Pioneer Sketches
NEBRASKA and TEXAS

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PIONEEKS COMING TO NUCKOLLS COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
lP>ioneer Sketcbes
NEBRASKA and TEXAS

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11 W- SWalevj a
HICO, TEXAS
HICO PRINTING CO.
1015
Ox Team Days  1
Trying Times in 1873  4
Early Days in Nuckolls County  8
Recollections of Pioneer Life  11
Some First Things  15
Reminisences of 1873-4  17
Death of James Parkerson, Aged 118 Years  23
The Famous Dove Creek Fight  25
Murder of Ann Whitney and Amanda Howard's Bravery..36
The Beautiful Steer  43
Interesting Events of Early Days  45
First Wagon Though Town of Indian Gap  47
First Election Held in Bosque County  50
Early Schools of Dublin, Texas  52
Death of Prof. Albert D. Wallace  56

FOREWORD

' This little volume was begun while the compiler was edi
tor of the Nuckolls County Herald, Nelson, Nebraska, in the
spring of 1910, and was reprinted from a series of papers
published in that newspaper. In May of that year, I moved
to Hico, Texas, where I was elected editor of the News-Re
view. After entering my editorial duties in the latter office
I resumed the publication of the sketches, but concerning
Texas history only.
These sketches are not as complete as they might have
been, but are just as the articles appeared in the two above
papers. It was not our intention to make a volume beauti
ful, but merely to record and preserve these items of history
for future generations to read.
If these chapters have entertained you, and incidentially
instructed you, we feel repaid for our efforts. W. STRALEY.
Hico, Texas, October 21, 1915.

I. -ox TEAM DAYS.

N the days prior to the placing of the county seat
of Nuckolls county at Nelson, in fact before Nel
son was even large enough to scarcely be called a
hamlet, there moved to this section from the
eastern part of the state one Joseph VanValin
together with his family, consisting of a wife
and three sons. This was in '73.
Mr. VanValin settled on a tract one mile east
of Nelson, which he put into cultivation.
In those days a house in this section was a luxury enjoy
ed by a few. The dug-out was the usual place of abode,
and in such Mr. VanValin and family continued to reside for
some six years. These dug-out dwellings were not very
substantially built, nor were they as rainproof as the modern
houses which are now our homes. In speaking of those days,
long since past, with the estimable wife of the pioneer, she
laughed at the many "soakings" they received during those
six years, as the scenes of by-gone days passed before her
mind. Every rain played havoc with the dirt roof until fin
ally Mr. Van Valin went to Edgar and procured lumber and
shingles and built a much better roof to his under-j; round
home. In those days horses were scarce, and the hardy pioneer
used oxen in their stead. An ox team now would be an in
teresting and amusing sight to the present inhabitants of
Nelson and vicinity. But in the 70'8 the ox was it. So, of
course, Mr. Van Valin had such a team; one of which was
"muly"— had no horns.

2 pioneer Shetcbes.
During one nice day in the summer of '74 Messrs. Van Va
lin and Byron Adkisson were to work the public road about
two miles west of our present Nelson. On the way as they
passed through the little settlement, Mrs. VanValin accom
panying them, they went to each house and gathered up the
women folks to go along and spend the day with the wife of
Mr. R. M. Grourley, who lived near where tke road work was
to be done.
The entire female population of the little burg were soon
on the ox-wagon excursion— viz: Mesdames Adkisson, Rit-
terbush and Follmer and Miss Josie Adkisson (now the wife
of Judge Hall).
The start was made apd everything was going smoothly
until the team started down the hill near the Gray place a
mile west of Nelson, when something happened. In going-
down hill the oxen tried to hold back, and as the "muly"
one pulled back the absence of the horns let the yoke slip
over his head, which put the party in a very peculiar pre
dicament, and caused the two gentlemen quite a bit of
trouble in getting the ox back in place and moving the wag
on safely down the hill. But all were glad that the acci
dent did not prove disastrous. They continued the journey,
spent an enjoyable day with Mrs. Gourley and in the evening
returned home, each feeling refreshed by the outing and a
chance to enjoy a few hours together socially.
Game was quite plentiful at that time— deer, turkeys,
prairie chickens, quail, etc. One evening Mr. VanValin
while on hia way home passed the place east of town now
owned by Mr. Scherzinger when he saw a number of wild
turkeys alight in a tree, and not having a gun to shoot them
with he proceeded to throw a club at them and succeeded in
knocking one eut, which he secured and took home v^ith him
and on the next day had turkey for dinner.

ptoneer Shetcbes. 3
Now the dug-eut is gone; the game is here no more; and
the oxen has been replaced by the herse and foul smelling
automobile.

FIRST FRAME HOUSE IN NILSON
Caurts*7 Nelson Gazette.

XL— TRYING TIMES IN 1873.
HE following sketch was handed us by Mr. D. W.
Wright of Nelson. He has pictured the experi
ences his father's family underwent in Nuckolls
county in the year 1873. His father, W. B.
Wright, is now living on the old homestead
southeast of Nelson.

"We smarted fiom near Otomway, Iowa, with
a good team of horses and a few cattle, and landed at Beat
rice in the latter part of September, 1872, where we winter
ed, as they said there was nothing to do for a living farther
west. "During our stay in Beatrice, father hauled rock for some
of the best buildings there.
"He paid $300 fer the right of a homestead to C. J. Ja
cobs, Alfred Harsis' father-in-law. Then we traded for two
yoke of oxen to begin life right in the West.
"We arrived at our homestead in Nuckolls county. May
10, 1873. There were ten acres of broken land on the place
and 9x12 'dug-out' on the southeast corner of the tract.
This 'dug-out' had a half windew in the gabled front. There
were six of us in the family, and we had a bed, stove, table
and several boxes in this 9x12 room. Sister and I slept on
the table, and were always sure of our bed being made.
"Father had $7 in money to build and do all the improv
ing with, and with which to keep up a sickly wife and a fam
ily of helpless children.

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pioneer Sftetcbes. 5
"His machinery consisted ef a wagon, breaking plow.
harrow, scythe, axe, hoe and a l|-inch auger.
"Our nearest neighbor on the east was Alfred Harria,
two miles; on the north, Mr. Alender, one and a half miles;
on the west they said twenty miles — but we never saw him.
"We sowed the ten acres in wheat the first year, cut it
with a oradle and threshed it with a fiail.
"Fathep began to break prairie, and soon the plow blade
get dull. He cold-hammered it out on a piece ef railroad
rail about eight inches long for an anvil. This did net do
very well, so he built a furnace out of sod in which to heat
his lays. He used wood instead of coal to heat them with.
His cutter broke and he could not weld it, so he carried it
about twelve miles distant to a man who had a forge and
coal to get it mended.
"We planted some sod corn. Father took the axe and I
the corn; he drove the axe through the sod and I dropped in
the corn, and then another lick with the axe and the seed
was covered.
"When it did not rain enough to fill the ponds (buffalo
wallows) to water the cattle, sister and I drove them
once a day to a pond in a draw two miles east of us, where
there was water. We were afraid and disliked it very much,
but it had to be done. When the wiggle-tails were too
thick to strain out of the water from the little holes in the
draws, father hauled water in a barrel on a sled from Mr.
Alender's. "When we went visiting we rode on a sled. In the
summer-time the wagon-bed was set off on some blocks, as
that was the only means of keeping the clothing dry, as it
had a good cover, and the 'dug-out' leaked— and there was
not room to put the things and live there too,
"Father had to build a house, so during the summer he

6 pioiwer Slietcbes.
cilt logs on the creeks from far and near, as the right
lengths were hard to find. The logs were twenty-eight feet
long and so crobked that when one end was on the wagon
the cither was layingon the ground ^some df them had tobe
swung under the wagon and hauled home in that n.anner.
In the fall we had a log raising. Among those who helped
to raise the house were: Fred and 'Alfred Harris,  . Al
ender, T. J. Hewett, E. L. Downing, and others. Weused
mud 'for mortar to fill the cracks between the logs, an(d
chuncks of wood in the holes formed by'thecrookedtimbers.
The'house was covered with a series df Tibs, over which was
put a layer of willows, which in turn was covered with
grass, then a final covering of earth on top of all— not a
board was used 'in' the entire building. At first we hung up
a piece of old carpet fer a door — the building also had two
half windows. When a door was finally put in, the lumber
and nails came from Sutton, about forty miles distant. The
grass was knee-high under the bed for a year or two, as we
did not get to tramp it off there.
"Father made us a bedstead, split from a log. He made
us shoes out of the tops of old boots which had been brought
along in case of necessity; and the soles were made outof
saddle skirts, as we did not need the saddles— our oxen not
being broke to ride.
"In the summer while we were in the 'dug-out' father
heard a terrible noise which sounded like some one in deep
distress; he went out and listened, and it proved to be a
bunch of Texas cattle* which had stampeded. A man was
on a pony ahead ef the cattle hollowing as loud as he could,
endeavoring to attract the cattle so that he could turn them
to stop--get them to mill, as we say, or come into the back
I These cattle were being herded here at that time.

