres no telling where theyll end up!
Come and Take It
The Cannon
Come and Take It Special Section
E
A stand for
that birthed a
Nation
Principle
The Battle of Gonzales ignited the Texas Revolution of 1835
It was a trivial matter, over an item
of no special signifcance. Yet it was
the principle at stake which deter-
mined the course of history.
The Gonzales Cannon which was
the focal point of the Battle of Gon-
zales was no major artillery piece;
many historians believe it had been
spiked (rendered useless) and even
when fred could do little more than
make noise.
Yet throughout history, time has
proven when you begin disarming
the populace you are paving the way
for brutal tyranny and like todays
citizens of Gonzales, the Gonzales
residents of 1835 held a keen appre-
ciation for history.
In the summer of 1835, the settlers
in DeWitts Colony grew increasing-
ly alarmed at events happening in the
capital of their country Mexico
City. While maintaining their loyalty
to the government and to the liberal
Constitution of 1824, they were es-
pecially alarmed at the progressive
assumption of dictatorial powers by
President Antonio Lopez de Santa
Anna.
The colonists were especially
frightened when they learned that
Santa Anna had suppressed a rebel-
lion in the state of Zacatecas with
special brutality. A friend of the
soon-to-be-dictator, Edward Gritten,
visited Gonzales and, after convers-
ing with the colonists, convinced
the Mexican commander in San
Antonio, Col. Domingo Ugartechea,
to send letters of assurance to the
colonists that troops would not be
stationed there.
That changed late in the summer
when a Mexican soldier rife-butted
a colonist named Jesse McCoy in
Adam Zumwalts store, without
provocation. News of the incident
spread rapidly and colonists began
drifting toward the war hawks fac-
tion.
One of Santa Annas policies was
to disarm all local militias. The De-
Witt colonists had, in 1831, been
gifted with a small cannon (which
some historians believe may have
been spiked, or rendered incapable
of fring) for defense against the
Comanches who occasionally made
forays against settlements. Because
it had been spiked, it was likely little
more than a noisemaker.
Col. Ugartechea send a small
detail to Gonzales to ask for return
of the cannon, but when they ar-
rived on Sept. 25, 1835, they were
informed by Alcalde (Mayor) An-
drew Ponton that the local citizenry
had voted against doing so. The
cannon was temporarily buried in
a peach orchard on the Davis farm.
Upon hearing the news, Ugarte-
chea sent Lt. Francisco Castaneda
with more than 100 troops from San
Antonio to again demand the can-
non, but to avoid confrontation if
possible. On Sept. 29, the lieutenant
learned that more than 200 colonists
had gathered against them.
That afternoon, Castaneda met
with Regidor (councilman) Joseph
Clements by shouting across the
rain-swollen Guadalupe River, who
told him that ...I cannot now will
not deliver to you the cannon ...
Castanedas forced camped over-
night on a spot later known as Santa
Annas Mound. The colonists,
meanwhile, were reinforced by
contingents from the current Fay-
ette County area, Columbus, Cole-
man, Wallace and other settlements.
A Dr. Lancelot Smithers arrived
from San Antonio and attempted to
arrange a parley between the two
forces.
On the morning of Oct. 1 Cas-
taneda, aware that the Texian force
was increasing in size, moved his
force to a more defensible position
some seven miles upstream near
the farm of Ezekial Williams. A
group of colonists, including Jacob
Darst, Richard Chisholm and John
Sowell, went to the Davis farm and
dug up the cannon, mounting it on
wooden wheels from Eli Mitchells
cotton wagon. Darst unspiked the
cannons touch hole while others
grabbed every spare piece of metal
they could fnd to turn into shrapnel.
Thinking that Castanedas orders
were to take the cannon by force
in reality, he was to avoid any en-
gagement the colonists decided
Continued on Page E2
Page E2
Battle Re-Enactment
at Pioneer Village
The Battle of Gonzales: Oct. 2, 1835

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Te Pioneer Village will be the site of the an-
nual re-enactment of the Battle of Gonzales on
Saturday, Oct. 6, starting at around 3 p.m.
Visitors are taken back in time to the events
leading up to the start of the Texas Revolution,
and the volunteer actors taking part in the re-
enactment play their roles to the hilt listen
closely and follow the dialogue!
Te Gonzales Pioneer Village Living His-
tory Center, located at 2122 N. St. Joseph St., is
ofen referred to as Te Village and houses a
collection of 1800s and early 1900s era houses
and buildings from Gonzales County. Visitors
strolling through Te Village ofen feel as if they
stepped into the same era as the original occu-
pants, whove stepped out. Visitors will become
easily immersed in pioneer life as a short stroll
transitions everyone from modern life, to Te
Village.
Each structure has been donated and care-
fully relocated to the grounds of Te Village for
preservation. Most furnishings and equipment
found within these structures were either loaned
or donated to help represent the cultural lifestyle
of the pioneers who settled this area.
Every year many individuals, friends and fam-
ilies journey through Te Village for explora-
tion. As part of this preserved Gonzales County
architectural history, our association takes great
care to insure authenticity.
Te Village hosts numerous groups, organiza-
tions, clubs and school children eager to learn
about Texas history. All tours and special events
are manned by period costumed volunteers who
provide information about the buildings and
their furnishings. Additionally, our volunteers
will demonstrate numerous skills and crafs
necessary for the pioneer way of life.
to take the initiative. At 7 p.m. the eve-
ning of Oct. 1 the Texian force crossed
the river at the Gonzales ferry crossing,
with the cannon and 50 horsemen in ad-
dition to foot troops. They approached
the Mexican position through a thick fog
at about 3 a.m. on Oct. 2.
The barking of a dog alerted the
Mexicans and the federalista pickets
opened fre, wounding one man. As
dawn broke, the Texians found them-
selves in Williams corn and water-
melon felds and moved to an open
area within 350 yards of the Mexicans,
where they opened fre.
A troop of about 40 cavalrymen
under Lt. Gregorio Perez charged the
Texians, who fell back to the thick trees
along the river bank.
Smithers, who had earlier been ar-
rested as a Mexican spy, now attempted
to arrange a parley again and Castaneda
and Col. John H. Moore, now in com-
mand of the Texians. The two met in an
open area but when Castaneda again
asked for the cannon, he was told:
There it is come and take it.
The Texian force few a small hand-
made fag made of white silk with a
representation of the cannon on it, a
single star, and the words, Come and
Take It!
Moore returned to the Texian posi-
tion and ordered the cannon, loaded
with powder and scrap metal, to be
fred a harmless shot, since it was
nowhere in range. The shot became
known, however, as the frst shot of
the Texas revolution.
The Texians fred a volley with their
rifes, and made a cautious advance to-
ward the Mexican position. Castaneda,
who had received orders to withdraw if
the Texian force was superior in num-
bers, immediately pulled his force back
and retreated to San Antonio.
In his offcial report, Castaeda not-
ed: Since the orders from your Lord-
ship were for me to withdraw without
compromising the honor of Mexican
arms, I did so.
Each side suffered one casualty from
gunfre; the Texians also had one man
whose nose was bloodied when his
horse spooked at the sound of gunfre.
Days later, a provisional government
formed and named Stephen F. Austin
the commander of the Texian Repub-
lican Army, ordering him to march on
San Antonio in defense of the Constitu-
tion of 1824.
Continued from page E1
Thursday, September 27, 2012 Page E3
Hours:
Mon.-Thurs. - 8:00-7:00
Friday - 9:00-6:00
Sat.,-Sun. Closed
Occupational Therapy
Contact Info:
322 St. George St.,
Gonzales, TX 78629
Phone: 830-672-7300
Fax: 830-672-7502
T-REX THERAPY SERVICES MISSION
To improve the lives of our patients by offer-
ing a team approach along with strong family
involvement in a setting specifcally designed
for kids.
We recognize our clients uniqueness and en-
courage the opportunity for each childs indi-
viduality to be creatively expressed through
words and actions.
We encourage parental involvement during
treatment to facilitate better rehabilitation. This
creates a stress-free learning environment and
benefts our clients progress at home and in
the community to enhance our kids role in life.
Speech Therapy
Services Provided
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Development Delay
Cerebral Palsy
Perceptual and Visual Motor
Disorders
Fine Motor Delayed Skills
Neuromuscular Dysfunction
Physical Injury/Illness
AUTISM & RELATED DISORDERS
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Psychological Dysfunction
ATTENTION DEFICIT
Hyperactive Disorder
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Cognitive Impairment
SPEECH LANGUAGE
Delayed Speech And
Language
Learning Disability
Articulation Disorders
VOICE DISORDERS
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SPEECH DISORDERS
Phonological Process
Sound Omissions
Substitutions/Additions
Disorders
Fluency
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Cleft Lip/Palate
Services Provided
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PHYSICAL THERAPY
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Impaired Motor Abilities
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Services Provided
FIT KID PROGRAM
Kid Fit Program is a physical ftness
program designed for clients between
the ages of 4-20. After approval by your
health care provider, Kid Fit is based on
a six-month, twice a week schedule in our
facility. Prior to approval for our Kid Fit
Program, clients must undergo a physi-
cal exam and blood lipid profle test. After
the six-month period, clients will require
a re-examination to better analyze the
childs need to beneft from our Kid Fit
Program.
INTRODUCING HEALTH
& WELLNESS FIT KID PROGRAM
While many modern textbooks condense the
Texas Revolution of 1835-36 into a few lines of
text centered around the idea that settlers from
the United States came in and wrested the terri-
tory away from Mexico, the truth of the matter
is much more complicated.
