Green Dewitt was elected as the first Ralls County, Missouri Sheriff in 1821 and served for three years before heading to Texas for adventures that would make him an icon of American history.

[3] DeWitt was accused of misappropriation of funds in San Antonio, Texas, by settler Peter Ellis Bean, but was exonerated on October 16, 1825.

Sarah DeWitt, whose Brooke County, Virginia, family was quite wealthy, contributed to her husband's endeavors, selling off some of her property in Missouri to help finance his venture.

Because the Mexican government had made an error and included another colony in the contract grant, DeWitt had numerous disputes with another empresario, Martín De León.

[4] At one point, DeWitt was arrested by authority of the Mexican government, because De León claimed that tobacco being shipped into his colony was contraband.

Stephen Austin stepped in and helped reduce tensions,[5] but the damage caused to the relationship of DeWitt and De León would never be repaired.

As Comanche raids took a toll on the settlement, the political chief in Bexar (northern Texas) sent the settlers of Gonzales a small cannon to use for defense.

In 1835, near the time of the start of hostilities that would result in the Texas Revolution, DeWitt traveled to Monclova, in Mexico, in an unsuccessful attempt to gain more premium land for his colony.

Following his death, during the Battle of Gonzales, his wife Sara and daughter Naomi cut up a dress to make the banner "Come and Take It", which has since become a symbol of pride for the community.