Born in Massachusetts, Samuel Damon came to Texas in 1831 and served in the Texas Revolution at the Siege of Bexar as wagonmaster for Stephen F. Austin, "Father of Texas." He stole the bells of Mission Concepcion, property of Mexico, Texas' enemy, to melt them into bullets, and also aided Gen. Sam Houston in the 1836 campaign. He received a land grant from the Republic of Texas in 1838, and in this county gave his name to mineral-rich Damon Mound and to the town where he was a brickmaker for 50 years.