Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 488 of 894

INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

411

GEORGE S. BONNER,
COOKE COUNTY.

George S. Bonner, until the time of his death a
leading citizen of Cooke County, this State, came
to Texas from Tennessee in 1840 and settled first
in Lamar County, where he remained until 1861.
In the latter year he moved to Cooke County and
established himself as a farmer and stock-raiser on
Elm creek, six miles distant from the town of
Gainesville. His wife still survives and resides
with her son, Mr. George M. Bonner, in Cooke
County. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
George S. Bonner, viz.: Martha, now Mrs. John
Gillam, of Runnels County; Sallie, now Mrs. E.
C. Peery, of Gainesville; Tennie, now Mrs. Judge
Lindsay, of Gainesville; Duckie, now Mrs. T. P.
Aiheart, of Colorado; George M., of Cooke
County; and Kate, who married Mr. G. W. Lindsay,
but is now deceased.
December 21st, 1863, hostile Indians from the
Territory made a foray into Cooke County for purposes
of murder and robbery. Two of these
Indians rode up to the Bonner home in sight of the
house and drove off with them two horses belonging
to Mr. George S. Bonner.
He at once armed himself, mounted and started
in pursuit. He followed them for several miles
when he came upon about three hundred mounted
Indians. They started after him, but he succeeded,
by hard riding, in effecting his escape.
Mrs. Bonner, with her little son, had walked about
a mile from the house, and she had climbed a tree
to see if she could see her husband, and he, seeing
her as he approached, called to her to go back.
The Indians, hearing him calling, thought he was
calling to men behind the hill and slackened their
speed, which enabled him and his wife and child to
get back to their home. One of his daughters, a
widow, Mrs. Martha Milliken, now Mrs. John
Gillam, of Runnels County, prepared for their
coming. When they first leftshe got on an old family
horse and started to town for help, but the horse

scented the Indians and refused to go farther, and
she returned to the house, and there gathered up
all the axes, hatchets and pitchforks about the place
to arm the household. Mr. Bonner stood in front
of the house with his gun and frightened the
Indians away by shouting to imaginary supporters,
"Come on boys, we can kill them all." The
Shannons, a family living out on the prairie, heard
the Indians coming, and started for Mr. Bonner's
house. They were overtaken by the Indians and
Mr. Shannon and a little nephew were shot four
times each with arrows, but all managed to make
their way in and the wounded afterwards recovered.
Some men who were hunting saw the savages coming
and rushed to town to notify the people that
the whole country was alive with Indians, and at
about the time that Mr. Bonner took his stand in
the yard, twenty-eight men from town came up.
The Indians had crossed the creek and formed in
line opposite. The twenty-eight men thought the
Indians too many for them, did not charge them,
and in retreating hadjone of their number killed.
He was carried tolMr. Bonner's house and takento
town the following day. Mrs. Milliken was ready
to fight and wanted all others to do so. After killing
the man referred to, the Indians left and Mr.
Bonner's daughters were safely conveyed to town
that night. He, with the remainder of his family,
followed the next day. They did not move back
to their country place for several years thereafter.
They returned to their home eventually, however,
and were there at the time of the formidable Indian
raid of 1868. Mr. Bonner died in April, 1864,
following the last mentioned raid, and is buried in
Gainesville. This pioneer family encountered its
full share of the dangers and hardships incident to
the settlement of the country, and its members have
always been among the most useful and highly
respected citizens of the communities in which they
have made their homes.