THE TEXIAN The Official Publication of The Sons of the Republic of

VOL V NUMBER 3 OCTOBER 2020 GRANBURY SONS OF THE MEMBERS RECEIVE TEXAS HISTORIC COMMISSION AWARD Eleven members of the local David Crockett Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas received special recognition and the Award of Merit in Historical Preservation from the Texas State Historical Commission at their meeting Monday, October 5. This award recognizes the efforts and/or contributions of an individual or organization involved in Texas cultural and historical resources. Over the last two years, local members of the SRT took on a community service project to refinish faded, discolored, and damaged historical monuments in Granbury and Hood County. With financial assistance from Hood County Historical Commission for the cost of materials, volunteers have refinished and made 26 historic markers look like new. In this on-going project, most of the refurbished markers are around the courthouse square, providing interesting historical information about early Granbury to its many visitors. Special guests attending the award ceremony were The Honorable Ron Massingill, Hood County Judge, and Becki Barnes. Judge Massingill submitted the application for the award to the Texas Historical Commission. Ms. Barnes is the President of the Hood County Historical Commission. The participants in the marker renewal project and recipients of the award are: Errol Flannery, James Veale, Ron Sutton, Devin Lindsey, Charlie Gillespie, Phil Harris, Robert Hollmann, Jim Scott, Jerry Turner, Dan Vanderburg, , and Jerry White (not pictured). PRESIDENT GENERAL’S MESSAGE Gentlemen: technologies. Some modified events take place at the December quarterly I hope you are all doing well and and meetings have taken place where meeting. We will see if we are able to staying safe during these troubling local governmental guidance allows. hold the December meeting in Goliad times. The SRT September quarterly as planned or by teleconference. We As governmental restrictions meeting was again held by also approved the creation of an SRT continue to hamper our meetings and teleconference with 35 in attendance. Christmas ornament and a ‘Wooden activities your Executive Committee At the meeting your Executive Nickel’ hand out to use as a recruiting and Officer Manager continue to Committee was happy to approve the tool. communicate and move forward with chartering of the new ‘Deaf Smith’ We continue to plan for the 2021 day-to-day operations and projects. chapter. We look forward to seeing annual meeting in March Working with our Information many years of success in the new 5-7. If we can we hope to have special Technology Committee Chairman, chapter. Discussions were held on events to commemorate the 185th Vaughn Oliver, we have undertaken the the possibility of increasing dues and anniversary of the Fall of the Alamo. digitalization of several years of our application fees for 2022. The vote on Thanks again to all. applications and redesign of the index that to forward for general member Kenneth W. Pfeiffer, to simplify access to both the new and approval at the annual meeting will President General previously scanned images. About 500 applications with their supporting documents have already been scanned. WHAT’S INSIDE Once caught up we plan to stay current President General’s Message...... 1 In Memoriam...... 6 with scanning on an on-going basis. Kudos to the several chapters who Janet’s Korner...... 2 Chapter News...... 5-7 have begun to hold their meetings in New SRT Members...... 3-4 Calendar of Events...... 8 a safe manner utilizing various new EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Janet’s Korner Office Manager 2020 - 2021 email: [email protected] 1717 Eighth Street • Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-6644 Kenneth W. Pfeiffer, KSJ , President General

Randy Pollard, KSJ, First Vice President General December: Quarterly Meeting; TBD- due to Covid. Ronald W. Brown ,KSJ, Second Vice President

• The website is up and running at srttexas.org. If you Mike Wilson, Secretary General have any problems please let the National Office know or Devin Lindsey, Treasurer General email Janet at: [email protected]. I will be glad to assist you. Steve Manis, Historian General

• Nominations from chapters for The Knight of the Order Jeff Corbin, Chaplain General of San Jacinto are due October 22, 2020. Please send to the National Office or email to Janet. Edward A, Heath, KSJ, Executive Committeeman

• Start thinking about submitting nomination for the Michael Young, Executive Committeeman Educator of the Year and Honorary Membership. Deadline for nominations is February 1 , 2021. The criteria is available from National office or in your manuals.

