Ruth McDonald Lacey - a Family of the West Ruth McDonald Lacey v14-04.… · This is a story of the...

Ruth McDonald Lacey

And The

Spring Creek Community

Some McDonald Men of Spring Creek

William J. ~ Gus ~ Lafe ~ Joe Jr. ~ Monroe ~ Levi Allen ~ Benjamin

By Rich Eastwood

www.afamilyofthewest.org

ii

Introduction

―I had driven by the place countless times. Daily I passed the small plot of land on the way

to my office. Daily I told myself, Someday I need to stop there.

―Today, that ‗someday‘ came. I convinced a tight-fisted schedule to give me thirty minutes,

and I drove in.

―The intersection appears no different from any other in San Antonio: a Burger King, a

Rodeway Inn, a restaurant. But turn northwest, go under the cast iron sign, and you will find

yourself on an island of history that is holding its own against the river of progress.

―The name on the sign? Locke Hill Cemetery.

―As I parked, a darkened sky threatened rain. A lonely path invited me to walk through the

two-hundred-plus tombstones. The fatherly oak trees arched above me, providing a ceiling for the

solemn chambers. Tall grass, still wet from the morning dew, brushed my ankles.

―The tombstones, though weathered and chipped, were alive with yesterday….

―Ruth Lacey is buried there. Born in the days Napoleon- 1807. Died over a century ago-

1877….‖

This is her story

From: “Six Hours One Friday” by Max Lucado, Multnomah Books. A good read, ed.

iii

– Ruth McDonald and the Fredericksburg Road –

- A Story of Texas -

This is a story of the Ruth McDonald Lacey and her family;

the Lockes and Laceys who settled on the Fredericksburg Road, 12 miles out of San Antonio in the

Community of Lockehill,

and the Laceys, McDonalds and Taylors of the Spring Creek Community 10 miles west of

Fredericksburg in Gillespie County.

iv

From the editor

Discovering family history was easy, a few snippets here and there from family members, an

interest in history and a little wondering. An introduction to Auntie ‗Cille‘s family albums…. and

then infection set in. I was hooked, it wasn‘t easy any more. Fortunately my affliction coincided

with the advent of the internet and the family history fever that has blanketed the nation. The

computer made it practical, MS Office made it easier (thanks Bill Gates); with these tools, even

one such as I, can make a presentation.

When I encountered my ancestor, Ruth McDonald Lacey she didn‘t have a pedigree, ‗no further

information‘ as it is sometimes put. Now we find her right in the center of a great American story,

as exciting and interesting as any that are woven into the fabric of America. A frontier preacher‘s

wife that moved with her loved ones, hundreds and hundreds of miles to new land and saw them

settle down at both ends of a 60 or 70 mile road; the Fredericksburg Road.

Ruth‘s pedigree threads its way back through North Carolina to Scotland. She is part of the

McDonald / Taylor Family that came to Tennessee and then to Illinois in the early 1800‘s.

Although there is no genealogically sound proof of her direct connection; she is interwoven,

inextricably, with that family. Ruth married Elijah Lacey in Illinois, Elijah‘s pedigree threads its

way back through Kentucky and Tennessee to Virginia then England or Wales and is Norman in

origin. They all came to Texas in the early 1850‘s and settled between San Antonio and the edge of

the frontier, Gillespie County.

With all the allied families this story clearly becomes a part of the Tapestry Americana. If it all

becomes bewildering, try and enjoy it for its color and texture, the scene or the pattern…. and how

it relates to you.

I‘m a little concerned that this might be a little confusing and I hope you will think about it in

context. This part covers two generations of Laceys, McDonalds and Taylors; along with their

spouses. Coupling that with the peripheral stories might seem a bit much. However the goal is to

give the downstream family members something more than facts to latch on to; and to give others

an interesting view, as if hanging on the wall of a museum.

Rich Eastwood

v

Table of Contents – Ruth McDonald and the Fredericksburg Road – ............................................................ iii

Introduction .........................................................................................................................ii

From the editor ................................................................................................................... iv

Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ v

Part I ................................................................................................................................... 1

Prelude .............................................................................................................................................. 1

The Laceys / McDonalds / Taylors – Illinois to Texas ....................................................... 3

Chart of the Players ............................................................................................................. 5

Matthew and Hannah Axley Taylor‘s family to Texas .................................................................... 5

Thomas and Rachel Axley McDonald‘s family to Texas ................................................................ 6

Elijah and Ruth McDonald Lacey‘s family to Texas ....................................................................... 7

Joseph and Esther Taylor/Rhoda Nelson McDonald to Texas ......................................................... 8

James ‗Eli‘ and Caroline Taylor McDonald‘s family to Texas ...................................................... 10

Associated Families ........................................................................................................... 11

Early Texas- Winters / White / Banta / Perry ................................................................................. 11

Illinois and other places- Nelson, Hazelwood, Casey, Fairchild, Alexander, Hall, Chesser,

Fannin, Herrin, Joy ......................................................................................................................... 14

The Locations .................................................................................................................... 16

Hill Country .................................................................................................................................... 16

Locke Hill ....................................................................................................................................... 18

Spring Creek / Harper ..................................................................................................................... 18

The Story; a Chronological View ...................................................................................... 19

1840-1853ish .................................................................................................................................. 19

1854-1860 ....................................................................................................................................... 23

1861-1865 The War Comes ............................................................................................................ 24

Part II ............................................................................................................................... 31

Ruth McDonald Lacey and Spring Creek-LockeHill ..................................................................... 32

1860-1870 .......................................................................................................................... 33

1860 Census Observations ............................................................................................................. 33

1861-1865 the War Years ............................................................................................................... 39

Civil War Military Service ......................................................................................................... 39

Terror in the Hill Country ............................................................................................................... 47

1865-1870 ....................................................................................................................................... 56

Description of the Country ............................................................................................................. 63

The Life Style ................................................................................................................................. 70

Camp Meetings ............................................................................................................................... 74

The LockeHill Crowd ..................................................................................................................... 75

The Hill Country ............................................................................................................................. 77

Life with Lucretia ........................................................................................................................... 78

Lucretia McDonald Fairchild Chesser ........................................................................................ 78

Kimble County ............................................................................................................................... 83

Gillespie – Kimble – Kerr - Map .................................................................................................... 88

vi

Kerr County .................................................................................................................................... 90

John J. Alexander ....................................................................................................................... 90

1870-1885 .......................................................................................................................... 92

1870 Census Observations ............................................................................................................. 92

Company F - Gillespie County Minutemen ................................................................................... 96

Uncivilized Behavior .................................................................................................................... 102

Thomas Monroe Lacey ............................................................................................................. 102

Gaston Rayner .......................................................................................................................... 103

Family Difficulties ........................................................................................................................ 105

Rebecca Caroline Taylor .......................................................................................................... 105

Down Right Civilized ................................................................................................................... 106

Morris Ranch – Harper ................................................................................................................. 108

The Unhitching (or rehitching) ..................................................................................................... 111

Asa Phelps Lacey ..................................................................................................................... 111

The Seven Rivers Crowd .............................................................................................................. 118

Lafe McDonald ......................................................................................................................... 118

The Lincoln County Crowd .......................................................................................................... 122

Coll and Cloe Lacey ................................................................................................................. 122

The Animas / San Bernardino Crowd .......................................................................................... 126

Jerry Hazelwood ....................................................................................................................... 126

Ruth and Elijah Lacey .................................................................................................................. 133

Part III ............................................................................................................................ 134

Summary-Spring Creek Cousins .................................................................................................. 134

1880 Census Observations ........................................................................................................... 135

Matthew and Hannah Axley Taylor‘s family to Texas ................................................................ 146

Matthew Modglin Taylor (1.) ................................................................................................... 146

Pressley Beal Taylor (1.1) ........................................................................................................ 146

Thurman Thompson Taylor (1.2) ............................................................................................. 148

Zodac ―Zed‖ Casey Taylor (1.3) .............................................................................................. 149

Rebecca Ancibill Taylor (1.4) .................................................................................................. 150

Hester Ann Elizabeth Taylor (1.5) ........................................................................................... 150

Celia ‗Caroline‘ Taylor (1.6) .................................................................................................... 151

James Thomas Taylor (1.7) ...................................................................................................... 151

Permelia Cornelia Hannah Taylor (1.8) ................................................................................... 152

Thomas and Rachel Axley McDonald‘s family to Texas ............................................................ 154

Thomas McDonald (2.) ............................................................................................................ 154

Mary Mor McDonald (2.1) ....................................................................................................... 154

James ‗Monroe‘ McDonald (2.2) ............................................................................................. 155

Melissa Melvina McDonald 1835- (2.3) .................................................................................. 156

Suzanna Mariah McDonald (2.4) ............................................................................................. 156

Rebecca Angelina McDonald (2.5) .......................................................................................... 157

Robert Lafayette ―Lafe‖ McDonald (2.6) ................................................................................ 158

William Augustus ―Gus‖ McDonald 1847-1918 (2.7) ............................................................. 159

Hannah ‗Josephine‘ McDonald 1850- (2.8) ............................................................................. 161

Samuel ‗Thomas‘ McDonald 1852-aft. 1880 (2.9) .................................................................. 161

Elijah and Ruth McDonald Lacey‘s family to Texas ................................................................... 162

vii

Elijah Lacey (3.) ....................................................................................................................... 162

William Jackson ―Jack‖ Locke (3.1) ........................................................................................ 162

Asa Phelps Lacey (3.2) ............................................................................................................. 163

Mahala Elizabeth Lacey (3.3) ................................................................................................... 163

Lewis Madison Lacey (3.4) ...................................................................................................... 166

Nancy M.C. Lacey (3.5) ........................................................................................................... 169

Mary Matilda Lacey (3.6) ......................................................................................................... 170

Joshua Collins ―Coll‖ Lacey (3.7) ............................................................................................ 171

John Burnyan Lacey (3.8) ........................................................................................................ 173

Thomas Monroe Lacey (3.9) .................................................................................................... 173

Lewis Cass Lacey ..................................................................................................................... 174

Joseph and Esther Taylor/Rhoda Nelson McDonald to Texas ..................................................... 175

Joseph McDonald (4.) .............................................................................................................. 175

Lucretia Jane McDonald (4.1) .................................................................................................. 175

Lewis ‗Martin‘ McDonald (4.2) ............................................................................................... 177

Isaac ‗Rufus‘ McDonald (4.3) .................................................................................................. 179

Clarisa Adiline McDonald (4.4) ............................................................................................... 181

Gillette McDonald (4.5) ........................................................................................................... 183

Mary Ann Elizabeth McDonald (4.6) ....................................................................................... 183

Merinda ‗Melvina‘ McDonald (4.7) ......................................................................................... 184

Samantha L. McDonald (4.8) ................................................................................................... 185

William Jefferson McDonald (4.9) ........................................................................................... 185

Levy ‗Allen‘ McDonald (4.10) ................................................................................................. 186

Joseph Thomas McDonald (4.11) ............................................................................................. 186

Benjamin Franklin ―Bennie‖ McDonald (4.12) ....................................................................... 187

James ‗Eli‘ and Caroline Taylor McDonald‘s family to Texas .................................................... 188

James ‗Eli‘ McDonald (5.) ....................................................................................................... 188

Mahala L. McDonald (5.1) ....................................................................................................... 188

Rebecca Jane McDonald (5.2) .................................................................................................. 188

James ‗Eli‘ McDonald Jr. (5.3) ................................................................................................ 189

Other Families along the Way ...................................................................................................... 191

John Alexander Family ............................................................................................................. 191

Wiley Joy Family ..................................................................................................................... 192

William Chesser Family ........................................................................................................... 195

Hiram Nelson Family ............................................................................................................... 199

James Welch Family ................................................................................................................. 200

Larremore Family ..................................................................................................................... 203

Herrin-Lockhart-Hunter ........................................................................................................... 205

England, Tate, Lacey ................................................................................................................ 208

Zac McDonald .......................................................................................................................... 211

To Auntie “Cille

And the rest of the story-keepers

Part I

Prelude

― „Gone to Texas‟ These three words -often abbreviated ‗GTT‘ on the doors of abandoned

homesteads across the southeastern United States during the 1830s and 1840s-provide a key to the

story of Texas from prehistoric times to the beginning of the twenty first century.‖ With this

thought, Randolph B. Campbell starts his book ―Gone To Texas‖; it seems like a good place for us

to start from as well. However, if you think about this issue very much, a wonder might make its

way in to your mind: Where have they gone from? Campbell addresses that point a couple of

paragraphs later. ―A place without information about its past is like an individual without a

memory- it has no identity.‖

Thomas Lacy endured the perils of crossing the Atlantic and possible death at the hands of Pirates;

to be cast up on these shores, penniless but somewhat of a hero due to his participation of actions

subduing Pirates. With five months of able seaman wages and a grant of property from the

Governor he was off to the races. Virginia was a long way from Wales but for a hardy and

seemingly fearless young man, the opportunities appeared endless. A characteristic, that has been

passed through the many hands of the succeeding generations. In Virginia, as it pushed westward,

the family in succeeding generations lived in the frontier counties. Elliot Lacy and at least one of

his sons gave their lives in the Revolutionary War. When the ‗Cumberland Gap‘ opened the way

west, Elliot‘s son Lionel went west to Tennessee. Lionel married Ann Rankin, the daughter of

another War hero, on the banks of the French Broad River. Ever restless in these sparsely

populated communities he kept heading west, his youngest son, Elijah, being born in Livingston

County, Kentucky. Crossing the Ohio River and settling in St. Claire County, Illinois, near the

mighty Mississippi, Lionel finally came to a stop.

Scots are loyal consequently they make good soldiers. During the 1700s, during the time of the

‗Highland Clearances‘, when their Lairds and noblemen displaced men, women and children in

favor of the financial rewards of sheep, it became increasingly easy to switch loyalties. The British

Crown was an attractive alternative for the loyalty of many. Some Scots came to the American

Colonies as soldiers; some came as frontiersmen with incentives from the colony, to live at the

edge of civilization. In the Carolinas there were large concentrations of them and when the

Revolutionary War broke out many were fiercely loyal to the Crown. Against this setting we find

Linvil McDaniel/McDonald in the late 1700s in Edgecombe and Chatham Counties, North

Carolina.

Here the McDonald family merges with the Taylor family, an old English family that had come to

Virginia in the mid 1600s. As the family says: ―Where you find Taylors you find McDonalds.‖

2

Thomas Taylor was born in 1741 in Richland County, Virginia and came as a young man to North

Carolina with his family. Thomas was murdered in late 1781 in Chatham County by a misguided

Army Officer. His widow, Elinor Dotson Taylor, then married Eleazar Andrus and around 1800

migrated, along with her children and their families, to Williamson County, Tennessee. The party

included: Billington Taylor and his wife Chloe Modglin, Nancy Taylor and her husband Benjamin

Beal, Luraney Taylor and her husband Linvil McDaniel/McDonald and their respective families.

This extended family, after a few years, split up, some going south, some staying put and some

crossing over into Illinois.

‗GTT‘ what was the Texas draw? Why did so many Laceys, McDonalds and Taylors continue on

to an uncertain future?

First there was the general lure; I suspect that there were many discussions at social events or

around the campfire in southeast frontier in the early 1800s. The library is full of books telling of

the draw of Texas; a comprehensive one, is the above mentioned ―Gone To Texas‖.

The other aspect, and most compelling for our view, is the personal one. At first I thought, being a

Lacey, it perhaps had something to do with Elijah Lacey‘s mother being a cousin to Sam Houston;

then I encountered William Demetrius Lacey, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence,

who was from the same area where Elijah was born. However, the answer probably lies with the

family of Nancy Taylor and Benjamin Beal. Their daughter, Rhoda, married James Winters; they

had three sons William, John F. and James W. The Winters migrated to Texas before the Texas

Revolution; James had known Sam Houston in Tennessee and the boys served with Sam Houston

at the Battle of San Jacinto. (See: sanjacinto-museum.org select Veterans Biographies; then the

highlighted ‗available online‘; then thru to Winters, J.W.-really interesting) In the pioneer times it

is apparent that families and friends kept in touch, either by letter or oral messages carried by

travelers; time and again we see folks going out to the frontier then shortly their family and/or

friends join them. Communication must have been reasonable considering the hazards of the times.

A few years ago we might have cussed the US Postal Service, but without it, this country

doubtfully would have grown at the pace it did, if at all. The Winters were an active group; in 1854

John F. Winters received a land grant of 640 acres in Gillespie County, just beyond Spring Creek,

near where Harper is today. The Spring Creek / Harper area became home to most members of the

families involved, for the next thirty years or so; some are still there.

3

The Laceys / McDonalds / Taylors – Illinois to Texas

In 1803 the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory for $15 million. Napoleon agreed to

sell this territory because he was desperately in need of cash. Acquiring the Louisiana Territory

doubled the size of the United States. President Thomas Jefferson, who was unsure of the

constitutionality of the move, rushed to complete the sale anyway, lest Napoleon change his mind.

On May 14, 1804, Lewis and Clark's expedition set off from St. Louis, on their ‗Voyage of

Discovery‘. The crew consisted of 32 soldiers and 10 civilians. They headed up the Missouri River,

as far as South Fork, Montana. They spent the first winter among the Mandan Indians in South

Dakota. They crossed the Rockies and were able to float down the Clearwater River, into the Snake

River, and then onto the Columbia River. Then, on November 5, 1805, they reached the Pacific

Ocean. The expedition returned to St. Louis on September 23, 1806.

Although the opening of the ‗Cumberland Gap‘ unleashed the flow of settlers pent up behind the

mountains of the East; there were political/diplomatic barriers that held them in check. With the

Louisiana Purchase and the ‗Voyage of Discovery‘ some of the barriers were down and

imaginations were up. In the period that followed, by 1820, the central figures in our story had

moved with their families to Southwest Illinois. For the next 20 to 30 years various counties in that

region would be their home. Also during that period, Illinois would settle down, become a State

and become a staging place for westward movement.

What brought the families together? It appears that two of the most influential forces in the

chronicles of Man might have had something to do with it, Girls and Religion. In 1805 James

Axley became an itinerant Methodist Preacher. His appointment would take him to many locations

in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and even Louisiana. He was an appealing preacher, as one of his

chroniclers put it; ―few, if any, of his contemporaries drew larger audiences, for Axley was

irresistible to the Western people.‖ When Elijah Lacey was born, in 1804, in Livingston County

KY, James and his brother, Pleasant Axley were living in Livingston County also. Could the same

forces that drew James to the ministry had an effect on Elijah‘s father, Lionel, as well? At least one

of Pleasant Axley‘s daughters was born in Livingston County, Hannah in 1803. Hannah would

later marry Matthew Taylor, who became a Methodist Preacher, her sister, Rachel, would marry

Joseph McDonald. Joseph‘s sister (or close relative), Ruth, would marry Elijah Lacey who also

became a Methodist Minister.

In 1839 Arkansas, part of the Louisiana Purchase, became a State. A few years later (before 1843)

Matthew Taylor would be the first in our group to heed the call westward, beyond the Mississippi.

He settled in Izard County Arkansas, perhaps at the behest of the Methodist Church. His youngest

daughter, Permelia was born there and his oldest son, Pressley was married there. By 1850 he had

moved to the northeast part of the new State of Texas, Hunt County. The gold fields in California

beckoned; Matthew and family put their things in the wagons and headed out joined by others

including members of the Joy family. The wagon train took the Upper Immigrant Trail through

Fredericksburg toward El Paso. They got as far as Pecos, others who had gone before had come

back with tales of drought and dried up waterholes, the Taylors turned back.

At any rate, the die was cast, by 1853/1854 the Taylors, Laceys and McDonalds were gone to

Texas. Many traveled by riverboat down the Mississippi to New Orleans, by coastal packet to

4

Indianola and by ox and wagon up through Texas. It‘s unknown if they all traveled together or if

different family groups made their own way. Not all the members of the families took this route

some came overland. It is also noteworthy to observe that this process took several years to shake

out. Perhaps the final destination wasn‘t always clear. Some parts of the families stopped at places

along the way; Lewis Madison Lacey married a Texas girl in Goliad, ‗Jack‘ Locke settled for a

while at Pipe Creek (west of San Antonio) with some other members of the family before settling

down at Locke Hill and it was 1859 before Mary Mor McDonald Fannin became the first white

woman to live on Spring Creek.

5

Chart of the Players

The following chart is meant to provide a brief overview of the group, to introduce the players and

to give a reference to their relative ages. I picked 1861 as a benchmark because that was the year

that the Civil War came to West Texas.

Matthew and Hannah Axley Taylor’s family to Texas

Matthew Modglin Taylor, 1861 age 59

Matthew was born 1802 in TN, married Hannah Smith Axley in 1822, she was born 1803, they

settled in Spring Creek, he was a Methodist Preacher, he died 1880 and she died 1898 in Gillespie

County.

Pressley Beal Taylor, 1861 age 38

Press was born 1823 in IL, settled first in East Texas then after the War in Kerr County, married

Mary „Polly‟ York about 1847.

Thurman Thompson Taylor, 1861 age36

Thurman was born 1825 in IL, married Elizabeth „Catherine‟ Alexander about 1853, settled

Spring Creek.

Zodac “Zed” Taylor, 1861 age34

Zed was born 1827 in IL, married (1) Margrit Halburton in 1853, settled Spring Creek, (2)

Dorcas Hays in 1860, during Civil War he died as a result of an accident 1862, buried at Spring

Creek.

Rebecca Ancibill Taylor, 1861 age 33

Rebecca was born 1828 in IL, married cousin James „Monroe‟ McDonald in 1856, (see below)

settled in Spring Creek

Hester Ann Elizabeth Taylor, 1861 age 31

Hester Ann was born 1830 in IL, married cousin Lewis „Martin‟ McDonald in 1856, see below,

settled first at Spring Creek.

Celia „Caroline‟ Taylor, 1861 age 25

Caroline was born 1836 in IL, married (1) cousin James „Eli‟ McDonald in 1857, settled Spring

Creek area, Eli was killed by Indians, Caroline was taken Captive 1865-1866, she then married (2)

Pete Hazelwood in 1868, he was killed by Indians, she later married (3) L.F. Pope.

James Thomas Taylor, 1861 age 20

James was born, 1841 in IL, settled Spring Creek area, married cousin Gillette “Gil” McDonald in

1863, ‗Gil‘ was killed by Indians 1865, he married cousin Samantha McDonald in 1870.

Permelia Cornelia Hannah Taylor, 1861 age18

Permelia was born 1843 AR, settled Spring Creek, married Edward Robert Janes about 1865.

7

Elijah and Ruth McDonald Lacey’s family to Texas

Elijah Lacey, 1861 age 57

Elijah was born 1804 in Livingston Co. KY, married Ruth McDonald in 1828, she was born in

1807 in TN, they settled at LockeHill and Spring Creek, he was a Methodist Preacher and moved

about quite a bit, she died 1877, he died around 1885.

William Jackson “Jack” Locke, 1861 age 33

Jack was born in 1828 in IL, married (1) Mary England in 1848, settled LockeHill, divorced and

then married (2) Anna McCarthy.

Asa Phelps Lacey, 1861 age 31

Asa was born 1830 in IL, married Rossanna England in 1849, settled LockeHill then Spring

Creek.

Mahala Elizabeth Lacey, 1861 age 27

Mahala was born 1834 in IL, married cousin John Hardin Lacey in 1853, settled in San Antonio

after the War.

Lewis Madison Lacey, 1861 age 26

Lewis was born 1835 in IL, married Margaret White in 1861, settled in LockeHill.

Nancy M.C. Lacey, 1861 age 23

Ninnie was born 1838 in IL, married William Alexander in 1864.

Mary Matilda Lacey, 1861 age 21

Mary was born about 1840 in IL, married (1) Morgan McDaniel in 1855, he died, she settled un

Spring Creek, married (2) Henry Hartmann 1861 he left, she divorced, married (3) Marion

Columbus “Lum” Alexander in 1863.

Joshua Collins “Coll” Lacey, 1861 age 19

Coll was born 1842 in IL, settled LockeHill and Spring Creek, married cousin Cloe Fairchild

1867.

John „Burnyan‟ Lacey, 1861 age 17

Burnyan was born in 1844 in IL, married (1) Lucy Ann Dunn in 1866 in Gillespie Co. He married

(2) Sina Chesser in 1868 in Gillespie Co. then married (3) Susan J. Parr in Gonzales Co. in 1878.

Thomas Monroe Lacey, 1861 age 13

T.M. was born 1848 in IL, settled LockeHill, married Mary Chesser.

8

Joseph and Rhoda Nelson McDonald to Texas

Joseph McDonald, 1861 age 46

Joseph was born 1815, married (1) Esther Elizabeth Taylor, she was born in 1814, died 1847,

struck by lightning, married (2) Rhoda Jane Nelson in 1849, she was born 1830, they are both

buried at Spring Creek.

Lucretia Jane McDonald, 1861 age 28

Lucretia was born 1833, married (1) Amos Fairchild in 1850, settled first in East Texas then

Spring Creek in 1862, Amos was killed by Bushwhackers in 1864, married (2) William Chesser in

1868, William was a Methodist Preacher. She married George T. Morgan in 1878.

Lewis „Martin‟ McDonald, 1861 age 26

Martin was born 1835 in IL, married cousin Hestorann Elizabeth Taylor in 1856, they settled

Spring Creek.

Isaac „Rufus‟ McDonald, 1861 age 23

Rufe was born 1838 in IL, settled Spring Creek, married Polly Jane Lockhart in 1860.

Clarisa Adiline McDonald, 1861 age 20

Clarisa was born 1841 in IL, settled Spring Creek, married (1) Jacob Banta in 1859, he was killed

in an Indian fight 1866, married (2) “Joe” Garcia in 1871.

Gillette McDonald, 1861 age 18

Gil was born 1843 in IL, settled Spring Creek, married cousin James Thomas Taylor, she was

killed by Indians 1865.

Mary Ann Elizabeth McDonald, 1861 age 11

Mary was born 1850 in IL, settled Spring Creek, married (1) John Strong in 1866, (2) Vicente

Cruz about 1871.

Merinda „Melvina‟ McDonald, 1861 age 19

Mel was born 1852, settled Spring Creek, married Benjamin Franklin Casey in 1868.

Samantha L. McDonald, 1861 age 6

Samantha was born 1855, settled Spring Creek, married cousin James Thomas Taylor (see

above).

William Jefferson McDonald, 1861 age 5

William was born in TX, settled Spring Creek, married Rebecca Chesser 1874.

Levy Allen McDonald,

Levy was born 1861 at Spring Creek, married cousin Mahala L. McDonald 1879.

9

Joseph Thomas McDonald,

Joe was born 1864, at Spring Creek, married Thelka Reeh about 1881.

Benjamin Franklin McDonald,

Bennie was born 1867, at Spring Creek, married cousin Elizabeth „Lizzie‟ Taylor 1885.

10

James ‘Eli’ and Caroline Taylor McDonald’s family to Texas

James „Eli‟ McDonald, 1861 age 23

Eli was born 1836/9 in IL, settled in Spring Creek, married cousin „Caroline‟ Taylor 1856, Eli

was killed by Kiowas 1865, Caroline was held captive 1865-1866.

Mahala L. McDonald, 1861 age 1

Mahala was born 1860 in Spring Creek, captive of Kiowas 1865-1866, married cousin Levi Allen

McDonald 1879.

Rebecca Jane McDonald

Beckie was born 1864 in Spring Creek, captive of Kiowas 1865-1866, married James Monroe

Herrin in 1879.

James „Eli‟ McDonald Jr.

Eli was born in 1866 in Indian captivity, settled Spring Creek, married cousin Harriet „Helen‟

Taylor in 1889.

11

Associated Families

Early Texas- Winters / White / Banta / Perry

Early Texas- We won‘t go into a detailed history of early Texas however it is a fascinating piece

of history available in many places. When Mexico won its Independence from Spain in 1821 there

were barely 3,000 Hispanics and a sprinkling of Anglos in Texas. Shortly afterward Stephen Austin

and others contracted to bring settlers into the area. 1835-1836 saw the Texas Revolution and

Independence followed by Statehood in 1846. In this early period some of the associated families

discovered Texas. For such a large geographical area it is interesting how so many from such a

diverse background came together. After this early Texas section we will continue on with

thumbnail sketches of other associated families that information is available on, they aren‘t in any

particular order.

Winters- The fact that James Winters wife, Rhoda, was a first cousin to Matthew Taylor probably

had a great impact on our story. In 1832 two of their sons, William and John, migrated to Texas

and built a log cabin and planted crops. William then returned to Tennessee for the family while

John tended the crops. James had been a friend of Sam Huston‘s, possibly serving with him in the

Indian Wars, when war came to Texas they offered their services. James served with the

quartermaster foraging food, sons William and John fought at the battle of San Jacinto in Capt.

Wm. Ware‘s Company of the Second Regiment and younger brother Ben hauled supplies. John

homesteaded a piece of land in Gillespie Co. near where Harper is, in 1854.

White- Peter White was born in Virginia in 1801, he came to Texas by way of Missouri with his

wife Nancy and two children in 1830. He received a land grant from the Mexican Government,

through Stephen F. Austin, in Jackson Co. Family tradition says he was on a foraging trip for the

Texian Army when the battle at San Jacinto took place. But Peter got in a lot of fighting over the

years. He served under Capt. Caldwell at the battle of Plum Creek against the Comanches in 1840.

In 1842 he served in Capt. Ward‘s Company of Texas Rangers against raids by Mexicans. And

finally, he served in the war with Mexico in Capt. Bell‘s Company, Corpus Christi Rangers. He

had thirteen children and survived several wives; they lived variously in Jackson and Goliad

Counties. In 1861 his daughter Margaret married Ruth‘s son Lewis Lacey in Goliad. Margaret‘s

mother was sister to Samuel McCulloch Jr. credited with being the first soldier wounded in the

Texas revolution.

Banta- There are three Banta brothers that fit into our story, William, John and Jacob; sons of

Isaac Banta. The Banta Family came from Holland to New Amsterdam in the 1600s by the early

1800s some of them had moved west. David Banta was an early resident of Kentucky and a Baptist

Minister, his son Isaac was born in 1800 in Lexington, Kentucky. The Bantas moved to Indiana,

Isaac married Eliza Baker in 1822 in Warrick County, Indiana and in 1839 moved with their

children to Texas. After 1843 Isaac moved to South Sulphur where he assisted in organizing Hunt

County.

William Banta was born in 1827, married Lucinda Hairston in 1850 in Burnet County, they

had fourteen children. He organized and commanded the first company of minutemen in Burnet

12

County and participated in nearly every engagement with the Indians in the region throughout the

1850s. He saw service on the Texas frontier during the Civil War as lieutenant, then captain, of

Company A of the Frontier Regiment. In the spring of 1864 he was stationed at Camp Davis in

Gillespie County. With J.W. Caldwell, he wrote an account of his life in Texas, ―Twenty-Seven

Years on the Texas Frontier‖, published in 1893. Many excerpts of this book, telling of how things

were, are quoted on ‗The Sons of DeWitt Colony‘ web site, very interesting.

http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/dewitt.htm

John Banta married Angelina McDonald.

Jacob married Clarissa McDonald.

Perry- ―Cicero Rufus (Old Rufe) Perry, Texas Ranger was born in Alabama on August 23, 1822.

In 1833 he moved with his parents to Bastrop, then in Washington County. He participated in the

siege of Bexar, served from July 1 to October 1, 1836, in Capt. William W. Hill's company of

Texas Rangers, and was involved in an Indian fight on Yegua Creek. He was wounded on February

12, 1839, while serving under John H. Moore. In 1841 he served under Samuel Highsmith and

Thomas Green and scouted for Edward Burleson and Mark B. Lewis. He was also a member of the

Somervell expedition. He joined John Coffee Hays' ranger company in 1844 and participated in

many of his Indian fights, including the battle of Walker's Creek. In August 1844 he was severely

wounded in a fight with the Comanches on the Nueces River, and he and Christopher Acklin were

left for dead by their two companions. With three wounds, Perry walked 120 miles, from near

Uvalde to San Antonio, unarmed and without food or water. In 1873 in the battle of Deer Creek he

came to the assistance of a party led by Dan W. Roberts. In 1874 Perry was appointed captain of

Company D of the Frontier Battalion. Roberts served as his first lieutenant and later as his

successor.

―Perry died at Johnson City on October 7, 1898. Described by John Holland Jenkins as

having been ‗tall, muscular, erect-a perfect specimen of the strong and brave in young manhood,‘

Perry had black hair and ‗dark eyes, bright with the fires of intelligence and enthusiasm.‘ It was

said that in his career as a volunteer soldier and Texas Ranger he had sustained twenty wounds

from bullet, arrow, and lance.‖

The previous excerpt was taken from The Handbook of Texas Online. Perry was a remarkable man

but also a typecast of the early pioneers.

His daughter Birdie married Benjamin Butler Lacey.

Taylor- Another person that should be mentioned here is Creed Taylor, no relation to our families

but a close neighbor to some of our families in Kimble County and a character in his own right.

The following is also from The Handbook of Texas. I thought you might like it.

―Creed Taylor, (1820–1906) soldier and Texas Ranger, was born on April 20, 1820, in

Alabama, one of nine children of Josiah and Hepzibeth (Luker) Taylor. Josiah Taylor, a relative of

Gen. Zachary Taylor, came to Texas in 1811 and served as captain in the Gutiérrez-Magee

expedition; he fought at La Bahía, Alazán, Rosales, and Medina. He brought his family, including

four-year-old Creed, to Texas in 1824 and settled in DeWitt's colony. At fifteen Creed Taylor

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helped defend the Gonzales ‗come and take it‘ cannon and took part in the battle of Concepción,

the Grass Fight, and the siege of Bexar. Late in January 1836 he was with the Texas forces at San

Patricio; he was placed on detached duty as a scout or courier until March 1, 1836, when he was

ordered to join Col. James C. Neill in Gonzales. After the fall of the Alamo, Taylor led his mother

and family to safety in the Runaway Scrape. He then caught up with the Texas army at Buffalo

Bayou on April 20 and fought in the battle of San Jacinto the next day. In 1840 Taylor took part in

the battle of Plum Creek against the Comanches with Daniel B. Friar's company. In 1841 he joined

the Texas Rangers and fought Indians with John Coffee Hays at Bandera Pass; the following year

he was wounded in the battle of Salado Creek. In the Mexican War he enlisted as a private in Capt.

Samuel H. Walker's company of Texas Mounted Rangers, which mustered into federal service on

April 21, 1846. Taylor fought at the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterrey, and

Buena Vista. He enlisted in the Confederate Army on February 13, 1864, in Col. John S. (Rip)

Ford's command. Taylor married Nancy Matilda Goodbread on April 25, 1840, and they became

the parents of two sons and a daughter. After Nancy died, Taylor moved to Kimble County and

married Lavinia Spencer, by whom he had several more children. He dictated his recollections to

James T. DeShields, who published them in 1935 in ‗Tall Men with Long Rifles.‘ Taylor died on

December 26, 1906, and was buried in Noxville Cemetery.‖

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Illinois and other places- Nelson, Hazelwood, Casey, Fairchild, Alexander, Hall, Chesser, Fannin, Herrin, Joy

Depending on your family view, you may perceive that your family should be one on the core

families. As I have developed this story I have come to similar deductions; however I couldn‟t

figure out a better way to present everything. Every time I turn over a new bunch of stuff it gets

bigger, please don‟t get your feelings hurt. I understand, ed.

Nelson- The Nelsons were friends of the Taylors and McDonalds going back to their time in North

Carolina. Hiram Nelson was a contemporary of Billington Taylor and Linville McDonald and their

families remained close for several generations. Joseph McDonald married Hiram‘s daughter,

Rhoda Jane Nelson, Feb. 14, 1849 in Jefferson County, Illinois, Rev. Elijah Lacey married them.

Hiram and his wife, Mary Anna Wiles Roundtree, and some of their children made the move to

Spring Creek with the rest of the crowd. Some Nelson‘s moved on to Seven Rivers, New Mexico

with the McDonalds and related folks in the 1890s.

Hazelwood- Cliff Hazelwood married Nancy Axley about 1796 in Livingston County, Kentucky.

Nancy was a sister to James Axley the Preacher and Pleasant Axley the father of Hannah and

Rachel. From Kentucky they moved with other family members to Illinois and settled in Alexander

County. I don‘t have reliable information but I think Jerry and Pete Hazelwood were sons of their

son, William.

Casey- Franklin Smith Casey was married to Rhoda Winters Taylor daughter of Billington Taylor

Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Modglin. They lived in Jefferson County, Illionois and their son Benjamin

Franklin Casey might have come to Texas with our families. In 1868 he married Melvina

McDonald.

Fairchild- Amos Fairchild was born in Washington County, Ohio in 1825. He was the son of

Erastus Fairchild and Elizabeth Giddings. The Fairchilds were a product of a Connecticut Family

that traces back to early colonial times. Amos married Lucretia Jane McDonald, the oldest on

Joseph‘s children, in 1850. They were wed in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois where the

Fairchilds had moved some ten years earlier, home to many of our families. Amos and family came

overland to Texas, stopping in Collins County, Texas for a few years; arriving in Gillespie County

in 1862, just at the beginning of the Civil War.

Alexander- There are two separate Alexander Families in our story.

John J. Alexander and his family were living in northeast corner of Louisiana in 1850. He

was born in Mississippi and his wife, Mary, was born in Kentucky. They moved their family a few

counties west, to Hunt County, Texas by 1860. How they got hooked up with our families is

conjecture, probably meeting the Taylor family in Hunt County. Daughter Catherine married

Thurman Taylor about 1853/54.

Bill Alexander took the long way around to Texas and marriage to Ruth Jane Lacey. He

was born in Ohio in 1846, his father came from Northern Ireland and his mother came from Wales.

Bill served in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, he was captured at Shilo, imprisoned in

Mississippi and Georgia, exchanged as a prisoner, went home and later rejoined his Regiment. He

15

was engaged in the struggles from Atlanta to Savannah. In 1864 he went to New York, then to St.

Louis and then home; not yet being 20 years of age. When he was about 25 he came to Kerr

County and did some cowboying for Creed Taylor.

Hall- Richard Griffey Hall was another Illinois boy, he and his brother Elijah had worked their

way west; possibly in the company of the Hazelwood boys. They might have been a part of

Thomas McDonald‘s group, for in 1858 in Grayson County, Texas he married Mariah McDonald.

In 1870 they were living in Spring Creek, Jerry Hazelwood was staying with them and Elijah was

the next family over. Indecently, on the other side were Elijah and Ruth McDonald Lacey.

Chesser- William Chesser brought his large family from Missouri to Texas during the 1850s,

settling in Burnet County. He like so many others in our story was a Methodist Minister. His wife

died about 1860 and he remarried a widow with two small children and she died a short time later.

His oldest son, John Dan, married in 1860 and started his own family; one of his first jobs was

carrying the mail to Fredericksburg; when the war broke out he served in the frontier defense

forces. Perhaps John Dan introduced his father to our families, in any event the widower, William

Chesser, married the widow Lucrecia Jane McDonald Fairchild and created one huge family and

adding a couple of more of their own.

Fannin- George Wesley Fannin was a cousin of Col. James Fannin of the Texas revolution fame.

His roots go back to Virginia, but he found himself in Jefferson County, Illinois in 1848. Here he

married Mary Mor McDonald in September of that year. They settled down in Morgan County but

sometime after 1857 they came to Texas. Settling on Spring Creek, in 1859, Mary was said to be

the first white woman to live there. George died there in 1860.

Herrin- Ramson Herrin was another Jefferson County boy, in 1849 he married Mary there. They

might have come overland with the Thomas McDonald crowd for the places of birth of their

children indicate the same pattern. Ransom was in the frontier defense forces and served in the

Gillespie County Minute Men 1872-1873. His son James married Rebecca Jane McDonald in 1879

in Gillespie County.

Joy- Wiley Joy was a frontiersman extraordinaire, as a child he was taken by Indians and held

captive for a few years. He married Elizabeth Frazier in 1828 and they settled in the Ozarks of

Arkansas. About 1858 it got too civilized there and he moved his family to Texas, first to the Doss

Ranch then to the James River of Kimble County, just a few miles on west from Harper and finally

to nearby Kerr County. His daughter Alwilda married Lafe McDonald at the outset of the Civil

War and his grandson Alonzo married Alwilda Taylor. After an unhappy event, which we will

recount later, he spent the last part of his life hunting down Indians.

Hudson- The Hudson Family although not directly related to our core families has been closely

related to many of our extended families for generations. Hulda Jane Joy married Henry Richard

Hudson and they were in Kerrville for the birth of their second son by 1856. This family settled

near Wiley Joy on Johnson Creek of the James River later. This family and others continued, on

years later, with others in our families to the Seven Rivers area of New Mexico.

16

The Locations

Hill Country

The following is a general description of the area West and North of San Antonio, an area spanning

several counties. This is an edited version of ‗The Handbook of Texas Online‘ article on the

subject. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/

― ‗Hill Country‘ is a vernacular term applied to a region including all or part of twenty-five

counties near the geographical center of Texas. In the geomorphological sense, the Hill Country

represents in large part a dissected plateau surface. It is bordered on the east and south by the

Balcones Escarpment, on the west by the relatively undissected Edwards Plateau, and on the north

by rolling plains and prairies. The elevation nowhere exceeds 1,300 feet and is typically less than

1,000 feet. Lying in the transition zone between humid and semiarid climates, the Hill Country

experiences both wet and dry years; at Fredericksburg eleven inches of precipitation was recorded

in 1956 and forty-one inches the next year. The vegetation originally consisted of a parklike, open

forest dominated by several types of oak, giving way in places to expanses of shinnery (dense

thickets of scrub oak), to prairie, or to dense juniper (colloquially called cedar) brakes. Both

mesquites and junipers have expanded as the environment has been disturbed. In the cultural sense

the Hill Country has been a meeting ground of Indian, Spaniard, Mexican, hill southern Anglo, and

northern European. The Apaches and their successors, the Comanches, left little imprint but did

retard Spanish colonial activities in the region. As early as 1860 the partition of the Hill Country

between the two groups that were to dominate it -hill southern Anglos and Germans- had been

accomplished.

―Between 1840 and 1850 significant numbers of settlers, mostly southern mountaineers had

been attracted to the Hill Country, particularly to Williamson, Hays, Comal, and Gillespie counties.

Settlers from the mountain states of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri composed the largest

nativity groups within the rural, immigrant, Anglo-American population of these counties. The

initial settlement of the remaining Hill Country counties occurred in the decade before the outbreak

of the Civil War, as migration into the hills continued on a larger scale. According to a count of the

1860 manuscript census the leading states of origin for the Anglo-American population were still

Arkansas and Tennessee. In the 1880 census the trend remained the same, supporting the claim that

migration from the Ozark, Ouachita, and Appalachian states was largely responsible for the

settlement of the Hill Country.

―But the southern mountaineers were not solely responsible for the peopling of the Hill

Country. Germans, mainly hill Hessians and Lower Saxons, introduced in the middle 1840s by the

Society of Nobles, occupied a corridor stretching 100 miles northwestward from New Braunfels

and San Antonio through Fredericksburg as far as Mason, along the axis of an old Indian route

known as the Pinta Trail, later called the Upper Emigrant Road. The towns of Fredericksburg,

Comfort, Boerne, and Mason all bear a strong German cultural imprint, as do numerous

neighboring hamlets and farms. By 1870 the population of Gillespie County was 86 percent

German, Comal 79 percent, Kendall 62 percent, and Mason 56 percent. Each river valley in the

German-settled portion of the Hill Country developed its own distinctive subculture, particularly in

the religious sense. The Pedernales valley in Gillespie County is a Lutheran-Catholic enclave

abounding in dance halls and ethnic clubs; the Llano valley in Mason and western Llano counties is

17

dominated by German Methodists, who avoid dancing, drinking, and card playing; and the

Guadalupe valley of Kendall County is the domain of freethinkers who maintain the only rural

stronghold of agnosticism in Texas. Other European groups in the Hill Country include Silesian

Poles, who settled at Bandera in the 1850s; Alsatians, who spread up from the Castroville area,

following streams such as Hondo Creek; and Britishers, who came as sheep raisers to Kerr and

Kendall counties. Blacks are largely absent in the Hill Country, though a few tiny freedmen

colonies, such as Payton Colony in Blanco County, occur. Hispanics form a relatively small

minority throughout the Hill Country.

―In the late 1970s a study was made to determine the extent and intensity of the Hill

Country as a perceptual region. Almost three-quarters of the people in the region so designated

identified ‗Hill Country‘ as the popular name for the area.‖

It was into this area that our Ruth McDonald Lacey and her families came.

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Locke Hill

From ‗Nine Mile Hill‘ on the Fredericksburg Road you could see the Alamo, a few miles further,

Ruth‘s son, W.J .‗Jack‘ Locke decided to settle. Some members of his family, possibly Elijah and

Ruth and some of their children, apparently intended to settled on Pipe Creek, to the west, in

Bandera County and Jack and his little group were living there. Jack bought land near the

Fredericksburg Road and built a log cabin there. He then returned to Pipe Creek for his pregnant

wife, Mary, and children; they didn‘t quiet make it back to the new digs, son Sam was born in the

wagon. From such a challenging start in 1861 things grew worse, 1862 to 1865 brought the

hardships of the Civil War. After the war things improved, Jack‘s brother, Lewis Madison Lacey,

brought his young family to the area; they ran a stage stop and ranched, by the 1870s there was a

Post Office and School in Locke Hill.

Spring Creek / Harper

The Fredericksburg Road ran another 60 miles or so to the northwest ending in that very German

town in Gillespie County. One of the main features of Gillespie County is the Pedernales River,

running west to east through the area. Ten or so miles due west of Fredericksburg on a tributary of

the Pedernales, Spring Creek, a small community sprang up in the 1860s / 1870s populated chiefly

by members of our ‗Family‘. It seems that, for a while, Spring Creek was a focal point for different

parts of the family as they spread westward into adjacent territory. Another eight or so miles to the

west, near the headwaters of the Pedernales, is an area that later developed the town of Harper.

This lovely countryside, lightly forested with plenty of water, would seem like a pioneer‘s

paradise, except for the Indians that is. The heads of our ‗Family‘ all lived and some of them died

in the Spring Creek/Harper district.

19

The Story; a Chronological View

This part of the saga has a couple of challenges: First, the telling of it, that‘s my challenge. I‘ll try

and make it interesting; I‘m a little apprehensive and hope my skill level is adequate to keep you

from falling asleep. Second, the reading of it, my intentions are to never finish this section

therefore you must be patient and keep up with developments. Depending on where you read this

please understand that what you read today might be improved tomorrow.

If you think of this story as an hourglass; all that‘s come before, the people and places, the

mountains of Tennessee, the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, the vast expanses of Texas, with the

people that plied them. Neck it down to the Fredericksburg Road plus a few miles more and then

open it again. Open it up to West Texas, then New Mexico and Arizona and in a few generations

the whole world, quite a tableau!

1840-1853ish

We‘ll start off with a bang, so to speak, with ‗The Battle of Plum Creek‘, August 12, 1840.

―The boldest and most concentrated of the Indian invasions on Texas, and the deepest into

the heart of Texas soil, occurred in August of 1840 and culminated in the Battle of Plum Creek.‖

(Courtesy of lsjunction.com)

Tension between the Indians and the Texans had been steadily escalating for several years. They

came to a head in early 1840 in what became known as the Council House Fight in San Antonio.

The Indians had come to San Antonio on what started out as a peace mission, but a dispute ended

in the death of seven Texans and over thirty-five Indians. As a result, the already diminished trust

between the Texans and Indians totally collapsed, and the Indians began making plans for

retaliation.

The Indians sought revenge; it began in early August, when a war party of about 600 Comanches

and Kiowas moved down from the Texas hill country all the way to Victoria and nearby Linnville

on the Gulf of Mexico. They carefully avoided the settlements on the Guadalupe valley, and thus

made the trip undetected when they reached Victoria on the afternoon of August 6. After raiding

and looting on the Texas coast, the Indians began their return, back-tracking northward just east of

the Guadalupe River.

By then, news of the raids on Victoria and Linnville had spread through the settlements. Volunteers

from Gonzales under Matthew Caldwell and from Bastrop under Ed Burleson were soon gathered

and on the way to the site agreed upon to intercept the Indians. The Comanches were already in

sight as the two contingents of Texans joined forces. As the Texans approached, most of the

Indians formed a line in front of their horses and pack mules. After some time, however, the

Indians began retreating and separating, so that the battle turned into a long running fight. The

Comanches lost over eighty warriors in the battle that stretched for almost fifteen miles. Others

were captured, including squaws and children, and much of the plunder taken at Victoria and

Linnville was recovered. The Texans lost one man killed and seven wounded.

20

This fight and the events surrounding began a series of events that led to the expulsion of the

Indians from Texas. By the late 1850s almost any Indian adult male in the State was considered up

to no good and fair game; it must also be noted that the Indians had come to the same conclusion.

Plum Creek has another significance to our story; Peter White, Samuel McCulloch Jr., Rufe Perry,

Creed Taylor and, I suspect, other participants became related to, or close neighbors to our

families.

As Texas was struggling for its identity, back in southern Illinois things were getting down right

civilized. Matt Taylor (age 38) was working as a stonemason and preaching; and wife, Hannah,

was raising a young family. Hannah‘s sister Rachel also had a family to raise with her husband,

Tom McDonald (age 37). Tom‘s sister Ruth and her minister/doctor husband, Elijah Lacey (age

36) were moving their family about as the ministry required. Brother, Joe McDonald (age 25) and

his young wife Elizabeth and their young children were keeping the never-ending farmer‘s life.

The youngest of our families, Eli McDonald, was still a toddler.

Elijah‘s father, Lionel, had been in the Illinois Militia like most of his peers during the Indian

disturbances of the early 1800s; the threat of Indians was now almost non-existent. Building

communities, farms and families was uppermost in most people‘s minds.

The Methodists of that era were a very evangelical lot. They didn‘t think too much of slavery and

in this neck of the woods they didn‘t have much conflict over that. Southern Illinois had few

slaves, the bulk of the inhabitants were mid-south frontiersmen who were used to doing their own

work or northeasterners who thought very little of the institution. However one area of daily life

that brought the frontier clergy to odds with many men, was the counter-productivity (to put it

mildly) of alcohol. But the affable nature of the frontiersman overcame much of that; you do in

your space, I‘ll do in mine, if you don‘t badger me too much we‘ll get along fine. The one area that

frontier religion was unflappable in was a person‘s direct and un-negotiable relationship with God.

When folks left the East Coast for the most part they left behind structured religion and religious

settings. As things matured on the frontier, as local congregations sprang up they served a social

purpose but the uppermost thing in every preachers mind was ‗what is your relationship to God‘.

The evangelical fervor was never quenched.

In 1840, up the road in Springfield, Abe Lincoln (age 31) was a well-established states legislator

and lawyer. The year before he had started seeing Mary Todd and in a couple of years they would

start a family of their own. They were on the way to a little migration of their own for in 1846 he

was elected to the U.S. Congress.

Of course, all this settling down in Illinois would have just the opposite effect on some, as you

westerners have no doubt observed in your own families. Maybe a young feller, settles down, starts

a business, gets a house of his own…. or both. Then one day he‘s talking to friend or a letter

comes, or something and…. Bam! Pack the wife and kids and we‘re off to new horizons.

Matt Taylor was the first to go and maybe the inspiration for the rest. Whether it was a letter from

his cousins, the Winters or perhaps the Methodist Church that got them going, they went.

21

Pack the wagon, put the wife and kids aboard, cross the Mississippi and head southwest. When you

cross into Arkansas, at about the middle of the border with Missouri you‘re in Izard County, a fine

place to stop. In 1843 his last child, Permelia, was born there. He plied his trade as a brick mason

and followed his calling as a circuit rider for the Methodists. After a few years, possibly due to the

fact that Texas was annexed in 1845, the wagon moved again for in 1850 we find him in Hunt Co.

(in the northeast corner) Texas.

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Victoria who had become Queen of England in 1837 at

age 18, married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1840; like others in our story she was

raising a family. England was coming out of a peaceful and non-violent revolution and embarking

on path that made it the greatest empire in the history of the world. Not so with much of the rest of

Europe, political change and social unrest washed themselves across most of Western Europe,

Prince Albert‘s Germany was no exception. Germany was not a formal country, as we know it, but

a loosely allied Federation of States joined by language and customs. It wasn‘t until the 1870s the

Germany was united under Bismark.

By the 1840s thousands of Germans had already headed for the New World. Meanwhile in drawing

rooms across Germany, the nobility and educated were discussing the unrest across their land. Out

of this came an organization know as the Adelsverein or the Society of Noblemen. As they

explored options, Texas often came to the forefront of discussion with its vast areas and unlimited

opportunities. In the midst of their search, one of the Noblemen, Prince Carl Solms, a first cousin

to Queen Victoria, met an American named Henry Fisher. Fisher had arrived in Bremen, Germany

as the official consul of the Republic of Texas.

As happens when dealing with Texas, one thing led to another, the unexpected or unplanned for

cropped up and there were financial difficulties, but the lure of Texas prevailed. In March 1845 the

first group sponsored by the Society had landed at Indianola and moved up and founded New

Braunfels. Soon more immigrants were on the way, where to put them? After painful starts and

stops the next group of settlers, 120 men, women and children made camp at what would become

Fredericksburg in Gillespie County; the date, May 8, 1846.

Now is a good time for a geography lesson. For those of you that stayed awake in 10th or 11th

grade Geography and American History, close your eyes and imagine that big wall map in the

classroom; for those of you that didn‘t, fake it. For everyone else, somewhere in this collection is

that same map; open it and follow.

Right above where the Ohio River joins the Mississippi River, that‘s southern Illinois. Now find

Austin TX, that‘s just above and to right from San Antonio. If you imagine a line connecting

southern Illinois and Austin that‘s sorta the emigrant trail in to the heart of Texas. See where it

passes by Little Rock, Arkansas then across the Red River near Texarkana? Go a little west and

you‘re in Hunt County, Texas and next to that is Collin County and just above that is Grayson

County. Do you have all that?

Austin is in Travis County due west is Blanco County then Gillespie County and home. The

emigrant trail at the time of the California Gold Rush continued on from there through the desolate

22

reaches of West Texas across the Pecos River and then in another 150 miles or so, El Paso. The last

town before this stretch was Fredericksburg, today at 80 miles an hour it takes most of a day to El

Paso; back then at maybe 15 miles a day with very little water and very many Indians…. Just think

about it for a while. This transportation system in 1849 was known as the upper emigrant trail and

went on through to San Diego, California.

Now back to our lesson. You‘ve got Gillespie County all worked out, right? Go back to Travis

County (Austin) and make a counterclockwise arc right around Gillespie County and back;

Williamson County, Burnet County, Llano County, Mason County, drop down, Kimble County,

Kerr County, then back to Kendall County and Bexar County with San Antonio, is just below

Kendall.

There is a reason behind all this madness, these Counties come up over and over again in our story.

But WAIT!…. for $19.95 plus shipping and handling we will throw in one more free lesson: Go

back to southern Illinois, follow the Mississippi River down to New Orleans, turn West and follow

the coast down past Galveston to Matagorda Bay. There just below present day Port Lavaca was

the Port of Indianola where the Germans landed in the 1840s. Over the ensuing few years an

overland route through Goliad to San Antonio developed, from there westward to Chihuahua,

Mexico or else through to El Paso, the lower emigrant trail. But for our story the road continued

out of San Antonio either through Selma to Austin or through LockeHill to Fredericksburg; The

Fredericksburg Road. You got all that? There will be a quiz at the end of the week.

In January 1848, just above Sacramento, California, James Marshall discovered gold while

building a sawmill for John Sutter. In December 1848, in a message to Congress, President Polk

confirmed the discovery of gold in California. By June 1849 there were about 200 deserted ships in

San Francisco harbor because the crews had abandoned them for the goldfields. The population of

San Francisco grew from 1000 in 1848 to an estimated 100,000 by December of 1849 gold fever

had gripped the nation.