Most of those who came to the Texas colo-
nies of empresarios Stephen F. Austin and
Green DeWitt in the years following Mexicos
independence from Spain were, in fact, intent on
becoming good Mexican citizens especially
after the country adopted a constitution in 1824
modeled after that of the United States. They
were offered a number of incentives by Mexico,
which wanted a settled Texas to help control
raids by Indians against its outlying northeastern
settlements like San Antonio de Bejar: there was
an exemption from the property tax and tariffs
on many goods, as well as an exemption from
Mexicos prohibition of slavery.
Those incentives proved to be powerful: by
1830, immigrants born in the United States vast-
ly out-numbered Mexican-born settlers, and on
April 6, 1830, President Anastasio Bustamante
issued a prohibition against further immigra-
tion from the U.S. into Texas, rescinded the tax
and tariff exemptions, and ordered all settlers to
comply with the prohibition against slavery or
face military intervention.
Bustamantes order had little effect; settlers
continued to pour into the territory and ig-
nored the directives. But other Mexican statutes
proved equally vexing.
The colonists, who formed their own militias
to protect against raids by Comanches, resented
Mexican troops being stationed in Texas; many
of the troops were criminals whose sentence
was to serve in Texas. Texas was also part of the
state of Coahuila y Tejas, and the state capital
of Saltillo was hundreds of miles away. Many
settlers felt Texas deserved to be its own state
without reaching the constitutional population
stipulation.
Economics also played a role in fomenting
unrest. There was great demand in Europe for
cotton, and many Texas farmers wanted to cash
in by growing cotton but the central govern-
ment instead dictated which crops they were al-
lowed to grow, and where they were allowed to
sell it. Many of the settlers also had issues with
the fact that Mexican law required (and still re-
quires) that all citizens be Roman Catholic and
pay tithes to the Catholic church.
Relations between Texas and the central gov-
ernment worsened over the next fve years, but
almost right until the Battle of Gonzales on Oct.
2, 1835, most of those who settled in Texas con-
sidered themselves loyal citizens of Mexico.
In 1826, for example, some of Austins origi-
nal settlers formed a militia which marched
alongside Mexican troops to quell the short-
lived Fredonian Rebellion near Nacogdoches.
When Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna staged
his coup against Bustamante, most of the Texas
settlements sent their assurances that they were
acting against Bustamantes troops in support of
Santa Anna.
Settlers called a convention in 1833 which
called for the government to rescind Bustaman-
tes edicts and to grant Texas separate statehood.
The new president of Mexico, Santa Anna,
agreed and rescinded them save for the granting
of statehood. Austin was jailed, however, after
he wrote a letter calling on Texans to declare
statehood on their own.
Texas was not the only concern for Santa
Anna, however: several other regions in the inte-
rior of the country also saw outbreaks of unrest,
and in 1834 he began dissolving state legisla-
tures, disarming militias and scrapping the 1824
Constitution, transitioning the government from
a federal one to a centralized dictatorship. Some
farmers who insisted on growing cotton instead
of their assigned crops were imprisoned.
Santa Anna who as a younger offcer
became well-versed in brutal tactical warfare
on the frontier against Comanche and Apache
Indians considered anyone opposing his
programs to be an outlaw, and anyone rebel-
ling against his government to be a pirate, and
dealt with rebels harshly. After supressing one
rebellion in Zacatecas in May, 1835, Santa Anna
allowed his victorious troops to loot and ransack
the city of Zacatecas for two days.
In 1835, many of the colonists began forming
Committees of Correspondence and Safety,
and in June, a riot broke out over tariffs in Ana-
huac.
Santa Anna immediately ordered more troops
to Texas, including his brother-in-law, General
Martin Perfecto do Cos, with orders to repress
with strong arm all those who, forgetting their
duties to the nation which has adopted them as
her children, are pushing forward with a desire
to live at their own option without subjection to
the laws.
Daguerrotype purportedly of Antonio Lopez de
Santa Anna, 1853
Stephen F. Austin
A betrayed trust in government: the roots of the Texas revolt
From the Texas State Historical
Association:
The Battle of Gonzales set into
motion a series of events which led
many Texans to believe mis-
takenly theyd routed Mexican
forces. That overconfdence would
lead to tragedy the following spring.
The siege of Bexar (San Antonio)
became the frst major campaign of
the Texas Revolution. From Octo-
ber until early December 1835 an
army of Texan volunteers laid siege
to a Mexican army in San Antonio
de Bxar.
After a Texas force drove off
Mexican troops at Gonzales on Oc-
tober 2, the Texan army grew to 300
men and elected Stephen F. Austin
commander to bring unity out of
discord. The Texans advanced on
October 12 toward San Antonio,
where Gen. Martn Perfecto de Cos
recently had concentrated Mexican
forces numbering 650 men. Cos
fortifed the town plazas west of the
San Antonio River and the Alamo,
a former mission east of the stream.
By the time the Texans camped
along Salado Creek east of San
Antonio in mid-October their num-
bers had grown to over 400 men,
including James Bowie and Juan N.
Segun,qqv who brought with him a
company of Mexican Texans. Bow-
ie and James W. Fannin, Jr., led an
advance to the missions below San
Antonio in late October, while Cos
brought in 100 reinforcement men.
On October 25 the democratic Tex-
ans conducted a debate over strat-
egy. Sam Houston, who had come
from the Consultation government,
urged delay for training and for can-
nons to bombard the fortifcations.
Austin and others won support to
continue efforts at capturing San
Antonio.
From San Francisco de la Espada
Mission on October 27, Austin sent
Bowie and Fannin forward to Nues-
tra Seora de la Pursima Concep-
cin de Acua Mission with ninety
men to locate a position nearer the
town for the army. There on the
foggy morning of the twenty-eighth
Cos sent Col. Domingo de Ugar-
techea with 275 men to attack the
advance force. The Texans drove
off the assault from a position along
the bank of the San Antonio River,
inficting over ffty casualties and
capturing one cannon. Austin ar-
rived after the battle of Concepcin
to urge an attack on San Antonio
but found little support among his
offcers.
Cos then resumed defensive po-
sitions in San Antonio and the Al-
amo, while the Texans established
camps on the river above and below
the town and grew to an army of
600 with reinforcements from East
Texas led by Thomas J. Rusk. Af-
ter discussion among the Texan of-
fcers produced little support for an
attack, some volunteers went home
for winter clothes and equipment.
Yet the arrival of more East Texans
in early November offset the depar-
tures.
Texas and Mexican cavalry skir-
mished from time to time as the
Texans scouted to capture Mexican
supplies and to warn of any rein-
forcements for Cos. After a lack of
early success, William Barret Tra-
vis led the capture of 300 Mexican
mules and horses grazing beyond
the Medina River on November 8.
Four days later Ugartechea left San
Antonio with a small cavalry force
to direct the march of reinforce-
ments from below the Rio Grande.
Austin sent cavalry to intercept
him, but the Mexican troops evaded
them. Both armies suffered mo-
rale problems as a result of colder
weather and limited supplies.
When three companies with over
a hundred men arrived from the
United States in mid-November,
Austin again planned an attack. Of-
fcers still expressed doubts, how-
ever, and it was called off. Austin
then left to assume diplomatic du-
ties in the United States. The Texas
troops selected Edward Burleson as
their new leader.
When Erastus (Deaf) Smithqv
reported approaching Mexican
cavalry on November 26, Burleson
ordered out troops to cut them off.
Skirmishing followed near Alazn
Creek west of town, with attack and
counterattack by both sides. Finally
the Mexican troops withdrew into
San Antonio. The engagement be-
came known as the Grass Fight be-
cause captured Mexican supply ani-
mals carried fodder for horses rather
than the rumored pay for Mexican
soldiers.
Because of limited supplies and
approaching winter, Burleson con-
sidered withdrawing to Goliad at
the beginning of December. Infor-
mation on Mexican defenses from
Texans who were allowed to leave
San Antonio led to new attack
plans. But fears that the Mexican
army had learned of the assault
brought a near breakup of the Texan
army. When a Mexican offcer sur-
rendered with news of declining
Mexican morale, Benjamin R. Mi-
lam and William Gordon Cookeqqv
gathered more than 300 volunteers
to attack the town, while Burleson
and another 400 men scouted, pro-
tected the camp and supplies, and
forced Cos to keep his 570 men
divided between the town and the
Alamo.
James C. Neill distracted the
Mexican forces with artillery fre
on the Alamo before dawn on De-
cember 5, while Milam and Francis
W. Johnson led two divisions in a
surprise attack that seized the Ve-
ramendi and Garza houses north of
the plaza in San Antonio. Mexican
cannon and musket fre kept the
Texans from advancing farther dur-
ing the day and silenced one of their
cannons.
That night and the next day the
Texans destroyed some buildings
close to them and dug trenches to
connect the houses they occupied.
On the seventh the Texans captured
another nearby house, but Milam
died from a sharpshooters bul-
let. Johnson then directed another
night attack that seized the Navarro
house. On December 8 Ugartechea
returned with over 600 reinforce-
ments, but only 170 were experi-
enced soldiers. Untrained conscripts
formed the other 450 men, who
brought with them few supplies.
Burleson sent 100 men into town
to join the Texan force that captured
the buildings of Zambrano Row in
hand-to-hand fghting. Cos ordered
his cavalry to threaten the Texan
camp, but they found it well de-
fended. That night Cooke with two
companies seized the priests house
on the main plaza, but they seemed
cut off from the Texas army.
When Cos sought to concentrate
his troops at the Alamo, four com-
panies of his cavalry rode away
rather than continue the struggle.
Cos then asked for surrender terms
on the morning of December 9.
Burleson accepted the surrender
of most Mexican equipment and
weapons, but allowed Cos and his
men to retire southward because
neither army had supplies to sustain
a large group of prisoners.
