Frontier Times Magazine
Vol 1 No. 4 - January 1924
Some names mentioned in this volume:
Frank Adams, D. Affleck, John Eddy Allen, Col Austin, Gen John Austin, Rev Summer Bacon, Cullen Baker, Buck Capt Barry, , Capt Baylor, Dr B. B. Beakley, Willie Biffle, Hon J. W. Blake, Capt Boggess, Capt Milton , Chief Bowles, , John , Jack Bradford, Tom Brazil, Asa Brigham, E. A. Brininstool, Aaron Burr, Brown, F. J. Brown, Henry J. Brown, Strap Buchner, Billie Burke, Gen Edward Burleson, S. B. Burnett, I. W. Burton, Lt Bushong, J. P. Caldwell, Pedro Caramillo, Chas T. Carlton, Henry Castro, Bill Chisom, Asa Clark, Miss Betsy Coleman, Lip Conley, Capt James H. Cook, Dick Couch, Dick Couch Jr , Col Crane , Ichabod Crane, David Crockett, Guillermo Cruze, Christopher Dart, Sam Davenport, Jacob Deering, J. Frank Dobie, Aaron Dog, R. L. Dorroh, K. H. Douglas, Kelsey H. Douglas, Benigna Durst, Hon Bruno Durst, Mrs Harriet Durst, Horatio Durst, John Durst, Hon John S. Durst, Joseph Durst, Sgt Erhenback, Erhenback, Jennie Miss Fleming, Tandy Folsom, Col Forbes, Col John Forbes, John S. Friend, Henry C. Fulcher, Dick Gano, Emory Gibbons, Capt R. A. Gillespie, Capt J. B. Gillett, Sgt J. B. Gillett, Dick Glass, Charles Goodnight, Hal Gosling, W. M. Maj Green, Glen Halsell, D. W. Hamilton, John Hancock, John L. Hardigree, John Wesley Hardin, Jack Harmason, G. L. Harris, George L. Harris, Jack, E. M. Harrison, Capt Jack Hays, J. P. Henderson, King Hennant, (Dutch) Henry, Bill Hixon, J. H. Holland, Col Alexander Horton, Juan de Humana, Capt Ikard, Elisha Ikard, Washington Irving, Col John Jamison, Mrs Babe Johnson, Boyd Johnson, Mrs. Boyd Johnson, Frank Johnson, Mrs Frank (Babe) , Mrs Frank Johnson, Slim Johnson, Gen Albert Sidney Johnston, Anson Jones, Dr Jowers, Hon W. G. W. Jowers, David S. Kaufman, Tom Kellis, W. F. Kellis, Gen King, Mirabeau B. Lamar, Bud Lane, Jim (Red Legged) Lane, R. E. Lee, Eli Lloyd, Byrd Lockhart, John Long, Bill Longley, Mrs Adele B. Looscan, Capt Sam Lytle, Mrs W. B. Martin, J. L. McCaleb, Capt Ben McCulloch, Col Henry E. McCulloch, Gen McKenzie, Amy McKinney, Annie McKinney, Ashley McKinney, Collin McKinney, Elisa McKinney, Lt McKinney, Peggy McKinney, Polly McKinney, William C. McKinney, Younger Scott McKinney, Gen Miles, Corp Miller, Capt Moffett, Marshall Monroe, Annie Miss Moore, Juan Morales, John Morgan, Harry Moses, David Muckleny, Lt Nelms, Judge Noble, Cynthia Ann Parker, Silas Parker, Leonard Passmore, W. E. Payne, W. B. Pearson, Gen Pershing, Mrs J. M. Peters, France Peveler, James A. E. Phelps, Pratt Plummer, Mrs. Rachel Plummer, Policarpo Rodriguez, Jack Potter, Rev Jack Potter, Jess Pressnall, J. M. Radford, Arch Capt Ratliff, Capt Ratliff, John H. Reagan, Hon John H. Reagan, Charly Reeves, Crockett Riley, George P. Robertson, James M. Robertson, R. S. Robertson, D. Rode, Dr Rogers, Bob Ross, John Ross, Gov L. S. Ross, Pete Ross, Sul Ross, F. S. Roundtree, Gen Rusk, Thomas J Rusk. , Alexander Russell, Bean Russell, Harvey Russell, Jimmie Russell, Martha Russell, Mrs Polly Russell, A. S. Ruthven, J. M. Sampson, Antonio Sanches, Gen Santa Ana, Geo W. Saunders, Mrs H. L. Scales, Mat Schmidtke, William Schneider, Capt Joe Sheeley, Capt Smith, John Smith, "Old Dog Face" Smith, Mrs Velma Smith, Frank Spaeth, Jacob Spaeth, Jake Spaeth, Louis Spaeth, Ludwig Spaeth, Mary Spaeth, Willie Spaeth, John W. Standifer, Capt W. I. Stanifer, Adolphus Stern, Sam Stills, Gen Charles S. Taylor, T. H. Dean, Taylor Thompson, Dan Waggoner, Big Foot Wallace, T. Warner, Henry Warren, Thos J. Weathersby, C. Welgehausen, T. G. Western, Thomas G. Western, Gen Wharton, John A. Wharton, J. D. White, J. Horton Williams, Jeff Wright, Capt Yack, Juan de Zavala, Zarate-Salmeron,
Contents of this volume:
The Killing of Ludwig Spaeth
By Leonard Passmore. Account of extraordinarily brutal slaying of German Immigrant, Mr Spaeth by Indians in 1871. Bravery of Louis Spaeth. Speath and family settled in Meusebach Colony at Fredericksburg. Later settle near Enchanted Rock, on Little Sandy Cr, Gillespie/Llano Counties. Account is very tragic and detailed, including some mention of other German settlers, Kese, Welgehausen, Sagebiel, Schmidtke, Wm. Schneider, as well as others, Jacob Deering, D. Rode, etc.
Tells Of An Indian Massacre.
By Mr. F. J. Brown, of Marinette, Ariz. An excerpt:
"The men who hazarded their lives and property and the lives of their faithful cowboys, are about all across the great beyond. Just a few are left. It is ridiculous to say there was no one living in Wichita county before 1873. 1will give a few names of men who ranched there prior to 1873: J. Horton Williams, Dan Waggoner, Glen Halsell, Curtis Brothers, Captain Ikard, Elisha Ikard and possibly S. B. Burnett. Quite a few of these men the writer knew personally.
They were as gay a set of cowboys as ever straddled a bronco, generous and brave. These men not only had Indians to contend with, but rustlers and buffalo, too. They met the situation as well as, their neighbors farther to 'the south of them. At that time no organized counties existed west of Jack county. Perhaps Young county was organized. Baylor county was organized in 1878. Oregon City was the county seat, but later it was changed to Seymour.