In September 1848, Ruth‘s oldest son Jack Locke married Mary England the daughter of

Methodist, Minister of the Gospel, William England. A year later Jack next younger brother, Asa,

would marry Rosanna England, Mary‘s sister. The families were growing.

When the Census was taken in June 1850, Matt Taylor was in Hunt County, Texas, nearby lived

the oldest of the Banta boys, Henry, with his family. Sometime after that the wagons were rolling

again, this time California. Who all actually started on the trip is obscure but some deductions can

be made, certainly the Taylors, maybe a Winters cousin or two, members of the Joy family,

possibly some of the Banta boys and maybe others from Illinois.

If they hustled along, in a couple of months they would get to Fredericksburg, the last chance to

stock up, perhaps they even stayed for a while. The Gillespie County area was nice, plenty of

water, not to many people and even though it was on the edge of the settlements at this time, in its

history Indians weren‘t an over concern. They were going to California, gotta roll on. Another two

or three months of arduous travel would bring them to the banks of the Pecos River. Maybe rest up

and prepare for the next and drier leg of the journey, thru to El Paso. While camped along the

23

Pecos other wagons appeared from the West, discouraged emigrants on their way back. Their

report, the wells and streams to the West were dry and conditions seemed intolerable. A pow-wow

among the Taylor party was held and the decision was made to turn back, maybe they could find a

place in Gillespie Co. It looked pretty nice there.

1854-1860

Meanwhile, back in Illinois the mailman must have been busy or perhaps some of the young men

had been to Texas for a visit. By 1853, 1854 at the latest, Elijah Lacey and Joe McDonald had

decided to head west. Some of their older children had married and settled down, they would be

along later.

First Joe and Elijah and families left, down the Mississippi River on a paddle wheel steamer to

New Orleans. At that port all the household goods and wagons and animals, if they brought them,

had to be trans-shipped to a coastal packet headed for Indianola. Whether they came as one large

group or as smaller groups is unclear. What is certain is the fact that they stopped along the way,

possibly for some time. As evidence, Elijah‘s daughter, Mahala, and her husband John had a baby

when they were in Goliad in 1854, while Mahala‘s brother, Lewis, met a local girl, Margaret

White, whom he would marry in 1861. As this band worked their way along, they seemed to have

been thinking of settling at Pipe Creek, some miles west of San Antonio. However Asa Lacey was

the first interested in the area just north of San Antonio but it would take his brother Jack Locke to

actually buy some property and settle in to what would become Locke Hill Community.

Joe‘s younger brother, Eli McDonald must have come with them, for in November 1857, at age 18,

he married Matt Taylor‘s daughter Caroline; Rev. Elijah Lacey officiating.

Tom might have taken a little more convincing. Tom and his family, seem to have come overland.

They traveled possibly with others from Illinois as evidenced by the fact that his daughter, Suzanna

married hometown boy, Dick Hall in Grayson Co. TX in April 1858. Over the next couple of years

they all came including relatives and neighbors; Nelsons, Hazelwoods, Fairchild, Caseys, Herrins

and more. The extended family, with the exception possibly of Jack and Lewis, all lived at one

time or another in Gillespie Co.

The families didn‘t move right in to Spring Creek and settle down in one happy commune, they

sort of trickled in and then later filtered out. A good example is Tom and Rachel McDonald and

their younger ones. They first settled on Willow Creek and then they moved to the Doss Ranch

where Thomas ran the ranch for the Doss Brothers. The Doss Ranch was just over the ridge, to the

north of Spring Creek. Next they moved to Sherman and built the first house in Basin Springs and

then back to the Doss Ranch. Later they settled into what would be called the Spring Creek

Community.

It‘s a little hard for us to envision the time element; it takes some time perhaps a year to settle in.

There were no houses, sometimes a little lean-to might do, usually a log cabin or dugout was

required, planting crops and building corrals were the next most important. In Tom and Rachel‘s

story just mentioned there was probably five or six years between Willow Creek and Spring Creek.

25

Mahala Lacey‘s husband, John H. Lacey had enlisted in a different outfit of the Texas Cavalry,

CSA and was heading to one of the costliest battles of the war, The Battle of Stones River, near

Murfeesboro, Tennessee. Here one of the saddest but recurring family events of the war, brother

fighting against brother occurred. John in the Texas Cavalry (dismounted) faced his brothers James

and Theophilus in the Twenty Second Illinois; Theophilus was killed outright and James was to

later die of his wounds.

A younger Lacey brother, Joshua Collins, or ―Coll‖ chose a different scenario. After New Orleans

fell to the Yankee‘s, he made his way there and enlisted in the First Texas Cavalry Volunteers,

USA, in October 1862 and served with that Regiment until the end of the War. He was discharged

in October 1865. He had been wounded by a gunshot through the right side in a skirmish in 1863.

On March 3, 1876, the Adjutant General‘s Office, Washington, D.C. listed the following

information incidental to the application:

―Pension File No. 213.123. That Joshua Lacy was enrolled 28th day of October, 1862, at

New Orleans in Co. A, 1st Regt., Texas Cavalry Volunteers, to serve 3 years, and was mustered

into service as a Private on the 6th day of November 1862 at New Orleans, La., in same company

and regiment and to serve 3 years.‖

On the Muster Roll of Co. A of that Regiment for the months of Nov. and Dec., 1863 he is reported

Joshua C. Lacy, Sergt, present. Sept. and Oct., 1863, Private, absent wounded and taken prisoner

near Franklin, La., Oct. 4th, 1863. Regtl. Return for Oct. 1863 reports him, Private, missing in

action Oct. 12, 1863, New Iberia, La. Co. roll for Nov. and Dec., 1863, reports him Sergt, present.

Remark, promoted from Private, Dec. 21st, 1863. Escaped from Confederate hospital, Alexandria.

Returned to duty, Dec. 20th, 1863. (Regtl. Return for Dec. 1863 reports him escaped from rebels

and reported at Brownsville, Dec. 20, 1863). Muster Roll of a Detachment of said Co., dated Oct.

31st, 1865, reports him, Joshua C. Lacey, 1st Sergt, Present, and mustered out with detachment at

that date at San Antonio, Texas. No evidence of wound as alleged Oct. 1st, 1863, or that Co. was

engaged in action at that date. Oct. 1, 1863, Co. was encamped at Risland, La. Oct. 2nd took line of

march to Franklin, La. Oct. 3rd on march on road leading to New Iberia, which is about 28 miles

from Franklin. Oct. 4th Co. was engaged in action about 2 miles from Newton, La. No record to

show that Co. was engaged in action Oct. 12th, 1863 other than stated on Return for Oct.1863.

Prisoner of War Records furnish no information.

When McCord‘s Frontier Regiment was sent East they were replaced in the area around Gillespie

County with the Third Frontier District, at first commanded by James M. Hunter.

It was manned by older men and invalids back from other service. Jack Locke was just old enough

to be exempt from the draft but was a prime candidate for the Third Frontier District, he was voted

in as Captain of a company in Gillespie County. That he was elected Captain, spoke well of his

leadership abilities, but something, whether it was local politics or the unrelenting issues of the

Confederate cause pushed him to desert to the Union lines. Jack wound up serving with some of

his kinsmen in the Second Texas Cavalry Volunteers USA along the Rio Grande as a Lieutenant.

Jack left his wife, Mary, and their two small children at their cabin near what would become

LockeHill until he returned in the summer of 1865. Mary was on her own, growing what she could,

26

they ate wild berries and acorns, she trapped small animals and hunted with a bow and arrow; all

the while keeping a lookout for Indians that were plaguing the vicinity.

The men in the Frontier Regiment had the advantage of being near home but as the months went

by their job became increasingly overwhelming. Deserters had been making their way to the

sparsely populated regions, draft evaders of unsavory character and others had formed bands of

bushwhackers; stealing what they want, killing whom they please and terrorizing unprotected

women and children. Law and order had crumbled. It fell to the frontier forces to do the best they

could, sometimes they reacted to harshly and too indiscriminately and that led to complaints about

them as well.

Which leads us to the last category, men who for moral reasons did not want to be in Confederate

service and around Gillespie County they were numerous, folks like our families that were to far

from the Union line to take their families back or the Germans mentioned before. The usual ploy

was just to not be home when the enrolling officer came around which wasn‘t to difficult most of

the time; neighbors and family understood, the country had innumerable places to hide, most of the

time. The often-insurmountable problem was when organized groups of men came looking for you.

James Duff and his Confederate Partisan Ranger Company conducted a reign of terror in the Hill

Country between May 1862 and March 1863. Duff‘s unit was ordered to the Hill Country by

General Hamilton Bee to suppress activities that were considered disloyal to the Confederacy

among German settlers there. Duff and his men were given to summary executions rather that law,

they murdered many citizens in the area; among them were Sebird Henderson, Gus Tegner, Frank

Scott and Hiram Nelson. The four men were rounded up, beaten and hung, then rocks were tied to

their feet and they were thrown into Spring Creek in the summer of 1862. The bodies were

retrieved by family and buried in Spring Creek Cemetery. Hiram Nelson was the father of Joe

McDonald‘s wife Rhoda.

Duff‘s brutality gave way to another family story, that of the fate of Amos Fairchild. Family

tradition had always said that Amos had met a similar fate including having his legs chopped off,

but no confirmation existed; that may well have been a myth that sprang out of Duff‘s violent

ways. In recent years a document has come to light, dictated by Amos‘ daughter, Gillette, to her

daughter, Emma ―Amy‖ Taylor, in Animas, NM. Amy wrote that Amos died at Eagle Pass, TX in

1865; that Amos met his death while working for Mr. Hunter and that he was a Union man all of

his life. This story is supported by history, Major James Hunter; a man well known in Gillespie Co.

had taken command of the Third Frontier District Organization that succeeded the Frontier

Regiment in 1864. Hunter‘s area of operations was from the area around Gillespie Co. to the Rio

Grande and by this time they had to deal with many desperate and lawless men. The Frontier

Organization was made up of older men were the issue of loyalties wasn‘t such a big deal, which

sets a stage for Emma Taylor‘s document to ring true.

Let‟s switch from trials and tribulations of war to the trials and tribulations of the frontier. Zed

Taylor had been at forefront of the family adventures and possibly his accounts of the potential of

things down the road fueled his father and others to get up and go. He and his wife Margrit had

come to Gillespie County 1855, in 1857, shortly after the birth of their second child, Margrit died.

Like many in his family he was a very religious man and loved to attend ‗Camp Meetings‘. On one

27

such occasion he met a beautiful young girl of nineteen, named Dorcas Hayes, and on the last day

of 1860 they were married. The coming months brought both the excitement of just being… and

the uncertainties of the war.

Zed enlisted in July of 1861 and, as was common in Texas outfits, he was elected Sergeant. Dorcas

had her two stepchildren to keep her company and she was looking forward to her own child at the

end of the year. As November drew near, Sergeant Taylor asked for leave to be with his wife, an

accident in which he broke his foot made his leave possible even sooner. His foot healed nicely, he

was able chink and daub the log house and to repair the huge stone fireplace. His family and

neighbors pitched in and built him a smokehouse for the winter‘s supply of meat; for Dorcas had

raised a lot of hogs. With the help of friends, he butchered the hogs on November 20th

, the next day

the baby was born. On the 25th

he was called back to the service. The first of December brought a

warm spell, Dorcas got up from her bed to look after the newly butchered meat; it was all too much

for her and by December 5th

she was dead.

In London, a few days later, at Windsor Castle, Queen Victoria‘s beloved husband, Prince Albert

died from typhoid fever. Victoria remained in self-imposed seclusion for the next ten years. This

genuine but obsessive mourning kept her occupied for the rest of her life and played an important

role in the evolution of what would become the Victorian mentality.

Zed was released from service to take care of his children, his parents, Matt and Rachel, lived

nearby and they of course helped. In May 1862, there was a big Camp Meeting near where Harper

is now and Zed was there. After morning services Deacon Zed and two other men went down to

the spring to wash and bring water for the noon meal. As he stooped down to wash a large water

moccasin struck at him, Zed pulled back, drew his revolver and shot the snake. He holstered his

pistol but something happened and it fell out; striking a rock it went off. The ball entered Zed‘s

chest. He spoke only six words ―God have mercy on my Children‖ and died. Alice, James and

Hattie were orphans.

In April 1862 New Orleans fell to Union forces under Admiral Farragut, on the eastern front

battles raged in and around Virginia, on what was considered the western front, there was fighting

in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee; summer changed to winter, as December changed to

January, John Lacey was freezing and fighting the Battle of Stones River.

On the frontier lawlessness was growing and the Indians, emboldened by the lack of manpower in

Texas, were growing ever more brazen. Our families were very self reliant so the shortage of

manufactured goods that Texas was experiencing, hardly bothered them, nonetheless the lack of

sewing needles for the home, iron for the blacksmith and gunpowder, percussion caps and lead for

firearms had to crimp their already meager lifestyles. The biggest shortage, by far, was strong

backs; sure they could get by, but month after month turning into year after year without the

muscle required to chop down trees, till new ground, hunt and raise and butcher stock took its toll.

As the Yankees moved north from New Orleans in the fall of 1862 and into 1863 the boys in

Waller‘s Battalion were fighting constant skirmishes and a few pitched battles with them in the

bayous of western Louisiana. In Austin, there was a struggle of other sorts going on, the struggle

with the Confederate Government in Richmond over military manpower. In the first year they had

28

allowed frontier units like the 1st Texas Rifles to be transferred to Confederated Army control and

they had raised other regiments for regular service but Richmond wanted more. Texas didn‘t feel

that they had more to give, after all the less than two thousand men of the Frontier Regiment were

doing what it took one-quarter of the entire U.S. Army to do before the war.

Young Lafe McDonald had fallen in love with beautiful Alwilda Joy and in April 1864 they were

wed, Rev. Elijah Lacey performed the service. No sooner than Lafe had returned to Company A,

they were notified that they were being transferred to Confederate service and were moving

eastward, and most certainly to combat with Union troops. The men from our families and some of

their friends had strong Northern sentiments, what to do? Asa Lacey made his way directly to New

Orleans and enlisted with his brother in the 1st Texas, USA. Lafe McDonald, along with Ed Janes

and Toby Joy, and perhaps in the company of Thurman Taylor and others took off for Mexico and

finally reached the Union lines at Brazos, TX and joined the Second Battalion Texas Cavalry, USA

and served from March to November 1865.

Next we will let Lafe tell you the story from his memoirs:

This is taken from “Memoirs on Lafe McDonald, Frontier Times”:

―My people were Union in their sentiments. My father could never reconcile himself to the

belief that it was right to rebel against the United States government. I was but eighteen years old

at the time, but had imbibed my father‘s sentiments. But not knowing what to do, I first joined a

ranger company, enlisting under Captain Jim Hunter. This captain soon resigned and Capt. Wm.

Banta was chosen as his successor. This was in 1862. During this time we were stationed at various

camps, the first being Camp Verde in Kerr County. From there we went to a place on the Llano

River that we called ‗Camp Pumpkin-Head‘. Then to old historic Fort Mason and I have never

forgotten that beautiful, gurgling spring near the old fort. From Mason we went to the mouth of

Spring Creek in Gillespie County, and then to Camp Davis on White Oak Creek.

―During the time I was in this service and when I was just twenty years of age, I was

married to a very beautiful girl named Alwilda Joy. Old Uncle Lige (Elijah), a pioneer Methodist

preacher performing the marriage ceremony.

―I did not get to remain with her very long, for my services were required with the rangers,

I soon had to leave her never to see her beautiful face again, the fatal circumstances to be told

further on in this narrative.

―We were soon notified that we would be required to enlist as regular soldiers in the

Confederate service. This, with my Northern sentiments, I did not desire to do. In company with Ed

Jaynes and John Joy, I ran away. We were called deserters, and a company of Confederate soldiers

was sent to arrest us. This was in 1864. The Confederates were under command of Capt. Louis

Dixon, We had started to Mexico but the Confederates overtook us and demanded us to halt. We

ran into a thicket and the Confederates fired, but overshot. Limbs of trees fell all around us. I

wanted to return fire, but my two companions would not, saying we did not have a shadow of a

chance of driving the company back. John Joy and Ed. Jaynes went back of the thicket. I stood

where I was, the company advanced and at last a German fellow spied me. He darted back but told

him to come on, that we would surrender. They did so, and we were disarmed, and started back

29

under heavy guard. We did not know what they intended to do with us but we supposed they would

shoot us as deserters. There was not the best feeling between myself and Dixon, owing to a little

trouble I had with his brother, Bill Dixon, who hit me on the head with a loaded quirt. I thought

Louis Dixon held malice towards me on account of that difficulty with his brother. So the first

opportunity I had, I whispered to my companions that we would stay awake and some time after

midnight, arise and overpower the guard and try to make our escape, but my comrades thought it

unwise to do so. I however, lay awake. Late In the night when they thought we were asleep, I heard

Dixon talking about us. I heard him say: ‗That Lafe McDonald Is a good boy; but he has gotten In

with a bad set, and he, like the rest, must take his medicine‘.

―Early the next morning they started on with us, keeping us heavily guarded all the time.

That night they camped near some old log houses. One house had been built first, and later another

room had been added by putting the ends of the logs into the cracks of the one that had been built

first. There was no door to the room built last except the door coming out of the other room I sized

It up and saw if we were placed in that room that night, we could slip a log, where the two rooms

joined and make our escape, and I was willing to try nearly anything.

―Fortunately Dixon and his men had secured some watermelons from a field nearby. They

generously gave us one, and one of our men said, ‗Boys, lets go back into that room and eat ours.‘

We were allowed to go unmolested, for the Confederates thought there was no way for us to

escape. They sat down in groups in front of the door, and began eating watermelons. We passed

into the room, put down our melon, slipped the log, and crawled out, keeping the house between

ourselves and the enemy. We were soon in the timber completely out of sight. We ran as hard as

we could go for about eight or nine miles when we stopped to rest. We listened and heard the

tinkling of a cowbell. My hearing was extra good, and I knew what it was; but John Joy contended

that it was the bark of hounds on our trail, so we started and ran again until we were completely

exhausted. We were very hungry and kept thinking of the watermelon we left behind; but what was

liberty compared to a watermelon. Well, we lay out in the brush for a few days when hunger forced

me to venture up to my father‘s house. My mother was greatly excited on seeing me, and said:

‗Lafe, are you not gone yet? The soldiers are thick around here, it is impossible for you to get

away.‘ She knew I was trying to get to Mexico, I said ‗Get a sack and fill It with provisions, quick‘.

She did so, and I merged into the darkness to the hiding place of my companions. I said as I started

‗Pa, get me a horse to the Bill Gamel Ranch on the Llano.‘ He did so, and a few days after that

seven of us started from the Gamel Ranch to old Mexico. There was, besides myself, John Joy,

Geo. Davidson, Ed Jaynes (there seems to be three missing). We were all mounted but I had no

saddle. I rode all the way to Mexico bareback.

―We took some provisions with from the Gamel Ranch, but depended mostly on securing

food on the route. We left in too much haste to make much preparation for the trip. At one time our

supply of provisions was entirely exhausted, and we lived on prickly-pear apples. At last the majes-

tic Rio Grande was reached and we crossed at Nuevo Pueblo, or New Town, as we called it in

English. It was the time of the Maximilian affair in Mexico, and the country, like the one we left,

was in a very disturbed condition. We were anxious to keep our horses and sidearms, but did not

know if we would be allowed to do so. We left our horses at Nuevo Pueblo, and reported to the

Alcalde at Piedras Negras. He treated us with considerable courtesy, but seemed to be a little

suspicious. He asked us what we had done with our horses. We told him we had traded them for

provisions. He then had us placed under arrest. One of our men became scared and kept talking

30

about his horse, and the Mexicans understood. The Alcalde told us they would have to take our

horses and firearms, lest they might fall into the hands of the French. They then released us, but

sent and got our property.

―Being bereft of our horses, we began seeking work. A great many cotton bales had been

floated across the Rio Grand, and we were employed to pick off the damp cotton and spread it out

in the sun to dry. At this occupation we worked about two weeks. Then a man came there from

Santa Rosa seeking help in the silver mines. We went with him and worked about a month, it was

raining and the water was pouring into the mouth of the shaft. Our employer decided to build a roof

over it. We were sent to Rio Sabinas to split cypress shingles for that purpose. This was a change

from the laborious task of digging out silver ore, and we greatly enjoyed it. We were in camp there

about two weeks after which we returned to Piedras Negras. While there, we were joined by Tobe

and Dick Joy, They had made their way into Mexico, and in some manner heard of us, and sought

us out. While there, we heard that Mrs. Joy and her daughter had been killed by the Indians, but I

did not know if it was my mother-in-law, and my wife that were killed, or if it were another Mrs.

Joy and her daughter. I was, of course, very uneasy, but bad no way of getting facts in the case.

Dear Alwilda, it was cruel to be separated from her, at such a time; but such are the ordeals, of war.

―We at last decided to leave Piedras Negras and go to the mouth of the Rio Grande to where

we knew some Federal troops were stationed. The distance was seven hundred miles, and we were

afoot. There were now nine of us. The trip was a long, weary one, fraught with many privations;

but we finally made it, walking every step of the way. We crossed the river in a ferryboat, and

reached the Federal troops. With them, we went to the Brazos Island. From there we took

transportation on a boat to New Orleans, where we were mustered into the regular army. This was

in February 1865, and we were sworn in on the 11th day of March, following, under Capt. James

Speed. We were then sent back to Brazos Island, and after remaining there for awhile we were sent

to Brownsville. From there Lieut. James, with some men, was sent to Laredo. I was with them.

From there we scouted back and forth, during the rest of the war. It was while here that we heard of

Lee‘s surrender at Appomattox. There was much rejoicing, because it meant that the cruel war was

over and that we could go back in peace and safety to our homes. Visions of my young bride came

up before me and would shudder when I would think of the report that a Mrs. Joy and her daughter

had been killed by the Indians. I went to San Antonio, and there met old Joe McDonald and be

related the sad circumstances. It was indeed Alwilda and her mother who had been murdered. With

a sad and broken heart, I returned to Laredo and it was there I received an honorable discharge

from the army.‖

In the autumn of 1864 the beautiful Alwilda Joy McDonald was living with her parents on the

James River in neighboring Kimble County about 25 miles from her Gillespie County in-laws, the

Monroe McDonald family. Alwilda was getting antsy for a letter from her husband and because of

the distances and sparse population maybe a little lonely. Living with Monroe and his wife Becky

(Taylor) was Monroe and Lafe‘s sister Mary Fannin and her four children. She was a widow and a

favorite aunt of Alwilda‘s. So one day Alwilda and her mother saddled up and went to the

McDonald‘s for a visit, which they no doubt much enjoyed. They stayed several days, when it was

time to return they were trying to persuade Aunt Mary to return with them. She decided not to at

the last minute and they got a late start, not concerned about the road home because it was a full

moon. Their little outing turned to tragedy a few miles from the McDonald‘s, the women were

31

attacked by Indians and murdered. A traveler found the bodies and the family buried them in the

Spring Creek Cemetery.

With that bit of grim reporting we‘ll end our family view of the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee

surrendered in April 1865; Texas held on for another month or so and collapsed. When the Union

Army rode into Texas the slave population of East Texas didn‘t even know they were free. On June

19, 1865 Major General Gordon Granger read General Order #3 to the people of Galveston,

Juneteenth and no more slavery, Reconstruction had begun.

Our fellow traveler from Illinois, Abe Lincoln, was assassinated in Ford‘s Theater and his family

brought him home to Springfield on the train.

Ruth and Elijah continued to minister to folks in the area.

This concludes Part One of our Story.

Part Two will back track a little and review the local events of 1860.

It will also recap the War years, and

follow Ruth‟s extended family through the 1885ish period.

[Return to TOC]

32

Part II

Ruth McDonald Lacey and Spring Creek-LockeHill

1860-1885 The founding of Spring Creek and LockeHill

Ruth‟s son Lewis and his wife Margaret

We‘ll change tack here a little bit and go from a continuous story to more of a series of essays of

the various people and places. This part of the story will attempt to cover the extended family as

they settled in at Spring Creek, Gillespie County, also LockeHill, near San Antonio, and other

places.

The first section will cover 1860-1870. We will take a little step back and look at Spring Creek

and environs at its beginnings around 1860 and try to give a little peek at what it was all about.

Then give a fuller picture of the War years and returning home; the conditions and the families as

they both continued to move and settled in. LockeHill, Kimble County and Kerr County will also

be in our sights.

The second section will cover 1870-1885. Will start out with a recap of the 1870 Census and

where they were; we will also cover the Minutemen of Gillespie County. As things settled down a

School and Church sprang up in both LockeHill and Spring Creek but that stability seemed to

unsettle some and some notable migrations continued. Also on the program, we will visit Ruth and

Elijah last days.

33

1860-1870

1860 Census Observations

This chart is offered in an effort to give you a picture of Who and Where, with the hope that it

helps put things in a better perspective.

The section immediately below is transcribed from the US Census. Families 377 thru 393 are from

the Cherry Springs enumeration, families 297 thru 309 are from Precinct 3 of Gillespie County,

They seem to be contiguous and taken together and compared to the Map of Gillespie County

below should give an accurate illustration.

The balance of the ‗Core Families‘ are summarized after this. The ID# are from the ―Chart of

Individuals‖ found at the end of this story. The numbering system was created to help keep track of

our families and their relationships, and who married who.

Family ID# Name Age Sex Occupation RealEst Value

PersProp Value

Birth Place

377 Joy, William(Wiley) 40 m Farmer $1,200 SC

377 Joy, Elizabeth 41 f IN

377 Joy, William 14 m AR

377 Joy, Elvine 13 f AR

377 Joy, Elizabeth 10 f AR

377 Joy, Trup 8 m AR

377 Joy, Charles 4 m AR

378 Joy, Richard 24 m Herdsman $280 AR

378 Joy, Elizabeth 21 f TN

378 Joy, Louisa 2 f TX

378 Joy, William 11mo m TX

379 Joy, John 27 m AR

379 Joy, Nanny 25 f TN

379 Joy, Henry 5 m AR

379 Joy, Cassanda 2 f AR

379 Joy, John 4mo m TX

380 Little, Betty 41 m? $300 TN

380 Little, Margarete 28 f TN

380 Little, Catherine 22 f TN

380 Little, James 20 m TN

380 Little, Betty 18 f AR

381 Isbell, William 28 m Blacksmith $400 SC

381 Isbell, Margarete 24 f TN

381 Isbell, Mary 3 f TX

381 Isbell, Johanna 1 f TX

382 Doss, Thomas 38 m Miller $2,800 $4,000 VA

382 Doss, Mary 28 f AR

382 Doss, William 40 m VA

382 Doss, Echell 22 m Miller IL

383 Littrell, Gary 26 m Herdsman $2,880 MO

34

384 Thomas, William 57 m Farmer $300 $2,000 GA

385 Hudson, Henry 36 m Herdsman $500 AL

385 Hudson, Hulda 31 f AR

385 Hudson, Alabama 5 f AR

385 Hudson, Columbus 4 m TX

385 Hudson, Stephen 2 m TX

385 Hudson, Richard 1mo m TX

386 2 McDonald, Thomas 57 m Herdsman $400 NC

386 McDonald, Rachel 57 f KY

386 2.6 McDonald, Robert 15 m IL

386 2.7 McDonald, William 13 m IL

386 2.8 McDonald, Josephine 10 f IL

386 2.9 McDonald, Samuel 7 m IL

387 Hall, Richard 23 m IL

387 2.5 Hall, Susanna 21 f IL

387 2.4.1 Hall, Thomas 1 m TX

387 2.4.2 Hall, Lafayette 1mo m TX

388 2.1 Fannin, Mary 32 f $400 IL

388 2.1.1 Fannin, Rachel 11 f IL

388 2.1.2 Fannin, Thomas 9 m IL

388 2.1.3 Fannin, Elizabeth 6 f IL

388 2.1.4 Fannin, Martin 5 m IL

388 2.1.5 Fannin, Barbara 3 f IL(?)

388 2.1.6 Fannin, Allia 1 f IL(?)

389 2.2 McDonald, James 30 m IL

389 1.4 McDonald, Rebecca 32 f IL

389 2.2.1 McDonald, Albert 2 m TX

390 5 McDonald, Elley 23 m Herdsman $300 IL

390 1.6 McDonald, Carolina 24 f IL

390 ? McDonald, Fransica 7mo f TX

390 Baye, Mendelin 19 m IL

391 Hueleman, Theodor 45 m School Teacher Hanover

392 Mund, Conrad 31 m Farmer $400 $675 Hanover

392 Mund, Henriette 24 f Hanover

392 Mund, Johanna 3 f TX

392 Mund, August 2 m TX

393 Dietz, John 33 m Farmer $400 $1,400 Hessia

393 Dietz, Elizabeth Prussia

393 Dietz, Sophie 8 f TX

297 Staut, George 49 m Farmer $400 $620 Nassau

297 Staut, Mary 46 f Nassau

297 Staut, John 21 m Wagoner Nassau

297 Staut, Annie 18 f Nassau

297 Staut, Catherine 17 f Nassau

297 Staut, Peter 13 m Nassau

298 Menges, John 39 m Farmer $350 $850 Nassau

298 Menges, Catherine 34 f Nassau

298 Menges, Adam 12 m TX

298 Menges, John 9 m TX

35

298 Menges, Mary 7 f TX

298 Menges, Lena 5 f TX

298 Menges, William 3 m TX

298 Menges, Anton 1 m TX

298 Menges, Peter 1 m TX

299 Keller, Adam 32 m Farmer $400 $850 Nassau

299 Keller, Catherine 24 f Nassau

299 Keller, Theodore 5 m TX

299 Keller, Francisca 3 f TX

299 Keller, Otto 10mo m TX

300 Lange, Elizabeth 53 f Nassau

300 Lange, Joseph 22 m Wagoner Nassau

301 Kallmeyer, Conrad 54 m Farmer $320 $760 Prussia

301 Kallmeyer, William 17 m Prussia

301 Kallmeyer, Fredrick 12 m TX

301 Kallmeyer, Mima 9 f TX

301 Kallmeyer, Hannchien 7 f TX

302 4.2 McDonald, Martin 24 m Herdsman $200 IL

302 McDonald, Elizabeth 25 f IL

302 4.2.1 McDonald, William 1 m TX

303 4 McDonald, Joseph 48 m Herdsman $800 IL

303 McDonald, Rosine 42 f IL

303 4.3 McDonald, Rufus 19 m IL

303 4.5 McDonald, Gillet 17 f IL

303 4.6 McDonald, Elizabeth 14 f IL

303 4.5 McDonald, Malvine 12 f IL

303 4.8 McDonald, Tillorina 11 f IL

303 4.9 McDonald, Jefferson 8 m TX

303 McDonald, William 4 m TX

304 Banta, Jacob 25 m $100 AL

304 4.4 Banta, Clarisane 19 f IL

304 Banta, John 4 m Tx

304 Liffle, George 31 m IL

305 Nelson, Hiram 29 m Herdsman $240 IL

305 Nelson, Anna 24 f IL

305 Nelson, Allen 7 m IL

305 Nelson, Angeline 5 f IL

305 Nelson, William 4 m IL

305 Nelson, Joseph 3 m IL

305 Nelson, Attisca 2 f TX

306 New, John 30 m IL

306 New, Nancy 23 f IL

307 Nelson, Lewis 27 m IL

307 Nelson, Alef 21 f IL

307 Nelson, Mary 1 f TX

308 Warmund, Emil 32 m FarmerButcher $3,000 $3,450 Nassau

308 (His family)

309 Peterman, Franz 34 m Farmer $400 $450 Nassau

36

1- Matthew Modglin Taylor 1802-1880 & Hannah Axley 1803-1898 Lived in Kerrville, Kerr Co., Family #77, Occ. Stonemason 1.1- Pressley Beal Taylor 1823-1886 Grayson Co., TX, Family #858, Occ. Engineer (erroneously listed as Densley P Taylor) m. Mary Polly York 1832-1907 Amos Gale Taylor 1848-1933 John Taylor 1852- Matthew „Math‟ Modglin Taylor 1854-1921 Martha Taylor 1855-1928 Mary C. Taylor 1859-1928 also Fannie 6mos. 1.2- Thurman Thompson Taylor 1825-1912 Didn’t find in Census m. Elizabeth „Catherine‟ Alexander 1832-1905 William Hudson „Hut‟ Taylor 1855-1920 John Wesley „Wes‟ Taylor 1857-1936 1.3- Zedoc „Zed‟ Casey Taylor 1827-1862 Didn’t find in Census m. Margrit Alice Halburton Alice Amelia Taylor 1854-1892 James Calvin Taylor 1857-1892 1.7- James Thomas Taylor 1841-1914 with parents 1.8- Permelia Cornelia Hannah Taylor 1843-1914 with parents 2.3- Melissa Melvina McDonald 1835- (remained in Illinois) m. John Fannin 2.5- Rebecca Angelina McDonald 1840- didn’t find in Census m. John Walter Banta 1833- 3- Elijah Lacey 1804-1885 & Ruth McDonald 1808-1877 didn’t find in Census 3.1- William Jackson Locke 1828- Bexar Co., Leon Springs, Family #2039 m. Mary England Mary Olive Locke 1849 b. IL William M. Locke 1851 b. IL Sarah J. G. Locke 1853 Judith Ann Locke 1856 b. TX Martha Locke 1858 Steven Douglas Locke 1859 3.2- Asa Phelps Lacey 1831 -1913 didn’t find in Census m. Rosanna England Louanna Elizabeth Lacey 1850-1937 b. IL Louis Monroe Lacey 1852-1887 b. IL Ruth Jane Lillian Lacey 1854-1917 b. TX Martha Melvina Lacey 1856-1857 Cloey Cynthia Lacey 1858-1919 3.3- Mahala Elizabeth Lacey 1834-1907

37

m. John Hardin Lacey Goliad City, Goliad Co., Family 32 (Ancestry.com has him listed as I.M. Lacey) Alexander Lacey 1856-1874 b. TX Emily Elizabeth Lacey 1858-1921 John David Lacey 1859-1905 b. TX 3.4- Lewis Madison Lacey 1835-1900 didn’t find in Census m. Margaret White 3.5- Nancy M. C. Lacey 1838- didn’t find in Census 3.6- Mary Matilda Lacey 1840- m. Morgan McDaniel didn’t find Ruth McDaniel 1856-1857 (twin) Josephine McDaniel 1856- (twin) Marvin Levi McDaniel/McDonald 1858- (twin) Elijah L. McDaniel/McDonald 1858- (twin) Silva Bellzora McDaniel 1859-1860 Lois Margaret McDonald 3.7- Joshua Collins Lacey 1842-1901 didn’t find in Census 3.9- John Burnyan Lacey 1844- didn’t find in Census 3.8- Thomas Monroe Lacey didn’t find in Census 4.1- Lucretia Jane McDonald 1833-1928 didn’t find m. Amos Fairchild 1825-1864/5 Cloe Francis Fairchild 1852-1926 Louisa Melissa „Curly‟ Fairchild 1855-1901 Gillet Louellen „Gil‟ Fairchild 1857-1943 Hezcar Warden Fairchild 1859-1952

I believe Ruth and Elijah and the rest of their family perhaps were at Pipe Creek, Bandera County

or somewhere in Kerr County and their community was missed in the Census. The case for the

Pipe Creek assumption is: the Jack Locke lore that other family members were at that location. It is

just a short jump to Kerr County, there are several good points for that argument; Thurman Taylor

is not found in the Census and his wife‘s family, John and Mary Alexander shortly after settled

there, so maybe they were all together. When the Civil War started two Lacey boys and two

Alexander boys joined the same outfit. Matthew and Hannah Taylor were in Kerrville so maybe the

rest of the family were nearby and didn‘t get recorded.

38

From a Gillespie County Chamber of Commerce map, 1960ish

39

1861-1865 the War Years

Civil War Military Service

Here is what I can find and figure out. Much of this information came from the Nation Parks

Service Soldiers and Sailor web site, the rest I gathered along the way, ed.

Many of our men did not support the Confederate cause, in the Hill Country there were many of

like mind; notably the German Immigrants. Some were happy to serve as long as they were with

the Frontier Defense forces, protecting the frontier and not fighting the Yankees.

William Jackson “Jack” Locke

In 1864 he was Captain, Third Frontier District, Gillespie County, Texas State Troops

He may have also been in McCord‟s Mounted Regiment

In 1865 he served as 2nd

Lieutenant, 2nd

Texas Cavalry Battalion, USA

Richard G. Hall

He first served as a Private, Co. A, McCord‘s Mounted Regiment, Texas State Troops, CSA

In 1865 he served as a Private, Co. A, 2nd


Asa P. Lacey

He first served as a Private, Co. A, McCord's Mounted Regiment, Texas State Troops, CSA

In 1864 he joined 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment, USA in New Orleans

Robert L. “Lafe” McDonald




John Joy




Ed Janes




Jacob R. Banta

He served as a Private, Co. A, McCord‘s Mounted Regiment, Texas State Troops, CSA

John R. Banta

He served as a Sergeant, Co. A, McCord‘s Mounted Regiment, Texas State Troops, CSA

William Banta

He served first as 1st Lieutenant then Captain, Co. A, McCord‘s Mounted Regiment, Texas State

Troops, CSA

40

Thurman T. Taylor




James T. Taylor

He served as a Private, Co. A, McCord‘s Mounted Regiment, Texas State Troops, CSA

John Strong

He joined as a Private and ended up a Lieutenant, Co. A, 1st Texas Cavalry, USA

Lewis M. Lacey

He served as a Sergeant, Co. D, Waller‘s Battalion, Texas Cavalry, CSA

John b. Lacey

He served as a Sergeant, Co. D, Waller‘s Battalion, Texas Cavalry, CSA

William M. Alexander

He served as a Private, Co. D, Waller‘s Battalion, Texas Cavalry, CSA

Marion C. “Lum” Alexander

He first served as a Private, Co. D, Waller‘s Battalion, Texas Cavalry, CSA

Then as Private, Co. A, McCord‘s Mounted Regiment, Texas State Troops, CSA

Joshua C. “Coll” Lacey

He served first as a Private then 1st Sergeant, Co. A, 1

st Texas Cavalry, USA

Benjamin F. Casey

He served in Co. A, 1st Texas Cavalry, USA

William „Gaston‟ Rayner

He enlisted Sept 1861, in the 8th

Texas Cavalry, CSA

Perhaps first in the Frontier Regiment, see below

He was left sick in Tennessee, Wheeler‘s rear raid Sept 1864

Henry R. Hudson

He was 5th

Sergeant, Third Frontier District, Texas State Troops

John Hardin Lacey

Served in the Texas Cavalry, CSA

He was at the Battle of Stones River and was invalided out shortly after.

Two of his brothers served in an Illinois Regiment opposite of him. One was killed outright and the

other died from his wounds a year or so later.

Martin McDonald

Served as a teamster in Co. N, McCord‘s Mounted Regiment then in Hunter‘s, Third Frontier

District

42

Some of the men returned to frontier service, but most enlisted in the Eighth Texas Cavalry

Battalion, which later became part of the First Texas Cavalry Regiment.

FRONTIER REGIMENT

From the Handbook of Texas Online

The Frontier Regiment is the name history has given to a regiment of rangers authorized by the

Ninth Legislature of Texas on December 21, 1861, for the protection of the northern and western

frontier of Texas. The act and the raising of the regiment was the state's political and military

response to the vulnerabilities posed to the state's frontier settlements by the planned withdrawal

and redeployment of the Confederate First Regiment, Texas Mounted Riflemen, from their frontier

forts.

Already withering Comanche and Kiowa Indian raids in 1861 were killing settlers, slaughtering

livestock, and stealing horses in communities along the entire northern and western frontier. These

settlements, substantively weakened by the mass exodus of their young men for service with the

Confederacy in the Civil War, faced the grim prospect of continuing Indian depredations, as they

were known in that time.

Col. James M. Norris, an attorney, accepted Gov. Francis R. Lubbock's appointment to command a

frontier regiment of rangers still to be raised on January 29, 1862. Accompanied by his immediate

subordinates, Lt. Col. Alfred T. Obenchain and Major James E. McCord on parts of the trip, Norris

undertook an arduous journey in March and April of 1862, to select eighteen frontier defense

locations. The sites were selected on a winding, serpentine line extending almost 500 miles from

the Red River in North Texas to the Rio Grande in South Texas. By separate action in January

1862, Governor Lubbock appointed nine enrolling officers to raise nine companies of rangers, each

from a selected group of counties along and within the line, to man the frontier defense sites. Even

though far western El Paso and Presidio counties were mentioned in the Act, they were effectively

excluded from the instructions given Colonel Norris by the Adjutant General in Special Order #12,

January 29, 1862, and a more manageable, easterly line was established. A tenth company was

authorized that was not tied to any specific group of counties, but which would act as a roving or

emergency response company at the discretion of the governor. A captain was selected to lead it,

but the raising of this company was never implemented.

The nine companies of approximately 115–125 men each were raised and deployed throughout

March and April 1862. Company officers were elected by the enlisted men, and many of the

enrolling officers were elected captains of their companies. Each ranger captain was given

command of two camps, one named for the captain himself and one for the locale of the camp or a

feature of the locale. Initially, scouting patrols consisting of an officer and at least five rangers

would leave a camp every other day heading south to the next camp and then returning the next

day, so that the entire line from the Red River to the Rio Grande was traversed each day. Thus, the

line was expected to act as a cordon of protection against Indian attacks on settlements within the

line.

The plan met with moderate success, but conditions within the temporary camps were difficult at

best. Colonel Norris in an April 25, 1862, letter to the Adjutant General, noted that the men were

indifferently armed and badly mounted, and that much sickness prevailed in all the camps. There

was no medicine, and in the first year, the camps were poorly supplied with food, forage for horses,

and even ammunition. Substandard gunpowder was a frequent complaint. There were also

discipline problems. Added to this, the plan of multiple camps with daily patrols between camps

44

1864 there was again movement to transfer Texas' frontier regiment, now called the Texas

Mounted Regiment, Texas State Troops, into the Confederate Army.

Such plans increasingly created tensions in 1863 and 1864 as senior Confederate commanders

would seek immediate transfer of some elements of the frontier forces to their depleted command.

In January 1864 Captain Rowland, at Red River Station in North Texas, wrote to Colonel McCord

predicting that the transfer would cause widespread panic among the citizenry, who were already

complaining that it was illegal. Nonetheless, on March 1, 1864, the Mounted Regiment, Texas

State Troops, was transferred into the Confederate Army. The transfer spelled the effective end of

Texas' Frontier Regiment. While not totally successful in its mission, it had, nonetheless, provided

a measure of effective reassurance to Texas' frontier communities at an anxious time.

The transfer of the regiment to a Confederacy strapped by increasing shortages of manpower in

1864 generated enormous insecurity, vulnerabilities, and adjustments along the entire frontier. The

Indian war on the frontiers of Texas from 1861 to 1865 had always been the unwanted stepchild of

the Confederacy. Within weeks of the transfer, most of the ranger companies comprising the

Frontier Regiment had been stripped from the frontier and redeployed to other areas. On March 31,

1864, several anxious families of Gillespie, Kerr and Kendall counties—already victimized by both

jayhawkers and Indians and having "forted up" together in common defense—upon hearing that

Company "A" at Camp Davis in Gillespie County had been order redeployed, petitioned the

Adjutant General to block the move.

They were unsuccessful. On April 11, 1864, McCord himself was ordered to concentrate what was

left of his regiment in Austin and then to proceed with it to Anderson in Grimes County in East

Texas. Whipsawed by two simultaneous wars, the frontier settlers within a few short weeks in 1864

were effectively conjoined with and then abandoned by the Confederacy. The dire situation on the

Texas frontier in 1864 might have gotten worse had it not been for another state military

initiative—the Frontier Organization.

FRONTIER ORGANIZATION

From the Handbook of Texas Online

The Frontier Organization represented the final modification of frontier defense in Texas during

the Civil War. In 1863 Governor Pendleton Murrah and the legislature proposed to transfer the

state-supported Frontier Regiment to Confederate service. Such a move would have relieved the

state of a financial burden, but the regiment would then have been under Confederate control,

subject to removal from the frontier at the discretion of Confederate commanders. Concern for the

protection of the frontier played a major role in deliberations of the Tenth Legislature in late 1863,

as state officials hesitated to transfer the Frontier Regiment to the Confederacy without assuring the

best protection possible for the frontier counties. The resulting law, which established the Frontier

Organization and transferred the Frontier Regiment, passed the legislature on December 15, 1863.

The law declared that all persons liable for military service who were actual residents of the

frontier counties of Texas were to be enrolled into companies of from twenty-five to sixty-five

men. The act defined the frontier line and the fifty-nine organized frontier counties of Texas; it also

instructed Governor Murrah to divide the designated counties into three districts and to appoint a

suitable man with the rank of major of cavalry to take charge of the organization of mounted

companies within the district. The major of each district was to require that one-fourth of his men,

on a rotation basis, be in service at any one time. In January 1864 Murrah appointed three men to

take command of the frontier districts. William Quayle commanded the First Frontier District,

45

headquartered in Decatur; George Bernard Erath commanded the Second Frontier District,

headquartered in Gatesville; and James M. Hunter commanded the Third Frontier District,

headquartered in Fredericksburg. Nearly 4,000 men were on the rolls of the organization by the

time of the Frontier Regiment's transfer on March 1, 1864.

James Webb Throckmorton replaced Quayle in December 1864 as commander of the First Frontier

District. In January 1865 John Henry Brown replaced Hunter in the Third Frontier District.

Coordinating military affairs in the Second and Third Military districts, however, was John D.

McAdoo, brigadier general of state troops, who took command in June 1864, initially to quell

unrest over Hunter's administration of the district. McAdoo remained in direct command of the

Third District until Brown's arrival and later coordinated activities of the Second and Third districts

until the end of the war.

Companies in the Frontier Organization normally averaged between fifty and fifty-five men in

strength, usually with about fifteen men per squad for patrol duty. The length of service at any one

time varied according to the task, presence of the enemy, and availability of supplies, but most

squads on patrol duty expected to remain out for about ten days at a time. The Frontier

Organization not only provided protection against Indian incursions but also enforced Confederate

conscription, rounded up deserters, and provided protection to settlers from renegades and bandits.

The Frontier Organization assumed chief responsibility for the protection of the Texas frontier

from March 1864 until several months after the end of the war. Its engagements included the

Ellison Springs Indian Fight.

1st Regiment, Texas Cavalry, USA

From the National Parks Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors

Organized at New Orleans, La., November 6, 1862. Attached to Independent Command, Dept. of

the Gulf, to January, 1863. Defences of New Orleans to May, 1863. Cavalry, 19th Army Corps,

Dept. of the Gulf, to July, 1863. Defences of New Orleans to October, 1863. Unattached Cavalry,

13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. Cavalry Brigade, United States Forces, Texas,

to July, 1864. District of Morganza, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1864. Cavalry Brigade, 19th

Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to November, 1864. 2nd Separate Cavalry Brigade, 19th Corps, Dept. of

the Gulf, to December, 1864. Separate Cavalry Brigade, Reserve Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to

February, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, District of Baton Rouge, La., to July, 1865. Dept. of Texas to

November, 1865.

SERVICE.-Duty in the Defences of New Orleans, La., till September, 1863. Sabine Pass

Expedition September 4-11. Western Louisiana ("Teche") Campaign October 3-17. Nelson's

Bridge, near New Iberia, October 4. Vermillion Bayou October 9-10. Carrion Crow Bayou October

14-15. Ordered to New Orleans, La., October 17. Expedition to the Rio Grande, Texas, October 23-

December 2. Occupation of Brazos Santiago November 2, and of Brownsville November 6 Duty at

Brownsville and on line of the Rio Grande till July, 1864. Rancho las Rinas June 26, 1864 (Cos.

"A" and "C"). Ordered to New Orleans July, thence to Morganza, La., August 6, and duty there till

November. (A Detachment remained in Texas at Brownsville till January, 1865. Participated in

skirmish at Palmeto Ranch September 6, 1864. Ordered to join Regiment at Baton Rouge, La.,

January 27, 1865.) Operations about Morganza September 16-25, 1864. Williamsport September

16. Atchafalaya River September 17. Bayou Alabama and Morgan's Ferry September 20. Ordered

to Baton Rouge November 19. Davidson's Expedition against Mobile & Ohio RaIlroad November

27-December 13. Ordered to Lakeport December 17. United States Forces at mouth of White River

http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/tx005.htm

46

and at Baton Rouge, La., till May, 1865. Expedition to Clinton and the Comite River March 30-

April 2, 1865. Ordered to Vidalia, District of Natchez, Miss., May 23, 1865, and duty there till

June 29. Ordered to Military District of the Southwest and duty in Texas till November. Mustered

out November 4, 1865.

2nd Battalion, Texas Cavalry, USA

From the National Parks Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors

Organized at Brazos Santiago, Texas, March, 1865. Duty at Brownsville, Brazos Santiago and

other points in Texas until November, 1865. Expedition from Brazos Santiago May 11-14. Actions

at Palmetto Ranch May 12-13, and White's Ranch May 13. Mustered out November 10, 1865.

Note: there was a Second Regiment, Texas Cavalry, USA but it doesn‟t fit into our story. They

seemed to be confused in some records but I believe they were separate entities. I thought I‟d

mention it in case you are doing some research, ed.

47

Terror in the Hill Country

For us moderns, we think war is something that you go to. For our families, it came to them as

something unsought for. They came to Texas searching for opportunity; for the most part they were

peace loving but willing to brave the hardships of the frontier for a better place. They were upper

south frontiersmen who worked for what they got therefore didn‘t have much use for the institution

of slavery; furthermore they were ardent Methodists and believed that all men had merit in God‘s

eyes. The frontier required tolerance and even though our core group held firm convictions about

God and their fellow man, one had to be tolerant to get along with the hard people in this hard land.

As you read this it will be difficult to imagine the sheer terror of these events as they relate to our

families in the Gillespie, Kimble and Kerr areas. Remember, we are talking about an area that‘s

less than 25 to 50 miles from home in most cases, even by horse and buggy that‘s not very far.

This is excerpted from an essay in the West Texas Historical Publication, Yearbook (year

unknown)

“The Dogs-of War Unleashed: The Devil Concealed in Men, Unchained”

By Joe Baulch*

―… In the 1860s, the 'dogs of war' unleashed here a sanguinary paroxysm of terror and

death, a calamity that fostered for decades thereafter bitterness and distrust.

―The vicinity just north of San Antonio in the 1860s was the cutting edge of the frontier. Its

developers were the usual frontier sort, fiercely independent and infrequently anti-social. A few

were avid secessionists; but most were indifferent to such concerns, neither abolitionist nor

secessionist. Into their midst, hundreds of immigrant Germans had settled, mostly dislocated

victims of the industrial revolution; yet, some were political dissidents, forsaking reactionary

home-lands for the privileges of free speech and action. In addition to the normal ethnic suspicions

that German dress, iis3>-9<0y

48

―When Texas formally entered the Confederacy and federal troops were withdrawn, few of

49

nothing left, now that they go about and sell you, or through [sic] you out of employment for

Dunhauer, Maverick, Mitchell, and Menger to the last bone. We are always ready. If the ignorant

company of Newton fights you, do as you please. You will always stay the God damn Dutchman.

Do away with that nuisance, and inform everybody the revolution is broke out. It is a shame Texas

has such a brand. Hang them by their feet and bum them from below.‘

―On April 28, 1862, McCulloch was succeeded as military commandant for South Texas by

General Hamilton Bee. Bee apparently decided that McCulloch had correctly assessed the situation

and immediately declared martial law, posting to Gillespie and Kerr counties a detachment of

Partisan Rangers; Captain James Duff was in command, given authority to do whatever was

necessary to end resistance. The martial law order, among several provisions, required all males

over sixteen to register with regional provost marshals and take an oath of allegiance, and it

declared depreciation or refusal to accept Confederate money a hostile act. Captain Duff ordered all

men in the Hill Country to report to him within six days and take the required oath, but in the

rugged territory north of Kerrville, many neither heard of Duff nor his instructions and in any event

were disinclined to make an arduous trip to comply; accordingly, when approached by Duffs men,

they received rough treatment.

―In Fredericksburg, finding little to document Unionist activity, Duff bullied leading

citizens, forcing them to give affidavits against suspected Unionists. The latter he then arrested and

sent for trial to San Antonio. Duff next sent detachments into Medina and Blanco counties and the

newly formed Kendall County where more arrests were made. Finding no real threat to the

Confederacy, his command then returned to San Antonio, having accomplished little more than to

antagonize a few harmless frontiersmen.

―There followed trial by Confederate Military Commission in San Antonio of the men

arrested by Duff. From Fredericksburg, Philip Braubach, F. W. Doebbler, and J. R. Ratcliff were

charged with disloyalty and sedition. Braubach also was accused of aiding Jacob Kuechler‘s men

avoid conscription, and Doebbler was denounced for writing a seditious article for an abolitionist

newspaper, the New York Democrat. Friednch Lochte, a merchant, was indicted for refusal to

accept Confederate money. All were found guilty; Lochte received a short sentence, Ratcliff was

deported, and the others were sentenced to imprisonment for the duration of the war and then

banishment from the Confederacy. Ernest Degener of Sisterdale was accused of hostility toward

the Confederacy, sedition, and communication with enemies of the government. Evidence was so

lacking that he was required only to post a bond guaranteeing good conduct. Julius Schlickum, a

Boerne merchant, was convicted of disloyalty and sedition and was sentenced to be imprisoned for

the duration of the War. In August, 1862, Braubach, Doebbler, and Schlickum escaped prison and

returned to hide out in the Hill Country.

―The Duff campaign caused Hill Country citizens to distrust state troops. Accordingly, area

leaders petitioned the Adjutant General to remove all partisan rangers from the frontier for service

elsewhere; they promised in return that the frontier county men, if exempted from service under the

military laws, would assume responsibility as minuteman for protection of the region from Indians.

Apparently they believed the authorities would readily accept their proposal; did not the

Confederacy need all of its troops?

50

―Injudiciously, without waiting for authorization, eighteen to twenty men set about

promoting a defense association, extralegal in the frontier tradition but without calling attention to

themselves (an immediate outcome of the Duff affair was an evolving prudence). They founded the

Union Loyal League, recruiting quietly known Unionists, pledging not to bear arms against the

United States. Then, when sufficient interest had been induced, they called a mass organizational

meeting. On July 4, 1862, between four and five hundred men gathered on Bear Creek, midway

between Comfort, Fredericksburg, and Kerrville and away from the authorities. The ‗object and

purpose‘ of the alliance was not to create or encourage strife between Union and Confederate

sympathizers, but to take such action as might peaceably prevent its members and their families

from being disturbed and compelled to bear arms against the Union, and to protect their families

against hostile Indians.

―A major was to command the Union Loyal League, and captains were to head each county

unit. There were secret signs of recognition, and all were sworn to secrecy. Any member who

informed was to be shot on sight. Fritz Tegener of western Kerr County was elected major.

―Within a very short time, knowledge of the Union Loyal League was common. It was

rumored that Basil Stewart, a Scottish emigrant ranch hand who had been at the Bear Creek

convocation, informed authorities of the League's existence; lots were drawn; an executioner

selected, and Stewart was ambushed and slain. Stewart's employer, stockman Henry Atrill,

thereupon spent considerable time and money to find the assassin, offering large rewards in area

newspapers. He was unsuccessful, but General Bee was provoked, declaring the counties of

Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr in open rebellion; he ordered Duff back to the Hill Country ‗to take

such prompt and vigorous measures as in his judgment were necessary.‘

―In July, Duff established a command post at Camp Davis, near the Pedernales River and

north of Kerrville. An informer was sent to spy in Kerrville, and troops were ordered to arrest

anyone suspected of disloyalty, anyone failing within three days to swear allegiance at Camp Davis

to the Confederacy. Duff was advised that as many as 1,500 ‗bushwhackers‘ roamed the hills,

terrorizing Southern loyalists. Bushwhacker was a term used to describe those ‗who beat the

bushes‘ to avoid conscription. After consulting various informers, Duffs patrols swept the sparsely

settled Johnson Creek-Pedernales River divide north of Kerrville and arrested Gus Tegener, Allen

and Hiram Nelson, Seabird and Howard Henderson, Frank Scott and their families. Their crime

was failure to come in and pledge loyalty within three days. After a rough interrogation at Camp

Davis, the men were ordered held at Fort Mason; the women and children were sent to a stockade

at Fort Martin Scott.

