You are looking at the last of their kind: men who risked all fighting for the Republic of Texas.
This 1906 photograph was taken at Fannin Park in Goliad in 1906. That was the last annual meeting of the Texas Veterans Association.
Who are these six men?
William Physick Zuber (1820–1913) of Austin. He was in the rear guard at the Battle of San Jacinto. He later took part in the Sommervell Expedition. He also served in the Confederate cavalry, farmed and taught school in rural Grimes County. Zuber is the man who gave to the world the story of Col. Travis drawing his line in the sand at the Alamo.
John Washington Darlington (1821–1915) of Taylor. He fought in the Battle of Plum Creek, fought against Vasquez and Woll during the raids of 1842, and helped build the first capitol building at Austin. He also ranched and served in a ranging company during the Civil War.
Asa Collinsworth Hill of Oakville (1826-1913) - He doesn’t really belong with this group, as he didn’t serve during the republic years, though his father and brothers did. Sam Houston took him to Washington as his personal secretary upon becoming a senator in 1846. Hill commanded a spy company during the Mexican War. He was a Texas Ranger captain before the Civil War
Stephen Franklin Sparks of Rockport (1817-1908). He took part in the Siege of Bexar and fought at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Levi “Uncle Lee” Lawler of Florence (1826-1915). He served in a ranging company while still a teen.
Alphonso Steele of Mexia (1817-1911). He was the last surviving participant of the Battle of San Jacinto. While delegates met at Washington on the Brazos, Steele worked at the local hotel, grinding corn for their bread.
The Texas Veterans Association was an organization of those who performed military service in Texas prior to annexation. Its first convention was at Houston in 1873. The annual meetings always took place the week of April 21, San Jacinto Day.
The association dissolved the year after this photograph was taken, and its work was taken over by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
There are many books about early Texas veterans. Reading about their lives and exploits is a wonderful thing. There might even be portraits of them in those books, but this is something different.
Here we get to see them in the open air, real flesh and blood soldiers, now old men, taking in the passage of time, recalling all that they did, and remembering their brothers in arms