"I well remember the massacre of Henry Warren's teamsters. Old Satanta, Big Tree and Satank, Comanche chiefs, led the raid. They had 100 warriors. Suddenly, without warning, they surrounded the wagon train before the men could circle their wagons together, and shot them early all down before they could get to their ammunition.- Then the brutes chained one man to a wagon and burned him to death. One out of the entire crew escaped. He was shot in the heel, but in the struggle managed to grab an Indian's red blanket and wrapped himself in it and got away. Tom Brazil was his name, I think.
"The Indians then gathered the mules and provisions and made their way to Fort Sill, the Indian agency for this tribe. Old Satanta openly made his brag to the Indian agent at Fort Sill that he led this attack and killed - and scalped nine teamsters and captured forty mules. A-bout this time Gen. McKenzie was in Fort Sill on a tour of inspection. On hearing of the incident he had the three chiefs arrested and ordered them taken to Texas and delivered to the Sheriff of Jack County for trial. One of the chiefs named Satank tore the handcuffs off and grabbed a gun from a guard, but was sent to the happy hunting ground by another guard. They buried him in his blanket north of Red River, on the old stage road. They went on to Jacksboro with the other two, where they were tried and convicted of murder. It was said Satanta made the best speech in his own defense ever heard from an uneducated man, but he got what was coming to him when he jumped from the prison wall at Huntsville and broke his neck.
Captain Buck Barry was a noted Fighter
Captain R. B. (Buck) Barry, who died some years ago in Bosque county, was known
From Red River to the Rio Grande as one of the greatest Indian fighters that figured in frontier warfare. From his pen we give some of his experiences while following the crimson trail during the early days in Texas. Many references to places/names such as Maj. Burleson, Col. Henry E. McCulloch, Hubbard's creek, Governor Houston, Wichita, Gooch's ranch on Red River , Red Fork of the Brazos and Little Wichita, about 40 miles from Camp ,Sergeant Erhenback, , Corporal Miller , Willie Biffle, Captain Milton Boggess, Bud Lane, John Hardigree, Thos. Weathersby, Lip Conley, Lieut. Bushong, Aaron Burr Brown, Fort Mason, John Hancock, etc
A Memorial To Collin McKinney
Engineer and surveyor is principally responsible for the Approximately square shape of most of the northern tier of counties in North Texas, and it is certain that no man in this section of the state wielded as strong an influence, or contributed in such large measure of his energy and ability to the laying of the foundation Upon which this great state and its institutions rests, as did Collin McKinney. An excerpt:
McKinney's father, who had come to this Country from Scotland, the place of his birth. was a member of the famous Boston "Tea Party," the first organized opposition manifested toward the policy of the mother country, England, in the American colonies and which culminated in the revolution-and freedom.
The elder McKinney was a resident of New Jersey when Collin McKinney was born on April, 17, 1766. From New Jersey, the McKinney family moved first to Virginia, and later, in 1780, moved to Kentucky, living in that state until 1824. It was in Kentucky that Collin McKinney grew to manhood, becoming one of the pioneers in the work of winning that wilderness for civilization. Lessons learned in fighting Indians in Kentucky were invaluable to him in the years afterwards in Texas.
On February 13, 1792, McKinney was married to Miss Annie Moore. Of the four children born to them, two, Ashley and Polly, grew to man and womanhood and have descendants now living in various parts of Texas and other states. Mrs. McKinney died on May 6, 1804. On April 14, 1805, McKinney was married the second time to Miss Betsy Coleman. To them were born six children, William C., Annie, Amy, Peggy, Elisa and Younger Scott, the latter being twins. Of the issue of his second marriage, Annie and Amy have no direct descendants living, as far as is known. In the memorial association membership is included the descendants of William C., Peggy, whose husband was Mr. Janes, Eliza whose husband was a Mr. Milam, Polly, whose husband was a Mr. McKinney, Ashley, and Younger Scott McKinney.
On September 15, 1821, with his family, Collin McKinney moved westward, locating first at what was believed to be a, part of Texas, at a point six miles east of Texarkana. Later, in 1831, they moved into what is now Bowie county, Texas, remaining there until 1836, when they moved to a point near what is now the Collin-Grayson county line, which became their permanent home, and where McKinney (tied on September 8, 1861, at the age of 95 years, four months, twenty-one days…
Trouble With The Cherokee Tribe
In 1836 the 50,000 Texans then fighting for independence from Mexico were beset not only on the western and southern borders of the State, but as, well on the northern and eastern borders. On the south and west they had to guard against Mexico enemies and on the north and east against Indians. The tribe from which they had most to fear was the Cherokee. This is an account of hostilities in the 1830’s. Names mentioned: President Lamar, Chief Bowles , The Hon. W. G. W Jowers , Judge Noble, Kirabeau, Judge John Reagan, Col. Alexander Horton, the Killough and Williams families, Cordray, a half-breed Mexican, Dr. Jowers, Mr. Lacy, Gen. Edward Burleson, Kelsey H. Douglas, Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, David S. Kaufman, Dr. Rogers of Nacogdoches, Colonel Crane of Montgomery County, etc.
Good Old Times In Texas
By John Eddy Allen
An excerpt: I have closely watched the wonderful development of all Texas during the last fifty years. That far back Dallas had one two-story house, a frame building, near the courthouse. In front of this prominent building stood a tall oak pole with a fork of two limbs at the top. Fastened in this fork was a bell with a rope attached that reached to the ground. At meal times this bell was rung to announce to the public that a good hot meal was on the table In the Crutchfield Hotel-all you could eat for 25c. 1 daresay those 25c meals were superior to any meal now served at any of the present great and expensive hotels of Dallas at top prices.
In those early (lays live stock, even hogs, ran at large on the prairies and stayed 'fat the year round without feed other than the wild native grasses, roots and nuts.
The very best level or hogwallow lands sold for 57c to $5 an acre. The cost to fence forty acres with rails, our only fencing, was more than the price of 160 acres of land. We had no railroads and barbed wire had not been invented. A barrel of salt was worth two or three barrels of flour. The market for our cotton, wool, beeves, etc., were the boat landings at Jefferson, Texas, and Shreveport, La.
But along those times the H. & T. C. railway. started out of Houston, building by piecemeal to Denison, Texas. A great deal of Dallas County products went to Bryan, Texas, by ox and horse wagons, as the railroad stopped there quite a while. I was living in Bryan when the railroad got there. It, too, boasted a hotel with a big dinner bell. It was known as the Radford Hotel and was run by the father of J. M. Radford of Abilene, Texas…
Legend Of The Haunted Spring.
By Taylor Thompson.
