Dolphin Ward Floyd
Floydada, Floyd County, Texas
Marker Inscription
When this county was created in 1876, it was named in honor of Dolphin Ward Floyd (1804-1836). A native of North Carolina, Floyd left his home in 1825 and arrived in Gonzales, Texas, about 1832. He married Esther Berry House and they had two children. In February 1836, Floyd, along with 31 other Gonzales residents, answered Lt. Col. William B. Travis' call for help at the Alamo in San Antonio. During the battle that ensued, Floyd and his comrades were killed fighting for Texas' independence from Mexico. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Dolphin Ward Floyd, a North Carolinian who settled at Gonzales, was among the 32 men of that town who answered William B. Travis's call and slipped into the besieged Alamo in early 1836. He died there fighting for Texas independence, and when the county was created in 1876 it was named in his honor.
Why it matters
Floyd's sacrifice at the Alamo, memorialized in a county's name, endures as part of the founding legend of the Texas Republic.
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Related people
- · Dolphin Ward Floyd
- · William B. Travis
- · Esther Berry House Floyd
Related events
- · Battle of the Alamo
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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