When I was in school, we were required to take Texas History. I don't know if it is still required, but I certainly hope it is. The story of Texas' history needs to be told to every school child so they can take pride in living in such a great State.

I was always fascinated with the early history of our State. Amazed that men and women fromall over came together, fought for, and formed the Sovereign State of Texas. ( The only State whose flag, by law, can fly as high as the United States flag.)

TEXAS REVOLUTION
In the Texas Revolution of 1835-36, American colonists in Texas secured the independence of that area from Mexico andsubsequently established arepublic. Since the 1820s many settlers from the United States had colonized Texas; by the 1830s they far outnumbered the Texas Mexicans. Mexican dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna attempted to reverse this trend by such measures as abolishing slavery and enforcing the collection of customs duties. The settlers rebelled.Hostilities began at Gonzales on Oct. 2, 1835; the Texans repelled a Mexican force sent to disarm them and won subsequent victories.

In February 1836, Santa Anna, undiscouraged, led a large army across the Rio Grande; he was delayed, however, by the unexpectedly determined defense of the Alamo. Meanwhile, the Texans declared their independence from Mexico on Mar. 2, 1836, and organized a provisional government. Sam Houston led a successful retreat, but other insurgents were defeated and massacred in late March. Santa Anna pursued the rebels, overstretching his supply line and thus isolating his forces on San Jacinto Prairie. There, on April 21, he was routed by Houston and taken prisoner. Mexican troops then withdrew from Texas. The Republic of Texas (with its Lone Star flag) remained independent until 1845, when it became part of the United States.

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From the Battle of theAlamo, the Battle of San Jacinto,(Yellow Rose of Texas), and cowboys working on ranchs, to the roughnecks in the oil fields, we have always been a diverse people. However, we all have one thing that the good Lord blessed us with. We are all TEXANS!!

As I mentioned on the Noble Family page, we live in Montgomery County between Lake Conroe and the small community of Willis. Here is a little information about Montgomery County and Willis.

In early day Texas, Willis was a thriving place. Besides being the county seat, it boasted a college, hotels, saw mills, and cigar factories. Montgomery County was the third county to be created by the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837, following the counties of Houston and Fannin. The county was named after the city of Montgomery, and originally contained parts of present day Grimes, San Jacinto, Walker, Madison, and Waller Counties. In 1873, the county became its present size upon the creation of Waller County.

The original county seat was located in Montgomery, and remained there until 1874. Willis was given the county seat in 1874, winning the vote after the railroad had been constructed through the town and not through Montgomery. In 1880, the citizens of Montgomery called for another vote, and the county seat was returned to Montgomery once again. In 1889, a railroad running east and west was completed, and it crossed the other railroad(which ran north and south) at the town of Conroe. Seeing Conroe had the junction of the two railroads, voters decided to move the county seat to Conroe, where it remains today.