Texas casualties numbered thirty
to thirty-fve, while Mexican losses,
primarily in the Morelos Infantry
Battalion, which defended San An-
tonio, totaled about 150; the differ-
ence refected the greater accuracy
of the Texans rifes. Most of the
Texas volunteers went home after
the battle, which left San Antonio
and all of Texas under their control.
Page E4
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The revolution grows: the Siege of Bexar
Ben Milam Martin Perfecto de Cos
The forgotten Texas Revolution: the Battle of Medina
The Battle of Medina was
fought approximately 20 miles
south of San Antonio de Bexar
(modern-day San Antonio, Texas,
in the United States) on August 18,
1813 as part of the Mexican War
of Independence against Spanish
authority in Mexico.
Spanish Royalist troops led
by General Jos Joaqun de Ar-
redondo defeated Republican
forces (calling themselves the
Republican Army of the North),
consisting of Tejano-Mexican and
Tejano-American revolutionar-
ies participating in the Gutirrez-
Magee Expedition, under General
Jos lvarez de Toledo y Dubois.
Bernardo Gutirrez de Lara took
up the effort to free Texas from
Spain. Colonel Gutirrez visited
Washington, DC, and gained sup-
port for his efforts. In 1812, Colo-
nel Augustus William Magee, who
had commanded U.S. Army troops
guarding the border of the Neutral
Ground between Louisiana and
Texas, resigned his commission,
and formed the Republican Army
of the North to aid the Gutirrez-
Magee Expedition. The army few
a solid emerald green fag, thought
to have been introduced by Colo-
nel Magee, who was of Protestant
Irish descent.
Nacogdoches was taken on Au-
gust 12, 1812, with little opposi-
tion, and on November 7, 1812
the Republican Army of the North
marched into what is present day
Goliad where they took the Pre-
sidio La Bahia. Spanish royalists
soon confronted them, beginning
a four month siege. While at La
Bahia, Colonel Magee died on
February 6, 1813. After numerous
battles and heavy losses, the Span-
ish lifted the siege and returned to
San Antonio de Bexar.
On March 25, 1813 the Repub-
lican Army of the North left La
Bahia for Bexar after receiving
reinforcements. Colonel Samuel
Kemper replaced Magee, and
Lieutenant Colonel Reuben Ross
was elected second in command.
There were approximately 1,400
Texians in the Republican Army
at the time, composed of Tejanos,
Americans, Euro-Mexicans (Crio-
llos), and former Spanish Royalist
soldiers aided by an auxiliary force
of Indians and at least one black
slave. The Spanish army of Gen-
eral Toledo, with about 1,800 men,
had camped on the north bank of
the Medina River, about six miles
north of the Royalist troops which
were encamped near present-day
Leming, Texas.
The battle lasted four hours. To-
ledos plan called for an ambush
on the Royalist troops as they
would march through a defle on
the BexarLaredo road. Similarly,
Arredondo had sent out a scout-
ing party with some cavalry in the
morning to try to determine the lo-
cation of Toledos troops. Quite ac-
cidentally, they happened upon the
Republican ambush and retreated
after a brief exchange of fre.
The Republican soldiers gave
chase, apparently mistaking the
cavalry which kicked up large
clouds of dust for the main army.
The Republicans fed in dis-
order. Toledo, Perry and a
few of their associates headed
straight for Louisiana. Bexarenos
stopped in San Antonio just long
enough to gather their families.
The Spanish army continued to
press, killing many of the feeing
soldiers. Most of the remainder
were captured and then in a por-
tent of the future Texas War of
Independence were summarily
executed. Fewer than 100 out of
1,400 soldiers on the Republican
side survived, while the Royalists
lost only 55 men. The remains of
the Republican troops were left
to rot and not buried until 1822
when Jos Flix Trespalacios, the
frst governor of Coahuila y Te-
jas under the newly established
United Mexican States, ordered a
detachment of soldiers to gather
their bones and bury them honor-
ably under an oak tree that grew
on the battlefeld.
The subsequent punitive mea-
sures against the supporters of the
revolt had a negative effect upon
the province. It is believed that
the counter-insurgency policies of
the Spaniards led to a substantial
decline of the Tejano population.
It is also noteworthy that some
of Guttierrez-Magee participants
were sons of American revolu-
tionaries, some fought later with
Andrew Jackson in the War of
1812, and of the few who sur-
vived some fought again during
the second Texas Revolution in
183536. Jos Antonio Navarro,
a founding father of Texas, and
Jos Francisco Ruiz, both future
signers of the 1836 Texas Dec-
laration of Independence, took
part in the Magee, Gutirrez and
Toledo resistance movements
and later served as leaders in the
Texas Revolution.
One of the dead, Peter Sides,
was not a son of, but an actual vet-
eran of, the American Revolution.
EDITORS NOTE: The
following is a re-publication
of a historical column au-
thored by local historian Bob
Burchard which originally
appeared in The Cannon in
2009:
Fate sometimes intersects
the path of history, and the
results may be dramatic and
profound. Such was the case
of the career of General Sam
Houston. He was sent to
Gonzales in March of 1836 to
take command of the Texas
Army. He had recently been
elected to the position of
Commander-in-Chief of the
Texas Army by the Constitu-
tional Convention meeting at
Washington on the Brazos.
Houston and other elected
delegates had, on March 2nd,
1836, adopted and signed the
Texas Declaration of Inde-
pendence stating the reasons
for separation from the Re-
public of Mexico. But, curi-
ously enough, Sam Houston
almost was not even present
as a delegate to the conven-
tion.
Here are some of the de-
tails of the story. As the
Texans grew restless under
the controls of the Repub-
lic of Mexico, the call went
out for a convention to be
held on March 1, 1836, at
Washington-on-the Brazos
to consider the possibility of
declaring independence from
the Republic of Mexico. All
the established communities
in the State, except San An-
tonio, sent elected delegates
to the Convention. Gonza-
les elected and sent two del-
egates, Matthew Caldwell
and John Fisher. Caldwell
is buried here in Gonzales
in the City Cemetery. Fisher
went back to Virginia after
the Texas Revolution, and is
buried there.
At the time delegates were
being elected, Houstons
home town was Nacogdo-
ches in east Texas. He was
not very popular at the time,
having a reputation for liking
strong drink, fast horses, and
women with similar char-
acteristics. He was soundly
defeated as a delegate from
his home town, receiving less
than 10 percent of the votes.
Houston was told that he
might be elected as a delegate
to the convention from Refu-
gio, which was not heav-
ily populated. Sam Houston
went to Refugio and was
in fact elected as a delegate
from that community.
It is also interesting to note
that the Texas Army, in which
Houston served as an offcer,
could also elect and send
delegates to the Convention.
The Texas Army also rejected
Houston as a delegate, and
sent other parties to the con-
vention.
So, here is Sam Houston,
spurned by frst the people
in his home town, those who
knew him best, and sec-
ond by those with whom he
served in the Texas Army.
He came to the convention
through the back door, if you
will, elected as a delegate by
the thinly populated town of
Refugio, by people who did
not know him at all.
Were it not for the quirk of
fate, Sam Houstons career,
and the history of Gonzales
and Texas, might have been
signifcantly different from
the story we now know. Not
only was he the victorious
General at San Jacinto, but he
was elected as the First Presi-
dent of the Republic of Tex-
as; elected to the Congress of
the Republic, elected again
as President of the Repub-
lic; elected as United State
Senator after Texas became
a state and was also elected
as Governor of the State of
Texas.
Not a bad list of accom-
plishment for a man who
barely made it to the Consti-
tutional Convention.
General Sam Houston ar-
rived in Gonzales on March
11, 1836, to take charge of
the Texas Army.
On that same day, word
came to Gonzales of the fall
of the Alamo, and that all
were killed.
Sam Houston saw frst
hand the cost of freedom. He
saw the shock of the town, the
pain of the women; he heard
the shrieks of the widows, the
screams of the children. Yes,
he saw vividly what freedom
costs. The sacrifces freedom
demands.
But he also saw the cour-
age of the people the deter-
mination of the soldiers that
this was not the end, but rath-
er a continuation of the fght
for freedom that began here
in Gonzales when the frst
shot of the Texas Revolution
was fred just a few months
earlier.
So, Sam Houston, reject-
ed as a delegate by both his
home town and the army,
elected to the convention by
the people who did not know
him, drew courage from the
citizens of Gonzales and their
sacrifces.
He resolved and deter-
mined that Texas must sur-
vive, and buttressed by what
he gleaned from Gonzales,
made the decisions that cul-
minated in victory at San
Jacinto, and ultimately, free-
dom for all Texans.
Isnt it interesting how a
little quirk of fate may af-
fect so many people. So, the
next time you hear or read of
Refugio, you might send a
nod in their direction, maybe
a gesture of thanks.
And that is part of our his-
tory, the history of Gonzales.
Gonzales, Texas the birth-
place of your Texas Freedom.
Thinking that the victories at Gonzales and in the
siege of Bexar had defeated Mexico, many of the Tex-
ans in the Bexar force went home.
In every instance where theyd faced Mexican
troops, the revolutionaries superior fghting skills
in particular, their superior American-made gunpowder
had carried the day.
The over-confdence bred from those early successes
would prove tragic.
As early as Oct. 27, 1835, Santa Anna was prepar-
ing to take a personal hand in quelling the rebellion in
Texas. As he began assembling an army, the Mexican
Congress passed a resolution defning any foreigners
coming to the aid of Texas as pirates and thus subject
to immediate execution. Santa Anna sent a letter con-
taining that warning to United States President Andrew
Jackson.
The army Santa Anna gathered was initially com-
posed of a little more than 6,000 men many of them
raw recruits or conscripted criminals with no military
experience. Santa Anna, convinced of his own military
genius and that he needed to crush the rebellion with
brute force, declined to march up the Texas coast and
instead headed inland toward San Antonio.