About thirty miles above Eagle Pass, on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, there is a bold spring of water which came forth from beneath a low ledge of rocks, and the small rivulet formed by this spring flowed down a narrow and beautiful valley until its waters were mingled with those of the Bravo del Norte, about half a mile away. In this little valley emerged the legend of the "Haunted Spring". According to this legend, hostile Indians made a raid on the settlement near Piedras Negras, opposite Eagle Pass, and carried off several female captives, among these being one beautiful senorita about 18 years of age. The Indians were followed by a party of Mexican citizens who were led by the affianced lover of the senorita mentioned. The Indians were overtaken at the haunted spring and a hot fight ensued, in which the leader of the Mexicans, Juan Morales by name, was killed. The Indians were routed, but before they fled the young lady captive was slain by one of the Indians, and the two lovers were buried side by side near the spring, while the party of Mexicans continued the pursuit of the Indians, who still had in their possession several female captives, most of whom were eventually rescued. The legend has it that at every full of the moon, at midnight…
The Trail Of Blood Along The Texas Border
By John Warren Hunter.
One of the most atrocious murders ever committed on the frontier was the slaughter of the Russell family at their home on Martin's Prairie, Wise county, in August, 1868. Mrs. Polly Russell was a widow with four children. The youngest was a boy of ten years, the next a boy 17, third Martha Russell, a beautiful girl in her teens, and lastly, Bea, Russell. a young man On the day of this tragedy, Mrs. Russell was helplessly surrounded by her three youngest children…
An excerpt: No pen, no language, can depict the horror of the scene that met the gaze of the faithful toiling son and brother, Bean Russell when he returned from his day’s labor that evening at sundown. Jimmie Russell, his little brother, lay dead and mangled in the yard. Across the threshold of the Cabin door lay the mother in pools of her own blood. Blood everywhere, and small footprints of crimson, made by the little boy, covered the floor. In vain he called for Harvey and the sister but no response came, and with grief unspeakable he closed the door on the desolate, wrecked and ruined home and hastened towards the saw mill. At dawn the following morning he returned with a party of men to bury the dead. Further search revealed the body of Harvey Russell under the wreckage in the cabin home, but the sister was nowhere to be found.
During the following day the young man was crazed with the one burning, consuming desire-to find his sister, all the while being oppressed with a certain sense of apprehension that she had been murdered and left in the wilderness to be devoured by wolves. With a party of men from Decatur who had rallied to his aid he took the trail and followed the Indians, Reaching a point about three miles from home they came upon all that was mortal of poor Martha Russell, a ghastly remnant of the beautiful…
Further Mentions: Dick Couch, J. D. White’s field, Upper Catlett Creek, Jimmie Russell, Harvey Russell
Legend Of The Old Spanish Mine.
By Henry C. Fulcher.
A legend from an ancient Spanish document, according to which a pack train of burros carrying "forty jackloads of silver" was pursued by a band of Comanche Indians and in order to prevent the precious metal from falling into the hands of their antagonists, the men in charge of the pack train buried the silver near where the town of Leander is now located. The pack train, according to the legend, secured its load of silver from a great mine in the neighborhood of Fort Croghan, where the present town of Burnet is situated. Another legend is that the silver mine was located near Leander,- in fact was at the very shaft which is to be filled up in a very short time. Another legend says that the buried treasure near Leander was the altar devices of a Spanish mission which were carried off when the mission was captured by the Indians. The monks, according to the story, buried all the silver devices near Leander to keep it from the hands of their enemies, and allow them a better chance of escape. They were all captured and killed except one, the legends recounts. Just what part, if any of these legends are correct, is, not known-but it is a fact that on the Davis farm near here is a shaft more than 100 feet deep and measuring 17 by 17 feet…Further Mentions: Mr. Dorroh of Leander. Williamson County
George L. Harris Recalls Early Days.
By Harry Moses.
An excerpt: George L. Harris was born Aug. 2, 1844, seven miles southwest of Duval's Bluff in Monroe county, Ark. In 1849 he came with his family to Shelby county, Texas, en route to join a wagon train to California which had started from a point several hundred miles to the north. When word was received that everyone in the train had been massacred by Indians west of Fort Scott, Kan., the Harris family decided to remain in Texas. >From Shelby County the family moved to Ellis County, and later to Tarrant County. When the home on Village Creek was sold Harris moved with the cattle and mules to a ranch 12 miles southwest of Fort Belknap. The mother and small children were left at Fort Worth as the senior Harris did not wish to expose them to danger at the hands of the Indians. G. L, Harris stayed on the ranch until the winter of 1860 when he returned to Fort Worth. Mr. Harris joined a regiment commanded by Pete Ross, a brother of Sul Ross, and did not return to his old haunts until June 25, 1865 when the war had ended. He is a member of R. E. Lee Camp' United States Confederate Veterans.
"I joined the outfit of Pete Ross, who came from Waco with some men at the beginning of the Civil War," Harris related. "Ross was collecting men at Dallas from Denton, Kaufman, Ellis, Tarrant and other counties to the Sixth Texas Cavalry. I joined in time to vote for him as colonel. It was June 6, 1861 that I joined….
Further mentions: Cabell's Brigade , the Jenkin's Ferry fight, John Morgan, General Wharton , Captain Ratliff., Deming and Silver City , Big Spring, , old Fort Belknap on the Clear Fork of the Brazos , the Harmason ranch , the Duff ranch, where Oil City is now located, Captain Buck Barry of the Rangers, who later lived near Graham, the North Prong of Big Elm, France Peveler , Capt. Arch Ratliff, ,old Fort Davis in Shackleford Co, Cedar Creek, etc.
Indian's Grave Holds Rare Articles
W. F. Kellis, editor of the Sterling City Record, and his brother Tom, recently explored the region of seven Indian graves on one hilltop and dug, into in a cave, between two strata of rock in a canyon on the Concho river. They first noticed rocks carefully placed and then began taking them down. After sufficient number of rocks were removed they found …
The Tragedy Of Legion Valley.
By John Warren Hunter. February 6th and 7th, 1868, were the darkest and saddest days that ever dawned upon Legion Valley, a pretty vale some sixteen miles from the town of Llano. At that date only a few families lived in the little valley among whom were Frank Johnson, John S. Friend, Jack Bradford, Mrs. Caudle. On the 6th of February, Mrs. Boyd Johnson and child, Mrs. Frank (Babe) Johnson and child and Miss Townsend spent the day at the home of Mr. Friend. The men, Messrs. Frank, and Boyd Johnson and Mr. Friend, not apprehending any danger from Indians, had gone away from home leaving the women and children virtually without protection…Further Mentions: Mr. and Mrs. Benson,
A Tribute To Policarpo Rodriguez.
Written by Mrs Adele B. Looscan. Story of Polly’s Peak near Bandera Pass, and it’s namesake, Policarpo Rodriguez, a faithful leader, and fearless adventurer.