―En route to Fort Mason, soldiers and their prisoners camped overnight on Spring Creek, a

tributary of the Pedernales River. During the night, Howard Henderson, a twenty year-old,

observed that the guard was asleep. Quietly, placing his hand over the mouth of the person sleeping

next to him, he aroused Allen Nelson, and the two young men sneaked away and set out for

Mexico. The morning after, the guard unit, unable to find the escapees, decided not to take the

other four men on to Fort Mason. They hanged the four on the spot; then, they cut down the bodies,

stripped them, and threw them into Spring Creek. The women and children at Fredericksburg also

suffered, some with measles, all with heat in a suffocating, one-room, windowless hut. When

taunted by Duffs returning prisoner detail about the lynching, the women pled with Duff until he

51

released them; taking a pick and shovel, oxen, and a wagon, the women found their men floating in

Spring Creek unrecognizable, black and swollen. Selecting a burial site, they worked in shifts,

digging a grave; then wading into the water up to their armpits, they rolled the bodies onto the bank

in sheets and buried them. Frank Scott was identified; as a youth he accidentally had shot off his

big toe.

―Meanwhile, the partisan troops despoiled the region. Farm houses were ransacked,

movable property stolen, families imprisoned, and houses burned. In a scene described by one of

Duffs troopers, first, the wife and children of a suspected Unionist were taken prisoner, then the

crops were ‗trampled and destroyed,‘ the bee-hives in front of the cabin overturned, the living

room furniture wrecked, and the loom in the kitchen smashed. After burning to the ground the

home of Brandon Turknette near Johnson Creek, Hanna Turknette was reported to have told Duff

that he must have little to do to have deprived her and her children of their only shelter against the

weather. Duff responded that he was leaving to her the spring, whereupon she yelled defiantly, ‗If

you had known how to destroy it, you would have done that too.‘ Inquisition by Duff often was

savage. To obtain information, his soldiers infrequently resorted to bullwhips; other times they

would hang a person by the neck and then release their victim just before strangulation, repeating

the process until either the examination had been completed or the would-be respondent was dead.

Duff is credited with killing between twenty and fifty men during his second foray into the Hill

Country.

―Appalled by the viciousness of the Partisan Rangers, the Union Loyal League disbanded.

Their stated purpose had been ‗not to create or encourage strife between Union and Confederate

sympathizers,‘ and it was hoped by disbanding they would allay Confederate fears of rebellion.

Major Tegener advised all Unionists that Governor Lubbock had ordered all persons who would

not take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy to leave Texas within thirty days. It should be

noted here that there is doubt that Governor Lubbock ever issued such an order. Nevertheless,

Tegener announced that all unwilling to serve the Confederacy would rendezvous August 1 on

Turtle Creek, southwest of Kerrville, from whence they would proceed to the border. At the

scheduled time and place, sixty-two men left the Hill Country under Tegener's direction, moving

slowly westward toward the Rio Grande, taking few precautions since they were within the thirty

day time period assumed given by the Governor. They were joined enroute by seven others,

including Howard Henderson and Allen Nelson. Informed by his Kerr County spy of the Tegener

party's departure, James Duff ordered troops to pursue. On the morning of August 10, on the upper

reaches of the West Nueces River, Confederates under Lieutenant C. D. McRae surprised the

Tegener party, initiating an uneven hour-long battle. Outnumbered substantially and with inferior

firearms, approximately thirty of Tegener's men were killed in the fighting, and twenty were

wounded, captured, and then executed on the spot with a bullet in the back of the head. McRae‘s

men later denied an execution took place; the head wounds resulted from remarkable accuracy

during the battle. The bodies were left on the field of battle. Seventeen escaped; of these, a few,

like the redoubtable Howard Henderson, eventually reached Union lines and served honorably in

the U. S. Army; others fled back to the Hill Country where they either served as teamsters or

evaded pursuers throughout the duration of the war. According to divers sources, others of the

escapees were killed crossing the Rio Grande; a few were captured and executed at Camp Davis.

One was taken by Duff, tried by military court in San Antonio, and hung.

52

―In the wake of the Nueces River fight, Hill Country resistance to the Confederacy

collapsed. Most of the young men entered service as teamsters; a few joined the frontier regiment.

Duffs command was withdrawn in late fall and reassigned to the lower Rio Grande frontier.

―Hill Country security was left to trusted ‗Minutemen,‘ irregulars under the command at

Camp Davis of Major James M. Hunter. From Fredericksburg, Hunter proved to be an excellent

choice as commandant. He was trusted by the German element, and his knowledge of the land and

ability to lead frontiersmen unquestioned; coincidentally, Indian raiding increased across the Hill

Country. The young men were satisfied now that they were protecting their families and not

making war on the Union. With the Confederate sympathizers they made a curious but effective

frontier regiment, scattered from the Leona River to the San Saba. Hunter managed to keep his men

on task, searching for marauding Indians, occasionally finding a ‗bushwhacker‘ dodging

conscription.

―Throughout the long winter months of 1862 and 1863, the Hill Country pioneers quietly

grieved, rebuilt their cabins, and struggled to obtain the basic necessities for life. Alone much of

the time, those not in service existed in a companionless quiet that modern man long since has

banished and at night in a darkness that sharpened the senses while distorting judgment. They must

have thought often about the lynching at Spring Creek, the burning cabins and fields, the silent

bones bleaching on the Nueces.

―When the Confederacy in 1863 began to suffer acute manpower shortages, military

authorities in Texas then sought to enforce conscription laws, to do something about those who

refused to serve in any capacity either the State of Texas or the Confederacy. But they precipitated

in the Hill Country another crisis of conscience by insisting that the young men of the frontier

regiment enlist as regular soldiers in Confederate service. Unwilling still to fight the Union, many

again ran away to hide out in the brush country; others made their way to Mexico and eventually to

Union service. The remaining frontier troops turned from Indian pursuit to searching for deserters.

―First among the ‗bushwhackers‘ to be singled out for arrest was Moses Moran Snow, who

in 1863 lived in northern Blanco County. An informer disclosed that Snow led a gang of deserters

who headquartered in a cave near North Grape Creek. Ordered by Major Hunter to arrest Snow,

Captain Cristian Dorbandt and a squad of men from Burnet County surprised Snow in late 1863,

arriving at his cabin under the cover of darkness, finding him with a deserter from Camp Verde, M.

R. Lundy. When Dorbandt read the charges, Snow became defiant, sprang behind his wife, and

began firing. Both Snow and Lundy instantly were killed. Then, a day or two later, when a near

neighbor came to help Mrs. Snow pack up and move, someone from behind shot dead the

neighbor, Mike Burcher, who was thought to be the snitch; his assailant was rumored to be William

F. Snow, another deserter and a relative of the slain Moses Moran Snow.

―Simultaneously, to the northwest in the Cherry Spring area, other state troops searched for

Karl Itz, a survivor of the West Nueces River fight who was reported to be in the area. When the

troopers failed to locate Itz, they took instead from his home his two younger brothers, Jacob and

Heinrich, carried them to Fredericksburg, and there on the outskirts of town murdered them,

possibly to intimidate other would be slackers. Descendants of the Itz brothers blamed Duff for this

atrocity, but Texas State Troops from Camp Davis were responsible.

53

―Soon afterward, informants located more ‗bushwhackers‘ near Williams Creek, bordering

Blanco and Gillespie counties. A squad of Hunters State Troops investigated and found hiding in a

thicket near the Pedernales River a group of men who, when approached, immediately began

firing. Before firing ceased, troopers Joe Freece and Zack Whittington were slain as were all the

‗bushwhackers,‘ who included William Snow and Xavier Neel.

―To the authorities, the Snow, Burcher, and Williams Creek incidents indicated anarchy; for

greater control, Major Hunter was given command of the entire southwestern frontier sector and

was succeeded as commandant at Camp Davis by William Banta. Banta was a Hill Country pioneer

who had served either as a militiaman or state trooper since the beginning of the Civil War, but

experience in his case was not adequate qualification for command; Banta was excitable and

without the general support of his predecessor. Moreover, he was easily persuaded by the more

militant of his command that a 'bushwhacker' insurrection was at hand, and he subsequently either

tolerated or incited another cycle of atrocities. ‗Forting up‘ at Camp Davis were several families

from the area who brought with them suspicions about their nonconfederate neighbors.

Exacerbating the situation, a squad of men arrived at Camp Davis from William Quantrill's

command, fresh from Kansas atrocities. Led by Bill Paul, Quantrill's men were on a horse and

cattle buying assignment. They soon made contact with James P. Waltrip, a farmer from northeast

Gillespie County, who, emboldened by the Quantrill men, organized his friends and the Quantrill

men into what became known locally as the hangerbande.

―The loss of Joe Freece and Zack Whittington in the Williams Creek fight and the failure to

capture Karl Itz apparently stimulated in Waltrip a blood lust for revenge. He and the hangerbande

determined to do something about the deserters in the area, to counter what they perceived as

disloyalty in the region to the Confederacy.

―On February 24, 1864, in Fredericksburg, observers noticed near sundown fifteen or

twenty men about the home of Louis Schuetze, but before they could react, Schuetze was dragged

out of his house and taken away. He was heard to cry out, ‗Help, help! Think of my wife and

children!‘ Schuetze was the town's common school teacher and had been somewhat open in his

criticism of the way authorities had investigated the Snow, Burcher, and Williams Creek incidents.

Among those seizing Schuetze, Waltrip and J. M. Gibson were recognized and another Waltrip

neighbor, William Nelson, was thought to be in the party. Two days later, three miles northeast of

Fredericksburg on the trail to Palo Alto Creek, the body of Louis Schuetze was found, hanging by

hemp rope on a live oak tree.

―Meanwhile, Captain Banta at Camp Davis was persuaded that the area north of Kerrville

was in rebellion. Rumors mongers reported that John Joy, a recent deserter, Philip Brandon

Turknette, and Warren Cass were raiding and burning along the Llano River and that ‗jayhawkers‘

and as many as 1,500 other ‗bushwhackers‘ also were in the region, burning Confederate

sympathizers homes and taking cattle. Banta also learned from an ‗interrogated‘ Kerrville

tradesman that Minute-Men in Kendall County were in rebellion, had refused to hunt deserters, and

had pledged to help bum-out all the secessionist men. Failing to investigate, taking the rumors at

face value, Banta believed the situation perilous; this was no time for irresolution.

54

―North of Camp Davis, near the headwaters of the James River, Bill Paul and James

Waltrip with a squad of Banta's men found two young Joy brothers, William and Richard,

gathering livestock. Knowing the Joys were brothers of the recent deserter, John Joy, Waltrip and

Paul terrorized the boys, showing them a noose hanging from a white oak tree. The brothers,

however, after a rough interrogation, were released without revealing the whereabouts of their

brother because their father was an employee of one of the hangerbande, leaders, Tom Doss.

Richard Joy immediately left the country, and with his brother, John, Lafe McDonald, and Ed

Jaynes, made his way to Mexico and to eventual service in the U. S. Army. The remaining Joy was

thereupon arrested and taken to Camp Davis where he could be watched.

―Banta's troopers next seized Warren Cass at Cherry Springs. A long time rival of Tom

Doss, Cass and his captors set out for Fredericksburg, but enroute they were surrounded, as was

reported, by ‗hundreds of unidentified men‘ who denounced Cass as a ‗bushwhacker‘ and then

lynched him.

―A night or so later on March 9, the hangerbande relocated to the South Grape Creek

community, a few miles east of Fredericksburg. On the northernmost of four neighboring farms,

Peter Burg, a widower of four days, was shot in the back and his horse herd taken. Then, neighbors

William Feller, John Blank, and Henry Kirchner were seized while with their families at dinner. No

charges were stated, the men simply were taken, and the home of Kirchner was searched. The next

day, Clara Feller received word that her husband and his neighbors had been hung. Others too may

have been designated for elimination; however, two children, Sabine Staip, fourteen, and Peter

Petsch, ten, ran throughout the neighborhood and warned the other men to leave their homes and

hide. August Hoffmann, a survivor of the ‗Nueces Massacre‘ and at the time a teamster for the

Confederacy, overheard in Fredericksburg talk about the raid and when he was able rode to warn

his friends. He arrived too late to save Blank, Burg, Feller, and Kuchner, but he found and cut

down the bodies from a tree near present day Luckenbach Lane.

―When the Grape Creek murders were investigated, motive was never firmly established. It

was believed generally that Blank was suspicious because he had received a communication from

Mexico. Burg had a horse herd needed by Quantrill. The fact that Kirchner and Feller lived on

adjoining tracts and that all four had been involved in a land dispute, victims of questionable land

speculation involving Confederate stalwarts, leads to an obvious hypothesis. An informant later

revealed that Kirchner was killed because he was known to have money. The informant heard this

from a disgruntled participant who complained that Bill Paul was a raider and took all of the

money, refusing to share it, one hundred and ninety dollars in silver. During the lynching, William

Feller was reported to have looked down from his execution site and to have said to one of his

neighbors, ‗get up here and stand by me and let us go to heaven together.‘ To this, Bill Paul

responded dryly, ‗I will start you up that way a little piece.‘

―Following the Grape Creek lynching, a patrol just out of Camp Davis found John

Turknette and his grandfather, Jacob Turknette, north of Kerrville looking for lost livestock.

Separating the pair, troopers then beat Jacob Turknette to death with bull whips while others

alternately hung and questioned John Turknette in an effort to get information about his father,

Philip Brandon Turknette. The boy died without revealing the location of his father, who

subsequently fled to Mexico.

55

―The Grape Creek outrage and the Turknette and Cass killings apparently were too much

for the authorities. Major Hunter investigated and then took action, arresting for robbery and

murder William Banta and five others. He also attempted to arrest Waltrip but failed to locate him;

the others at Camp Davis scattered. William Paul and his men left the area, but several of the old

hangerbande, while attempting escape into Mexico, were seized by Mexican authorities at Piedras

Negras.

―Before trial and investigation could take place, however, one more round of violence

ensued. When attorneys for Banta instituted at Fredericksburg habeas corpus proceedings and

attempted to move the trial to Burnet, a mob of fifty or more men concluded that Confederate

authorities would not punish the hangerbande; the mob drove off the Fredericksburg jail guard and

attempted to kill the prisoners. In the fighting at the jail, one of the prisoners was killed and four

others were wounded, two critically, before the mob was driven away. For safety, the two other

prisoners were moved to Burnet. None were ever tried.

―Associated with the Hill Country horrors, there was yet one more 1864 death. Another

effort to arrest Waltrip failed again to locate him, but at the farm of his neighbor and accomplice,

John Cadwell, another member of the hangerbande, Munroe Nixon, was discovered, shot, and

killed. Exasperated, state authorities replaced James Hunter with Brigadier General J. D. McAdoo.

McAdoo suspended civil law, mustered out the militia, and after assessing the situation carefully

advised the state to leave alone the men of the southwest frontier; their Indian threat was real; they

were needed at home for defense. He noted that more than twenty men had been killed, that bands

of deserters roamed the area at will while moving toward Mexico, that the terrorism associated

with the hangerbande no longer was a problem, but prejudices and enmities were so intense as a

consequence that the area was not likely to be of any help to the Confederate cause. McAdoo's

good advice was followed, and the region slowly returned to its prewar conditions…‖

*Joe Baulch is professor of history at Schreiner College in Kerrville.

The title of the article was suggested by Noah Smitbwick. Several of the events detailed herein were

patiently extracted from local sources by Kathy Walker of Schreiner College, Kerrville, Texas

56

1865-1870

It has been said of the Frontier, and is especially true of Texas:

―It was delightful for Men and Dogs but hell on Women and Horses.‖

The Spring Creek Crowd

Of course the War didn‘t end with the surrender in May of 1865, many of the Frontier Battalion

served for a few more months trying to hold the frontier together. The boys from the Second Texas,

USA were not mustered out until October or November and it took a while for everybody to filter

home. In the meantime the Indians were busy in our part of the world.

Leonard Passmore in “Tragedy on the Pedernales. Frontier Times Magazine” tells of an unhappy

event that unfolded right in our own front yard:

―There is not, perhaps, a more touching tragedy to be related of Texas frontier life, than that

which occurred the 8th day of August, 1865 at the head of a draw which is one of the sources of the

Perdenales River, in Gillespie County, where the enterprising and progressive little town of Harper

is now situated.

―Mathew Taylor, an old pioneer preacher, had selected this site - a beautiful pecan grove, in

the edge of which was a gushing, gurgling spring- to erect a cabin, in connection which was to be

associated the fearful and heartrending destinies now shortly to be related. Before this, Matthew

Taylor, with his happy little family, had been living up on the beautiful Llano; but becoming

discontented and fearful of savage treachery he decided to move nearer to the settlements - sparse

though indeed they were - where there would be less danger of invasion by the Indians. But, alas,

the puny foresight of man is deceitful. It suddenly leads him to a crown of thorns, without giving

him time to evade it. And, as was said by the great and noble Shakespeare:

‗Sorrow that is crouched in seeming gladness,

Is like the mirth fate turns to sudden sadness.‘

―The cabin referred to, was a log cabin, of the frontier style. It consisted of two rooms in

the main building, with a side-room on the west and an open gallery on the east, and was situated

on the east side of the branch, not far from where the Harper Gin is now located. The spring was on

the west, near the spot on which is the old Frank Harper home. Near it is a great stooping Walnut,

still standing like a sturdy Roman sentinel, pointing out the spot where a family of sturdy pioneers

drank the bitter dregs of frontier life. Back of the Walnut, and further up the branch, was a thicket,

dense as an African jungle, made up of black haw and live oak, making an ideal place for savage

ambush.

―To this little cabin there came to live old Matthew Taylor and his aged wife, old ‗Aunt

Hannah,‘ as she was familiarly called in those days, their daughter Caroline and her husband, Eli

McDonald, with their two children, Mahaley and Becky Jane McDonald; their son, Jim Taylor and

wife; and another son, Zed Taylor, a widower, with three children, James Jr., Alice and Donna, to

be cared for by his aged mother. Thus there were together in all, an even dozen, young and old.

57

―One day in August, somewhere about the first, old Matthew Taylor and his son, Jim,

putting a yoke of oxen to a wagon, started up to the place on the Llano, where they had been

formerly living, to get some hay and other truck grown on the little farm they had left. Little did

they think as they bade their loved ones farewell, that at their return, their eyes would rest upon

such a fearful scene of savage cruelty.

―Eli McDonald was left as the sole defender of the home. It was the time of light nights,

and all knew that the Indians were likely to make a raid; for they generally did at that season. That

they would be so blood-thirsty was little expected. Usually they depredated more after horses -they

had been doing so before this- and had not appeared so anxious for human scalps. That they would

make a raid for any purpose was only a matter of conjecture but Mr. McDonald like all other

cautious frontiersmen, thought it best to have his weapons in readiness. His gun was a rifle that he

had gotten from man named Turkanette, who was killed during the Civil War by a party of

bushwhackers. This weapon was a very trusty one, and with it, McDonald believed he could with-

stand a considerable baud of dusky marauders.

―House furniture was very difficult to secure in the early frontier homes, and while the old

man and his son were gone, Mr. McDonald, with the diligence and thrift of all those who paved the

way of civilization, would be busy with saw and plane in fixing up the things necessary to comfort

and convenience in the little home. The particular piece of furniture that he was making at the time

of which I am speaking, was a table; and he hoped to have it completed and set in place by the time

his father-in-law returned, which, according to expectation, would be the very day during which

McDonald was at work. The women were jubilant over the prospects of getting a new table, and

constantly urged the workman to hasten in his labor. At last the man remarked that if they were so

anxious for him to hurry, someone ought to go to the spring and get some cold water, where-upon

Gill, the wife of Jim Taylor, seized a bucket and disappeared down the path that led to the spring.

―The unsuspecting young woman had reached the spring, where she filled her bucket with

its limpid waters and started to return when she was pierced with an arrow from the how of a

lurking savage, who lay concealed behind the big walnut near the place where the water emerged

from the ground. With a loud shriek that reached the ears of those in the cabin, the woman with the

arrow protruding from her body, ran back through the house to the front gallery where Mr.

McDonald was a work, and gasping, fell to the floor. The blood had settled about the woman‘s

heart and death followed instantly- in fact she never spoke a word to the loved ones who gathered

about her ghastly form.

―Hastily seizing his rifle, Eli McDonald ran into the house followed by the women and

children. To their surprise, they saw a large number of the Indians congregating in the bottom; west

of the house near where the woman had been shot. There must have been fifteen or more and it was

evident they were preparing for an attack, though by gestures they pretended to be friendly. Seeing

this and knowing defense to be hopeless against such odds, the women prevailed upon Mr.

McDonald not to shoot. Coming nearer, the savages held out their hands; but the white man,

knowing the treachery that lies concealed in the Red Man‘s nature, refused to accept their pretend-

ed proposal of peace.

58

―Seeing McDonald‘s unwavering fortitude, the savages shrieking the shrill war whoop and

made a desperate charge. McDonald fired and reloaded. Soon his ammunition was exhausted, but

his brave wife, according to her own statement, seized the bullet-moulds, went to the fire and

began running bullets for the rifle. The fight continued for quite an interval, but whether any of the

Indians were killed was never learned, it being a custom of the savages to remove the bodies of all

their slain immediately after they fell. This frontiersman, being a good marksman, however, there

is little doubt but that the trusty rifle did deadly execution. But however that may have been,

strength must give way to disparity of numbers, and the cruel foe was soon around the brave

defender, and he was being crowded too much to have the time to reload. Under these

circumstances, one stealthy old Kiowa -for of this tribe they afterwards proved to becoming up in

the rear, ran his lance through the white man‘s body, and the brave pioneer, gasping, fell to the

ground. Against the wishes of this brave Texan, the women in their fright, had raised a white flag.

This act probably caused him to cease fighting, and gave the Indians an opportunity to close about

him in the manner above described.

―The old lady, ‗Aunt Hannah‘ afterwards said that as soon as Eli McDonald fell the savages

grabbed her by the hands and led her around over the yard. They finally released their savage grip

and the frightened women hastily ran into the thicket of black haw, went on up the hollow till she

reached a cave in a little bluff, near what is now the Rogers place, where she lay concealed till

nightfall. The rest, consisting of Eli McDonalds wife, Caroline, Jim Taylor‘s children, Alice, a girl

of about twelve years, Jimmie a boy of about ten, and Dorcas about three; Eli McDonald‘s

children, Mahaley a little girl five years of age, and Becky Jane of about three, were taken captive.

The Indians also took all the quilts and blankets in the house and other things that suited their

savage fancy.

―When old Matthew returned from his journey the next day, he beheld he ghastly form of

the woman with an arrow protruding from her breast and the body of Eli McDonald, deprived of

his clothing, all gory from the lance wound, and scalped, lying in the yard some distance from the

house. Entering the cabin, the old man saw that it had been ransacked, and be supposed all the rest

had been killed or taken captive.

―Hastily saddling a pony, and leaving Jim Taylor with the dead, he rode over to his son-in-

law‘s place, about fifteen miles away, to inform them of the awful tragedy and to get his help in

caring for the dead. This son-in-law was Monroe McDonald, a nephew to the man who was killed

by the Indians. Getting there about three o‗clock in the evening, frantic stricken, he told with

trembling voice amid most heart-rending sobs, the story of what his eyes had beheld at his ranch on

the Perdenales.

―Hastily preparing a conveyance, McDonald and his wife and an orphan child who was

living with them -Clementine Hays, afterwards the kind and hospitable wife of Billy Hudson,

known to many early settlers- went with the old man back to his ranch to find conditions exactly as

had been represented. Taking the trail, Monroe McDonald followed the Indians some distance,

finding that they had passed over the hill about where the Wedekin store is now located in the town

of Harper. As Mr. McDonald proceeded on the trail, he found some of the little dresses which had

been taken from the little girls by ruthless hands, and thrown aside that the helpless children might

59

stiffer the tortures of being blistered by the burning rays of the summer sun. Going on back Mr.

McDonald said that all the rest, beyond a doubt, had been taken away captive.

―Getting together such help as could be secured in a country so sparsely settled, Mr.

McDonald took the corpses down to Spring Creek and buried them in a little vale on the west bank

of the stream, a plot afterwards set apart as a public cemetery. After the burying, Matthew Taylor

was taken to hiss son-in-law‘s, for in his feeble and bereaved condition he needed attention; and

eagerly did Mr. McDonald and his wife seek to ease the old man‘s fears. They lived in a cabin on a

little branch called Walnut, a little tributary of the Perdenales, at a place afterwards known as the

Ford ranch.

―About the second day of the old man‘s stay with his daughter and son-in-law, a young man

rode up and said that old ―Aunt Hannah‖ was down at the Doss ranch safe in every way, with the

exception of weakness from fright and travel at the time. Old Matthew was jubilant with joy and

wanted to hasten at once to her side, but others thought differently and the old man was prevailed

upon to remain where he was, and in a few days the old woman was brought over, riding the entire

distance of fifteen miles or more on horseback. This was a happy meeting, but the cup of love

being unimpaired itself, had thrown within it the bitter dregs of the recent tragedy and the aged

couple wept bitterly. After passing into the cabin the old woman proceeded to relate the story of

her escape, which was substantially as follows:

‗The Indians, after leading me around in the yard awhile, released their cruel grip on my

hands and went into the house where the rest had gathered. Taking advantage of this, I hastily

passed out of the yard, passing right by the mangled body of Eli McDonald, and as I passed I saw

him gasp for breath. Oh, the sight was ghastly!

‗Getting into the brush, I wended my way to a little cave, where I lay concealed until the

sun went down I then emerged and started for Monroe McDonald‘s, but got lost and wandered all

night. I was barefooted and my feet were so badly cut by the rocks that they were bleeding, and my

legs were lacerated by the briars and cactus. I was almost famished for water, but I at last came to a

pool and quenched my thirst, and I then wet my clothes, thinking I might be able to wring a few

drops from them if I should suffer any more, as I had, before reaching the water. I at last reached

the Stark ranch on Squaw Creek where Mr. Nixon afterwards lived, but changed my course and

reached the Doss ranch just at daybreak. The buildings at this ranch consisted of two log houses

extending east and west with a wide hall between. Reaching this hall I fell prostrate on the floor

and passed into a swoon. After recovering sufficiently, I told of my fearful experience, and Mr.

Nixon sent a runner to tell of my safety.‘

―This was the same runner referred to above who brought the message to old Matthew

Taylor of the safety of his wife. In after years, the writer heard old Aunt Hannah tell of the

experience in a meeting in an old-time Methodist revival, the story of that night of wandering, and

how she prayed for deliverance from its dangers and solitude. For many years after, the good old

woman went about, exhorting and preaching where she could get a sufficient number of people

together to listen to her story as she understood it, of Savior‘s love. She delighted in telling of the

heavenly gifts of her sex, and often justified her course by saying Mary was the first to preach the

Savior‘s resurrection.‖

To balance that tale - here is another excerpt from Lafe‘s Memoirs:

60

―The frontier had many inconveniences and hardships, but life on the frontier was a free

and an easy one. We had a living so far as that was concerned, right around us, The country

abounded with wild game, and bee trees, and bee-caves were usually found full of honey. I have

known of people going out, and killing deer, and ripping the legs, and then skinning the hide off

whole, then tying the ends and filling the hide full of wild honey. In this way they could easily

bring the honey in home. When we killed a bear, we would cut the meat lose from the bones,

leaving it attached to the hide. The ribs we would cut out, roast and eat while in camp. On arriving

at home we would spread the bear hide out, skin the meat loose, cut it into blocks, salt and smoke

it. Bear meat was very delicious and healthy. Of course hunting as much as we did, we always kept

a good pack of dogs. We spent a great deal of time training them, and it just seems that dogs were

more intelligent then, than they are now. Of course, they were not. It was just because we put in so

much time training them. Dogs, with us, on the frontier were a necessity.

―I had two very fine dogs that I raised. I named them Shep and Mollie. They were

extraordinarily intelligent -Shep especially. We milked a great many cows in those days, and many

of those old Texas longhorns were fine milk cows. We milked a great many cows, and made butter

and cheese. The range was all open and our milk cows would mix with other cattle, and would

have to be driven in. I had Shep trained to drive my milk cows to the pen. At last he became so

thoroughly trained, I could send him out alone. I would say, ‗Shep, it is time to get the cows,‘ and

sway he would go. One evening he was playing with another dog, and disobeyed, when I told him

to go. I caught him and boxed his ears, and off he went, not long after he came driving the cows in.

One evening, the bell on one of the cows could scarcely be heard, but I sent Shep after them. After

he left, I decided to follow and see how he separated the milk cows from the other cattle. I did so

and climbed up a big tree where I could watch him without his knowing I was near. He would walk

through the cattle till he found a milk cow, bark at her a time or two, and drive her out to one side.

Then he would go back and get another, until he bad them all bunched. Then be trotted around the

milk cows a few times, barked, and started them in towards home. It was wonderful to watch the

intelligence of that dog.

―My father owned a very fine hound that he brought with him, when he came from Illinois.

A part of the way from Illinois here, we traveled on a steamer down the Mississippi river. There

were some hogs on the boat, in an enclosure built of plank, the first plank being several inches

above the floor of the boat. We boys would shell corn, down on the floor near the pen, and the hogs

would stick their noses under trying to reach the corn. Every time they did so, Rover would land on

to one‘s nose. This dog belonged to a breed known as English Baxers. He was a very fine little dog.

―My father also owned a very fine hound, that he had named Snip. This dog was a very fine

bear dog. If there was a bear anywhere in the country, Snip would find him. One time the old man

Turkinett borrowed Snip to go bear hunting. When he came back he said, ‗I must have that dog.‘

My father said, ‗No, I cannot spare him.‘

―Turkinett went away, and a few days afterwards came back driving a yoke of fine young

oxen. He said, ‗Here, take these oxen, I have got to have Snip.‘ The trade was made, much to the

advantage of my father; for when Turkinett took the dog out the first time after getting him, a big

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bear killed the dog. The oxen were kept, and rendered valuable service for a long time. They made

an excellent team.‖

As you can see there were different sides of life on the frontier. Sometimes, I think, we wonder

why folks would choose to live with the dangers of pioneering; in our lives we can pack everything

in a U-Haul and drive 3000 miles and start all over again with hardly a thought. Why would those

folks choose to put up with their lot? Probably for the same reasons as we would, freedom and

opportunity. For every killing, death or hardship on the frontier there were more weddings, births,

campmeetings, sunrises and Spring mornings for this group. On the balance, on the scales, I think

the good outweighed the bad by a long shot.

A Happy Ending

In November of 1866 J.H. Leavenworth of the Kiowa Indian Agency sent a letter to D. Cooley,

Commissioner of Indian Affairs; stating the he had recovered eight white captives from the Indians

and ascertained the whereabouts of three others.

The returned were:

Mrs. Caroline McDonald

Rebecca Jane McDonald

Alice Almeda Taylor

James Taylor

Dorcas Angeline Taylor

James Vaughn (as nearly as could be ascertained)

Alice Amelia Sprague

James Benson (9 or 10 years old)

Still with with the Kiowas:

Milla Jane Sprague

Mahala Louise Elizabeth McDonald

Still with the Comanches:

One boy, name not known

Milla Jane and Mahala were recovered later, the following regarding that event was taken from

Leavenworth‘s report:

―Milla Jane Sprague, Mrs. E. Sprague's youngest child, aged between three & four years is

the only one held with any tenacity – I had much trouble to get Miss. Sprague and at one time the

excitement was so great that a rupture of the Kiowa tribe appeared almost inevitable – The two

chiefs Holo-ga-ka-wat and Parry-wah-[Symon?] of the Yan-per-nilles band of Comancha's were so

confident there would be a fight they rallied their men and surrounded my ambulance and said they

travelled the same road as myself, and they, and their men would die with me – A large number of

the Comancha's are anxious to settle down and become "white men". They are in my opinion,

except the No-ko-na band the best and most reliable Indians of the plains and can be made

herdsmen and agriculturists [sic] long before almost any others, as they have never learned the

vices of the whites to the extent of the others – The Kiowa's are the most unreliable and it will

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require constant watching to keep them within bounds – They have been so accustomed to raid into

Texas during the Southern troubles it will require some troops on our southern and southwestern

border to hold them in check. I have ascertained on this trip that they are driving stock from the

borders of Texas to sell to speculators north. I wish the Supt. would take the subject up and give

the most deffinite [sic] and positive instructions on this subject‖

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Description of the Country

Western Gillespie County is contiguous with Kimble County sharing much the same topography,

the only notable difference is western Gillespie County drains into the Pedernales River whereas

Kimble County drains into the Llano River. The flora and fauna are the same. A great description

of the area appears the 1937 Book “It Occurred in Kimble.” A passage follows:

The Call Of The Llanos

―From the upper Llanos, with an abundance of wild and luxuriant vegetation, came a

beckoning call to the frontiersman of 1860. Despite the ever-present danger of attack from hostile

Indians, and the distance to the nearest trading post, or medical aid in event of a snake bite or

serious illness, those fearless pioneers answered the call of romance and adventure offered by a

virgin, unspoiled country "whose bosom no plow had touched." It was the call of "come and take."

―A hilly, broken topography, except for the valleys, made of Kimble County an area

suitable primarily for the raising of livestock rather than for farming. Shin oak, cedar, mesquite,

and live oak were found in abundance. Other trees of varied quantities found were elm,

cottonwood, hackberry, white oak, pecan, persimmon, Mexican (wild) plum, sycamore, blue thorn,

willow, sumac, and a variety of bushy growths. A few wild mulberry trees could be seen in isolated

sections. A species of walnut, of but little commercial value, grew in the creek beds and river

bottoms.

―A variety of native grasses covered the hills, plateaus and valleys. The mesquite and grama

grasses were the more common, and were found to be especially valuable as drought resistants, as

well as being fattening for livestock. These grasses were hardy and served to hold the soil and

prevent erosion.

―The first settlers came in ox wagons—horses were scarce in those days. Each wagon was

drawn by from two to four yoke of oxen. It must have been a sight—those first settlers—as they

lumbered along with their rickety, hand-made, covered wagons, sheeted with tattered wagon covers

beneath which peered sparkling eyes of youngsters. The roads into the upper Llano valleys were

uncharted, except for a dim, rarely-traveled government road that crossed the Llanos near the

junction of the two rivers and followed the Bear Creek route to Fort McKavett.

―Awaiting the Kimble pioneer of 1860 was an abundance of wild game of almost every

description known in Southwest Texas. Deer skipped about in silent wonderment at the appearance

of so queer an arrival. The javelinas stamped their feet and boofed out a chorus of alarm and disap-

proval. The panther crept from his ledge of rock to peer through the crevices. Wild turkey by

thousands let their curiosity make them appear half-friendly.

The Kimble-bound pioneer would call out to his steers, "Whoa, you, whoa!" and the wagon would

come to a standstill in a spring-fed mountain rivulet.

―The settler found wood and water in abundance, and a place to camp for the night. The

sloping knee-high grass plots were close by seductively inviting one to linger. The air was filled

with a rich aroma of flowers, and all nature was singing a song of quiet and peace. In the distance

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could be seen the meandering outline of the main Llano, studded on either side by the towering

pecans which reflected a deep blue against the evening sunset. Small wonder the settler of that day

dared the wilderness of the upper Llanos!

Nature's Rendezvous

―The valleys of the Llanos were indeed a rendezvous for game. Here was a retreat—a

Utopia for the wild things. Peaceful were these valleys. The deep, rich soil was kept fertile by

overflows from the bordering hillsides. The valleys proper were several miles wide in places

presenting a smooth, rolling topography, breaking roughly toward the surrounding hills. Down the

North Llano came a pure, spring-fed stream with a lively flow the year 'round. From the south

came another Llano, a more restless, meandering stream. With a source that provided an illimitable

supply, with millions of gallons pouring and gushing wildly from a mountain side, its flow had

been a steady, continuous one for untold ages. As the two streams converge, the waters become

more tranquil.

From many a mountain-side nook and crevice spurted isolated springs. There, many a natural,

secluded retreat was hidden, waiting to be found by the world. Clusters of wild grape vines,

bearing a small fruit with an acidulous taste, were draped as though arranged by a Master Decora-

tor. Intertwined with the grape vines was an occasional climbing sumac, all drooping toward the

mirrored water below and swaying cradle-like in the breeze. Many a stony precipice gave a rugged

background to a bronzed thicket below in a surrounding of multi-colored flowers—a setting for

reverent contemplation.

Javelinas

―A queer animal in considerable numbers was the musk hog, given the Spanish name of

javelinas. They were often seen in herds of fifty or even a hundred, with a tendency to be ferocious.

Many a tender-foot in those parts, upon first seeing a band of boofing javelinas, if he were afoot,

looked cautiously about for a tree to climb in case his gun should jam or he should be attacked en

masse. They were wild, but were not to be too closely pressed or cornered. And it was a familiar

sight to see them, when approached, rally into battle array and put on a convincing picture of wrath

and indignation, probably a leader advancing toward the intruder, supported by a chorus of

stamping, jaw-popping and boofing demonstration from the companions.

―The javelinas were small in stature, the average grown animal weighing from fifty to

seventy-five pounds, a few of the boars being even larger. In color they were, as a rule, yellow-

reddish, giving a rainbow effect as they pranced about in the sunlight. One man said of the javelina,

"His head was too big for his body, and his short, thick neck showed that it had great strength."

―This animal was hardly fit for human consumption, though the fat ones were devoured by

some people who likened the taste to ordinary bacon. When butchered, it was essential that the

odor-producing musk be removed immediately after the animal was killed. They lived principally

on acorns, nuts, roots and berries, and were rarely known to be carnivorous.

―The javelina was a squatty, solid-fleshed animal, with ears short and stubby and all but

hidden in the rather generous growth of hair about the neck and part of the head. The white, sharp

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tusks were formidable and turned upward, and the hind feet contained but one upper toe. The

animal was much feared, especially when in large numbers. Dogs were afraid of them and dreaded

like death to encounter the little devils. They played havoc with more than one settler's corn crop or

garden. At night time, or when being hunted or annoyed, they often sought refuge in mountain

caves.

Eagle

―A traveler who crossed the rim and dropped down into the scooping valleys of the Llanos,

or who was swallowed up in one of the many canyons, was sure to see here and there flying

serenely, the out-stretched wings of the eagle.

‗He clasps the crag with hooked hands Close to the suns in lonely lands,

Ringed with the azure world, he stands.‘

―The eagle doubtless viewed with an instinctive apprehension the encroachment of the early

settlers upon the secluded valleys over which he had held unmolested sway for so many centuries.

Indians had lived in those valleys for untold ages, but here came a new creature, a new rolling,

worm-like thing—as it appeared from a thousand feet above. But for many decades the eagle flew

proudly on, taking his living principally from rabbits, lambs, and small animal life. His doom had

been written, however, and today, after three quarters of a century, a lone eagle in those valleys is a

rarity, and much sought after by the alert ranchman who values the lives of his small sheep. The

bird is today almost extinct in that sector.

Lobo Wolves

―The Llano valley settler of the sixties found the territory seething with big lobo wolves, as

well as the smaller species of timber wolves and coyotes. A coarse, stentorian voice distinguished

the lobo's howling from that of the smaller species of the same family. At night time, especially in

the moonlight, he would steal dangerously dose to the camp fire, there to hunker down and howl

out a strange incoherent message that was usually answered in the distance. One writer attempted

to interpret the message thus:

‗Ye favored ones, be kind to the wolf,

And he'll be kind unto you;

And the Father above who made us all,

He will mark the good that ye do.

From His hands came we, from His hands came ye;

We are brothers in His glorious reign;

So share the blessings He has showered on you, With your poor, lost friend of the plain:

Of the plain—

Of your poor, lost friend of the plain.

Oh, bow wow wow, bow wow wow;

Of your poor, lost friend of the plain.‘

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―The lobo feasted upon smaller animals, especially the rabbit, but fortified by a few of his

brethren he took special delight in hamstringing a steer, or, single-handed, laying waste to a half-

grown calf. One frontiersman tells of witnessing a huge steer being pulled down by four lobos. The

victim bawled and fought furiously, but his attackers had weakened him by cutting into his ham-

strings, and he was soon torn to pieces. The lobo, like the eagle, was making its last stand. The

handwriting was on the wall with the advent of the cattle-raiser and the sheepman.

Panther

―Vying for a place of prominence in the wild animal kingdom of the Llano valleys was the

crouching panther. That species of the cat family was quite plentiful in those parts, and rarely a

night was spent by the early-day ranchman without hearing the cat-like scream of the panther. One

pioneer said the panther's scream was similar to that of a house cat, except a hundred times as loud,

and was somewhat "like unto that of a woman's." This animal was not as ferocious as he has been

pictured. He could be treed by a small dog, and would not make fight unless it was forced upon

him When a fight was in the offing, the shrewd panther would often nonchalantly climb a tree, and

there crouched close to a bough would look down upon his foe with a purring growl. For his

livelihood, the panther feasted principally upon colts and burros. In the absence of his preference,

he satisfied his hunger upon sheep, rabbits, birds, and the like. The panther was a smart animal, and

when attacking his prey usually struck from a crouching position on the limb of a tree.

Jaguar

―Similar in size and bearing a similarity in habits to the panther, was the black-blue spotted

jaguar. This animal was never plentiful in Kimble, but his presence was keenly felt by the early

sheepman, as the snarling jaguar was fond of lamb chops and was most destructive when preying

upon a flock of bedded sheep at night-time. The extermination of this animal was practically

complete by the turn of the century, though one was killed on the A. M. Reese ranch as late as

1910.

Bear

―The black mountain bear appeared strong in numbers during the sixties and seventies. The

early settler found them roaming up and down the streams and canyons, romping and playing in

their characteristic manner. The bear provided a preferred source of food, which accounted for their

early scarcity. Many ranchmen used them in place of hog-meat, and many a smokehouse frequently

bulged during winter with cured bear bacon for the ensuing year. It was not an uncommon thing to

hear a ranchman say he had a thousand pounds of bear meat cured.

Mountain Lion (Cougar)

―Then, there was the mountain lion, with its defiant roar. Perhaps the loudest of the

mountain creatures, on a still night his growling roar would echo a full mile across a mountain

canyon. He was a wild, fighting animal—the terror of the animal kingdom. In appearance, the

mountain lion could be likened to the lobo, except for a size larger, a slightly larger head, with a

wide mouth opening, a bit more hairy over the body, and a bunch of long, bushy hair at the end of

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his tail. This animal was a beast of the mountains, and he was not long in beating a retreat after the

coming of mankind to this native habitat.

Beaver

―The timid, elusive beaver, perhaps the most industrious of the fur-bearing animals, denned

in the creek and river banks and rocky abutments. Dam-builders by instinct, the elm, white-oak,

sycamore and pecan were systematically cut and arranged in order. Dams were built only where

streams were shallow in order that water might be held back for depth. They were therefore more

often found in creek beds. In addition to trees, the dam was made of bushes, the spaces being filled

with stone and mud. When completed, the structure averaged two feet in width at the top, with

thicker base. At places where the current was stronger, the dam would ordinarily course up-stream

to give added strength; otherwise, it would go directly across. In the construction work it is said the

beaver would cut the trees into logs of reasonable length for convenience, and would

systematically set them in shape. From the bottom of the stream or from about the water's edge,

stone and mud would be carried by the beaver under its chin or in its forepaws. The system and

skill displayed on a plan bespoke an uncanny understanding of elementary principles of engineer-

ing.

Swan

―Along the clear, blue streams could occasionally be seen a snow-white, wide-winged

swan, flying lazily along and dose to the water's surface. Attention was readily attracted to them as

they fluttered their wings heavily against the water in taking to the air. Long, graceful legs, and an

elongated neck that arched back, exposing a heaving symmetrical bosom, made of the swan a

perfection of nature.

Paisano

―Another bird of attractive features was the paisano, also called the chaparral cock, which

the settlers dubbed the "road runner." He was also called the bird of Paradise, probably because of

his singular beauty and unique appearance. This bird was plentiful when the first settlers came, and

until this day is quite common in the wooded areas. He is swift and elusive, and is often seen

scurrying through the brush and weeds beyond the reach of danger. He is characterized by rather

long, extremely slender legs, and a long tail that sometimes drags in the dust. When pursued this

bird will often fly a few paces, then strike the ground running at a rapid pace.

―The paisano has been known to kill rattle snakes. A person who witnessed the spectacle

observed the bird teasing the snake until the latter became tired from repeatedly striking into the

air; then, when the snake was coiled the bird would strike his sharp bill into the snake's back, just at

the base of the head. When a bloody spot appeared the attacker would shoot its beak back into the

injured spot and repeat until the snake became helpless. The snake's eyes were then pecked out.

―The male and the female of this species are quite similar in appearance, and can hardly be

distinguished. They are usually seen near chaparral brush or other bushy growths where they may

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flee for protection if attacked, and are popular with farmers and ranchmen. The paisano is not a

singing bird, but makes a sort of subdued guttural sound.

Mexican Mocking Bird

―Bearing some similarity to the chaparral that inhabited the Llanos was a kind of mocking

bird, called by the natives "scissor-tail," and more properly called a Mexican mocking bird. This

bird made its appearance in the valleys with the coming of Spring, and, indeed, its presence was a

sure chronicle that winter had been dethroned and that springtime was definitely present. It could

be distinguished from the common mocking bird by two long tail feathers that shot out with a

perceptible outward bend. Also, the Mexican mocker was slightly more sluggish, more gaudy in

dress than its kinsman—the common mocking bird, and lacked the finer musical qualities of the

latter. It could often be seen perched on a place of prominence in a tree top, and would dart in

pursuit of the first passing hawk. This bird was similarly combative toward the common mocking

bird, and they were never known to be on friendly terms.

Rattle Snake

―On the first warm days of spring the rattlesnakes crawled from their places of hibernation

in the mountain cliffs and crags. They came forth to sun themselves and gain their fire and strength

following months of sleep and inactivity. It would have been unusual for a man to walk or ride up a

hillside or through a valley and not have encountered at least one of these poisonous serpents.

―Contrary to much opinion, the rattlesnake was never exactly combative, but almost

invariably receded for protection and sought refuge when attacked. This venomous snake, capable

of inflicting serious injury or death from its quiet position to the side of a pedestrian's pathway,

rarely ever struck without first imparting a rattling warning to the would-be victim. Great indeed

are the wonders of nature! As he lay with his head emerged from the coiled circle, and a sharp,

black tongue whipping in and out, and his rattles erected perpendicularly from the ground and

singing a buzzy, rasping sound, the snake gave warning sufficient to one who did not choose to be

attacked. And, strangely, considering the large numbers of these serpents, few people were bitten.

Texas Norther

―The Texas norther had far from spent its fury when it unleashed a whirling blast from over

the rim and into the Llano valleys. The northers usually came unannounced, without any natural

warning. In sheer fury and terror an Arctic blizzard might have appeared relatively moderate. Like

a whip-lash, the clouds appeared over the horizon driven and whipped about in a disorderly fashion

as if by some phantom demon. The storm was usually preceded by a period of warmth, often of

summer-heat intensity, and a still, motionless atmosphere. With hardly as much warning as is given

by the rattlesnake when about to strike, the north wind suddenly crashed into the valleys and some-

times continued for hours without a moment of respite. Deer, scenting the pending atmospheric

change, galloped uneasily to the hillsides for protection, or else dived head-long into the wooded

bottom lands. But man, unsuspecting, rode along, and if he were a new-comer to Texas he probably

was poorly-equipped for the forthcoming ordeal.

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―It is said these unusual winds (which have become considerably milder), were exclusively

Texan, and gained their origin on the staked plains where the humid, heated atmosphere was taken

aloft and suddenly replaced by the pure air that came down from the stratosphere. This cold air

current came plunging to the earth's surface and then spread out with extreme suddenness, the wave

of cold wind gaining momentum and often engulfing the entire southwestern part of the state. It

then appeared as if the storm-god were "thrusting into battle with a thousand chariots of brass." The

continuous blue wind often howled, whistled and drove with great intensity. "While trees, dim-

seen, in frenzied numbers, tear the lingering remnants of their yellow hair."

―After raging for perhaps forty-eight hours, the storm would subside. The sun would shine

down upon the country-side, and the resulting fresh, pure atmosphere became bracing and

invigorating. Great indeed are the wonders of nature!

Springtime

―Following the last blast of the north wind came the slow, southerly breeze and springtime.

Nature put on her spring clothes for the admiration of the settler, and the valleys gave the

appearance of an artificially arranged flower bed.

―Blue ranges hovered in the distances, and the dark forms of tall trees seemed to lean

heavily against the mountainsides. Here and there were white haws with snow-white blooms. As

spring advanced, flowing layers of blue bonnets made their appearance in the valleys and on the

hillsides. Bordering the blue fringes the wild phlox and poppies added a restful pink to the color

outline. Adding to the spreading bouquet arrangement, the green prickly pear, with its corpulent

leaves and linked branches, appeared in clusters with bell-shaped yellow and orange blossoms.

Here and there little dabs of purple verbenas added a color fascination to the landscape.

―Thus, it may be seen that the valleys of the upper Llanos, when first penetrated by man—

the first of such exploration of any consequence having been in the sixties—were beautiful and

alluring. Partially hemmed in from the outer world by the surrounding divide lands and mountain

peaks, the valleys presented a picture of grandeur and colossal natural beauty. Here was the

undisturbed, unspoiled handiwork of God, the Supreme Architect.

―Into these valleys came those first Kimble settlers—men and women who were not afraid,

who had their own lives to live, who went forth, as Matthew Arnold has it,

‗Tracking out their true, original course; A longing to inquire

Into the mystery of this heart which beats So wild, so deep in us,—to know

Whence our lives came and where they go.‘

―The Kimble County valleys, surrounded by shin oak hills and cedar-coated canyons,

became the stage for new life dramas to be played by new actors. Curtains were drawn back. The

new stage was in readiness. Said Shakespeare:

‗All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts."

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The Life Style

Much of this section is extracted from the Sons of DeWitt Colony web site, and they in turn quote

Ranger Captain William Banta from his memoirs “Twenty-seven Years on the Texas Frontier”

Housing

―In building houses it was common to build of logs, and from fourteen to sixteen feet

square; the first six logs were fourteen feet in length, the next four rounds sixteen feet long; thus

the house had the appearance of a big house set on a smaller one, forming what was then called a

"block" house. The top was done up with logs three-foot boards were split out and placed on the rib

poles, and then weighted down with what were called weight poles. The doors were made of split

and hewed puncheons pinned together with an auger, and hung to the log wall with wooden hinges.

On the inside of the house they were fastened by heavy wooden bars in: such a manner that it was

impossible for and one to get into the house from the outside. The cracks of the house were stopped

with pieces of timber split for the purpose and driven in with an axe, then pinned fast with wooden

pins, leaving two or three holes in each side and end between the chinking, called port holes, used

for the purpose of shooting outside in case of an attack from without. The object of the projecting

wall above was to be able to shoot straight down from the upper floor; and in fact this position

commanded any approach from the outside. Dirt floors were common, but some of those who were

considered wealthy made their floors of puncheons, split and hewed and pinned down to the

sleepers with an auger and wooden pins. The chimney was built of rough stone or heavy timber.

Everything was constructed of strong material, and in such a way as to make it the next thing to

impossible to force an entrance from without.‖

Some of the early houses in our part of the country may have been built like this, the only survivor

is the McDonald Cabin that was moved from Spring Creek to Harper and now is on display in the

city park. The McDonald Cabin has straight sides but otherwise was pretty much as described.

The McDonald Cabin, Harper

As settlement progressed; the more elaborate and comfortable ―dog-run‖ house which was built

from sawed planks. Lumber was initially sawn by hand, then later, by water-driven mills. The

simplest dog-run home usually consisted of two rooms connected by a long hall with a long porch

on the front. The design was expanded to include more rooms and even a second story over time.

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This design provided an efficient cooling system from breezes running the length or length and

width of the house.

As our families set up housekeeping on Spring Creek, Lange‘s Mill up on Threadgill Creek,

formerly owned by the Doss Brothers, was sawing lumber. Lumber however cost money and by

the time our migration got to that area, it is probable that not much cash was available.

One way to build a house or other building without much money was to build a ―picket house.‖

The walls were made of poles or saplings upright in the ground right next to each other and tied or

laced together with vines and then plastered with clay. The roof was usually flat, made of poles and

covered with sod and then sealed with mud. The only framing required was door jambs and widow

frames. This was an efficient way to build a structure but required much maintenance especially in

the rainy season. The early structures were not very large and featured close living. Cooking was

often done outside and many places featured covered porches to expand the usable space, some

were enclosed for sleeping.

Glass was expensive and windows were covered with wooden shutters with deer or cowhides for

curtains. Iron was scarce, but used when available to bar windows and to reinforce doors.

The construction of corrals for the stock and the fences around arable lands varied in style

depending on availability of materials and the back ground of the builder. Stone fences, pole type

with uprights and rails or just split rails stacked on top of each other in a zig zag perimeter.

Food and Farming

Corn was the easiest and fastest to grow when a farm started out. In the beginning other grains as

wheat, barley and rye were raised in almost insignificant amounts. Flour was at a premium and

yeast for leavening even scarcer. Biscuits were often of the hardtack variety, raised biscuits being a

special treat.

―The next thing of importance for convenience was a hand mill, to grind corn for bread.

This mill was fastened to a post; had two cranks, and the hopper was in the shape of a funnel, and

would hold about one peck of corn. We had to grind the corn coarse, and then tighten the mill and

grind it over again before it could be baked into bread. Some were not able to buy a mill of this

kind, and had to beat their corn in a mortar, which was made as follows: A block three feet long

was sawed from a large tree and set up on one end and a hole mortised in the upper end in the

shape of a funnel, which would hold a half gallon of corn; the pestle was hung at the end of a long

limber pole, which would spring. The corn was then soaked in water until it became soft, and was

then put in the mortar; by the use of the pestle it was pounded into meal. Others made graters of tin,

and boiled the corn in the ear, and when it became soft it was grated into meal.‖

The Doss-Lange Mill had a grist mill but likely, most of the corn was ground at home on hand

mills or beat in mortars, in order to save the cost.

The Daily Fare

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―… normal meals consisted of corn bread, pork, beef and wild game with honey with some

milk or milk products as a luxury. Fresh corn on the cob, Indian and soft white Mexican variety,

was boiled and roasted and stored shelled in large kettles of "lye hominy" for use in the winter.

Being from the Upper South, the colonists most likely also dried the hominy, made meal of it and

used it to make Georgia ‗ice cream‘ or Texas ‗yoghurt‘, e.g. white corn hominy grits. There is no

doubt that some colonists adopted the applications of corn, dried hominy, beans, onions, garlic and

even chili from the native Tejanos they encountered, either locally or on the trail.‖

Vegetable and poultry farming was probably minimal for our families and limited to small flocks

and plots for home use. Wild Turkeys often wound up on the dinner table.

Clothes

―The next object was to protect our bodies from cold as well as heat. The men and boys

dressed buckskin and made pants, hunting shirts, and moccasins; hats or caps were made of fur

skins, and these with a home spun shirt, composed the everyday wear; and the only difference on

Sunday was, they put on a clean shirt, provided they had two, which was sometimes the case. As to

store bought clothes, there were few able to wear them. Women and children wore homespun

clothing. The cotton cloth I saw made, the cotton seed was picked out by hand, the cotton carded

by hand, and spun on a spinning wheel, and then woven on a hand loom. It was coarse, but lasted

well. In making woolen fabric the wool was carded and spun in like manner. Home tanned leather

and home made shoes or moccasins were in common use.‖

By the 1870s buckskin clothes were fading out as some more sophisticated fabrics became

available to purchase, however homespun was the staple. During the Civil War manufactured

goods became almost impossible to purchase; two items were extremely hard on the folks when

they were not available, sewing needles and percussion caps for hunting weapons.

