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Juan Seguin
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| Juan Nepomuceno Seguin was born October
27, 1806 in Bexar (San Antonio), Texas. As a young man he became interested
in politics and openly criticized Mexican leader Antonio Lopez de
Santa Anna. He was proud to join the Texas Revolution and became the
leader of 24 Tejanos who were in favor of a rebellion. These same
24 would perish in the Battle of the Alamo. Seguin however, would
escape that fate as it occurred while he was in Gonzalez trying to
recruit volunteers to go to the aid of the Alamo defenders. When he
returned, the battle was over and all the defenders were dead.
On April 21, 1836, Captain of Cavalry, Juan Seguin and his command were ordered to dismount and make an attack on foot. He must have had revenge in mind as he helped make that attack, but it lasted only eighteen minutes. The long awaited battle had occurred and the often only dreamed of results became reality that day. The Battle of San Jacinto had been won by the little army of the new Texas Republic. Captain Juan Seguin and his command were cited by General Sam Houston and Colonel Burleson for their bravery during the battle. Texas was at last, a free nation! |
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| Many of the new Anglo settlers hated Mexicans so
badly that there were cases of mistreatment of Mexicans at their hands.
Seguin came to the defense of these Mexicans. He was then accused
of aiding the Mexican army and forced to flee San Antonio under threat
of his life. He went to Mexico in 1842 to “seek refuge amongst
my enemies”. He was promptly arrested and given two options.
He could either enlist in the Mexican army in an offensive against
Texas or he could languish in a Mexican prison. He enlisted in his
enemy’s army! He fought against the United States in the Mexican-American
War.
By 1852, he had returned to Texas and was elected to a Justice of the Peace position in Bexar County. He was elected again in 1854. In 1869, he became a County Judge in Wilson County. In time, he moved to be nearer his son, Santiago, who was the mayor of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. It was there that he passed away on August 27, 1890 at the age of 84. On July 4, 1976, his remains were moved to the town that had been named in his honor, Seguin, Texas. |
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©Copyright 2008 Wilson
Jay
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