Dutch Henry's Raid Near Fort Elliott.
By W. E. Payne
Dutch Henry was a notorious outlaw, who was finally apprehended after a brutal raid on the west bank of Salvation Creek, about one mile above its confluence with the North Fork of Red River, 70 miles east of Fort Elliot and 90 miles west of Fort Sill. He was thereafter sent to prison in Kansas. This is the account.
Swapped His Beard for Indian Scalps.
Milam County came in for a share of the Indian depredations during the days preceding the Civil War, and many settlers lost their lives at the hands of savages, who frequently raided that portion of the frontier. Mentioned in this account are: F. S. Roundtree, who was a resident of Abilene, Texas, Old Man Bryan, for whom. Bryan Station was named, Bill Hixon , Alan Zandt county.
Mrs. Durst Lived Under Three Flags.
The following most interesting account of early days in Texas, published in a Houston paper years ago, was written. by Mrs. Harriet Durst of Leon county, when in the 77th year of her age. She was the widow of John Durst referred to in the article. She was a woman of, rare intelligence and great force of character, and lived from 1844 until her death in 1888 on the place owned by her youngest son near Leona, Leon county. Article mentions: . The Hon. Bruno Durst, Another son, Hon. John S. Durst, was county judge of Kimble county several terms, Mrs. Durst was the grandmother of Hon. J. W Blake, formerly chairman of the democratic state executive committee, and of Mrs. H. L. Scales of Dallas, John H. Reagan. Mrs. Harriet Durst came to Texas in the spring of 1827, shortly after the difficulties with the colonists and Mexicans, called the Fredonian War and lived under three distinct governments: First Province of Coahuila and Texas second, republic of Texas, then, United States. Lengthy article further mentions: Sam Davenport, who lived in Texas in Spanish times, Old Chief Bowles , Joseph Durst, Mrs. McFarland ,Col. John Jamison, Mrs. Velma Smith, etc
A Texas Cowboy Comin’ Down the Trail.
By Jack Potter. Article about 1882 cattle drive from SW TX to Colorado and on. King Hennant and co traveled for three hundred miles along the foothills of the Rockies by way of La Junta, Colorado, on the Santa Fe, and then to Deer Trail and arrived at the South Platte River near Greely, Colorado, about the tenth of August at Crow Ranch. Very lengthy and interesting article further mentions: Sitting Bull , George W. Saunders, president of the Old Trail Drivers, Jess Pressnall and Slim Johnson , Old 'Dog Face' Smith, the M. K. & T. Railroad, Wild Horse Jerry, Jack Potter. Hal Gosling, United States Marshal, Capt. Joe Sheeley and Sheriff Quigley of Castroville.
Bigfoot Wallace Stuffed With Hickory Nuts.
By Chas. Carlton. An excerpt: "The ground where I was standing was covered with hickory nuts and I stooped and began filling my breeches and shirt with hickory nuts two or three inches thick all around my body… could hardly waddle along. There was an old log lying near by and I led my horse up to it and managed to crawl through the high grass. When I came within good shooting distance I sorta raised up and saw two big bucks standing up and all the rest were down around the fire cooking their breakfast. I raised my old smooth bore rifle and drew a bead on the biggest of the two and let him have it. He jumped up in the air and yelled and he fell dead. I loaded he again while the whole bunch yelled and grabbed their bows and arrows. They tried to locate me but they did not see the smoke in the grass. I raised up again and let the biggest one have the next shot and they saw the smoke and began circling around and shooting at me. I straightened up and pulled my two revolvers and they kept up a running fight. They must have shot a hundred arrows at me but they would strike the hickory nuts and bounce off. They must have thought I was the devil, for as soon as they had tied the two Indians on the horses they broke away and did not take a single one of my horses. ' "
When Civilization Moved Westward.
J. L. McCaleb writes as follows in this article: "In your December number appeared an account of the Packsaddle Mountain fight. I want to say that Eli. Lloyd, mentioned in that sketch, lives in your county, near Tuff. He married a half-sister of mine, Miss Jennie Fleming, at Benton City, Atascosa county, Texas. Eli, with his people moved there after the fight. He gave me the Indian scalp he took. It was a fine long-haired relic, and I tacked it to a post in my store where it hung for months. He also left the shield, moccasins, etc. The shield was a beauty, trimmed with red flannel, feathers and bells. The old timers did not take much interest in those things, but new people coming into the country looked and wondered, and said they were glad that sort of frontier life had moved further west. Now and then some old fellow from out west would stop in and seeing those relics would tell some hair-raising story. I know something about life on the frontier. I was born in Washington county, Texas, March 4, 1852, and moved to Medina county soon after the Civil War…
Great Battle at Painted Rock.
Very lengthy and detailed account By D. Affleck. One of the most prolonged and persistent battles with the Comanche Indians, was at Paint Rock in Concho county, where Jack Hays with forty Texas Rangers, among whom was Emory Gibbons and E. M. Harrison, fought 600 Comanche Indians, in two and a half days and defeated them. Article mentions, among numerous others, Capt. R. A. Gillespie and Capt. Ben McCulloch, Bill Chisom, Enchanted Rock , Emory Gibbons, Mr. Harrison
The Mission de Los Olmos Near Falfurrias.
By Marshall Monroe. Speaks of Los Olmos Rancho, the home of Pedro Caramillo, a Spaniard of the old school, who gained a wide reputation through his methods of …
Sam Houston Presided at First Grand Lodge
Some-what dimmed by age-it was written nearly eighty-six years, ago (from 1924) but still plainly decipherable, the signature of Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas, is attached to the proceedings of the meeting held in Houston, December 20, 1837, at which it was decided to form the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas. These are found in the first records of the organization, contained in a large leather-bound volume, and stored in the vault of the, grand lodge temple at Waco. The first record of a state gathering of Masons of Texas reads as follows:
"City of Houston, Dec. 20, 1837, A. L. 5837.-in pursuance to an invitation from Holland Lodge No. 36 of A. F. & A. M., held at the city of Houston, by virtue of a charter from the most worshipful grand lodge of Louisiana , addressed to the different lodges in the Republic of Texas, a convention. of Masons was held in the Senate chamber this day, 3 o'clock p. m.
"On motion, Brother Sam Houston was called to the chair, and Brother Anson Jones was appointed secretary. Delegates presented their credentials and took their seats."