Blacksmithing skills were common as well as finish woodworking. Many of our folks were

accomplished woodworkers; Erastus Fairchild brought enough finished lumber with him to Texas

to build several wagons and Asa Lacey was listed as a carpenter in the Census. Matthew Taylor

was a stonemason as well as a preacher and there is a good chance that many had crafts as well as

being farmers and stockraisers.

―In attending church the man would hitch up the team, belt on his knife and pistols, and

shoulder his gun; now all aboard were off to church. On arriving the guns were stacked in the

corner of the house, and the side arms retained on the person of the owner. After preaching was

over they returned home in the same manner. At parties men went armed the same as at other

places, dancing in moccasins and buckskin pants with hunting shirts made of the same material; the

girls wore homespun dresses, and sometimes shoes and sometimes moccasins, and looked well at

that. I have often seen families move on their land in the spring with seed corn, and not eat bread at

home until they raised it. But they lived well with the exception of bread.

―Game of all kinds was plentiful, and wild honey in abundance, with plenty of milk and

butter and home made cheese. Wild fruit, such as strawberries, dewberries, plums, and grapes,

were plentiful in summer, as were nuts of all kinds in fall and winter. We often put up bear meat

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like pork; using the oil instead of lard for frying wild meat such as deer, turkeys, and fish, which

were plentiful and but little trouble to get. We used spicewood and sassafras tea in place of coffee,

and honey in place of sugar. Our groceries were bought with hides, hams, bear's oil, beeswax, and

honey… Our farming tools were of a rude kind; wooden mould boards and home made stocks to

plows; reap hooks for cutting grain; flails to beat out grain; the chaff winded out. When scythes and

cradles were introduced we thought we had arrived at the end of perfection. Our teams consisted of

one or more yoke of oxen. The Indians kept us from owning horse teams; they would drive them

off as fast as we could raise or buy them. Our wagons were of the old style, with wooden axles,

without spring seats, having to use chairs or planks across the top for seats; this was our best

conveyance for our families when going to church.‖

Stock Raising

―Although largely hunters, woodsmen and farmers from the southern frontiers of the

growing United States, the colonists with some lag time adopted the techniques of cattle care and

Mexican horsemanship of native Tejanos which they had learned from their Spanish forebears.

…they learned to use the villa de campo (the Western saddle), the lazo and the reata for roping, the

‗cutting out‘ an animal from the herd for branding, the roundup, and the drive (how to watch for

signs of a stampede, how to keep the cattle calm and to watch for anything that might upset them).

They were taught how to break, train and handle the cow pony from vaqueros. From Tejanos they

learned how to battle the droughts and to gather and singe the prickly pear (cactus) for the cattle to

eat.‖

Like wild game and mustangs, wild cattle were common on the frontier.

Stockraising consisted of cattle for both market and home consumption and hogs mostly for home

consumption. Both were allowed to range freely and flourished without feed on the land. Steers are

territorial and didn‘t tend to go far afield, with a little conditioning. Brands were registered. Once

or twice a year the men would round up the cattle in their area, they would cut out the cows with

new calves and brand the calf that was theirs. It was an honor system, however if you got caught

violating the system the consequences were pretty grim. It was also necessary to make sure the

brands were up to date and visible so that the next guy wouldn‘t be in doubt.

During the War the range was left largely unattended and when the men returned it took a bit of

sorting out to get things under control. Any unbranded young cattle that weren‘t mothered up were

up for grabs. In a few years the great Texas Trail Drives got started and made their own history.

Many of our young men, no doubt, took a turn or two at driving cattle north or west. An interesting

facet of the trail drives was that if any of your neighbors cattle got mixed up with yours at roundup;

you might take them along as well and bring the proceeds of their sale back to your neighbor.

The Indians didn‘t favor cattle; they took them from time to time but they were too slow

especially if someone was in pursuit. They favored horses, they were faster, they could ride them

and if they got hungry they could eat them. Horses were much harder for the settlers to keep, at

different times there might be few if any rideable horses available.

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Camp Meetings

Our families had one big indulgence, common to many on the frontier, the ‗Camp Meeting.‘ In an

era and area where there were few social opportunities and limited Churches, these get-togethers

were a really big deal, especially for our frontier Methodists although they were usually

interdenominational and other preachers were welcome at the pulpit. They would happen when the

spirit led and were promoted by word of mouth. These large religious affairs would have all the

trappings of a revival coupled with a chance to visit with friends. People would come from miles

around and camped out with their family for days. There would be all day preaching, sometimes

with several preachers at different stations at the same time, interspersed with that would be prayer

groups, singing, eating and socializing.

Kimble County about 1892

Taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia- Camp Meeting:

―The camp meeting is a phenomenon of American frontier Christianity. The movement of

thousands of settlers to new territories without permanent villages of the types they knew meant

they were without religious communities. Not only were there few authorized houses of worship,

there were fewer ordained ministers to fill the pulpits. The ‗camp meeting‘ led by itinerant

preachers was an innovative response to this situation. Word of mouth told there was to be a

religious meeting at a certain location. Due to the primitive means of transportation, if the meeting

was to be more than a few miles distance from the homes of those attending, they would need to

stay at the revival for its entire duration, or as long as they desired to remain. People generally

camped out at or near the revival site, as on the frontier there were usually neither adequate

accommodations nor the funds for frontier families to use them. People were attracted to large

camp meetings from a wide area. Some came out of sincere religious devotion or interest, others

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out of curiosity and a desire for a break from the arduous frontier routine; the structure of the

situation created new converts.

―Freed from daily routines for the duration of the meeting, participants could take part in

almost continuous services, which resulted in high emotions; once one speaker was finished (often

after several hours) another would often rise to take his place. ‗Several ministers, sometimes from

different denominations, provided virtually nonstop preaching and hymn singing during the day, in

the evening, and late into the night. Attendees anticipated and had emotional conversion

experiences, with crying, trances, and exaltation.‘ ‗Camp-meeting religion reinforced older themes

of revivalism, including a sense of cooperation among the denominations, all of which confronted

individual sinners with the necessity of making a decision to be converted.‘ Revivalism, of course,

had been a significant force in religion since the 1740s, but in the days of the camp meeting,

‗revivalism became the dominant religious culture.‘ These sorts of meetings were huge

contributing factors to what became known as the Second Great Awakening. A particularly large

and successful revival was held at Cane Ridge, Kentucky in 1801, where the Restoration

Movement began to be formalized. This camp meeting was, in fact, that which many contend to be

the pioneering event in the history of frontier camp meetings in America. What made camp

meetings successful and multiplying quite rapidly were their emphases upon revivalism and

morality, de-emphasis upon formal theology, clergy sharing the worldview of the frontier dwellers,

and respect for common people.

―The camp meetings gained wide recognition and a substantial increase in popularity in the

aftermath of the American Civil War, as a result of the first holiness movement camp meeting in

Vineland, New Jersey in 1867. Ocean Grove, New Jersey, founded in 1869, has been called the

‗Queen of the Victorian Methodist Camp Meetings.‘…‖

The LockeHill Crowd

When Jack Locke bought his property on the Fredericksburg Road there wasn‘t much around, just

more wide open Hill Country. He and Lewis Lacey must have had designs on doing something

together, but when the War came, Lewis took Margaret back to her parents in Goliad and enlisted.

Jack was old enough not to worry when the draft came, for southern men to be conscripted, but

duty to defend the Frontier beckoned and Jack joined other family members in Gillespie County in

answering the call.

The following thoughts are excerpted from the San Antonio News Express – June 8, 1997:

―Writer/educator John Igo, who grew up in the area where his family settled in the 1870s,

says the Locke Hill of the late 19th and early 20th century was loosely bounded by Bandera and

Huebner roads, Northwest Military Drive and what is now a section of Interstate 10 West. In its

heyday, says Igo, independent Locke Hill had a little of everything, including oil wells, caves and

stills. More important, it had a post office and a school, whose histories were intertwined.

―Also spelled Lock Hill and Lockhill, the community‘s name honors its founder, William

Jackson Locke. With his wife, Mary, and their two children, Locke left Illinois in 1850, bound for

Texas via the Mississippi River to New Orleans. With their possessions loaded onto an ox cart, the

Lockes first joined family who had come ahead to homestead at Pipe Creek; later they bought land

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near Fredericksburg Road and built a log house. On the way, son Sam Houston Locke was born in

the covered wagon used to transport the family and its household goods.

―From 1861 to 1865, life was hard. In William (Jack) Locke‘s absence during the Civil

War, the family was plagued by privation and Indian raids. Mary Locke ‗fed her children wild

game killed with a bow and arrow or caught in traps,‘ writes Locke Hill Elementary School

librarian Norma Murphy in a history of the school. The Locke children and their mother ‗ate

berries and acorns and made tea from oak leaves. It was a happy day when Capt. Locke returned.‘

―Soon after, Locke and fellow pioneer (and half brother) Lewis Lacey opened a supply

depot at the intersection of Fredericksburg and Wurzbach roads to serve the stagecoach line that

operated between San Antonio and Fredericksburg. ‗Soon, the stage was stopping twice a week

with mail, supplies and passengers,‘ says Murphy.

―By 1868, the community had grown to include several families. Judith Locke was the first

teacher of what was first called the Shavano School; pupils met in the back of her father‘s supply

depot.

―The following year, the building grew even more important when the Locke Hill Post

Office was established there. (As the community changed, the names ―Locke Hill‖ and ―Shavano‖

often replace each other. Legend has it that the latter name, commemorates a vanished and

otherwise undocumented Native American tribe. Another theory is that a French-surnamed rancher

in the area once employed some remnant of the mission Indians. A phonetic pronunciation of his

name… say, Charbonneau — may have left them known as Shavano‟s Indians.)

―As the children outgrew the back room and successive locations, the school kept moving

— into a house that had belonged to the Flathouse family, then into a rock building that housed a

church/school on land donated by Sam Locke near the community cemetery, still visible from

Huebner Road.

―The school provided a no-frills educational experience, Ella Eckert Gerfers, told history

columnist Sam Woolford in The San Antonio Light, March 10, 1957. The course of study included

reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, language, physiology and history. Students got there on foot

or by buggy; those lucky enough to have horsepower had to feed their steeds at noon.

―Molasses and sausage, and in winter wild duck; ―People had plenty to eat,‖ says Gerfers,

whose family lived on what was known as Nine Mile Hill, for its distance from San Antonio.

Besides the Locke and de Zavala‘s, neighbors of the Eckerts and Gerfers were the Bacons,

Bennetts, Buttons, Brauns, Heaps, Huebners, Igos, Laceys, Linns and Murgatroyds.‖

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The Hill Country

Our families began regrouping after the War and their fortunes began to change. At this point we

ought to become familiar with the counties around our core group.

This 1867 map gives a birds eye view, showing the San Antonio to Fredericksburg Road and the

area to the west. These counties will play an increasing part as the next generation grows and our

restless fathers look for more room.

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Life with Lucretia

This piece is a combination of research and a great document, “Emma Taylor Remembers.”

Written by Lucretia‟s granddaughter and Gillett‟s daughter Emma in 1940.

This story represents many other stories in our families. Some didn‘t have it so rough, a few had it

rougher. The best element to this story is, it is a relatively firsthand account by a not too polished

person. To read a copy of the original, go to our web site: www.afamilyofthewest.org

Lucretia McDonald Fairchild Chesser

Amos Fairchild was born in Washington County, Ohio in 1825. He died June 1865 near Eagle Pass, Texas. Lucretia Jane McDonald born in Mount Vernon, Illinois, January 26, 1832. She died in Animas, New Mexico December 7, 1928. They were married in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County on April 30, 1850. Amos was a carpenter and he made wagons, chairs, spinning wheels and looms, tables and bedsteads; in fact all kinds of furniture to sell. It is said that he brought enough dressed lumber to Texas to make several wagons. Their oldest child was a girl, Cloe Irene Elizabeth Frances Fairchild. She was born in Jefferson County, Illinois, August 10, 1852 and died in White Oaks, New Mexico in 1926. Louisa Melissa Nancy Ann “Curly” Fairchild, their second child. She was born in Jefferson County, June 27, 1855, and died in Douglas, Arizona June 11, 1939. Their third daughter was Gillette Louellen Elvira Marenda Fairchild, born in Collins County, Texas, October 17, 1856 and died in 1943 in Animas, Hildalgo County, New Mexico. She was five years old when Amos and Lucretia made their final move to Spring Creek. The Fairchild’s fourth child was a boy, his name was Hezcar Warden “Hez” Fairchild; he was born in Collins County, Texas, November 17, 1859 and died in Harper, Texas, June 17, 1952. Their fifth child was a boy, his name was Erastus Samuel “Rat” Fairchild; he was born April 12, 1862 and died in Kerrville, Texas, January 10, 1933. Their sixth child was a girl, her name was Ames Lucretia Jane Clarcie Adaline “Amy” Fairchild; born in Fredericksburg, Texas Sept 30, 1864 and died 1953 in Douglas, Arizona, she is buried at Cottonwood Cemetery, Cochise County.

www.afamilyofthewest.org%20

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The Fairchild’s left Illinois in 1856 and moved to East Texas in ox wagons, where they located and lived for some years. Then they loaded up the wagons again and came out to West Texas and homesteaded on Spring Creek. Where they lived for only one year, Amos, tiring of the trouble with the Indians, took his oxen and wagons and moved back to East Texas. That didn’t work out and they moved back to Spring Creek in 1862. Amos was 29 and draft age, he joined the Frontier Battalion and in 1864 met his death as a messenger while working under Maj. Hunter. He was a Union Man all his life. There were many hardships for poor Lucretia after Amos’ death, for her baby girl was born three months after his passing away. Then she lost most everything he had left for her. There were outlaws, deserters and bushwhackers robbing and stealing in order to eat; they were on the dodge to keep from going to war. What the outlaws did not steal the Indians did. They stole all the horses and took them away and would kill the milk cows to eat; also kill all the white men and boys and lots of women and girls. After Eli McDonald was killed, Caroline lived on Spring Creek near Lucretia so that they were neighbors and worked in the fields and helped each other all they could; they both had a hard time rearing children. Many is the time one of them kept the others children while the other would get the old mare and go hunt up a cow to break in to milk, so they could have milk for their family. Lucretia had to go find a cow one morning, although she was a delicate frail little woman, she got the old work mare up, and put the colt in the cow pen, and saddled the mare with one of those side-saddles and started out into the hills all covered with thick brush, and found a cow and calf. She rode all day trying to find the way back home and driving the cow here and there, she got lost. Had she let the colt follow she would have never found her way home, for when it grew dark she knew she was lost, so she let the mare go her own way and after an hour or so the mare took her to the old home where she lived before Mr. Fairchild’s death. There was a friend living there, so the daughters of the friend got behind Lucretia and went home with her; she was very upset she did not know the way home. This happened just after Amos passed away, for baby Ames was still was still nursing and when the day wore on Miss Ames got hungry and began to howl for mamma, so sister Cloe tried to feed her, but to no avail. The later it got the more she cried, Cloe took the baby and started to the neighbors house about a half mile away to let the neighbor nurse it, since she had a baby near the same age as Miss Ames. Of course, she had to leave Louise and Louellen and Hez and Rassie at home for it was a dark and stormy night. So she locked them in the house and started the journey. She could not have the baby crying for fear either on Indians or bushwackers might hear her. When she got near Aunt Jay’s house, she heard voices and saw a light, then she got nearer the house and the light went out and the talking all stopped. Then she knew there was trouble and she must get back to the children with the crying baby and worrying her heart away about Momma; what could have happened to her? She did not have many hours to wait in fear, for Lucretia and Mrs. Turkinett were on their way home. They had to pass Aunt Jay’s house and when they got near the house they saw a light and heard voices but when they got there it was all dark again and quite too; they hurried by and on home. Well, they got through the night and the next day. Aunt Jay came home and she had to spend the night with Mrs. Lacey for when she got

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home she found she did not have much food for the bushwackers has visited her house and had helped themselves to a widow woman’s food. So it was in fear those brave widows lived and half starved. Lucretia and family lived at that place for two years and then they moved to Austin, where she stayed for only a year. Her family got sick with chills and auge, so she decided to move back to Spring Creek. Mr. Coll Lacey, a young man she knew moved her back. Of course he had a motive, she had a young daughter. Miss Cloe was a very pretty Miss of 17 years. So it was very natural for him to make friendly calls which were satisfactory to all the family and in a short time Miss Cloe became Mrs. Lacey. They were married on Christmas Day 1867, Coll’s father, Elijah, performed the ceremony and Ruth no doubt helped with the doins. In a short time there was another caller visiting Mrs. Fairchild’s home, Mr. William Chesser, a widowed gentleman who had ten children. Those babies needed a mother and the Fairchild chidren needed a father, so it came to pass Mrs. Fairchild and Mr. Chesser got married August 6, 1868. The burden of supporting a family was not so trying on Lucretia. William was a very religious man; they always had prayer meetings at the Chesser home, their home was far happier. William Lewis Chesser was born in Tennessee about 1819. He died February 12, 1881 in San Antonio, he is buried at O’Neal Cemetery, Bexar County. He married, first, Mary Ann “Polly” Reed, Polly was born in Arkansas about 1827. They migrated from Missouri to Fairland in Burnet County, Texas in the early 1850s. She died about 1860. He then married a widow, Mrs. Danger, she died soon after they were married. She had two small daughters, he adopted them. The children of William and Polly: John Dan Chesser, born about 1842, he married Elizabeth Caroline Epley in 1860. Christopher Columbus Chesser, born about 1844. Martha L. Chesser, born about 1846. George Washington Chesser, born about 1850. Sina A. Chesser, born abut 1852, a twin, she married John B. Lacey. Mary Jane Chesser, born about 1852, a twin, she married Thomas Monroe Lacey. Sarah Malicia Chesser, born about 1858, she married Renny Cinamon Alexander. Rebecca Angeline Chesser, born 1859, died 1946; she married William Jefferson McDonald Mrs. Danger’s daughters: Lucy Danger-Chesser, born about 1863. Elizabeth Danger-Chesser, born about 1865.

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Lucretia and William had two sons; J. Manley Chesser, born 1869 and Daniel Colfax “Col” Chesser, born in 1872. As you can see they had quite a houseful, William’s oldest son and the older ones stayed in the old homeplace in Burnet County. None the less, it was still a considerable group; at least three from William’s household plus Lucretia’s . After six years of happy married life William took sick. He went to San Antonio to see a doctor and found he had TB. He stayed with his married daughter and a year later passed away. Lucretia was left a widow again at the age of 48. The rest of her life was a struggle to keep the children in school and earn a living. She lost her son Manley at the age of 19; a horse he was breaking ran away and carried him through some thick bushes and trees, he died a few day later from his injuries. Lucretia had two more young ladies coming of age, Miss Louise and Miss Gillett. Another suitor came to the Chesser home, Mr. Jerry Hazelwood, a tall dark handsome lad. He wooed and wed 17 year old Miss Louise, they were married in Fredericksburg. Jerry took his bride to Arkansas for a year to be with his family, they had a lovely visit and returned to Fredericksburg to live. They returned in time to be at the wedding of her sister Miss Gillett. While they were gone, a tall genteel looking Texas Ranger by the name of William Hudson “Hut” Taylor had been a frequent caller to the Chesser home. Miss Gillett, although very frail and small for her age, had bloomed out in to a perfect beauty. Hut Taylor was the fortunate young gentleman who claimed her hand on that cold quite evening, February 15, 1879. It was a home folks wedding with a grand supper, the Rev. Matthew Taylor officiating. Lucretia now had three step-daughters and one of her own, Miss Ames, at home. Miss Rebecca Chesser, a small fair complexioned, blonde headed, blue eyed, plump little Miss, was on the carpet. Another tall blue eyed, blond headed, smiling Ranger called at Mrs. Chesser’s home. So those long lonely days had ended. Miss Rebecca would step to the door to empty the dish water and see a horseman coming around the field from over the hillside, all carpeted in beautiful green. Mr. William McDonald had arrived, Miss Rebecca would get her sun-bonnet and they would go for a stroll down to the brook where he gathered buttercups and blue bonnets and he toldher how perfectly they match her hair and eyes. Those were the happiest hours since she lost her father; William was the handsomest Ranger in those parts. At last the day came when he asked Mrs. Chesser for the fair hand of Miss Beckie, there was another quiet wedding at the house; the Rev. Matthew Taylor officiated. William took Beckie to live with his parents because of his Ranger work. Lucretia still had Miss Lucy Chesser and Miss Elizabeth Chesser and Miss Amas. Miss Lucy fell in love with a man by the name of William Davis. They went to Fredericksburg and got married and he took his bride up north to live, after one short year she passed away. Miss Elizabeth was a beautiful redheaded, blue eyed, sunder maid of 16 years when she met Mr. Andy Anderson. It was love at first sight; they had quite a wedding at Fredericksburg and took a trip to the Guadalupe River, where they afterwards made their home.

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Now Miss Ames was the only girl left at home, along with the four boys: Hez, Rass Manley and Col. Miss Ames was the queen… and did she show that she was! She could ride a horse as good as the boys, throw a rock like a boy and rope a cow; in fact do anything the boys could do. She was a big, strong, brown headed, blue eyed, rosy cheeked, beautiful girl. She was as full of the Old Nick as ever a girl could be, with plenty of suitors. When there was a dance 15 miles away, she beautified herself, saddled her horse and was off like the wind to the ball. She came and went when she pleased and had her choice of beaus. Miss Ames was single until she was 24 years old. She had her own cows, horses, dogs and therefore had money of her own to do as she pleased. The merry journeys she took were amazing. On and on… until one day she made up her mind that Alonzo McDonald was the right man for her. So, about 1888, she up and married him, they took a wagon and team; away they went, they landed in Safford, Arizona. Hez married cousin Martha Taylor, Sepember 22, 1881, they stayed in the Spring Creek/Harper area. Rat married married cousin Annie Alexander, December 8, 1885, they too ended up in Harper. Col married Cora Matthews, July 23, 1897 in Mason County; they lived at various places through out West Texas. In the mid 1890s Lucretia moved to the Animas Valley with some of her children and nearby some of their McDonald relatives. She died there in 1928 and is buried in the Mid-Animas Cemetery, Hidalgo County, New Mexico.

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Kimble County

The Kimble County line is a short distance west of Spring Creek, maybe 15 miles. As the folks

expanded out from Gillespie County, Kimble County was a logical place to go, there was

practically nobody there and easy to get home.

The following is excerpted from “It Occurred in Kimble”

The Joys of Johnson Fork

―Out of the wild slashes of the Arkansas Ozarks there came in 1857, Wiley Joy and his

family, destined to play a prominent part in the tragic events on the Texas frontier. The trip to

Texas was a slow, ox-wagon movement. The family first settled in Doss‘ Valley in Gillespie

County. From there they moved to Spring Creek in the same county, and in 1860 they moved over

the line into Kimble County, and carved out a home in the untamed James River valley. To the

James River retreat also came Henry Hutchins, a brother-in-law of John Joy. There were several of

the Joy children, including John, Tobe, Troup, Charles, and a daughter, Alwilda.

―Lafe McDonald, of the Spring Creek McDonalds, was the proud husband of the gifted and

charming Alwilda. The latter was indeed a beautiful lady. Her complexion was dark, her hair was

dark and somewhat wind-blown, and when unbraided it fell around her shoulders and below her

knees. It was a prize catch for Lafe McDonald. James River furnished a perfect setting for the new

home of Lafe McDonald and his wife. It was a land of rugged scenery and mountain grandeur. The

Joys and McDonald were hunters, and the new territory was replete with every species of game

common to Southwest Tens.

―Fortune moves in a mysterious way, and as the new inhabitants began to establish

themselves, there came news of the struggle between the states. Lafe McDonald kissed his bride

good-bye, and answered the call. Many weary, restless weeks passed, and then months, and the

conflict continued. The nearest mail delivery was Fredericksburg— forty miles to the northeast.

Occasional trips were made to the Monroe McDonald home; located about the half-way point, and

where the mail belonging to the Joys was usually relayed.

―Wiley Joy and two of his sons put in a small farm on the Johnson Fork of the Llano, some

fifteen miles over the mountain to the southwest of their James River home. On an occasion in the

spring of 1864 the elder Joy with two of his sons, Troup and Charles, were spending a few days

cultivating the new crop. During their absence Alwilda developed a fancy a letter from her husband

awaited her at the McDonalds. She would not be restrained another day! The result was that she

and her mother saddled horses, and determined to make the round trip in a day. They were delayed

on the return, however, probably because the mail had not arrived until late, and it was quite late in

the afternoon that they turned their horses homeward. As they crossed Banta Branch, within a mile

of where the town of Harper is now located, a group of Indians, presumed to be Comanches, hailed

them from the brush. Being cut off from escape, the two women were foully murdered. The mother

was the first to fall, and her body was found on the west side of the branch. Alwilda, who was

riding a black horse, somewhat faster than her mother‘s mount, made a desperate attempt to escape,

and her body was found a half mile from her mother‘s and on the east side of the creek.

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―Dock Joy, who now resides near Roosevelt, Texas, a son of the late John Joy, was a lad of

only seven years, but his memory of that tragic event is keen and vivid to this day. He was with his

mother, his aunt, and others at their James River home at the time of the attack.

‗The night after Grandmother Joy and Aunt Alwilda were killed,‘ he recalls, ‗I well

remember how we all gathered in the yard and listened intently for a sound that night. We knew

they should have returned long before, and mother knew something dreadful had happened.

Finally, some one of us heard the faint beat of a horse‘s hoof against the rocky mountain side. A

complete hush fell over us. It was a few moments before mother concluded the noise was from but

one horse. A sigh of relief was breathed by all of us because that was a sign the rider was a white

messenger and the noise was not that of a band of Indians. It seemed a long time, but it must have

been but a moment until Old Man Mathew Taylor skidded his horse against our picket fence and

came to a halt.‘

‗Well girls,‘ he told us, without waiting to be asked a question, ‗I‘ve got some awful bad

news to tell you. Your mother and sister were killed this evening.‘

‗The horse panted a moment. Mr. Taylor got a fresh drink and rode on to Johnson Fork to

notify Wiley Joy and his sons. The next day Grandfather Joy and his sons came by and got us, and

took all of us to Spring Creek in an ox wagon. We never returned to James river again until after

the war was over.‖

A Johnson Fork Colony Is Organized

―Following the close of the war, a colony was organized to claim the rich, fertile valley of

the Johnson Fork of the Llano. A number of ox wagons were utilized, there being but one horse

amongst the colonists—that being Jim Taylor‘s big bay pacing horse. A Mr. and Mrs. Grider joined

the settlers. They taught school in the new settlement, and Grider assisted in the farming and

hunting activities. The Griders were soon discharged, however, because they are reported to have

taught the children the world was round! Others in the Joy colony, aside from Wiley and his sons,

were Mathew Taylor and wife, both frontier Methodist preachers—pious and devout—and three of

their sons, Thurman, Presley and James. The latter‘s wife had been killed by Indians only two

years before.‖

The Colony Becomes Settled

―Log houses in the new colony were built, and were placed near each other for mutual

protection. Farming and hunting were carried on extensively. The children in the colony were

carefully held together in the yards to avoid an Indian kidnapping. Religious services under the

supervision of members of the Taylor family were regularly held. The colonists went to church on

Sundays, and carried their Bibles in one hand, and, like the Pilgrims of old, held their loaded rifles

in the other.

―The new settlement was far removed from neighbors, and Fredericksburg was the nearest

County seat at which a marriage license could be procured; but that fact did not deter Cupid, and

within a year several marriages were performed. Tom Compton, of the colony, wooed and won

Alwilda Gentry of the Gentry Creek family. Tobe Joy and Miss Lou York were joined together in

85

the holy bond. Ed Janes, of Spring Creek, came across the mountains to claim the hand of a pretty

daughter of Mathew Taylor, who proudly performed the ceremony.

―The colony lasted for a little longer than one year. The Taylors then moved to Spring

Creek, and the Joys moved to the Johnson Fork of the Guadalupe, just below the present town of

Mountain Home. Their stay there was short-lived, and they were soon back on the Johnson Fork of

the Llano. There the Joy family, or a portion of them, lived until 1880, when they sold their land to

Peter Rambold, the present occupant. If the old rock fences yet standing could talk, many incidents

could be related covering the period when civilization was fighting for a foothold on Johnson

Fork.‖

The Vengeance of Wiley Joy

―Wiley Joy swore vengeance against the savage Indians when his wife and daughter were

murdered on Banta‘s Branch, and he knew something about Indian habits and customs. As a mere

child he had been carried into Indian captivity, his release having been effected eight years later

when he was twelve years of age. As Joy studied the wanderings of the Indian marauders, he

located their hide-outs and camping places. Many a time he was seen to saddle his horse, fill a food

kit, and ride away. He knew arrows were made of dog-wood and he knew that dog-wood thickets

were but few in that section, and were restricted to certain areas in the James River country. About

those places he would spend many nights when the moon was right, hiding and waiting for his

chance. He is reported to have sent a bullet through a chief as the latter sat on a log watching his

tribesmen gather arrow materials from a dog-wood thicket. Wiley Joy was not much of a talking

man, and it is likely that many such experiences were never disclosed to his family. Unlike the

trend of many people in modern times, he did not seek cheap and undeserved praise. Wiley Joy

went his own way and resolutely lived his own life, and followed a course of conduct which he

conceived to be proper and righteous in the sight of God and man.

―Wiley Joy was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and he was well regarded by his

acquaintances. He was never the same man after his great loss, and spent much of his time alone in

the woods. On one occasion, in 1868, Joy with his son, Charles, and his grandson, Bud Hudson,

camped some seven miles from the Joy home while on a bear hunt. As Dock Joy puts it, ‗They

were over there bearing.‘ While in the camp it was necessary for the work horses to be tied up and

guarded to keep the Indians from stealing them. The corn supply became exhausted, and Charles

drove the horses to the ranch for a supply. Hudson was in the river bottom hunting squirrels, and

Wiley Joy carelessly entered an abandoned shack, the remains of the old Holden home, and sat

down. He was being watched, and in a short moment received a flesh wound as an Indian fired at

him through the picket enclosure. The injury was painful but not serious. Joy‘s favorite horse was

hobbled and belIed only a few paces from the cabin, and the redskins, after firing, ran to the horse,

waved a red blanket at him to cause the animal to gain distance from the shack notwithstanding the

hobbles. In this they were successful, and for once the veteran Joy was out-smarted. He sat in the

cabin, weak from loss of blood, and watched the hobbles removed from the animal and the horse

then ridden wildly away into the mountain fastness. He often said if he had been sitting outside

with his gun they would not have gotten the drop on him and made away with his favorite mount.

86

―The grandson, Bud Hudson, had moved from Fredericksburg and had established a ranch

on James River, the improvements having been later sold to Creed Taylor. Indians of that day

gained rank and prestige in their tribes by the number of horses stolen and brought to camp. A

horse that was left unattached at night, especially when the moon was bright, was almost invariably

gone on the morrow. A side light on the cunning methods employed by the Indians is given by

Dock Joy, son of the late John Joy:

‗On Johnson Fork, Indians tried to get our horses that were hitched to our gallery posts with

trace chains. It was claimed they could see at night time far better than whites. I remember

them tapping on our bee gums one night so we would come outside to investigate and they

could then kill us and steal our horses. On the night they attempted to take our horses from

the gallery posts, I remember my father and I started to follow them, he having turned the

dogs loose. But after going only fifty yards my father suddenly stopped and said, ‗Son, we

better not do this; this is fool‘s play. If they should kill us out here they can get back and

overpower the folks even though they are armed.‘ His decision suited me. Pa always did

say that was the biggest fool‘s play he ever was guilty of, trying to follow those Indians in

the night time. The next morning we saw moccasin tracks all around the place, and not far

away they had roasted meat right in the middle of the road.‘

Many and varied were the experiences of the Joy family with the Indian raiders of the time.

―Tobe Joy‘s daughter, Mrs. James A. Parker, tells of an experience later related to her by

her father. One tributary of the James River was the scene of this occurrence, the site being in what

is now the W. H. Whitworth Ranch. Tobe Joy and Jim Little staked and hobbled their horses out

while on a hunt in that area. The next morning they went different directions for their ponies. As

Jim Little sat down to remove the hobbles from his horse, an Indian, who seemed to be alone, fired

at him from ambush, the bullet glancing his knee. The Indian became scared and ran, tearing wildly

through the brush and right toward where Joy stood with his bridle over one arm and his pistol in

his other hand. As the red man whizzed past him he, Joy, stuck his pistol forward and fired,

breaking the Indian‘s arm. The latter then disappeared in the weeds and brush. The two hunters

borrowed some dogs, returned and trailed the Indian to a dense patch of river-bottom weeds, where

he was found flying flat on his back, in hiding. The Indian was killed as he fled.‖

Gray‟s Branch

―In the 60‘s ‗Wiley Joy and two of his sons, Tobe and John, were chasing a bear with their

dogs in the James River territory. The dogs bayed the quarry, and ‗Wiley rode his horse in to get a

close-range shot at the aggravatin‟ b‟ar, and be certain not to hit a dog. The bear jumped high as

the intruder approached, and slapped the horse rudely with an outstretched paw. Joy was riding a

big gray horse, and from that day to this the little creek on which that incident occurred has been

called Gray‟s Branch.

―The stream now dubbed Little Devil‟s River, also got the appendage from the bear-hunting

Joys.‖

Red‟s Hole

87

―A spot familiar to the ranchmen of the Little Devil‘s River country, and located on the

head of that stream, is Red‘s Hole. The Joys were once chasing a bear, and one of the dogs in the

pack was red. The bears stopped in a hole of water and made fight. The red dog responded and the

fight was on. The dog was no equal for his combatant and was torn to pieces and lay mortally

wounded in the hole of water when the Joys arrived. Thereafter the spot has been called Red‟s

Hole.‖

That excerpt gives us a little insight into how our various families managed; some got along good

some not so good. Jim Little, mentioned above and also found as neighbor in the 1860 Census

observation, had an unfortunate encounter that wasn‘t so good.

Again from “It Occurred in Kimble”

Jim Little

―A famous household name in the James River section is that of Jim Little. Little was a

typical pioneer of the day, and enjoyed hunting and fighting Indians. He was reckless and unafraid.

It was about 1867 that he settled on the old Hudson Ranch, which was later owned by Creed

Taylor. From where he lived it was in the neighborhood of forty miles to Fredericksburg, the

nearest mail delivery. It came Jim‘s turn to go for the mail, as it had developed into a custom

among the Johnson Fork and James River settlers to follow a schedule of rotating the trip. Little

could go either of two ways, the direct, or what was called the roundabout route via Cherry

Springs. He selected the latter, as Indian sign had been recently reported, and the savages might

watch the usually traveled trail. It was a rule that if a man should be gone as long as three days

after the mail that it was time to institute a search. Three days came and passed and Jim Little did

not return. Whereupon, Tobe Joy and others instituted a search. They knew his route and followed

to Salt Branch, where a most revolting murder had been committed. The torso of Jim Little was

scattered about, portions of his flesh having been cut into strips and hung on live oak branches

bordering the creek, mute testimony of a cruel mutilation. Nearby, the victim‘s faithful horse lay

dead, probably killed from under the rider as he attempted to flee. This incident happened about

twenty miles northeast of Noxville.

―It is said that the act of mutilation may have been a matter of retaliation on the part of the

Indians. A few years before a similar fate befell an Indian that had been killed by a company of

men under Captain Banta, and not far from where Little met his death. It is reported that the whites

would sometimes cut skins from the sun-tanned hides of dead redskins to be used for quirts, razor

straps, and the like.‖

88

Gillespie – Kimble – Kerr - Map

These two articles from The Handbook of Texas Online should help illustrate the area.

NOXVILLE, TEXAS (Kimble County).

Noxville is on Farm Road 479 and the James River, twenty-one miles east of Junction in

southeastern Kimble County. Creed Taylor, one of the first Anglo settlers in the area, built a two-

story stone house on the James River in 1869. In the early 1870s Munroe McDonald, James H.

Parker, and Noah Nox settled 4½ miles east of Taylor on the Little Devils River. Nox, who moved

to Kimble County from Illinois, ran a store that in December 1879 became the first Noxville post

office. His wife, Persis, was the first postmistress. Early residents farmed irrigated land. The

Noxville school, probably built in 1880, was the first stone school in the county. In 1884 it was part

of the Devils River school district. Classes were held there until 1940, when the area became part

of the Harper (Gillespie County) School District. As late as 1968 the old school was used as a

voting place for the fourth precinct of Kimble County. In December 1911 Jason A. Milan became

the Noxville postmaster and moved the post office-general store-and therefore the town-west to the

James River. In 1927 the new Noxville had a store and gas station that served the nearby farms and

ranches. The post office was closed in 1942, but the store and gas station may have stayed in

business until the 1950s. Noxville generally had a population of fifteen or fewer until 1974, when it

was estimated at seventy-five. In 1990 it was estimated at three. The population remained the same

in 2000.

HUNT, TEXAS (Kerr County).

Hunt is at the junction of the north and south forks of the Guadalupe River, twelve miles west of

Kerrville in central Kerr County. The area was settled in the late 1850s by people moving west

from Kerrville up the Guadalupe River valley in search of available farm and ranch land. The

vicinity's first post office, called Japonica, was opened three miles north in 1880 and provided

service until 1918. C. Y. Davis served as its first postmaster. In 1913 another post office, called

Hunt, was opened at the forks of the river and named for R. F. Hunt, who owned the land on which

the post office and accompanying store were built. Since the 1920s Hunt has served as the center of

one of the most popular Hill Country resort areas. The majority of Kerr County's guest ranches and

summer camps are located within a few miles of the town; its economy depends on these visitors

and on the part-time residents who own the many vacation homes lining the river. In 1974 the

population of Hunt was estimated at 700. In 1990 it was 708. The population remained the same in

2000.

89

As you can see from this map the distances were not too great even under primitive conditions. To

give some scale, the distance from Spring Creek to Harper in only about 12 miles. While we‘re

here; near Noxville is where Monroe McDonald had his place mentioned above and the Alexanders

who we will shortly visit were in Kerr County on South Fork near where Japonica and later Hunt

were established.

90

Kerr County

Matthew and Hannah Taylor were in Kerrville in the 1860 Census; Matthew was plying his trade

as a Stone Mason and, no doubt, preaching when the occasion arose. Kerr County became a

significant zone for our families as they continued on or settled down. That road on the map above,

the one headed north, is one of the main roads connecting San Antonio with the Upper Emigrant

Trail in the latter 1800s.

Now we are going to visit one of our families that settled in the Hunt-Japonica area.

John J. Alexander

John was born in 1800 in Mississippi. He married Mary Miller about 1831. Mary was born in 1806 in Kentucky. Their children were: Elizabeth ‘Catherine’ Alexander was born in 1832. She married Thurman Thompson Taylor about 1853 as he was working his way west. Mary A. Alexander was born in 1836, she may have married a John Dunbar. William M. Alexander was born in 1839, he married Nancy Lacey in 1864 in Gillespie County. Marion Columbus “Lum” Alexander was born in 1841, he married Mary Lacey in 1863 in Gillespie County. Reney Cinnamon Alexander was born in 1847, he married first Sarah Chesser, when she died he married Mary Taylor Davis in 1898. Nancy Caroline Alexander was born in 1849, she married Christopher Watcher. All the Alexander children were all born in Louisiana. In 1850, John and Mary were living in Bossier Parish in the NE corner of Louisiana on the Red River very close to Texas. In the census he was listed as a planter. They didn’t show any assets. In 1860, they were living a few counties east in Hunt Co. Texas. Their assets improved to $500 for John and William had $40. Before the Civil War, John and Mary moved to the South Fork of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County near were Hunt is today. He was engaged in the Cypress shingle business, as were many men in that area. In the winter of 1867, while John was away delivering shingles to Fredericksburg, Indians attacked the homeplace were Mary and Nancy were. Mary was killed and their home burned but Nancy escaped to give the alarm. The neighbor men pursed the Indians but an early snow impeded the search and the Indians got away. John then married, Elizabeth Ann Weaver, a widow, on May 22, 1868 according to Fredericksburg records. They were living in Spring Creek near extended family in 1870. They must have returned to the old homeplace in the next few years. John died April 1, 1880 and is buried in the Hunt-Japonica Cemetery.

91

About 1862, William and Marion joined Co. D, Waller’s Regt. Texas Cavalry CSA, the same Co. that Lewis and John B. Lacey and a couple of Lewis’ brother-in-laws were in. Most of the boys in their Company were from the Goliad area as were Lewis’ in-laws. It would be interesting to know what their relationships were before they volunteered. Lum and William may have been wounded of otherwise invalided out of their Regiment for Lum and William were found again on the rolls of the McCord’s Frontier Regiment and its successor the Third Frontier District and young Renny finished up the War as a teamster in the Third Frontier District.

92

1870-1885


Here is another view of Spring Creek. All the families are from Spring Creek with the exception of

family 488; this is the extended family of R.L. ―Lafe‖ McDonald in an area called the Pedernales

Settlements.

The balance of the ‗Core Families‘ with their corresponding ID#, are found after this Census

extraction.

Family ID# Name Age Sex Occupation RealEst Value

PersProp Value

Birth Pl

331 4.2 McDonald, M.L. 36 M Farmer $2,000 Ill

331 1.5 McDonald, Hestorann 36 F Keeping House Ill

331 4.2.1 McDonald, Wm. L. 11 m Tex

331 4.2.2 McDonald, Jas. H. 8 M Tex

331 4.2.3 McDonald, T. Elizabeth 6 F Tex

331 4.2.4 McDonald, Lewis M. 4 M Tex

331 4.2.5 McDonald, Hannah G. 2 F Tex

331 Temple, P.G. 35 M $500 Ohio

332 1.2 Taylor, T.T. 45 M Farmer $1,000 Ill

332 Taylor, Catherine 37 F Keeping House La

332 1.2.1 Taylor, Wm. H. 14 M Tex

332 1.2.2 Taylor, John W. 12 M Tex

332 1.2.3 Taylor, T.T. 8 M Tex

332 1.2.4 Taylor, R. Caroline 4 F Tex

332 1.2.5 Taylor, Rachel E. 3 F Tex

332 1.2.6 Taylor, (Lizzie) 1 F Tex

333 Casey, B.F. 33 M Farmer $1,000 Ill

333 4.7 Casey, M.N. 17 F Keeping House Ill

333 4.7.1 Casey, Milissa 5mo F Tex

333 Alexander, J.J. 70 M Farmer $750 Miss

333 Alexander, R.C. 23 M La

333 Alexander, Elizabeth 65 F Ark

333 4 McDonald, Jos. 55 M Farmer $700 Tenn

333 McDonald, Rosa Jane 40 F Keeping House Ill

333 4.8 McDonald, Samantha 14 F Tex

333 4.9 McDonald, Wm. Jeff. 13 M Tex

333 4.1 McDonald, Levy A. 10 M Tex

333 4.11 McDonald, Jos. Thos. 7 M Tex

333 4.12 McDonald, Ben F. 4 M Tex

333 4.6 Strong, Maria A. 20 F Ill

333 4.6.1 Strong, Anna M. 3 F Tex

333 4.6.2 Strong, Samantha 2 F Tex

93

334 1 Taylor, Mathias 70 M Farmer $1,000 Ill

334 Taylor, Hanna 60 F Keeping House Ill

334 1.7 Taylor, James 28 M Ill

334 1.3.1 Taylor, Alice 14 F Tex

334 1.3.2 Taylor. James 13 M Tex

334 1.3.3 Taylor, Dokes 8 F Tex

335 Lacey, J.H. 40 M Stock Raiser $1,100 Ill

335 3.3 Lacey, Mahela 36 F Keeping House Ill

335 3.3.2 Lacey, Emily 12 F Tex

335 3.3.3 Lacey, John D. 10 M Tex

335 3.3.4 Lacey, Eligie 8 M Tex

335 3.3.5 Lacey, Theophilus 6 M Tex

335 3.3.6 Lacey, Moad 4 F Tex

336 Janes, E.R. 22 M Stock Raiser $400 Tex

336 1.8 Janes, Permila 22 F Keeping House Ill

336 1.8.1 Janes, Susan 4 F Tex

336 1.8.2 Janes, Mary F. 1 F Tex

337 Hall, Richard 32 M Stock Raiser $850 Ill

337 2.4 Hall, Maria 25 F Keeping House Ill

337 2.4.1 Hall, Wm. Thos. 11 M Tex

337 2.4.2 Hall, Jas. A. 10 M Tex

337 2.4.3 Hall, Rachel E. 8 F Tex

337 2.4.4 Hall, Martha E. 6 F Tex

337 2.4.5 Hall, George 3 M Tex

337 2.4.6 Hall, Nancey N. 3 F Tex

337 2.4.7 Hall, Liglia 2 M Tex

337 2.4.8 Hall, Sam E. 2mo M Tex

337 Hazelwood, Jerem. 28 M Stock Raiser $200 Ill

338 Hall, Elija 38 M Ill

338 Dickerman, Elizab. 36 F Ill

338 Dickerman, Violia 14 F Tex

338 Dickerman, John Wm. 12 M Tex

338 Dickerman, Cora A. 10 F Tex

338 Dickerman, Jas. H. 6 M Tex

339 Stetson, Francis 36 M Teamster $500 Mass

339 Stetson, Mary 25 F Keeping House Ga

339 Stetson, Abran 3 M Fla

339 Stetson, John 4mo M Tex

340 3 Lacey, Elija 62 M Clergyman $150 Ill

340 Lacey, Ruth 61 F Keeping House Tenn

340 3.8 Lacey, Thomas 22 M Stock Raiser $300 Ill

340 Alexander, Wm. 31 M Stock Raiser $200 La

341 2.2 McDonald, J.M. 40 M Stock Raiser $600 Ill

341 1.4 McDonald, Rebecka 42 F Keeping House Ill

341 2.2.2 McDonald, Mary M. 1 F Tex

341 Paris, Martinez 25 M CattleHunter Mex

341 ?? McDonald, L.T. 17 Ill

341 McDonald, Rachel 60 F $400 Ken

341 Hazelwood, Thos. P. 21 M Stock Raiser $550 Ill

341 1.6 Hazelwood, Caroline 30 F Keeping House Ill

94

341 5.1 McDonald, Mahala 10 F Tex

341 5.2 McDonald, Rebeca 7 F Tex

341 5.3 McDonald, Elijah 5 M Tex

341 1.6.5 Hazelwood, A. Jos. 11mo M Tex

342 Alexander, M.C. 27 M Stock Raiser $200 La

342 3.6 Alexander, Mary 30 F Keeping House Ill

342 3.6.8 Alexander, Emilie 3 F Tex

342 3.6.7 Alexander, L. Anna 3 F Tex

342 3.6.9 Alexander, Morre 1 M Tex

342 3.6.3 McDonald, Levy 11 M Tex

342 3.6.6 McDonald, Margaret 6 F Tex

343 Garcia, Joseph 37 M Stock Raiser $1,000 Mex

344 Hudson, W.E. 23 M Stock Raiser $300 Miss

344 Hudson, Clementine 18 F Keeping House Tenn

344 Hudson, Elizabeth 2 F Tex

344 Hudson, Erwin 7mo M Tex

345 2.7 McDonald, W.A. 22 M Stock Raiser $400 Ill

345 3.2.1 McDonald, L 19 F Keeping House Ill

345 2.7.1 McDonald, Ira M. 2 M Tex

345 2.7.2 McDonald, Thos. M. 7mo M Tex

346 3.2 Lacey, A.P. 27 M Stock Raiser $1,100 Ill

346 Lacey, Rosa A. 41 F Keeping House Ill

346 3.2.2 Lacey, Louis 17 M Tex

346 3.2.3 Lacey, Rutha 16 F Tex

346 3.2.5 Lacey, Clara 12 F Tex

346 3.2.7 Lacey, Robert 8 M Tex

346 3.2.8 Lacey, Ben Butler 3 M Tex

346 Menard, Rafael 21 M (Race,Black)

347 3.7 Lacey, J.C. 30 M Stock Raiser $600 Ill

347 4.1.1 Lacey, Clara F. 17 F Keeping House Ill

347 3.7.1 Lacey, Amos O. 1 M Tex

347 3.7.2 Lacey, Rutha 4mo F Tex

488 2.6 McDonald, R.L. 26 M Farmer $1,200 $1,200 Ill

488 McDonald, Elizabeth 16 F Keeping House Tex

488 2.6.1 McDonald, Sam.Thos. 3mo M Tex

488 McDonald, Rachel 50 F $2,000 Ill

488 2.9 McDonald, Samuel 18 M $130 Ill

488 Laremore, Geo. 27 M Farmer $600 Mo

488 2.1.1 Laremore, Rachel 20 F Keeping House Ill

488 Laremore, Marie 4 F Tex

488 Laremore, Elizabeth 2 F Tex

488 Laremore, John 58 M Stock Raiser $500 Mo

488 2.1 Fannin, Marie 40 F Stock Raiser $500 Ill

488 2.1.2 Fannin, Joseph 20 M Stock Raiser Ill

488 2.1.4 Fannin, Martin 14 M Ill

488 2.1.5 Fannin, Barbara 12 F Ill

488 2.1.6 Fannin, Allen 10 F Ill

95

1.1- Pressley Beal Taylor 1823-1886 Kerrville, Pct. 5, Family #18, Occ. Farmer m. Mary Polly York 1832-1907 Amos Gale Taylor 1848-1933 John Taylor 1852- Matthew „Math‟ Modglin Taylor 1854-1921 Martha Taylor 1855-1928 Mary C. Taylor 1859-1928 Alwilda Casander Taylor 1863-1948 Elizabeth Taylor 1865-1930 Pressley Beal Taylor Jr. 1867-1941 William Frank Taylor 1870-1879 1.3- Zedoc „Zed‟ Casey Taylor 1827-1862 Children living in the Matthew Taylor household #334, Spring Creek Alice Amelia Taylor 1854-1892 James Calvin Taylor 1857-1892 Hattie Elizabeth Taylor 1861-1921 2.1.3- Mary „Elizabeth‟ Fannin 1854-1944 Beat 3, Bell Co., TX, Family # m. William T. Nelson 1846-1917 2.5- Rebecca „Angelina‟ McDonald 1840- Pct. 1, Burnet Co., TX, Family #152 m. John Walter Banta 1833-1914 Mary Alice Banta 1861- Isaac T. Banta 1862- William L. Banta 1863- Clara Banta 1865- Henry Wilson Banta 1867- Martha Jane Banta 1869- John Oscar Banta 1870- William Jackson Locke 1828- In San Antonio at an unstated location, Family #412 m. Mary England Mary Olive Locke 1849 b. IL William M. Locke 1851 b. IL Sarah J. G. Locke 1853 Judith Ann Locke 1856 b. TX Martha Locke 1858 Steven Douglas Locke 1859 Sam Houston Locke 1861 Girard E. Locke 1863 – 1901 Hettie E. Locke 1865 Lewis Madison Lacey 1835-1900 (Not found, it is assumed that they were at LockeHill) m. Margaret White William Madison Lacey 1862-1900 Elzada Lacey 1865-1911 b. TX Austin Lacey 1867-1884 b. TX Peter Elijah “Doc” Lacey 1870-1937 Nancy M. C. Lacey 1838- Nancy and the children are not found but William is listed in Elijah Lacey’s household?

96

m. William A. Alexander 1839-* William Thomas Alexander Louis Elijah Alexander Maggie Alexander Lucretia Jane McDonald 1833-1928 She and William not found, they should be near Spr. Crk. m. Amos Fairchild 1825-1864 Cloe Francis Fairchild 1852-1926 m. Joshua Collins Lacey 1840-1901 Louisa Melissa „Curly‟ Fairchild 1855-1901 m. Jeremiah Hazelwood 1830-1900 Gillet Louellen „Gil‟ Fairchild 1857-1943 m. William Hudson Taylor 1855-1920 Hezcar Warden Fairchild 1859-1952 m. Martha Taylor 1855-1929 m. Theodosia Taylor m. Cynthia Lou Ann Alexander

Ames Jane Fairchild 1864-1953 m. William Alonzo McDonald 1859-1918 Erastus S. „Rat‟ Fairchild 1861-1933

m. Cynthia Louanna Alexander 1861-1933 m. William Lewis Chesser Joseph Manley Chesser 1870-1886 Isaac „Rufus‟ McDonald 1838-1905 Llano, Llano Co., TX, Family #35 m. Polly Jane Lockhart 1847-1916 Betsy Ann McDonald 1863- Cynthia McDonald 1864/65- Joseph Samuel McDonald 1867- Melvina „Meg‟ McDonald 1868- Gillette McDonald 1869- Clarisa „Clara‟ Adiline McDonald 1841-1892 Pct. 1, Burnet Co., TX, Family #153 m. Jacob Rynierson Banta 1835-1866 Elizabeth L. Banta 1861- Permelia Jane Banta 1863-1966 Susan Angelina Banta 1865-1892

Company F - Gillespie County Minutemen

Commanding Officers:

Lt. J. C. Lacey (April 1872 - November 1872)

Lt. William E. Hudson (December 1872 - April 1873)

Lt. B. F. Casey (January 1874 - April 1874)

The muster rolls of Co. F are not available according to the Texas Ranger museum in Waco, ed.

Again from the “Memoirs of Lafe McDonald, Frontier Times” by Leonard Passmore:

97

―So was the simple life of this old frontiersman. There were other things I wanted to get, so

I asked the question, ‗Were you not in some Indian fights on the Texas frontier?‘ To this he

replied:

‗Yes, at one time while I was in the Ranger service we had a nice little scrap with the

Indians near Noxville on Devil‘s river. The Indians had come in and killed a man named Jim Little,

down on what was called Shep Creek in Mason County. We were notified and John Banta, Sam

Lane, Joe Whitley, Dolph Reese, Alonzo Reese, Tom Benson, John Benson, Jake Banta, Sam

McCann, Bill Horton, I think it was, and myself started out to find the trail of the Indians.

‗We found it down on Devil‘s river. We followed it on, till we found where they had

camped. It was a rainy, misty day, and as they had just recently left, we could tell where every

Indian had slept by the little dry place where he had lain. We counted the places and found them to

be eleven -just our number. We were not afraid to meet them evenly matched. Alonzo Reese was

our Lieutenant and he ordered us to press forward. We did so at a rapid rate, and overtook them

about 4 o‘clock p.m. When they saw us they began running. They ran about three quarters of a

mile, we on horses, and they on foot. ‗You can imagine their speed; but our horses were fagged and

footsore. At last they stopped to fight. They turned facing us, we fired, but do not think we hit one.

While our guns were empty the Indians charged us. We hastily reloaded but our powder had be-

come damp. By the time we were ready to give them a reception, they were right at us, yelling

furiously and the arrows flying everywhere. One arrow hit John Benson on the hip. Another hit me

on the toe of my shoe. John Banta shot the chief. He fell mortally wounded and in defiance of the

white man‘s bullet, the daring warrior pulled a large butcher knife from a scabbard hanging on his

person, and plunged the knife deep into his own breast. Then laying down on the bloody weapon,

he seized his bow and shot toward us. That was the arrow that struck the toe of my shoe. In all we

killed three Indians and the rest fled, immediately after the falling of their chieftain. From the

dusky chief we took a fine beaded pouch that is now in possession of Isaac Banta in California.

