DUANE
Duane's take
The way the marker in Houston County tells it, here's the story of Andrew Edwards Gossett — and I'll do my best to give it the weight it deserves. Now, some men arrive in Texas and leave a light footprint. Andrew Edwards Gossett was not one of those men.
Born in 1812, he made his move from Tennessee in 1833, bringing his wife Rhoda — she was a Mulder before she married him — and he came ready to plant roots. Mexico was still handing out land grants in those days, and Gossett received one of the large ones. A man with land, a family, and ambitions.
That's a particular kind of Texas story right there. The times, though, were restless. The Republic of Texas was still finding its footing after the revolution, and the frontier didn't care much for a man's plans.
Gossett answered the call and served in the Texas Army, helping defend that frontier in what the marker calls the restless post-revolutionary period. He wasn't just watching history from a fence rail — he was in it. Then comes 1836, and here's where the story gets a chill to it.
Gossett donated land for a townsite that year, and he named it for a long-time family friend — a man by the name of Day Crockett. Now, the marker describes Crockett as someone soon to be a martyr at the Battle of the Alamo. Think about that timing.
Gossett honored his friend with a town, and that friend walked into the pages of legend at the Alamo. The name he gave that place was a tribute that outlasted both of them. Gossett kept serving his community after that — as a peace officer and then as a county judge.
He was a man who moved through nearly every layer of a frontier society: soldier, landowner, public official, keeper of the peace, arbiter of the law. He had nine children by his first wife. By his second wife, Mary Margaret — she was a Murchison — he had two more.
Eleven children carrying the Gossett name forward into Texas. Andrew Edwards Gossett died in 1890. A long life, a full one, and a name on a town that still connects back to a friendship forged before the Alamo ever became a word that stops a room.
What the marker says
(1812-1890) Noted public official and soldier in Republic of Texas. Moved here from Tennessee in 1833 with wife Rhoda (Mulder); received large land grant from Mexico. Helped defend frontier in restless post-revolutionary period by serving in Texas Army. In 1836 he donated land for a townsite, naming it for his long-time family friend Day Crockett -- soon to be a martyr at the Battle of the Alamo. Gossett later served as peace officer and county judge. By first wife he had nine children. By second wife, Mary Margaret (Murchison), he had two.