The record shows that the following delegates were present: Holland Lodge No. 36, Houston- Sam Houston, Anson Jones, Jeff Wright and Thomas G. Western. Milam No. 40, Nacogdoches- Thomas J. Rusk, 1. W. Burton, Charles S. Taylor, Adolphus Stern and K. H. Douglas, from McFarland Lodge No. 41, St…Article further mentions: Mr. Winchell , Christopher Dart, A, S. Ruthven and others
Vol 1 No. 4 - January 1924
Some names mentioned in this volume:
Frank Adams, D. Affleck, John Eddy Allen, Col Austin, Gen John Austin, Rev Summer Bacon, Cullen Baker, Buck Capt Barry, , Capt Baylor, Dr B. B. Beakley, Willie Biffle, Hon J. W. Blake, Capt Boggess, Capt Milton , Chief Bowles, , John , Jack Bradford, Tom Brazil, Asa Brigham, E. A. Brininstool, Aaron Burr, Brown, F. J. Brown, Henry J. Brown, Strap Buchner, Billie Burke, Gen Edward Burleson, S. B. Burnett, I. W. Burton, Lt Bushong, J. P. Caldwell, Pedro Caramillo, Chas T. Carlton, Henry Castro, Bill Chisom, Asa Clark, Miss Betsy Coleman, Lip Conley, Capt James H. Cook, Dick Couch, Dick Couch Jr , Col Crane , Ichabod Crane, David Crockett, Guillermo Cruze, Christopher Dart, Sam Davenport, Jacob Deering, J. Frank Dobie, Aaron Dog, R. L. Dorroh, K. H. Douglas, Kelsey H. Douglas, Benigna Durst, Hon Bruno Durst, Mrs Harriet Durst, Horatio Durst, John Durst, Hon John S. Durst, Joseph Durst, Sgt Erhenback, Erhenback, Jennie Miss Fleming, Tandy Folsom, Col Forbes, Col John Forbes, John S. Friend, Henry C. Fulcher, Dick Gano, Emory Gibbons, Capt R. A. Gillespie, Capt J. B. Gillett, Sgt J. B. Gillett, Dick Glass, Charles Goodnight, Hal Gosling, W. M. Maj Green, Glen Halsell, D. W. Hamilton, John Hancock, John L. Hardigree, John Wesley Hardin, Jack Harmason, G. L. Harris, George L. Harris, Jack, E. M. Harrison, Capt Jack Hays, J. P. Henderson, King Hennant, (Dutch) Henry, Bill Hixon, J. H. Holland, Col Alexander Horton, Juan de Humana, Capt Ikard, Elisha Ikard, Washington Irving, Col John Jamison, Mrs Babe Johnson, Boyd Johnson, Mrs. Boyd Johnson, Frank Johnson, Mrs Frank (Babe) , Mrs Frank Johnson, Slim Johnson, Gen Albert Sidney Johnston, Anson Jones, Dr Jowers, Hon W. G. W. Jowers, David S. Kaufman, Tom Kellis, W. F. Kellis, Gen King, Mirabeau B. Lamar, Bud Lane, Jim (Red Legged) Lane, R. E. Lee, Eli Lloyd, Byrd Lockhart, John Long, Bill Longley, Mrs Adele B. Looscan, Capt Sam Lytle, Mrs W. B. Martin, J. L. McCaleb, Capt Ben McCulloch, Col Henry E. McCulloch, Gen McKenzie, Amy McKinney, Annie McKinney, Ashley McKinney, Collin McKinney, Elisa McKinney, Lt McKinney, Peggy McKinney, Polly McKinney, William C. McKinney, Younger Scott McKinney, Gen Miles, Corp Miller, Capt Moffett, Marshall Monroe, Annie Miss Moore, Juan Morales, John Morgan, Harry Moses, David Muckleny, Lt Nelms, Judge Noble, Cynthia Ann Parker, Silas Parker, Leonard Passmore, W. E. Payne, W. B. Pearson, Gen Pershing, Mrs J. M. Peters, France Peveler, James A. E. Phelps, Pratt Plummer, Mrs. Rachel Plummer, Policarpo Rodriguez, Jack Potter, Rev Jack Potter, Jess Pressnall, J. M. Radford, Arch Capt Ratliff, Capt Ratliff, John H. Reagan, Hon John H. Reagan, Charly Reeves, Crockett Riley, George P. Robertson, James M. Robertson, R. S. Robertson, D. Rode, Dr Rogers, Bob Ross, John Ross, Gov L. S. Ross, Pete Ross, Sul Ross, F. S. Roundtree, Gen Rusk, Thomas J Rusk. , Alexander Russell, Bean Russell, Harvey Russell, Jimmie Russell, Martha Russell, Mrs Polly Russell, A. S. Ruthven, J. M. Sampson, Antonio Sanches, Gen Santa Ana, Geo W. Saunders, Mrs H. L. Scales, Mat Schmidtke, William Schneider, Capt Joe Sheeley, Capt Smith, John Smith, "Old Dog Face" Smith, Mrs Velma Smith, Frank Spaeth, Jacob Spaeth, Jake Spaeth, Louis Spaeth, Ludwig Spaeth, Mary Spaeth, Willie Spaeth, John W. Standifer, Capt W. I. Stanifer, Adolphus Stern, Sam Stills, Gen Charles S. Taylor, T. H. Dean, Taylor Thompson, Dan Waggoner, Big Foot Wallace, T. Warner, Henry Warren, Thos J. Weathersby, C. Welgehausen, T. G. Western, Thomas G. Western, Gen Wharton, John A. Wharton, J. D. White, J. Horton Williams, Jeff Wright, Capt Yack, Juan de Zavala, Zarate-Salmeron,
Contents of this volume:
The Killing of Ludwig Spaeth
By Leonard Passmore. Account of extraordinarily brutal slaying of German Immigrant, Mr Spaeth by Indians in 1871. Bravery of Louis Spaeth. Speath and family settled in Meusebach Colony at Fredericksburg. Later settle near Enchanted Rock, on Little Sandy Cr, Gillespie/Llano Counties. Account is very tragic and detailed, including some mention of other German settlers, Kese, Welgehausen, Sagebiel, Schmidtke, Wm. Schneider, as well as others, Jacob Deering, D. Rode, etc.
Tells Of An Indian Massacre.
By Mr. F. J. Brown, of Marinette, Ariz. An excerpt:
"The men who hazarded their lives and property and the lives of their faithful cowboys, are about all across the great beyond. Just a few are left. It is ridiculous to say there was no one living in Wichita county before 1873. 1will give a few names of men who ranched there prior to 1873: J. Horton Williams, Dan Waggoner, Glen Halsell, Curtis Brothers, Captain Ikard, Elisha Ikard and possibly S. B. Burnett. Quite a few of these men the writer knew personally.
They were as gay a set of cowboys as ever straddled a bronco, generous and brave. These men not only had Indians to contend with, but rustlers and buffalo, too. They met the situation as well as, their neighbors farther to 'the south of them. At that time no organized counties existed west of Jack county. Perhaps Young county was organized. Baylor county was organized in 1878. Oregon City was the county seat, but later it was changed to Seymour.