IPioneer Shetcbes. 7
part of the herd, when they would run in a circle and then
break up. About ninety head lost their horns during the
stampede, caused by striking against one another in the run.
"There were lots of deer and antelope here in those days.
One day mother and ;I-saw animals ^xiomiiig into) our corn so
we took the dog and chased them off; they,proved to be deer.
Father saw a few buffalo. There were lots of paririe chick
ens onlhe^prairie, rbut no quail.
"In'Augiist-the.county wasidefvasted^by.aipraiiiie fire.
"The up-land bay was no vgood, rand what was: secured
had to be cutinthedraws.
"We were ready forwinter in our new home, theiargest
log house in the county, and we thought, itta; mansion— dirt
floor and roof. We had ai cross log ,to iiold .up the long logs
in the roof, the cross logs being about five .feet above the
floor. Tbese cross logs felt many a soft headthat bumped
them. !Ask Will Welch, if he ever felt. the «oft aide. of one
of these logs."

•¦^'«-iS*%-^s,

MM

Nuckolls Cobntt's First Coubt HotrsB,
Courtesy Nelson Gazette.

III.— EARLY DAYS IN JJUCKOLLS COUNTY.
NARRATED BY MR. D. W. SMITH.
SETTLED on a homestead in Nuckolls county,
Nebraska, in April, 1872; my wife* coming to me
six months later. We bore the inconveniences in
cident to pioneer life together, ever striving for
the betterment of our home and community.
Luxuries of life were few.
We saw the buffalo here in 1873.
We broke up the wild prairie; cultivated and
planted with our own hands the first frait tree— watched it
grow until it produced the long-looked for fruit, that we
might eat and enjoy the fruits of our own hands.
We helped to organize and build school houses and
churches in which our children and grand-children could be
educated and taught "the way of Life," that they may be
good and useful citizens of the county and community in
which they live.
We have often asked this question: "Have we done any
good?" Children and grand-children, take a walk with us
over the roads, wade the rivers, walk the streets of our
county seat on the native sod as we did not so many years
ago. Yet, some of us are still here to wal'- with you on
graded roads, cross the rivers over good bridges, and walk
on paved walks in our county seat. "Have we done any

1 Mrs, Smith died at Hastings, Nebraska. February 8, 1910.— Ed,

MB. AND MRS, D, W. SMITH.— Photo by Wbight.

pioneer Shetcbes. 9
goed?" We abide by yeur verdict, for it will not be long
until our stery will pass into the history of the past.
We claim the distinction of being the parents of the first
white children born in Nuckolls county after the organiza
tion. On November 19, 1872, twins were born to us, viz:
Hiram W. Smith and Katy B. (now the wife of Mr. R. F.
Harriett) — all continue to reside in the county.
I am one who voted to locate the county seat at Nelson.
Personally I claim ancestorial pioneer blood— my grand
father was among the first settlers who crossed the Ohio
river where Stubenville now stands, and helped to build the
first stockade there for defense against the Indians. From
there with eighteen other men he migrated to near where
Wooster, in Wayne county, Ohio, now is, and where my
father, John M. Smith, was born in October, 1817. The In
dians were plentiful in those days and had to be watched
closely. Many are the stories of Indian butchery of those
days which have been told me. I was born near Wooster,
June 9, 1844. In 1850, I, with my father's family, removed
to Allen county, Indiana, where on August 9, 1862, I enlist
ed in Company H 89th Indiana Infantry to take a three-year
course in a "military school"— and was tutored in genuine
instead of sham battles.
I have not had any fights with the Indians since coming
to Nebraska, yet they have camped on my farm-here many
times during the early settlement of the county. I am not
a friend t© the Red Man.
I might tell many stories of my camping out on the prai
rie, fording swollen streams, traveling through rain and
snow storms with well auger, and later with corn sheller and
threshing machine.
During the early days here the people were kind and
very hospitable, but often the little shanty would not ac-

10 IMoncer Shetcbes.
commodate all the guests, when they would go te the sheds,
hay and straw stacks and arrange for a night's rest and
sleep as best they could. I will give one such incident. At
one place where we were threshing the crowd was too large
to be accommodated in the shanty for the night, so the good
woman gave us a quilt, which we took and arranged our bed
on top of the threshed grain in a bin which had no roof. We
were awakened in .the night by the flashes of lightning and
peals of thunder, and we had to change beds on short notice
or get a good soaking. As the grain bin and straw stacks
were no safe shelter from such a rain as was approaching,
we took our quilts and got down under the bin, where we
drove out an old sow and her pigs and occupied her bed 'till
morning. But, oh! the fleas! If you want a witness te this
story call on J. L. Denahoo or Ed. LaBounty.

IV.— RECOLLECTIONS OF PIONEER LIFE.
NARRATED BY MRS. ALICE HENBY-SAVIN.
HEN my father, Willis Henby, with his family set
tled in Nuckolls county in 1870 the county was not
organized, and was inhabited by Indians and wild
animals. Our transportation from Iowa was with one
team of horses and one of oxen hitched te emi
grant wagons containing our family and all our
household goods; three good cows were brought
with us.
The first thing in the way of improvements when we
landed on the homestead was the making of a "dug-out"
(that's a house dug in the side of a bank) ; it was 12x16 with
one window and one door; a fire-place was built in one end
with a sod chimney; the floor was of dirt; the roof was cov
ered with poles and brush, then sod and dirt on top. Our
house was comfortable, but very dark when the door was
closed, as the one window was just one sash. We lived in
this house five years, then built a two-story house 18x24,
which looked almost like a mansion in that day. But how
happy we were to get out of the old "dug-out" and live on
top of the ground once moie.
My father went to Blue Springs the first winter we lived
here and traded his ox team for flour and provisions to sup
ply us the first year. Although he needed them to break out
his claim, as oxen were used mostly for that kind of work.

12 pioneer Shetcbes.
but his family had to have bread, and there was no other
way to get it and hold down the homestead.
The first winter we spent here was very mild (no snow)
and our cows lived on the buffalo grass and looked well.
But in the spring, when the wild flowers were in bloom, I
think it was in April, we experienoed a three days' blizzard
that did much damage. All stock that was loose drifted with
the storm and perished, and some were drifted under in
sheds and smothered. We had some young calves, and hav
ing no place of shelter for them, we put them in our covered
wagon and they came through alright.
One incident of that blizzard we have often laughed about,
my father wore a high silk hat (such as they wore at that
time) ; he thought he would see how things were and when
he stuck his head out of the door the wind struck his hat
with such force as to carry it over in Thayer county, where
it was found after the snow went off.
Our greatest dread and fear the flrst year was Indians
and prairie fires.
The Indians had made a raid through this country the
spring before, killing a man living near the Blue river and
took his team, then had a fight with the soldiers half a mile
from our home. The soldiers shot down their own ponies to
make a breast-work for defense during the fight. Of course
the settlers expected the Indians any time the following
spring. Many false ruraors were started about the Indians
coming. An Englishman wbo was getting wood on Spring
creek came rushing in, much excited, and informed us that
the Indians were coming. He said, "Hi knew they weren't
hantalope, for hi see their 'eads!'. But they proved to be
men looking up land. The Indians did not bother us, and all
alarms proved false.
But we did have some experience with prairie fires. Once

MR. AND MES. WILLIS HENBY.— Photo by Wbight.
Mr, Henby died in 1890, aged 78, Mrs. Henby died in 1905, aged 78.

pioneer Shetcbes. 13
they swept Spring creek, burned out our corrals and stam
peded our cattle. Father went to look for them and night
overtook him cauaing him to lose his way and wander around
all night, and morning found him in Kansas, near the White
Rock mounds. He knew where he was then, and returned
home, finding the cattle had come home before him. For
days the timber burning on the creek made it almost suffo
cating for us.
There was much wild game here— buffalo, deer, elk and
antelope. Every spring my father would kill enough buffalo
to supply our summer's meat, which was cured and dried,
and very good, we thought. Through the season we would
often have fresh antelope meat, which tasted something like
mutton. Elk and deer were somewhat scarce at times.
My brother. Will, caught a young antelope in the grass,
where it had been hid by its mother, and was just a few
days old; we made a pet of it— called him "Bob." He soon
learned his name, and would drink milk frem our hands.
This animal was a beauty, but when his antlers grew he
proved worse than a "billy goat" to butt, and the only way
we could get rid of his charges on us was to set the dogs aft
er him; no dog could catch him, but he would give them 1
merry chase. He got so he would run away and people
would shoot at him, and caused us so much trouble that
brother sold him.
Onee when my brother, Oscar, and I were herding the
cattle we heard a rumbling noise that sounded like distant
thunder. In a moment we knew what it was. I said, "Let's
run for home;" but he (boylike) said, "No, let's hide be
hind a hill and see them!" It was a bunch of nine buffalo,
bellowing and pawing the earth, for they were closely pur
sued by hunters, and some of them were wounded. We did
not realize the danger we were in at the time, because if the

14 pioneer Shetcbes.
buffalo had scented us there would have been no one left to
tell this story.
Our first Sunday schools were held from house te house,
and although some had to walk or drive oxen they would go
for miles to attend and have a social time together.
Thera was no preaching for several years.
Our nearest railroad station was Nebraska City, 150 miles
away. Our postoffioe was Hebron, 20 miles distant, where we got
our mail once a week.
The first wheat we raised we took to a flouring mill in
Jefferson county, some 35 miles distant It took three days
to make the round trip. Once we got out of breadstuff be
fore father could make the trip, so we used potatoes instead.
The first school I attended in Nebiaska was in a little
10x12 "dug-out" with rude benches for seats. We fumish
ed our own books; and there were three pupils in attendance.
We had a spelling school one night. My! what a grand af
fair we thought it. People came for miles; one family
walked five miles and back that night. Everyone took part
in the spelling match. That seemed to be a beginning of in
terest along educational lines.
I might tell of hardships and privations we met from
grasshoppers, hailstorms and drouths, but my story is long
enough, so I will leave that for others to tell.