• The Topic for the Texas History Essay is “The , The Lexington of Texas.” Brochures will be available on the website at srttexas.org or at the National DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES office or email Janet. The due date is January 31, 2021. 2020 - 2021

• Dues notices will be mailed soon, in October or early November. The National office does not take credit card George Nelson, Brazos Valley payments over the phone. If you did not receive a dues notice or may have misplaced it, please email me at: Bob Steakley, KSJ ,Frontier [email protected] and I will be glad to send you one. Scott Leopold, Gulf Coast

• You can view “The Texian” newsletter on the website Richard Weitzel, Heart of Texas for free. You may also purchase “The Texian”: and it will be mailed to you for a fee of $20.00 a year. Please contact Mike Wilson, Lone Star the National office or fill the space out on your dues notice. Devin Lindsey, North Central

• I would like to thank you for the articles and pictures Johnnie Holley, North East you are sending for your newsletter; they have been GREAT. I need YOUR help with articles and pictures. Jim Toungate, Post Oak If your chapter has or will be celebrating any events PLEASE email me at: [email protected]. I will be Steve Manis, San Jacinto submitting the January issue for publication; the deadline for submissions January 6, 2021.

2 NEW SRT MEMBERS

Timothy James Colbert Daniel Prairie Wiggins Navasota, TX Brian Westley Colbert Daniel Prairie Wiggins Navasota, TX Barry Wade Colbert Daniel Prairie Wiggins Navasota, TX James Michael Conkling James Clinton Neill Amarillo, TX John Richard Conkling James Clinton Neill Fulshear, TX John Walter Glover James Buchanan Willis Paradise, TX Terence Ronald Green William Cox New Braunfels, TX Jimmy Telano Lee Daniel Prairie Wiggins Friendswood, TX James Randall Sutherland Thomas Gilmer MeGehhe Lubbock, TX Caleb Reed Terry Harris Vickers Gilmer, TX Connor Ross Terry Harris Vickers`11028 Gilmer, TX John William Henry Trout Johann Christian Hartung Saginaw, TX Joe Riley Davidson 1 William B Towmey , TX Landon Clay Fisher 1 Nancy Arrington Houston, TX Mark Patrick Bowers 2 Arthur McCormick League City, TX Matthew Simon Cerda 2 Jose Maria Gregorio Esparza La Porte, TX Ralph Alan Cole 2 William Martin Brittain Spring, TX Lance Edward Cook 2 Shadrach Morris Pasadena, TX Richard Flinn Craig 2 John W. Wood Austin, TX Paul Joseph Edinburgh 2 Christopher Columbus Edinburgh Santa Fe, TX Kerry Keith Field 2 Tapley Abner Ashworth Pasadena, TX Matthew Chirstopher Jackson 2 Henry Brewer League City, TX Steven Joseph Manis IV 2 John Nichols Pearland, TX Jerome Adolphus McKown 2 Blake Brantley La Porte, TX Caleb Vaughan Miller 2 Ira Clemons Deer Park, TX Titus Goodnight Miller 2 Ira Clemons Deer Park, TX Ti Joseph O’Daniel 2 Joseph Leonard Gray La Porte, TX Joshua Alan Ojeda 2 Jose Maria Gregorio Esparza Galveston, TX Todd Thomas 2 Tapley Abner Ashworth Santa Fe, TX Kenneth Wayne Zavadil Jr 2 Adam Byerlly La Porte, TX Hubert Warl Gubbels 5 John Wells Austin, TX Edwin Darrell Stevens 5 Sidney A Shepperd Magnolia, TX Charles Edward Cantu 7 Carlos Esparza San Antonio, TX Conor Robert Carroll 7 Allen Dilliad (Dillard) San Antonio, TX Paul Rowden Claflin 7 John Z Leyendecker Kendalia, TX Roland Vasquez 7 James Dunn San Antonio, TX Richard Edward Ernest 8 John Pettit Borden Aubrey, TX Charles Christopher Howell 8 James Clemmons Burge Argyle, TX

