DUANE
Duane's take
The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of Silvestre De Leon. Born in 1802, he was the son of Empresario Martin de Leon — the very founder of the De Leon Colony and the City of Victoria. Now, when your father builds a colony and names a city, you might think a man could coast on that legacy.
Silvestre had other ideas. He served as alcalde of Victoria, stayed active in the Catholic church, and took on other commissions besides. Not exactly a man who sat still.
He was an Indian fighter and a soldier, and during the Texas War for Independence he was taken prisoner by the Mexican Army. That's the kind of entry on a man's record that tends to define him — but Silvestre De Leon was more than any single chapter of his life. He owned and traded in vast herds of horses, mules, and cattle — vast, that's the word the marker uses, and you get the sense these weren't modest operations out on the Victoria range.
He married Rosalia de la Garza, and together they had two sons, Martin and Francisco. Silvestre De Leon died in 1842. Son of a founder, alcalde, soldier, prisoner of war, trader of vast herds — he packed a considerable amount of living into those years.
Some men inherit a legacy. Others go out and earn one alongside it. Silvestre did both.
What the marker says
(1802-1842) Son of the Empresario Martin de Leon, founder of the De Leon Colony and City of Victoria. Silverstre de Leon was active in the Catholic church, served alcade of Victoria, and had other commissions. An Indian fighter and soldier, he was taken prisoner by Mexican Army during Texas War for Independence. He owned and traded in vast herds of horses, mules, and cattle. He married Rosalia de la Garza; had two sons, Martin and Francisco. (1972)