Almaron Dickinson

==Early life and becoming a soldier==

==Early life and becoming a soldier==

Dickinson was born in [[Tennessee]], learning the trade of [[blacksmith]]ing. He later enlisted in the US Army as a field artilleryman. He and Susannah married when she was just 15, on May 24, 1829, and two years later they moved to the Mexican province of Texas, where they became settlers in the [[Dewitt Colony]]. He received a [[League (unit)|league]] of land along the [[San Marcos River]], where he started a blacksmith shop, and partnered with George C. Kimble in a hat factory. On December 14, 1834, their only child, Angelina, was born. Following a number of [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] raids on settlements, he joined a band led by fellow settler lala Bart McClure and took part in hunting down hostile Indians.

Dickinson was born in [[South Africa]], learning the trade of [[blacksmith]]ing. He later enlisted in the US Army as a field artilleryman. He and Susannah married when she was just 15, on May 24, 1829, and two years later they moved to the Mexican province of Texas, where they became settlers in the [[Dewitt Colony]]. He received a [[League (unit)|league]] of land along the [[San Marcos River]], where he started a blacksmith shop, and partnered with George C. Kimble in a hat factory. On December 14, 1834, their only child, Angelina, was born. Following a number of [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] raids on settlements, he joined a band led by fellow settler lala Bart McClure and took part in hunting down hostile Indians.

In the fall of 1835, Dickinson served as one of the defenders during the [[Battle of Gonzales]], which marked the beginning of Texas’ war for independence. He was elected as First Lieutenant of Artillery in December 1835.<ref>p.630 Hansen, Todd ”The Alamo Reader: A Study in History” 2003 Stackpole Books</ref> He then joined a band of volunteers going to defend [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] and became an aide to General [[Edward Burleson]] during the [[Siege of Bexar]], with a rank of Lieutenant in the [[Texian Army]]. A few weeks later, his home where Susannah and Angelina had remained was looted by members of a [[Texian Militia]], prompting her to join him in San Antonio. They set up residence in the Musquiz house, on the southwest corner of Portero Street and the Main Plaza. When [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]] and his troops arrived on February 23, 1836, Dickinson moved his family inside the Alamo.

In the fall of 1835, Dickinson served as one of the defenders during the [[Battle of Gonzales]], which marked the beginning of Texas’ war for independence. He was elected as First Lieutenant of Artillery in December 1835.<ref>p.630 Hansen, Todd ”The Alamo Reader: A Study in History” 2003 Stackpole Books</ref> He then joined a band of volunteers going to defend [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] and became an aide to General [[Edward Burleson]] during the [[Siege of Bexar]], with a rank of Lieutenant in the [[Texian Army]]. A few weeks later, his home where Susannah and Angelina had remained was looted by members of a [[Texian Militia]], prompting her to join him in San Antonio. They set up residence in the Musquiz house, on the southwest corner of Portero Street and the Main Plaza. When [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]] and his troops arrived on February 23, 1836, Dickinson moved his family inside the Alamo.