At the same time, Mexican General Jose Urrea with
some 900 troops, left Matamoros and followed a coast-
al route into Texas.
The frst town approached by Urrea was San Patricio,
where on February 27 he encountered Frank Johnson
and about 50 Texans. Johnson and four of his men es-
caped, but the rest were either killed or captured. A few
days later, the Mexicans also fell upon James Grant and
another 50 men, and all but one of the Texans were
killed.
Citizens of Refugio, the next town in Urreas path,
were slow to evacuate. To provide assistance, James
W. Fannin, commander of forces at Goliad, sent two
relief forces. The frst of these groups numbered about
30 men under Aaron King, followed by a larger group
of some 150 men under William Ward. Like Johnsons
force, both of these groups were eventually killed or
captured by the Mexicans.
Meanwhile back in Goliad, Fannin and his remain-
ing force of about 350 were called on to aid William
Barrett Travis and the Alamo defenders. He was also
ordered by Sam Houston to retreat with Travis back to
Victoria. Due to indecision and carelessness by Fan-
nin, however, he failed to accomplish either of these
missions.
After a delay of about fve days following Houstons
order, Fannin fnally began his retreat. It was not long,
however, before the Texans found themselves surrounded
on open prairie. Several attacks by Urrea resulted each
time in the Mexicans being repulsed by the deadly fre of
the Texans. By dusk, the Texans had lost about sixty men
killed or wounded against some 200 of the Mexicans.
Still heavily outnumbered and with no water and few
supplies, the Texans waved the white fag of truce the fol-
lowing morning. Believing that they would be taken cap-
tive and eventually returned to their homes, the Texans
surrendered the morning of March 20. The were escorted
back to Goliad as prisoners.
When news of their capture reached Santa Anna, how-
ever, he was furious that the Texans had not been execut-
ed on the spot. Citing the pirates law, Santa Anna sent
orders to execute the Goliad prisoners.
Santa Annas orders were followed. On Palm Sunday,
the 27th of March, the prisoners were divided into three
groups, marched onto open prairie, and shot. Thus, all
of Fannins command except a few that managed to es-
cape and several physicians and others deemed useful by
the Mexicans, were massacred, collected into piles, and
burned.

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Over-confidence and disaster: Goliad
The strange twist of fate that tied
Sam Houston to the town of Gonzales
By BOB BURCHARD
Page E6
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Monument to the Immortal 32volunteers from
Gonzales who died at The Alamo, located at the
Gonzales Memorial Museum
The restored Texas Heroes statue, honoring the Gonzales men who died at The
Alamo, located at Texas Heroes Square in downtown Gonzales
EDITORS NOTE: The fol-
lowing is a re-publication of a
historical column authored by
local historian Bob Burchard
which originally appeared in
The Cannon in 2009:
Jacob Darst was standing
there on the square in Gonza-
les in late February of 1836
talking to a friend. We call
that square today Texas Heroes
Square.
Darst and his friend were
talking about the usual subject
matter - the tense situation be-
tween Texas and the Republic
of Mexico. Darst was one of
the group of men who stood
on the east bank of the Guada-
lupe River last September and
defended the town of Gonza-
les when the Mexican troops
from San Antonio requested
the return of the cannon. And
he had fought with the Texas
volunteers a few days later
on October 2, 1835, when the
frst shot was fred in the Texas
Revolution.
As Jacob Darst and his
friend were talking, a rider on
horseback galloped into the
square. The horse was in a
lather, and obviously had been
ridden hard. The rider jumped
off before the horse had com-
pletely stopped, the rider stum-
bling then falling in the dusty
street. Several men went over
to give aid to the fallen rider.
Where is the offce of the Al-
calde, he yelled. I have a let-
ter from the Alamo.
Those words immediately
grabbed the attention of every-
one. The citizens of Gonzales
and Green DeWitts Colony
had heard for several weeks
that General Santa Anna, the
dictator and President of the
Republic of Mexico, was on
his way to San Antonio with
a large military force. Santa
Anna was coming to avenge
the defeat by the Texans of his
brother-in-law, General Cos,
at San Antonio a few months
earlier.
Someone took the letter
from the messenger, and hand-
ed it to one of the men who
could read. It is from Colo-
nel Travis at the Alamo, the
reader said.
What does it say? Read it.
Dont just hold it, several peo-
ple yelled as the crowd grew.
The letter said: To Andrew
Ponton, Judge, and the Citi-
zens of Gonzales: The enemy
in large force is in sight. We
want men and provisions.
Send them to us. We have
150 men and are determined
to defend the Alamo to the last.
Give us assistance. Signed, Lt.
Colonel W. B. Travis.
The frst reaction of the
crowd, which was continu-
ing to grow, was total silence.
Then a woman uttered a moan,
and started crying. Well
all be killed. she sobbed. A
few of the men moved si-
lently away from the crowd,
mounted their horses, and rode
quickly away - to the east in
the opposite direction from
San Antonio. One man in the
crowd shouted - We must go
help Travis. We have to show
Santa Anna we will stand up
to him. Another said, Read
it again. And the plea from
Travis was read again.
Jacob Darst had heard the
letter clearly the frst time. He
knew what he must do - go
help Colonel Travis, and fght
for Texas freedom. Now he
had to go tell his wife, Mar-
garet, and his 13 year old son,
David, that he was headed for
the Alamo.
The Darst family lived just
one block west of the square.
Their house was located where
Tonis Restaurant is today on
St. Lawrence Street in Gon-
zales.
Margaret Darst was in the
house with the boy, David,
when Jacob rushed in.
She had fnished the days
wash, and had just started
cooking the cornbread on the
wood burning stove. She was
sitting in the rocker in the front
room mending the clothes.
Margaret, Jacob said. San-
ta Anna is at San Antonio with
a big force of troops. The Tex-
as Army is in trouble. Travis
has asked for help. I must go
to San Antonio and fght Santa
Anna, he declared.
Margaret sat there in the
rocker for a moment in shock.
She sensed this was different
from the previous fghts with
the Mexican troops. Her soul
flled with fear. No, she said,
not really knowing where the
word came from. Dont go.
Margaret started crying softly.
She knew he would not make
it back. She knew he was go-
ing to die. Jacob said, Dont
worry. Ill be back. Ill come
home.
Thirty-two men in all left
Gonzales bound for the Alamo.
They were of various ages, one
as young as 16. Some married,
some not. Some had been in
Texas for several years. Some
for a shorter time. Thirty-two
men united by the desire to
fght for freedom. Texas Free-
dom.
Margaret had given Jacob
ample portions of beef jerky
and cornbread. He would re-
turn with some great stories
for his son, thought Jacob.
He knew he was blessed to
have Margaret for his wife.
So, Jacob Darst left Gonzales
headed for the Alamo to fght
for what he believed - that God
created all people to be free;
that Texas should be indepen-
dent from Mexico; that Texas
should be free; and that free-
dom was worth fghting for.
He left Gonzales with thoughts
of his family and thoughts of
freedom on his mind. He left
with 31 others from Gonzales
to fght for freedom, your free-
dom and mine.
And none of them came
home.
tory. The history of Gonzales.
Gonzales, Texas is the birth-
place of your Texas Freedom.
The town that answered Travis call
By BOB BURCHARD
D&G Automotive & Diesel
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830-672-6278
134 Hwy. 90A
Gonzales, TX 78629
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126 Middle Buster Road
Gonzales, TX 78629

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Info@HIEXGonzales.com
EDITORS NOTE: The fol-
lowing is a re-publication of a
historical column authored by
local historian Bob Burchard
which originally appeared in
The Cannon in 2010:
Twenty-two year old Su-
sanna Dickinson of Gonza-
les was the wife of Almaron
Dickinson, a Lieutenant in
the Texas Army when the
Texas Revolution started here
in Gonzales on Oct. 2, 1935.
Lt. Dickinson participated in
the victory at San Antonio in
December of the same year
when the Texas Army de-
feated General Cos, and took
control of San Antonio. Su-
sanna Dickinson joined her
husband in San Antonio after
the battle, and with their 15
month old daughter, Ange-
lina Elizabeth, spent the next
few weeks together as a fam-
ily, unaware of the horrible
events awaiting them.
Santa Anna, President
of the Republic of Mexico,
and General of the Mexican
Army, was on his way with a
large military force to regain
control of San Antonio in
February of 1836.
As news reached San
Antonio of the approaching
Santa Anna, the Texas Army
fortifed itself in the Alamo.
Susanna Dickinson and her
baby took refuge there, also.
Women have lost their hus-
bands on battlefelds since the
beginning of time, but to be
on the same battlefeld with
your husband knowing that
defeat and death are certain
- what an incomprehensible,
tragic, life shaping experi-
ence that could be.
To be in the Alamo at the
time of the fnal attack; to
hear the sounds of the mus-
kets as the Texans attempted
to repel Mexican troops; to
hear the sound of the bugle
as surge after surge came
against the outer walls of the
Alamo grounds. And then
the breach in the wall through
which the Mexican troops
poured to fnish off the Tex-
ans; and now the shouts and
curses of men fghting to the
death; the scattered rife and
musket fre; the pain of death
now screaming out, and the
fnal groans of courageous
Texans.
What sound does life make
as it escapes into eternity?
And what does all of this do
to Susanna Dickinson as she
hears and sees this deadly
chaos - with her baby in her
arms. She was rescued from
death by a compassionate
Mexican General, and taken
to Santa Anna, who sent her
on to Gonzales with the re-
port of the fall of the Alamo.
What did it do to Susanna
to know, as she headed east
to Gonzales, that the lifeless
body of her husband, the fa-
ther of her baby, was being
pitched onto a pile with the
other Alamo defenders and
set on fre? What did this do
to her heart, her soul, her very
being. How deep did the
dagger of grief plunge into
her person?
