1830 Darst family Christmas was first on Texas soil

Jacob Darst awakened early on this morning - it was Christmas morning, 1830.
He and his wife, Margaret, and children David and Nancy, were on their way to Gonzales, Capitol of Green DeWitt's Colony. They had been traveling for about five months, and should arrive in Gonzales in another two weeks or so. Jacob Darst had chosen to bring his family from Missouri to Texas, because of the inexpensive land in Green DeWitt's Colony. Darst was looking for a new start, an opportunity to provide a future for his family, and he believed Gonzales was just the place he was looking for.

The journey had been long and hard by ox cart, but things had gone well. They crossed the Sabine River into Texas a few weeks back. The biggest problem was swollen creeks and rivers. And sometimes they would have to wait several days until the water receded before they could cross. They spent a few days in Nacogdoches resting a little, and trading for supplies. And now in two more weeks or so they would be in Gonzales.
Jacob Darst had a feeling of peace about coming to Texas. His heart told him this was right.

The kids stirred under their blankets. David, nine years old, was the only child born to Margaret and him. Nancy was 14 and was a child of his first marriage.
His first wife died in 1820 in Missouri. He married Margaret soon thereafter.
"Merry Christmas," he shouted to the kids. They raised their heads, opened their sleepy eyes and grinned. "Merry Christmas," they shouted back. By this time Margaret was awake, and everyone was shouting Merry Christmas to each other, and to the world in general.

Now it was time to locate the stock and see that they were watered. While David and Nancy were tending to the stock, Jacob reached into one of his satchels and found the velvet sash he had secretly traded for in Nacogdoches. He handed the loosely wrapped package to his wife. "Merry Christmas," he said. "I love you." Margaret opened the package. "Oh, it's beautiful," she said. "Where could you have possibly found this?" "Oh, somewhere," he said. She could do so much with this sash - maybe around the waist, maybe add cuffs to a dress. Possibly a collar. The kids came running up, and delighted in the gift to their mother. Margaret had a new hair ribbon for Nancy, and Jacob had a small knife for David. Nancy put the ribbon on and danced around singing "I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful." David's eyes were as large as saucers. He could not believe his father would trust him with such a gift like this. David and Nancy looked in anticipation as their mother reached into the ox cart and located their father's Christmas present - a piece of buckskin large enough to make a vest. Jacob was very pleased with the gift. It seems that Margaret and the children had also done some secret trading in Nacogdoches. They all stood there laughing together, enjoying their first Texas Christmas, 1830.

Fate would not be kind to the Darst family. Jacob the father would die in the Alamo in 1836. The daughter Nancy and her infant daughter would be killed by Indians in August of 1840. The baby's name was Mary. Margaret and son David were subjected to the terror of the Runaway Scrape. They survived, but Margaret died in Gonzales in 1846, and is buried in the Masonic Cemetery next to her son. David, the only one of the four to live a long life, died in 1906 after years of business and City politics in Gonzales. But, today, Christmas Day, 1830, the Darst family, standing on Texas soil for which Jacob would die to set free, and the hostility of which would claim the life of Nancy and her baby girl, said Merry Christmas to each other and hugged and kissed and laughed and loved as a family, together, and that's the most important thing, isn't it.

Merry Christmas, Gonzales. Merry Christmas indeed for you are the Birthplace of our Texas Freedom.