The idea for it came from the 1891 flower procession, which Congressman James L. Slayden's wife, Ellen Maury Slayden, organized as a tribute on April 21 to the Alamo and San Jacinto military heroes. The Battle of Flowers Association was then established by a group of women from San Antonio.
In 1860, Ellen Maury Slayden was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. She wed San Antonio businessman and rancher James Luther Slayden on June 12, 1883. In 1889, Mrs. Slayden worked as the San Antonio Express' society editor.
Find out more about the women of Texas at The Handbook of Texas Women Project.
Source: TSHA | Handbook of Texas Women. (n.d.). https://www.tshaonline.org/projects/handbook-of-texas-women