"I well remember the massacre of Henry Warren's teamsters. Old Satanta, Big Tree and Satank, Comanche chiefs, led the raid. They had 100 warriors. Suddenly, without warning, they surrounded the wagon train before the men could circle their wagons together, and shot them early all down before they could get to their ammunition.- Then the brutes chained one man to a wagon and burned him to death. One out of the entire crew escaped. He was shot in the heel, but in the struggle managed to grab an Indian's red blanket and wrapped himself in it and got away. Tom Brazil was his name, I think.
"The Indians then gathered the mules and provisions and made their way to Fort Sill, the Indian agency for this tribe. Old Satanta openly made his brag to the Indian agent at Fort Sill that he led this attack and killed - and scalped nine teamsters and captured forty mules. A-bout this time Gen. McKenzie was in Fort Sill on a tour of inspection. On hearing of the incident he had the three chiefs arrested and ordered them taken to Texas and delivered to the Sheriff of Jack County for trial. One of the chiefs named Satank tore the handcuffs off and grabbed a gun from a guard, but was sent to the happy hunting ground by another guard. They buried him in his blanket north of Red River, on the old stage road. They went on to Jacksboro with the other two, where they were tried and convicted of murder. It was said Satanta made the best speech in his own defense ever heard from an uneducated man, but he got what was coming to him when he jumped from the prison wall at Huntsville and broke his neck.
Captain Buck Barry was a noted Fighter
Captain R. B. (Buck) Barry, who died some years ago in Bosque county, was known
From Red River to the Rio Grande as one of the greatest Indian fighters that figured in frontier warfare. From his pen we give some of his experiences while following the crimson trail during the early days in Texas. Many references to places/names such as Maj. Burleson, Col. Henry E. McCulloch, Hubbard's creek, Governor Houston, Wichita, Gooch's ranch on Red River , Red Fork of the Brazos and Little Wichita, about 40 miles from Camp ,Sergeant Erhenback, , Corporal Miller , Willie Biffle, Captain Milton Boggess, Bud Lane, John Hardigree, Thos. Weathersby, Lip Conley, Lieut. Bushong, Aaron Burr Brown, Fort Mason, John Hancock, etc
A Memorial To Collin McKinney
Engineer and surveyor is principally responsible for the Approximately square shape of most of the northern tier of counties in North Texas, and it is certain that no man in this section of the state wielded as strong an influence, or contributed in such large measure of his energy and ability to the laying of the foundation Upon which this great state and its institutions rests, as did Collin McKinney. An excerpt:
McKinney's father, who had come to this Country from Scotland, the place of his birth. was a member of the famous Boston "Tea Party," the first organized opposition manifested toward the policy of the mother country, England, in the American colonies and which culminated in the revolution-and freedom.
The elder McKinney was a resident of New Jersey when Collin McKinney was born on April, 17, 1766. From New Jersey, the McKinney family moved first to Virginia, and later, in 1780, moved to Kentucky, living in that state until 1824. It was in Kentucky that Collin McKinney grew to manhood, becoming one of the pioneers in the work of winning that wilderness for civilization. Lessons learned in fighting Indians in Kentucky were invaluable to him in the years afterwards in Texas.
On February 13, 1792, McKinney was married to Miss Annie Moore. Of the four children born to them, two, Ashley and Polly, grew to man and womanhood and have descendants now living in various parts of Texas and other states. Mrs. McKinney died on May 6, 1804. On April 14, 1805, McKinney was married the second time to Miss Betsy Coleman. To them were born six children, William C., Annie, Amy, Peggy, Elisa and Younger Scott, the latter being twins. Of the issue of his second marriage, Annie and Amy have no direct descendants living, as far as is known. In the memorial association membership is included the descendants of William C., Peggy, whose husband was Mr. Janes, Eliza whose husband was a Mr. Milam, Polly, whose husband was a Mr. McKinney, Ashley, and Younger Scott McKinney.
On September 15, 1821, with his family, Collin McKinney moved westward, locating first at what was believed to be a, part of Texas, at a point six miles east of Texarkana. Later, in 1831, they moved into what is now Bowie county, Texas, remaining there until 1836, when they moved to a point near what is now the Collin-Grayson county line, which became their permanent home, and where McKinney (tied on September 8, 1861, at the age of 95 years, four months, twenty-one days…
Trouble With The Cherokee Tribe
In 1836 the 50,000 Texans then fighting for independence from Mexico were beset not only on the western and southern borders of the State, but as, well on the northern and eastern borders. On the south and west they had to guard against Mexico enemies and on the north and east against Indians. The tribe from which they had most to fear was the Cherokee. This is an account of hostilities in the 1830’s. Names mentioned: President Lamar, Chief Bowles , The Hon. W. G. W Jowers , Judge Noble, Kirabeau, Judge John Reagan, Col. Alexander Horton, the Killough and Williams families, Cordray, a half-breed Mexican, Dr. Jowers, Mr. Lacy, Gen. Edward Burleson, Kelsey H. Douglas, Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, David S. Kaufman, Dr. Rogers of Nacogdoches, Colonel Crane of Montgomery County, etc.
Good Old Times In Texas
By John Eddy Allen
An excerpt: I have closely watched the wonderful development of all Texas during the last fifty years. That far back Dallas had one two-story house, a frame building, near the courthouse. In front of this prominent building stood a tall oak pole with a fork of two limbs at the top. Fastened in this fork was a bell with a rope attached that reached to the ground. At meal times this bell was rung to announce to the public that a good hot meal was on the table In the Crutchfield Hotel-all you could eat for 25c. 1 daresay those 25c meals were superior to any meal now served at any of the present great and expensive hotels of Dallas at top prices.
In those early (lays live stock, even hogs, ran at large on the prairies and stayed 'fat the year round without feed other than the wild native grasses, roots and nuts.
The very best level or hogwallow lands sold for 57c to $5 an acre. The cost to fence forty acres with rails, our only fencing, was more than the price of 160 acres of land. We had no railroads and barbed wire had not been invented. A barrel of salt was worth two or three barrels of flour. The market for our cotton, wool, beeves, etc., were the boat landings at Jefferson, Texas, and Shreveport, La.
But along those times the H. & T. C. railway. started out of Houston, building by piecemeal to Denison, Texas. A great deal of Dallas County products went to Bryan, Texas, by ox and horse wagons, as the railroad stopped there quite a while. I was living in Bryan when the railroad got there. It, too, boasted a hotel with a big dinner bell. It was known as the Radford Hotel and was run by the father of J. M. Radford of Abilene, Texas…
Legend Of The Haunted Spring.
By Taylor Thompson.