In response to Susannas
report, General Sam Houston
burned the town of Gonza-
les, and started east on the
Runaway Scrape. Susanna
Dickinson was constantly
besieged by the women who
also lost husbands, fathers,
and brothers in the Alamo.
One may easily picture Mar-
garet Darst, Gonzales resi-
dent, whose husband, Jacob,
died in the Alamo, talking to
Susanna in pleading tones:
When was the last time you
saw my husband before he
died? Was he hurt? Was he all
right? Did he hand you a note
to give to me? Did he say
anything about me, Susanna,
or our son, David?
No, Margaret, he did not.
He did not.
And then having to go
through it again - and again.
Are you sure, Susanna,
are you positive you did not
see Jacob?
Yes, Margaret, I am sure.
I did not see Jacob, but I
know he loved you and the
boy, David. And then re-
peating this scene with each
of the other grieving women
as they made their way to the
east, frantically moving away
from the approaching Santa
Anna.
Susannas life was a
mess for many years after
that as she sought peace
from her throbbing memo-
ries and the burdens of her
heart. She re-married in
1837; divorced the next
year, re-married again - that
husband died. She lived
an aggressive, riotous life;
married again - another di-
vorce. And along the way
her daughter died, the baby
she had held in her arms in
the Alamo; Angelina Eliza-
beth died at age 37.
Susanna Dickinson - look-
ing for peace. She may have
found it toward the end of her
life. She lived the last years
of her life in Austin with her
ffth, and fnal, husband, and
apparently these years were
happy for her. She died in
1883 at the age of 69.
Susanna Dickinson - resi-
dent of Gonzales and Green
DeWitts Colony, wife of an
Alamo defender, The Mes-
senger of the Alamo as she
was called - at peace, at last,
in death.
The pursuit of freedom re-
quires a payment, you know.
Freedom will seize a pay-
ment, a sacrifce, from each
of us. It did just that from
Susanna Dickinson.
tory, the history of Gonzales.
Gonzales, Texas is the birth-
place of your Texas Free-
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From October 1835, Texans in the feld had
succeeded in most of their military campaigns.
The cannon at Gonzales remained, smaller
Mexican federal military units surrendered
and then retired to Mexico, and Bexar fnally
gave way after a two-month siege. When Mar-
tin Perfecto de Cos and his men retreated from
Bexar in December 1835, Texas had eliminat-
ed the last of the Mexican garrisons.
Most of the Texas volunteers returned to
their homes, convinced the war was over. The
provisional government, split by internal quar-
rels over the objectives of the war, failed to sup-
ply the men in the feld adequately. What little
remained of the munitions and supplies were
further subject to confscation by commanders
proposing buccaneering expeditions to Matam-
oros.
By January, the small body of men com-
manded by James C. Neill were reduced to
about 100. They were supplemented by some
twenty-fve volunteers commanded by James
Bowie. William Barrett Travis arrived on Feb-
ruary 3 with thirty men from the regular army,
ordered there by Governor Henry Smith.
In spite of engineer Green B. Jamesons be-
lief that the Alamo was indefensible, both Neill
and Bowie saw the fortress as a strategic post,
particularly because of its armament. Houston,
on the other hand, preferred to avoid fxed forti-
fcations, and ordered Bowie, subject to Henry
Smiths approval, to blow up the fort and bring
the artillery to him in Gonzales.
When Neill left the city a few days later to
deal with illness in his family, he left Travis in
command. Bowie, however, as commander
of the volunteers, refused to accept orders
from a regular army offcer. A divisive contest
was avoided when Bowie became ill and was
forced to accept the arrangement.
Santa Anna crossed the Rio Grande on Feb-
ruary 12, and a month earlier than expected
he arrived outside Bexar on February 23.
Travis dispatched a note to Gonzales calling for
reinforcements and numbering the defenders at
150. The next day he wrote his Letter from the
Alamo, probably the best known of all Texas
documents.
Reinforcements of 32 men under Captain
Albert Martin arrived from Gonzales on March
1. They were the only force to answer Travis
call.
With the arrival of the last of Santa Annas
forces, Travis was able to send out only one
last appeal on March 3. Again, he echoed the
determination of the fortress to withstand sur-
render: A blood red banner waves from the
church of Bejar, and in the camp above us, in
token that the war is one of vengeance against
rebels: they have declared us as such, and
demanded that we should surrender at discre-
tion, or that this garrison should be put to the
sword. Their threats have had no infuence on
me, or my men, but to make all fght with des-
peration, and that high souled courage which
characterizes the patriot, who is willing to die
in defence of his countrys liberty and his own
honor..
The fnal assault came before daybreak on
the morning of March 6, as columns of Mexi-
can soldiers emerged from the predawn dark-
ness and headed for the Alamos walls. Cannon
and small arms fre from inside the Alamo beat
back several attacks.
Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls
and rushed into the compound. Once inside,
they turned a captured cannon on the Long
Barrack and church, blasting open the barri-
caded doors. The desperate struggle continued
until the defenders were overwhelmed. By sun-
rise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna en-
tered the Alamo compound to survey the scene
of his victory.
After the battle, the Texan bodies were
burned. The pyre was constructed about 3 p.m.
on March 6, and was lighted about fve accord-
ing to Francisco Antonio Ruiz, who went on to
report: The gallantry of the few Texans who
defended the Alamo was really wondered at by
the Mexican army. Even the generals were as-
tonished at their vigorous resistance, and how
dearly victory was bought..The men (Texans)
burnt were one hundred and eighty-two. I was
an eyewitness, for as alcalde of San Antonio, I
was with some of the neighbors, collecting the
dead bodies and placing them on the funeral
pyre.
After the fall of the Alamo, the church and
buildings were largely abandoned. The gov-
ernment of the Republic of Texas returned the
chapel to the Catholic Church, but after annex-
ation, the U.S. Government claimed it again
for military use. In the ensuing years, both U.S.
and Confederate forces used the building to
house quartermaster stores and munitions. The
U.S. Army continued to lease the property until
1876.
Bishop John Claud Nerazs offer to sell the
Alamo in 1882 was made to Frank W. Johnson,
frst president of the Texas Veterans Associa-
tion. He, in turn, passed the information on to
the governor with a recommendation that the
State purchase the building.
On April 23, 1883, the Texas legislature
passed an act authorizing the purchase of the
Alamo. Money from the sale went to complete
a new chancery building for the San Antonio
diocese.
By BOB BURCHARD
Tobeys The Battle of the Alamo
The Alamo: Texas fortunes at their low ebb
Susanna Dickinsons long,
agonizing search for peace
Susanna Dickinson
Seydler-Hill
Funeral Home
Proudly Serving the Gonzales Area
Since 1914
906 St. Paul, Gonzales
830-672-3232
We hope you enjoy your
time at Come & Take It
Spending family
time together is
important
The disasters at The Al-
amo and Goliad created a
precarious situation for the
newly-declared Republic
of Texas.
The commander of the
newly-formed army, Gen-
eral Sam Houston, knew
his force was not prepared
to fght the superior Mexi-
can forces arrayed against
it.
Houston had intended to
gather his forces at Gonza-
les, but upon hearing of the
defeat at the Alamo and,
worse, of the massacre of
Fannins force at Goliad,
put the town to the torch
and began retreating east-
ward.
The settlers from De-
Witts Colony preceded the
army in a mad fight which
became known as The
Runaway Scrape. Be-
cause of swollen streams
from heavy rains, both
the armies and the civil-
ians quickly bogged down
as the few roads became
quagmires. While both
the Texian and Mexican
armies suffered from the
cold, wet weather, disease
and exposure also claimed
large numbers of civilian
lives.
Through an adroit se-
ries of maneuvers, Hous-
ton managed to stay one
step ahead of Santa Annas
pursuers, and the dictator
eventually split his forces
into fying columns in an
attempt to bring the Texian
army to bay in a single de-
cisive engagement. Hous-
ton avoided the confron-
tation, seeking ground he
considered favorable while
relentlessly drilling his
forces and trying to instill
some type of military order
into them.
One of the experts Hous-
ton employed was a Tejano
(Mexican-born Texan) who
chafed that he had been
sent from the Alamo as a
messenger only to leave
his men to die. Capt. Juan
Seguin now took charge of
Houstons rear guard, har-
rying Mexican scouts and
keeping them away from
the main army.
The provisional govern-
ment of Texas, which had
declared independence on
March 2 four days be-
fore the fall of the Alamo
now fed Washington-
on-the-Brazos toward
Galveston. Santa Anna got
word of their attempt to
escape, and took personal
command of one force
in an attempt to intercept
them. Santa Annas force
swept through Harrisburg
and turned southeast in an
attempt to catch the revo-
lutionary leaders, but they
had already escaped to
Galveston.
Houstons army now
turned in pursuit of Santa
Anna, and on April 20, the
two forces found them-
selves near Lynchs Ferry
along the banks of the San
Jacinto River. Santa Anna
made camp, expecting re-
inforcements shortly from
General Martin Cos, who
arrived late in the after-
noon.
Houston, surveying the
ground, found himself with
a large sloping ground of
tall grass that would give
the Texians and their lon-
ger-range rifes cover, with
the river blocking a possi-
ble retreat by the Mexican
force. Santa Anna, conf-
dent that Houstons army
would not force a battle
against his larger force,
ordered his men to stand
down and remained en-
camped.
At 3:30 p.m. on April 21,
Houstons army of about
900 men suddenly surged
across the sloping prai-
rie, accompanied by two
cannon sent to Texas by
the citizens of Cincinnati,
Ohio the twin sisters
with a piper playing the
only tune he knew to spur
the men to battle: an Irish
drinking-house song en-
titled Will You Come to the
Bower?
