DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it — and friend, this one deserves every word. William E. Summers.
Born March 29, 1811, in Edgefield County, South Carolina, to Jesse Summers and Sara — Sally — Coates Summers. That family's roots reach all the way back to 17th century Maryland, winding through the generations before settling the Summers name into South Carolina soil. Around 1820, the family pulled up stakes again and moved to Clarke County, Alabama.
And then, it is believed, William himself made one more move — coming to Texas around 1832. A man who never seemed to stay put. A man who kept moving toward something.
On February 12, 1835, William Summers petitioned the Mexican government for a land grant. He wasn't dreaming small — he was planting roots. And on May 1, 1835, he received title to a quarter league of land situated on the Lavaca River in the DeWitt Colony.
His brother, Henry C.G. Summers, received a full league of land that very same day. Two brothers, side by side, building something in this raw country.
Both of them would go on to take part in the revolution for Texas independence. That part matters. Hold onto it.
February 1, 1836. William and Henry both voted in the election to name delegates to the Texas Independence Convention — the convention that would begin on March 1, 1836, at Washington-on-the-Brazos. They cast their votes.
They did their part at the ballot. But William Summers wasn't finished doing his part. February 23, 1836.
William mustered into service as a Texas ranger in the Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers. Two days later — February 25, 1836 — those volunteers departed Gonzales. They were riding to aid the defenders of the Alamo.
Now, you have to sit with that for a moment. They knew what was waiting. They went anyway.
Thirty-two men riding out of Gonzales toward a battle that was already surrounded, already desperate. They arrived at the Alamo on March 1, 1836 — the very same day that convention opened at Washington-on-the-Brazos, the convention William had helped set in motion with his vote just weeks before. March 6, 1836.
William E. Summers perished at the Alamo, along with the other men who died for Texas independence. He was twenty-four years old — no, I won't do the arithmetic on a man like this.
The marker gives us his birth and his death, March 29, 1811 to March 6, 1836, and those dates speak plainly enough without any calculation from me. The marker calls them the Immortal 32. William E.
Summers is inextricably tied, those are the marker's own words, inextricably tied to Texas history — through the election, through the ride, through the Alamo's final morning. A quarter league on the Lavaca River. A vote cast.
A horse pointed toward the sound of cannon fire. That's the life the marker preserves, and that's the life worth remembering.
What the marker says
(March 29 1811 – March 6, 1836) William E. Summers is inextricably tied to Texas history through his involvement with the election to name delegates to the Texas Independence Convention and in the fall of the Alamo as one of the Immortal 32. Summers family history can be traced to 17th century Maryland and subsequent migration to other states. William E. Summers was born in Edgefield County, South Carolina to Jesse Summers (c. 1777-1837) and Sara “Sally” Coate(s) Summers (c. 1779-1841). Around 1820, the family moved to Clarke County, Alabama. It is believed that William came to Texas around 1832. On February 12, 1835 William Summers petitioned the Mexican government for a land grant and, on May 1, 1835, he received title to a quarter league situated on the Lavaca River in the DeWitt Colony. Similarly, Henry C.G. Summers (1804-1853), William’s brother, was granted a full league of land the same day. Both men participated in the revolution for Texas independence. William and Henry voted in the election held on February 1, 1836 to name delegates to the Texas Independence Convention that began on March 1, 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos. William mustered into service as a Texas ranger in the Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers on February 23, 1836. The volunteers departed Gonzales on February 25, 1836 to aid the Alamo defenders. They arrived at the Alamo on March 1, 1836. William E. Summers perished at the Alamo on March 6, 1836 along with the other men who died for Texas independence. (2012)