Started about 1834 by Benjamin Duncan (1793-1866), a Scotsman. According to tradition, Susanna Dickinson, the widow of Almaron Dickinson, stopped first at Duncan's home on her way to tell people of Gonzales of fall of the Alamo. She was one of few survivors of this bloody battle of Texas Revolution, in which many Gonzales men died. Upon hearing news, General Sam Houston ordered retreat of the Texas Army (camped in Gonzales) and on night of March 13, 1836, he had town and ferry burned to keep them from enemy hand. Duncan later rebuilt ferry, which was operated until 1866. (1971)