Santa Annas overcon-
fdence proved to be his
fatal faw; many of the
sentries posted to guard the
encampment were dozing
as the Texians attacked,
and as the Mexican army
rushed to take up positions,
Houstons troops swept
over them. The Mexican
troops broke and fed in
panic, with Seguins cav-
alry riding down many
of them and others being
chased to drown in the San
Jacinto River.
The battle took just 18
minutes. Santa Annas en-
tire force was either dead,
wounded or captured
at the cost of just nine
Texian lives. The dictator
himself, wearing the uni-
form of a common cor-
poral, was tracked down
and captured and formaly
surrendered his army to
Houston, who had been
wounded in the ankle in
the exchange.
Many of the Texian
force, as well as some in
the provisional govern-
ment, argued in favor of
executing Santa Anna,
but Houston argued that
he was more valuable
alive. Some weeks later,
on May 14, he signed the
Treaty of Valasco, rec-
ognizing Texas indepen-
dence and guaranteeing
Santa Annas life. While
the Mexican Congress
never ratifed the treaty, it
was never able to muster
support for a renewal of
the war.
Santa Anna, disgraced
by the defeat, was exiled
to the United States for a
time before being allowed
to return to Mexico in early
1838. He soon re-claimed
his status as a hero when
France landed a force at
Veracruz in an attempt to
force mexico to pay com-
pensation for debts owed
its citizens. Mexico asked
him to take command of
the army again and defend
the country, and in the so-
called Pastry War, he was
hit in the leg by cannon fre
and had much of one leg
amputated.
He re-gained the presi-
dency again and held on
to it until the annexation
of Texas by the United
States and the Mexican-
American War of 1846-48,
during which he again led
his forces courageously
but was undermined by his
own Congress.
Page E8
Its
Come and
Take It
Time!
Have
A Safe
C.A.T.I.
Weekend.
Victory at San Jacinto: a nation is born
Surrender of Santa Anna by William Huddle, 1886
Come and Take It
The Cannon
Come and Take It Special Section
F
Edwards Furniture
Your Hometown Furniture Store
In Store Financing
703 St. Paul, Gonzales, TX 78629
(830) 672-2911
90 Day Same as Cash Free Delivery Locally
We hope you
enjoy
Come & Take
It!
Stop by and
check out
new
arrivals on
furniture
The Heights...
Home away from Home
Where there is always
something to do
Call today for more information
We would like to invite
everyone to Come & Take It
Olga Schumann, LuAnn Shelton, Paul Rodriguez,
Virginia Karlos and Robert Richter enjoyed their visit at
Pioneer Village where the Battle of Re-enactment will be
held on Saturday at 3 p.m.
701 North Sarah DeWitt
Gonzales, Texas
830-672-4530
Come and
Hear it!
Get yer boots ready to
scoot: theres a star-
studded music lineup
on tap!
Hole in the Wall Band * 6-7:30 p.m. Friday
Tejano Crew
* 8-9:30 p.m.
Friday
Thom Shepherd
* 10-11:30 p.m.
Friday
Curtis Grimes *
11 p.m.-12:30
a.m. Saturday
The Pale Horses
* 8:30-10:30
p.m. Saturday
Shiner Hobo Band * 1-5 p.m. Saturday
Nashville native Thom
Shepherd is perhaps
best-known for the songs
he writes for other peo-
ple but he has a few
gems of his own that are
well-known to local mu-
sic fans.
Hell be the featured
performer on the opening
night of this years Come
and Take It Festival, taking
the main stage at the Bier-
garten from 10-11:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 5. The Hole in
the Wall Band opens the
show at 6 p.m., followed by
Seguin natives Tejano Crew
from 8-9:30 p.m.
Shepherds App for
That is perhaps his best-
known tune, but hes had
more than 80 songs re-
corded by other artists, in-
cluding cuts by Colt Ford,
Bucky Covington, George
Jones, Trailer Choir, Mont-
gomery Gentry, Buddy Jew-
ell, and Cledus T. Judd.
He is the writer of Kevin
Fowlers three week #1
single Beer Season, as
well as Fowlers Top 5
Texas Music Chart single,
Cheaper To Keep Her.
His song Bad Luck was
featured on American Idol,
and he wrote the title track
of Tracy Lawrences Gram-
my nominated album The
Rock.
He is the writer of two
#1 hit singles, Redneck
Yacht Club, recorded by
Craig Morgan, and David
Balls Riding with Private
Malone. Thom even got
to be in the video, playing
the title role. The song also
opened the door for Thom
to perform for our troops
overseas he has been on
eight tours for Armed Forc-
es Entertainment, bringing
his music to servicemen
and women in fourteen dif-
ferent countries.
As songwriters, we
have no idea how our
songs are going to af-
fect people, says Thom,
I met a soldier in Qatar
who was on leave from
Baghdad, and he told me
he joined the military be-
cause of Private Malone.
He asked me how that
made me felt and I said
Responsible! Then when
we went to get our pic-
ture taken, he showed me
the shattered LCD screen
of his digital camera -
shattered because it was
in his shirt pocket behind
his flack jacket when he
took a round from an
AK47. That camera saved
his life. That is powerful
stuff.
Its the third appear-
ance in Gonzales in just
the last few months for
Shepherd. He was one of
the featured acoustic acts
during the Main Street
Summer Concert Series,
and took the stage at the
Running M Bar & Grill a
few weeks ago as part of
the KCTI Free Texas Mu-
sic Series.
He was born in St. Lou-
is, Missouri and spent his
high school and college
years in Stephens City,
Virginia. He is a gradu-
ate of George Mason
University and moved to
Nashville in 1993. He is
a two-time cancer survi-
vor, father of two, and a
full time songwriter and
performer.
He is co-owner of a
publishing venture called
The Bourbon Street Mu-
sic Company, and co-
president of RedneckY-
achtClub.com, a website
that sells merchandise
relating to the song and
the boating lifestyle.
The Hole in the Floor
Band will open Fridays
show, and theyre also
no stranger to audiences
in the region. The band
provided musical enter-
tainment as part of the
Gonzales PBR event in
July, and has also played
at venues from clubs in
Victoria to a benefit at the
Smiley VFD.
Expect some great
sounds and great fun
from Tejano Crew, a band
from Seguin.
From the very be-
ginning and before the
band even had a name,
the guys from Seguin
were impressing listen-
ers with their music and
showmanship. Like most
aspiring bands they per-
formed locally; mostly at
private parties, occasion-
al church functions and
often for free. We used
to play at yard parties,
quincineras or wherever
we could get, says lead
vocalist Juan Valdez.
The band initially
started as a conjunto
called,Los Daimes, but
then started playing up
some Tejano and interna-
tional tunes because the
people were always ask-
ing for them at gigs.
Tejano Crew is made up
mostly of members from
the Seguin/Austin area.
Tejano Crew may seem
like a new face to some
in the industry, but they
are poised to cut loose on
the Tejano circuit. They
are storming onto the
music scene with a vir-
tuality that makes them
a band to watch. Tejano
Crew has a bright future
ahead as they continue
to charm more fans with
their authentic style of
musical arrangements
and excitement that only
Tejano Crew can bring.
Page F2
C 2010 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC
Lobby Hours
Monday-Thursday:
9am to 5pm
Friday: 9am to 6pm
Saturday: 9am to 1pm
Motor Bank Hours
Monday-Thursday:
7:45am to 5pm
Friday: 7:45am to 6pm
Saturday: Closed
301 St. Joseph Street,
Gonzales, TX 78629
(830) 672-2851
Check out the Battle Re-Enactment
at Pioneer Village Saturday,
October 6 at 3:00 p.m.
DeLanna Allen
Realtor
delannaallen@gmail.com
Cell: (830) 857-0222
Meagan Morgan, GRI
Realtor
mmorganrealtor@gmail.com
Cell: (979) 777-9096
Welcome to Come & Take It!
Check out all the festivities that are happening on
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 5-7.
DISCOVERY
ARCHITECTURAL
ANTIQUES
All Antiques...No Reproductions. Huge Stock of Beams in Long Leaf Pine, Oak,
Northern Pines, and Cypress Salvaged and custom milled fooring.
100s of Stained Glass windows, 5,000+ Doors & Windows, 1,000+ patterns of Antique
Doorknobs & Hardware, Ceiling Tin, Beaded Board, Barnwood, Tubs, Sinks, Lighting,
Iron, Mesquite & Pine Custom Mantles, Custom Mill Work
409 St. Francis,
Gonzales, Texas 78629
830-672-2428
www.discoverys.com
Tuesday-Saturday 9-5:00
Come and Take It Entertainment: Friday
Shepherds writing hits for himself these days
Connect on Facebook:
Thom Shepherd
https://www.facebook.com/ThomShepherdmusic
Hole in the Floor Band
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hole-in-the-Floor-
Ban
Tejano Crew
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tejano-crew
Thom Shepherd
Thom Shepherd performing at the Running M in
Gonzales recently
The Hole in the Floor Band
Tejano Crew
Teir popularity continues to grow,
and in just a short couple of years Te
Pale Horses has become perhaps the
premiere Americana/Country band
in the south-central Texas region.
Te Pale Horses were formed in
Gonzales in the summer of 2010 and
are currently working toward a goal of
a full length album.
With a lot of gigging, a lot of hard
work and a little good luck thrown in
the mix, we are moving ever closer to
that goal, the band posts on its web-
site. We do not strive for fortune,
fame or anything else shallow and
short-lived. We strive for excellence.
We cannot be slowed down, defect-
ed of course, discouraged, deterred,
stepped upon or gotten out of the way
of. Te Pale Horse is coming ... Can
you hear the thunder?