About thirty miles above Eagle Pass, on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, there is a bold spring of water which came forth from beneath a low ledge of rocks, and the small rivulet formed by this spring flowed down a narrow and beautiful valley until its waters were mingled with those of the Bravo del Norte, about half a mile away. In this little valley emerged the legend of the "Haunted Spring". According to this legend, hostile Indians made a raid on the settlement near Piedras Negras, opposite Eagle Pass, and carried off several female captives, among these being one beautiful senorita about 18 years of age. The Indians were followed by a party of Mexican citizens who were led by the affianced lover of the senorita mentioned. The Indians were overtaken at the haunted spring and a hot fight ensued, in which the leader of the Mexicans, Juan Morales by name, was killed. The Indians were routed, but before they fled the young lady captive was slain by one of the Indians, and the two lovers were buried side by side near the spring, while the party of Mexicans continued the pursuit of the Indians, who still had in their possession several female captives, most of whom were eventually rescued. The legend has it that at every full of the moon, at midnight…
The Trail Of Blood Along The Texas Border
By John Warren Hunter.
One of the most atrocious murders ever committed on the frontier was the slaughter of the Russell family at their home on Martin's Prairie, Wise county, in August, 1868. Mrs. Polly Russell was a widow with four children. The youngest was a boy of ten years, the next a boy 17, third Martha Russell, a beautiful girl in her teens, and lastly, Bea, Russell. a young man On the day of this tragedy, Mrs. Russell was helplessly surrounded by her three youngest children…
An excerpt: No pen, no language, can depict the horror of the scene that met the gaze of the faithful toiling son and brother, Bean Russell when he returned from his day’s labor that evening at sundown. Jimmie Russell, his little brother, lay dead and mangled in the yard. Across the threshold of the Cabin door lay the mother in pools of her own blood. Blood everywhere, and small footprints of crimson, made by the little boy, covered the floor. In vain he called for Harvey and the sister but no response came, and with grief unspeakable he closed the door on the desolate, wrecked and ruined home and hastened towards the saw mill. At dawn the following morning he returned with a party of men to bury the dead. Further search revealed the body of Harvey Russell under the wreckage in the cabin home, but the sister was nowhere to be found.
During the following day the young man was crazed with the one burning, consuming desire-to find his sister, all the while being oppressed with a certain sense of apprehension that she had been murdered and left in the wilderness to be devoured by wolves. With a party of men from Decatur who had rallied to his aid he took the trail and followed the Indians, Reaching a point about three miles from home they came upon all that was mortal of poor Martha Russell, a ghastly remnant of the beautiful…
Further Mentions: Dick Couch, J. D. White’s field, Upper Catlett Creek, Jimmie Russell, Harvey Russell
Legend Of The Old Spanish Mine.
By Henry C. Fulcher.
A legend from an ancient Spanish document, according to which a pack train of burros carrying "forty jackloads of silver" was pursued by a band of Comanche Indians and in order to prevent the precious metal from falling into the hands of their antagonists, the men in charge of the pack train buried the silver near where the town of Leander is now located. The pack train, according to the legend, secured its load of silver from a great mine in the neighborhood of Fort Croghan, where the present town of Burnet is situated. Another legend is that the silver mine was located near Leander,- in fact was at the very shaft which is to be filled up in a very short time. Another legend says that the buried treasure near Leander was the altar devices of a Spanish mission which were carried off when the mission was captured by the Indians. The monks, according to the story, buried all the silver devices near Leander to keep it from the hands of their enemies, and allow them a better chance of escape. They were all captured and killed except one, the legends recounts. Just what part, if any of these legends are correct, is, not known-but it is a fact that on the Davis farm near here is a shaft more than 100 feet deep and measuring 17 by 17 feet…Further Mentions: Mr. Dorroh of Leander. Williamson County
George L. Harris Recalls Early Days.
By Harry Moses.
An excerpt: George L. Harris was born Aug. 2, 1844, seven miles southwest of Duval's Bluff in Monroe county, Ark. In 1849 he came with his family to Shelby county, Texas, en route to join a wagon train to California which had started from a point several hundred miles to the north. When word was received that everyone in the train had been massacred by Indians west of Fort Scott, Kan., the Harris family decided to remain in Texas. >From Shelby County the family moved to Ellis County, and later to Tarrant County. When the home on Village Creek was sold Harris moved with the cattle and mules to a ranch 12 miles southwest of Fort Belknap. The mother and small children were left at Fort Worth as the senior Harris did not wish to expose them to danger at the hands of the Indians. G. L, Harris stayed on the ranch until the winter of 1860 when he returned to Fort Worth. Mr. Harris joined a regiment commanded by Pete Ross, a brother of Sul Ross, and did not return to his old haunts until June 25, 1865 when the war had ended. He is a member of R. E. Lee Camp' United States Confederate Veterans.
"I joined the outfit of Pete Ross, who came from Waco with some men at the beginning of the Civil War," Harris related. "Ross was collecting men at Dallas from Denton, Kaufman, Ellis, Tarrant and other counties to the Sixth Texas Cavalry. I joined in time to vote for him as colonel. It was June 6, 1861 that I joined….
Further mentions: Cabell's Brigade , the Jenkin's Ferry fight, John Morgan, General Wharton , Captain Ratliff., Deming and Silver City , Big Spring, , old Fort Belknap on the Clear Fork of the Brazos , the Harmason ranch , the Duff ranch, where Oil City is now located, Captain Buck Barry of the Rangers, who later lived near Graham, the North Prong of Big Elm, France Peveler , Capt. Arch Ratliff, ,old Fort Davis in Shackleford Co, Cedar Creek, etc.
Indian's Grave Holds Rare Articles
W. F. Kellis, editor of the Sterling City Record, and his brother Tom, recently explored the region of seven Indian graves on one hilltop and dug, into in a cave, between two strata of rock in a canyon on the Concho river. They first noticed rocks carefully placed and then began taking them down. After sufficient number of rocks were removed they found …
The Tragedy Of Legion Valley.
By John Warren Hunter. February 6th and 7th, 1868, were the darkest and saddest days that ever dawned upon Legion Valley, a pretty vale some sixteen miles from the town of Llano. At that date only a few families lived in the little valley among whom were Frank Johnson, John S. Friend, Jack Bradford, Mrs. Caudle. On the 6th of February, Mrs. Boyd Johnson and child, Mrs. Frank (Babe) Johnson and child and Miss Townsend spent the day at the home of Mr. Friend. The men, Messrs. Frank, and Boyd Johnson and Mr. Friend, not apprehending any danger from Indians, had gone away from home leaving the women and children virtually without protection…Further Mentions: Mr. and Mrs. Benson,
A Tribute To Policarpo Rodriguez.
Written by Mrs Adele B. Looscan. Story of Polly’s Peak near Bandera Pass, and it’s namesake, Policarpo Rodriguez, a faithful leader, and fearless adventurer.
Dutch Henry's Raid Near Fort Elliott.