3 NEW SRT MEMBERS

Ben Paul Pruett 8 Henry Basil King Prosper, TX John David Pieratt 12 John Franklin Guthrie Austin, TX John Troy Eaton 13 William B Richards Waco, TX Daniel Gary Brice 14 Barnwell Perry College Station, TX Jay Todd Lafayette Cleaver 28 James William Cooper Orange, TX Finney Mack Clay 34 Tacitus Matthew Clay Brenham, TX Royce Thomas Eller 36 George Franklin Daniell Saginaw, TX Ronnie Joe Graham 36 Durham Avant White Settlement, TX Richard Brian Peterson 37 Henry Swepson Whitehead Round Rock, TX Daren Michael Belunek 38 Wilson T. Lightfoot Katy, TX John Alan Bevil 38 John Randolph Bevil, Jr. Katy, TX Dennis H Dickerson 38 James M. Carlton Pueblo, CO Roy Gene Ivey 38 Hardin Neevill Wilminngton, DE Robert D Matthews Jr 38 Stephen Aschel Cottle Katy, TX Daniel Harrison Porter 38 John Francis Chairs Katy, TX John FrankSeekamp 38 Archelaus B. Dodson Corpus Christi, TX Loren Scott Thompson 39 Joseph Scott Clyde, TX Hayden Robert Chall 40 John “Padre” McCoy La Vernia, TX Michael Hall 40 William Robbins San Antonio, TX Larry Wayne Luckett 40 Jesse Lindsey McCrocklin San Antonio, TX Nicholas Anthony Lutton 40 Alejo DeLa Encarnacion Perez San Antonio, TX Carlton Scott Riggs 40 Daniel Tucker Winters Boerne, TX Douglas Lee Smith 40 Daniel Tucker Winters San Antonio, TX David Lynn Smith 40 Daniel Tucker Winters Hondo, TX Norman Bain Taylor 40 William Stanhope Taylor San Antonio, TX Brandt Gordon Graham 41 William Benjamin McKaughan Andrews, TX Stephen Craig Harbin 45 Gordon C Jennings Sachse, TX Danny Bruce George 47 John Nathaniel Loring Midwest City, OK Kibb Harlon King 47 Lt. Thomas Jackson Allen, TX Glenn Moss Rogers 47 Matthew Mark Moss Graford, TX Ronald James Deutch 48 George Washington Massingill Kerrville, TX Billie ( Billy) Marvin Rials 54 Lewis P Collins Lampasas, TX Joseph Coulter Berzilla 58 Thomas Herny Noble Conroe, TX Allen Wayne Boone 58 Gerrit Exsteen Boom North Zulch, TX Jeffrey Evan Fuller II 58 Thomas Evan Noble Conroe, TX Larry Lamar Hulon 58 Gordan C Jennings Willis, TX Tennyson Cash Noble 58 Thomas Henry Noble Conroe, TX

4 SAN JACINTO CHAPTER NEWS The San Jacinto Chapter is happy to announce that we have been back up and running and have been doing monthly online Zoom meetings to very good success. We were honored to have Jim Bevill preview his newest presentation and Denton Florian did another great presentation last month. Our guest speaker for October is Cait Johnson. Cait is the Lead Educator for San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Site. Some of the members of the San Jacinto Chapter will be participating in a grave site ceremony and cleanup at the Castleman Cemetery. Sylvanus Castleman was an Austin Original 300. The chapter has also experienced some growth by new membership through Texas Historic social media sites including our own Facebook page. Please visit our page and click Like. This would be greatly appreciated. We have experienced a few setbacks, but hope to have our new website up and running in the very near future. Historian General Steve Manis conducted a training class on the SRT membership application and documentation process. Paul Powell, Jordan Becker and myself were in attendance. This is a great program that all chapters should take advantage of. Our Winter Social event at the Steamboat House is scheduled for January. Let’s hope that the Covid 19 issue will be under control and we can make this event happen. Unfortunately the Wings Over Houston Airshow will be restricted to the point where we can’t use it as one of our bigger fund raising events. Hopefully next year. On a light side, Harco Aviation will be conducting a raffle for a warbird ride and had pledged all proceeds to go to the San Jacinto Chapter. This should take care of next year’s Sailor Fund. Jeff Corbin President San Jacinto Chapter Chaplain General Sons of the Republic of Texas

DAVID CROCKETT CHAPTER 47

On June 20, 2020 the David Crockett Chapter 47 of The Sons of The Republic of Texas, in partnership with the Hood County Historical Commission, restored two more Texas Historical Markers this morning. One on the First Presbyterian Church and one on the Hood County News building. Participating were Devin Lindsey, Errol Flannery, Dan Vanderburg, Ron Sutton, and Jim Scott. To date, we have now restored 26 Hood county Markers.