On Sunday May 6, Te Pale Horses
and others in the top ten were fea-
tured in a showcase at Billy Bobs
Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards
in the annual Wrangler Live at Billy
Bobs recording contest. Pitted against
some of the best new-music acts from
around the state, Te Pale Horses did
one thing no one else did: they played
their own material. While they didnt
win the competition, the exposure
marked them as a force to contend
with.
In the months since, Te Pale Hors-
es have been busy appearing at
Scooters in Moulton, the Luling Wa-
termelon Tump, the First Shot Coo-
kof, the Moulton Jamboree, KCTIs
Free Texas Music Series at the Run-
ning M Bar & Grill, and dozens more.
Te band members include: Matt
Easley- Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals;
Seth Fullilove- Lead Guitar/Backing
Vocals; Eric Connor- Fiddle; Jess Ful-
lilove- Bass Guitar; Derek Schaefer-
Drums.
Thursday, September 27, 2012 Page F3
Great Class Hours:
student Hours: tues.-Friday: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Customer Hours
tuesday: 1:00-5:00
Wednesday: 9:00-5:00
830-372-0935
or 620-1301
www.seguinbeautyschool.net
Financial Aid Available
to those who qualify
(most students dont make any
payments while attending school)
Seguin Beauty School
Cosmetology
A BEAUTIFUL
career in less than a year!
loCated in doWntoWn
seGuin & neW BraunFels
Hello,
neighbor!
1001013.1 State Farm, Home Ofce, Bloomington, IL
Im looking forward to serving
your needs for insurance and
fnancial services.
Like a good neighbor,
State Farm is there.
CALL ME TODAY.
Please stop by and say, Hi!
Scott Dierlam, Agent
1212 E Sarah Dewitt Drive
Gonzales, TX 78629
Bus: 830-672-9661
www.scottdierlam.com
Come and Take It Entertainment: Saturday
Pale Horses continue meteoric musical rise
Connect on
Facebook:
The Pale Horses
https://www.facebook.com/
ThePaleHorses
Come &
Get It
Flu Shots & Annual
Wellness Visits
Both to you at no cost
Visit Dr. Garth Vaz &
His Staff Today
Garth O. Vaz, M.D.
Family Practice
Vaz Cinic making available patient info (access to online)
24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week - coverage by phone
Clinic Hours:
Mon., Tues. & Wed. (appointments)
8:30-11:45 am & 2:00 - 5:45 pm
Thurs. (appointments & late evenings)
8:30 - 11:45 am & 2:00 - 7:45 pm
Fri. 8:00 am - 2:00
The Vaz Clinic, P.A.
1103 N. Sarah DeWitt Dr., , P.O. Box 562
Walk-ins are always welcome.
Accepting New Patients
830-672-2424
THEVAZCLINICPA@stx.rr.com
www.thevazclinicpa.com
The band with KCTIs Egon Barthels, right, at the Live at Billy Bobs showcase
The Pale Horses wow the crowd at this years Luling Watermelon Thump
A Texas music tradition
continues during the Come
and Take It Festival when
the Shiner Hobo Band
takes the stage at the Bier-
garten from 1-5 p.m. Sun-
day, Oct. 7.
Te original Hobo Band
was organized by a group
of local, talented musicians
afer World War 1. During
the war years, most dance
and family bands were al-
most totally disbanded
due to the men entering
the service. Afer the war
ended, the young GIs and
veterans returned home
anxious to get back to old
time music. A local group
decided to form their own
band and provide enter-
tainment at picnics, wed-
ding dances and civic af-
fairs. Tey decided to dress
in mismatched clothes with
patches sewed on them.
Tey were a happy go lucky
bunch, who enjoyed their
Czech and German music.
Te Spoetzl Brewery be-
came their sponsor and it
cost the brewery a keg of
beer for each performance.
Te Shiner Hobo Band
gained fame in 1936 un-
der the direction of Em-
mett Busch, with a toilet
plunger as his baton. Te
Hobos marched and played
in Shiner and surrounding
towns, displaying a Hobo
banner. Tey entertained
crowds everywhere they
went. Mr. Spoetzl would
accompany the band dur-
ing local parades and went
from saloons to bars treat-
ing everyone to Shiner
Beer.
Tis tradition continued
into the 1950s, when Curt
Messer directed the Hobos
in the same tradition of
music, hospitality and re-
freshments. Due to the fail-
ing health of Mr. Messer,
the band slowly disbanded.
In April 1986, Speedy
Beal and Jules Silvers, new
part owners of the Spoetzl
Brewery, decided to meet
with Joe Panus and Glenn
Leist and try to reorganize
the Hobo Band to entertain
in the Texas Sesquicenten-
nial celebrations. Joe and
Glenn contacted several
musicians and held a short
organizational meeting at
the American Legion Hall
in Shiner. Approximately
twelve to ffeen musicians
were present and they vot-
ed to have Joe Panus as the
director, who would wield
the famous toilet plunger.
Tere were two short prac-
tice sessions at the Kasper
Pavilion. A comment was
made that practice was not
needed because almost all
members were seasoned
musicians with a few ex-
ceptions. One being Glenn
Leist, who decided to pre-
tend to play a replica of a
huge base fddle and tell
jokes and agitate the direc-
tor. Te group was noted
for not listening to instruc-
tions given by Director
Joe. Tey played frst at the
Trinity Lutheran Home in
Shiner and were an instant
hit. Tey were immedi-
ately booked for the Shiner
Catholic Church picnics on
Memorial and Labor Day
holidays and the Come
and Take It festival in
Gonzales.
Eventually, the Ho-
bos had 30 active mem-
bers, with approximately
twenty-five making each
function. Members came
from Shiner, Kokernot
Hill, Port Lavaca, Victo-
ria, Yoakum, Wied, Hous-
ton, Cuero, Schulenberg
and Weimar, to name a
few. Their theme song is
The Shiner Song. Spo-
etzl Brewery continued to
provide refreshments.
Te Shiner Hobo Band
is a non-proft organiza-
tion operating with elected
ofcers and is sponsored
by the Spoetzl Brewery in
Shiner.
Te Come and Take It Festival celebrates
a spirit of independence and can-do attitude
exemplifed by the brave farmers and fron-
tiersmen who stood up to professional sol-
diery on a matter of principle in 1835.
Tat makes it a perfect venue for Curtis
Grimes.
His latest album, Live from the Parish, hit
the streets recently, while his frst single from
that album, Smile, is racing up the Texas mu-
sic charts.
Hell be the featured entertainer at what
is shaping up as one of the best-ever music
lineups to grace the Come and Take It Bier-
garten. Grimes takes the stage from 11 p.m.-
12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, with Gonza-
les own Te Pale Horses opening starting at
8:30. Local bands will hold a live jam session
that day from noon-5:30, followed by live
practice from 6:30-8 p.m. so theres no
telling wholl show up!
Te entertainment opens on Friday, Oct. 5
with the Hole in the Floor Band from 6-7:30,
followe dby the Tejano Crew from 8-9:30.
Tom Shepherd, a Gonzales favorite from
the Summer Concert Series, returns to head-
line Fridays opening night from 10-11:30
p.m.
Sunday will see the return of a CATI tradi-
tion, the Shiner Hobo Band, from 1-5 p.m.
In four short years, Curtis Grimes has
been a star college baseball pitcher, chased
his dream of being a singer / songwriter,
played hundreds of concerts all over Texas
and the southwestern United States, and per-
formed in front of millions on television.
Grimes, a 25 year old from Gilmer, was
an academic scholar and athlete at Harmony
High School where he was an All-State pitch-
er and member of the 2003 state qualifying
baseball team. Following graduation he ac-
cepted academic and baseball scholarships to
Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Afer a breakup with his then-fanc, he
started playing guitar and developed an in-
terest in songwriting, teaching himself how
to play on a used guitar that he purchased
at a pawn shop. Grimes then headed down
I-35 with plans of fnishing his degree at
Texas State University in San Marcos. While
there he fell under the infuence of the Texas
Country music scene. With legendary ven-
ues so close, he was able to follow the Texas
Country artists he looked up to.
Afer playing for friends and relatives at
gatherings and parties, Grimes was hooked
by the entertainment bug. He started playing
acoustic shows at a couple of small venues,
bars, and fraternity parties.
Tings defnitely picked up for afer he
won the Austin leg of Kenny Chesneys Te
Next Big Star contest, getting the opportu-
nity to open for Chesney at the Frank Erwin
Center during his Poets and Pirates tour.
Chesney also invited Curtis on stage for his
encore.
Grimes continued to perform all over
Texas and had the opportunity to play with
artists such as Jack Ingram, Justin Moore, Eli
Young Band, Leann Rimes, Josh Abbott, and
Kevin Fowler to name a few.
In 2011, Grimes was asked to audi-
tion for the NBC Television show The
Voice. He was then invited to Los An-
geles to participate on the show and
made it to the quarterfinals. The show,
which was watched by over 15 mil-
lion viewers during each episode, has
opened even more doors for Curtis and
he plans on taking advantage of every
one of them.
Grimes has extended his fan base as
a regular fixture on the Texas music
scene. As he expands his sphere with
performances around the state of Texas
and beyond, Grimes and his band defi-
nitely have things looking up.
Page F4
Making a difference one life at a time since 1966
Most insurances accepted, we welcome
Medicare - Medicaid.
(No one is turned away for inability to pay.)
Mon.-Thurs. 8-5, Fri., 8-5
Saturday & Sunday Closed
Community Health
Centers Of South
Central Texas, Inc
830-672-6511
Fax: (830) 672-6430
228 St. George Street,
Come &
Take It
Festival
October 5th, 6th & 7th
Downtown
Gonzales
All Seasons
TACLB6030C/M-37285
Carrier Lennox American Standard
1229 St. Lawrence
Gonzales, TX 78629
Email:
ALLSEASONSAIRE@YAHOO.COM
Office 830-672-9226
Fax 830-672-2006
Air Conditioning, Heating
Sales and Service
Please join
us at the
Pioneer
Village
Memorial
Service
Sunday, October 7
9:30 a.m.
