DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker's the word on this one, and here's how I tell it. Now, Texas has no shortage of founding fathers, but every now and then you stumble across a name that deserves a longer look — a man who was there at the very beginning, and who paid a steep price just to get to that beginning. That man is Jose Francisco Ruiz.
Born in San Antonio on January 29, 1783, the son of a wealthy rancher, Ruiz came up with roots sunk deep in Texas soil. He went all the way to Spain to become an educator — and when he came home, the cabildo, the city government, appointed him school teacher. He married Josepha Hernandez, a woman from one of the city's own founding families, and together they had two children.
Looked like a settled, respectable life was taking shape. Then history had other ideas. By 1811, Ruiz had become an officer in the revolutionary army of the Mexican people, taking up arms against Spanish rule.
That struggle ran hard until 1815, and it did not end well for his side. He shared in the defeat. Shared in it so thoroughly that he had to flee for his life — all the way to the United States.
Think about that for a moment. A man born in San Antonio, educator, husband, father, officer — running for his life across a border. When freedom was finally won, he and his family returned in 1822, and Ruiz took his place as an officer in the republican army.
He had earned that standing the hard way. But Texas being Texas, the story wasn't done turning. In the 1830s, Santa Anna began assuming dictatorial powers, and that was enough for Ruiz.
He joined other Texans in opposition. In 1836 he was elected delegate from Bexar to the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos — the one that convened in March of that year to decide the fate of Texas once and for all. And there, in that convention hall, Jose Francisco Ruiz became one of only three men of Spanish blood to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence.
One of only two native Texans to put their name on that document. A man born on this soil, signing to free it. Late in 1836 he was seated in the first Congress of the Republic of Texas as the first senator from Bexar District.
He died on January 20, 1840. The State of Texas marked his gravesite, and moved his house from Dolorosa Street to be preserved on the grounds of the Witte Museum. Some men get statues.
Ruiz got something rarer — a story that earns every word of it.
What the marker says
(January 29, 1783 - January 20, 1840) One of two native Texans who signed Declaration of Independence and helped found Republic of Texas. Ruiz, born in San Antonio, son of a wealthy rancher, was educator in Spain. Upon returning home, he was appointed school teacher by order of the cabildo (city government). He marred Josepha Hernandez, of one of city's founding families; had two children. Ruiz became an officer in the revolutionary army of the Mexican people opposing Spanish rule, 1811-1815; shared in defeat; and had to flee for his life to the United States. After freedom was won, he and his family returned (1822) and he became an officer in the republican army. Assumption of dictatorial powers by Santa Anna (1830s) caused Ruiz to join other Texans in opposition. He was elected delegate from Bexar to the March 1836 convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos. There he became one of the three men of Spanish blood to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence. Late in 1836 he was seated in the first Congress of the Republic of Texas as first senator from Bexar District. In tribute to Ruiz, the State of Texas has marked his gravesite and moved his house from Dolorosa Street for preservation on grounds of Witte Museum. (1973)