At Huntsville’s celebration of Texas Independence and Sam Houston’s Birthday at his grave site Thursday, the featured speaker was Dr. Greg Dimmick, a Texas historian and pediatrician, He passed along the story of the Gonzales “Come and Take It” cannon. It was a six-pound caliber, spanish-made cannon. It became a bone of contention in the fall of 1835 between a Mexican military detachment from Bexar and some American colonists who had begun living in Texas. The contention resulted in the Battle of Gonzales.
Another high point in the celebration was the famous Baptized Texan ceremony which was annually conducted by the late well-known local historian and County Clerk, James Patton, who passed away last August. His wife, Elizabeth, told the ceremony audience how dedicated to Texas and to people the man was. She said he was born here and lived here all his life and didn’t want to move anywhere else, even though he had many other offers.
Dozens of people showed up to be a Baptized Texan. Mrs. Patton carried out the Texas spring water anointment, and the Walker County Historical Commission’s Scott Collier delivered the ceremonial speech.
