Braches House
12 mi. SE of Gonzales off U.S. 90A, Gonzales, TXThe Braches Home twelve miles southeast of Gonzales, Texas is a handsome Greek Revival plantation house and stage stop, built while Texas was an independent republic. The building is large and its full two-story Greek Revival gallery was quite advanced in comparison to most of the structures of inland Texas at this time.
In front of the house, there is a large old live oak that is marked by the State of Texas as the site of at least one significant incident in Texas history. It is said to have been Sam Houston's location on March 11, 1836, nine days after the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence, when as Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Army he heard of the fall of the Alamo. It was there that he sent orders to Fannin to retreat from Goliad, and made plans for his men to fall back, in order to induce Santa Anna to divide his forces in pursuit. Panic took the settlers and most abandoned their homes to flee east. This event is known as "The Runaway Scrape", the tree as the "Runaway Speech Oak" and the "Sam Houston Oak". Santa Anna is supposed to have followed and stayed in this same. location for three weeks.
The Braches Home was built between 1839 and 1842 by Bart McClure, an early Texas pioneer and first county judge of Gonzales County. After his death in 1842 his widow, Sara Ann Ashby McClure, married a Prussian immigrant, Charles Braches, who had come to America in 1834. He had taught music briefly in Sharon, Mississippi, before coming to Texas in 1840. In Gonzales he entered the merchandising business with former Mississippian Dr. Caleb S. Brown. From November 14, 1842, to January 16, 1843, Braches represented Gonzales County in the House of the Seventh Congress of the Republic. Until his death in 1889, he was known as a philanthropist, whose contributions to schools and churches ran into the thousands of dollars. The present owners of the Braches Home are descendants of Sara Ann (McClure) Braches.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1962.
Local significance of the building:
In front of the house, there is a large old live oak that is marked by the State of Texas as the site of at least one significant incident in Texas history. It is said to have been Sam Houston's location on March 11, 1836, nine days after the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence, when as Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Army he heard of the fall of the Alamo. It was there that he sent orders to Fannin to retreat from Goliad, and made plans for his men to fall back, in order to induce Santa Anna to divide his forces in pursuit. Panic took the settlers and most abandoned their homes to flee east. This event is known as "The Runaway Scrape", the tree as the "Runaway Speech Oak" and the "Sam Houston Oak". Santa Anna is supposed to have followed and stayed in this same. location for three weeks.
The Braches Home was built between 1839 and 1842 by Bart McClure, an early Texas pioneer and first county judge of Gonzales County. After his death in 1842 his widow, Sara Ann Ashby McClure, married a Prussian immigrant, Charles Braches, who had come to America in 1834. He had taught music briefly in Sharon, Mississippi, before coming to Texas in 1840. In Gonzales he entered the merchandising business with former Mississippian Dr. Caleb S. Brown. From November 14, 1842, to January 16, 1843, Braches represented Gonzales County in the House of the Seventh Congress of the Republic. Until his death in 1889, he was known as a philanthropist, whose contributions to schools and churches ran into the thousands of dollars. The present owners of the Braches Home are descendants of Sara Ann (McClure) Braches.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1962.
Politics/government; Architecture; Social History
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
In the late 19th century, Texas became known for its cattle drives, in which cowboys would move herds of cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas and other northern states. The cattle drives were dangerous and difficult work, but they played a key role in the development of the American cattle industry.
About Gonzales County
Gonzales County Timeline
Gonzales County, Texas, has a rich history dating back to its settlement in the early 1820s. The area was part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas until the Texas Revolution in 1836, when the Battle of Gonzales became a pivotal moment in the fight for independence. The battle, often referred to as the "Lexington of Texas," was fought due to a demand by Mexican authorities for the return of a cannon given to the settlers to protect against Native American raids. This refusal to comply with the orders of the Mexican government marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution.
Following the Texas Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Texas, Gonzales County played a vital role in the formation of the new state. The town of Gonzales became the capital of DeWitt County and remained a prominent center for trade and agriculture. The 1850s brought an influx of German immigrants to the area, who brought with them their agricultural expertise and helped to further develop the county's economy.
During the Civil War, Gonzales County primarily sided with the Confederacy, and many residents served in the Confederate Army. After the war, the county faced a period of reconstruction and struggled with political and economic challenges. However, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil and the expansion of the cattle industry brought renewed growth and prosperity to Gonzales County.
Today, Gonzales County remains a vibrant community with a mix of agriculture, oil and gas production, and diverse industries. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gonzales. The county's history is celebrated and preserved through museums, historical markers, and the pride of its residents in their shared past.
Following the Texas Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Texas, Gonzales County played a vital role in the formation of the new state. The town of Gonzales became the capital of DeWitt County and remained a prominent center for trade and agriculture. The 1850s brought an influx of German immigrants to the area, who brought with them their agricultural expertise and helped to further develop the county's economy.
During the Civil War, Gonzales County primarily sided with the Confederacy, and many residents served in the Confederate Army. After the war, the county faced a period of reconstruction and struggled with political and economic challenges. However, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil and the expansion of the cattle industry brought renewed growth and prosperity to Gonzales County.
Today, Gonzales County remains a vibrant community with a mix of agriculture, oil and gas production, and diverse industries. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gonzales. The county's history is celebrated and preserved through museums, historical markers, and the pride of its residents in their shared past.
Gonzales County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Gonzales County, Texas.
- 1834 - Gonzales County established as a municipality of Mexico
- 1835 - "Come and Take It" cannon skirmish occurs in Gonzales, marking the start of the Texas Revolution
- 1836 - Texas gains independence from Mexico; Gonzales County becomes part of the Republic of Texas
- 1846 - Texas becomes a state, and Gonzales County remains a political subdivision
- 1861-1865 - Gonzales County residents participate in the American Civil War
- 1878 - The Gonzales Inquirer, the oldest continuously published weekly newspaper in Texas, is established
- 1887 - Gonzales County Courthouse is built
- 1891 - The Harwood and Gonzales Railway connects Gonzales to the Texas railway network
- 1905 - Oil is discovered in Gonzales County, leading to an economic boom
- 1936 - The Gonzales Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center, now the J.B. Wells Park, opens as a medical facility for polio patients
- 1949 - The Gonzales Memorial Museum is established to preserve local history
- 1967 - The Gonzales State School opens to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- 1988 - The Confederate Soldiers Monument is erected in the Gonzales Memorial Museum