5 DAVID CROCKETT CHAPTER 47

Members of the David Crockett Chapter 47 of The Sons of the Republic of Texas were present on Friday, June 19 at 9:00 a.m. on the Historic Granbury Square for the official plaque unveiling celebrating Granbury being voted USA Today’s Best Historic Small Town in America 2019. Many thanks to Errol Flannery, Ron Sutton, and Dan Vanderburg for representing our chapter.

KEEPING OUR SRT COMMUNITY CONNECTED DURING A PANDEMIC, CHAPTER 38 Over the past six plus months, our world changed dramatically from what we were accustomed to with a total reset of our most basic expectations. As the impacts of COVID-19 began to take shape, our organization had to take the necessary precautions to keep one another safe and healthy. This meant discontinuing face-to-face Chapter meetings, SRT events, and all other gatherings. In order to maintain that sense of community, we in the SRT had become accustom to, the Sam Houston Chapter in Katy, Texas pivoted to reshape our normal schedule of events by having virtual Chapter meetings instead. One significant positive to come out of this was that several of our long-distance members, including members in Delaware and Florida, had the chance to participate in our meetings. And, during our last virtual meeting, we swore in four new members. In addition, we had several guest speakers that we would have never had the opportunity to have in a face-to-face setting. Chapter business has continued uninterrupted and while we all yearn for that comradery meeting face-to-face brings, we adjusted accordingly to keep the spirit of our ancestors alive and well in Texas during a global pandemic. We must continue to forge forward in the face of adversity just as our ancestors did so many years ago. In Memoriam Name Hometown Richard Sayre Barnes Friendwood, TX Bille Franklin Busby Boerne, TX Oliver Thomas Cochran Sr. Houston, TX Benjamin Hayden Cook Marietta, GA Mark Christopher Mueller Dallas, TX Edwin Gray Pierson Jr. Houston, TX Thomas Julius Prather Milino, FL Steve Mavion Stapleton New Braunfels, TX Richard Samuel Wright San Antonio, TX Maurice McAshan Adams Austin, TX Gary Ray Berryman Moorpark, CA Cecil Lynn Bonham Alvarado, TX James Warren Cook Conroe, TX Larry Jay Craddock Austin, TX Kirk Wayne Dockery Floresville, TX Alton Oswald Eckhardt San Antonio, TX Doyce Ray Flake Tyler, TX John Millard Fultz Navasota, TX James Haden Garmon Tyler, TX Michael Frank Koehl M.D. Huntsville, TX James David Laffoon Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Benito Martinez Houston, TX Allen Dupree McAshan Jr. Houston, TX Charles Bedford Ponder Bryan, TX Rollins S. Rubsamen San Antonio, TX Robert C. Vivion Fort Worth, TX

6 DAY IN HISTORY Commemoration of the “Old Eighteen” at the Come and Take it Monument J.B. Wells Park Gonzales, Texas 78629