Three Indians were all we knew of killing, but the trail of the Indians was found the next day, and

only three had left tacks on that trail. For that reason, we always believed we had killed eight of the

eleven.‘

―This story is quite interesting to me from the fact that the John Banta referred to is my

wife‘s (Rachel Banta) father. Many times have I heard him relate the story of this fight with a great

many more details. I have also examined the beaded pouch taken from the person of the fallen

chief. It is very beautiful. It was made from the leather of a boot top -or appeared to be- sewed with

the sinews of a deer, strung on and attached with sinews, and arranged in the most perfect

geometrical designs. It shows that Indians, in some ways at least, had very much artistic taste, then

to think of the time and the patience required to do such work.‖

Here is another episode from Lafe‟s Memoirs:

―Do you remember the killing of Pete Hazelwood.‖ I asked.

‗Yes,‘ he replied, ‗that was the best I remember, in the year 1876(1873, ed). The Indians

had made a raid into the country, and we were looking out for their trail. Mart McDonald, Thurman

Taylor, Jim Taylor, Pete Hazelwood, Hut Taylor and Ed Jaynes were together. Besides them were

two other bands of white men, eight in one bunch and nine in the other. The first named posse

came up on the Indians on the hills south of Threadgill Creek. The Indians were on one side of a

hollow and the whites on the other. The savages stood there and made no attempt to fight. The

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whites watched them for a little while, and then Thurman Taylor remarked, ‗By the livings, I‘m

goin‘ to have an Injun scalp‘, and fired at them. So far as known he did not touch an Indian, but

immediately after he fired the Indians poured a perfect volley into the whites, one ball striking Pete

Hazelwood between the eyes. There were eighteen of the Indians, and they started toward the

whites, Hazelwood‘s companions fled, and about that time another bunch of white men came up. I

was with that crowd. (Gus McDonald, Lafe McDonald, Gaston Rayner and another McDonald

plus others, ed) The Indians, seeing us, fled. We passed right close to Hazelwood‘s dead body but

did not see him. Hut Taylor‘s horse fell, as he fled from the scene of the murder and he hid in a

thicket. He could hear the sound of our horses‘ feet as we rode, but supposed we were Indians. The

other men who fled supposed Hut was killed. They secured a wagon and team and came back after

Pete Hazelwood and expected also to find Hut Taylor murdered. Hut, hearing the wagon, crawled

out from his hiding place. He went on with them and loaded the corpse on the wagon, and Pete was

taken down to the Spring Creek and buried.

‗The next month after Pete was killed Billy Hudson, Sam McDonald, Jim Taylor, John

Wesley Taylor, Hut Taylor and myself were out riding the range when we spied an Indian camp,

upon a little hill near the head of a draw. We did not know how many were there, but decided we

would venture a little nearer, and try to find out. We started, and about forty head of cattle,

stampeded just ahead of us and ran right toward the Indian camp. The Indian spy had discovered

us, and when they heard the running cattle, they thought that immense crowd of whites was

charging them. They fled, leaving their horses; we went on and took possession of the hones, about

thirty head. Among them was a little mare of mine, poor and full of sores. I hardly knew her. She

was very fat, when the Indians stole her. Most of the captured horses belonged to the Germans near

Fredericksburg. We notified them and they came and got them.‘

And another that perhaps shows another view of Indians:

‗And now turning back from dogs to Indian affairs. While I was in the Ranger service, the

Indians killed a Mexican sheepherder, on the Pedernales. They scalped him and left his body lying

in the sun. We were notified, and as soon as we could get there, we took the trail of the Indians, we

soon found where they had camped. We looked around and found where they had trimmed the

scalp of the Mexican. Little pieces of it were lying on the ground. We hastily followed the trail,

expecting to come upon them at any time; but they had left a spy on their trail and he discovered

us. He hastily overtook his comrades and notified them of their pursuit. The Indians got away; but

we found their horses hid on a high ridge in a cedar thicket. This was near Point Creek. We

rounded up the horses, and took them back with us and kept them till the owners got them. My

brother, Monroe, lived awhile on Onion Creek in Gillespie County. One evening about sundown,

he was surprised to see a lone Indian standing in the yard. The Indian made signs of friendliness,

and was unarmed. My brother did not shoot him, but brought him over to my father‘s house. My

father would chain him at night, and allow him to go free in the daytime. When other people came,

it seemed the Indian was afraid of being killed. He would pick up my little brother Sam, and carry

him around. It seemed that he thought no one would shoot him as long as he had the white boy in

his arms. He stayed there about a week, and would never utter a word, either in his own dialect or

in Spanish. Father at last sent him to Fredericksburg to be jailed. I do not know what became of

him.‖

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This next excerpt is also from the “Frontier Times” The Klaerner Family lived fairly close to

Spring Creek. I thought it particularly interesting because it mentions Coll Lacey frequently, ed.

Heinrich Klaerner, a Minute Man

By Esther Mueller, Fredericksburg, Texas

―The Minute Rangers were permitted to remain at their homes, but they must be ready on a

minute‘s notice to take up the trail of marauding Indians. They were the regular Texas Rangers,

and although they usually covered only the surrounding counties, they might have been called

anywhere in Texas.

―The Indians whose chief aim in coming to the settlements, was to steal horses, usually

rode the stolen horses away. When Rangers pursued them closely, they rode so fast that the horses

were soon worn out. When this occurred, the horses were killed with poisoned arrows, and the

Indians continued their escape on foot. In the dense underbrush it was more difficult than ever for

the Rangers to catch them.

―Although Company F was not large in number, the men who comprised it were young,

adventurous and foolhardy where danger was concerned. Each one had his mind set on the $50

reward that the state government offered as bounty for the scalp of an Indian who was out of the

reservation, molesting settlers.

―Captain Lacey often found it necessary to restrain their eagerness to rush into battle with

the Indians. At one time, they traced a band of Indians up to Squaw Creek, and found where the

Indians had gone up a nearby hill. The Rangers were eager to divide themselves into two groups,

cut off the escape of the Indians and lead them into battle. But Captain Lacey, because the number

of Rangers present was small, would not consent.

―Years later, Mr. Klaerner learned that while the Rangers were below the hill, discussing

the attack, the Indians were on top of the bill, watching them. With the Indians on the hill was

Adolph Fischer, who as a boy was captured by the Indians from his home on the Pedernales; He

often accompanied the Indians on these trips, even helping them steal horses, but he always in-

sisted that they must not kill anyone. When, years later, he returned to Fredericksburg for a visit, he

and Mr. Klaerner marveled at how near they came to going into battle against one another. At

another time, Mr. Klaerner was in a thicket not far from his parent‘s home, where he had just shot a

wild turkey when he heard a noise in the bushes. He turned, expecting to see a wild animal. Instead

he saw two Indians on a horse. They had heard the shot, but had not yet spied Klaerner. He drew

back into the bushes, loaded his gun and waited. Almost at once he heard a disturbance on the other

side, and he realized that he was almost surrounded by Indians. There was nothing to do, but keep

very still, and hope that they would not discover him. Presently he heard them move on, and knew

that they had met not far away from him.

―He hurried home with his turkey and alarmed the neighbors. Soon they were on the trail of

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and told them that a band of thirteen or fourteen Indians were meeting not far away. The pursuers

hastened there, but they were too late to find the Indians. They followed the trail, once on the banks

of Sandy, coming so close to the Indians that they found a butchered calf, still warm, that the

Indians had killed and left.‖

Another excerpt showing a different side of their responsibilities:

―Protecting the settlers from Indians was not the only duty of the Rangers. They had also

the cattle rustlers to deal with. On one occasion they were sent up the James River into Kimble

County to arrest a cattle thief. They found his house in order, no stolen cattle about, and not a trace

of the rustler himself. Although he was generally believed to be a cattle thief, he foiled every

attempt of the Rangers to catch him with stolen cattle. Some time later, when the Rangers were in a

cedar thicket near Sonora, where they planned to make a bear hunt, they noticed a thread of smoke

rising out of the dense thicket. They crept near cautiously, for they expected to find Indians about

the fire. They were astonished at the sight that met their eyes. There was only one person to be

seen, an old man, who sat by the fire, cooking something in a large black pot. The fire was built in

a large clearing in the thicket, which evidently served as a corral. It was fenced about by cedar

trees, which had been partly cut, and then bent over, so as to make an impenetrable wall. Here and

there lay a cow, whose leg had been broken or a calf that had been trampled on and killed. Over at

the side were great stacks of cowhides. The Rangers surmised that they had stumbled upon the

corral, where stolen cattle were kept. Mr. Klaerner and two others approached the old man and

asked questions concerning the ownership of the outfit. The old man readily told the name of the

owner, and the Rangers whistled softly in surprise. It seemed now that they might have proof that

the suspected thief was indeed a cattle rustler. But the old man could tell them little more. He was

only the cook, he said. He did not know when the outfit would return.

―The Rangers made camp not far away. It was not until the next morning that they heard the

lowing of cattle and the stamping of hoofs. Captain Lacey rode into the corral, where he found

more than a dozen cowboys all well armed with pistols and Winchesters. They hooted at his

demand that they give up the cattle. Captain Lacey rode back to him men, stationing them in the

brush surrounding the corral. He gave them command to shoot at his signal, which was to be a

whistle on a cartridge shell. Once more he rode into the corral. He demanded that the cattle be

given up. If they had not been surrendered at the end of 20 minutes, his company of Rangers would

open fire. The cowboys hesitated. They gathered in consultation, and then suddenly giving a wild

whoop, wheeled their horses about and were off.

―The Rangers found cattle of many different brands in the herd. They cut out the cattle of

familiar brands, drove the herd on to Junction, and turned them loose. Many of the cattle then

drifted back to their own ranges.‖

And from a practical side of things:

―Although the Rangers were promised a salary, they had, several years after they were out

of service, not received any money. At last, Mr. Klaerner, together with several others of the

Ranger Company and a school teacher, Mr. Ulrich, went to the old capitol at Austin, to make

complaint. The officials in charge looked over the record, but found no mention of their company.

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Clerks were called in to investigate further and finally among old documents was located a record

of their services, entitling them to three years back pay, and a pension. Not all Rangers were so

fortunate. John Durst, deceased several years ago, served all through the civil war as a Ranger. But

by mistake his name went on the records as John Hurst. Others of his company received pension in

later years, but although John Durst made repeated attempts to convince officials that he was John

Hurst of the company he never received his pension.

―The life of the Ranger was not an easy one; He must be ready on a minute‘s notice to be gone for

days carrying only his gun, his blanket and a few biscuits. There was always meat enough, wild

turkey, deer and antelope, but this fare grew tiresome. He slept on his blanket on the ground. Mr.

Klaerner recalled that often he picked grass to make a softer bed. In winter he awoke sometimes to

find his blanket frozen stiff, so that he could set it up like a tent.‖

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Uncivilized Behavior

Our Family members were not all tried and true Hollywood Frontiersmen. They had passions and

vices just like the rest of us. Here are a couple of stories, one from the Elton Lacey Book and the

other from Joyce Anderwald‘s collection:

Gathered from the Elton Lacey Book:

Thomas Monroe Lacey

Thomas married Mary Jane Chesser on 24 January 1870 in Gillespie Co., Tex., Rev. Elijah Lacey, his father, performing the ceremony. Mary Jane had a twin sister, Sina A. Chesser, who married John Burnyan Lacey on 25 December 1868, in Gillespie Co., Tex. His sister, Mahala’s boy, Alexander Lacey was shown on the 1870 census of Gillespie County, Texas, at the age of 14, living away from his parents, in the household of Adam Keller and his wife Catherine, both born in Nassau. There were several other individuals in this household, including their children, Otto, Maria, Carl, Joseph, and Gregon, Elizabeth Lang, age 66, who may have been Catherine’s mother, and Henri Bustner, age 25, a teacher. Exactly why he was in this household and not the one of his parents, is unknown. Perhaps he was apprenticed to Mr. Keller, a common practice of the time. It may also be that he was some how estranged, a “wild boy”. The reason for this speculation is given in the article below. San Antonio Express, Saturday, September 14, 1874. “A Murder occurred 10 mile north of San Antonio, in the Lacey neighborhood, on Tuesday morning last. The murdered man’s name was Alexander Lacey, aged 18 years, and was killed by T. M. Lacey, his uncle. An old grudge, jealousy, existed of twelve months standing on the part of T. M. Lacey against young Alexander Lacey, and a year ago T. M. Lacey had young Lacey thrashed for remarks about his wife. Young Lacey threatened to kill T. M. Lacey, and remarked two minutes before the killing that T. M. Lacey would not leave the country alive. As soon as he said it, T. M. Lacey standing 20 feet off picked up a Minnie rifle and shot him through the body without another word on the part of either party, the ball ranging from one side to the other near the region of the heart, he dying immediately without saying a word. T. M. Lacey had just ten minutes before borrowed young Lacey’s spurs and seemed on friendly terms with him. T. M. Lacey, immediately after the killing, put the gun down, got on his horse and rode away and is now at large. T. M. Lacey, who did the killing, has a wife and two children. The killing was witnessed by two youths, age 14 and 16, Frank Scott and Levi McDonald, McDonald being a nephew of the parties. Coroner Cugger held an inquest, and the jury rendered a verdict in harmony with the facts.” Thomas and family disappeared after that and nothing further is known of the fate of him, Mary Jane, or their children. They had two children, Tarry Lacey and Josephine Lacey.

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Finally, it should be noted that Alexander’s father, John Hardin Lacey, had passed away a year earlier. The Lacey neighborhood mentioned in the article is undoubtedly in the Locke Hill Community area. The family was still residing in the area. It is possible that Alexander is also buried in the Locke Hill Cemetery, but there is no record that points to it.

And here is another one, put together from Joyce Anderwald‟s collection:

Gaston Rayner

Alice Taylor, Daughter of Zed Casey Taylor and Margrit Halburton Married Gaston Rayner Sept 29, 1872 in Gillespie Co. Alice was one of the children taken captive by Indians, along with Caroline Taylor McDonald and her two children in what is known as the McDonald Massacre. On July 25, 1884 an unfortunate occurrence happened on the Rayner Ranch, just over the Kimble County line from Gillespie County, involving Ed Janes, husband of Alice’s aunt, Premilia Taylor Janes. “An incident near the Kimble County-Gillespie County line changed the lives of the James family forever. As with all stories of the open range of those days, disputes were about the use of water and strayed animals, among other things. Ed Janes, his young son, Henry and several drovers had been to the Devils River area, rounded up a herd of cattle and were on their way back to the home area. They approached the home of Permelia’s niece to ask her to bake bread for the drovers for a few days. “As they were leaving the husband and rancher (Gaston) came in with a bunch of cattle and Ed pointed out a bull that belonged to him. An argument developed over the ownership of the bull and the other man hit Ed over the head with a loaded quirt. As be raised the quirt for another hit, Ed Janes drew his gun and shot him. His instructions to his son were to ride back to the camp and tell the drovers to turn the cattle loose and go home. Ed Janes had a premonition of what was about to happen. He could never have foreseen how their lives would be changed “Ed and Permelia Janes sold their homestead in Gillespie County in 1876 to J.Q. Adams and we can date their adventure into the Frio Canyon by that transaction. Can we imagine the toils and trials of the move with teams and wagons loaded with all the necessary items just to maintain a minimum of comfort? They were true pioneers in every sense of the word, bringing their geese, chickens, provisions for the long journey, the ax that would later hew the logs for their cabin, the fruit frees whose bounty would later be enjoyed, the plow that would turn the virgin soil, the cattle on the hoof that would be bartered or sold for necessary items and slaughtered for food, and which would produce milk for the family—there is no end to all the items that accompanied the long, tedious trip over cow trails and creek beds. “The location of the Janes’ home was near where the Short Kent Creek and Long Kent Creek come together and flow down to converge with the West Frio River This was about seven

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miles north of the then Floral Community. The flow of sparkling water was year round there was enough level land for the clearing of fields for planting and enough timber with which to build the log house that sheltered the family for at least forty years… “Ed Janes lived as a recluse for several years during the l880s and 1890s. He lived much the time in a cave near the Kent Creek home. A wire strung from near the mouth of the cave back into the earth allowed him to come home without the aid of light and to avoid detection. He had been indicted for murder in the case the rancher and the bull and it was his intention to avoid detection. According to oral history, Ed came out of the cave and plowed, planted and harvested and attended his livestock while his family members watched for the approach of strangers. “One incident is told, as he wished to see wedding of one of his children. The wedding was to take place in the yard and was to be well attended. Ed came very early, climbed up in a prepared perch in a tree, and watched the ceremony and the celebration. This incident proves beyond doubt the love he had for family. “The charges of murder against Ed Janes were dropped in 1894 and he was able to resume a normal life among his dearly beloved family. “Ed Janes interest in his community was shown when he deeded property for a school to S.A. Hough, Edwards County Judge, which deed is dated 1902 and is shown at Vol. Page 625, Edwards County Transcribed Deed Records for Real County, Texas. The school was called “Janes School” and continues to called as such in historic records. “The Janes family raised cattle and most of their food. They had a smokehouse; smoked hams, bacon, and sausage. They kept geese for food and bedding; they had a garden and chickens and milk cows.” Gaston was buried on his ranch, in Fall’s River Canyon, Kimble County, there is a grave marker there today.

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Family Difficulties

The following story illustrates a personal circumstance from one of our families. Our families did

not live in a storybook setting, it was not all ―A Little House on the Prairie.‖

This comes from Joyce Anderwald‟s collection but it looks like it might have originated with Joe

Taylor, another family historian, ed.

Rebecca Caroline Taylor 1866-1953

“The stories told about Rebecca “Becky” Taylor may or may not be absolutely true… Some hearsay and others added to or made up by family members. At any rate, her family thought she brought disgrace to them; in the 1800’s it was thought to be a disgrace to have a child out of wedlock. “I understand from a grand-daughter, Becky would never comment on the situation, she never told her daughter, Josephine, who her father was nor anyone else. It was a closed subject to her. “Version I- Becky became pregnant out of wedlock. She disgraced her father, Thurman T. Taylor and he sent her away. They lived in Spring Creek at the time, a community between Harper, TX & Fredericksburg TX. Becky was a young girl, she had the baby girl in Fredericksburg. “Version II- Becky was helping out at a relative’s (Mr. McDonald), to care for his sick wife. She became pregnant by Mr. McDonald and of course her father sent her away. She went to Fredericksburg. Her sister Rachel Hannah Taylor went with her. “They were said to have worked at the Nimitz Hotel and both married Mexican men. Just what they did at the Nimitz Hotel in the late 1800’s is unknown, were they maids or maybe Ladies of the Night. It makes for an interesting story, but we will never know the answers, Becky would never tell. “Becky marred George Hernandez and they raised four children and had a happy life. She did see her parents in later years. One hopes they came to understand each other.”

This, to me is a touching story. It shows every family, no matter when, has times that require

understanding and love, ed.

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Down Right Civilized

LockeHill

As things developed they became rather civilized, in LockeHill a schoolhouse/Church became the

focal point of the community in its location adjacent to the LockeHill Cemetery.

The old Locke Hill Church/Schoolhouse was moved into San Antonio to the property of the

Woodlawn Methodist Church. This article was written by Charles Thompson, a Lacey descendant,

in November 1943 to celebrate the rededication of the old church as the Bolton Boone Chapel.

―Back in the 1870's a small community centered its life around a crudely constructed

building which was a schoolhouse on week-days and a church on Sundays. This group of people

with their schoolhouse-church was settled on a hill some ten miles northwest of San Antonio,

Texas. The settlement was named for Jack Locke, one of the earlier settlers of the community, and

it has retained the name of Locke Hill through the years.

―Those pioneer days saw no beautiful churches or sanctuaries, but attractive or not the

Spirit of God moved about in these early shrines. This small building was a very unattractive

church, for the walls were made of wooden planks. There were many cracks and crevices in the

walls, and often the wind and sometimes snow found its way in through the many openings. Of

course, there was the wood-stove which generated a fair amount of heat; but not quite enough. The

only light came from small kerosene wall-lamps, for there were no windows in the structure.

Wooden benches served as seats; and they were most uncomfortable, because they had no backs.

One can easily imagine the postures assumed during class or church service. The only article that

lent any church atmosphere was the pump organ, which was played by Polly Heap. Mrs. Heap had

learned to play the organ in England; and on coming to America, thence to Texas, she was to serve

as organist for many years in this early Texas church. Around the outside of the Building was the

community cemetery as was the custom of the day. A few of the early church-going families were

the Coles, the Bakers and the Wilsons.

―In 1877, the Donaldson family moved to Texas and settled about a mile from Locke Hill.

The family soon became acquainted with the church, and Emma Donaldson, an eighteen-year-old

daughter of the family, became the second school-teacher at Locke Hill, Judith Locke being the

first.

―The first preachers during those years were known as circuit riders, who rode horseback

over the country, preaching at first one town and then another. Reverends A.J. Potter, John W.

DeVilbiss, Homer Thrall, Val Sherman and J. M. Stevenson were a few of the preachers of that

tine.

―The young people and the old folks had their social gatherings and parties in those days

too. Two active leaders at the various gatherings were Martin Locke and George Jones. On one

occasion a party was held at the home of Emma Donaldson where the group was to raise funds to

have backs put on their benches, and the project did meet with success....Thus life went on at

Locke Hill.

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―The year 1901 brought a great change to these folk, something the entire community had

made plans for and looked forward to for a long time. The old building was dismantled; and the

Methodist Church, South, erected a new church on the old site. On the completion the new church

the organ and the kerosene lamps from the old building were installed. It must have truly been a

day of joy and thanksgiving for those Locke Hill citizens. Leaders in the church at this time were

the Laceys, the Charles Donaldsons, the Linns, and the Heaps.

―In the meantime, Emma Donaldson moved away and became the wife of Reverend Arthur

Rector. She was to return to Locke Hill however when Reverend Rector became minister,

succeeding preachers, Icabod Kingbury and F.S. Jackson.

―The years went by with many activities in and around Locke Hill Church for such faithful

members as the Bennetts, the Gordons, the Hunnams and the Joneses. Ministers, Robert Adair and

J. D. Scott were but a few of the men who led the members of this church. In 1912, Reverend S. L.

Batchelor also became acquainted with the church and congregation, preaching there about a year.

Locke Hill Church was included in his circuit along with two other churches. Dr. Batchelor was

later to become the District Superintendent of the San Antonio District of the Southwest Texas

Conference…‖

At the same time all the folks at Spring Creek were feeling the need for a Church and School.

There‘s not much record as to how it came about but by the mid 1880s it was well established.

Spring Creek

The following is again from the “Frontier Times”

In an article titled “An Early Day Texas School” J. Marvin Hunter Sr. (Owner and Editor of the

Frontier Times) recounts being at a McDonald Reunion in 1948

―… Here I met a number of the McDonald family who were pupils in the Frontier School

taught by my father, John Warren Hunter, in the fall and winter of 1877-1878, and they recounted

to me many incidents that occurred in those days. The little picket school house which stood on the

bank of Spring Greek, and the one room picket house occupied by my father and mother, has long

since disappeared, and only a small pile of rocks marks the foundation of the chimney place. The

spring that supplied water for the household and for the school has dried up, and the surrounding

terrain has grown up in timber, a well tilled field is adjacent to the site. Not far away is the old

cemetery which contains the graves of settlers who were murdered by the Indians in that early day

and others who died a natural death. I was particularly impressed when one of the aged McDonalds

pointed out to me the graves of Alwilda McDonald, Eli McDonald, Mrs. Thomas, Pete Hazelwood

and other victims of Indian ferocity, the accounts of whose murders have been told about in former

issues of Frontier Times. These graves have been there for more than eighty years, and having no

marker, cannot be identified except by those who now their exact location. I understand that the

surviving members of the family are arraigning to put suitable marker in that little cemetery.

I

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―Thomas McDonald and his brother Bill (Joe) McDonald came from Illinois and settled in

that community in 1854. Their sons were Eli, Lafe, Mart, Gus and several others whose names I do

not have. It was the children of these sons who attended the school which my father taught in

1877…

―My father often spoke of the generous hospitality and friendly association with those early

day settlers. At the time he taught the Spring Creek School he was only 30 years old, and his

family consisted of his wife and three little girls. Aside from a bit of unpleasantness which

occurred when the teacher differed with two trustees, Ben Casey and Gus McDonald, which

resulted in a terrific fist fight with the teacher coming out victorious, the whole term was delightful

for pupils and teacher, and after the scrap mentioned above, the two trustees, both honorable and

upright men, were loyal friends to the teacher and worked harder for a better school. It was stated

at the reunion that all the generations of the McDonald family, from the time they settled in

Gillespie County, down to the present have been law-abiding and upright citizens. They did well

their part in beating out the paths for the tender feet to follow.‖

M Tf ooT 1 0en law

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1910. Clayton Morris served as postmaster until the post office closed in 1954 when the Morris

Ranch store was shut down.

The schoolhouse was originally part of the larger Morris Ranch, which was established in 1856 for

horse breeding. After the ranch was converted into a thoroughbred horse breeding community, the

schoolhouse was added to the property in 1893. The structure was built with a steeple and bell,

doubling as a church. It was used by Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations.

A small cemetery was established behind the building. In 1931, the school on its separate nine

acres was deeded to Gillespie County. The school belonged to Morris Ranch Consolidated

Common School District no. 40. The schoolhouse is currently under private ownership and not in

use by the public. The Morris Ranch school was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark

in 1980. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Texas, in

March 29, 1983.

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From the “Handbook of Texas Online:”

HARPER, TEXAS Harper is on U.S. Highway 290 twenty-three miles west of Fredericksburg in

far western Gillespie County. It is in the heart of the Hill Country and has an ideal climate. The site

was first settled by the Matthew Taylor and Eli McDonald families in 1863. A historical marker

shows the site of the McDonald massacre of August 1864, in which two members of the McDonald

family were killed by Kiowa Indians, a young mother and four children were captured, and the

elderly Aunt Hannah escaped. The first post office was established in 1883 by George Franklin

Harper, for whom the town was named. Harper celebrated its centennial in 1963, and more than

15,000 visitors attended the festivities. In 1985 the town served a large ranching area and had six

churches, a fire department and ambulance service, a public school, and growing residential

subdivisions. As of 1982 Harper had the oldest bank still operating in Gillespie County. The

population was 383 in 1982 and 1990. By 2000, however, it had grown to 1,006.

Again from “Handbook of Texas Online:”

HARPER, GEORGE FRANKLIN (1828–1926). George Franklin Harper, founder of Harper,

Gillespie County, the son of Henry and Jane (Cummings) Harper, was born in Sangamon County,

Illinois, on December 31, 1828. He first traveled to Texas in 1848 to visit his uncle Elijah Harper

in Victoria. He settled in Texas after marrying his cousin Keziah Harper on March 16, 1851; they

had three children. Harper was a Jeffersonian Democrat and supported the Confederacy in the Civil

War by driving supply teams from Brownsville to San Antonio. After the war the impoverished

family decided to move to East Texas, but after Mrs. Harper died in a wagon accident in Ellis

County Harper returned to Floresville to stay with relatives. There he ranched, raised horses, and

worked as a carpenter. On February 4, 1869, he married his cousin Katherine Harper, his first

wife's younger sister; they had one child. They lived in Floresville until 1880, when Harper,

seeking less crowded rangelands, bought a section of land in Gillespie County. There near

Pedernales Springs he built a house at the site of an earlier Indian massacre and encouraged

travelers to stay and settle in the area. He helped other settlers build houses, performed medical

services in the absence of a trained doctor, and built caskets free. He also distributed mail weekly

from his home and was appointed postmaster when a post office was established and the

community officially named Harper in 1883. He served as postmaster until 1890, as a Gillespie

County commissioner from 1892 to 1898, and as a school trustee and director of the Harper State

Bank. He and his wife, known as Uncle Frank and Aunt Kate to the people of Harper, were

influential community leaders; they hosted dinners, parties, and musical evenings, and Harper

coached students for debates and spelling bees. He eventually switched from horse to cattle raising

and arranged a number of large cattle sales. In 1917 he moved with his son Herman to Bandera.

Later, with his son Walter, he moved to Florida, where he helped plant orange groves. He died on

March 27, 1926, and was buried in Bartow, Florida.

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The Unhitching (or rehitching)

As Spring Creek and LockeHill started to fill with people or perhaps because of our free footed

nature; families began to move out of the confines of our little settlements and nearby

communities.

The first major exodus was by Dick and Susanna Hall and their family; they headed out to

California some time right after the 1870 Census for their last five children were born in the San

Joaquin Valley beginning in 1872. They returned though, because some of their children married

Gillespie County folk and settled down here. In 1900 they are recorded living in Concho County,

TX.

Of course many of the cousins drifted into other locations in West Texas. You may review these

people when you study the Summary Section of this work. However there were some notable

migrations to specific areas of the west; notably Seven Rivers, NM, Lincoln County, NM and the

Animas Valley, NM and the adjacent San Bernardino Valley of Arizona.

We will visit each of these areas, but first we will stop by and see one of the most travelled and

footloose of our cousins.

Asa Phelps Lacey

This essay based on the Elton Lacey Book pp 388b thru 392a coupled with information that has

come to light since, ed.

Aciel (Asa) Phelps Lacey was the eldest son of Elijah Lacey and Ruth McDonald but the second son in the household, his mother Ruth was pregnant with William Jackson Locke when she married Elijah in 1828. Asa was born, May 18, 1830 in St. Clair Co. Illinois. He died April 3, 1913 in Asher, Oklahoma after a restless and interesting life. Rosanna England and Asa were united in marriage on 25 Jul 1849 in Marion Co. Illinois. Rosanna was the daughter of William England and Cloah Pike, born April 23, 1829 in Illinois. (Cloah was not the daughter of Capt. Zebulon Pike as ELB reported) Rosanna was the sister of Asa’s half-brother, W.J. Locke’s wife, Mary England. Rosanna died April 3, 1907 and is buried at Hill Crest Cemetery, Morris Ranch, Texas, along with her daughter, Cloey Cynthia Lacey Lee and Cloey’s husband, Abijah Lee. The Lee descendants still return to the Morris Ranch reunions, held annually, and help keep up the cemetery. The 1850 Census finds Asa and Rosanna living in Jackson Co. IL four families away from his half-brother William Jackson Locke (Lacey in the Census). Asa was listed as a farmer; the Elton Lacey Book says that he was, like his father, a Methodist Minister but the Census always shows him in some other occupations; perhaps he was a Methodist Lay Preacher, a common avocation at the time.

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On October 3, 1850 a daughter was born to Rosa and Asa, Louanna Elizabeth; they were still living in Jackson County. By 1852 they had moved to nearby Kendall County, there a son, Louis Monroe was born on August 8th. Around 1853/4 the whole Lacey clan, father Elijah and all of Asa’s siblings, moved to Texas. If they all traveled together they made their way down the Mississippi River and by coastal packet to Indianola. Members of the family resided in Goliad County for a while, finally settling near San Antonio, in the LockeHill area (named later, after the W.J. Locke family) and Spring Creek, Gillespie County in the Texas hill country. Another daughter, Ruth Jane Lillian was born in Texas on Mar. 7, 1854 followed by Martha Melvina in 1856, who only lived a year. By 1858 the family had made their way to San Antonio, there, on March 26th a third daughter was born in Texas, Cloey Cynthia. A son Samuel Houston was born in 1859 but only lived a year as well. When the Civil War broke out, they were living in Gillespie County, on the edge of the frontier. The men in this part of Texas weren’t especially pro-Confederacy; they were an independent lot and had a lot to do. Subsistence living and the ever-present threat of Indians consumed their lives; they had little interest in others problems and they didn’t have a history of slave owning. At the beginning of Texas’ involvement of the war they just ignored the call to arms but with the U.S. Army gone and most of the younger men off to fight for the side of their choice, things started to deteriorate. The Indians realized that defenses were weak and the local Confederate military began stepping up pressure on what they considered disloyalty. From May of 1862 to March of 1863, a Colonel Duff and his Texas Partisan Ranger Company went on a reign of terror throughout the Hill Country counties including Gillespie; threatening or murdering every able bodied man of military age they could find. With all that turmoil going on, the Laceys were blessed with another son, Robert Elijah, born February 19, 1863 in Gillespie County. On August 8,1863, Asa enlisted in Co. A, Mounted Regt., Col. James E. McCord, Commanding, Texas State Troops. The Texas State Troops were a Frontier Defense organization authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1861 to meet the threat of Indian attack in the western frontier of the State. With the start of the Civil War, the Union troops had been withdrawn from the forts along the Texas frontier and the Confederate Army was too preoccupied with the war to the east to provide adequate protection to the western frontier. The TST was under State jurisdiction, a point that would be contested by the Confederate Government as the war dragged on. His enlistment card reads: “Oath of alleg. with roll; Co. org under act of D.21.61; Serv.D Am’t of pay shown only on payroll; on mainrolls dte.D.21-62 to Mr.1-63, state ‘Pay due from muster into serv., though no duty shown; Co. sta. at Camp Davis D. 24.62; 5 mm rolls: 1 Ju.1-63 toAu.31-63, 1 5.63 to 5.3 1-63; 1 payroll not dated; Service shown from Jan.1-64 to F.29-64; Served 2 mos.-Total $24; Allowances: for clothing $40.15, Use of Horse $24, Use of Arms $8 - Total $ 90.15; amount of clothing $34.60”. Camp Davis was located on Whitlock Creek, about four miles from its junction with the Perdernales River. It lay half way between Camp Llano and Camp Verde. His Commanding Officer

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was James M. Hunter. Hunter had moved to Texas in 1851 to join his brother who lived in Fredericksburg. Early on, he raised a company of eighteen men to protect the surveying parties along the Brazos River and its Clear Fork tributary. The Frontier Regiments were on the cutting edge of civilization at the time, and not only had to deal with the threat of Indian attack, but as the war dragged on, it was increasingly brought into the conflict with the Confederate government, who wanted the manpower it represented for the war in the east. Giving way to repeated efforts to conscript the members into the Confederate Army, the State Government transferred the Frontier Regiments to Confederate service at the end of 1864. A new outfit, consisting of older men or men with some other deferment; in the Gillespie Co. area, the Third Frontier District, Major James Hunter commanding was formed in Jan 1865. After the war, the Union Army once again became responsible for the defense of the frontier and reoccupied the federal forts it had abandoned. Still, local “Minute Men” of the Texas Rangers continued to protect the frontier through the end of the century. The fact that Asa was required to take an “Oath of Allegiance” was unusual. Perhaps it was because he was from Illinois, or perhaps they had some reason to suspect his loyalty to the Confederate cause. If it was the latter, it was with good cause, because in 1864, he deserted the Confederates and made his way to Union lines and he enlisted in the First Texas Cavalry, a Union Army unit, joining his brother, Joshua Collins Lacey, and his half-brother, William Jackson Locke. It was no small feat switching sides, see the article: “Memoirs of ‘Lafe’ McDonald” in this collection; by the way ‘Lafe’ was a cousin of Asa’s. The First Texas Cavalry Regiment was a Union unit organized at New Orleans, Louisiana, and mustered into Federal Service in that city on November 6, 1862. This unit’s commanding officer at that time was Edmund J. Davis, who had been a District Judge for the lower Rio Grande Valley for a number of years prior to the secession of Texas. He had been a candidate for a delegate’s seat to the Texas secession convention, but was defeated in the election. From that point on, he was violently opposed to secession, fleeing the state in the summer of 1861. The majority of the members of the regiment were from east Texas. This picture of Asa Phelps Lacey was taken in New Orleans, probably while he was on duty there.

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The Records and Pension Office state that he was enrolled on May1,1864, and mustered out on October 31, 1865. His name was shown as A.P. Lacey and as Asa P. Lacey. During that period, the rolls show him present as follows: Dec. 31, 1864 on Det. ser. at Morgan, La.; Feb. 28, 1865 detached in recruiting- present at New Orleans, La.; April 30, 1865 absent with ---- Ark. Sentenced $5 fine by G.C.M. at N.O.; Medical records show that he had acute dysentery Sept. 11th & 12th, 1864-returned to duty. No additional information was given. After the war, they lived in Gillespie County where their last child, Benjamin Butler, was born on 8 Aug 1866; and daughter Louanna married cousin William Augustus McDonald in 1867. The 1870 census for this county shows that the Elijah, Asa Phelps, John Hardin, and Joshua Collins Lacey families all resided there. Asa was listed as a Stock Raiser with personal property valued at $1100, a good sum in those days. Son, Louis, married Mary Elizabeth McGuire Helfer in 1871. Several of Asa’s kin joined the Texas Ranger Frontier Forces, Minute Men of Gillespie Co., Co. F., Lt. Joshua Collins Lacey, commanding officer (Asa’s younger brother). Asa is shown as a private, enlisted April 18, 1872, discharged April 23, 1874, 130 days of service; Ranger Muster Roll. They were only paid for the actual time they were called into service. During this period, Indian bands (mostly Comanche and Kiowa in Gillespie County), renegades, and bandits, all roamed and raided in the frontier areas of Texas. Lewis Cass Lacey, Louis Monroe Lacey, and Thomas Monroe Lacey were all in this company at the same time. In June of 1873, daughter Ruth, married Bill Alexander in Kendall County, TX. Asa continued to move his family around. He seemed to want to live in the frontier; this was true ever since coming to Texas. Gillespie County was the jumping of place for many headed West, in the 1870’s there were tales of gold being found in Lincoln County NM, as well as the need for beef in that county. Perhaps Asa took his herd of stock to Lincoln County; for by the 1880 Census the family was in White Oaks, Lincoln County where Asa gave his occupation as a miner. Robert and Benjamin were with them. They owned a ranch six miles South East of White Oaks which they sold for $1000, in

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1883, in preparation to their return to Gillespie County. Ruth and her husband Bill were with them in White Oaks as well; they left in 1885/6 to return to Texas. Son, Benjamin, married Nettie Taylor on 11 Feb 1887 in Gillespie County, the daughter of cousin, Thurman Taylor; the last son to get married was Robert who married Emily Alice New on 2 Aug 1887. The travel lust must have overtaken them again soon after; Benjamin and Nettie had a baby in White Oaks, NM in 1888 and by 1890 Asa and Benjamin and their flock were in Tacoma, Washington. They were there at least through 1892 then moving to Gilliam County, Oregon. He left his family while they were in Oregon, leaving them ignorant of his whereabouts. Benjamin also left his young family there about this same time. In the 1895 state census of veterans, he was listed as living in far north Texas. Mrs. Grace Lacey McCandless, granddaughter of Asa, states that he was quite a rover and that her father said that they hardly became settled in one spot, when he would pull up stakes and move again. Rosanna returned to Texas but Benjamin’s family stayed in Oregon. After a period of time, thinking that he must be dead, Rosanna applied for a widow’s pension on his Civil War service. The answer came back that he was he alive, and drawing his pension while residing in the Oklahoma Territory. He had applied for that Civil War pension on 11 March 1907, while a resident of Pottawatomie Co., Oklahoma Territory. He was 76 years old at the time. In his application, he states that he was enrolled at Brownsville, Tex., in May 1864, as a private in Co. A, 1st Texas Cavalry, and that he was discharged in San Antonio, Texas in Oct. or Nov. 1865. His personal description was given as 5’ 11” in hght., a wheelwright (one that builds and repairs wheels), and that he was born in St. Clair Co., Ill. He stated that his places of residence were as follows: Gillespie Co., Tex. until 1882; Lincoln Co., N.M., to 1885; Gillispie Co., Tex. to 1890; Tacoma, Washington, to 1892; Gilliam Co., Oregon, to 1895; Boone Co., Ark., to 1896; Indian Territory, Ark. and Pottawatomie Co., ever since. Pension No. 607100. His post office address was Asher, Pottawatomie Co., Oklahoma. Witnesses to his application were Jacob H. Courtney and J. R. Childress. In his supplemental declaration, dated June 4, 1898, he stated that he was married to Rosanna England on July 26, 1849, Marion Co., Illinois, by Wm. England, Minister (father of Rosanna). He listed his children as Luanna Elizabeth, b. 1850; Rutha, b. 1853; Cloey Cintha, b. 1856; Robt. E. Lacey, b. 1862; B.B. Lacey, b. 1866. The document was signed by Asa P. Lacey. He was last paid on May 4, 1913, when his name was dropped because of death. His pension was $27.00 per mo. (War Dept. Gen. Ser. Adm., Nat. Archives and Records Section.) When she returned to Texas, Rosanna went to live with her daughter Cynthia and the Lee family on Morris Ranch in Gillespie Co. She died there April 4, 1906 and is buried there in Hillcrest Cemetery with her friends and some of her relatives. You would think that this was quite a life, but the Laceys are full of surprises. Younger brother, John Burnyan Lacey served in the same outfit as Lewis Lacey, Asa’s brother, during the Civil War. In that same outfit were the Alexander brothers, no relation to son-in-law Bill; their sister Catherine had married Thurman Taylor and was Asa’s son’s mother-in-law.

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Brother William married Asa’s sister Nancy Lacey and brother “Lum” married another sister of Asa’s, Mary. Another sister of the Alexanders, “Anne” married Asa’s cousin “Rat” Fairchild who was step brother to Mary Jane Chesser. Mary Jane married Asa’s youngest brother Thomas and she had a twin sister, Sina, who married John B. Lacey. This little illustration seems confusing but at the same time amusing and informative about life with the greater family group. Back to John B. - in 1880 he and his new wife Susan were living in Gonzales Co. not far from San Antonio with he and Sina’s children: Ira, James, Premy and Lydia (born about 1877) as well as their new baby William. In the 1900 Census of Van Buren Co. Arkansas finds Asa P. Lacey (age 70) married to Lydia Lacey (age23) and in the 1910 Census of Pottawatomie Co. Oklahoma are Asa and Lydia with a seven year old daughter, Rosa M. Lacey. If that isn’t an adventuresome life I don’t know what is, ed! Asa and Rosanna had eight children: Louanna Elizabeth Lacey 1850-1937 m. William Augustus McDonald 25 Jul 1867 in Gillespie Co. TX Louis Monroe Lacey 1852- 1887 m. Mary Elizabeth McGuire Helfer 24 Nov 1871 in Kerr County, TX Ruth Jane Lillian Lacey 1854-1917 m. John William Alexander 15 Jun 1873 in Kendall Co., TX Martha Melvina Lacey b. 19 Jun 1856, d. 3 Nov 1857 Cloey Cynthia Lacey 1858-1919 m. Abijah A. Lee 22 Apr 1875 in Fredericksburg, Gillespie Co., TX Samuel Houston Lacey b. 9 Sep 1859, d, 30 Sep 1860 Robert Elijah Lacey 1863-1922 m. Emily Alice New 2 Aug 1887 in Gillespie Co., TX Benjamin Butler Lacey 1866-1928 m. (1) A. Nettie Taylor 11 Feb 1887 in Gillespie Co., TX Divorced m. (2) Birdie Perry

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The child of Asa and Lydia: Rosa M. Lacey 1903-? m. Satterfield Just for fun I am including an e-mail from Robert Satterfield: Hi Rich, I started my research on Austin Patton Tate my mother's stepfather who married Lydia E. Lacey in 1913, she was born in Texas 1877. My mother was born 1903 in Arkansas. I found Lydia E. on 1880 census Gonzales, TX with John B. Lacy (born 1844 Illinois). A son of my mother's half sister has a bible with John B. and Sina Chesser as parents of Lydia.............. I found Lydia in 1900 census (Arkansas Van Buren Co. District 134 Wheeler Township) married to Asa P. Lacey (B 1830.Illinois) On this same page I find Austin Patton Tate and family........1910 Census(Ok, Pottawatomie Co, Avoca) Asa P. Lacey, Lydia E. and my mother Rosa M. Lacey. Avoca was township, Asher was the town (Post Office). ....Asa died in Asher Ok in 1913. This has been like a connect the dots puzzle (unfinished)......Thanks for everything.......Robert Satterfield

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The Seven Rivers Crowd

Brother and sister:

Lafe McDonald (2.6) m. Betty Larimore

Mary McDonald Fanning (2.1) m. George Fannin

First Cousins:

Barbara Fanning (2.1.5) m. Joe Wood

Martin Fanning (2.1.4) Sally Corn

Rachel Fanning (2.1.1) m. George Larremore

Joe Fanning (2.1.2) m. Mary Beckett

Mary Fanning (2.1.3) m. Bill Nelson

John McDonald (2.6.3)

Walter McDonald (2.6.6) m. Pearl Jennings

Martin McDonald (2.6.8)

Archie McDonald (2.6.11)

Cousins:

Henry Hudson and Hulda Joy

James Welch and Angeline Nelson

In 1878, The Hudson family with their children and a small band of wagons made its way to New

Mexico. It took three months to reach the Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River. From there they

went to Seven Rivers, New Mexico. While camped at Seven Rivers, Ike Teeters tried to rob the

wagon train but was killed by Bell Hudson. Later, Bell Hudson raced a stranger on horseback for

the stranger's bridle. Bell lost the race and after the stranger departed, Bell was told he was Billy

the Kid. Ed & Bell worked for John Chisholm and Bell was part of Pat Garrett's posse.

And we hear again from the “Memoirs of Lafe McDonald”:

Lafe McDonald

“ …‘On March 18th. 1869, I married the second time. My bride was Amanda Elizabeth Larimore. She was a very fine girl and proved to be a helpmeet Indeed. We were very happy together and a large family blessed our union. First was Samuel Thomas, but he died when about one year of age; then George, Randolph, Ella, Oliver, Walter, Rachel, Adeline, Mart, Joen, Alwilda, and Archie. Of these, Ella, Walter, Mart, Joe, Archie and George are living. My second marriage occurred near Fredericksburg and Peter Mosel performed the ceremony. We moved to Spring Creek in Gillespie County, and remained in that section till the year 1885, when I sold out and moved to Seven Rivers, New Mexico. There I engaged in the sheep business, and stayed with it through hard years and prosperous ones. My last wife died November 17, 1903. Since that time I

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have divided up most of my property among my children. I have a house and six lots about five miles from old Seven Rivers, and twenty-two miles from Carlsbad. Two of my boys, Walter and Archie, are living in Carlsbad. I spend most of my time with them. At present I am visiting old friends and relatives In Texas.’ “What was the condition of affairs in New Mexico, when you moved there? I asked. The old man replied: ‘I landed in New Mexico, the 9th day of June, 1885. It was a new country, but the Indians there were harmless. Very few people lived at Seven Rivers then, but there were some lawless characters. Most of the people were good, honest, frontiersmen. Nine men were killed right there at Seven Rivers, after I moved there. ‘Among them was Zach Light, a man well known in Mason County. Zach was a good fellow when sober, but bad when he was drunk. At this time he had been on a spree for about a week. A very quick gunman named Les Dow was running one of the saloons. One morning this man shot and killed Zach Light. I helped guard Dow that day; I told them I would help if they would disarm Dow. I knew he was very quick. At first he refused to give up his arms. Finally he said he would do so provided we would give them back to him in the case of a mob attacking him. I told him if any crowd of men appeared, that we could not control, we would return his arms to him. He then handed them over. We guarded him all that day till late in the evening, when the Judge came over and Dow stood an examining trial. He was released, as there was no evidence in the case save his own. His story was as follows: ‘Light came into the saloon and demanded a hundred dollars from me. I told him I could let him have twenty-five but not a hundred. He then drew his revolver, but I threw my hands under it and the discharged went above my head. I shot at the same time and killed Zach. ‘We never knew if he was telling the truth or not, but there was a bullet hole, high upon the wall of the saloon, that seemed to bear out his testimony. We took up Zach’s dead body and gave him a nice decent burial, for he was a man well liked as I said before when he was sober.’ “These are some of the recollections of Lafe McDonald; it is remarkable how he remembers dates. He is hale and hearty for his age, and optimistic in everything. I have tried to relate his stories just as he told them, as nearly in his own language as possible. I could have probably gotten a better connection, had I but had a little more time. I had but about two hours one evening to interview him and take my notes and was interrupted then by friends and relatives calling in to see him, and the time being taken up socially. God bless the old-timers, they were heroes indeed. Their ranks are growing thinner every day, and we should try to preserve the records of their bravery and heroism, while we can get the information, that the rising generation may learn to appreciate the attributes of character of the founders of this wonderful country of ours. We know and respect them as heroes indeed, who paved the way far our wonderful progress, and civilization of today. “The writer knew Zach Light, well. He was quite a prominent character in and around Mason, in the eighties. He and his two brothers, John and Leward, were prominent cattlemen. As Mr. McDonald said, when sober, Zach was kind in his disposition and very accommodating. He would go his ‘entire length” as the cowboy expression has it, for a friend, The Lights and their

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outfit often penned their herds, in my father’s pens. Zach would come down to the house, and get me, then a small child and take me out to their camp. There I was petted and made the hero of the camp. The first silver dollar, I ever possessed, was given to me by Zach Light, for a little expression of wit on my part while in their camp. The laugh was turned on Zach and he said, ‘I will set ‘em up.’ He handed me bright silver dollar, and to me it looked as large as the full moon, But Zach, got into a great deal of trouble, owing to strong drink. When drunk he was desperate. He killed one man in Kansas before coming to Texas; this man was named Newman, I think. Then he killed another in Mason, and got mixed up in several other serious difficulties. McDonald said he got shot one time in Mexico, before his tragic ending -and all owing to his tendency to drink. But those were ‘wild and wooly’ days. An account of all the things that transpired around Mason, at that period would make an interesting volume, within itself.”

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1895 Map Eddy and Chaves Counties

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The Lincoln County Crowd

Some Spring Creek Cousins that either lived or stayed for a while in Lincoln County

Asa Phelps Lacey(3.2) and his family lived near White Oaks from 1879 to 1883ish

Asa‘s daughter, Ruth Jane(3.2.3), and her husband Bill Alexander lived near White Oaks until at

least the mid 1890s

Jerry Hazelwood and Louisa ―Curly‖ Fairchild (4.1.2)

Jerry and Curley moved on to Southeast Arizona, four of their five older children stayed in Lincoln

County the younger ones moved on with mom and dad.

Effie Hazelwood Dale

Ellen Hazelwood Frambrough

Charlie Haazelwwod

Bill Hazelwood

Mahala Lacey and her son Tobe and family stayed for a while passing through (3.3&3.3.5)

Mahala‘s daughter, Emily Lacey married to Bill Bowman (3.2.2) might have lived in Lincoln

County for a while. Emily‘s daughter, Mary Bowman, died in Corona, Lincoln County, NM she

was married to Elly Floyd.

JC ―Coll‖Lacey (3.7) and Cloe Fairchild (4.1.1) lived in Texas Park near White Oaks.

P.E. ―Doc‖ Lacey (3.4.4) married Fanny Lalone in White Oaks in 1898.

Doc‘s sister, Victoria Lacey Thompson, lived in White Oaks for a few years in the early 1900s.

Now a visit with Cousins Coll Lacey and Cloe Fairchild; this piece is from my book “Nuestras

Madres” A Story of Lincoln County:

Coll and Cloe Lacey

“Cloe Irene Elizabeth Frances, was the oldest child of Amos Fairchild and Lucretia Jane McDonald. Cloe was born Aug. 10, 1852 in Jefferson Co. IL. The Fairchilds had moved to Texas as part of a larger group related to Ruth McDonald Lacey. “Mr. Fairchild met an untimely end during the last stages of the Civil War, doing his part to make the Texas frontier safe. Cloe, at 13, was left to help her mother care for five other sisters and brothers. “Cloe’s next younger sister was Louisa “Curly” Fairchild who married Jerry Hazelwood. Curly and Jerry moved to Lincoln County about 1883. Curly was the mother of Charlie and Bill

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Hazelwood, sisters Minda Hazelwood Frambrough and Lou Ellen Hazelwood Dale of Lincoln County; Fannie “Kid” Hazelwood, John Wesley Hazelwood and Susie Lucille Hazelwood lived their adult lives in Douglas, Cochise Co. AZ. Curly and Jerry had moved to Douglas as well, they had extended family there. “Joshua Collins “Coll” Lacey was born Mar. 5, 1842, in St. Claire Co. IL. He was the next to the youngest of the eight children of Elijah and Ruth McDonald Lacey. “The Laceys left Illinois for Texas in 1853 or 54. They went down the Mississippi to New Orleans then by Coastal Packet to Indianola. The Laceys were in Goliad for a while, then they finally settled down in San Antonio and in Gillespie Co. The Lacey children spread out; the oldest Jack Locke and a brother, Lewis Lacey settled at Locke Hill (12 mi. from downtown San Antonio) on the Fredericksburg Road and most of the rest settled with relatives at the other end of the Fredericksburg Road (10 mi. past Fredericksburg) at Spring Creek. Coll lived in both areas during the next 20 or 30 years. “The Civil War came to the Texas frontier and in Oct. 1862 Coll made his way to New Orleans and joined the 1st Texas Cavalry USA. When he enlisted he gave his occupation as ‘drover’. He was promoted (elected) to 1st Sergeant. He was wounded Oct. 1863 and captured. He escaped from the Confederate Hospital in Alexandria and return to his unit Dec. 1863. He mustered out Oct. 1865 in San Antonio. “He married Cloe Elizabeth Fairchild on Christmas Day 1867. His father, Rev. Elijah Lacey, performed the ceremony; witnesses were William Alexander and Joseph McDonald. They were married in Gillespie Co. “Coll and Cloe first made their home in Spring Creek; it was a dangerous part of the world in the years after the Civil War. On Apr. 18, 1872 “Coll” enlisted in the Gillespie Co. Minute Men (Texas Ranger frontier defense) and was elected Lieutenant, Commanding Co. F. Many of his kinsmen were in this outfit, Laceys, McDonalds, Taylors and others. The Minute Men were only called up for emergencies. He was discharged Dec. 12, 1872 with more than 30 days service. In the 1880 Census they were living in the LockeHill Community near San Antonio. “An older brother, Asa Lacey, had itchy feet and during the course of his life, he lived in various places on the edge of the frontier. In about 1879 he moved with his family to White Oaks and tried his hand at mining and had a ranch about 6 miles to the southeast of town. With Asa was his son-in-law, J.W. Alexander, married to daughter Ruth Jane; three of their children were born in White Oaks. About 1885 the Laceys and Alexanders moved back to Gillespie Co. but his tales of opportunity there must have fired up Coll for in the early 1880s the family moved to Lincoln Co. The Lacey family first settled 3 miles North of White Oaks on the west side of the Jicarilla road. The family dugout is still visible from the road today, up on the hillside beyond the metal cattle pens.

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“The Lacey children were born in Texas, except for the last one, who died as a baby and is buried at the Cedarvale Cemetery, White Oaks, in the family plot. They became an integral part of the life in Texas Park and White Oaks, they were mentioned in old-timers reminiscences and the Lacey name adorns some geographical locations. His oldest sister, Mahala Lacey, lived in the area for a while coming in 1894. She was with her son, ‘Tobe’, and his family, they later moved to Douglas, Arizona. Sometime (possibly 1894 with ‘Tobe’) Coll’s nephew, P.E, ‘Doc’ Lacey joined the family in White Oaks. At various times there were a lot of Laceys living in the White Oaks/Texas Park area including P.E.’s sister, Victoria Mae Thompson and her children around 1915. “On January 26, 1901 ‘Coll’ died at his home in Texas Park, judging from his estate papers he was a well-respected and active participant in local affairs. Cloe continued to live in the community bolstered by her children until her death on January 19, 1926.”

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The Animas / San Bernardino Crowd

First cousins:

Thurman Taylor (1.2)

Lucretia McDonald Fairchild Chesser (4.1)

Mahala Lacey (3.3)

Bennie McDonald (4.12)

The second cousins:

Hut Taylor (1.2.1) m. Gil Fairchild (4.1.3)

Emily Lacey (3.3.2) m. Bill Bowman

Lottie McDonald (4.2.8) m. John Hazelwood

Soloman McDonald (4.2.7) m. Sadie Bowman

Bill McDonald (4.2.6) m. Rhoda Garcia (4.4.4)

Lou ‗Curly‘ Fairchild (4.1.2) m. Jerry Hazelwood

Toby Lacey (3.3.5) m. Susan Janes (1.8.1)

Rat Fairchild (4.1.6) m. Annie Alexander (3.6.7)

Louis Garcia (4.4.7) m. Ruby Blevins

John Garcia (4.4.6) m. Vida Ruth _______

Davis McDonald (4.2.9) m. Fannie Bowman

Alonzo McDonald (4.2.1) m. Amy Fairchild (4.1.5)

The Taylors established a presence in the Animas Valley in Hidalgo County, New Mexico; the

McDonalds in the San Bernardino Valley just over the mountains to the west in Cochise County,

Arizona. Bill McDonald was a very successful rancher and his offspring are still prominent there.