By W. E. Payne
Dutch Henry was a notorious outlaw, who was finally apprehended after a brutal raid on the west bank of Salvation Creek, about one mile above its confluence with the North Fork of Red River, 70 miles east of Fort Elliot and 90 miles west of Fort Sill. He was thereafter sent to prison in Kansas. This is the account.
Swapped His Beard for Indian Scalps.
Milam County came in for a share of the Indian depredations during the days preceding the Civil War, and many settlers lost their lives at the hands of savages, who frequently raided that portion of the frontier. Mentioned in this account are: F. S. Roundtree, who was a resident of Abilene, Texas, Old Man Bryan, for whom. Bryan Station was named, Bill Hixon , Alan Zandt county.
Mrs. Durst Lived Under Three Flags.
The following most interesting account of early days in Texas, published in a Houston paper years ago, was written. by Mrs. Harriet Durst of Leon county, when in the 77th year of her age. She was the widow of John Durst referred to in the article. She was a woman of, rare intelligence and great force of character, and lived from 1844 until her death in 1888 on the place owned by her youngest son near Leona, Leon county. Article mentions: . The Hon. Bruno Durst, Another son, Hon. John S. Durst, was county judge of Kimble county several terms, Mrs. Durst was the grandmother of Hon. J. W Blake, formerly chairman of the democratic state executive committee, and of Mrs. H. L. Scales of Dallas, John H. Reagan. Mrs. Harriet Durst came to Texas in the spring of 1827, shortly after the difficulties with the colonists and Mexicans, called the Fredonian War and lived under three distinct governments: First Province of Coahuila and Texas second, republic of Texas, then, United States. Lengthy article further mentions: Sam Davenport, who lived in Texas in Spanish times, Old Chief Bowles , Joseph Durst, Mrs. McFarland ,Col. John Jamison, Mrs. Velma Smith, etc
A Texas Cowboy Comin’ Down the Trail.
By Jack Potter. Article about 1882 cattle drive from SW TX to Colorado and on. King Hennant and co traveled for three hundred miles along the foothills of the Rockies by way of La Junta, Colorado, on the Santa Fe, and then to Deer Trail and arrived at the South Platte River near Greely, Colorado, about the tenth of August at Crow Ranch. Very lengthy and interesting article further mentions: Sitting Bull , George W. Saunders, president of the Old Trail Drivers, Jess Pressnall and Slim Johnson , Old 'Dog Face' Smith, the M. K. & T. Railroad, Wild Horse Jerry, Jack Potter. Hal Gosling, United States Marshal, Capt. Joe Sheeley and Sheriff Quigley of Castroville.
Bigfoot Wallace Stuffed With Hickory Nuts.
By Chas. Carlton. An excerpt: "The ground where I was standing was covered with hickory nuts and I stooped and began filling my breeches and shirt with hickory nuts two or three inches thick all around my body… could hardly waddle along. There was an old log lying near by and I led my horse up to it and managed to crawl through the high grass. When I came within good shooting distance I sorta raised up and saw two big bucks standing up and all the rest were down around the fire cooking their breakfast. I raised my old smooth bore rifle and drew a bead on the biggest of the two and let him have it. He jumped up in the air and yelled and he fell dead. I loaded he again while the whole bunch yelled and grabbed their bows and arrows. They tried to locate me but they did not see the smoke in the grass. I raised up again and let the biggest one have the next shot and they saw the smoke and began circling around and shooting at me. I straightened up and pulled my two revolvers and they kept up a running fight. They must have shot a hundred arrows at me but they would strike the hickory nuts and bounce off. They must have thought I was the devil, for as soon as they had tied the two Indians on the horses they broke away and did not take a single one of my horses. ' "
When Civilization Moved Westward.
J. L. McCaleb writes as follows in this article: "In your December number appeared an account of the Packsaddle Mountain fight. I want to say that Eli. Lloyd, mentioned in that sketch, lives in your county, near Tuff. He married a half-sister of mine, Miss Jennie Fleming, at Benton City, Atascosa county, Texas. Eli, with his people moved there after the fight. He gave me the Indian scalp he took. It was a fine long-haired relic, and I tacked it to a post in my store where it hung for months. He also left the shield, moccasins, etc. The shield was a beauty, trimmed with red flannel, feathers and bells. The old timers did not take much interest in those things, but new people coming into the country looked and wondered, and said they were glad that sort of frontier life had moved further west. Now and then some old fellow from out west would stop in and seeing those relics would tell some hair-raising story. I know something about life on the frontier. I was born in Washington county, Texas, March 4, 1852, and moved to Medina county soon after the Civil War…
Great Battle at Painted Rock.
Very lengthy and detailed account By D. Affleck. One of the most prolonged and persistent battles with the Comanche Indians, was at Paint Rock in Concho county, where Jack Hays with forty Texas Rangers, among whom was Emory Gibbons and E. M. Harrison, fought 600 Comanche Indians, in two and a half days and defeated them. Article mentions, among numerous others, Capt. R. A. Gillespie and Capt. Ben McCulloch, Bill Chisom, Enchanted Rock , Emory Gibbons, Mr. Harrison
The Mission de Los Olmos Near Falfurrias.
By Marshall Monroe. Speaks of Los Olmos Rancho, the home of Pedro Caramillo, a Spaniard of the old school, who gained a wide reputation through his methods of …
Sam Houston Presided at First Grand Lodge
Some-what dimmed by age-it was written nearly eighty-six years, ago (from 1924) but still plainly decipherable, the signature of Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas, is attached to the proceedings of the meeting held in Houston, December 20, 1837, at which it was decided to form the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas. These are found in the first records of the organization, contained in a large leather-bound volume, and stored in the vault of the, grand lodge temple at Waco. The first record of a state gathering of Masons of Texas reads as follows:
"City of Houston, Dec. 20, 1837, A. L. 5837.-in pursuance to an invitation from Holland Lodge No. 36 of A. F. & A. M., held at the city of Houston, by virtue of a charter from the most worshipful grand lodge of Louisiana , addressed to the different lodges in the Republic of Texas, a convention. of Masons was held in the Senate chamber this day, 3 o'clock p. m.
"On motion, Brother Sam Houston was called to the chair, and Brother Anson Jones was appointed secretary. Delegates presented their credentials and took their seats."
The record shows that the following delegates were present: Holland Lodge No. 36, Houston- Sam Houston, Anson Jones, Jeff Wright and Thomas G. Western. Milam No. 40, Nacogdoches- Thomas J. Rusk, 1. W. Burton, Charles S. Taylor, Adolphus Stern and K. H. Douglas, from McFarland Lodge No. 41, St…Article further mentions: Mr. Winchell , Christopher Dart, A, S. Ruthven and others
No comments:
Post a Comment