MR AND MRS. •lO.'SEPH VAN VALIN.— PHOTO BY Weight.
Mr. VanValin died in 19U6, aged B9.

v.— SOME FIRST THINGS.
NARRATED BY MRS. JOSEPH VANVALIN.
E came tu Saunders county, Nebraska, in 1871,
and removed to Nuckolls county in September,
1873; making the trip overland with two wagons,
one being drawn by oxen; was eight days on the
road. Mr. VanValin had been here during the sum
mer breaking and planting the ground to sod
com. The next year he planted wheat and corn.
The wheat was seourely stacked when the grasshoppers
came and deliberately robbed us of every bit of cem and
garden truck, except parts of aeveral cabbage heads, which,
after considering my safety to venture forth into such an
army, I gathered a wash boiler full of the remains of the
garden. Frank Thompson stated that one of the big grasshoppers
had the audacity to ask him for a chew of tobacco. They
certainly were saucy enough to do anything.
The school house in District No. 14, two miles east of
Nelson, was built that fall, and the first teacher was Miss
Ola Carion, afterwards Mrs. Ethan Parker, who is well
known here by the older citizens.
The first church building was erected by the members of
different denominations, but owned by the so-called Chris
tian church.

i6 pioneer Shetcbes.
It is interesting to settle on the frontier and watch the
progress and development in the different stages.
What we considered the greatest thing with which we
had to contend was the prairie fires.
Despite the struggles and privations there were pleasures
on every hand, if we would but look on the bright side.
F. A. Long conducted the first hotel in Nelson.
The first newspaper. The Inter Ocean, was established by
Dr. Case, assisted by a young man named Oakey Mamey.
Dr. Case was Nelson's first physician.
The first legal light was Dan Barker.

NUCKOLLS COUNTY COURT HOUSE.

D. W. \\ RIGHT

VL— REMINISENCES OF 1873-4.
NARRATED BY MR. D, W. WRIGHT.
URING one cold night in the winter ef 1873-4 the
squall of a chicken woke father, and he yelled so
loud that the wolf which was after the chicken
left it. But in a short time the animal tried to
get the fowl again, and Dnce more father yelled,
which caused the intruder to leave. The fowl was
found next morning to be unharmed. For some
reason the dog was net at home.
During this winter we dug a well. It was 63 feet deep
and was walled up with stone for about 15 feet, and was
never walled any farther. This well did not cave so long as
the water was kept from running in at the top. We drew
the water with a windless, which was used to take out the
dirt while digging the well, and was a rather slow process.
But sister and I could draw the water by having a handle at
each end of the rope beam. The first summer this well was
in use we kept it covered with boards — the sideboards off
the wagon. At one time a sow with her pigs were in the
yard, and while the dog was chasing her away she ran
across ore end of the boards titlting up the other end under
which one of the little pigs ran into the well. We heard
the splash. The little fellow swam around until we got the
half barrel, which had been used to haul the dirt up in,
whieh we lowered into the water and the pig swam into the
tub and was hoisted out unhurt, after a fall of 63 feet. It

i8 pioneer Shetcbes.
was a happy pig, and glad to get back to its mamma. This
well was also used as a refrigerator in which we kept our
butter firm and cool— by lowering the pail containing the
Ciikes down quite a distance attached to a cord.
We lost the best yoke of oxen we had during the winter.
They were of the long horn Texas variety. They threw
themselves one night, and beooming chilled their legs were
soon frozen, and they would not try to get up. These ani
mals were brown and each had a set of horns which meas
ured some four feet from tip to tip. I used to feel very
small when they would stick up their heads and look wild
like at me. I could not do anything with them unless they
were yoked up, as they were not very tame.
We had the native yoke of cattle left, but they were old.
We put in our crop of corn and began to break out more
land. In the summer we could see he grasshoppers flying
north, and they were so thick that a person could look at the
sun at noonday without dazzlin? the eyes.
Our corn was a little late, and one afternoon about four
o'clock the 'hoppers began to light in on us from the north,
and in half an hour the y?.rd was completely covered with
them, as also was the corn. They made a roaring noise in
eating the corn plants. The next day there wasn't a blade
left. The garden was eaten up too— nothing but the holes
where the turnips and onions were planted were lelt.
We had no wheat that year; but those who did bad a good
crop. We planted squash when we planted the corn, and the
gra.'^shoppers almcst destroyed the vin« s, but after the 'hop
pers left we were blessed with several good rains, and the
vines began to bloom nicely and finally made a gocd yield.

pioneer Shetcbes. 19
We put th« squashes away in a dug-out for winter; father
also sold $25 worth at 10 cents each.
We did not have butter to put on our squash, as we had
no feed to keep the cattle up. So father thought the cows
would do butter to let them go through the winter without
giving milk, and they were turned dry in the fall — conse
quently we had neither butter or milk. To our surprise the
cattle kept fat all winter from running on the buffalo grass
on the prairies. When there was no snow on the ground the
stock would go out and pick the buffalo grass like it was
summer — they would not eat nice bright hay when they
could get the buffalo grass— and there was plenty of it, as
the upland had very little of any other kind.
During the fall we had to butcher the two or three hogs
we had to keep them from starving to death, and they were
so poor that they did not contain grease enough to fry them
selves in.
Other states sent aid to this section during the winter.
Our distributing point was Edgar. Father would go after a
load early "in the morning and make the trip in a day. He
would start from Edgar with 2000 pounds of supplies, and by
the time he reached home he had made a trip of about 40
miles, and they would set him out a 50ft) sack of corn meal
for his day's work. We had to sift out the mouse nests
from some of it before we could eat. We alway had plenty
of such as it was to 1. eep from starving, but it was corn-
bread seven days in the week. We often had callers who
who were as hungry as we to share the cornbread with, but
had nothing with which to pay for what they ate, yet no one
was turned away hungry or refused a night's lodging; ev
ery man was a brother whether we had ever seen him be
fore or not.
Father tr^ided a neckyoke to a neighbor for a bushel of

30 pioneer Shetcbes.
potatoes. Mother would boil one or two for the younger
children, and the older ones would eat the pealings; this
would make mother cry, but we did not know we were hurt
ing ber feelings by potato pealings.
Sometime in the latter part of the winter or early spring
father traded his oxen and wagon for a team of horses and
and wagon— just changed drivers.
The nearest grist mill was at Hebron, thirty miles away.
We had no corn or oats with which to feed the horses, so
we got some wheat through the "aid," which we boiled and
gave to each animal a quart at a feed, and they did nicely on
this ration. Today, what could we do with one small team
for breaking prairie and raising a crop? Then, in a short
time, we traded for a span of small mules, but they had
been overheat and when warm weather came were not much
force; these we traded for another team of horses, one of
which was said to be balky, but we never saw him balk—
these animals were small, in fact most all the horses here at
that time were small; I do not remember seeing a team that
would weigh over 1200.
The grasshoppers had laid their eggs in the sod in the
fall, and during a warm spell of weather the following
spring they hatched out, and then we had about throe weeks
of oold, chilly, rainy weather which caused the 'hoppers to
perish. During that time father was setting back the sod,
and the young 'hoppers would get into the furrow for shel
ter and by the time the team came around in plowing the
'hoppers were so thick they would cause the horses to slip.
If they had been full grown they would have filled the fur
row. In the winter we placed a pod of the eggs on a fire-
shovel and then poured boiling water on the eggs, and. in
stead of cooking them, in five minutes we had a full-formed
'hopper in each egg.

a'^.

w

W. B, WRIGHT.

pioneer Shetcbes. 21
During the first year we were here Indian relics were so
eemmon we did not take any notice of them. We found lots
of arrew-heads and stones for grinding food; we also found
brass rings, buckels, a canteen, arrow-points and empty
cartridge hulls around the carcass' of the buffalo; in those
days many deer and elk horns were quite plentiful, which
today would be valuable as relics, but we never thought of
laving them, and they lay around the house until lost or
picked up by people visiting from other states.
The first five years, from '73 to '78, were the trying
times. We never heard a sermon for four years, and had
no Bible schools until years after. You look at this country
now and see the wealth and everything civilization brings,
but you can never realize the cost of it all to the pioneer. I
feel like taking off my hat when I meet these old men of
courage who had hearts of steel, and who always gave a
warm welcome to the stranger in need of food or shelter. In
these men and women still is found the greatest hospitality
today. There are very few exceptions to these principles of
the pioneer life. We cannot show to high appreciation for
what they have done for us.