Our final visit in the „beyond Texas‟ section is to the Hazelwood Family, our visit actually covers

both Lincoln County and the Animas/San Bernardino area. The facts are a little bit askew but as

you read it you‟ll get the drift.

Chris and Tammy Clements sent in this reminisce:

This account is as told to and remembered by Clara (Morris) Bohannon, a Hazelwood descendant:

Jerry Hazelwood

“Jerry Hazelwood’s father and mother, we don’t know anything about. We know all these old people had to run from outlaws and Indians to keep from getting killed. Jerry married Lou Fairchild. Lou (Fairchild) Hazelwood lived to be 102 years old. She died from cancer and is buried in Douglas, Arizona. “Bill Hazelwood and Lou (Fairchild) Hazelwood, would never talk about the Fairchilds or the elder Hazelwood families. They would talk about running from the Indians and outlaws to

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keep from getting killed. Lou and her husband, Jerry, moved to Arizona to live at a very young age. Jerry Hazelwood was running from outlaws, when he got killed. The Fairchild family had a very rough time of living and supporting their family. We don’t know how many children they had. We only knew Lou and Amy Fairchild. We don’t know their birth dates or death dates or places. “Jerry Hazelwood went to work one morning and never returned home. His wife, Lou, thought that the outlaws killed him. Lou lived in Arizona afterwards by herself, with her children. She made a living for them and clothed them as well. Lou would spin sheep’s wool and goat wool for people to use for sewing. She would take all old clothes and cut them into strips and sew them together and braid a 7-plait rug. She would sew the rugs together to make bigger rugs and sell them to help support the family. Lou would also make clothes and quilts for people to help support the family. She had a small ranch where she had a few head of cattle, sheep, goats, a pig, some chickens and a turkey. She also had a small garden. She would sell milk, butter and vegetables out of the garden to help support the family. The 3 boys got out and worked to help support the family. The girls would help braid, sew and make rugs to sell. She had a very hard life, but made it. “Lou also saved enough money and bought her a car so she could come see Bill Hazelwood, out in New Mexico. She would get someone to drive the car for her. When she got to Bill Hazelwood’s house, they would talk about the Indians and outlaws coming by the house at night and yelling. Lou would put out the light and tell the girls to get under the bed or in closets and not to even breathe or yell. If they got scared, they would put chairs in the windows and lock the door with a pull string board across the door, and brace it with a chair so the Indians couldn’t get in. The Indians would ride by if there were no lights on or if they heard no one talking. Jerry and Lou’s children 1. Effie Hazelwood “She married Henry Dale from White Oaks, Lincoln County, New Mexico on February 14, 1897. “Henry and Effie homesteaded in Cedar Hill, New Mexico They later sold this ranch and moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico. She and Henry had a real nice home in Alamogordo, but she didn’t want her mother around her because she was rich. She even asked her mother not to come back to see her any more. So, Lou never went back. They had some children, but we don’t know how many or their names. Obituary of Effie Dale: Mrs. Henry Dale Sr. “Services were held at Hamilton Funeral home in Alamogordo, Wednesday morning for Mrs. Henry Dale Sr., 75. Early day Lincoln County resident who for the past 15 years had been making her home in Alamogordo.

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“Mrs. Dale’s death occurred on last Saturday at Providence Hospital in El Paso, where she had been a patient for 10 days. “Interment was in the Alamogordo Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Dale recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married February 14th, 1897 in White Oaks. Before her marriage, Mrs. Dale was Effie Hazelwood, whose parents had settled in Cedar Hill in the Capitan Mountains. “She is survived by, in addition to her husband, 5 sons and 2 daughters. They are Henry Dale, John Dale Jr., Fred Dale all of Alamogordo and Jim Dale of Dallas, Mrs. Beulah Cathreacard of Carlsbad and Mrs. Effie Hefker of Coyote. 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. II. Ellen Hazelwood “She married a man by the name of Fambrough. She is buried in Alamogordo, New Mexico. To these 2 people were born some children, but we don’t know how many. Some of their children and grandchildren still live in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The Fambrough’s own Sun City Furniture, located at the South end of Alamogordo. III. Charlie Hazelwood “Charlie was never married and died at a very young age. Charlie Hazelwood was shot while he was riding beside his brother, John Hazelwood, by some of the outlaws that killed his daddy, Jerry Hazelwood. The outlaws would have killed John if it wouldn’t have been for Bill Hazelwood, John’s oldest brother. Bill Hazelwood heard the shots and yelled, looked back and motioned, “you son’s of bitches, come this way, they have killed my youngest brother and they are after the other one.” The outlaws fled away and there was no one but Bill Hazelwood. Because of this, he saved his brother John. John and Bill got off of their horses and buried Charlie there and walked back home to Arizona. Charlie Hazelwood is buried near the old ranch house, now owned by Mutt Shanks, near Penasco, New Mexico. IV. John Hazelwood “John Hazelwood married in his twenties to Lottie McFarland. They had 1 known son. John died at the age of 69 or 70 in 1962 and is buried in Douglas, Arizona. “John Hazelwood called Clara (Bill’s granddaughter), Biggun because she was big and strong. When Bill Hazelwood was bedfast, Clara called John and he came out to see Bill. John told Bill, ‘Let’s go run them outlaws.’ Bill told John, ‘no, I am going to meet Charlie soon, now.’ So John sat talking until midnight to Bill, then left and went back to Arizona. John was glad that Clara had called him, so he could see Bill alive for the last time. V. William “Bill” Hudson Hazelwood “Bill was born January 7, 1870 in Spring Creek, Gillespie County, Texas. Bill married Meddie Alice Purcella on May 30, 1897 in Roswell, Chaves County, Territory of New Mexico. ill Hazelwood died October 17, 1958, 2:10 a.m., in Bud Morris’ house from Pneumonia at the age of 88, and is buried in the Tinnie Cemetery, Tinnie, Lincoln County, New Mexico.

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“Bill Hazelwood was a Block Cattle Company foreman for many years, until he managed to buy him a little ranch. From that point, he was his own boss, for his little ranch. He managed over and saw that all of the Block Ranch cowboys were all right. He also managed to hide Billy the Kid out a few times from the law and outlaws, trying to kill Billy. The last time he hid Billy the Kid was when Billy was on his way out of New Mexico to California. This was after Billy was reported to have been killed by Sheriff Pat Garret in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Bill said that Billy had not been killed and that Billy was too smart for that to happen. Bill gave Billy an extra horse of his, to help Billy ride out on. “Bill Hazelwood played the fiddle for many dances for the Block Cattle Company Christmas parties. His two daughters would accompany him on guitars. Meddie Hazelwood could play and sing too. Meddie played the Accordion and Juice Harp. Annie Hazelwood could play the fiddle and guitar, as well as sing. Amy Hazelwood should play the guitar and sing. Annie Hazelwood was Bill’s cowboy. Amy was the mother helper. Amy didn’t like the cowboy work at all. Bill and Meddie only had two children. They never had anymore children because of an accident, in which Bill accidentally shot his testicles while putting his pistol in his waistband, where he always carried it. He was horseback when this happened. He had fallen off of his horse and the horse went on to his house. When the horse got to the corral and his family saw that it was bleeding too, they took off looking for Bill. They thought that he had been killed by outlaws. They found him and Nancy Purcella, Meddie’s mother, nursed him back to health. 1. Annie Belle Hazelwood 2. Amy Elizabeth Hazelwood Obituary of William “Bill” Hudson Hazelwood Longtime Resident of Lincoln County Dies in Roswell “W. M. Hazelwood, 88, Capitan, retired rancher, resident of New Mexico for 81 and of Lincoln County for 73 years, who had lived in Roswell for eight years, died at 2:10 a.m. today. “Son of Jerry Hazelwood and Lou Fairchild, he was a native Texan, born in Galveston on Jan. 7, 1870. “Mr. Hazelwood and Meddie Purcella were married May 31, 1898 in Roswell. “Survivors are the widow, a daughter, six grandchildren, 13 grandchildren, one brother and one sister. “The brother is John, who resides in Arizona; daughter, Mrs. Ema Latham of Tinnie; sister, Fannie Johnson, Tinnie. “Deceased are a daughter, Mrs. Annie Morris, 1928, brother, Charlie; three sisters, Ellen Dale, Susie Taylor and Mindie Frambrow. “Grandchildren are Clara Bohannon and Reuben Morris, both of Roswell; J. B. Morris, Riverside; Leonard Morris, Tinnie; Marjorie Harcrow, Portales; and Willie Latham, Washington, D. C. “Funeral and burial will be in Tinnie. The service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Tinnie Baptist, conducted by the Rev. B. M. Coplen, pastor of Washington Avenue Baptist of Roswell.

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“Pallbearers will be Luther Bohannon, Dude Herrington, Lois and Vernon Morris, Lewis and Martin Purcella. “Arrangements are by Ballard. VI. Fannie Hazelwood “Fannie was born March 13, 1882. She was married twice that we know of. The first time, she married Charles Chancellor. Charles was killed by outlaws in Arizona. Fannie remarried to a man by the last name of Johnson. This husband was killed by outlaws in Old Mexico. Fannie died January 22, 1962 and is buried in Douglas, Arizona. Fannie had one child by her first husband named Charlie Chancellor Jr. “While Fannie was married to her 2nd husband, she went to live in Old Mexico with him for awhile, because he was wanted as an outlaw in New Mexico. When her 2nd husband was killed by Mexican outlaws, Fannie was left in Old Mexico by herself with Charlie Jr. Fannie said to herself, I am writing to Bill Hazelwood to meet me here at the border. I am coming home, me and the baby. At that time, you couldn’t bring food across the border. If they caught you with it, they would make you leave the food at the border and they wouldn’t let you have it back. You couldn’t even bring milk in baby bottles across the border. Fannie loaded up the chuck wagon with her clothes and started out. She put all of her canned goods in the chuck box and put Charlie’s shitty diapers on top of the dirty clothes and canned goods. When she got to the border, they opened the chuck wagon up, but closed it real quick and told her to go on across. Bill Hazelwood was on the other side waiting for her. They came on home and Bill told Fannie that he would help her with Charlie and get him started, but seen that he couldn’t do anything with him. He gave up trying and told Fannie if that that boy didn’t change his ways, he would wind up in the pen, before he was 21 years old. Sure enough, he did. When Charlie got out of the pen, it made a good boy out of him. “One day, Fannie and Charlie was bringing Lou Hazelwood to see her son, Bill. They got almost to the house and stuck the car in the creek. They tried to get out but couldn’t, so Fannie jumped out of the car. She would walk awhile, trot awhile and run awhile. There was a big black cloud above the creek and there was a big roar in this cloud. It sounded like one rock hitting another in the creek. Bill was sitting out under this old oak tree in the yard and he saw this woman trotting. He yelled at Clara and said, “I think that’s my sister Fannie.” Well, it was and he wondered what was wrong. He heard that they had gotten stuck in the creek. He yelled to J.B. Morris to get the horses and wagon and to go help them out. Bill waited awhile and he yelled out at Clara to help him get the old horse he rode all the time. Bill saddled him up and left in a run. When he got to the creek, Bill jumped off of the horse and into the wagon. He told J.B. to get the reins to the old saddle horse and start home. J.B. had balked the horses. Bill yelled out at the horses, one’s name was Bill and the other one Nell. Bill yelled out to the horse Bill, ‘you old son-of-a-bitch, get the hell out of here.’ The Bill horse took off and Bill Hazelwood standing up in the wagon. Bill Hazelwood yelled to Charlie, to get to the ranch house quick and I’ll come behind you. Well by that time, J.B. had made it home and unsaddled the horse and turned him loose, so J.B. could help Bill Hazelwood get the other horses loose. By that time, Charlie had gotten his mother, Lou, in the house. Amy, Fannie and Clara helped them. J.B. and Bill Hazelwood got the horses

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loose and they put them in the corral and made a run to the house. Clara and Charlie were on the porch. About that time, J.B. and Bill Hazelwood jumped on the porch. Then started a big hailstorm with hailstones as big as a baseball. The hail fell behind them. Charlie said, ‘I want that.’ Then another one fell bigger than the first one that Charlie said he wanted. Charlie said, ‘I don’t believe I need them.’ It hailed and the creeks got out of their banks. We could see our cattle wash downstream and a tornado was on top of a hill near the house. Bud Morris was sitting in the kitchen door and he told Bill to look on top of the hill. Bill jumped up and said, ‘that’s a tornado. If it comes this way, all of you get down as close to the ground as you can and hang on to a weed or something or get in a ditch.’ Well, it went around us. We all lived through it and it sure did hail as big as a golf ball for awhile. “Fannie danced the next night while Bill played the fiddle. Clara played the guitar and J.B. played the fiddle too. “Another time, Fannie brought out some material for Clara to make Fannie a black suit. Fannie told Clara that she wanted it made so she could be buried in it. When Fannie died, Clara went to the funeral and Fannie was wearing the black suit that Clara had made for her. Before Fannie died, she was still living in the old outlaw days and running from outlaws. Fannie would hide behind the stove, beds and behind chairs to keep outlaws from finding her. Fannie was a good shot with her gun. One night she and Meddie were all alone by their selves. They heard an owl talking. They thought that it was some man. Fannie told Meddie, ‘give me the gun and open the door. I am going to shoot toward the voice sounds.’ Meddie opened the door and Fannie fired the gun. The owl hit the ground. Well, no more talking. The next morning Fannie told Meddie, ‘I am going to see who I killed.’ Fannie brought back the old talking owl. VII. Susie Hazelwood “Susie was born October 20, 1889. She married Amos Taylor in Arizona. Susie died January 19, 1955 and is buried in Douglas, Arizona near her mother, Lou Hazelwood. “Susie and Amos had four known children, 2 boys and 2 girls. “I knew nothing much about these folks except their oldest boy. He had a horse fall with him and roll over on him. His leg was broken real bad. He used a cane to walk and he could still drive a cattle truck loaded with cattle. How, I’ll never know, he couldn’t bend that leg. He couldn’t work for a long time after that, but he made scarves. He embroidered them and crocheted them to sell to help pay for his hospital bills. He made saddle cinches and he spun wool for people on an old spinning wheel to help his folks. This boy weighed over 350 pounds. He had to send off and get his clothes to be made to fit him. He also made quilts and sold them to help his folks. He lived to be in his forties and died with a heart attack. He was also buried in Douglas, Arizona.” Now wasn’t that something?

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Ruth and Elijah Lacey

When the Lacey family came to Texas it appears that they landed at Indianola on the Gulf Coast,

most likely in the company of the Joe McDonald family. It was, no doubt, in early 1854 for their

son Asa and his wife Rosanna had a daughter, Ruth Lillian on March 7th

in Texas. The family must

have followed the main road toward San Antonio stopping along the way at Goliad were they met

the Peter White family, in a few years son Lewis would marry young Margaret White. Ruth‘s

daughter Mahala and her husband John Hardin Lacey stayed on in Goliad until at least after the

1860 Census.

Ruth and company continued on and by 1859 were apparently camped along Pipe Creek in

Bandera County just west of San Antonio, intending to settle there. Whether they stayed there or

not, is not certain, they might have pushed on a few more miles to Kerr County. There is some

evidence that they were in Kerr County during the 1860s. Nephew Thurman Taylor and his wife

Catherine are not found in the 1860 Census either and her parents, the John Alexanders, were

known to have settled in Kerr County about 1861. Ruth‘s boys Lewis and John both signed up for

the same Regiment as did two Alexander boys, in 1862; that would leave the impression that they

might have all been reading from the same page. In 1866 Elijah performed several marriages in

Kerr County; perhaps he had a Methodist Church in that vicinity.

The turmoil of the times drew them back to the comfort of Spring Creek, John Alexander‘s wife

Mary was killed by Indians at their home on the South Fork of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County

in 1867. John and his new wife Elizabeth and Ruth and Elijah are all found in Spring Creek in the

1870 Census. They were now 64 years old and were likely getting weary of the ‗Itinerant

Preachers‘ life. Perhaps they settled down there or maybe shuttled back and forth to LockeHill.

Ruth died in 1877 and is buried at LockeHill Cemetery.

Elijah filed for a deed on a piece of land in Gillespie County in 1879; it was on Squaw Creek just a

few miles northwest of Spring Creek. He must not have settled in there, because in the 1880

Census he is living next door to his son John B. Lacey and his family in Gonzales County. There is

not much more known about Elijah, there is no record of his death.

That might not quite be the end of the story though. In the 1880 Census he is living next door to

his son, John B., in the household of one William Taylor, no known relation. Along with William‘s

family and Elijah, who is listed as a boarder, there is a Caroline Logan, age 69, also listed as a

boarder. Maybe there was some spark left in ol‘ Elijah. To add to the fun, in September of 1880, in

Gonzales County, an E. Lacey married a Mrs. Martha Sibley… how about that. A peek at the

Census of Gonzales County shows Martha as single and 70 years of age… That old devil.

Family tradition says Elijah died in 1885, the location unknown.

[Return to TOC]

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Part III

Summary-Spring Creek Cousins

This is a recap of all the Cousin‟s families we‟ve seen and including some notes on where they

went after this period. At the end of the Cousins list are a few families that we‟ve met along the

way. There is some redundancy in this section but it seemed the better way to go, ed.

Thurman and Catherine Taylor

Most of this information comes from two sources, without which this work would have been

impossible:

Joyce Anderwald‟s terrific personal genealogical collection regarding the McDonald-Taylor

Families

Elton Lacey‟s Book “The William Lacy and Elliott Lacy Families of New Kent and Chesterfield

Counties, Virginia”

Note, for more specific genealogical data and other stuff: www.afamilyofthewest.org

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Fam ID# Name Age Rel. Mar Occupation BP

Near Spring Crk, Gillespie Co.

162 Alexander, Wm. A. 40 m Farmer LA

162 3.5 Alexander, Nancy C. 37 wife m Keeping house IL

162 3.5.1 Alexander, Wm. Tom. 12 son s TX

162 3.5.2 Alexander, Louis Elijah 10 son s TX

162 3.5.3 Alexander, Maggy L. 2 daughter s TX

172 Stevens, Joe 27 m Farmer MO

172 2.1.6 Stevens, Ella 21 wife m Keeping house IL

172 Stevens, Lucetta 3 daughter s TX

172 Stevens, Olivia 1 daughter

173 Nelson, William T. 32 m Stockman IL

173 2.1.3 Nelson, Mary 26 wife m Keeping house IL

173 Nelson, George 10 son s TX

173 Nelson, Joseph 8 son s TX

173 Nelson, Tom 5 son s TX

173 Nelson, Edward 3 son s TX

173 Nelson, John 6mo son s TX

174 Stevens, Andrew 30 m Farmer OH

174 Stevens, Mary 22 wife m Keeping house TX

174 Stevens, James O. 3 son s TX

174 Stevens, Emma 1 daughter s TX

175 Wood, Joe 20 m Stockman AR

175 2.1.5 Wood, Barbara A. 20 wife m Keeping house IL

175 Wood, Mary M. 3mo daughter s TX

177 Harper, G.F. 52 m Stockraiser IL

177 Harper, K.H. 42 wife m Keeping house IL

177 Harper, Herman F. 17 son s TX

177 Harper, L.S. 10 son s TX

177 Norwood, J.M. 23 s Laborer MS

Spring Creek, Gillespie Co.

215 4.2 McDonald, L.M. 44 m Farmer IL

215 1.5 McDonald, H.E. 45 wife m Keeping House IL

215 4.2.1 McDonald, Wm. L 21 son s Farmer TX

215 4.2.2 McDonald, James H. 19 son s Farmer TX

215 4.2.3 McDonald, L. Martin 12 son s works on Farm TX

215 4.2.5 McDonald, Hannah Generva 11 daughter

s TX

215 4.2.6 McDonald, Wm. Spencer 9 son s TX

215 4.2.7 McDonald, S.L. 7 son s TX

215 4.2.8 McDonald, Charlotte J. 5 daughter s TX

215 4.2.9 McDonald, P.B. (J.B.) 3 son s TX

215 Temple, P.B. 48 Boarder s Stockraiser OH

215 Evens, Ben F. 31 Boarder Teacher MS

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215 Evens, Emma 22 Boarder TX

216 Casey, Ben F. 42 m Farmer IL

216 4.7 Casey, Marenda 25 wife m Keeping House IL

216 4.7.1 Casey, Rhoda M. 10 daughter s TX

216 4.7.2 Casey, F.S. 8 son s TX

216 4.7.3 Casey, M.A. 6 daughter s TX

216 4.7.4 Casey, Joseph A. 5 son s TX

216 4.7.5 Casey, M.M. 3 son s TX

216 4.7.6 Casey, Tom. J. 10m son s b. July TX

217 Maier, Richard 19 s Farmer TX

217 Maier, Hellman 17 Brother s Farmer TX

217 Michels, H. 32 s Laborer Bel

218 Nibb, W.P. 32 m Farmer IL

218 Nibb, E.J. 20 wife m Keeping House TX

218 Nibb, P.L.? 12 daughter s IL

218 Nibb, H.F. 10 son s IL

218 Nibb, O.L. 1 daughter s TX

218 [1.] Taylor, Hannah 76 Boarder w KY

219 4 McDonald, J 65 m Farmer TN

219 McDonald, Rhoda J. 50 wife m Keeping House IL

219 4.11 McDonald, J.T. 16 son s works on Farm TX

219 4.12 McDonald, Ben. F. 13 son s TX

219 4.6.1 Strong, Anna M. 13 grand dau s TX

219 4.6.2 Strong, S.M. 11 grand dau s TX

220 Morgan, G.A. 47 m Carpenter Eng

220 4.1 Morgan, Lucretia 50 wife m Keeping House IL

220 4.1.4 Fairchild, H.W. 19 step son s TX

220 4.1.6 Fairchild, E. 18 step son s TX

220 4.1.5 Fairchild, A. 15 step daug s TX

220 4.1.7 Chesser, J.M. 9 step son s TX

220 4.1.8 Chesser, D.C. 7 step son s TX

221 1.2.1 Taylor, H.W. 25 m Farmer TX

221 4.1.3 Taylor, G.L. 21 wife m Keeping House TX

221 Taylor, Manda 5 daughter s TX

221 Taylor, Marrion 3 son s TX

221 Taylor. Amous 10m son s TX

222 Herrin, R. 49 m Farmer IL

222 Herrin, Mary 54 wife m Keeping House IL

223 Herrin, J.M. 24 m Farmer TX

223 5.2 Herrin, R.J. 16 wife m TX

223 Hunter, E.V. 8 niece s TX

224 1.7 Taylor, J.T. 35 m Farmer TX

224 4.8 Taylor, S.L. 24 wife m Keeping House TX

224 1.7.1 Taylor, Mary E. 8 daughter s TX

224 1.7.2 Taylor, M.A. 6 daughter s TX

224 1.7.3 Taylor, Gillet L. 4 daughter s TX

224 1.7.4 Taylor, Hanna S. 2 daughter s TX

225 Nabers, John 26 m Laborer TX

225 Nabers, J.A. 20 wife m Keeping House AR

226 Alexander, M.C. 39 m Farmer LA

137

226 3.6 Alexander, Mary 42 wife m Keeping House IL

226 3.6.7 Alexander, S. Luanna 13 daughter s TX

226 3.6.9 Alexander, Monroe 11 son s TX

226 3.6.10 Alexander, Alive 9 daughter s TX

226 3.6.11 Alexander, Nellie 7 daughter s TX

226 3.6.12 Alexander, Ida 5 daughter s TX

227 3.6.6? McDonald, Louise 20 dau in law m At Home TX

227 McDonald, Edward 2 nephew s TX

228 Hardin, Frank and Wife

229 Lockett, W.F. and Family

230 Lockett, A. and Family

231 Reeh, Rienhart 47 m Farmer Pru

231 Reeh, Catherine 36 wife m Keeping House Pru

231 Reeh, Thekla 15 daughter s Keeping House TX

231 Reeh, Edulf 13 son s works on Farm TX

231 Reeh, Rienholdina 10 daughter s TX

231 Reeh, Alma 8 daughter s TX

231 Reeh, Gisbert 6 son s TX

231 Reeh, Huno 4 son s TX

231 Reeh, Berthold 1 son

232 Sands, Charles 25 m Stockraiser IN

232 4.2.3 Sands, Tokes 17 wife m Keeping House TX

232 Morgan, Frank 31 Boarder s Laborer PA

232 Evens, Fanny 16 Boarder s AR

232 Mosley, Thomas H. 36 bro in law m Miner KY

233 Taylor, B.J. 70 m Wheelright TN

233 Taylor, Sara J. 37 wife m Keeping House TN

233 Taylor, S.J. 12 daughter s IL

234 2.7 McDonald, W.A. 33 m Farmer IL

234 3.2.1 McDonald, L.E. 29 wife m Keeping House IL

234 2.7.1 McDonald, Ira M. 12 son s TX

234 2.7.2 McDonald, Acil L. 10 son s TX

234 2.7.3 McDonald, Rachel R. 9 daughter s TX

234 2.7.4 McDonald, Hickey A.M. 8 daughter s TX

234 2.7.5 McDonald, Sam. A. 5 son s TX

234 2.7.6 McDonald, Jessy Thom. 3 son s TX

234 2.7.7 McDonald, John L. 1 son s TX

235 3.2.2 Lacey, L.M. 28 m Teamster IL

235 Lacey, Mary 32 wife m Keeping House LA

235 Lacey, Louis W. 7 son s TX

235 Lacey, E.M. 5 daughter s TX

235 Lacey, Rocksy R. 3 daughter s TX

235 Lacey, M.N. 1 son s

236 Lee, A.B 29 m Farmer TN

236 3.2.5 Lee, C.C. 21 wife m Keeping House TX

236 Lee, Albert F. 4 son s TX

236 Lee, Hattie A. 2 daughter s TX

236 Lee,(?) Arthur A. 4mo son s TX

236 Helfer, Wm. R. 12 s Laborer TX

237 Fowler, J.C. and family

138

238 4.3 McDonald, Rufus 42 m Farmer IL

238 McDonald, Polly Jane 33 wife m Keeping House IN

238 4.3.1 McDonald, B.A. 17 daughter s Keeping House TX

238 4.3.2 McDonald, Cinty 15 daughter s Keeping House TX

238 4.3.3 McDonald, Samuel 13 son s works on Farm TX

238 4.3.4 McDonald, Melvina 12 daughter s TX

238 4.3.5 McDonald, Gilliet 10 daughter s TX

238 4.3.6 McDonald, Sara 8 daughter s TX

238 4.3.7 McDonald, Wm. 6 son s TX

238 4.3.8 McDonald, Rhoda 3 daughter s TX

239 1.2.2 Taylor, John W. 22 m Stockraiser TX

239 4.4.2 Taylor, Permilia 17 wife m Keeping House TX

239 Taylor, Rocksy 1 daughter s TX

240 Clubb, E.A. and Family

Treadgill Creek area, Gillespie Co.

224 Lange, Fredericke 62 w Keeping House Pru

224 Lange, Aguste 20 daughter s TX

224 Lange, Bernhard 19 son s TX

224 Cass, Albert 21 Servant s TX

225 Lange, Julius 29 m Miller Pru

225 Lange, Lenhe 21 wife m Keeping House TX

225 Lange, Arnhodt 6mo son s TX

228 Passmore, H.A. 48 m Farmer GA

228 Passmore, Eppsy 50 wife m Keeping House GA

228 Passmore, Lukrisi 25 daughter s FL

228 Passmore, Susan 23 daughter s FL

228 Passmore, John 21 son s Farmer FL

228 Passmore, Elsie E. 9 daughter s TX

228 (m.2.5.9) Passmore, Leonard 7 son s TX

236 Rayner, Gaston 40 m Farmer SC

236 1.3.1 Rayner, Alles (Alice) 25 wife m Keeping House TX

236 Rayner, Robert 5 son s TX

236 Rayner, Arimente 2 daughter s TX

237 1.3.2 Taylor, James 22 m Stockraiser TX

237 Taylor, Ellen 23 wife m Keeping House TX

237 Taylor, Alles 6mo daughter s TX

249 1.2 Taylor, T.T. 57 m Farmer IL

249 Taylor, Elizabeth C. 48 wife m Keeping House LA

249 1.2.4 Taylor, Becka 15 daughter s TX

249 1.2.5 Taylor, Hanna 12 daughter s TX

249 1.2.6 Taylor, Elizabeth 10 daughter s TX

249 1.2.10 Taylor, Shanette 8 daughter s TX

249 1.2.11 Taylor, Rosette 6 daughter s TX

250 1.1.3 Taylor, M.M. 27 m Stockraiser AR

250 4.4.1 Taylor, Elsie L. 19 wife m Keeping House TX

250 Taylor, Henry F. 1 son s TX

139

251 Garcia, Joe 56 m Stockraiser Mex

251 4.4 Garcia, Clara 37 wife m Keeping House IL

251 4.4.4 Garcia, William T. 7 son s TX

251 4.4.5 Garca, Charles 5 son s TX

251 4.4.6 Garcia, Rhoda Jane 2 daughter s TX

251 4.6.3 (Cross) Martin, Joseph 8 Adopt s TX

251 4.4.3 Banta, Angeline 14 step

daughter s

TX

252 Hazelwood, Cherry (Jerry) 46

m Laborer IL

252 4.1.2 Hazelwood, Louise 25 wife m Keeping House IL

252 Hazelwood, Charles 8 son s TX

252 Hazelwood, Wilhm T. 7 son s TX

252 Hazelwood, Minda 5 daughter s TX

252 Hazelwood, Ellen 9mo daughter s TX

Noxville area, Kimble Co.

46 Turkenett, James W. 26 m Raising Stock MS

46 Turkenett, Amanda 18 wife m Keeping House TX

46 Turkenett, Amy 9mo daughter s TX

47 Henderson, Howard 37 m In Camp TN

47 Henderson, Narcissus 27 wife m Keeping House MS

47 Henderson, William P. 12 son s At Home TX

47 Henderson, Lucinda 9 daughter s TX

47 Henderson, Joseph E. 2 son s TX

47 Henderson, McDonald 6mo son s TX

47 Henderson, Jeff 17 servant s Herding Cattle TX

48 Watson, Levy 21 m In Camp TX

48 Watson, Louisa 17 wife m Keeping House TX

48 Watson, James P. 6mo son s TX

49 2.2 McDonald, Monroe J. 50 m Farmer IL

49 1.4 McDonald, Rebecca 51 wife m Keeping House IL

49 2.2.2 McDonald, Mary M. 11 daughter s At Home TX

49 Cadle, Michael 54 Servant works on Farm Ire

50 Parker, James and family

51 Janes, Edward 33 m Stock Raising TX

51 1.8 Janes, Permelia 32 wife m Keeping House IL

51 1.8.1 Janes, Susan M. 13 daughter s At Home TX

51 1.8.2 Janes, Mary F. 11 daughter s At Home TX

51 1.8.3 Janes, Magaret 9 daughter s TX

51 1.8.4 Janes, Ruben J. 6 son s TX

51 1.8.5 Janes, Henry E. 5 son s TX

51 1.8.6 Janes, Hannah R. 1 daughter s TX

51 Norril, William 19 Servant s Herding Cattle TX

52 Spencer, William and wife

53 Spencer, John F. and family

54 Spencer, Joseph F. and family

55 2.6 McDonald, Robert 32 m Stock Raising IL

55 McDonald, Bettie 24 wife m Keeping House TX

140

55 2.6.2 McDonald, George M. 8 son s TX

55 2.6.3 McDonald, Ella A. 3 daughter s TX

55 2.6.5 McDonald, William O. 11mo son s TX

55 2.9 McDonald, Thomas 26 brother s Cow Boy IL

55 Howell, Benjamin 69 Servant w works on Farm NJ

56 Larremore, George 39 m Sheep Raiser AR

56 2.1.1 Larremore, Rachel 31 wife m Keeping House IL

56 Larremore, Mary J. 12 daughter s At Home TX

56 Larremore, Elizabeth A. 11 daughter s At Home TX

56 Larremore, Quiney J. 9 daughter s TX

56 Larremore, Creed 8 son s TX

56 Larremore, Martin 6 son s TX

57 Fanning, Samuel L. 25 Cousin m At Home IL

57 Fanning, Phebe 19 Sister in

law m

At Home IL

57 2.1 Fanning, Mary A. 51 Mo in law w At Home IL

57 Fanning, Joseph G. 30 Bro in law s Raising Sheep IL

57 Rayley, George 30 servant s Sheep Herder IL

58 Clements, James and household

59 Nox, Noah 64 m Farmer OH

59 Nox, Persis 56 wife m Keeping House Que

59 Nox, Stephen A. 21 son s At Home IL

59 Lenon, William 15 grand son s At school IL

59 West, John C. 40 m Stock Raising TX

59 West, Elizabeth 40 wife m Keeping house TX

59 West, Josephine 14 daughter s At home TX

59 West, William 12 son s TX

59 West, Philip 10 son s TX

59 West, John B. 8 son s TX

59 West, Jane 6 daughter s TX

59 West, James 3 son s TX

59 West, Edward 2 son s TX

59 West, (unamed) 1mo daughter s TX

60 Taylor, Creed 60 m

Stock & Farming TN

60 Taylor, Vicnie A. 25 wife m Keeping house TX

60 Taylor, Linelle 6 daughter s TX

60 Taylor, Mary J. 3 daughter s TX

60 Taylor, James 1 son s TX

60 Burch, John 70 Boarder s Eng

60 Joy, Louis 19 Servant s

Working on farm TX

60 Sheffield, Edward 21 Servant s

Working on farm TX

61 Taylor, Elizabeth 66 Sister in

law w

Keeping house TN

61 McCartney, James 30 Grandson s Tending stock TX

Upper Guadalupe R. area, Kerr Co.

141

13 Pope, L.F. 45 m Farmer VT

13 1.6 Pope, S.C. (Caroline) 42 wife m Keeping House IL

13 5.3 McDonald, Eli 14 step son s At Home KA

13 1.6.4 Hazelwood, P.W. 9 step son s TX

13 1.6.5 Hazelwood, G.E. 7 step son s TX

14 Buswell household

15 Gregg family

16 Davis, John 30 m Carpenter MO

16 Davis, Rhoda Z. 20 wife m Keeping House Mex

16 Zumwalt, V 14 Sister in

law s

At Home Mex

17 Zumwalt, A. 29 m Farmer TX

17 Zumwalt, M.A. 27 wife m Keeping House TX

17 Zumwalt, J.V. 7 daughter s At Home TX

17 Zumwalt, M.J. 3 daughter s TX

17 Zumwalt, M.E. 16 sister s At Home Mex

18 Sublett, S.A. and family

19 Davis, Cyrus 35 m Farmer MO

19 1.1.5 Davis, Mary C. 22 wife m Keeping House TX

19 Davis, M.E. 6 daughter s At Home TX

19 Davis, WE. 4 son s TX

19 Davis, J.S. 2 son s TX

19 Davis, Rosa 3mo daughter s TX

20 Rallings family

21 Sanders family

22 Swain Family

23 Snider family

24 Marigold family

25 Goodrich household

26 Joy, Richard 45 m Farmer AR

26 Joy, Anna 40 wife m Keeping House TX

26 Joy, Wm. A. 20 son s Farmer TX

26 Joy, Richie 16 son s At Home TX

26 Joy, Bassie 13 son s TX

26 Joy, Eliza 10 daughter s TX

26 Joy, E.A. 7 daughter s TX

26 Joy, Alva 5 son s TX

26 Joy, Sarah 2 daughter s TX

37 Larremore, L.G. 31 m Farmer TX

37 Larremore, S.J. 22 m Keeping house TX

37 Larremore, M. 7 daughter s At home TX

37 Larremore, P.B. 5 son s TX

37 Larremore, W.L. 2 son s TX

38 Larremore, S.H. 36 m Farmer AR

38 Larremore, Mary 45 wife m Keeping house KY

38 Larremore, W.G. 9 son s At home TX

38 Larremore, M.L. 6 daughter s TX

38 Larremore, N.A. 4 daughter s TX

39 Ray, Wm. R. 42 m Stockraiser TX

39 Ray, M.E. 31 wife m Keeping house LA

142

39 Ray, C.E. 12 son s At home TX

39 Ray, Mary E. 10 daughter s TX

39 Ray, Martha 8 daughter s TX

39 Ray, Wm. R. 6 son s TX

39 Ray, Riley J. 1mo son s TX

49 Nelson, H.L. 45 m Farmer IL

49 Nelson, Olive 43 wife m Keeping house AR

49 Nelson, A.S. 15 son s At home Mex

49 Nelson, W.H. 13 son s TX

49 Nelson, L.W. 11 son s TX

49 Nelson, S.M.B. 9 son s TX

49 Nelson, Frank 6 son s TX

49 Nelson, Nellie 4 daughter s TX

49 Nelson, Rosa 1 daughter s TX

62 1.1 Taylor, P.B. 57 m Farmer IL

62 Taylor, Mary E. 46 wife m Keeping House TN

62 1.1.4 Taylor, Martha 22 daughter s At Home TX

62 1.1.6 Taylor, Alwilda 16 daughter s TX

62 1.1.7 Taylor, Elizabeth 14 daughter s TX

62 1.1.8 Taylor, P.B. 13 son s TX

62 1.1.10 Taylor, Helen 6 daughter s TX

62 1.1.11 Taylor, Nancy 4 daughter s TX

126 Alexander, R.C. 33 m Farmer LA

126 Alexander, S.M. 22 wife m Keeping house TX

126 Alexander, J.W. 6 son s At home TX

126 Alexander, C.C. 5 son s TX

126 Alexander, R.L. 3 daughter s TX

126 Alexander, Mary 5mo daughter s TX

Coryell Co. TX

305 1.1.1 Taylor, Amos G. 31 m Farmer AR

305 Taylor, Martha M. 24 wife m Keeping House TX

305 Taylor, Sarah E. 8 daughter s TX

305 Taylor, Mary A. 6 daughter s TX

305 Taylor, Theodosia E. 4 daughter s TX

305 Taylor, Sanora 2 daughter s TX

306 Graham, William S. 41 m Farmer AL

306 Graham, Annie E. 38 wife m Keeping House NC

306 and family

307 Graham, Osias D. 46 m Physician AL

307 Graham, Martha 41 wife m Keeping House GA

307 and family

LockeHill, Bexar Co.

23 3.4 Lacey, L.M. 44 m

Merchant, Farmer IL

23 Lacey, M.L.A. 36 wife m Keeping House TX

23 3.4.1 Lacey, Wm. M. 18 son s At Home TX

143

23 3.4.2 Lacey, L.G. 14 daughter s TX

23 3.4.3 Lacey, A.C. 12 son s TX

23 3.4.4 Lacey, P.E. 10 son s TX

23 3.4.5 Lacey, T.L. 8 daughter s TX

23 3.4.7 Lacey, J.E. 6 son s TX

23 3.4.8 Lacey, V.M. 4 daughter s TX

23 3.4.9 Lacey, C.C. 1 son s TX

267 3.7 Lacey, J.C. 40 m Farmer IL

267 4.1.1 Lacey, Elizabeth 29 wife m Keeping house IL

267 3.7.1 Lacey, Amos 12 son s At home TX

267 3.7.2 Lacey, Olive (Francis) 10 daughter s TX

267 3.7.3 Lacey, Jackson 7 son s TX

267 3.7.4 Lacey, Aphnel (Acel) 4 son s TX

267 3.7.5 Lacey, Lewis H. 1 son s TX

66 3.1.2 Locke, William M. 28 m

Surveyor Civ Eng IL

66 Locke, Fanny 25 wife m Keeping house TX

66 Locke, Mary 53 mother d At home TN

66 3.1.4 Locke, Judith 24 sister s At home TX

66 3.1.6 Locke, Douglas 21 brother s Farmer TX

66 3.1.7 Locke, Sam. H. 17 brother s Farmer TX

66 3.1.9 Locke, Lizzie (Hattie) 16 sister s TX

273 3.1 Locke, Wm. J. 51 m Farmer IL

273 Locke, Anna M. 33 wife m Keeping house MA

273 3.1.8 Locke, Gerhard 16 son s At school TX

273 Ferguson, Annie H. 16 daughter s At home MO

273 Ferguson, Hacy J. 14 son s At school MO

273 Ferguson, Mary G. 12 daughter s At school MO

273 3.1.8 Locke, Ruth 4mo daughter s TX

273 McCarthy, Anna 64 mo in law w MA

112 Bowman, William 28 m Farmer TX

112 3.3.2 Bowman, Emily 22 wife m Keeping house TX

112 Bowman, Mary Jane 4 daughter s TX

112 Bowman, John H. 2 son s TX

TX

128 Richards, Thomas 20 m Farmer TX

128 3.3.6 Richards, Ruthy M. 14 wife m Keeping house TX

128 Richards, H. Henry 1mo son s TX

128 3.3.3 Lacey, John D. 20 bro in law m Farmer TX

128 Lacey, Jemima 21 w-bro in

law m

TX

128 Lacey, Lucilla B. 3 s TX

128 Lacey, Marion F. 2 s TX

128 Lacey, Lockwood 1mo s

Atascosas Co. TX

175 Cannon, John 80 m Farmer Ire

144

175 Cannon, Catherine 72 wife m Keeping house Ire

175 Hogan, Thomas 5 grand son s TX

176 Cannon, William 40 m Farm laborer AL

176 3.3 Cannon, Mahala 44 wife m Keeping house IL

176 3.3.5 Cannon (Lacey), Tobe 18 son s At home TX

176 3.3.7 Cannon (Lacey), Thomas 15 son

s At home TX

176 3.3.8 Cannon (Lacey), Jacob L. 8 son

s TX

Gonzales Co. TX

234 3.8 Lacey, John B. 36 m Work on farm IL

234 Lacey, Susan J. 21 wife m Keeping house TX

234 3.8.1 Lacey, Ira 10 son s At home TX

234 3.8.2 Lacey, James W. 8 son s TX

234 3.8.3 Lacey, Premy 6 son s TX

234 3.8.4 Lacey, Lydia 4 daughter s TX

234 3.8.5 Lacey, William 6mo son s TX

235 Taylor, Wm. A. 37 m Work on farm LA

235 Taylor, Margarett J. 27 wife m Keeping house TX

235 Taylor, Clara 10 daughter s At home TX

235 Taylor, Thomas 7 son s TX

235 Taylor, Joseph A. 3 son s TX

235 Taylor, Mary 10mo daughter s TX

235 Logan, Caroline 69 w Boarder VA

235 3. Lacey, Elijah 74 w Boarder TN

Bastrop Co. TX

263 Banta, John 46 m Farmer IN

263 2.5 Banta, Angeline 37 wife m Keeping house IL

263 2.5.2 Banta, Thomas 18 son s Work on farm TX

263 2.5.3 Banta, William 17 son s TX

263 2.5.4 Banta, Clara 15 daughter s TX

263 2.5.5 Banta, Wilson 12 son s TX

263 2.5.7 Banta, John 10 son s TX

263 2.5.9 Banta, Rachel 6 daughter s TX

263 2.5.10 Banta, Seth 2 son s TX

263 2.5.11 Banta, Oliver 1 son s TX

White Oaks, Lincoln Co. NM

10 3.2 Lacey, Aciel 50 m Mining IL

10 Lacey, Rosa 52 wife m Keeping house IL

10 3.2.7 Lacey, Robert 18 son s Laborer TX

10 3.2.8 Lacey, Benjamin 14 son s Herder TX

24 Alexander, John 33 m Carpenter IA

24 3.2.3 Alexander, Ruth 25 wife m Keeping house TX

24 Alexander, Aciel 7 son s TX

24 Alexander, Charles 6 son s TX

24 Alexander, Agustus 4 son s TX

24 Alexander, Eunice 2 daughter s TX

145

Dent, San Joaquin Co. CA

89 Hall, Richard, G. 45 m Farmer IL

89 2.4 Hall, Mariah 35 wife m Keeping house IL

89 2.4.1 Hall, Thomas 21 son s Laborer TX

89 2.4.2 Hall, Albert 20 son s TX

89 2.4.4 Hall, Martha 16 daughter s TX

89 2.4.6 Hall, Melvina 14 daughter s TX

89 2.4.5 Hall, George A. 14 son s TX

89 2.4.7 Hall, Elijah 12 son s TX

89 2.4.8 Hall, Edward 10 son s TX

89 2.4.9 Hall, Josephine 8 daughter s TX

89 2.4.10 Hall, Viola 6 daughter s TX

89 2.4.11 Hall, Jane 4 daughter s TX

89 2.4.12 Hall, Mary 2 daughter s TX

Not found in 1880 Census 1.3.3- Hattie Elizabeth Taylor 1861-1921 m. William Charles Nabers (m 1877) 2.1.2- Joseph Thomas Fannin 1850-1929 2.1.4- Martin Wesley Fannin 1855-1913 Sarah Elizabeth „Sally‟ Corn 1862- 2.4.3- Rachel Emigene Hall 1861 m. _______ Pickard (children of Mary Matilda Lacey and Morgan McDaniel) 3.6.2- Josephine McDaniel 1856- (twin) 3.6.3- Marvin Levi McDaniel/McDonald 1858- (twin) 3.6.4- Elijah L. McDaniel/McDonald 1858- (twin) 3.6.6- Lois Margaret McDonald ??? 4.9- William Jefferson McDonald 1856-1932 m. Rebecca Ann Chesser 4.10- Levi „Allen‟ McDonald 1861-1932 (I think they were near Spr Crk)

m. Mahala L. McDonald 1861-1932 (5.1)

146

Matthew and Hannah Axley Taylor’s family to Texas

Matthew Modglin Taylor (1.)

Matthew was born 25 Jan 1802 in Williamson Co. TN. He married Hannah Smith Axley on 1 Oct

1822 in Monroe Co. IL. Hannah was born 24 Dec 1803, her uncle, James Axley, was a famous

frontier Methodist preacher. They were the first of our families to leave Illinois, settling finally in

Spring Creek. They were both Methodist Preachers, apparently not Ministers in churches but Lay

Preachers that often preached when no minster was around and at Camp Meetings and such. He

died 24 Jan 1880 and she died 4 Jul 1898 in Gillespie County, they are buried in the Spring Creek

Cemetery.

Their children and grandchildren follow:

Pressley Beal Taylor (1.1)

Press was born 7 Oct 1823 in Monroe Co., IL. He married Mary „Polly‟ York about 1847 in Izard

Co. AR. Polly was born 2 Apr 1832 in Overton Co. TN. They settled first in East Texas then, after

the War, in Kerr County. On the 1860 Census for Grayson Co. he was listed as an Engineer. On

1870 Census in Kerrville he was listed as a Farmer. He died 16 Oct 1886 in Japonica, Kerr Co., she

died 10 Nov 1907 also in Japonica; they are buried in the Hunt-Japonica Cemetery.

Press and Polly‟s children:

Amos Gale Taylor 1848-1933 (1.1.1)

m. Martha Matilda Graham 1855-1927

They are both buried in the Hunt-Japonica Cemetery

John Taylor (1.1.2)

b. 2 Oct 1852 in Rocky Bayou, Izard Co. AR

d. 18 Feb 1876 in Kerr Co.

buried in Hunt-Japonica Cemetery

Matthew Modglin “Math” Taylor (1.1.3)

b. 31 Dec 1854 in Rocky Bayou, Izard Co. AR

d. 31 Mar 1921 Barksdale, Edwards Co., TX

m.(1) Elizabeth Banta (4.4.1)

b. 1861 in Burnet Co.

d. 1888

buried in the Vance Cemetery, Real Co.

m.(2) Samantha ‗Melvina‘ Strong m. abt. 1889 (4.6.2)

b. 22 Mar 1869 in Spring Creek

d. 28 Dec 1949 in AZ

buried in the Cottonwood Cemetery, Douglas, AZ

Martha Taylor 1855-1828 (1.1.4)

m. Hez Warden Fairchild (4.1.4), 22 Sep 1881

Their family stayed mostly around Harper (see below)

147

Mary C. Taylor (1.1.5)

b. 4 Sep 1859 in Kerr Co.???

d. 7 Mar 1928 in Kerr Co.

m.(1) Cyrus Davis 1844-1894

m.(2) Renny Alexander 28 Oct 1898

Son of John and Mary Alexander

b. 1847

d. 1928

Renny was a teamster in Co. N, (Capt. Compton) Third Frontier Regt. Maj. Hunter Commanding.

He and Martin and Rufus McDonald served together hauling supplies from San Antonio to soldiers

along the Rio Grande. 1863-1865

Alwilda Casander Taylor (1.1.6)

b. 29 Apr 1863 in TX

d. 13 Apr 1948 in Kerr Co.

m. William ‗Alonzo‘ Joy 26 Aug 1881

Son of Richard and Ann Joy

b. 1857

d. 1924

both buried in Hunt-Japonica Cemetery

Elizabeth Taylor 1865-1930 (1.1.7)

m. Oscar Graham


Pressley Beal Taylor Jr. (1.1.8)

b. 1867 in TX

d. 15 Oct 1941 in Hunt, Kerr Co.

m. Nancy Jane Caddell 1880-1951


William Frank Taylor 1870-1879 (1.1.9)

Buried in Hunt-Japonica Cemetery

Harriet Helen Taylor (1.1.10)

b. 23 Apr 1872 in Kerr Co.

d. 22 Apr 1951 in Kerr Co.

m. James ‗Eli‘ McDonald Jr. (5.3) (see below)


Adah Josephine Taylor (1.1.11)

b. 8 Oct 1879 in Kerr Co.

149

d. 1939

buried in the Eden Cemetery, Concho Co.

m. Jesus Gomez

m. Anselmo Rodriquez

they changed their name to Rodgers

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Taylor (1.2.6)

b. 16 May 1869 in Spring Creek

d. 19 Nov 1961

buried in the Kerrville Cemetery, Kerr Co.

m. Bennie McDonald (4.12) (see below)

„Nettie‟ Taylor (1.2.7)

b. 1 Feb 1872 in Fredericksburg, Gillespie Co.

d. 23 Nov 1930 in Eugene, Lane Co. OR

m. Benjamin Butler Lacey (3.2.8) 11 Feb 1887

m. George Simmons abt. 1892

m. Martin O‘Niel 26 Jul 1906

Nettie was a little difficult to track down. The following was compiled mostly by a decendant, Kay

Hammack who lives in Oregon:

Schanette in the 1880 Census, Gillespie Co.; Loranette in McDonald family tradition.

Miss A. N. Taylor, as on her marriage certificate to Benjamin Butler Lacey.

Jeannette Taylor, her name as it appears on her daughter Pearl's death certificate.

Hettie Lacey, her name appears this way on the 1892 State and Territorial census, Tacoma,

Washington, Pierce County.

Annetta O'Neil, her name appears this way on the 1920 Federal census, Independence, Oregon,

Polk Co.

Angenette O'Neil, her name as it appears on the 1930 Federal census, Blanton, Oregon, Lane

County.

Angennett O'Neil, her name as it appears on her death certificate.

As you can see, a lot of different names for Nettie!

Rosette Taylor 1874- (1.2.8)

Nothing is known of her except an entry in the 1880 Census

Zodac “Zed” Casey Taylor (1.3)

Zed was born 30 Nov 1827 in Jefferson Co. IL. He married (1) Margrit Alice Halburton in 1853,

she died; he then married (2) Dorcas Angelina Hays 31 Dec 1860, she died just after their

daughter was born in 1861. He settled in Spring Creek. During Civil War he served in Co. A,

McCord‘s Frontier Regiment TST. He died as a result of a tragic accident in 1862, buried at Spring

Creek.

The children of Zed and Margarit:

150

Alice Amelia (Almeda?) Taylor (1.3.1)

b. in 1854 in Burnet Co. TX

d. in 1892 in Junction, Kimble Co.

buried in Junction, Kimble Co.

m. William ‗Gaston‘ Rayner 29 Sep 1872

Son of Joshua and Belinda Rayner

b. 17 Sep 1839 in NC

d. 25 Jul 1884 in Kimble Co.

She was one of the captives taken in ―The McDonald Massacre‖

Gaston was killed by cousin Ed Janes at their ranch and is buried there

William „Gaston‟ Rayner was a soldier in the Confederate Cavalry, he was stationed at Fort

Mason, Mason Co TX. [The Roster of Confederate Soldiers 1861 - 1865, which is maintained in

the archives in Austin, Texas, lists him as: Rayner, Gaston TX 8th Cav Co A.] Enlist Sept 1861.

Remarks: left sick in Tennessee; Wheeler's rear raid Sept 1864.

James Calvin Taylor (1.3.2)

b. in 1857 in Burnet Co.

d. in 1892 in Noxville, Kimble Co.

m. Mary Ellen Foster 1885-1908

He was taken captive with his sister

The child of Zed and Dorcas:

Hattie Elizabeth “Dorcus” Taylor (1.3.3)

b. 22 Nov 1861 in Gillespie Co.

d. 3 Oct 1941 in Virden, Hidalgo Co. NM

m. William Nabers 30 Dec 1877

m. John West 1847-1895 m. abt. 1882 in TX

m. Jesse Moran Snow 1856-1934 m. 1903 in TX

She was taken captive by the Indians with her brother and sister

Dorcas and Jesse both died in Virden, Hidalgo Co. NM

They are buried in Franklin Cemetery, Greenlee Co. AZ (just NE of Virden)

Rebecca Ancibill Taylor (1.4)

Rebecca was born 28 Mar 1828 in Jefferson Co. IL. She married cousin James „Monroe‟

McDonald (2.2) on 9 Oct 1856, (see below) she died 30 Sep 1903. They settled in Spring Creek

then Kimble Co. near Noxville. She is buried in Harper.

Hester Ann Elizabeth Taylor (1.5)

Hester Ann was born 5 Dec 1830 in Jefferson Co. IL. She married cousin Lewis „Martin‟

McDonald (4.2) on 7 Sep 1856, she died 19 Aug 1902 and is buried in Duncan, Greenlee Co. AZ.

151

They settled first at Spring Creek then, later, with some other members of the family on

theArizona-New Mexican Border. (see below)

Celia „Caroline‟ Taylor (1.6)

Caroline was born 10 Feb 1836 in Jefferson Co. IL. She married (1) cousin James „Eli‟ McDonald

(5.) on 27 Nov 1857, they settled in the Spring Creek area. Eli was killed by Indians, Caroline was

taken Captive 1865-1866. She then married (2) Pete Hazelwood on 24 Nov 1868 in Gillespie Co.

he was killed by Indians in 1873. She later married (3) L.F. Pope. She died 2 Aug 1898 in Kerr

Co. and is buried in the Hunt-Japonica Cemetery.

The children of Caroline and Eli:

Mahala L. McDonald 1861-1932 (5.1)

m. Levi Allen McDonald 1861-1932 (4.10) (see below)

Rebecca Jane McDonald 1864-1949 (5.2)

m. James Monroe Herrin 1854-1952 (see below)

James „Eli‟ McDonald Jr. 1866-1930 (5.3)

m. Harriet Helen Taylor 1872-1952 (1.1.10) (see below)

The children of Caroline and Pete:

Pleasant Hazelwood 1869-1956 (1.6.4)

m. Almeda McDonald 1878-1953

Edward Hazelwood 1872- (1.6.5)

m. Martha Kneese 1886-

James Thomas Taylor (1.7)

Jim was born 28 Feb 1841 in Jefferson Co. IL. He settled in the Spring Creek area, he married

cousin Gillette “Gil” McDonald (4.5) on 3 Nov 1863, Gil was killed by Indians in 1865. He

married cousin Samantha McDonald (4.8) on 8 Nov 1870.