Reynas Taco Hut
1801 Sarah DeWitt Dr., Gonzales, TX
830-672-2551
Next to Courthouse Annex
Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Mon.-Sat. 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sun. 5 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Home of the Silverado
Authentic Mexican Food Including Caldo & Menudo
Fun at
Come & Take It
Enjoy the
Battle
Re-Enactment @
Pioneer Village
Saturday,
October 6,
3 p.m.
Great Gifts & Great Service
Caring for Your Health
Since 1964
201 N. Nixon Ave, Nixon, Texas
830-582-1851
M-F 7:00 to 5:30 Sat. 9:00 to 3:00
Come and Take It Entertainment: Saturday
Grimes fast becoming Texas Next Big Star
Come and Take It Entertainment: Sunday
A Texas music tradition continues
Connect on
Facebook:
Curtis Grimes
https://www.facebook.com/
thecurtisgrimes
Connect on Facebook:
The Shiner Hobo Band
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shiner-Hobo-Band
The Shiner Hobo Band
The Curtis Grimes Band
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(361) 594-3968
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Lindemann
Fertilizer
Cost, Texas
830-437-2269
Toll Free:
1-800-331-1675
TEXAS
T-BONE
COOKOFF
Sun., Oct. 7 - 9-11 a.m.
Awards - 2 p.m.
Janicek
Insurance
Nixon Office
830-582-1581
Smiley Office
830-587-6261
Stockdale
830-996-3148
Enjoy all the
Carnival Rides!
Friday, Saturday
& Sunday
A memorial service honor-
ing an ancestor who served
the Republic of Texas will
be held on the front lawn of
the Gonzales Memorial Mu-
seum, 4 blocks east of the
courthouse between St. Law-
rence and St. Louis streets, at
12:15 p.m. on Sunday, Octo-
ber 7.
This will be the 52nd ser-
vice conducted by the Gon-
zales Chapter Daughters
of the Republic of Texas in
conjunction with the City of
Gonzales.
Boy Scout Troop 262
will post the colors and lead
pledges to the United States
and Texas fags. There will
be seating under a tent for
shade.
Descendants of Alsey S.
Miller will place a wreath in
his honor and give a presen-
tation about his life and ser-
vice to the Republic. Alsey
left his parents in Kentucky
and came alone to Texas as a
young man of 16.
Alsey Silvanus Miller was
born August 20, 1820 in Ran-
dolph County, North Caro-
lina. He lived in South Caro-
lina as a young child, and at
the age of twelve moved to
Callaway County, Kentucky
with his parents. In the fall of
1836 he went to the New Re-
public of Texas alone, locat-
ing frst on the Brazos River
in Washington County. He
lived in Washington County
for a short time, moved to La
Grange and later moved to
his permanent home in Gon-
zales County. Alsey married
Permelia King April 7, 1842
the daughter of John Gladden
King Sr. and Permelia Parch-
man.
Permelia died in 1856 and
was buried in the King Cem-
etery near Oak Forest. On
March 14, 1867 Alsey mar-
ried Elizabeth Nichols. Eliza-
beth died March 4, 1874 and
was buried in the King Cem-
etery near Oak Forest.
In the early days Alsey was
active in all the expeditions
organized by the residents
of Gonzales and surrounding
counties in defending their
families and property against
the Mexicans and Indians.
He became close friends
with General Henry E. Mc-
Culloch and his brother Ben
McCulloch as they went to
Texas at the same time he
did. Miller participated in the
Plum Creek Battle in 1840.
He supplied oxen in 1843 for
the Summerville Campaign
and he and John Nichols con-
tracted to furnish corn and
beef for H.E. McCullough in
1846.
He was a hero of the Daw-
son Massacre as he was one
of only two men who escaped
from death or prison. In 1862
he was a member of Terrys
Texas Rangers. Although he
gave a great deal of his life
patriotically as a citizen and
a soldier for the State of Tex-
as, he was a successful man
in business affairs, dealing
largely in horses, mules and
cattle.
He built an excellent ranch
and home near Gonzales, the
extent of his holdings being
indicated by the fact that at
the close of the Civil War he
had ffty slaves who received
their freedom. For his servic-
es and bravery he was com-
missioned a major in 1850 by
Governor Hansboro Bell.
Alsey Miller was convert-
ed and joined the Methodist
Church in 1859. Unsettled
as to the mode of baptism
he delayed for twenty three
years and then received the
sacrament by pouring.
He died at his daughter
Zillah Houstons home near
Oak Forest. Family stories
were told that he was rest-
ing and when they went
to ask if he wanted a fresh
drink he was dead. His posi-
tion on the bed with his hand
over his heart indicated that
he had fallen back suddenly
and died, presumably of
heart disease or apoplexy. He
was buried between his two
wives in the King Cemetery.
Alsey S. Miller
Special memorial service to honor Gonzales
Alsey S. Miller for heroic service to Texas
By Audrey B. Collins,
granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Wells Sr.
Tis was the home of James Bailey Wells, Sr. (March 11,
1847-March 2, 1930) and his wife Josephine Henry Wells
(Jan. 10, 1858-Jan. 3, 1941). Jim Bailey Wells was born
in Mississippi and cameto Texas with his parents when
he was a child. Josie Henry, the daughte rof Samirah
Emeline Hodges and Garner Henry and granddaughter
of James Hodges Jr., was born in Gonzales County.
Te house, of Florida long leaf pine, was built in 1885 by
T.N. Matthews. Te lumber was shipped from Florida to
Indianola on Gulf steamboats and then hauled on ox carts
to Gonzales. Te house was quite modern for its time with
fre escapes, lightning rods and indoor plumbing.
On Jan. 1, 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Wells, their 16-year-old
son Charley and 12-year-old daughter Efe moved from
their Willow Springs Ranch home near Leesville to the
recently-purchased home in Gonzales.
Te people of Texas sufered many hardships during the
struggle for independence, the Civil War and Reconstruc-
tion days. Te clinate and living conditions were diferent
from what many of them had known. By 1885 Texas was
enjoying a period of growth and development. More per-
manent churches and schools were established and larger,
more comfortable homes were built.
Te hom eis typical of Texas at the time. In 1962, it was
awarded a Texas Historical Building medallion and in
1964, a medallion plate was added. Te plate states, Tis
15-room home is furnished in Guadalupe River Valley
walnut pieces, hand-crafed during the Republic of Texas.
Tis structure is designed a Recorded Texas Historical
Landmark and records concerning its history are being
placed in the State Archives for researchers to use. Tis
building is worthy of marking and preserving because of
its place in Texas history.
Even the location is historic. Mitchell Street is named
for Eli Mitchell, whose home and cornfeld, across the
street at the west end of the block, helped supply food for
the Texas army.
J.B. Wells House a repository of regional history
The J.B. Wells House is full of fascinating stories,
from the miniature replica of The Alamo constructed
by J.B. Wells to the frst oil discovery in the region
(below). Tours will be available from 2-5 p.m. on
Saturday, Oct. 6.
Page F6
Come & Take It Sale
Christies
Collection
Tues.-Fri. 10-5:30, Sat. 8-4
(830-203-5061)
514 Lott St, Yoakum
Mon.-Fri. 10-5:30, Sat. 10-4:00
(361-293-3977)
Bring in this COUPON
20% OFF
Christies Collection
Any item - 1 per customer
Expires: 10-6-12
Come & Take
It Sale
20% OFF
Everything in
store (excluding
Brighton)
Sale Starts
Sept. 22
thru
Oct. 6
Shear Designs Boutique
672-9200
After the C&TI parade
join us for Snacks &
Beverages
12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Kut, Anoname, Jag, Not Your Daughter Jeans, Uncle Frank,
Ivy Jane, Multiples, Ya, Consuela, Yellowbox, Corral Boots
Mohrmanns
Drug Store
Fast, Friendly Service!
413 St. George,
(830) 672-2317
We will be
closed
Saturday,
October 6 for
Come & Take It!
Get your prescriptions
in minutes
Competitive Pricing
Pride of Texas Carnival
Friday 6-11 p.m. Saturday noon-midnight Sunday noon-6 p.m.
Were three years old!
... and
its all
YOUR
doing!
THANKS!
The Gonzales Cannon newspaper made its debut on Come
and Take It weekend, 2009 ... and the rest is history!
It has been you, our readers and advertisers, who have
made The Cannon the fastest-growing news source in the
south-central Texas region.
We, the Cannon staf and shareholders, would like to thank
everyone in the communities we serve for your generosity,
support and your valuable feedback to keep us growing
and improving.
We hope to continue our mission of supplying the news
of Gonzales and surrounding communities with honesty,
integrity and fairness for years to come!
Call us at 830-672-7100
to subscribe today for
just $20 for a FULL YEAR
(52 issues)
or email
subscriptions@gonzalescannon.com
Page F8
Bracelets - $25
Fri., Oct. 5 - 6 p.m. - Midnight
Sat., Oct. 6 - 12 noon - Midnight
(Bracelets change at 5:00)
Sun., Oct. 7 - 12-6 p.m.
Tickets - $1.00
each (rides take
up to 4 tickets)
NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED ON MIDWAY GROUNDS
Games Foods Soft Drinks
Famous Corn Dogs
Cotton Candy
New
Pride of Texas
Carnival
Come & Take it 2012
is back for

Gonzales Cannon 2012 Come and Take It

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John Henry Moore,

8001S 8001S 8001S 8001S

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