JAMES PARKERSON

DEATH OF JAMES PARKERSON, AGED 118 YEARS.i

WE are called upon this week to chronicle an event
which very seldom falls to the lot of the average
editor — publish the obituary pf a citizen who has
lived one full century and in part of two others;
but such is our duty today. The town was shock
ed when word went out that the oldest citizen of
the city had "crossed over the riyer," and the news was
received with much regret.
James Parkerson was born in the State of Tennessee,
October 22, 1793, and died in Hico, Texas, November 17,
1911, at the advance age of 118 years, 1 month and 26 days.
His faithful companion, who is past 92 years of age, was
with him at the time his spirit took its departure.
The funeral was conducted at the residence at 1 o'clock
Saturday afternoon, Rev. Britton Ross, pastor of the Bap
tist church, performing the last sad rites. Interment was
made in the Hico cemetery.
We deem 'it a privilege to have known a man who had
such vitality and vim to master Old Father Time as did
this man, but regret that we have not taken the opportui-
ties to learn some of his interesting history. However,
through the kindness of Mr. G. Fisk, editor of the Cisco
Bound-Up, we are permitted to reprint the following
sketch which appeared in a special edition of that excellent

1 Reprinted {rom The Hicso (Teza.s) News-Keview, date of November 24, 101 1,

24 pioneer Shetcbes.
paper issued some two years ago, at which time Mr. Park
erson was a resident of Cisco:
James Parkerson, living near Cisco, is said to be the
oldest man living. He was bora on the 22nd day of Octo
ber, 1793, in the State of Tennessee. He has lived in three
centuries, and has fought in every one of our country's
wars since 1812. As shown by government and veteran
pension rolls he served in the Black Hawk war, Mexican
war and the Texas Independence war, and draws a pen
sion, $16.00 per month, from the Black Hawk war. He was
with Hickory Jackson in his wars and in the New Orleans
battle. He lived in Eastland county before the war, on
the Leon. Being a Confederate soldier he attends the
Eastland county reunion, and is sure from year to year
that he will attend the next meeting. He is the father of
eight children, has thirty grand-children living, and he
does not know how many great-grand-children. His sec
ond wife, now ninety years old, is still living. Two of his
sisters, each over one hundred years old, live in Fort
Smith, Arkansas. It is remarkable to say he has never
worn glasses, can read without them. Having used tobac
co for about twenty years, he is not a slave to it. Over fif
ty years ago he joined the Baptist church and has lived
the consistant life of a christian ever since. Very few of
his teeth have been given to the dentist, and his hair is on
ly medium grey. Has a heavy beard, is quite erect in fig
ure, walks with a cane, and it takes a young man to keep
apace with him. In conversation with him as to how he
had fared through life, he said he had been hungry many
times, living on pop corn for a week at a time, but at the
hard intervals in life he gave very little thought to some
thing for himself, it was always for others. After a con
versation with him it should make the young of today take
on new aspirations, and strive to live as long as this old
man has, and at his extreme age be as active.

THB FAMOUS DOVE CREEK FIGHT.'

THROUGH the courtesy of some of the few surviv
ors of the famous Dove Creek fight, we give be
low a sketch of the marches and history of the
fight from the time march was taken up until it
ended. Mr. George Scrutchfield of Clifton has furn
ished us with data taken from the diary of his father, the
late Judge Scrutchfiield, who was a member of the party.
Judge Scrutchfield kept tab on the dates and many inter
esting incidents that the students of today have not heard
of, and which are not only a part of the history of Texa.s,
but are interesting to read.
There are only six survivors of this fight that are now
living in Comanche county, these being Jack Wright, John
Anderson, George Jaynes, Aaron Cunningham, Dave Cun
ningham, Dick Cunningham.
We are pleased to be able to give our readers an ac
count of this expedition, which was the biggest Indian
fight that ever took place in Texas, and while not written
in the Texas histories, it was a turning point in her his
tory. Without the Dove Creek fight Texas' history would
no doubt have been different from what has been recorded.
The following is taken from the diary of Judge Scrutch
field: "Friday, Dec. 16, 1864. Order came for the militia to

1 Reprinted trom The Comancbe (Texas) Chief, date of November 25, 1911,

2G pioneer Shetcbes.
meet at Meridian on the 18th. Capt. Gillintine had dis
covered a camp and trail of Indians on the Clear Pork of
the Brazos, 35 miles above Port Phantom Hill. Capt. Tot-
ton and I started to Waco in the evening and rode until
late in the night.
"Dec. 17. We got to Waco, bought 6,000 caps, got four
Tonks for trailers. Captain left that night for home. I
stayed. "Dec. 18. Came home with the Indians.
"Dec. 19. Reached Meridian at 9 o'clock in the night
in the rain.
"Dec. 20. Reached Wiley's store in the snow.
"Dec. 21. Reached Stephenville. Snow deep.
"Dec. 22. Camped 6 miles above Stephenville.
"Dec. 23. Marched to Jamison's Peak and camped,
horses stampeded in the night.
"Dec. 24. Stayed in camp all day. Huntea horses.
"Dec. 25. Marched all day; camped above Planigan's
ranch. "Dec. 26. Reacted Camp Salmon. Company organiz
ed. Whole strength, 500 men.
"Dec. 27. Marched all day and camped at night in
mesquite flat on Hubbard's Creek.
"Dec. 28. Left camp in the evening and maiched five
miles and camped.
"Dec. 29. Marched three miles and camped.
"Dec. 80. March all day. Camp on the Clear Pork.
No grass. Very cold.
"Dec. 31. March half day to grass. Kill several buf
faloes. "Jan. 1, 1865. Marched to Elm Creek, close to Indian
trail. Camped and killed several buffaloes in the evening.

pioneer Shetcbes. 27
"Jan. 2. Marched to Little Elm Creek on the trail.
Went out in the evening and killed a buffalo. Saw the
Double Mountains, high topped hills on the head of the
Brazos. "Jan. 3. March on trail to head ot Elm Creek and
camp in a flat.
"Jan. 4. March on trail to Oak Creek.
"Jan. 5. Reached the Colorado.
"Jan. 6. (Manuscript to dim to decipher.)
"Jan. 7. Camped on the Concho. At 9 o'clock expiess
came from Capt. Possett that the Indians' camp was dis
covered 35 miles distant. In saddle in ten minutes. March
until 2 o'clock. Halt, form a line and issue caps. March
on until day the Sth, dismount, load guns, mount and ride
on across Spring Creek. .Join Possett with 200 men.
Made the attack. Got whipped. Twenty men killed and
25 wounded. Pell back fi miles to Spring Creek, a running
creek. "Jan. 9. Stayed in camp; snow 15 inches deep.
"Jan. 10. Marched down the Concho carrying the
wounded on litters — snow deep — starvation in the camp.
Camped on the Concho.
"Jan. 11. March all day.
"Jan. 12. Stayed in camp and sold the Tndian horses.
Two men dead; still carrying corpses on litters.
"Jan. 13. March all day and camp at night in the bed
of a creek.
"Jan. 14. Reach settlement on the Concho.
"Jan. 15. Bury the dead and cross Colorado River and
camp on Elm Creek.
"Jan. 16. Camp on Muke Water.
"Jan. 17. Cross Pecan Ba5'OU.

28 pioneer Shetcbes.
"Jan. 18. Cross the mountains.
"Jan. 19. Cross the Leon.
"Jan. 20. Reach Mills Creek.
"Jan. 21. Reach home."

The following was told to us by Uncle John Anderson,
who is well known to the people ot Comanche, and who
has displayed his wonderful memory in giving the sketch
as he has, which follows:
"James H. Mabry and Capt. Gillintine are buried one
mile above the mouth of the Concho, at Bruce McCain's.
After the battle was over we marched to the mouth of the
Concho, where we pitched camp. I was acquainted with
Bruce McCain, and I wern. to him and asked if he would let
us have some lumber to make coffins for our comrades; he
stated that he would let us have the lumber, but that he
would have to take it from the walls of his house, which he
did. He tore a petition from the house to furnish us the
lumber to bury the two dead.
"Gillintine was killed in the Dove Creek fight. He,
Capt. Cunningham and myself were behind a second bank,
side by side loading our guns, and Gillintine walked be
hind us and said he was going to get upon the bank and
said he was going to get a shot at the Indians. We tried
to get him not to do it, that he would get killed, and he
said he was going to try one shot. He got up there and
walked about one step and his gun fired. He turned and
handed his gun to me, and I asked him if he was hurt, and
he said: 'John, I am a dead man.' I let him down. I took
his gun and let the hammer down and started with him and

pioneer Shetcbes. 29
met some of his men and turned him over to them, and I
went back to where Capt. Cunningham was, and he had
moved, and they all commenced falling back into the val
ley. "We were then right in range of the Indians, and I told
Scrutchfield that there was no use for us to sit there in line
as targets for those Indians. They had long-range guns
and overshot us was all that saved us. He said: 'I won't
move without Capt. Cunningham moves.' I said: 'I will
see the Captain,' and I went and told him how the thing
was. He said: 'Totton will rally the men, I never will.'
And some of the men spoke up and said: 'We had better
get away from here;' and Ike Richardson came along and
said: 'John, I want a drink,' and I said: 'I do, too.' I
sent my canteen to Mabry and we started up the creek, and
I cast my eyes into the thicket to our left and told Ike to
look into that thicket. When he did, he turned to me and
said: 'Ha! hal I don't want any water either.' And we
didn't go on after the water. We went on up on the hill
and there were eight or ten boys stopped, and it was right
from there that I killed two Indians, and I think I killed
tne one that had killed Noah Bibles.
"Capt. Gillintine died Monday evening just as the sun
went down. Sam Burnes was left in the thicket. They
went back later and got him and buried him. A number
were sent back to the battle fleld the next day to bury the
dead that he had left. Among these I remember, Ike
Richardson, who afterward died at Hamilton; Daye Smith,
who was once sheriff of Hamilton, and who died there; Bill
Poole of Palls county and Jim McCabe, Capt. Totten,
probably Sam Powers, and several others I cannot recall.
I met them as they reached the top of the hill, and Totten

