Gonzales County, Texas: History
Paleo-Indian hunter-gatherers were here thousands of years ago; the later Coahuiltecan, Tonkawa, and Karankawa migrated into the area in the 14th century, but lost much of their population by the 18th century due to new infectious diseases contracted by contact with European explorers. The historic Comanche and Waco tribes later migrated into the area and competed most with European American settlers of the 19th century.
Between 1519 and 1685, Hernando Cortez and Alonso Álvarez de Pineda claimed Texas for Spain. Beginning in 1685, France planted its flag on Texas soil, but departed after only five years, and Spain regained the territory.
Mexico, including Texas, won its independence from Spain in 1821. Citizens of the United States began to settle in Texas and were granted land and Mexican citizenship.
In 1825, Green DeWitt's petition for a land grant to establish a colony in Texas was approved by the Mexican government. Gonzales was established, named for Rafael Gonzales, governor of Coahuila y Tejas.
When Jean Louis Berlandier visited in 1828, he found settler cabins, a fort-like barricade, crop agriculture, and livestock, as well as nearby villages of Tonkawa and Karankawa. The Coahuila y Tejas government sent a six-pound cannon to Gonzales in 1831 for settlers' protection against Indian raids.
In 1835, the colony sent delegates to conventions (1832–1835) to discuss disagreements with Mexico. The Mexican government viewed the conventions as treason, so troops were sent to Gonzales in September 1832 to retrieve the cannon. On October 2, the Battle of Gonzales became the first shots fired in the Texas Revolution. The colonists put up armed resistance, with the cannon pointed at the Mexican troops, and above it a banner proclaimed, "Come and Take It". Commemoration of the event became the annual "Come and Take It Festival". From October 13 – December 9, the Siege of Bexar became the first major campaign of the Texas Revolution.
Gonzales County was established in 1836. …