DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker says about Andrew Ponton — and friend, this is one worth hearing all the way through. Andrew Ponton was born in Virginia, son of William and Isabella Mooreland Ponton, and he came to Texas in December of 1829. He settled in Green DeWitt's Colony and received a land grant near Hallettsville.
Now, a man who arrives in a place like that, in a time like that, tends to either fade into the landscape or get pulled toward the center of things. Ponton got pulled. By 1834, he was named alcalde — that's mayor — of the municipality of Gonzales.
And then the year after that, the community started feeling the friction that comes when neighbors stop agreeing on who's in charge. Political unrest, differences with the Mexican government. The community formed a Committee on Safety, and they put Andrew Ponton on it.
Now here is where the story takes a turn that echoes down through Texas history. As the local leader, Ponton found himself at the center of what became known as the Battle of Gonzales — or, as you may have heard it called, the "Come and Take It" incident. Mexican forces wanted a cannon.
Ponton was reluctant to hand it over. While he stalled, the community gathered reinforcements. That reluctance — that carefully timed hesitation — is considered an opening event of the Texas Revolution.
Not a small thing to have on your ledger. But the ledger wasn't done. Ponton was also responsible for gathering Gonzales soldiers to answer the call from Colonel William B.
Travis for help defending the Alamo. The men who went are known as the Immortal 32. They went to aid Texan forces in San Antonio.
They lost their lives in the 1836 battle. Every single one of them. Ponton sent them, knowing what was at stake, and they went.
After the revolution, Ponton served as the county's Chief Justice, and later he was elected to the Republic of Texas Congress. In 1841 he wed Mary Berry, and in 1846 he became Chief Justice for newly formed Lavaca County. He and Mary lived near Hallettsville and raised four sons together.
William was briefly assigned to Whitfield's Legion during the Civil War. Andrew served in Terry's Texas Rangers. Thomas became an attorney and practiced for many years in Gonzales.
And Samuel — well, Samuel died as a child. Andrew Ponton himself died in 1850, and he is thought to be buried on a farm north of Hallettsville. Thought to be — because even that much wasn't made easy to know.
A Centennial marker in Gonzales' Masonic Cemetery honors his contributions to the Republic of Texas. A man who helped spark a revolution, who sent thirty-two men into history, and whose own resting place is only approximate. Texas has a way of keeping you humble, even after everything.
What the marker says
Born in Virginia to William and Isabella (Mooreland) Ponton, Andrew Ponton came to Texas in December 1829 and settled in Green DeWitt's Colony, receiving a land grant near Hallettsville. He became active in area politics, and in 1834 he was named alcalde, or mayor, of the municipality of Gonzales. The following year, after the community began to experience political unrest as a result of differences with the Mexican government, the community formed a Committee on Safety and appointed Ponton as a member. As the local leader, he was actively involved in what became known as the Battle of Gonzales, or the "Come and Take It" incident. His reluctance to turn over a cannon to Mexican forces, while the community gathered reinforcements, led to the incident, considered an opening event in the Texas Revolution. Ponton was also responsible for gathering Gonzales soldiers to answer the call by Col. William B. Travis for help in defending the Alamo. The men, known as the Immortal 32, went to aid Texan forces in San Antonio and lost their lives in the 1836 battle. After the revolution, Ponton served as the county's Chief Justice and was later elected to the Republic of Texas Congress. He wed Mary Berry in 1841 and in 1846 became Chief Justice for newly formed Lavaca County. The couple lived near Hallettsville, where they reared four sons: William, briefly assigned to Whitfield's Legion during the Civil War; Andrew, who served in Terry's Texas Rangers; Thomas, an attorney for many years in Gonzales; and Samuel, who died as a child. Ponton died in 1850 and is though to be buried on a farm north of Hallettsville. A Centennial marker in Gonzales' Masonic Cemetery honors his contributions to the Republic of Texas. (2004)