Juan Nepomuceno de la Cerda was born in 1752 in Los Adaes, Louisiana under Spainish Rule. His ancestor was believed to have been a Spainish Conquistador from Toledo, Spain and explored on De Soto's expediton in the 1500s. His father was Francisco de la Cerda who was the commander of a Spainish fort near San Antonio, Texas and a Texas Patriot. His mother is believed to have been an American Indian. Nepomuceno traveled as a scout with his brother Francisco protecting Catholic Priests on missions exploring the Indian tribes in the Louisiana/Texas area. He and his brother were hired by the King of Spain, along with more conquistadors to claim Texas for Spain. The treck across Texas was difficult and many died along the way. They arrived in San Antonio, where they claimed the land for Spain. They were not aloud to go back to Louisiana because that would defy the King's orders. He and his brother Franciso were one of the seventy-six signers to petition to the King of Spain in the fall of 1773. The Spainards were aloud to move as far east as Nacogdoches, Texas. He was granted 3 1/2 leagues of land near Nacogdoches. Nepomuceno married Maria Flores in 1776. He had six daughters and one son named Athanacio. Nepomuceno de la Cerda was described as a very refined man, with a fine education, and beautiful handwriting. Nepomuceno de la Cerda died in 1826 in Nacagdoches, Texas. He has a town and a railroad crossing named after him in Texas.