30 pioneer Shetcbes.
asked me if I wanted to go with them. I told him I would
if there was no more running, and he stated there would
positively be no running this time. And I went. The dead
were buried on the Concho river just about one mile above
where it runs into the Colorado river.
"George Jaynes, who now resides in Comanche, was
cut off from the crowd by the Indians, and left on the bat
tle fleld, though not wounded. I met John Jaynes going
back to hunt him that evening, and I told him that George
was not killed. He slipped into camp after dark that
night. He said the Indians were packing up to leave when
be left there.
"Some have the mistaken idea that Capt. Totten was a
stranger in this county at the time of this expedition, and
that he was a coward. I was with him during the march
and in the battle, and no braver man has ever faced the
enemy upon any battle field. I had known Capt. Totten
several years before this time, he having been one of the
boys of this country. He did not know the meaning of the
word surrender, and, in fact, was too determined in the
fight. While he was a modest man and had plenty of
friends, he believed that he was fighting for his triends and
his country, and was a stayer all the way through. Aiter
the war he went to Brazil, and I understand that since that
time he came back and went to Illinois. I do not know
whether he is still living."

Uncle Dave Cunningham, who needs no introduction to
you, shows a remarkable recollection in the following his
tory of this fight; his account parallels the two preceeding,
and is as follows:
'"In December, 1864, Capt. Gillintine, Erath county,

pioneer Shetcbes. 3i
with a scout of rangers, while on the upper Brazos discov
ered a large Indian trail leading off in a southwesterly di
rection. He followed the trail until he satisfied himself
that they were too strong for his small force, and also that
their presence in the country, he believed, meant disturb
ance and trouble. He immediately gave the alarm
throughout the settlements, and all the available force in
the counties of Erath, Johnson, Bosque, Coryell, Hamilton,
Comanche, Brown and Coleman were mustered with orders
to meet at Camp Selman on Deep Creek, now in Stephens
county. "When Capt. Gillintine returned home he dispatched
word to Capt. Barry, who at the time was on the frontier
with troops. Barry forthwith sent a squad of his men in
to the Colorado country to watch the movement of the In
dians until Gillentine could get his force ready, which took
several days. We started from Comanche on the 21st of
December with forty men under command of James Cun
ningham, with Lieut. J. A. Wright and Jessie Greene, and
succeeded in reaching Camp Selman three or four days
later, where reinforcements from the several counties be
fore mentioned rallied. Our force numbered about four
hundred strong. With Capt. Totten in command, we re
sumed our march. We struck the trail on the Clear Pork
of the Brazos. It lead in a southwesterly direction and
crossed the Colorado about where Colorado City is now
located, thence to the North Concho.
"After several days travel, and when in camp on North
Concho, one night about 9 o'clock a courier rode in from
Barry's men who were under command of Barry's men who
were under command of Capt. Possett, and reported that
the Indians were encamped on Dove Creek about forty

;j2 pioneer Shetcbes..
miles distance. Orders were given to saddle at once. A
detail was ordered to take care of the pack mules and to
follow on the next morning. Possett sent word for us to
be there two hours by sun or we would be too late for the
fight. A forced march all night, facing the coldest south
wind that mortal man ever experienced, brought us to the
place where Barry's men were camped about 8 o'clock on
the morning of January 8, 1865.
"On our arrival we found Possett's command located
and secreted in a clump of timber, within a mile and a half
of the Indians' camp. A war council was held by our of
ficers and the plan of attack quickly agreed upon. The In
dian encampment was on a creek and was about three
quarters of a mile in extent. The plan agreed upon was
that Possett should attack on the west or upper encamp
ment, and Totten the lower or eastern division. All
things in readiness, with about five hundred men, the at
tack was made, and Possett captured between six hundred
and a thousand horses upon his first charge into the Indi
ans' camp, and detailed a few of his men to hold them in
the valley until the fight was over. But the fight was not
over as soon as the captain supposed it would be, for in
his first charge he lost several men, killed and wounded,
together with several horses. In fact, the fight was so hot
that Capt. Possett had to retreat. He took a position on
a hill, but the Indians soon made him leave. All this time
Capt. Totten's men were fighting down the creek, but to
little purpose, as the Indians being well fortified in a
dense thicket, we had to dismount and leave our horses
some distance north of the Indians' encampment and wade
Dove Creek, which was from knee to waist deep, to get at
the Indians. This we did several times, and in conse-

pioneer Shetcbes. 33
quence suffered great loss, as we were laboring under great
disadvantages. "On account of this the men bceame very much dis
couraged and a stampede was imminent.
"Capt. Possett was completely cut ofl from us. We
had lost heavily. The Indians had recaptured their horses.
It was thought best to retreat, which we did. But it was
a hard matter to make us do so in order, Capt. Cunning
ham's company bring up the rear of the retreat.
"Dr. Bateman took position on a little mountain north
of the Indians' encampment so he could receive and care
for the wounded men as they fell back to the rear, which
he did with promptness. He said he fought five hours and
thirty minutes before the retreat commenced. While we
were retreating, the Indians flanked us on both sides and
came up in the rear. They used long range guns and kill
ed several of our men on the retreat. After traveling
about one mile, we halted and made another fight, and
drove the Indians back to their camp, this being the last
attack made by Totten's men.
"All this time Capt. Possett was fighting on the creek
above (or west) of us. We then moved north to Spring
Creek, carrying our wounded on blankets and horses as
best we could. We struck camp about sunset. Capt. Pos
sett fought in self defense nearly all day. He was cut off
from Totten's command early in the engagement and never
saw any chance to join us during the day. Possett came
into our camp between sundown and dark, with his men
terribly cut up. They had fought like demons all day.
"After we were all in camp, an examination showed
that we had lost and left twenty-six killed on the battle
ground, and sixty wounded, of which several died after-

?A pioneer Shetcbes.
wards. We lost sixty or seventy horses killed and disabl
ed in the fight.
"Jusl after dark it set in to snowing and snowed all
night. The following morning the ground was covered
from a depth of one to three feet with the fieecy covering.
Our pack mules were completely cut off from us by the
storm. We were out of provisions and started to travel,
but the snow was so deep we could not, so we had to re
turn to our camp-fires and await the melting of ihe snow.
We had nothing to subsist on but horse meat. Our pack
had some provisions, but were completely hemmed in by
storm some thirty miles distant. After the snow had melt
ed a little, we moved down the Concho as best we could,
carrying our wounded on litters made of two poles strap
ped to two mules or horses. About the third day we inter
cepted our pack mules. They had enough provisions to
give us a fine supper.
"While we were in the Colorado country it was thought
best to have some beeves, and a detail was made to go to
the nearest cattle and follow on. Rev. S. H. Powers was
put in command of the detail for that purpose. He went
and procured the beeves and followed on until the snow
storm, which obliterated our trail until he too, as the pack
mules did, had to take his own course. But luck was on
our side. The beef men struck our trail after the snow
storm and followed on until they overtook us, which was
about three days. They secured eighteen or twenty
beeves which were killed, and the most of tbem eaten that
night. "The next day we marched on down the Concho, reach
ing Chism ranch about two days later. There we obtained
some provisions and camped that night.

pioneer Shetcbes. 35
"The following day Capt. Totten with about fifty men
went back to the battle-grounds, gathered up the dead and
buried them the best they could.
"The night after the battle the Indians built fires all
over the encampment, packed up and started across the
staked plains in the worst snow storm that we have any
history of in this part of Texas. They must have suffered
terribly with cold, as I learned afterwards that the loss
they sustained in the fight and their travel across the
plains that night was seventy or eighty; our loss being, as
before stated, twenty-six left on the battle-field, several
dying afterwards.
"We captured about seventy-flve head of horses. The
four Tonkawa Indians, that we Lad with us, deserve the
credit for this, for when they saw that it was a bad flght,
they gathered the stock and pushed for the pack mules.
"We made our way home from the Chism ranch at the
mouth of the Concho River as best we could, gathering up
just such provision as we could get.
"Thus the Dove Creek expedition and fight was ended.
"The battle was fought on the Sth day of January, 1865,
between five hundred Texas Rangers and fifteen hundred
or two thousand Indian warriors, on the lonely plains
south of Dove Creek, and on this battle-ground lie the re
mains of twenty noble braves, there to await the call of
the Master at the resurrection."

MURDER OP ANN WHITNEY AND AMANDA HOW
ARD'S BRAVERY. 1
BY CAPT. A. J. SOWELL, AN EX-RANGER.

