OGDEN, DUNCAN CAMPBELL (1813-1859) ~ Duncan Campbell Ogden was born on September 13, 1813, to David A. and Rebecca Cornell Edwards Ogden in a community founded by his father. His father was the law partner of Alexander Hamilton.

Duncan Ogden joined an uncle in a New Orleans business venture and then immigrated to Texas; landing in Galveston in 1838. He was very soon commissioned second lieutenant in a regiment being raised to repel an anticipated Mexican invasion, and in 1839, was promoted to captain in the Army of the Republic of Texas. He commanded Company G of Col. Edward Burleson's First Regiment, Infantry in the Battle of Nueces in 1839. On August 21, 1840, he was transferred to the command of Company C of the First Regiment, then commanded by Col. William G. Cooke. Duncan Ogden participated in the opening of the Military Road from the Red River to Austin. He was then transferred from Company C on March 1, 1841.

With his old comrade, Maj. George T. Howard, he opened the mercantile establishment of Howard and Ogden in San Antonio. In 1841, this firm loaned Juan N. Sequin $3,000 to purchase merchandise to smuggle into Mexico, and Ogden accompanied Seguin to the Rio Grande to establish the cartel by which the goods would be traded. During the Vasquez Campaign in 1842, Ogden was elected captain of the San Antonio Militia company that served under Col. John C. Hays. That fall, after a second column of raiders under Mexican general Adrian Woll invaded, Ogden was sent to treat the enemy but became captured on September 11, 1842. He, along with other San Antonio citizens were marched into Perote Prison from which Ogden was one of sixteen Texans to escape on July 2, 1843 through a carefully excavated tunnel. Ogden was recaptured several days later and returned to captivity in Jalapa. Somehow, through the efforts of his family in New Orleans, the Mexican consult secured orders for Ogden's release on February 22, 1844. It is not entirely sure when his exact release date was as there are three different sources with three different dates; however, he was released and returned to Texas.

Upon his return he was elected to represent Bexar County in the House of Representatives of the Ninth Congress of the Republic of Texas. In 1846, after annexation to the United States, Ogden was re-elected to the House of the First Legislature. He was also appointed in 1846, as the state adjutant general.

He married May 30, 1845, to Elizabeth Cox, a daughter of San Jacinto veteran James Cox, in Washington County, Texas and together they had three children. Ogden kept up his mercantile business after his return to Texas from prison until his death on May 10, 1859. He did keep a diary while in Perote Prison, but the diary burned in the fire that destroyed the state Capitol in 1881. His wife, Elizabeth, married Ogden's partner, George T. Howard and became a founder of the Battle of Flowers, a part of Fiesta San Antonio.

Source: www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/OO/fog1.html

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