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He was born August 17, 1786.

On September 20, he left his family and enlisted as a scout for an initial term of 90 days with a Company of Mounted Riflemen in the Tennessee militia in 1802.

In 1817, he moved the family to new acreage in Lawrence County, where he first entered public office as a commissioner helping to configure the new county’s boundaries.

On November 25, the state legislature appointed him county justice of the peace.

On March 27, 1818, he was elected lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-seventh Regiment of Tennessee Militia.

In 1821, he resigned as commissioner and successfully ran for a seat in the Tennessee General Assembly.

He left Tennessee once Van Buren was elected president and moved to Texas. 

He arrived at the fort known as the Alamo on February 8. On February 23, to the surprise of the men garrisoned in the Alamo, a Mexican army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna arrived. The Mexican soldiers immediately initiated a siege.

The siege ended on March 6, when the Mexican army attacked just before dawn while the defenders were sleeping. 

Most of the noncombatants of the Alamo gathered in the church sacristy for safety. According to a report before running to his post, he paused briefly in the chapel to say a prayer.

All that is certain about his fate at the Alamo is that he died fighting on the morning of March 6, 1836, at age 49. 

His name is of course David Crockett.

Here is another example of a man, the likes of which we will never see again. No one this day and time will give up a seat to go and defend the helpless ever again. 

Tim Simpson is the author of “A Life Worth Living/A True Journey of Faith,” a true story of the life of Tim Simpson of his journey, from his roots in Johnson City, Tenn., to Michigan and back, including all of the struggles of life from drinking alcohol to thoughts of suicide, to redemption and salvation, to preaching the word over Michigan. Now, Tim has written and published several novels including “Sons of Thunder and M,” and one children’s book, “The Adventures of Yancy and Trixter.” All are available from Tim Simpson at the Boone store located on Hwy. 75 or online from Tim Simpson direct at http://authortimsimpson.weebly.com or amazon.com.