Jim died 13 Jul 1914 and Samantha died 1 Nov 1950 in Gouldbusk, Coleman Co. TX. They are

buried in the Gouldbusk Cemetery

The children of Samantha and Jim:

Mary Elizabeth Taylor 1872-1881 (1.7.1)

Martha Ann Taylor 1874- (1.7.2)

m. Charles Hoernicke

m. Henry Storms

Gillette Lourana Taylor 1876- (1.7.3)

152

m. Steven Friar

Hannah Cisco Taylor 1878-1867 (1.7.4)

m. Simeon ―Pete‖ Welch

William F. Taylor 1881-1934 (1.7.5)

m. Junetta(Janette?) Taylor 1887-1963

James Monroe Taylor 1881-1881 (1.7.6)

Jeanette Jane Taylor 1883- (1.7.7)

m. Aaron Welch

Sarah Frances Taylor 1886- (1.7.8)

m. Hugh Powers

Clarinda Elizabeth Taylor (1.7.9)

b. 26 May 1888

d. 29 Feb 1992 in Gouldbusk, Coleman Co. TX

m. Edmund Menges 27 May 1907 in Junction, Kimble Co.

Son of Betsy Ann McDonald (4.3.1) and Peter Menges

b. 18 Aug 1887 in Junction

d. 15 Jul 1968 in Santa Anna, Coleman Co.

Miles Edward Taylor 1891- (1.7.10)

m. Martha Copeland

Joseph Allen Taylor 1893- (1.7.11)

m. Floy Daniels

Charles Simeon Taylor 1897-1962 (1.7.12)

m. Iva Mae ________ 1905-1985

Permelia Cornelia Hannah Taylor (1.8)

Permelia was born 13 Dec 1843 Izard Co. AR. She settled in Spring Creek and married Edward

Robert Janes about 1865. After a violent incident with Gaston Rayner they relocated to Kent

Creek, Real Co. TX. Permilia died in 1914, they are buried in the Janes Cemetery, Real Co.

The children of Permelia and Ed:

Susan Mahalia Isabell Janes (1.8.1)

b. 1866 in Kimble Co.

d. 22 Jul 1911

buried in the Cottonwood Cemetery, Cochise Co. AZ

m. Tobe Lacey 1864-1937 (3.3.5) See below

153

Mary Francis “Frank” Janes 1869- (1.8.2)

m. Edward Niegle 26 Aug 1891 in Edwards Co.

m. Willis Lytle 16 Dec 1899 in Uvalde Co.

m. Walter Large 1 Jan 1914 in Real Co.

Margaret Olive Janes (1.8.3)

b. 24 Oct 1870/72 in Gillespie Co.

d. 7 Jan 1891

buried in the Janes Cemetery, Real Co.

m. Holmes Ferguson 5 Jul 1889 in Edwards Co.

d. 1923

Margaret had one daughter, Oma, Margaret died shortly after her birth. Oma was raised by

Permilia and Ed

Reuben Jacob Janes 1875- (1.8.4)

Never married

Henry Edward Janes (1.8.5)

b. 21 Mar 1875 in Mason or Gillespie Co.

d. 1934 in Leaky, Uvalde Co.

buried in the Janes Cemetery

m. Rosa ‗Melvina‘ Thompson, 17 Jul 1895 in Real Co.

Daughter of Dave Thompson

b. 23 Mar 1876 in Edwards Co. (now Real Co.)

Hannah Janes 1878- (1.8.6)

Jesse James Janes 1881-1884 (1.8.7)

William Arthur Janes 1882- (1.8.8)

m. Leta Joy

154

Thomas and Rachel Axley McDonald’s family to Texas

Thomas McDonald (2.)

Thomas was born 1803 in Orange Co., NC. His parents were Linville and Raney McDonald. He

married Rachel Axley in 1827 in IL. She was born in 1809 to Pleasant and Keziah Axley. Rachel

and Hannah, Matthew Taylor‘s wife were sisters. They settled in Spring Creek. He died about

1870, she died in 1878.

Thomas and Rachel‟s children and grand children:

Mary Mor McDonald (2.1)

Mary was born 1828 in Jefferson County, IL. She married George Wesley Fannin on 1 Sep 1848

in IL; they were, perhaps, the first settlers on Spring Creek. George died suddenly of appendicitis

before the 1860 Census. He was a cousin of James Fannin of the Goliad Massacre infamy, in the

Texas Revolution. She later moved to the Seven Rivers area of what was then Lincoln Co., NM

with her brother Lafe and many of their extended families.

She is buried in the McDonald Cemetery, Eddy Co. NM.

The children of Mary and George:

Rachel Adaline Fannin 1849-1948 (2.1.1)

m. George Washington Larremore 1840-1909

George was prominent in Eddy County

They are both buried in the Carlsbad City Cemetery

Joseph „Thomas‟ Fannin 1852-1929 (2.1.2)

m. Mary Adeline Beckett 1872-1957

Joe and family moved to NM before the McDonalds, settling in Seven Rivers. Joe and Mary

owned a saloon and store there. They moved to Hope in 1900; Joe was elected Eddy County

Assessor and served a two year term. The family lived there until Joe died, then moved to

Flagstaff, AZ then to Tucson, AZ.

Mary „Elizabeth‟ Fannin 1854-1944 (2.1.3)

m. William ‗Thomas‘ Nelson 1848-1917

In the fall of 1879 the family moved to Seven Rivers, they operated a horse ranch.

They are both buried at the McDonald Cemetery, Eddy Co.

Martin Wesley Fanning 1855-1913 (2.1.4)

m. Sarah Elizabeth ‗Sally‘ Corn 1862-1945

They were married in Kerr Co. in 1878

They moved first up into Lincoln County then back to Seven Rivers

Barbara Ann Fanning 1857-1932 (2.1.5)

m. Joseph H. Wood 1859-1942

155

They were married in 1878 in Gillespie Co.

They both died in Hope, Eddie Co.

Ella Jane Fannin 1859-1935 (2.1.6)

m. Joseph Stevens 1852-1887

From the Joyce Anderwald collection:

―Brothers Andrew & Joseph Stevens came on horseback from Cassville, Missouri to Texas

about 1872. They were born in Illinois; Andrew Jackson, Oct. 8, 1851 and Joseph, Jan. 27, 1852.

Their family had moved to Missouri in the 1860s.

―While cutting prairie grass in Gillespie Co. the brothers decided to homestead there. They

built log cabins near Indian creek (Stevens Creek).

―Andrew married small, blond, Mary Elizabeth Nelson, (daughter of Hiram Nelson Jr.) who

was born Oct. 5, 1856 in Kerr Co., on Jan. 15, 1876. Joseph Stevens married Ella Jane Fannin on

Jan. 27, 1876. She came to Spring Creek, Gillespie Co, when she was a year old. Ellie was tall,

slim, and blond with blue eyes, direct and purposeful but full of fun.

Sorrow came into the family when Joseph Stevens, strong and healthy, took food poisoning while

on a trip to San Antonio. He was ill with high fever and died June 17, 1887. Ellie left with four

children, was a brave woman. Thereafter she made the living. She could work in the fields, hoe,

pick cotton, deliver a calf, but for plowing she hired help. And whatever happened, things never

got too bad for a joke

―Her religion, a deep faith in God, kept her going. She was happiest on Saturday afternoon,

when the house was scrubbed the clothes cleaned and the Sunday baking done. Then Sunday

morning, the children in fresh clothes, she in a sun bonnet and starched white apron, packing the

noon lunch, rode horseback to the Crosleys, from where they went on by wagon to church.

―When a niece asked her, ―Aunt Ellie what did you do for amusement when you were

young?‖ Ellie‘s laughing reply carried instinctive zest, ―We worked!‖ Her death came June 14,

1921 at the home site where she & Joe had settled.‖

James „Monroe‟ McDonald (2.2)

Monroe was born 28 Dec 1829 in Jefferson Co. IL. He married cousin Rebecca Ancibil Taylor

(1.4) on 9 Oct 1856 in Gillespie Co. Monroe and Rachel settled near Noxville in Kimble Co.

Rachel died 30 Sep 1903 in Harper and was buried there, Monroe died in Noxville, 12 Oct 1912

and was buried in Harper.

The children of Rachel and Monroe:

Albert McDonald 1858-1860 (2.2.1

Mary Miranda McDonald, 1868-1937 (2.2.2)

m. Charles Angus Roberts, 1863-1937

Mary was born in Noxville and died in Harper

156

Melissa Melvina McDonald 1835- (2.3)

m. John Fannin

It doesn‟t look like Melissa and family moved to Texas

Suzanna Mariah McDonald (2.4)

Suzanna was born 23 Sep 1839 in Jefferson Co. IL. She married Richard Griffey Hall on 28 Apr

1858 in Grayson Co. TX and they settled in Spring Creek. In the 1870s they moved to the San

Joaquin Valley in California and then after a few years returned to Texas. Dick served in Co. A,

McCord‘s Frontier Regiment, TST then 2nd Texas Cav. USA.

The children of Suzanna and Dick:

William Thomas Hall 1859- (2.4.1)

b. in Gillespie Co. TX

m. Viola ______

James Albert Hall 1860- (2.4.2)


m. Jessie West

m. Emma Robison

Rachel Emigene Hall 1867- (2.4.3)


m. ______ Pickard

Martha Elizabeth Hall 1864-1884 (2.4.4)


buried in Spring Creek Cemetery

m. Douglas Knox in Gillespie Co.

George Augustus Hall 1866-1930 (2.4.5)

b. in Gillespie Co. TX (twin)

buried in Robert E. Lee, TX

Nancy Melvina Hall 1866-1926 (2.4.6)

b. in Gillespie Co. TX (twin)

buried in Junction Cemetery, Kimble Co. TX

Elijah Lafayette Hall 1868-1926 (2.4.7)

b. in Kerr Co. TX

m. Elizabeth Hamilton

buried in Stanton, TX

Samuel Edward Hall 1870- (2.4.8)


m. Ella Devoll

157

m. Maggie Devoll

Arminta Josephine Hall 1872-1896 (2.4.9)

b. in San Joaquin Co. CA

m. Ike Devoll

buried in Paint Rock, TX

Viola Adeline Hall 1874- (2.4.10)


Ada Jane Hall 1876- (2.4.11)


buried in Quanah, TX

Mary Olive Hall 1878- (2.4.12)


m. Thomas H Hamilton

buried: Robert E. Lee, TX

John Hardy Hall 1881- (2.4.13)


m. Julia Rayner, Daughter of Gaston and Alice Rayner (1.3.1)

m. Fannie Devoll

Rebecca Angelina McDonald (2.5)

Rebecca was born 1840 in Jefferson Co. IL, settled Spring Creek and married John Walter Banta

about 1860 in Gillespie County. John was born in 1833 and died in 1914. John served in Co. A,

McCord‘s Frontier Regiment TST.

The children of Rebecca and John:

Mary Alice Banta 1861- (2.5.1)

Isaac T. Banta 1862- (2.5.2)

William L. Banta 1863- (2.5.3)

Clara Banta 1865- (2.5.4)

Henry „Wilson‟ Banta 1867- (2.5.5)

m. Sarah Keese in 1890

Martha Jane Banta 1869- (2.5.6)

John Oscar Banta 1870- (2.5.7)

158

Ira Banta 1872-1872 (2.5.8)

Rachel Banta 1874- (2.5.9)

Epke „Seth‟ Banta 1877- (2.5.10)

Oliver Banta 1879- (2.5.11)

Robert Lafayette “Lafe” McDonald (2.6)

Lafe was born 11 Mar 1844 in Johnson Co. IL. He settled near Spring Creek, married (1) Alwilda

Joy in 1864, she was killed by Indians, married (2) Amanda Elizabeth “Betty” Larremore, age

15, in 1869. Betty was born 10 Feb 1854 in Gillespie Co. the daughter of John and Amanda

Larremore. Lafe served in Co. A, McCord‘s Frontier Regiment TST then 2nd Texas Cav. USA,

during the War, Co.F Gillespie Co. Minute Men (Rangers) in frontier service. His memoirs are oft

quoted in this work. His family later moved to the Seven Rivers area of Lincoln County, NM,

which is now a part of Eddy County. She died 15 Nov 1905, he died 9 Feb 1929 in Carlsbad, Eddy

Co. and is buried in the McDonald Cemetery, Eddy Co.

The children of Lafe and Betty:

Samuel Thomas McDonald 1870-1871 (2.6.1)

b. in Gillespie Co.

George Monroe McDonald 1872-1934 (2.6.2)

b. in Gillespie Co.

m. ―Donnie‖ Sassin 1881-1935 in 1898 in Eddy Co.

they both died in Optima. Texas Co. OK

John Randolph McDonald 1875-1931 (2.6.3)

b. in Noxville, Kimble Co.

buried in the McDonald Cemetery, Eddy Co.

m. Bertie Rayner, daughter Gaston and Alice Raynor (1.3.1) in Eddy Co.

Bertie was born in Noxville in 1880, she died in 1947

Rachel Ella Ann McDonald 1877-1946 (2.6.4)

b. in Gillespie Co.

m. Robert Cole in 1896 at Seven Rivers

she died in Krum, Denton Co. TX and is buried in Myra, Cooke Co. TX

William Oliver McDonald 1879-1895 (2.6.5)

b. Gillespie Co.

buried, Eddy Co., NM

Walter Lafayette McDonald 1881-1949 (2.6.6)

159

b. in Kerrville, Kerr Co. TX

m. Pearl Jennings 1887-1951 in 1904 in Seven Rivers

Walter in Santa Fe, NM; Pearl died near Lakewood, Eddy Co.

Walter worked as ranch hand until about 1919 when he became mill superintendent at the Globe

Plaster Co. fifteen miles north of Carlsbad. He served several years as deputy sheriff of Eddy Co.

then four years as Sheriff. He was Sheriff in 1931 when Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker

kidnapped his Chief Deputy, Joe Johns. Later, he served as Justice of the Peace and then Municipal

Court Judge, retiring in 1945.

Mary Adeline McDonald 1885-1886 (2.6.7)

b. in Gillespie Co.

buried, Eddy Co. NM

Martin Edgar McDonald 1887-1947 (2.6.8)

b. in Scurry Co., TX

Joseph Ira McDonald 1890-1895 (2.6.9)

Buried in Eddy Co., NM

Elizabeth Alwilda McDonald 1895-1895 (2.6.11)

Buried in Eddy Co., NM

Archie Leb McDonald 1898-1965 (2.6.12)

m. Maria _______

William Augustus “Gus” McDonald 1847-1918 (2.7)

Gus was born in IL, he settled Spring Creek with his parents. He married Louanna Elizabeth

Lacey (3.2.1) in 1867. He was 1st Corporal, Co. F, Gillespie County Minute Men, J.C. Lacey

commanding, 1872-1874. They continued on in the Spring Creek / Harper area and are both buried

in the Harper Cemetery.

Notes from ELB pg. 407:

Floy Bode: These were told to me when I was a child:

―In the later part of the 1860s William Augustus McDonald and wife Louanna Elizabeth

Lacey McDonald, Floys grandparents, along with their two first-born and very young sons lived in

a log cabin on a little branch called Walnut. This small stream was situated some eight or ten miles

East of Harper, Texas, in Gillespie County on the road to Fredericksburg.

―On several different occasions both the above-named grandparents did relate the following

happenings while living at this site. This did take place during the time Indians came, and Grand-

mother said she would take these two little ones and hide in the brush some distance away from the

cabin when Grandfather was not home. These trips to hide were both day and night.

―Another interesting Indian story happened at this place while Grandfather was building a

fence of rocks on the little creek to the Northwest of the cabin. The purpose of this rock fence was

160

to keep a few horses close and the milk calves. Grandfather this particular day had ridden an old

mare with a roan colt that followed, to the fartherest Northwest part of the project, same being

about one-third mile from the log dwelling place. When he had become busy and well into the job

of placing rocks into the fencing at hand he awakened to the fact that Indians were almost all

around him. He at once jumped on the old mare and made a run for the cabin. In spite of all the

thrashing and whipping the old mare, the Indians were gaining on him and would make short work

of ending his life soon. It seems that about this time one of the pursuers roped the roan colt, which

scared the old mare, that had not been running very fast to make sure the colt was keeping up, but

after the lasso and scare she just ran off and left the group, and he made it to the log cabin and

locked himself in for safety.‖

Children of Gus and Louanna:

Ira M. McDonald 1868-1949 (2.7.1)

m. Myra Myrtle Spencer 1880-1959

Asiel Lafayette McDonald 1869-1947 (2.7.2)

m. Ila Copple

Rachel Rosanna McDonald 1871-1955 (2.7.3)

m. Virgil Oscar Copple 1869-1947

Hexie M. McDonald 1873-1892 (2.7.4)

m. W.R. Hobbs

Samuel A. McDonald 1874-1963 (2.7.5)

m. Wyla Smith1882-1953

Jesse Thomas McDonald 1877-1948 (2.7.6)

m. Lorena Ryan 1891-1927

John „Lemuel‟ McDonald 1879-1955 (2.7.7)

m. Lilla Smith 1885-

Pleasant Aughty McDonald 1881-1884 (2.7.8)

Bertie Oscar McDonald 1883-1960 (2.7.9)

m. Selma Susie Bode 1891-1978

Carrie Lorette McDonald 1885-1964 (2.7.10)

m. Ivan C. Calentine -1939

Melvin G. McDonald 1886-1895 (2.7.11)

Ethel Ivy McDonald 1890-1946 (2.7.12)

m. Oscar Robert Bode 1889-1946

161

Hannah „Josephine‟ McDonald 1850- (2.8)

Josephine was born about 1850, settled in Spring Creek and married Jerry Hazelwood in 1869.

She must have died shortly after, for he married cousin ―Curly‖ Fairchild (4.1.2) in 1871.

Samuel „Thomas‟ McDonald 1852-aft. 1880 (2.9)

162

Elijah and Ruth McDonald Lacey’s family to Texas

Elijah Lacey (3.)

Elijah was born in 1804 in Livingston Co., KY. His parents were Lionel and Ann Lacey. He

married Ruth McDonald in Aug 1828 in IL, she was pregnant and a widow. Ruth was born in

1807 in Williamson Co., TN. Her parents (or at least the household she was raised in) were Linville

and Raney McDonald. Elijah and Ruth lived in LockeHill, Kerr County and Spring Creek. He was

a Methodist Preacher and moved about quite a bit. She died 1877 and is buried in LockeHill

Cemetery, he died around 1885 whereabouts unknown.

Ruth and Elijah‟s children were:

William Jackson “Jack” Locke (3.1)

Jack was born 21 Nov 1828 in IL, he married (1) Mary England on 6 Sep 1848. Mary was born 5

Jul 1825 to William and Cloah England. Mary was sister to Roseanna, brother Asa‘s wife. Jack and

Mary settled near LockeHill. They divorced after the War and then he married (2) Anna

McCarthy Ferguson before 1880. During the War he served as Captain, Third Frontier District,

TST then 2nd Texas Cav. USA. His family gave LockeHill its name; he was locally prominent

after the War including serving the State Legislature. Mary died 31 Jul 1909 and is buried in

LockeHill Cemetery. Jack died 11 Oct 1911 and is buried at the San Antonio National Cemetery.

Children of Mary and Jack:

Mary Olive Locke 1849- (3.1.1)

William M. Locke 1851- (3.1.2)

Sarah J.G. Locke 1853- (3.1.3)

Judith Ann Locke 1856-1946 (3.1.4)

Martha A. Locke 1859- (3.1.5)

Stephen A. „Douglas‟ Locke 1860- (3.1.6)

Sam Houston Locke 1861-1920 (3.1.7)

m. Lydia Myrick 1872-1973

Girard E. Locke 1863-1901 (3.1.8)

Hattie Elizabeth Locke 1865-1960 (3.1.9)

m. Henry F. Horn

The child of Jack and Anna:

Ruth Locke b. 1880 (3.1.10)

163

Asa Phelps Lacey (3.2)

Asa was born 18 May 1830 in St. Claire Co. IL. He married(1) Rosanna England on 25 Jul 1849.

Rosanna was the daughter of William and Cloah England. They settled at LockeHill and Spring

Creek for awhile. He served in Co. A, McCord‘s Frontier Regiment, TST then 1st Texas Cav.

USA. Asa was quite a character and rover. He deserted Rosanna in Oregon. Later in life he

married(2) his young niece, Lydia Lacey and they lived in Asher, OK until he died 3 Apr 1913.

Rosanna finished her years with her daughter Cloe‘s family at Morris Ranch, she died in 1907 and

is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery, Morris Ranch with others of her family.

The children of Asa and Rosanna:

Louanna Elizabeth Lacey 1850-1937 (3.2.1)

m. William Augustus ‗Gus‘ McDonald (2.7) (see above)

Louis Monroe Lacey 1852-1887 (3.2.2)

m. Mary Elizabeth McGuire Helfer

Ruth Jane Lillian Lacey 1854-1917 (3.2.3)

m. John William Alexander

Martha Melvina Lacey 1856-1857 (3.2.4)

Cloey Cynthia Lacey 1858-1919 (3.2.5)

m. Abijah A. Lee

Samuel Houston Lacey 1859-1860 (3.2.6)

Robert Elijah Lacey 1863-1922 (3.2.7)

m. Emily Alice New

Benjamin Butler Lacey 1866-1928 (3.2.8)

m. (1) A. Nettie Taylor (1.2.7) Divorced

m. (2) Birdie Perry

Child of Asa and Lydia:

Rosa M. Lacey (3.2.9)

b. 1903 in AR

m. _______ Shatterfield

Mahala Elizabeth Lacey (3.3)

Mahala was born 1834 in IL, she married(1) a first cousin, John Hardin Lacey on 16 Jul 1853.

John served in the Texas Cavalry (dismounted) C.S.A. John fought against his brothers in the 22nd

164

Illinois Volunteers at the Battle of Stones River in Tennessee. One of his brothers was killed

outright and another died of his wounds a year later. John and Mahala settled San Antonio after the

War, he had a tin shop; they also lived in Gonzales Co. and Gillespie Co. John died in 1873 near

LockeHill. She then married(2) William Cannon in 1878, he was born about 1840 in Alabama.

They lived just south of San Antonio in Atascosas Co. in 1880. In 1894 Mahala moved to AZ with

her son Tobe and his family. They passed through Lincoln Co. NM and on to Richmond, NM

finally landing in Greenlee Co. AZ. Mahala died there in 1907 and is buried in Greenlee County.

The children of Mahala and John:

Alexander Lacey (3.3.1)

b. 1856, Goliad Co., TX

d. 9 Sep 1874, Locke Hill, Bexar Co., TX

Killed by his Uncle, T.M. Lacey (3.9)

Emily Elizabeth Lacey (3.3.2)

b. 1858, Goliad Co., TX

d. 27 Nov 1921, Phoenix, AZ

buried Calvary Cemetery, Douglas, AZ

m. William Bowman, on 27 Mar 1874, Spring Creek, Gillespie Co. by Uncle, M.M. Taylor

M.G.

b. Dec 1849 in KY

Most of their children settled in NM or AZ

John David Lacey (3.3.3)

b. 5 Jan 1859, Bexar Co., TX

d. 9 May 1905, Barksdale, Edwards Co., TX

buried, Barksdale, Edwards Co., TX

m. Mary Jemima Ann Lockwood, 4 Sep 1876, Burnet Co., TX

Daughter of William S. Lockwood and Jane Grindstaff

b. 13 Feb 1857, Burnet Co., TX

d. 3 Apr 1947, Barksdale, TX

buried, Barksdale, TX

In 1880 John and Jemima were in the LockeHill area then they moved to the Nueces Canyon area

and are found living in Race Track Hollow above Barksdale in 1893. In 1895, they moved to

Fredericksburg, where their tenth child was born. They returned to the Nueces Canyon in 1897,

moving to the Dry Creek area. They would stay in the general area for the rest of their lives.

In 1901 they moved to the Bottle Ranch on the Divide between Rocksprings and Sonora. In 1904,

they bought some land on the Nueces River just to the south of Barksdale. This land remains in the

family to this day. John David died on 9 May 1905, at the age of 46. Jemima lived another 42 years

and saw her family grow into a clan. Her obituary reads as follows.

Elijah Lacey (3.3.4)

165

b. 1862 in TX

Theophilus (Tobe) Lacey (3.3.5)

b. 12 Dec 1863, Fredericksburg, Gillespie Co., TX

d. 24 Jan 1937, Wickenburg, AZ

buried, Wickenburg Cemetery

m. (1) Annie Clements, 2 Feb 1882, Uvalde Co., TX

Daughter of William Jasper Clements and Elenora Kirkwood

b. 10 Jul 1865

d. 10 May 1954, Phoenix, AZ

m. (2) Susie Mahalia Inabelle Janes (1.8.1), 20 Jul 1886, Uvalde, TX

Daughter of Edward Robert Janes and Hannah Permelia Taylor

b. 18 Sep 1866, Kimble County, TX

d. 22 Jul 1911, Douglas, AZ

buried, Cottonwood Cemetery, AZ

Tobe and Susan moved to New Mexico about 1894. This move was recorded in first hand

observations, some years later by the daughter of Maggie, Tobe and Susan‘s oldest daughter, who

was seven years old at the time of the move.

―Four wagons started out, three Lacey wagons and one neighbor wagon. However, the

neighbors turned back after two or three days. The three Lacey wagons proceeded with Tobe

driving the first one, his wife, Susan the second one, with mama (Maggie) helping with the

braking, especially, by tying the wheels when the wagons had to go down a steep grade. Uncle

Vann was a baby, so I suppose Aunt Bertha was riding in this wagon too. Tobe‘s mother (Mahala)

and brother (Jake) were in the third wagon. Mahalia‘s husband was not with them as Mama said he

had left ―Grandma‖ long before and she never knew him or what had become of him. They started

with oxen team, which soon got sore-footed, so they traded them for horses. To the day Mama died

she still remembered the name of the oxen (Scat & Lepp). I think there was also a cowboy with

them as they had a few head of cattle. They landed in Richmond, New Mexico (near Virden) in

time to plant a crop of corn, rented a farm from Bill Wilson. It took 3 months to make the trip.‖

The comment about John ―leaving grandma‖ was a euphemism for saying ―he died‖. It may be the

source of the family story that when John Hardin Lacey learned he was ill, probably with T.B., he

got on his horse and rode away and was never heard from again. There is no other mention of this.

Also, clearly Mahala Elizabeth Lacey did not have any husband with her on this trip, so if she

married William Cannon in 1878, they were not together in 1894.

Ruthie Maud Lacey (3.3.6)

b. 15 May 1865, Gillespie Co., TX

d. 25 Feb 1944, Denison, Grayson Co., TX

buried, Humble, Harris Co., TX

m. (1) Thomas I. Richards, 2 Oct 1878, Bexar Co., TX

b. 6 Dec 1859, Albany, Dougherty Co., GA

d. 18 Oct 1900, Dewitt Co., TX

m. (2) John Norman, in 1909 in TX

b. 1857 in TX

166

m. (3) William Glover, 26 Aug 1922, Gonzales Co., TX

Thomas Lacey (3.3.7)

b. abt. 1871

d. 14 Mar 1947, Prescott, AZ

m. Mollie Boales, 23 Aug 1890 in TX

Divorced

Jacob „Jake‟ Edward Lacey (3.3.8)

b. Jun 1872, Gillespie Co., TX

d. 16 Nov 1928, Las Vegas, N. M.

buried, Hospital Cemetery, Las Vegas, NM

m. Margarete Jones, 13 Feb 1899, Silver City, NM

b. Jan 1882 in TX

Lewis Madison Lacey (3.4)

Lewis was born 17 Oct 1835 in Springfield, Sangamond Co. IL, he married Margaret Lodriski

Ann White on 7 Mar 1861, settled in LockeHill. Margaret was born 23 Jan 1844 in Texana,

Jackson Co. TX. She was the daughter of Peter White and Mahala McCulloch. Peter was a Steven

Austin Colonist. Lewis served in Co. D, Ed Waller‘s Battalion, 13th Texas Cav. C.S.A. during the

War and in the Gillespie County Minute Men on the frontier. In the late 1880s Lewis built a house

in San Antonio and the family moved there. Lewis died 21 Jul 1900 in San Antonio and Margaret

died 16 Apr 1914, they are both buried in LockeHill Cemetery. The house they built remained in

the family for many years, primarily occupied by daughter Victoria and family.

The children of Margaret and Lewis:

William Madison Lacey (3.4.1)

b. 23 Jan 1862, LockeHill Community, Bexar Co., TX

d. 27 Nov 1900, San Antonio, TX

buried, City Cemetery No. 1, San Antonio

m. Elizabeth Isabel Gandine, 9 Jun 1891, San Antonio, TX

Daughter of Joe Gandine and Elizabeth Strohmeyer

b. Aug 1872

d. 6 May 1953, San Antonio, TX

William Madison Lacey was a carpenter by trade. He married Elizabeth Isabel Gandine on 9 June

1891. She was the daughter of Joe Gandine and Elizabeth Strohmeyer. William joined the San

Antonio Police Force under Chief Shardein‘s administration. Due to cutbacks, he later only worked

as an extra policeman under Chief Druse. He was sworn in as a regular again on 28 Nov. 1900. The

next day he lost his life in the performance of his duty.

From the San Antoino Daily Express, Friday Nov. 30, 1900:

―TRAGIC INCIDENT IN THE STRIKE.

167

Policeman Willliam Lacey Was Instantly Killed Yesterday While on Duty.

Strikers Attack Charles Smith, a Non-union Man, With Serious Results.

Smith Was Beat up While Going About His Work--Two Men

Wounded--Statements From Bystanders--Telephone Company

Contributes $1000 to Policeman‘s Widow

The telephone strike took a bad turn yesterday which was accompanied by fatal results. A clash

occurred between union and non-union men which was paid for with the life of an innocent man.

The difficulty started on St. Mary‘s street and terminated in Robinson‘s livery stable, on the

thoroughfare. It was the first bloodshed growing out of the telephone strike inaugurated November

3.

Policeman William Lacey was killed and O. D. Blanton was seriously wounded and Charles R.

Smith and Martin Wright slightly wounded. Smith is a non-union man and is employed by the

telephone company as lineman. He was the prosecuting witness in the assault case against Jack

Poyner in which the latter was fined $5 by Justice Adams Wednesday. Yesterday‘s trouble was

virtually a continuation of this affair.

Policeman Lacey had been detailed on duty only half and hour when he was killed. He was sworn

in yesterday as a regular policeman and went on duty yesterday forenoon at 11 o‘clock. At 11:30

he was shot from which he died. He leaves a wife and four children.---

Smith with three other non-union employees of the telephone company, D. J. Bagley, F. Keiser and

Mitchel, were out in a construction wagon to repair broken wires. The men were under the

protection of three policemen. They returned to the telephone exchange on Travis street shortly

after 11 o‘clock. There were a number of union men near the place at that time.

Smith entered the exchange and remained there for some time. He emerged from the building at

about 11:20 o‘clock and crossed the Street over to the corner of Robinson‘s stable. A telephone

pole stands there and he started to climb this. Smith‘s appearance was an immediate signal for

jeers, coming from those nearby.

Some one struck Smith and this started a general scrimmage. The row lasted but a few minutes,

when Smith started on a run for the Robinson stable entrance. The crowd rushed in behind him and

attacked him on the inside of the building. Policeman Espinoza followed into the stable after a man

named C. M. Phillips, whom the officer alleges was a participant in the trouble on the outside.

Espinoza says he had reached the rear of the stable when he heard three shots fired in rapid

succession.

Officer Lacey was in the thick of the fray, in the front part, attempting to protect Smith from the

crowd. Smith had fallen to his knees from the effects of a hard blow upon his head and several in

his face. Lacey was standing but a few feet from him. With blood streaming down his face and

dazed from the effects of the blow received over the head Smith as a last resort of self-defense

pulled a pistol and began to fire. The first shot unfortunately struck Police Officer Lacey, for whom

it was not intended. The second shot struck Wright in his left arm, and Blanton was the mark for

the last bullet.

Lacey was shot in his left side, near the heart. He lived but 15 minutes. ---‖

Elzada Lacey (3.4.2)

b. 25 Nov 1865, LockeHill, Bexar Co., TX

d. 25 Oct 1911

168

Austin Lacey (3.4.3)

b. 7 Dec 1867

d. 22 Feb 1884

From the San Antonio Light, Saturday, February 23, 1884:

―A terrible and heartrending accident happened yesterday morning, when Austin Lacy, Jr., aged 10,

almost instantaneously killed himself by the discharge of a pistol. Mr. G. T. MacNab, an invalid,

who had gone out to reside at Locke Hill, at the residence of Mr. Lewis Madison Lacey was lying

in his home when the boy came in and took down a small 38 calibre pistol with which he

commenced playing. This unfortunately was done outside of Mr. MacNab‘s room, or the accident

may never have happened. Shortly after this gentleman heard a shot fired and rushing out of his

room he found young Austin laying on the ground, shot through the head. Mr. MacNab took the

boy up and carried him into his room, and there, in a few minutes, Austin breathed his last. Medical

assistance was not available, and even though it were, it is not probable that the boy would have

lived. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Lacy were away at a picnic, and on their return from a party of pleasure

and enjoyment, they found their boy dead--dead without one farewell word; gone without a kiss, a

look.‖

Peter Elijah “Doc” Lacey (3.4.4)

b. 1 May 1870, Locke Hill Comm., Bexar Co., TX

d. 20 Jan 1937

buried, Sierra Madre, CA

m. Fannie Lalone

Daughter of Theophilus Lalonde (Lalone) and Estanislada Padilla

b. 3 Dec 1876, Lincoln Co., MN

d. Nov 1978, Pasadena, CA

buried, Sierra Madre, CA

Doc and Fannie are the grandparents of your humble editor. See the web site

www.lincolncountycosins.org for a look at Lincoln County.

Theodisa L. Lacey (3.4.5)

b. l7 Dec 1871, LockeHill, Bexar Co., TX

d. 7 May 1910, Bexar County, TX

buried, LockeHill Cemetery, Bexar Co., TX.

m. Yancie McAlpine, 16 Sep 1901, Bexar County, TX

Edmund L. Lacey (3.4.6)

b. 18 Sep 1873, LockeHill, Bexar Co., TX

d. 15 Oct 1873, Bexar County, TX

buried, LockeHill Cemetery, Bexar Co., TX

Elmer Jackson Lacey (3.4.7)

b. 14 Aug 1874, LockeHill, Bexar Co., TX

169

d. 4 Jun 1919

buried, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX

m. Margie Sheehan in 1916

Victoria Mae Lacey (3.4.8)

b. 24 Apr 1876, LockeHill, Bexar Co., TX

m. (1) John Henry Thompson, 31 May 1899, San Antonio, TX

d. 4 Aug 1910, San Antonio, TX

m. (2) George Southwell, 1920

b. 20 Oct 1866,

d. 7 May 1934

Conley Clifton Lacey (3.4.9)

b. 16 Dec 1878, LockeHill, Bexar Co., TX

d. 12 Nov 1956, San Antonio, TX

m. Willie Griffen, 5 Jan 1905, San Antonio, TX

Daughter of Alfred Griffen and Olivia Callaway

b. 10 Apr 1879

d. 30 May 1968

Pearl Herbert Lacey (3.4.10)

b. 25 Jul 1881, LockeHill, Bexar Co., TX

d. 27 Sep 1941, San Antonio, TX

m. Pearl Shaw, 31 Mar 1904, San Antonio, TX

Ed. White Lacey (3.4.11)

b. 21 Feb 1887, Locke Hill, Bexar Co., TX

d. 4 Apr 1887

Nancy M.C. Lacey (3.5)

Ninnie was born 1838 in IL, she married William M. Alexander on 13 Jan 1864 in Gillespie Co.

He was born in 1839 in Bossier Parish, LA, the son John and Mary Alexander. William served in

Co.D, Ed Waller‘s Battalion, Cav. C.S.A. with Nancy‘s brother, Lewis. They settled in Gillespie

Co. then Kerr County. In 1880 they lived in Spring Creek. She died 29 Sep 1904 in Hunt, Kerr Co.

He died in 1905 in Bastrop Co. TX.

The children of Nancy and William:

William Thomas Alexander 1868- (3.5.1)

Louis Elijah Alexander 1870- (3.5.2)

Maggie Alexander 1878- (3.5.3)

170

Mary Matilda Lacey (3.6)

Mary was born about 1840 in IL. She married (1) Morgan McDaniel in 1855, he died, she settled

at Spring Creek, married (2) Henry Hartmann in 1861 he left, she divorced and then married (3)

Marion Columbus “Lum” Alexander in 1863. He was born 28 Aug 1840 in Claibourne, Bossier

Parish, LA, the son of John and Mary Alexander. Lum served in Co. D, Ed Waller‘s Battalion CSA

with her brother Lewis, then Co. A, McCord‘s Regt. TST, and the Third Frontier District during

the War. They settled first at Spring Creek then in Kerr County.

The children of Mary and Morgan:

Ruth McDaniel (3.6.1)

b. 29 Nov 1856 (twin)

d. 23 Jul 1857

Josephine McDaniel (3.6.2)

d. 29 Nov 1856 (twin)

Marvin Levi McDaniel/McDonald (3.6.3)

b. 5 Jan 1858 (twin), Gillespie County, TX

Elijah L. McDaniel/McDonald (3.6.4)

b. 5 Jan 1858 (twin), Gillespie Co., TX

Silva Bellzora McDaniel (3.6.5)

b. 2 Jul 1859, TX

d. 17 Oct 1860, TX

Lois Margaret McDaniel/McDonald (3.6.6)

Spouse: ¿Mr. Hartman?

Marvin Levi McDaniel adopted the name McDonald, as did his twin brother, Elijah L. He moved

his family to Oregon. His sister, Lois Margaret, also adopted the name McDonald and moved to

Oregon with him.

The children of Mary and Lum:

Cynthia Lou Ann Alexander (twin)(3.6.7)

b. 1 Jan 1864 (Her tombstone says 1867), Bexar County, TX

d. May 1947, Harper, TX

m. (1) Erastus Fairchild, 1885 (4.1.6)

Son of Amos Fairchild and Lucretia Jane McDonald

b. 12 Apr 1860, Vandalia, IL

d. 10 Jan 1933, Harper, TX

m (2) Hez Warden Fairchild, 18 May 1944 (4.1.4)

b. 17 Nov 1959, TX

d. 17 Jun 1952, Harper, Gillespie Co., TX

171

buried, Harper Cemetery, Gillespie Co., TX

Permelia Caroline Alexander (twin)(3.6.8)

b: 1 Jan 1864 (Her tombstone says 1867)

d. 1873 (Died from Measles, buried Hunt-Japonica Cemetery, Hunt Co. TX)

Franklin „Monroe‟ Alexander (3.6.9)

b. 13 May 1868, Fredericksburg, Gillispie Co., TX

d. 15 Dec 1949

m. Rhoda Permelia McDonald(4.3.8) 20 Dec 1891 in Gillespie Co.

Daughter of Rufus McDonald and Polly Jane Lockhart

Ollie Jane Alexander (3.6.10)

b. 9 May 1871

m. George Adams

Nellie May Alexander (3.6.11)

b. 7 Jun 1873, Fredericksburg, Gillespie Co., TX

d. 10 May 1936

buried, Hutto, TX

m. Mitchell Adams, 23 Jan 1895, Austin, Travis Co., TX

Son of Green Berry Adams and Margaret Ann Sterns

b. 7Aug 1867, Elgin, TX

d. 4 Mar 1941, Hutto, TX

Edith Alexander (3.6.12)

b. 10 Feb 1875, Gillespie County, TX

d. Junction, Kimbel Co., TX

m. James A. ‗Tob‘ Cantrell, 24 Dec 1891, Kerrville, Kerr Co. TX

Joshua Collins “Coll” Lacey (3.7)

Coll was born 5 Mar 1842 in St. Claire Co. IL. He married cousin Cloe Irena Elizabeth Francis

Fairchild (4.1.1) in 1867. He served from 28 Oct 1862 to 31 Oct 1865 in Co. A, 1st Regt. Texas

Cav. USA, and on the frontier commanded Co. F, Gillespie Co. Minute Men 1872-1874. They

lived at Spring Creek then LockeHill and later they moved to Lincoln Co., NM and settled near

White Oaks. Coll died on his ranch in Texas Park outside of White Oaks 26 Jan 1901, Cloe died 19

Jan 1926; they are buried at Cedarvale Cemetery, White Oaks.

The children of Cloe and Coll:

Amos Oliver Lacey (3.7.1)

b. 12 Oct 1868, TX

d. 28 Dec 1894, NM in an accident involving horses

buried at Cedarvale Cemetery, White Oaks

172

Frances Elizabeth Ruth Lacey (3.7.2)

b. 27 Mar 1869, San Antonio, TX

d. in 1950, Redding, CA

m. William Henry Walker, 1892

b. 21 Jan 1863

d. 15 Jan 1922, White Oaks, NM

Jackson Gillmore Lacey (3.7.3)

b. 26 Jan 1874, San Antonio, TX

d. in 1910, White Oaks, NM

buried at Cedarvale Cemetery

m. Alice Louise Bartlett

Daughter of Jasper Newton Bartlett

b. 3 May 1878, Medina City, TX

d. 30 Jul 1928, Globe , AZ

Acel Phelps Lacey (3.7.4)

b. 10 Jun 1876, San Antonio, TX

d. 16 Jan 1956, Roswell, NM

m. Ida Mae Cleghorn, 26 Feb 1901, Nogal, Lincoln Co., NM

Daughter of Ben and Lula Cleghorn

b. 13 Mar 1868

Lewis Harvey Lacey (3.7.5)

b. 23 Sep 1878, San Antonio,TX

d. 24 Jul 1934, Van Nuys, CA

m. Callie Pearlee Slack, 14 May 1909, Lincoln County, NM

Daughter of Joseph Franklin Slack and Elizabeth Matilda Pike

b. 12 Aug 1891, TX

d. 11 Aug 1964

Erastus Columbus Lacey (3.7.6)

b. 6 Mar 1881, Kerrville, Kerr Co., TX

m. Annie Fewell in Lincoln County, NM

Robert Warden Lacey (3.7.7)

b. 26 Aug 1884, Fredericksburg, Gillespie Co., TX

m. Angie Bartlett, 1 Sep 1901, Lincoln Co., NM

Daughter of Jasper Newton Bartlett

b. 6 Jan 1885, Kerrville, Kerr Co., TX

Elijah „Doc‟ Lacey (3.7.8)

b. 16 Feb 1887, Gillespie County, TX

d. 29 Jun 1967, Ft. Sumner, NM

m. Lela Lida King, 22 Apr 1923

Daughter of Henry King

173

b. 2 Mar 1906, Mason Co., TX

d. 11 Sep 1925

F Child Lacey Birth Date: About 1888

Death Date: at birth, buried at Cedarvale Cemetery, White Oaks

John „Burnyan‟ Lacey (3.8)

Burnyan was born in 1844 in IL. His parents and their family are not shown in the 1850 and 1860

Census‘ and he is only mentioned in a note in the family collection as being a brother but he is, no

doubt, a member of the Family. He married (1)Lucy Ann Dunn in 1866 in Gillespie Co. He

married (2)Sina Chesser in 1868 in Gillespie Co. then he married (3) Susan J. Parr in Gonzales

Co. in 1878.

He served on the frontier as a Ranger with other members of the family.

His father, Elijah, lived next door to him in the 1880 Census of Gonzales County.

John and Sina‟s children:

Ira Lacey b. abt. 1870 (3.8.1)

James H. Lacey b. abt. 1872 (3.8.2)

Premy Lacey (m) b. abt. 1874 (3.8.3)

Lydia Lacey b. 10 Sep 1876 (3.8.4)

m. (1) Asa Lacey (3.2)

m. (2) Austin Patton Tate

John and Susan‟ child:

William Lacey b. Jan 1880 (3.8.5)

Thomas Monroe Lacey (3.9)

T.M. was born 1848 in St. Clair Co. IL. He settled at LockeHill and married Mary Chesser in 1870.

Mary was the daughter of William Cheeser and twin sister to Sina, she was born about 1862. On

the frontier Thomas served in Co. F, Gillespie Co. Minute Men in 1872. He shot and killed his

nephew, Alexander Lacey, in 1874; after that the family disappeared.

The children of Mary and Thomas:

Tarry Lacey no further information (3.9.1)

Josephine Lacey b. abt. 1872, no further information (3.9.2)

174

Lewis Cass Lacey a first cousin (3.X)

He was born 1845 in IL, too young to serve in the Civil War. He came to Texas after the War. He

farmed for awhile near San Antonio with his brother, John Hardin Lacey, then he served in the

Rangers, first in Co. F, Gillespie Co. Minute Men. With the Rangers later, after a hard riding trip,

he died from a hemorrhage of the lungs near Ft. Stockton, in 1879.

175

Joseph and Esther Taylor/Rhoda Nelson McDonald to Texas

Joseph McDonald (4.)

Joseph was born 22 Jan 1815 in Williamson Co. TN. His parents were Linville and Raney

McDonald. He married (1) Esther Elizabeth Taylor on 21 Mar 1832 in Monroe Co. IL. She was

born 1814, she was a first cousin to Matthew Taylor. She died in 1847 when she was struck by

lightning. He then married (2) Rhoda Jane Nelson on 14 Feb 1849, in Jefferson Co. IL. She was

born 1830 in IL. Her parents were Hiram and Mary Nelson. Joe and Rhoda are both buried at

Spring Creek.

The children and grandchildren of Joseph McDonald and Esther Taylor:

Lucretia Jane McDonald (4.1)

Lucretia was born 26 Jan 1833 in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co. IL. She married (1) Amos Fairchild

in 1850, they settled first in East Texas then Spring Creek in 1862, Amos was killed by

bushwackers in 1864 while serving in the Third Frontier Battalion. She married (2) William

Chesser in 1868, William was a Methodist Preacher. She married (3) George T. Morgan in 1878

and settled on Spring Creek. In later life she moved to the Animas Valley in SW New Mexico, with

her children. She died 7 Dec 1928 and is buried in the Mid Animas Cemetery.

The children of Lucretia and Amos:

Cloe Francis Fairchild (4.1.1)

b. 10 Aug 1852 in Jefferson Co. IL

d. 19 Jan 1926 in White Oaks, Lincoln Co. NM

m. Joshua Collins Lacey (3.6)

b. 5 Mar 1840 in St. Claire Co. IL

d. 26 Jan 1901 in White Oaks

Louisa Melissa “Curly” Fairchild (4.1.2)

b. 25 Jun 1855 in Jefferson Co. IL

d. 12 Jun 1939 in Douglas, Cochise Co. AZ

buried in Cottonwood Cemetery, Cochise Co.

m. Jeremiah Hazelwood

b. 12 Jan 1830 in IL

d. 11 Jul 1900 in Cochise Co. AZ

buried at Calvary Memorial Park, Douglas AZ

Gillet Louellen „Gil‟ Fairchild (4.1.3)

b. 17 Oct 1857 in Collin Co. TX

d. in 1943 in Hidalgo Co. NM

buried in Mid Animas Cemetery, Animas Valley, Hidalgo Co. NM

m. William Hudson ‗Hut‘ Taylor (1.2.1) 14 Feb 1874 in Gillespie Co.

b. 17 May 1855 in Hunt Co. TX

d. Apr 1920 in NM or AZ

176

buried in Mid Animas Cemetery

Hezcar Warden „Hez‟ Fairchild (4.1.4)

b. 17 Nov 1879 in Collin Co. TX

d. 17 Jun 1952 in Gillespie Co.

buried in the Harper Cemetery

m. Martha Taylor (1.1.4) 22 Sep 1881 in Gillespie Co.

b. 4 Jun 1855

d. 10 Aug 1929


m. Theodocia Earnest Taylor (daughter of Amos Taylor 1.1.1) 22 Aug 1930

b. 30 Aug 1876

d. 27 May 1939


m. Cyintha Louanna Alexander (3.6.7) 14 May 1944

b. 1 Jan 1864 in Bexar Co. TX

d. 22 May 1947 in Harper


Erastus S. „Rat‟ Fairchild (4.1.5)

b. 12 Apr 1862 in Vandalia, Fayette Co. IL???

d. 10 Jan 1933 in Kerrville


m. Cynthia Louanna Alexander (3.6.7)

b. 1 Jan 1864 in Bexar Co. TX

d. 22 May 1947 in Harper


A family story from the Fairchild Book by Doris M. Pharis:

―Uncle Harvey‘s sons, James and Lamar, said that they listened to their father (Harvey

Fairchild) telling about Erastus and Hez getting a letter from Illinois. It informed them that they

needed to come back to Illinois for their share of one of the Fairchild Estates. They wrote back and

told them, they had all the land they needed right here in Texas.

―It seems that the land that the letter was talking about is, today, where the City of Chicago

now resides.‖

Ames Jane Fairchild (4.1.6)

b. 1864/1865 in TX

d. 1953 in Douglas, Cochise Co. AZ

buried in the Cottonwood Cemetery

m. William ‗Alonzo‘ McDonald (4.2.1)

b. 1859 in TX

d. 1918

177

buried in the Cottonwood Cemetery, Cochise Co.

The children of Lucretia and William:

Joseph „Manley‟ Chesser 1870-1886 (4.1.7)

Manley had an accident trying to break a horse. The horse ran away and through some brush and

into a pasture. Several days later Manley died of his injures.

Daniel Colfax Chesser (4.1.8)

b. 18 Oct 1872 in Spring Creek

d. 18 Mar 1957 in Brady, McCulloch Co. TX

buried in Lohn Cemetery, McCulloch Co.

m. Cora Maud Matthews 23 Jul 1897 in Mason Co. TX

b. 20 Nov 1878 in Blanco, Blanco Co. TX

d. 21 Dec 1974

Lewis „Martin‟ McDonald (4.2)

Martin was born 25 Sep 1835 in IL, married cousin Hestorann „Elizabeth‟ Taylor (1.5) on 7 Sep

1856, they settled Spring Creek. Elizabeth was born 5 Dec 1830 in Jefferson Co. IL. Martin served

as a teamster in Co. N, Mounted Regt. then, Hunter‘s Third Frontier Dist. TST, and on the frontier

as Pvt. Co. F, Minutemen of Gillespie Co., B.F. Casey, commanding. They owned a Ranch on

Spring Creek before moving to Cochise Co., NM with some of their family. Elizabeth died 19 Aug

1902 in AZ, she is buried in Duncan, Greenlee Co. AZ and Martin died 22 May 1924 in Cochise

Co. AZ, he is buried in the Cottonwood Cemetery, Cochise Co.

The children of Martin and Hesterann:

William „Alonzo‟ McDonald (4.2.1)

b. 1859 in TX

d. 1918, buried in the Cottonwood Cemetery, Cochise Co.

m. Amy Fairchild (4.1.5)

b. 1864/1865 in TX

d. 1953 in Douglas, Cochise Co.


James Harvey “Buddy” McDonald (4.2.2)

b. 1861 in TX

d. 1919 in AZ

m. Annie Strong (4.6.1)

b. 1867 in TX

m. Fannie Hazelwood daughter Curley Fairchild (4.1.2) and Jerry Hazelwood

b. 15 Mar 1882 in TX

d. 22 Jul 1962 in Douglas, Cochise Co.


178

Tokes Ann McDonald 1866-1896 (4.2.3)

m. Charles Sands 1855-

Lewis Martin McDonald Jr. 1866-1888 (4.2.4)

Hannah Generva McDonald (4.2.5)

b. Jul 1868 in Spring Creek

d. 26 Nov 1949 in Uvalde Co. TX

m. Alfred Nelson 1864-1935

William Spencer McDonald (4.2.6)

b. 1871 in Spring Creek

d. 1958 in Douglas, AZ


m. Rhoda Jane Garcia (4.4.6)

b. 9 Feb 1878 in Spring Creek

d. 31 Jan 1946 in Douglas, AZ


When Bill and Rhoda moved to AZ they had a large ranch near Douglas, also home to the

Cottonwood Cemetery in Cochise Co.

Soloman Levine “Feller” McDonald (4.2.7)

b. 5 Jan 1873 in Spring Creek

d. 14 Feb 1944 in AZ

m. Sadie Bowman 1 Apr 1906

daughter of William Bowman and Emily Lacey (3.3.2)

b. 23 Aug 1886

d. 2 Sep 1953


Charlotte „Lottie‟ McDonald (4.2.8)

b. 19 Feb 1876 In Spring Creek

d. 27 Jul 1959 in AZ

buried in Cottonwood Cemetery

m. John Wesley Hazelwood

Son of Jerry and Curly Fairchild (4.1.2) Hazelwood

b. 1 May 1884 in TX

d. 27 Jul 1959 in AZ


J.B. „Davis” McDonald (4.2.9)


d. 1945 in the San Bernardino Valley, AZ


m. Fannie Bowman 8 Jun 1905 in Douglas AZ

179

daughter of William Bowman and Emily Lacey (3.3.2)

b. 23 May 1883 in Pearsall, TX

d. 1938 in Cochise Co.


m. Sophrona Lutheria Taylor

daughter of John Taylor and P.J. Banta (1.2.2)

b. 16 Jan 1880 in Spring Creek

d. 1977 in Dallas, TX

buried Laurel Land Cemetery, Dallas

Isaac „Rufus‟ McDonald (4.3)

Rufe was born 12 Oct 1838 in Jefferson Co. IL and settled Spring Creek. He married Polly Jane

Lockhart on 3 Nov 1860. During the Civil War Rufe served in Co. N, (Capt. Compton) Mounted

Regt. as a teamster then, Hunter‘s Third Frontier Dist. TST. They stayed in the Spring Creek area.

Rufe died on 16 May 1905 in Gillespie Co. and is buried in the Harper Cemetery, P.J. died in 1916

in Tow, Llano Co. and is buried in the Tow Cemetery.

The children of Rufus and PJ:

Betsy Ann McDonald (4.3.1)

b. 9 Jul 1862 in Lone Grove, Llano Co.

d. 1923 in OK

m. Peter Menges, 14 Dec 1880 in Gillespie Co.

Son of Anton Menges and Maria Meuer

b. 7 Mar 1859 in Fredericksburg, Gillespie Co.

Baptized 10 Apr 1859 at St. Mary‘s Catholic Church, Fredericksburg

d. 27 Mar 1935 in Santa Anna, TX

Cynthia Lurena McDonald (4.3.2)

b. 4 Sep 1864 in Fredericksburg, Gillespie Co.

d. 15 Jun 1926 in Needmore, OK

m. John Menges, 14 Jun 1881 in Fredericksburg

Son of Anton Menges and Maria Meruer

b. 30 Nov 1849 in Fredericksburg

Baptized 6 Jan 1851 at St. Mary‘s Catholic Church, Fredericksburg

d. 6 Feb 1941 in Odessa, TX

John was 2nd

Corporal, Co. F, Gillespie Co. Minutemen, 18 Apr 1872 to 23 Apr 1875

Joseph Samuel McDonald (4.3.3)

b. 1867 in Gillespie Co.

d.

m. Rebecca Rachel Waites, 3 Jun 1886

Melvina „Meg‟ McDonald (4.3.4)

180

b. Apr 1868 in Gillespie Co.

d. 27 Feb 1936 in Grant o. NM as a result of a traffic accident

m. William Menges abt. 1886 in Gillespie Co.

Son of Anton Menges and Maria Meuer

b. 29 Jan 1856 in Fredericksburg

Baptized 12 Apr 1857 at St. Mary‘s Catholic Church, Fredericksburg

d. 8 Jun 1924 in Reserve, NM

William served in the Texas Rangers: Pvt. Co. F, Minutemen of Gillespie Co. B.F. Casey

commanding. Enlist: Jan. 17, 1874, Disc: April 23, 1874; 40 days service, Ranger Muster Roll.

They, with their three sons, moved to New Mexico in 1916 in search of a drier climate due to

health concerns.