T

HERE stood (in 1867) on tbe south bank of the Leon
river in Hamilton county, a small log school
house. A beautiful valley three-quarters of a
mile wide and one and one-half miles long spread
out in front — free from obstruction to view. This
was called "Worlene Valley." The Howards liv
ed half a mile west and John Baggott half a mile east of
the school house. Ezekiel Manning and Alexander Powers
lived one and a half miles south, but behind a hill. The
Massengills, Gamxs, Strangelines, Cole Kuykendall and
James Kuykendall lived up the river within two miles. J.
B. Hendrix and sons, Crockett and Abe, lived two miles
below the river. Judge D. 0. Snow and Nel Livingston,
three and four miles down stream. The town of Hamilton
was six miles southwest of the school house.
At the time the incident related here took place. Miss
Ann Whitney was teaching in this border school. It was
on Thursday. 2 p. m., July 11, 1867. The logs of the school
house were unhewn and the spaces between were left open

1 This account of the heroic death of Miss Whitney, written by Capt, A.J.Sowell,
appeared in the Houston Post sevei-al years ago. In I90S it was republished In the Ham
ilton I-iustler and some years later was again reproduced in the Hamilton Herald at the
request ot L,. \'". Manning, a citizen of Hamilton county, who was one ol the pupils in
Miss Whitney's school when his teacher was so crueUy murdered by Indians. We re
produce the story from The El Paso Morning Times. February 29. 1912.

pioneer Shetcbes. 37
so that it was an easy matter for any one outside to see
the inside of the building and to shoot at any one there if
they wished to. There was a small window cut in the north
side, and this was without a shutter. Olivia Barbee, about
12 years old, daughter of John Barbee, who lived north
east, about ten or twelve miles, was boarding in the neigh
borhood. Her father was a stockman and was expected to
come after her that week while out stock hunting.
On this day at the hour mentioned, a daughter of Alex
ander Powers was at the door, which was on the south side
of the house, overlooking the valley, While there she dis
covered a party of men on horseback, rapidly approach
ing, and was almost certain they were Indians. Miss
Whitney seeing her standing at the door and looking so
steadily, ask her what she saw. The reply was that she
was looking at some mounted men in the valley who were
coming toward the school house and she thought they were
Indians. The school mistress told her to come away and
be seated, and not to be so foolish as to talk about Indi
ans, as the men were cow hunters.
Miss Whitney believed that it was Mr. Bagbee and oth
ers and did not look to see anything about them. The Pow
ers girl, however, was still uneasy and soon went to the
door again and took another look, crying out as she did so:
"They are Indians," and running back, took her brother by
the hand and getting out of the window, ran away. Miss
Whitney then went to the door and after seeing the men
told her children they were Indians and that they were
taking Mary. Mary was the name of a flne saddle animal,
the pet and property of Miss Whitney. She often made
the remark, "If the Indians ever take Mary I want them to
taKe me too."

38 pioneer Shetcbes.
When she became satisfied who the men were, she sJtiut
the door and told the children to escape by the window, so
the Indians could not see them as they were coming up in
front. All did this except Mary Jane, a daughter of Ezek
iel Manning, who was sick, and two small sons and a little
daughter of James M. Kuykendall. Miss Whitney was
very large and fleshy, weighing about 230 pounds, and
could neither get out of the window or hope to escape by
running out. at the door.
Many of the children, instead of seeking safety in the
distance, crawled under the house, and there witnessed
the terrible scene which was enacted in the buiMing. The
Indians soon surrounded the house and many ugly faces
were seen at the cracks between the logs. One fellow in
dulged in a few oaths in broken English.
Reading her doom in the blood-thirsty looks of the sav
ages, Miss Whitney's thoughts turned to the little ones
that were in her care and addressing the Indian who had
spoken the words in English, begged him to let her death
satisfy them and permit the children to go unharmed.
The Indian addressed, held up three flngers to the bal
ance and they commenced shooting between the logs.
The sick little Manning girl clung to the skirts of her
teacher's dress, as arrow after arrow struck her, until her
life blood began to pour upon the floor and run through
upon those under it. Miss Whitney walked from side to
side of the room, marking every footstep with blood, and
all the time entreating for the lives of the children.
The Indians finally came in front and commenced break
ing in the door and Miss Whitney, although reeling and
staggeiing in death, assisted the two little girls in getting
out of the window, but Miss Kuykendall received an arrow

pioneer Shetcbes, 39
in the back as she went through, by an Indian who had at
that time entered. This left the teacher and the two Kuy
kendall boys in the house and another Indian entered to
complete the work, but too late to do any further harm to
the young woman. She was gasping- her last, meeting
death, heroically.
The Indian who could speak English was now called
and when he entered asked the two boys if they wished to
go with them. One, in his fright, said "yes" and the other
said "no." Strange to say, the one who said "no," was
rudely pushed down on a seat and left in the house, while
the other was taken out placed on a horse and carried
away. This was John Kuykendall.
In the meantime one of the redskins called into the
house had discovered some of the children under the floor
and had pulled OliTia Barbee out and was putting her up
behind him when summoned to speak to the boys. This
circumstance saved her from death or captivity for when
the Indians left her she ran away and gained the woods. On
the following day she was found by John MassengUl, but
the poor child was crazed with fright, and ran, so that he
had to chase and run her down before bringing her in. She,
however, soon recovered.
About the time the Indians made the attack on the
school house two women rode into the valley from the
south. They were Miss Amanda Howard and Mrs. Sarah
Howard, the latter being the wife of Voley Howard, Miss
Amanda's brother. They saw the Indians at the school
house and at flrst took them to be cow hunters. They were
discovered by the Indians before they had ridden far up the
valley and two of them rode to meet them.
Fortunately the ladies soon saw their mistake and turn-

40 pioneer Shetcbes.
ed to the house of Mr. Baggett, toward the east which was
nearer than their own home on the west side, the Indians
coming in hot pursuit of them. Miss Howard had some dif
ficulty in turning and starting her young horse, but when
she had succeeded in doing so, the Indians were close upon
her. She, however, was a brave young lady and never
once lost her presence of mind.
Plying the whip vigorously, she dashed away from her
pursuers and headed straight for Baggett's fence, determ
ined to make her horse leap it if she could. Por this pur
pose she lashed him furiously, and he cleared it at a single
bound, carrying his burden to safety in Baggett's house.
Mrs. Sarah Howard did not fare so well; her horse shied
and turned suddenly to one side just as the fence was
reached. She was thrown headlong over the fence and the
Indians got her horse. However, she was not badly hurt,
and springing to her feet, also escaped to Mr. Baggett's
home. While Miss Whitney was being killed at the school
house and the other two women pursued, Mr. Strangeline
entered at the west end of the valley at the Howard place
and had proceeded about half way across the valley when
he was attacked by some of the Indians who were leaving.
Mr. Strangeline was moving and had his family with him.
He was killed but not scalped. His wife and two children
were wounded.
About this time Miss Amanda Howard, seeing what was
going on, formed the bold design to warn the settlers of
the presence of the Indians. To do this she would have to
ride in the direction of the Indians and outride them in get
ting to the road that crossed the high hill to the south that
led to the other settlement. Having determined upon this.

pioneer Shetcbes. 41
she mounted her half wild steed and commenced her dan
gerous ride.
Dashing furiously at the fence she again cleared it, and
putting the whip to her horse, she urged him to his best
steed. Miss Howard was well started before the Indians
discovered what her aim was, and when they did, they left
off the attack upon Strangeline's family and rushed at full
speed to head off the young woman. Miss Howard's mis
sion was an heroic undertaking for any man to attempt,
even a fearless Texas ranger, on a fast and well trained
horse. She was riding into the very jaws of death, with
out a weapon of defense, depending on her skill alone in
managing an unbroken horse, not bridle-wise, and the
speed that she might be able to get out of him to carry the
news to distant settlements of the fearful scenes enacted
in the valley. Happily, she won the race a few rods and
swept past the Indians, gaining the road and turning east;
while the Indians hurriedly turned west and left the valley,
carrying the Kuykendall boy with them.
The daring of Miss Howard, a beautiful and intelligent
young woman, scarcely seventeen years of age, no doubt
saved many lives. Her first act, when she made the horse
leap the fence to gain Baggett's house, drew the Indians
away from the school house, and when she made the run
to reach the road, so as to carry the news out of the val
ley, she drew them away from the Strangelines, and once
more from the school house. All hail the name of Miss
Amanda Howard, and may her memory ever be kept green
in the minds of her countrymen.
We must not, however, forget the dead young lady at
the school house whose bloody form was stiffening in death.
Time and again she begged the Indians to kill her and let

42 pioneer Shetcbes.
the little ones go, and with her last remaining strength,
her body, full of arrows and bathed in blood, she assisted
two of them to get through the window while the Indians
were breaking in the door.
Miss Howard reached the Manning and Power ranches
and warned them; theu sped on to see Mr. Hendrix, who at
once sent his son, Abe, to the Pearson ranch for blood
hounds. Pearson called his dogs and with the Howards,
Mr. Hendrix and several others, took the trail which led
into the mountains, where the Indians separated. The day
was hot and there was no water to be had. The dogs final
ly failed, owing to the fact that their feet were bruised and
swollen. A man whose horse had given out, was sent
back with them, and the chase continued until night put an
end to it. The men had ridden more than one hundred
miles without stopping. The Indians were well mounted,
but had bandoned all of the horses they were driving and
gave all of their attention to making their escape.
The Kuykendall boy remained with the Indians about
two years, and was finally purchased from them and re
stored to his father.

