Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 135 of 894

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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

scalp of Youngblood, which was conveyed to his
late residence in time to be placed in its natural position
before the burial.
In the summer of 1861, a party of Indians on
Grindstone creck attacked two young men named
William Washington and John Killen, while stock
hunting. They killed Mr. Killen while Washington
escaped severely wounded, but recovered after
prolonged suffering.
In the same summer Mrs. John Brown, living on
Grindstone creek and having twin babies, started
to visit a neighbor, she carrying one and a young
girl the other infant. The girl was some distance
ahead, when the Indians appeared, and reached the
neighbor's house. Mrs. Brown retreated to her
own house and entered it, but was closely followed
by the murderous wretches, by whom she was
killed and scalped. The infant, however, was left
unharmed.
Prior to these tragedies, in January, 1861, Mrs.
Woods and her two sisters, the Misses Lemlev, of
Parker County, were ruthlessly assailed by five savages,
who murdered and scalped the former lady,
and shockingly wounded the young ladies, leaving
them as dead, but after great suffering, under the
assiduous treatment of Dr. J. P. Volintine they
recovered.
In September, 1861, the house of Jas. Brown, on
the Jacksboro road, in his temporary absence, was
attacked by a small party of Indians, but they were
repulsed and driven off by Mrs. Brown, who understood
the use of tire arms and used them most
effectually.
In the beginning of 1863, William and Stewart,
sons of Rev. John Hamilton, living in the valley
of Patrick's creek, while near their home, were
murdered, scalped and otherwise mutilated.
On the same day the house of Mrs. F. C. Brown,
in the same neighborhood, was attacked and the
lady killed. Her daughter, Sarah, aged sixteen,
and another fourteen years of age, on their return
home from the house of a neighbor, were both
wounded, but escaped--Sarah to die of her
wounds
the younger sister to recover.
A Mr. Berry, while at work in his field on Sanchez
creek, in September, 1864, was killed by a squad
of Indians.
In those same days of insecurity and bloodshed,
a child was captured and carried into captivity from
the home of Hugh O. Blackwell, but was subsequently
recovered at Fort Cobb, in the Indian
Territory. But soon after his return home from
the disbanded Confederate army in 1865 Mr. Blackwell
himself, while returning home from Jacksboro,

was killed by a party of these prowling assassins
and scalped.
In the same year Henry Maxwell was murdered
by a similar band on his farm near the Brazos
river.
In June, 1865, Fuller Milsap was attacked by
two savages near his house, seeing which, his
heroic daughter, Donnie (subsequently Mrs. Jesse
Hitson), ran to him with a supply of ammunition,
when her brave father rebuked her temerity, but
must have felt an exalted pride in such a daughter,
who had on former occasions exhibited similar
courage, and was once shot through her clothing.
Honored be her name in her mountain home, far
away in Colorado! The father triumphed over his
foes, and they fled.
In July, 1865, in a fight with a small party of
Indians in Meek's prairie, A. J. Gorman was
killed, about a month after reaching home from the
Confederate army. Charles Rivers and his other
companions repulsed the attacking party.
In November, 1866, while working in his field
on Sanchez creek, Bohlen Savage was butchered
and scalped. His child, eight years old, ran to
him on seeing the assault, and was carried off, to
be recovered two years later at Fort Sill. The
wretches then passed over to Patrick's creek,
where James Savage, a brother of Bohlen, lived,
and where they murdered him with equal brutality.
In August, 1866, William, son of Hiram Wilson,
of Spring creek, twelve years of age, and
Diana Fulton, aged nine years, were captured.
On the fourth day afterwards, in Palo Pinto
County, Captain Maxwell's Company attacked the
same Indians, killed several, routed the band, and
recovered the two children.
On Rock creek, in April, 1869, Edward Rippey
was attacked a short distance from his home. He
fled towards the house, calling to his wife to bring
the gun. She ran toward him with the weapon,
but before meeting her he was killed, when the
demons slew the devoted wife. In the house was
their only daughter and a boy named Eli Hancock.
This heroic lad quickly barred the door, and with
the arms still in the house, defied and beat off the
blood-stained vandals. On a prior occasion, Mrs.
Rippey, rifle in hand, had successfully held at bay
one of these roving bands.
On the 4th of July, 1869, while returning from
a visit to a neighbor, Mr. and Mrs. Light were
murdered near their home on Grindstone creek.
Both were scalped, but Mr. Light survived two
days. Their children were at home and thus
escaped a similar fate.
On the 16th of December, 1870, on Turkey creek,