Gillette McDonald (4.3.5)

b. 18 Mar 1870 in Gillespie Co.

d. 9 Jun 1952

m. Joseph Menges, 23 Apr 1890 in Fredericksburg

Son of Anton Menges and Maria Meure

b. 30 Aug 1865

Baptized 2 Nov 1865 at St. Mary‘s Catholic Church, Fredericksburg

d. 20 Feb 1896 in Juction, Kimble Co.

m. Jack Soloman 1863-1940

Sarah Minerva McDonald (4.3.6)


d. 1967

m. Jacob Thomas Cosper 29 Sep 1887 in Gillespie Co.

Son of Francis Cosper and Missouri Tendall

b. 1860 inn AL

d. 1938 in Harper

Sarah and Jake met at the Morris Ranch in Gillespie Co. and were married at her parent‘s home

in the Spring Creek Community. After Jake died, Sarah‘s son, Floyd lived with her and took care

of their ranch. In 1943 she moved to Harper. In 1963 Sarah was the Harper Centennial Queen.

William „Willie‟ Martin McDonald (4.3.7)

b. 31 May 1874 in Borne, Kendall Co.

d 28 Mar 1935 in Junction, Kimble Co.

m. Roxie Rosybell Taylor, 12 Jan 1893

Daughter of Wes and P.J. Taylor (1.2.2)

b. 6 Oct 1879 in Kimble Co.

d. 16 Mar 1968 in Junction

buried in City Cemetery, Junction

181

Rhoda Permelia McDonald (4.3.8)

b. 30 May 1877 in Gillespie Co.

d. 24 May 1975 in Austin, TX

m. Franklin ‗Monroe‘ Alexander, 20 Dec 1891

Son of Lum and Mary Alexander (3.6.9)

b. 13 May 1868 in Fredericksburg

d. 15 Dec 1949

Isaac Warren McDonald (4.3.9)


d. 7 Sep 1940 in Rustic Point, Medina Co. TX

m. Sophorna Lutheria ―Lue‖ Taylor, 29 Jun 1897

Daughter of Wes and P.J. Taylor (1.2.2)

b. 1880

d. 1977

m. Zula Mae Wallis, 14 Nov 1927

Hulda Rosemae McDonald (4.3.10)


d. 6 Jun 1964 in Travis Co.

m. Phillip Jackson Bible, 4 Sep 1904 in Junction, Kimble Co.

b. Jun 1873 in Bosque Co. TX

d. 6 Jul 1940 in Burnet Co.

Ida Frances McDonald (4.3.11)


d.

m. Sam Bible, 4 Jul 1905 n Gillespie Co.

m. Ben Bible

Clarisa Adiline McDonald (4.4)

Clarisa was born 1841 in IL, she settled in Spring Creek. She married (1) Jacob Rynerson Banta

in 1859, he was killed in an Indian fight 1866 in Burnet Co. Jacob was the son of Isaac and Eliza

Banta, born 27 Apr 1835. Jacob served in Co. A, McCord‘s Mounted Regiment, on the frontier he

served with the rest of the Gillespie Co. boys.

Clarisa married (2) Eusebio “Joe” Garcia in 1871. Joe was a pretty good stockraiser, in 1870 he

had $1000 worth of stock and lived on Spring Creek. Clarisa died of tuberculosis in 1892 and is

buried in Spring Creek Cemetery, Joe was still living at the old homeplace in 1900. Clarisa and Joe

Garcia‘s children moved to Cochise County, AZ. Their daughter, Rhoda Jane married cousin, Bill

McDonald in Graham Co. AZ and later established a prosperous ranch near Douglas, Cochise Co.

AZ.

The children of Clarisa and Jacob:

182

Elizabeth L. Banta (4.4.1)

b. 1861 in Burnet Co.

d. 1888 in Real Co. TX

buried in Vance Cemetery, Real Co.

m. Matthew M. ‗Math‘ Taylor (1.1.3) 14 Feb 1877 in Gillespie Co.

b. 1854 in Izard Co. AR

d. 1921 in Real Co.

buried in Vance Cemetery

Permelia Jane “P.J.”Banta (4.4.2)

b. 5 Jan 1863 in Burnet Co.

d. 29 Jul 1966 in Junction, Kimble Co.

m. John Wesley ―Wes‖ Taylor (1.2.2) 14 Jun 1877

b. 14 Jan 1857 in TX

d. 11 Apr 1936 in Junction, Kimble Co.

Susan „Angelina‟ Banta (4.4.3)

b. 5 Oct 1865 in Burnet Co.

d. 11 Oct 1890 in Gillespie Co.

m. James William Silvers on 8 Feb 1883 in Gillespie Co.

Son of Hiram Silvers and Sarah Elizabeth Parker

b. 1850 in Fannin Co. TX

The children of Clarisa and Joe:

William T. Garcia (4.4.4)

b. in 1873 at Spring Creek

d. 1925 in AZ


m. Louise B. Elbrook

b. 1884

d. 1939 in AZ


Charles Garcia (4.4.5)1875-

Rhoda Jane Garcia (4.4.6)



m. William Spencer McDonald (4.2.6) in Graham, AZ Terr. 29 May 1898




John Wesley Garcia (4.4.7)


184

Joseph Martin Cross (4.6.3)


d. 1938

buried in Del Rio, TX

m. Ethel Ward 1872-1951

Merinda „Melvina‟ McDonald (4.7)

Mel was born 13 Sep 1852 in Jefferson Co. IL. She married Benjamin Franklin Casey on 4 Oct

1868. Ben was born in Jefferson Co. as well on 17 Oct 1837, he was the son of Franklin and Rhoda

Casey; his mother was Matthew Taylor‘s sister. During the War he served in the 1st Texas Cav.

USA (he might have joined with Coll Lacey); on the frontier as Pvt. then, later Lt., Co. F, Minute

Men of Gillespie County. They lived in Spring Creek until 1885, they then settled 5 miles north of

Barksdale, Edwards Co., TX on the east bank of the Nueces River. Ben died 9 Oct 1907 and Mel

died 4 Mar 1934, they are both buried in the Vance Cemetery, Real Co. TX.

The children of Mel and Ben:

Rhoda „Melissa‟ Casey (4.7.1)

b. Jan 1870

m. Will Aaron

Franklin Smith Casey (4.7.2)

b. 1872 in TX

m. Annie Cromeans

Martha Ansubil Casey (4.7.3)

b. 1873

m. Will Whitley

Joesph A. Casey (4.7.4)

b. 1874 in TX

m. Annie Watkins

Matthew Modglin Casey (4.7.5)

b. Apr. 5, 1877 in Spring Creek

m. Carolina Nix, 30 Nov 1902 in Rocksprings, Edwards Co.

Matthew was a rancher on Dry Creek and the Sheriff of Real Co. in 1918. He owned the Leaky

Drug Store, Leaky, Real Co. TX in 1930. Real Co. was organized out of Edwards Co. in 1913.

Thomas Jefferson Casey (4.7.6)

b. July 20, 1879 in Harper

m. Elizabeth Harrington

Annie Narcisus Casey (4.7.7)

185

b. Oct. 30, 1881

m. Charlie Daly

James Volney “Vol” Casey (4.7.8)

b. Jan. 20, 1884

d. 23 Oct 1972

m. Mary Reavis

b. 26 Feb 1896

d. 7 Aug 1964

About 1945 Vol and Mary moved to Arizona for 10 years and worked on a dude ranch. They

moved back to Texas and spent the rest of their lives in Uvalde.

Ida Isabel Casey (4.7.9)

b. Aug. 30, 1886

m. Luther Brown

Benjamin L. Casey (4.7.10)

Feb. 8, 1889

Died at age 12

Samantha Laurine “Lou” Casey (4.7.11)

b. July 11, 1891

m. Walter Field

John Alvin Casey (4.7.12)

b. Jan. 13, 1893

Died at age 2

Samantha L. McDonald (4.8)

Samantha was born 5 Jul 1855, she settled in Spring Creek, married cousin James Thomas Taylor

(1.7) (see family above). They ended up in Coleman Co. TX.

William Jefferson McDonald (4.9)

William was born 1857 in TX, he married Rebecca Angelina Chesser, 1 Apr 1874 in Gillespie

Co. Rebecca was born 14 May 1859 in Fairland, Burnet Co. daughter of William Chesser and Polly

Reed. They finally settled in Schleicher Co. TX. He died 11 Oct 1932 and she died in El Dorado,

Schleicher Co. on 15 May 1946.

The child or Rebecca and William:

Marinda Lucretia McDonald (4.9.11)

b. 30 Jul 1876

d. 15 Mar 1968 in Tom Green Co., TX

186

m. Henry Mund

b. 1865 in Clark Co., IL

d. Marshall, Clark Co., IL

Levy „Allen‟ McDonald (4.10)

Levy was born 16 May 1861 at Spring Creek. He married cousin Mahala L. McDonald (5.1) 3 Jan

1879. Mahala was one of the children taken captive when Gillette McDonald Taylor was killed.

She was born 5 Mar 1861 at Spring Creek and died 23 Nov 1931 in Melvin, McCulloch Co. TX;

Allen died 30 Ma

187

Alice Mary McDonald 1889- (4.11.4)

m. August Fiedler

Benjamin Franklin “Bennie” McDonald (4.12)

Bennie was born 1867, at Spring Creek. He married cousin Elizabeth „Lizzie‟ Taylor (1.2.6) 17

Jul 1885 in Gillespie Co. Lizzie was born 16 May 1869 at Spring Creek. Bennie died while on a

visit to Bill McDonald‘s ranch in 1918 and is buried in the Cottonwood Cemetery. Lizzie died 19

Nov 1961 and is buried in the Kerrville Cemetery.

The children of Bennie and Lizzie:

Amanda Jane McDonald (4.12.1)

b. Feb. 22, 1887

d. 1965

m. Ted Watkins 1880-1959

Samantha Katherine McDonald (4.12.2)

b. Sept. 12, 1888

d.

m. Thomas Nichols 1878-1928

Lewis Hyram McDonald (4.12.3)

b. Aug. 8, 1890

d. 1966

m. Dena Lennon

Rosa Arabella McDonald (4.12.4)

b. June 26, 1892

d. 1954

m. Eber Spencer 1883-1957

Franklin McDonald 1892- (4.12.5)

Herman Thompson McDonald (4.12.6)

b. March 15, 1894

d. 1952

m. Mary Calley Colwell

Lillian Agnes McDonald (4.12.7)

b. Jan. 8, 1896

d.

m. Floyd Daniels

188

James ‘Eli’ and Caroline Taylor McDonald’s family to Texas

James „Eli‟ McDonald (5.)

Eli was born 1839 in Jefferson Co. IL. His parents were Linville and Eliza McDonald, he was half

brother to Matthew, Ruth and Joe. He married cousin Caroline Taylor (1.6), 8 Aug 1856 in Texas

by Rev Elijah Lacey. They settled in the Spring Creek area. Eli was killed by Kiowas on 8 Aug

1865; Caroline was held captive 1865-1866, she remarried, see above.

The children of Eli and Caroline:

Mahala L. McDonald (5.1)

Mahala was born 1860 in Spring Creek, captive of Kiowas 1865-1866, she married cousin Levy

Allen McDonald (4.10) in 1879. See above.

Rebecca Jane McDonald (5.2)

Beckie was born 26 May1864 in Spring Creek, captive of Kiowas 1865-1866. She married James

Monroe Herrin 28 Feb1879 in Gillespie Co. James was a neighbor in Spring Creek, he was born

12 Oct 1855 in Caldwell Co. TX, his parents were Reno and Mary Herrin from Jefferson Co. IL.

James served with the boys in Co. F, Gillespie Co. Minutemen in 1874. Jim died 18 Apr 1933 in

McCulloch Co. Becky died 25 Mar 1949 in Travis Co.

The children of Becky and James:

James Marion Herrin 1880-1962 (5.2.1)

m. Bessie Awalt

Orpha Josephine Herrin 1881-abt.1900 (5.2.2)

Olen Herrin 1883- (5.2.3)

Archie Allen Herrin 1884-1892 (5.2.4)

m. Esther Lee Davis 1892-1945

Lee Faye Herrin 1886-1968 (5.2.5)

m. Myrtle Emma Davis 1888-1954

Bessie Miranda Herrin 1888-1965 (5.2.6)

m. Lee A. Wilkerson -1935

Birtie Ann Herrin 1889- 1909 (5.2.7)

William Allen/Alston Herrin 1891-1973 (5.2.8)

m. Pearl M. Teague -1972

189

Loney Belle Herrin 1893-1979 (5.2.9)

m. Aubrey Warren

Ruthie Myrtle Herrin 1895- 1899 (5.2.10)

Mahala L. Herrin 1896- (5.2.11)

m. Joe Warren

Hattie/Mattie Herrin 1899-1933 (5.2.12)

m. Howard Ellis

Albert Herrin 1901- 1920 (5.2.13)

Earl Herrin 1902- 1978 (5.2.14)

m. Edna Miller

Rosie Herrin 1905- (5.2.15)

m. Creed T. Wallace 1898-1971

James „Eli‟ McDonald Jr. (5.3)

Eli was born 17 Mar 1866 in Indian captivity in Kansas. He married cousin Harriet „Helen‟

Taylor (1.1.10) 17 Jul 1889. Helen was born 23 Apr 1872 in Kerr Co. Eli died 8 Apr 1930 in Kerr

Co. Helen died 22 Apr 1952 in Kerr Co. They are both buried in the Hunt-Japonica Cemetery.

Eli Jr. was born to Caroline McDonald while she was captive of the Kiowa Indians in Kansas. He

is said to have been born at a Mission in Kansas.

According to a newspaper account, Eli was stepping out of his truck while near Junction, and was

struck by a passing car. He died at the hospital.

The children of Eli and Helen:

Julia Mae McDonald 1890-1930 (5.3.1)

m. Daniel B. Webster

Myra Marie McDonald (5.3.2)

b. 20 Sep 1891 in Kerrville

d. 12 Jan 1934 in Kimble Co.

buried in the Junction Cemetery, Kimble Co.

m. James Monroe Alexander

Son of Renny Alexander and Sarah Malicia Chesser

b. 25 Dec 1886 in Hunt, Kerr Co.

d. 19 Dec 1953 in Polk Co. AR (where his daughter lived)

James „Harvey‟ McDonald 1895-1959 (5.3.3)

m. Estella Blackstock

190

m. Omie Parks

Millard Lee McDonald (twin) 1897-1965 (5.3.4)

never married

Leonard Beal McDonald (twin) 1897-1969 (5.3.5)

m. Bessie Blackstock

Walter „Raymond‟ McDonald 1899-1937 (5.3.6)

m. Estella ―Curlie‖ Leiftste

Colen Eber McDonald (twin) 1900-1975 (5.3.7)

m. Tempie Wallace- ?-1988

Cora Eva McDonald (twin) 1900-1935 (5.3.8)

m. Delbert Billingsley

Ivy Clifton McDonald 1905-1975 (5.3.9)

m. Lula Wallace

m. Lillie Evans

Mary Renova McDonald 1914-1979 (5.3.10)

m. Callie Evans 1913-1979

191

Other Families along the Way

John Alexander Family

John J. Alexander was born in 1800 in Mississippi.

He married Mary Miller about 1831. Mary was born in 1806 in Kentucky.

The children of John and Mary:

Elizabeth “Catherine” Alexander was born in 1832, she married Thurman Thompson Taylor

(1.2) about 1853.

Mary A. Alexander was born in 1836, she may have married a John Dunbar.

William M. Alexander was born in 1839, he married Nancy Lacey (3.5).

Marion Columbus “Lum” Alexander was born in 1841, he married Mary Lacey (3.6).

Reney Cinnamon Alexander was born in 1847, he married first Sarah Chesser, when she died he

married Mary Taylor Davis (1.1.5).

Nancy Caroline Alexander was born in 1849, she married Christopher Watcher

They were all born in Louisiana.

Before the Civil War, John and Mary moved to the South Fork of the Guadalupe River in Kerr

County near were Hunt is today. He was engaged in the Cypress Shingle business, as were many

men in that area. In the winter of 1867, while John was away delivering shingles to Fredericksburg,

Indians attacked the homeplace were Mary and Nancy were. Mary was killed and their home

burned but Nancy escaped to give the alarm. The neighbor men pursed the Indians but an early

snow impeded the search and the Indians got away.

John married, Elizabeth Ann Weaver, a widow, on May 22, 1868 according to Fredericksburg

records. They were living in Spring Creek near extended family in 1870. They must have returned

to the old homeplace in the next few years. John died April 1, 1880 and is buried in the Hunt-

Japonica Cemetery.

Here is a little view of John and Mary‟s grandson from the “West Kerr Current”

―Christopher Columbus ‗Lum‘ Alexander was the son of Ren and Sarah Chesser

Alexander. He married Minni Mae Lock on January 10, 1906. Her parents were John and Nancy

Pierce Lock. They were both born in Kerr County Texas.

―Lum and Minnie lived and worked in several places before moving to Morris Ranch. He

worked at farming and ranching and had begun his labors at an early age on his father's farm.

When he heard help was needed at Morris Ranch around 1913 or 1914, he and his wife loaded their

192

four children and their household goods in the wagon and made their way to Morris Ranch to make

their home.

―Lum helped take care of the horses and the farming. The children remembered many times

in the winter he would come in from work with ice on his mustache. There was always plenty to

do. Morris Ranch had a school and church building, a cotton gin, general store and post office.

They raised race horses; made their own fence wire on the ranch to fence these prized horses since

the conventional barbed wired caused injuries.

―There were many families who lived and worked on Morris Ranch...‖

Wiley Joy Family

William „Wiley‟ Joy

Parents: John William Joy and Martha Wiley

Born: 11 June 1802 in SC

Died: 11 June 1887 in Roosevelt, TX

Hulda „Elizabeth‟ Frazier Married on 8 Oct 1828

Elizabeth: Born 12 Oct 1812 in IN

Killed by Indians 4 Dec 1864 in Kimble Co. TX

The children of Wiley and Elizabeth:

Hulda Jane Joy

b. Nov. 1, 1829 in Little Rock, AR

d. Nov 11, 1901 in Alma, NM

m. Henry Richard Hudson, Sept 7, 1853 in Little Rock, AR

Henry Son of (possibly) Henry Randolph Hudson

b. Feb 27, 1823 Monroe or Mongomery Co. AR

d. Apr 2,1901

Buried at Reserve, Catron Co. NM

Note: They lived next door to Thomas McDonald in the 1860 Census (Cherry Spring,

Gillespie Co.)

Children of Henry and Hulda:

Alice Alabama Hudson b. 24 Nov 1854 in Ft. Smith, AR

Columbus Bradley Hudson b. 23 Sep 1856 in Kerrville, TX

Wiley Steven Hudson b.12 Oct 1858 in TX

George Bellmore “Bell” Hudson b. 3 Jul 1860

193

Edward Felix Lincoln Hudson b. 6 Apr 1862 in Gillespie Co. TX,

m. Mary Corn

Henry Richard Hudson was a 5th Sgt. for the Third Frontier District of the Texas State Troops of

the Confederate States of America at age thirty-nine.

In 1878, The Hudson family and a small band of wagons made its way to New Mexico. It took

three months to reach the Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River. From there they went to Seven

Rivers, New Mexico. While camped at Seven Rivers, Ike Teeters tried to rob the wagon train but

was killed by Bell Hudson. Later, Bell Hudson raced a stranger on horseback for the stranger's

bridle. Bell lost the race and after the stranger departed, Bell was told he was Billy the Kid. Ed &

Bell worked for John Chisholm and Bell was part of Pat Garrett's posse.

John William Joy

b. July 8, 1832 in Pulaski Co. AR

d. June 19, 1921 in Roosevelt, TX

buried, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Kimble Co., TX

m. Nancy Ward in AR

b. 1834 in TN

The children of John and Nancy:

Emory Joy

b. 15 Oct 1854

d. 1941

William Caselton „Dock‟ Joy

b. 17 Nov 1856 in AK

d. 1 Mar 1948 in Kimble Co.

m. Sarah Alice Adams-Smith

Louis W. Joy1862-

William Joy 1864- twin

Amanda Joy 1864- twin

Effie Joy 1866-

Levi Joy 1870- twin

Eli Joy 1870- twin

Helen Joy 1873-

Ellen Joy 1875-

Joe Joy ?

194

Richard Joy

b. 27 Mar 1835 in Pulaski Co. AR

d. 29 Jan 1927 in Hunt, Kerr Co. TX

m. Ann Elizabeth Compton

The children of Richard and Anna:

William Alonzo Joy abt.1860

Richie Joy abt.1864

Bussie Joy abt.1867

Eliza Joy abt.1870

E.A. Joy abt.1873

Alva Joy abt.1875

Sarah Joy abt.1878

Amanda V. Joy

b. 11 Nov 1839 in Pulaski Co. AR

Lavina Louisa Joy

b. 23 Aug 1840 twin, in Pulaski Co. AR

William Tolbert “Tobe” Joy

b. 23 Aug 1840 twin, in Pulaski Co. AR

(another source says b. 19 Apr 1843

d. 19 Apr 1917 in Noxville, Kimble Co.)

Mahala Alwilda Joy

b. 16 Feb 1845 in Pulaski Co. AR

m. Lafe McDonald (2.6)

killed by Indians 4 Dec 1864 along with her mother, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Cleveland Joy

b. 13 Aug 1848 in Pulasli Co. AR

m. James Daniel Mulkey

The children of Elizabeth and James:

Wiley R. Mulkey abt.1870-

195

Annie C. Mulkey abt.1872-

Alonzo S. Mulkey 1874-

Charles Alva Mulkey 1876-

Lewis W. Mulkey 1878-

Jonathan Daniel Mulkey 1881-

Eliza Jennie Mulkey 1884-

Rose E.C. Mulkey 1886-

Trupe “Troup” Carter Joy

b. 24 June 1851 in Sebastian Co. AR

d. 29 Jan 1936 in Skull Valley, AZ

Charles Joy

b. 18 Feb 1854 in Crawford Co. AR

William Chesser Family

William Lewis Chesser

Parents: William Lewis Chesser and Nancy Sparks

Born: Tennessee about 1819

Died: Feb. 12, 1881 in San Antonio, Bexar Co. TX

Buried: O‘Neal Cemetery, Bexar Co.

He was a Methodist Minister.

He married Mary Ann “Polly” Reed. Polly was born in Arkansas about 1827

and died in about 1860.

He then married a widow, Mrs. Danger, with two small daughters; she died soon after they were

married. He adopted the two girls.

He then married the widow of Amos Fairchild, Lucretia Jane McDonald (4.1) on Aug. 6, 1868.

The Children of William and Polly:

John Dan Chesser 1842abt.-

m. Elizabeth Caroline Epley

Christopher Columbus Chesser 1844abt.-

196

Martha L. Chesser 1846abt.-

George Washigton Chesser 1850abt.-

Sina A. Chesser (twin) 1852abt.-

m. John Bunyan Lacey (3.8)

Mary Jane Chesser (twin) 1852abt.-

m. Thomas Monroe Lacey (3.8)

William Seth Chesser 1855abt.-

Sarah Malicia Chesser 1858abt.-

m. Renny Cinamon Alexander 1845-

Brother to William M. and Marion Columbus Alexander

Rebecca Angeline Chesser 1859-1946

m. William Jefferson McDonald (4.9)

Mrs. Danger‟s daughters:

Lucy Danger/Chesser 1863abt.-

Elizabeth Danger/Chesser 1865abt.-

The children of William and Lucretia:

J. Manley Chesser 1869-1887 (4.1.7)

Killed in an accident buried at Spring Creek

Daniel Colfax Chesser 1872-1957 (4.1.8)

m. Cora Maud Matthews

Chesser Family Story

by Ima M. Dreyfus

―William Lewis Chesser came to Texas in the early 1850‘s. The 1850 census of Butler

County, Missouri lists him there with his family. The 1860 census of Burnet County, Texas lists

him (age 41) with his wife Mary Ann (age 33) and nine children: John Dan (18), Christopher

Columbus (16), and Martha L. (14), all born in Missouri. Born in Texas were George Washington

(10), twin girls Sina A. and Mary Jane (8), William Seth (5), Sarah Malicia (2) and Rebecca

Angeline (5 months old).

―The Chesser family, along with countless other pioneer families, settled at Fairland in the

Backbone Valley, a strip of land lying between the Backbone range of mountains and the Slaughter

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mountain range. This ―fairland‖ viewed by these early settlers, gave the community its name in the

area of Burnet and Marble Falls. William Lewis Chesser was born in Tennessee and Mary Ann

‗Polly‖ Reed was born in Arkansas. He was a minister of the Methodist faith and a Mason. It is

believed that they migrated to Texas with a wagon train formed by two brothers, Bill and George

Williams, who hoped to join their father, John Williams. John Williams had come to Texas earlier,

found the springs on Herd Pen Branch and formed Williams Ranch in what is now Mills County.

He then encouraged all his family and relatives to follow him. Elizabeth Epley, 15 years old,

hearing of the wagon train, determined to run away and join the group. She and her sister had long

bean very unhappy living with an aunt and uncle who had been charged with their care. Hearing of

the plight of the two girls, Avery Tobey slipped them out a window one bitter cold night and

delivered them to Bill Williams. Elizabeth clung behind Bill Williams as they rode horseback

through the night to reach the wagon train. She arrived with her bare feet badly frostbitten. Bill‘s

wife cared for the girls. Elizabeth‘s feet were in bad shape and for a long time it was feared she

would lose them.

―About 1860, Mary Ann ―Polly‘ Chesser passed away. It is believed that she was one of the

first to be buried in the Fairland Cemetery, which was established in 1857. A few miles from there

is the Tobey Community Cemetery which is the only remaining landmark of the Tobey community

established by Nat Tobey and his sons, Avery and Samuel, pioneers from Indiana. A church and

school that served the valley stood nearby until phased out.

―John Dan Chesser and Elizabeth Caroline Epley were married December 20, 1860 in the

Bill Williams home. John Dan prepared for his future by staking a claim six miles from the

Williams Ranch in the valley that was later to bear his name. He then went to work to provide for

his wife. They walked to Burnet carrying their meager possessions in their hands. John Dan had a

job there carrying the mail and they spent their honeymoon there in the one room rock house that

constituted the Post Office. He carried the mail to Fredericksburg where he carved his name on one

of the old stone buildings. He became a Texas Ranger where he served during the Civil War. Later

he returned to the ranch, along with Bill and George Williams, Bill Epley, uncle of Elizabeth; some

of the earliest settlers in the Indian area. He built a one-room log cabin and established Chesser

Valley. As his family increased, more rooms were added onto the cabin, but the original log cabin

room retrained the bedroom of John Dan and Caroline until their deaths.

―John Dan began to be called ‗Uncle Dan‘. His home was the center of the community and

it was at his home that the weary traveler stopped and where the homeless and poor found comfort.

Chesser Valley became famous for the frequency and fervency off its camp meetings. They were

the biggest held in the country. Whole families came for miles in wagons and camped out in a

grove of live oak trees for a week or two, preaching and praying. The preacher always stayed at the

Chessers regardless of his denomination, though the Chessers were devout Methodists.

―The children of John Dan and Elizabeth Chesser were: William Franklin (1862-1871) John

Sherril (1863-1936), Mary Ann (1864), Benjamin (1867-1938), Joseph S. (1871-1943), George C.

(1873), Walter (1875), James M. (1878-l939), Ardella (1881-1951), Louisa Iola (January 10, 1884-

September 30, 1971) and Florence Bert (1886-1962).

198

―The first school at Chesser Valley was built from lumber hauled from Round Rock by ox-

drawn wagons and built by the men of the community. It was the biggest school in Brown County

at that time, a one-room, one-teacher school where the 3-R‘s were taught. At one time, there was

an attendance of about 50 students.

―John Dan passed away November 24, 1914. Elizabeth disposed of the original Chesser

Valley farm. She passed away in 1924 and in 1926 the old farmhouse and outbuildings were

destroyed by fire. The place was then incorporated into the Sleepy Hollow cattle ranch. Part of the

old Chesser Valley community is now occupied by the maneuvering area of Camp Bowie, at

Brownwood. Camp Bowie officials have also repaired and used part of the old Wire Road, which

was so named because it was the trail worn during the building of the first telegraph line through

that area from Austin to Fort Concho, now San Angelo. John Dan and Elizabeth are buried in the

Williams Ranch Cemetery.

―After the death of Mary Ann, William Lewis Chesser married a Mrs. Danger, a widow,

with two small daughters, Lucy and Elizabeth. A lot is not known about Mrs. Danger except that

she was not a well woman. She died soon after they were married and he adopted the two little

girls. They are listed in the 1870 census of Burnet County with William L. Chesser and Lucretia,

his third wife. Lucy was seven years old and Elizabeth was five, both born in Texas.

―William L. Chesser and Lucretia Jane Fairchild were married August 6, 1868 in Gillespie

County. She was a young widow with six children. Her first husband, Amos Fairchild, was one of

the men hung by Col. James Duff and his bushwhackers during the Civil War. The Fairchild

children were: Cloe Irene Elizabeth Frances (called ‗Santz‘), Ill., Louisa (called ‗Culey‘), Ill.,

Gillette Louellen (1858), Hezekiah Warden (1859), Erastus (1862), and Amy (called Mona)

(1865), all born in Texas. Lucretia Jane McDonald was born January 26, 1833 in Illinois. Her

parents were Joseph McDonald and Esther Elizabeth Taylor. Joseph McDonald had also migrated

to Texas with his family and had settled in the Harper area of Gillespie County. Eventually,

William Lewis and Lucretia Chesser settled in the Harper area also, where they had two children, J.

Manley (1869) and Daniel Colfax (October 18, 1872).

―The Chesser-Fairchild families resided in the Harper area for many years. Manley died

there in about 1887 following a tragic accident. A horse he was trying to break ran away with him

into the woods. Manley was so badly battered that he died a week later from his wounds. He was

buried in the Spring Creek Cemetery. Daniel Colfax ‗Col‘ was married to Cora Maud Matthews,

July 23, 1897. She was the daughter of James G. Matthews and Jane Walker. Col and Cora Chesser

were the parents of nine children: Wilmeth Parralee (1900), Robert Linden (1902), Rebeccah

Lucretia (1907), Amy Irene (1908-1976), Olivia Pearl (1910), Lucenda Ellen (1913-1979), Clara

Jewel (1916), Corn May (1919) and Bessie Marie (1921-1923). Daniel Colfax Chesser passed

away March 18, 1957 and Cora Maud Chesser passed away December 21, 1974. They are both

buried in the Lohn Cemetery near Brady in McCullough County, Texas.

―William L. Chesser died in 1881 and it is believed that he is buried in the Williams Ranch

Cemetery near Chesser Valley. Lucretia Jane Chesser spent her later years with her daughter and

her husband, Gillette and Hudson Taylor. In about 1907, the Taylors moved to New Mexico, taking

199

her with them. She died there and is buried in the Middle Animas Cemetery near the little hamlet

of Animas in Hidalgo County. Her date of death was December 7, 1928.

―Many descendants of this pioneer family still live in the hill country.‖

Hiram Nelson Family

Hiram Louis Nelson

Born: 12 Nov 1797 in Orange, North Carolina

Parents: Thomas Briton Nelson and Martha Williams

Hiram was Matthew Taylor‘s (1) brother-in-law

Died: 1862 in Spring Creek, Gillespie Co. TX

Buried in Spring Creek Cemetery

Mary Anna Wiles Roundtree Married in Illinois

Mary was born 1808 in Kentucky, said to have been an Indian

Probably buried in Spring Creek Cemetery

Hiram Nelson Sr. was hung by Col. James Duffs Confederate Regiment because he would not

disavow his allegiance to the United States. He met a brutal death by beating and hanging, the body

was tossed into nearby Spring Creek, his kin buried the victims in Spring Creek Cemetery Three

other men were hung along with Hiram, Sebird Henderson, Gus Tegener and Frank Scott. A grim

reminder of the incident is a granite monument erected at the mass grave.

The children of Mary and Hiram:

Rhoda Jane Nelson born 1830.

Married Joseph McDonald. (4.)

Hiram Lewis Nelson Jr. born 1835 in IL and died 1922.

(first Postmaster, Mountain Home, Kerr Co. 1879)

Married Olive (Alliva) McDonald b. abt. 1840 in AR (daughter of Zac McD)

The children of Olive and Hiram Jr.

Mary Elizabeth Nelson b. 5 Oct 1856 in Kerr Co.

m. Andrew Stevens bro. of Joseph (See 2.1.6)

Allen Sherman Nelson b. abt. 1862? in Mexico?

William H. Nelson b. abt. 1866/7 in TX

Lee Ward Nelson b. Apr 1869 in TX

Silas M. B. Nelson b. Oct 1871

200

Frank H. Nelson b. 1873/4

Nellie Nelson b. 1875/6

Rosa / Rose Itaska Nelson b. Jan 1879

Nancy W. Nelson born 1838.

Married William Shepherd McDonald (son of Zac McD)

Levi Nelson born 1840. He died 1856.

Allen B. Nelson born 1842. He died 1865.

Angeline Rebecca Nelson born 1846, died 1932.

Married James Henry Welch on 5 Sep 1866. A Baptist Minister

(See Welch Family)

William Thomas Nelson born 20 Feb 1848, died 25 Sep 1917.

Married Mary Elizabeth Fannin. (2.1.3)

For children see 2.1.3

Joseph M. Nelson born Jul 1850

Itaaca Nelson born 1857

Married Wylie H. Hyatt in 1872 in Gillespie Co.

James Welch Family

From the USGenWeb Archives, RATTLESNAKE SPRINGS Cemetery Records, Eddy County, New

Mexico:

―… regarding Rattlesnake Springs Cemetery south of Carlsbad. This little cemetery is

filled with members of the James Henry Welch family.

James Henry Welch was the son of John George & Celicia Elizabeth (Sandifer) Welch who

migrated from Mississippi through Arkansas and settled in the Edward, Real, and Kerr Co., Texas

areas.

―James Henry Welch was a Baptist minister. James Henry Welch married Angeline

Rebecca Nelson on 6 September 1866 in Gillespie Co., Texas. Angeline was the daughter of

Hiram & Mary Anna "Polly" (Roundtree) Nelson who migrated to Texas from North Carolina.

―Ten children were born to James & Angeline; James Henry, Jr., Celicia Elizabeth, Joseph

Hiram, Daniel Webster, Matilda Anna, Sarah Frances, Wiley Hamilton Franklin, John Thomas,

James William and Laura Rebecca.

201

―James Henry & Angeline Rebecca (Nelson) Welch moved to the territory of New Mexico

where the grass was said to be "belly height to a horse". Their journey started from the Nueces

River Canyon area (Edwards County, now Real County). They followed the trail made by cattle

drivers to the Butterfield Stage Route and headed west to cross the Pecos River at Horse Head

Crossing.

―It is said they first went up the Hondo to settle in the Ruidoso but did not like the snow and

retreated to the south. In 1881, they were living in the Seven Rivers area of New Mexico. It is said

that James helped build the school house for the eleven children in the area. It was used for church

services as well.

―James Henry Welch, Jr. died on 17 October 1883 and was the first Welch to be buried in

this little cemetery. His death was from accidental drowning in the Black River near this location.

James Henry Welch, Sr. died on 21 January 1886 and is also buried in this little cemetery.

―His obituary dated 25 January 1886 is as follows:

DIED BLACK RIVER, EDDY CO., N.M.

Death has again visited our little neighborhood. While in the full vigor of manhood the least

expecting the sad messenger, the sad summons came, and our esteemed friend and neighbor, James

H. Welch, obeyed the call. He died Thursday evening, January 21, at 10 o'clock with typhoid

pneumonia, leaving a wife and seven children who sustain in his death a loss none can realize save

themselves. "Mr. Welch was an honorable man, esteemed by all who knew him. His moral,

upright character made him popular wherever he lived, and this community feels that they have lost

one of their best citizens. His family have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire neighborhood, and

may he who cares for the widow and orphans assuage their grief. Let us hope that our loss is His

gain. /s/ A Friend." Note: James Henry Welch died one month before their last child was born.

―Matilda Anna Welch died on 8 April 1892, Sarah Frances Welch died on 16 November

1892, and Laura Rebecca Welch died on 22 August 1893. All three girls died from diptheria

(typhoid fever) and are buried in this little cemetery.

Daniel Webster Welch died on 5 December 1906 in Cutbank, Glacier, Montana, from injuries

sustained in a wagon accident. His body was returned to this little cemetery where he was buried.

―About the turn of the century, Angeline had headstones made from red sandstone found on

son, Joseph's, newly purchased land."

―The following is a story written by Illma June Welch…

―Angeline liked to tell of the past to her grandchildren. The following is how Dudley, the

fourth grandchild, remembers her saga after leaving the Ruidoso: "In 1882, James Henry moved to

the head of Black River and settled between Rattle Snake Springs and Black River. Rattle Snake

Springs was owned by Hank Harrison, my uncle by marriage on my mother‘s side. My granddad,

Lacurgus Ward, migrated to New Mexico from Frio County, Texas, in the same manner as the

Welches.

202

―When the James Henrys' were on their way to settle on upper Black River they stopped at

Look Out Crossing on lower Black River and lived there a year or so. There was a small

settlement there as it was where the freight road crossed. My grandmother, Angeline Welch, was

the Post-Mistress.

―The settlement's name was Look Out. There were a few settlers on the head of the Black

River and Rattle Snake Springs country. James Henry cleared the Cat Claw brush from a few acres

of land and plowed it up with old Simon and Slick, a pair of oxen, the same pair that had moved

them from Texas to the Territory. He had a team of iron gray mares, too. Grandmother drove

them to the covered wagon, old Simon and Slick followed the covered wagon without a skinner.

―Back to Grandpa ... He put in a crop and a garden. Located their stock on the range

around them. He built a house with adobe and made the roof with poles and plastered it with corn

stalks and mud. He built his corral with pickets set in the ground and laced them together with

raw-hide. He built a school house on the bank of the Black River. Built the building with cedar

logs brought in from the breaks to the south along the State Line. It had a dirt floor. He made the

shingles by sawing the cedar logs into 18-inch lengths, split them with a wide wedge then dressed

them thinner on one end with a drawing knife (I have the drawing knife in my possession.) Along

about December, 1883, the house was finished, they hired a man (just can‘t remember his name)

that had enough education to teach the kids their lessons. The Ben Slaughter children, early settlers

just below them, attended. The Welch kids, the Larmores and Plowmans, they amounted to eleven

children. On Sunday they held Sunday School and Church in the school house. My grandfather

led them in prayer and preached a sermon...across the field, south, up in the cat claws, a grave or

two had been made. One was Uncle Henry, who had drowned in the Black River, a few hundred

yards away, and an old Dutchman, who had been murdered up in the mountains, named "Dutch

Fred". In January, 1886, they added Grandpa's grave. He had died of typhoid fever. In 1892,

Anna and Frances' graves were added. In 1893, little Laura joined them. In 1906, Uncle Daniel

Webster was killed in Montana in a wagon accident. They shipped him back. That made six

Welch graves in a row…

―With the staunchness of a pioneer woman, Angeline faced the harsh life she and James

Henry had started for them, with determination to continue with their plans to make a home at the

head of the Black River. She sent some of her cattle to market with a man who never returned with

her money. Her oldest living child, Joseph was sixteen, Daniel was fourteen, with their help they

managed to run the ranch. Joe, an excellent cattle man, got a job with Morg Livingston (Later to

be his brother‘s father in-law). They managed to sustain the ranch but lost the three girls to

typhoid fever that the entire family had been plagued with. Angeline‘s living family grew up

educated and aware of the geography of the world. Son, Wiley, was married at age 19, Joseph at

age 27. Some time after Joseph's marriage, Angeline moved to his home. She and the two

youngest boys were listed as living in his home in the 1900 Census in Precint II (Loving). Joseph

had property south of Loving, near the state line, by this time, that he owned until his death in

1943.

―On the 17th of January, 1901, Angeline sold the homestead to D.H. and (Wife) J.G. Lucas

for the sum of $1,500, in hand. (Eddy County, NM, Deed Book 9, Page 46) So ended the family's

203

right to the property, except for the ties to the six members buried on the small plot of cemetery

land.

―Angeline was concerned that the cemetery be preserved. She made an Affidavit in

Spokane, Washington, stating, in effect, that she had been assured by D.H. Lucas and Jake Owens

(Clerk of the County of Eddy, New Mexico) that no special provision in the deed needed to be

made to preserve the cemetery. Later, when D.H. Lucas subsequently transferred the title to

William Washington, she was again assured by Mr. Washington, in the presence of Ida Harrison of

Black River on Rattle Snake Springs, Eddy County, New Mexico, that said cemetery and the land

around belonged to her, Angeline Rebecca Welch, ‗about one acre in area, more or less‘…

The marked and names sites are:

Dan 1872 to 1906

Laura 1886 to 1898

Frances Welch 1876 to 1892

Anna 1874 to 1892

James H. Welch 1844 to 1881

Henry Welch 186? to 1883

10 other marked but unnamed sites.‖

Larremore Family

From www.larremores.com web site by Pam Wapinarski:

John Larremore was born Sep 5 1813 in Green County, Kentucky. He died Dec 31 1895 in

Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico and was buried in near Carlsbad, Eddy County, New

Mexico. John married Amanda Elizabeth Conway about 1838. Amanda was born about 1817 in

Arkansas. She died Nov 17 1905 in Eddy County, New Mexico and was buried in Eddy County,

New Mexico. John was counted in a census 1850 in Williams County, Texas. He was counted in a

census 1860 in Llano County, Texas.

The children of John and Amanda:

Sarah Ann Larremore born about 1838, died 1868

Samuel Houston Larremore born 7 Dec 1844, died Apr 13 1929

Lebious P. Thadeous Larremore born 17 Jan 1849, died 15 Oct 1919

John Thomas Larremore born Apr 1852, died 12 Feb 1935

Quinnie Priscilla Larremore born 29 Jan 1857, died 10 Aug 1927

George Washington Larremore born 20 Jan 1840, died 13 Jun 1909

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Married Rachel Adeline Fanning. (see below)

Ammanda Elizabeth “Bettie” Larremore born 20 Feb 1854, died 17 Nov 1905

She married Lafe McDonald who is well documented in this work.

Judge George Washington Larremore was born on January 20, 1840 in Washington, Arkansas.

At age 26, George married Rachel Adeline Fanning, daughter of George Wesley Fanning and Mary

More McDonald. George and Rachel were married on Wednesday July 4, 1866 in Fredericksburg,

Gillespie County, Texas.

George was a Texas Ranger and a Commanche Indian scout for the Confederate Army of Texas.

He served in the Frontier Forces from 1870 to 1871, and the Frontier Battalion between 1874 and

1898.

On June 3, 1878 he bought 76 acres in New Mexico from his brother-in-law, Joseph T. Fanning.

He did the surveying of these tracts of land which was accepted by the County authorities. When

George brought his family by wagon train in 1880 to what was later called Seven Rivers, it was a

true wilderness. The wagon train arrived September 22, 1880 and included the families of Joe

Fanning, Joe Woods, Will Nelson, Marion Burleson, Ed Peril, Dick Turknett, Howard Henderson,

Levi Watson, and Charlie and Buster Gambel. These were the original settlers of the area and many

are included as family.

By 1884, more pioneers arrived by wagon train and the area now known as Seven Rivers became a

small wild west cow town. This wild town soon attracted many outlaws; Billy the Kid (alias,

William H. Bonney, Henry McCarty, and Kid Antrim) being one who frequently visited the

Larremore's of this area. Another famous outlaw of the time was Clay Allison. Instead of dying in a

gun battle like most gunslingers, he died while he was with our Judge George. Quoting an article

found on angelfire, "Clay Allison fell off Geo. Larrimore's wagon and was killed..." He had gone to

the town of Pecos, Texas, for some supplies. Apparently, a grain sack had begun to slide from the

wagon, and when Allison reached for it, he lost his balance, fell, and one of the wheels passed over

his neck, breaking it and killing him." The entire Clay Allison story can be found at Angelfire.com

Judge George Washington Larremore died on June 13, 1909 in Carlsbad, Eddy County, New

Mexico, at age 69. He was buried in Carlsbad Cemetery - Odd Fellows, Carlsbad, Eddy County,

New Mexico. The front page of the CARLSBAD ARGUS dated June 18, 1909 reads:

DEATH OF GEORGE W. LARREMORE

Judge George W. Larremore died at his home, in the northwest part of the city, last Saturday

evening, of cancer, and was buried Sunday afternoon, in the City cemetery.

'Uncle George,' as he was familiarly known to the majority of the citizens of Carlsbad, was one

of the oldest citizens in this part of the valley and had until the past few months, enjoyed robust

health. He was born in Arkansas, sixty-nine years ago, and removed from there to Texas in the

early forties. In 1880 he became imbued with the western spirit and migrated to the Pecos Valley,

settling on a tract of land in the Seven River country, about twenty miles northwest of Carlsbad,

which is still known as the 'old Larremore place.' About six years ago he moved to a farm near

205

Malaga, where he continued to live until this past winter, when, on account of his failing health, he

came to Carlsbad to receive medical attention.

Last year, he announced himself a candidate for probate judge of Eddy County and his

popularity with his home people was most graciously shown by the large majority which was given

him when the votes were counted, which was the largest majority ever given a candidate for any

office in Eddy County.

Last October, cancer of the face developed and he immediately sought treatment, but with no

avail. It stubbornly refused to yield to the most rigorous treatment, and early this spring he

underwent an operation which it was thought would check if not cure the trouble, but such was not

the case, and last Saturday night it claimed him for its victim.

The deceased leaves a wife and four children to mourn his death. They are Mrs. George W.

Larremore, his wife; Mrs. Alice Hillyer, C. W. Larremore, J. M. Larremore and Mrs. Dora Bass all

of whom were at his bedside when the end came. The funeral services were held last Sunday

afternoon, from his late home, conducted by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he

was a member. The remains were laid to rest in the Odd Fellows' reserve, in the City cemetery.

Herrin-Lockhart-Hunter

In the 1850 Census of Jefferson Co. Illinois, Reno Herrin and his bride Mary were living with his

parents next door to the Hunter Family, including young William Hunter. The families obviously

were close and as years went by, William married Reno‘s daughter Elmanza. As the families made

their way to Texas in staggered stages and settled in with others they knew from Jefferson County,

the Spring Creek crowd, things changed. In the 1870s, apparently Elmanza died leaving William

with two small children.

In another family, the Lockharts, Samuel Lockhart had been killed upholding the law in Llano

County, his widow marrying Peter Banta which brought them in contact with our group. Daughter,

Polly Jane Lockhart married Rufus McDonald and Cynthia Lockhart married William Hunter. In

1880 the William Hunters were back in Sam Lockhart‘s old stomping grounds of Llano County but

daughter, Eddie, was living with Reno and Mary in Spring Creek.

This is an interesting scenario which was played out many times with other members of our group

in conjunction with other families outside the scope of this project.

~~~

Ransom “Reno” Herrin was born about 1831 in IL

Parents were Mager and Nancy Herrin

Died 7 Jan 1884 in Kendall Co. TX

Buried in the Borene Cemetery, Boerne, Kendall Co. TX

He married Mary Ann Anderson (Jordan) 11 May 1849 in Jefferson County, IL.

Mary Ann was born 17 Dec 1825 in Washington County, IL.

Died 31 Oct 1923 in Austin, Travis Co.

206

Ransom served as Pvt, 29 Brigade, TST, CSA (Karnes Co.)

And he served in the Gillespie Co. Minute Men 1872-1873

The children of Mary and Ransom:

Angelina Jordan (Herrin) b. 1845 in IL

Elmanza (Edna) Herrin b. 1853 in IL

m. William Henry Hunter 14 Dec 1867 in Jefferson Co.

Samuel Herrin b. 1854 in Karnes Co. TX

James Monroe Herrin b.1855 Caldwell Co. TX

m. Rebecca Jane McDonald (5.2)

Loueller Herrin b. Feb 1869

Ransom J. Herrin b. 1864

~~~

William Henry Hunter

Son of Samuel Hunter and Amelia Barnhart

Born 8 Jul 1848 in Jefferson Co. IL

Died 31 May 1937 in Carpenter, Rodger Co. OK

Married (1) Elmanza E. Herrin 14 Dec 1867 in Jefferson Co. IL

Daughter of Ransom Herrin and Mary Ann Anderson

Born 1853 in Jefferson Co.

Children of William and Elmanza:

Samuel James Hunter b. 25 Mar 1869 in Mt. Vernon

d. 21 Apr 1911 in Emerson. Greer Co. OK

Eddie Viola Hunter b. 15 May 1872 in Jefferson Co.

d 17 Jan 1947

Married (2) Cynthia Luiza Melissa Lockhart in 1875 in Gillespie Co.

Daughter of Samuel Lee Lockhart and Sarah Ann Chastain

Born 1859 in Willow Springs, Fayette Co. AR

Died 1907 in OK

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The children of William and Cynthia:

William Hunter 1877-1959

John Hunter 1879-1955

Sarah Amelia Hunter 1880-

Thomas Jefferson Hunter 1882-1967

Louvenia Evaline Hunter 1889-

Lewis Hunter 1892-1900

Ida Elizabeth Hunter 1895-1976

Alvereta Iona Hunter 1897-1976

~~~

Samuel Lockhart

Born: 7 Jun 1822 in Paoli, Orange Co. IN

Grandfather, Levi Peter Lockhart

Father, Levi Peter Lockhart Jr.

b. 1791 in Augusta, VA

d. 1 Jul 1837 in Jackson Co., TX

Mother, Elizabeth Hungate

b. 1792 in Mercer, KY

d. 1838 in Washington, IN and buried there.

Died 9 Jan 1858 Llano Co. TX

Buried Tow Cemetery, Llano Co. TX

Married, Sarah Ann Chastain

Father, William Chastain

b. 9 Jan 1796 in Franklin Co. VA

d. 4 Aug1890 in Orange Co. IN

Mother, Polly Thorton, m. 1816, Washington Co, VA

Samuel Lockhart and his brother, Joseph Warren Lockhart, and their wives, who were sisters,

moved to Texas late in 1851 or early 1852. They appeared to claim the large land grant issued their

father, Levy Peters Lockhart Jr., for his service in the Army of the Army of the Republic of Texas.

They first settled in what is now Llano Co. and were driven back by the Indians, but later returned.

Samuel was the first Sheriff of Llano Co. and was in the Mexican War. William Taylor, a criminal

Samuel was attempting to arrest, killed him in Llano Co. Samuel is buried in Tow Cemetery.

Note: After the death of Samuel, Sarah married Peter Banta.

208

The children of Samuel and Sarah:

Elizabeth Lockhart

m. ______ Miller

Polly Jane Lockhart

m. Isaac Rufus McDonald (4.3)

Cynthia Lockhart

m. William H. Hunter

William Warren Lockhart

m. Nancy Ann Martin

England, Tate, Lacey

Jacob England

Born ca 1766/71, VA

Died bet. 1814/20 in Robertson Co., TN

Married Rebekah Ann Sumner in 1791in Montgomery Co., VA

Born ca 1773, prob. VA daughter of Hezekiah and Mary Sumner

Died in Robertson Co., TN

They moved to Robertson Co., TN, in the early 1800s.

The oldest child of Rebekah and Jacob:

Rev. William England

Born 25 Apr 1794 in VA

Died in 1876, Montague Co., TX

Married Cloah Pike on 3 Feb 1817

Born 8 Oct 1794 in TN daughter of John Pike and Sarah Byrd (See 1850 Census)

Died 24 Sep 1870

William England was murdered by Benk Kribbs, who was sentenced to be hung by the District

Court of Montague Co., TX. William served in the War of 1812, in the Battle of New Orleans. He

was in Grayson Co., TX, in 1873.

The children of Cloah and William:

Saria (Sarah) England

b. 18 Mar 1819

d. 1885

m. David Tate (see below)

Susanna England

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b. 9 Sep1821 in TN

m. William Monroe Adams 7 May1829 in Salem, IL

b. ca 1820, VA

They settled in Guadalupe Co., TX, from IL about 1850/1.

Hester Ann England

b. 26 Jun 1823 in TN

m. Benjamin Crain 23 Jun 1846 (marriage performed by her father)

b. ca 1832

Mary England

b. 5 May 1825 in TN

m. William J. Locke (3.1)

b. 27 Nov1828

William England Jr.

b. 14 May 1827 in IL

m. Mary Elizabeth Massey 22 Dec 1853

b. 27 Apr 1831

Rosana England

b. 23 Apr 1829 in IL (twin)

d. 3 Apr 1906 at Morris Ranch, Gillespie Co., TX

m. Asa Phelps Lacey (3.2) 25 Jul 1849

b. 18 May 1830, St. Clair Co., IL;

d. 4 May 1913, OK

Jane England

b. 23 Apr 1829 in IL(twin)

m. Isaac Taylor

b. abt. 1829

Parmelia England

b. 9 Nov 1831 in IL

d. 8 Nov 1846

England, Tate, Lacey connection:

David F. Tate

Son of Samuel Tate (1776-1842) and Sally Fortner (1775-1853)

Born in TN

Died 1870 in Grayson Co., TX

Married Sarah England 1 Aug 1838 in Marion Co., IL

Daughter of William England and Chloe Pike

Born 15 Mar 1819

Died 15 Apr 1885 in Jack Co., TX

211

Birdie A. Tate 1897-1980

George D. Tate 1899-1974

The children of Austin and Lydia:

Lydia‘s daughter by previous marriage to Asa Lacey

Rosa Lacey 1903-

Nathan Tate 1909-

Della Tate (Living?)

Zac McDonald

Just to add to the confusion there is another, separate family of McDonalds that parallel our

McDonald family. Perhaps they first became acquainted with the Hiram Nelsons in Arkansas, at

any rate they lived in Gillespie County at the same time as the Spring Creek crowd was settling in.

Zachariah McDonald was born in Georgia in 1802. He married(1) Easter (Esther?) Williams in

1821 in Clark Co. AR. Easter was born in 1805 in GA and died in 1845 in AR. He married(2)

Eliza Barker Banta the widow of Isaac Banta (the mother of William, John and Jacob) in 1859 in

Burnet Co. in 1859. They lived in the Pedernales Settlements near Lafe McDonald in 1870.

The children of Zac and Easter:

Elizabeth Lurcetia McDonald b. 1825 in AR

d. before 1860 in Hays Co. TX

m. Jeremiah Shelton 1823-1873

Artimecia McDonald

b. 1830 in Hot Springs Co. AR

d. 16 Aug 1927 in Kerr Co.

m. Silas B. McDaniels, 5 Sep 1849 in Hays Co. TX

b. Apr 1822 in Union Co. AR

d. 14 Aug 1906 in Texas

William Shepherd McDonald b. 13 Sep 1833 in Hot Springs Co. AR

d. 26 Sep 1903 in Coleman Co. TX

m. Nancy Wiles Nelson daughter of Hiram Nelson Sr.

b. Feb 1838 in MO

d. 5 Feb 1916 in Mason Co. TX

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Olive McDonald b. 13 Nov 1838 in Hot Springs Co. AR

d. 29 Jan 1912 in Mountain Home, Kerr Co.

m. Hiram L. Nelson Jr. 9 Aug 1855 in Grape Creek, Gillespie Co.

b. 11 Sep 1835 in Washington Co. IL

d. 5 Apr 1927 in Mountain Home, Kerr Co.

Pauline Mary McDonald

b. Aug 1840 in Union Co. AR

d.

m. William H. Nelson b. 1831 in Ireland

Zachariah McDonald Jr. b. 1843 in Union Co. AR

d. 7 Aug 1884 in Huntsville Prison, Walker Co. TX

m. Elizabeth Perlina Banta 10 Jun 1860 in Gillespie Co.

(sister of William, John and Jacob)

b. 5 Jun 1846 in Red River Co. TX

d. 29 Nov 1935 in San Angelo, TX

Benjamin Franklin McDonald b. Mar 1845 in AR

d.

m. Emma Frances Fannin in 1870

b. 1855 in Troup Co. GA

d. 1911 in Bell Co. TX

[Return to TOC]

I hope you‟ve enjoyed our tour!

Rich Eastwood

www.afamilyofthewest.org

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