THE BEAUTIFUL STEER. »
Oh, the steer, the beautiful steer,
Kicking the fleas from the point of his ear,
Flapping its tail in its frolicsome glee,
Hopping about like a Snake-river flea.
Bellowing! Roaring! Thundering along!
Pilling the air with its steerical song.
Till the rumble from its lung-laden pits
Scares timid jack-rabbits and wolves into fits,
To me there is nothing on earth half so dear
As the long-horned, slim-bodied Texican steer.
How often I wish that I was a steer,
With a long shiny horn at the butt of each ear;
With a clear, fearless eye, and a tapering tail
That would snap like a whip in the maddening gale.
How I'd belier
And roar! And paw up the ground!
And lope over the hills with a thundering sound.
And snort like a terror, and hump up my back
When I saw the wild cow-boy pursuing my track —
And I'd laugh at his oaths as he fell to the rear.
Oh, I'd be a Jo-dandy if I was a steer!

1 The author o( this poem. Miss EUa Fazton, known as the "Cow-eirl of the Pan
handle," several years aso tavored an ealiehtened western audience with the above
original production, which, in her introductory remarks, she styled a "paradox on
"Beautiful Snow." She also stated that it was "paradozed" while sitting onher hone
on day-herd on her father's ranch in the Panhandle, situated about three miles trom
Mobetlo, Texas. We copy same from a clipping in a scrap book wbicb we made sev
eral years ago.

44 pioneer Shetcbes.

I once roped a beautiful steer — but I fell.
Pell from my pony with ear piercing yell!
Pell with the lariat fast to my wrist!
Pell to be dragged througb the grass wet with mist.
Bumping! Rolling! Grunting I went!
A full mile a minute, or I don't want a cent.
The gravel and grass yanked the hide from my nose
And ruined a pair of forty-cent hose;
Aye, even my bustle was thrown out of gear
By the frolicsome freaks of that beautiful steer.

INTERESTING EVENTS OP EARLY DAYS.'

. N interesting visitor called at the Times-Herald of-
/-\ fice yesterday afternoon in the person of G. Mer
cer ("Pet") Smith. He was given the name of
"Pet" by his father, way back in Missouri, when
he strayed from home, as a little chap, and was
lost in the woods.
Mr. Smith now lives at Walnut Springs, and this is his
second visit to Waco since 1878. It's hardly necessary to
state that he found some changes, and he was astonished
by the spirit of progressiveiiess he encountered on every
hand. Mr. Smith is a most interesting speaker, and he
gave an entertaining summary of early days in this vicin
ity. He came to Waco the first time in about 1876, and he
drove the stage from Waco to GatesviUe. One day, near
the East Bosqiie, the stage was held up and robbed by a
lone highwayman. There were five passengers in the
stage at that time, and two ot these recalled by Mr.
Smith were Bob Gumby of GatesviUe and a .Mr. StovalP of
Hamilton. The robber took ail the money and valuables in
the possession of the passengers. The same man a short
time later, robbed the stage operating between San An
tonio and Rockdale, an;l also the one utilized on another

1 Printed in the Waco Times-Herald, March 30, 1913, and reprinted in the Hico
News-Eeview, April 4, 1913.
2 This Mr.'StovaU was a brother of J. W. StovaU of Hico. who is now deceased.
He was at one time a citizen of both Hico and Hamilton.

46 pioneer Shetcbes.
line in ttiat immediate neighborhood. There were four
soldiers aboard the stage coach, who had declared they
would like to see the one man tbat could rob them; they
saw him, and he robbed them, too. Mr. Smith said the
party who perpetrated the robbery was later captured
and given a term of 99 years.
When he first began driving the stage, Mr. Smith said
he secured a six-shooter, but he was advised by one of the
oldtimers, a stage driver, also, to leave off his shooting
iron. This party tcid him that it would result in him be
ing killed, as he was paid to carry tbe mails not to sacri-
face his life to protect such mail matter as might be en
trusted to him.
There are many of the older citizens here who recall
Mr. Smith, and two of those with whom he is well ac
quainted are Messrs. Ed Rotan and T. J. Primm.

PIRST WAGON THROUGH TOWN OP INDIAN GAP.
N the earlj/ part of 1913 the Airoiv was established
at Indian Gap, Hamilton county, Texas, by Mr.
O. G. Campbell ef Gustine, with Clyde Hammers
of Dublin as editor, and was the first newspaper
venture in this little burg. One of the first is
sues contained the following bit of interesting
history of that section:
"Known all over Texas for the picturesque beauty of
its location, unsurpassed in grandure by the Pyrenean
range of Prance, clinging to the sides and on top of the
surrounding hills, Indian Gap, is indeed, to be envied.
"A little more than fifty years ago a party of early set
tlers, wdo had settled near where Newburjrnow stands,
organized a party to cut a road from there to Lampasas
and as the gap in the mountain where Indian Gap is now
located was in their path, a road was cut through the gap,
thtn heavily covered with timber and matted with under
brush. Among the party was Aaron Cunningham, now liv
ing at Comanche, who, according to his statement, was
the tirst man to drive a wagon through the gap, the sur
rounding countrv at that time being unfenced and to a cer
tain extent unknown.
"It was many vears after betore the cocks crow ever
broke the morning stillness, or the woodchoppers ax echo
ed against the hills that are now covered with a growing
town, but the black, rolling prairies, stretching away on
every side as far as the eye can see, were too rich and too

48 pioneer Shetcbes.
valuable to remain long unfilled after the early settlers
had seen and heard of it, and it was during the late 60's
that cabins began to dot the valleys along the Cowhouse,
and the settler's ax cleared out little patches in the rich
cover on the mountains."

The (Jomanc'ie Chief, under date of February 15, at
greater length describes this first wagon through Indian
Gap: "Referring to the story of Aaron Cunningham of Co
manche; this is a true story, and we are indeed grateful to
the Arrow for placing it upon the pages of their history.
It was in the year 1856 that the incident above referred to
occurred. Mr. Cunningham and nine others, including his
father, Capt. James Cunningham", T. J. Holmsley, Dave
Cunningham, his brother, Mr. Bonds, Bill Reed, Dave
Parks, Mr. Mercer, from whom Mercer creek got its name,
and the others, the names of whom have been forgotten:
Aaron Cunningham was driving he tirst wagon, and it was
by this reason that he was the flrst man to move a wagon
between the two mouutains.
'"The company depended upon securing groceries and
other necessaries of life from Williamson county. Here
tofore, they had been forced to travel the government road
-by way of GatesviUe, and it was for shortening the dist
ance to market that the new road was cut thiough this sec
tion. They passed through Indian Gap to a distance of
about one and a half miles, crossed the ridge between
School-land Cove and the branch where the Geralds set
tled, and from School-land Cove they followed the Lam
pasas river to Hart's ranch, and from there to Gille.tte's

pioneer Shetcbes. 49
ranch. Prom this point a road had already been prepared.
On reaching the end of the old road all the crowd, except
Aaron Cunningham and Dave Parks, returned home, the
latter two proceeding on to Williamson county for gro
ceries. A crossing was made on Cowhouse creek just
above the Homestead of the Prices, which road is used for
a crossing at this time.
"In ttiose days this was one of the best sections for
wild game in this portion of the state — deer abounding
across those prairies in great herds, plenty of bear and
buffaloes, besides all kinds of small game."

PIRST ELECTION HELD IN BOSQUE COUNTY.'

T

HE people of Clifton and surrounding country seem
very much interested in the historic spot where
the first election was held in this precinct, which
was under the large live oak tree near the home
of Tom M. Pool, at the roadside in his pasture,
and are considering seriously the erection of a
monument to the memory of these worthy people of our
countrj' by placing their names thereon and also the names
of the first county oflicers elected at this memorable elec
tion, which were as follows: County .fudge, L. H. f crutch
field; County Clerk, J. N, Mabrv; Sherif, Presley Bryant;
Tax Assessor, Isaac Gary: Treasurer, A.rchie Kell.
Mr. M. P. Kell has given the people of Clifton some
interesting history of the first election held in Bosque
county. There were but three voting boxes in the county
at the first election, which were as follows: One at iVIe-
ridian; one at Van Hagans, on the Brazos river just below
the mouth of Steel's creek; and tbe other under a large live
oak tree on Tora M. Pool's farm, about three miles south
of Clifton; and it is the last place mentioned that Clifton
people are so vitally interested in.
It is with much satisfaction to our people that Mr. Kell
is able to give from memory all names of those who voted
in this precinct under the oak at the tirst election which
was held on the tirst Monday in Ausrust, 1854. J. K, Hel-

1 Reprinted from the Clifton Record, April, 191,3.

pioneer Shetcbes. 5i
ton was the presiding officer, and there were nineteen
votes cast and their names were as follows: Captain Un
derhill, J. N. Mabry, Jas. Mabry, L. H. Scrutchfield, Wm.
Gary, Gafey Gary, Isaac Gary, Mat Gary, John Roberson,
John Thomas, P. M. Kell, Archie Kell, Wm. McGurry, Jack
McCurry, Lum McCurry, Samuel Locker, J. P Locker,
Nathaniel Morgan and J. K Helton.
Much praise is due to these nineteen frontiermen that
faced the hardships of a frontier country and laid the
foundations for civilization in this section. These noble
patriots have all gone to reap their reward in that land
where frontier life is unknown, with the exception of P. M.
Kell of this city, who is now in his eighty-first year.
Mr. Tom M. Pool has volunteered to give several acres
of land around this old oak tree for the purpose of being
made into a public park and a monument erected to the
memory of those noble men who participated in the above
mentioned election. This move is gaining much interest
with our people and it is thought there will be no trouble
in pushing it to completion.

