From: kinseeker4 < kinseeker4 -at- email -dot- msn -dot- com > Sat, 3 Mar 2001 Well, as long as we're remembering our kinfolks who were part of the Texas Independence, I would like to offer a cousin of mine for consideration. There is the chance that some of you may recognize his name. Bill ========= Andrew Jackson SOWELL, according to the "American Sketch Book" by Bella French Swisher "is perhaps the only man living to see a monument erected to his memory." Andrew's nephew, A.J. Sowell, in his book "Rangers and Pioneers of Texas wrote that Andrew "... escaped the massacre at the Alamo.yet he left such a short time before the fall his name was engraved on the monument erected to the memory.." of those who died. Born in Davidson County, Tennessee June 27, 1815, the son of John N. and Rachel Sowell, Andrew went to Texas with his parents in May, 1830, a young man of fifteen. Andrew loved the woods and was frequently absent from home "..hunting, fishing and exploring . . . he and his brother John kept the table supplied with honey, venison, turkey, bear and fish." Andrew was in his first Indian fight in 1832 at age seventeen, and early in October, 1835 he joined the volunteer army and helped defend Gonzales and the small cannon against the Mexicans. On October 28, 1835 he fought alongside Jim Bowie and Fannin in the battle of Concepcion and in November of that year was with Deaf Smith in the "Grass Fight." Shortly before the fall of the Alamo, Andrew and Byrd Lockhart were sent out by William Travis to hurry reinforcements and "secure beef for the garrison . . . but before they had time to procure the beef, the fort had been surrounded." Andrew was in Gonzales when the news of the approaching Mexican army was received. He was given leave from the army to accompany his parents and others to safety. He then rushed back to join Houston's army but arrived too late to participate in the Battle of San Jacinto, no doubt the only major battle in the Republic of Texas history that Andrew Sowell was not a part of. In March, 1840 in San Antonio Andrew fought the Comanches in the "Council House Fight" and in August of that year was at the "Battle of Plum Creek." Andrew was almost constantly on the scout. He was at the "Battle of Salado" in 1842 and went on to serve in the Ranger Service under Hays, McCulloch, Mason, Caldwell and Callahan. During the Civil War he joined the Confederate services. Andrew found time between scouting and ranger service to court the young daughter of William S. and Elizabeth Smith Turner and July 7, 1842 twenty-seven year-old Andrew and fifteen-year-old Lucinda Smith Turner were married. In the years that followed the couple had ten children, all born in Seguin, Texas. [Children were Asa J.L. , lizabeth, Mary, Virginia Bell, Albert Marion, Martha, John and Lewis--WLM] Andrew and Lucinda both died at their home about twelve miles east of Seguin in January, 1883, he on January 4 and three days later on January 7 Lucinda followed her "old warrior" to the grave. It was said that they were buried in the Mofield Cemetery near Seguin; however, in 1957 the State of Texas erected markers in the San Geronimo Cemetery to pay tribute to John N. Sowell Jr. and his brother Andrew Jackson Sowell. Dorcas Baumgartner (FromThe History of Gonzales County, Texas. Reprinted from the Gonzales County Historical Commission). Andrew Jackson Sowell (1815-1883) was the son of John Newton and Rachel Carpenter Sowell who came to the DeWitt Colony from Tennessee via Missouri in 1829. The Sowells had a home in the inner town of Gonzales at the corner of St. George and Water St. Lots 1 and 6 of block 6 were owned by Andrew. John Newton Sowell is listed among the Original 18 Gonzales settlers that took part in the confrontation and Battle of Gonzales in which Andrew also participated. Andrew was present at the Battle of Conception and the Grass Fight. Andrew Sowell was a member of the Alamo garrison and a courier and forager. He and Byrd Lockhart were foraging for beef as far as Gonzales when the Alamo was surrounded and due to delays were unable to return before the defeat. It is possible that both Andrew Sowell and Byrd Lockhart entered the Alamo on 1 Mar 1836 with the Gonzales Alamo Relief Force prior to their subsequent exit on the foraging mission. Andrew Sowell, David Boyd Kent, John Gaston and Galba Fuqua, the latter two of which died in the Alamo, were thought to have been close friends. Sowell family legends suggest that English-born Marcus Sewell was a cousin of John Newton Sowell Sr. who was a recent arrival to the colony just prior to joining the Alamo Relief Force. After the Alamo defeat, Sowell assisted his family in the Runaway Scrape, tried to return to San Jacinto,but missed the battle. After Texas independence, Sowell participated in the Comanche Council House Fight in San Antonio and the Battle of Plum Creek in 1840 and the Battle of Salado against Mexican Gen. Woll's forces in 1842. Andrew Sowell was a Texas Ranger and served under Hays, McCulloch, Mason, Caldwell and Callahan, he participated in the Mexican War and Civil War with the Confederacy. In 1842, Andrew married Lucinda Smith Turner and the couple had ten children, all born in Seguin, Texas. Both died in their home 12 miles east of Seguin in 1888 and are thought to be buried in Mofield Cemetery. State historical markers in honor of Andrew Sowell and brother John N. Sowell Jr. are in the San Geronimo Cemetery near Seguin.