Members present - President David Bird, Ricky Walker, Bart Priest, and Keith Richardson. The Sons of the Republic of Texas Chapter 29, joined by Mayor Connie Kacir, former Chair of the Gonzales County Historical Commission Bob Burchard, City Councilman Blakemore, members of the Gonzales Chapter DRT, and members of the community, commemorated the “Old Eighteen,” who on this day in 1835, rebuffed the Mexican dragoons from San Antonio demanding the return of the Gonzales Cannon. Judge (retired) David Bird, President of the SRT Gonzales Chapter 29, presided over the event as the Master of Ceremonies. Come and Take It! OLD EIGHTEEN “Old Eighteen” was a term used to describe the Gonzales men who, late in September 1835, delayed Mexican attempts to reclaim the town’s cannon until militiamen from surrounding settlements could be summoned. Their efforts in large measure provoked the subsequent battle of Gonzales. Members of the Old Eighteen were William W. Arrington, Valentine Bennet, Joseph D. Clements, Jacob C. Darst, George W. Davis, Almeron Dickinson, Benjamin Fuqua, Thomas Jackson, Albert Martin, Charles Mason, Thomas R. Miller, Simeon Bateman, Almon Cottle, Graves Fulchear, James Hinds, John Sowell, Winslow Turner, and Ezekiel Williams. BATTLE OF GONZALES When Domingo de Ugartechea, military commander in Texas, received word that the American colonists of Gonzales refused to surrender a small cannon that had been given that settlement in 1831 as a defense against the Indians, he dispatched Francisco de Castañeda and 100 dragoons to retrieve it. Ugartechea realized that, given the tensions between the Texans and Antonio López de Santa Anna’s Centralist government, the slightest provocation might ignite hostilities. He therefore instructed Castañeda to use force if necessary but to avoid open conflict if possible. The company rode out of San Antonio de Béxar on September 27, 1835. When Castaneda’s troops reached the Guadalupe River opposite Gonzales on September 29 they found their path blocked by high water and eighteen militiamen (later called the Old Eighteen). Castañeda announced that he carried a dispatch for alcalde Andrew Ponton but was informed that he was out of town and that the Mexican dragoons would have to wait on the west side of the river until he returned. Unable to proceed, Castañeda pitched camp 300 As he awaited word from the absent alcalde, the men of Gonzales summoned reinforcements from several of the surrounding settlements. Later, a Coushatta Indian entered the Mexican camp and informed Castañeda that the number of Texan volunteers now numbered at least 140 and more were expected. Knowing he could not force the guarded crossing, Castañeda abandoned his campsite near the ford and marched his troops in search of another place not so well defended, where he could “cross without any embarrassment.” Around sundown on October 1 he ordered his dragoons to pitch camp seven miles upriver from the contested ford on land belonging to colonist Ezekiel Williams. The Texans were also on the move. On the night of October 1 their troops crossed to the west bank of the Guadalupe and marched upriver toward Castañeda’s new camp. On the morning of October 2 they attacked the Mexicans, and Castañeda ordered his men to fall back to a low rise behind their camp. During a lull in the fighting Castañeda arranged a parley with Texan commander John Henry Moore. Castañeda inquired why he and his men had been attacked without provocation, and Moore replied that the Texans were fighting to keep their cannon and to uphold the Constitution of 1824. Castañeda then assured Moore that he was himself a Federalist and personally opposed to the policies of Santa Anna. He added that he had no wish to fight colonists; he only had orders to reclaim the cannon. Moore then invited Castañeda to join the Texans in their fight for the federal Constitution of 1824. Castañeda explained that as a soldier he was obliged to follow his orders, whether or not he agreed with the politics behind them. At that point negotiations broke down, and the two commanders returned to their respective units. When the fighting resumed, Castañeda, finding himself outnumbered and outgunned, ordered a withdrawal toward Bexar. He may also have been mindful of his orders not to participate in actions that were likely to bring about a conflict. In his report to Ugartechea, Castañeda stated that “since the orders from your Lordship were for me to withdraw without compromising the honor of Mexican arms, I did so.” Despite Castañeda’s efforts to avoid war, the so-called battle of Gonzales (which was really only a brief skirmish) marked a clear break between the American colonists and the Mexican government.

7 Calendar of Events SAM HOUSTON COLOR PRINT NOW AVAILABLE Order your unframed, 18” x 24” 2020 Quarterly Meetings color print for $30, including shipping. This beautiful print is a reproduction of the `856 Dec. 4-5, 2020 Quarterly Meeting = TBD photograph by Fredrick of New York City when Houston was a member of the United States Senate. A Pre-printed 2” purple border gives the appearance of 2020 SRT Events a real mat, thereby eliminating the need for expensive matting; March 2 Texas Independence Day the mat accentuates Senator Houston’s purple velvet coat. March 6 Fall of the Alamo Please call the national office. The matted area includes a printed nameplate: March 27 Goliad Massacre (Palm Sunday - 1836) SAM HOUSTON April 21 San Jacinto Day 1793-1863 August 5 Texas Ranger Day # of Prints ______@ $30.00 each $______September 19 Texian Navy Day (San Jacinto Ground Monument) (Insurance $1.10 per print) October 2 Battle of Gonzales Name ______Address ______November 3 Stephen F. Austin’s Birthday (Father of Texas) ______

1717 Eighth Street Bay City, TX 77414 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Contact us at: SRT Office: www.srttexas.org Email: [email protected] 1717 Eighth Street, Bay City, TX 77414 Phone: (979) 245-6644 Fax: (979) 244-3819