EARLY SCHOOLS OP DUBLIN, TEXAS.'

VERY soon in its life as a community the little set
tlement of "Doubling" began to pay attention to
educational matters. In 1859 the tiny collection
of pioneers augmented by the removal from Cow
creek of the families of Wm. (Big Bill) Keith, and
G. W. O'Neal, about twenty in number, had its
very first school under the management of Mrs. Sarah
Keith O'Neal. This bride, for -he had married C. M. O'Neal
on Julj/ 4, 1859, thus inaugurated the schools of what we
call Dublin. Succeeding her came her uncle, "Jim" Keith.
This man is worthy of special mention, because he was
possessed of a true pedagogic spirit.
At that time the same Indians, who had by their "full
o' the moon" horse-stealing raids, broken up the Cow
creek homes, and driven them to Resley's creek, because
more convenient for "doubling up," rendered it very un'
safe for children to traverse the prairies alone. Two miles
east of Dublin lived a widow, Mrs. Burnett, who wished to
send her children to this school — "everybody, big and lit
tle, old and young, was going to it." "Jim" Keith trudged
over that two miles each morning and afternoon that
these fatherless children might be accomoanied to school,
and kept safe from the red marauders oyer whose fresh
trails they often passed.
Very primitive and crude were the equipments of the

1 Paper read by Mrs, S. C. Lattimore at the laying of the corner-stone of the new
Hish School buildinfr, Dublin, April 4. 1913

pioneer Shetcbes. 5;i
day, but they did the best they could. They provided a
log school room, added to it when needed. The earth sup
plied the floor, and logs spiit in two— puncheons— furnish
ed the seats. The infant town of Stephenville, and the
more distant one of Meridian, were the depots for supplies
of "'blue-backed spellers," "Smith's Grammars," and
"Modern Geographies." Ou a teacher's certificate a few
years later than this immediate period, one will find the
subjects, "Spanish, Prench, and German."
Tbree of these log school houses were used at different
times — one uuder the big live oaks now standing not far
from Nick Keith's former home; one in Nick Keith's yard,
to be used as his kitchen when, not required for school; and
one over in what is now a bare field, but the location is
still determined by an old well, being where "Grandpa
Keith" once lived. If needed for a dwelling the teacher
and pupils moved out beneath the convenient live oaks.
One of these earliest teachers. Miss Adelia Burnett,
still lives with us as Mrs. Blackstock, and delights to re
call the experiences of those days. Mr. Elliott was also
among the early school masters.
In 1876 Mr. Wm. Keith and his good wife bought the
lumber, having it hauled from the three nearest big towns
—Waco, Port Worth and Dallas— and gave it to the town,
after having the two-storied frame structure erected. It
was the Baptist church, but furnished with desks and
seats for school use. The second story was a Masonic
hall. The bell, bought in St. Louis, and brought on train
free of charge to Port Worth, was also their gift. This his
toric bell perished in the flames which destroyed the Bap
tist church on the night of January 10, 1913.
In this house Mr. Morris taught the first public school

54 pioneer Shetcbes.
in Dublin. He wa!^ succeeded by Mrs. Cannon, who here
taught one hundred and one pupils, assisted by four of
them — Misses Cava Coleman, .Josie Arthur, Joe Leslie, and
Pallie Keith, now Mrs. Ben Higginbotham of Stephenville.
She was followed by Miss Mina Everette, whose dramatic
conversion from an atheistic belie t to a fervent, active
missionary spirit and life, forms one of the principal
events in the religious history of Dublin. There were a
few teachers whose names I have not been able to obtain.
Rev. Ruben Ross, for a long time pastor of the Baptist
church, was at one time teacher in the school in the years
immediately following the Civil war.
The school in the old town ceased to have a separate
existence when the Port Worth & Rio Grande (now Prisco)
right-of-way passing through the school building caused
its removal and destruction. Messrs. Wiley and Gibson
were amonsr the latest teachers there.
One of the first schools on the north side of the Central
railroad was taught by a Mr. Pelham. Several of his pu
pils are in Dublin now, and delight to recall his custom of
wearing carpet slippers, which were convenient to hurl at
any offending culprit, accompanied by dire threats, never
executed. In 1883 Rev. Mr. Mclihany taught in the unpainted
"box" building recently purchased from the Presbyterians
by the Baptists. He was assisted by Miss Willie Durham,
now Mrs. John W. Higginbotham. A curtain divided the
space into two rooms. The spring of 1884, Mi.^s May Cas
well, afterwards Mrs. J. H. Latham, taught a private
school ot three months in the same building.
The Dublin Public school may be said to have had its
birth in September, 1884, when Rev. J. L. Laitimore was

pioneer Shetcbes. 55
employed for a ten months' term by the trustees— P. C.
Oldham, W. B. Davis, W. J. Davies, Joe Bishop and A. W.
Townsend. Mr. Lattimore was assisted by his wife, Mrs.
£. C. Lattimore, and daughter, Kate, now Mrs. R. B.
Spencer, of Waco. Under the direction of Mr. Lattimore,
in 1896, ground was purchased and a two-storied, four-
room building erected. This structure was afterward en
larged by the addition of six more rooms and was used un
til its destruction by fire in 1900.
In 1901 the present handsome structure replaced the
rather unsightlj' old house, wnich, however, had served
long and well.
In 1886 Mr. W. J. Clay became superintendent and held
his office many years. Succeeding him have been C. G.
Poust, E. I. Hall, G. H. Read and J. W. Dunlap. The prog
ress of the school has been continuous and gratifying, and
we "know not what it shall be."

DEATH OP PROF. ALBEKT D. WALLACE.'

THERE died in the home hospital here [Austin]
B''ebruary 7 a veteran whose death I chronicled at
the time, but who was worthy of more than pass
ing notice and a more extensive paragraph than
I devoted to his demise at the time. In the per
son of tbe gentleman whose name heads this
sketch, Albert David Wallace was born in Alabama and
grew to manhood in and near Auburn in tbat state. Hehad just
reached his majority when the call to arms came in 1861,
and he was among the tirst to respond to that call, enlist
ing in a company made up in and around Auburn, which
became company G, Sixth Alabama infantry, which regi
ment was perhaps better known at the beginning of the
war as the Louchapoka Rifles. The first colonel of the
regiment was the gallant and dashing John B. Gordon, who
later attained the rank of major general and who after the
war was governor of Georgia and served several termsin the
United States congress. As soon as the regiment was or
ganized, it proceeded at once to the seat of war in Vir
ginia, where it became a part of the Army of Northern
Virginia. Of course, the reader of history need not be told
that after the first battle the fighting in Virginia became
fast and furious as well as desperate and bloody. B^or a
long time Virginia was the battle ground between the con
tending forces and battles followed each other in quick

1 From "Tales Told by a Johnny Reb" by Taylor Thompson in Fort Worth (Texas)
Record. February 28. 191.5,

pioneer Shetcbes. 57
!-uccession. The command to which Mr, Wallace belonged
took part in nearly all of the big battles in Virginia and
Mr. Wallace was always in his place in the ranks in every
battle in which his coramand participated, and strange as
it may seem, he passed through all those scenes of danger
unscratched, as if he had borne a charmed life. I saw a
statement somewhere recently to the effect that there had
been more men killed within a radius of thirty miles, tak
ing Petersburg, Va., as a center, than on the same extent
of territory anywhere in the world. That, however, was
prior to the beginning of the present gigantic European
war. I believe North Carolina furnished more men to the
Confederate army than any other state, and I have little
doubt that Alabama was second or third in the list as to
the number of men furnished. At any rate, she furnished
a large number, and the troops from Alabama were noted
for their courage and soldierly bearing.
Mr. Wallace stayed with the cause until it was lost and
the last gun had been fired. When the fatal hour came
when Lee's battered legions stacked arms and surrender
ed, Mr. Wallace was color-bearer of his regiment. When
the surrender came he tore the flag he bore from its staff,
tore the flag into two pieces, gave one piece to Major Cul
ver and tore the other piece into several pieces and dis
tributed them among his comrades. Mrs. Wallace, wife of
deceased, told me a few days ago that she had a letter from
Major Culver in which that gentleman stated that he still
had in hii possession a piece of the flag which Mr. Wallace
gave him at that time.
At the close of hostilities Mr. Wallace returned to his
home, and in 1870 came to Texas. After a year spent in
this state he went back to Alabama, but in 1873 returned

5,s Pioneer Shetcbes.
to Texas and has resided here ever since. He first located
at Marlin, but had resided at various other points, but lo
cated permanently at Marlin about twenty years ago. In
1877 he was married at Hico to Miss Lucie Stinnett, and
his estimable wife survives him. Soon after coming to
Texas Mr. Wallace began the work of teaching, continu
ing in that work as long as he was able to follow any occu
pation, and he was well and favorably known as an educa
tor wherever he taught, and in whatever community he re
sided in commanded the respect and esteem of all who
knew him. Por the oast seven years he had been bed rid
den, owing to paralysis and in 1913 he was admitted to the
home. He was a consistent member of the Methodist
church, was a gentleman of culture and refinement, and on
many a battle-field half a century ago he displayed that
daring and courage which go to make up the brave and
gallant soldier. His trials and sufferings are ended now,
and I have no doubt that when he reached the pearly gates
of the celestial city there was no question as to his admis
sion.

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