This month in Gonzales history

1836:

• March 1, 32 men from Gonzales area entered the Alamo, joining nine men from area already in the Alamo
• March 6, Alamo fell; all are killed
• March 11, General Sam Houston arrived in Gonzales to take command of the Army of the Republic of Texas
• March 13, Run-away Scrape began in Gonzales

1839:

• March 19, Christopher C. DeWitt first person to be granted permission by to establish ferry across “Guadalupe River at old crossing.” It operated until 1868.
• March 27, first City Council meeting held

1840:

• March 21, City Council passed new ordinances:
  • Rioting declared a pest.
  • Running or galloping a riding animal through the Inner Town punishable by a $5 fine.
  • A $10 fine for discharging a fire arm in the Inner Town or between the Town and the river.
  • A fine for cutting or injuring any shade tree not on his property
  • A $10 fine for any retailer of spirits who was open after ten o’clock or for any merchant who did not close his business on Sunday (except for medicines or drugs)
  • A $10 fine for mutilating or removing public notices within the limits of the corporation.

1854:

• March 4, John Mooney authorized to build bridge over San Marcos River near Gonzales. It was a covered bridge, reportedly the only one in Texas at that time.

1879:

• March, a “stylish picket fence” was built around both the Baptist and Methodist Churches (west side of Block32)

1883:

• March 3 – J.D. Houston, W.B. Houston, and J.W. Tinsley have built new residences.
• March 3, Major Harwood has his lumber and will commence building a fine residence soon.
• March 17 – The firm of G.J. Boothe, George Boothe, and C.J. Pilgrim announced that Mr. Pilgrim was resigning. An accompanying letter from Mr. Pilgrim explains that he must devote his full attention to the Inquirer; though Mr. Boothe and George were like “father and brother” to him.
• March 24 – John Fauth advertises that he has lime and cement on hand for those who wish to purchase.
• March 31 – Bob Houston says that he and his brother and Lee Kokernot lost 3,000 head of cattle from the cold this past winter, the average value of the animals being $22 which would make their loss $66,000. Notwithstanding it, however, Mr. Houston will drive 13,000 head this year to start in about a week.
• March 31, a well-founded street report says the jail is stocked with lice and the city marshal objects to putting prisoners in it on that account. “This I deny most emphatically” says W.W. Honnoll, deputy sheriff.
• March 31, Captain W.E. Jones started his trail outfit this week. He has 500 head of Texas mares purchased in southwest Texas. He will drive the mares to Kansas City for shipment east. He says his drive of cattle to Baxter Springs this spring will be something over 2,000.

1896:

• March 26, bids were revealed by Randle and Rather for the erection of their three story

            building at 427 St. George Street. They range from $20,000 to over $30,000. The

            contract was awarded to Henry Kane of Houston.

1901:

• March, the servant’s house on the G.N. Dilworth homestead is rolled bodily through the streets of Gonzales to the Dilworth’s new home.