Bosque County: Land and People (A History of Bosque County, Texas) Page: 483
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i *Our first home in Bosque County. Picture made in 1902. Hollams from Chicago, visitors. Back Row, L-R:
"Ed" Gustave A. Linnstaedt, Emily Rauch Linnstaedt, Caroline Rauch, Emile Rauch, John Hollam,
Augusta Hollam, and the hired man, Jameson. Front Row: Nora Linnstaedt, George A. Linnstaedt, and
Freda Linnstaedt.well and windmill, fencing and cross fencing
took months---even years.
Roadways through pastures to Morgan and
Walnut Springs were planned and made
passable for wagons and teams.
Morgan had two railroads, several small
mercantile establishments and a post office.
Once each week the seven mile trip to Morgan
was made to get the mail, groceries and other
supplies. Later Walnut Springs became the
family trading center and school from which
the children graduated.
Four children were born to Emily and Ed:
Nora Margaret (1894-), Freda Lena (myself,
1896-), George Adolph (1899-1954), and
Eddie Dorothea (1903-).
A devastating tragedy befell the happy
family when Ed was accidentally shot and
killed (1903) by his own rifle, while dismoun-
ting from his horse. He was deeply loved by
his family and a respected leader in the
community.
Steel Creek Church and one room school
were two miles from the ranch over pasture
roads with hard to open barbed-wire gates.
Nora and Freda entered the Steel Creek
School (1903). First, they rode horseback,
however, the wire gates were such a problem
to the children it was decided they must walk
to school. New problems arose of crossing
pastures of the Blair Ranch. There were
herds of cattle and often a few cattle would
follow the little girls. The girls had been
warned by family and kind old Mr. Blair,
"Don't ever, ever run or the cattle might start
running and run over you." They remem-
bered, but when they neared their home
pasture fence they would make a dash and
roll under the loosest wire, safely and joy-
fully. A few years later a tornado totally
destroyed the Steel Creek buildings and the
Blair home.
My grandmother, Caroline Sebecker
Rauch, had been reared in Strasbourg,
France. She had led a protected life and beenschooled in the manner of a gentlewoman,
but her upbringing was little help to her in
the pioneer life she now led. Once, wanting
to be helpful, she went to meet Grandfather
Rauch in a pasture to help him pen his herd
of sheep. In some way she missed meeting
him and became lost. All night neighbor
ranchmen helped search for her. She was
found about daybreak, sitting in a huge tree
trembling from cold and fright, and thankful
to God the howling coyotes had not come
nearer.
Rattlesnakes were numerous; horses, dogs
and cattle were bitten often. Emile Rauch
once was bitten by a large rattlesnake. After
killing the snake, he walked about a mile
home. My mother did all she knew to do.
With a razor, she cut two slits over the fang
marks, put his hand in kerosene oil and a
farm hand drove him to Morgan. The doctor
said he could do no more than had been done.
After days and nights of terrible suffering,
our beloved grandfather recovered.
In 1906 our mother, Emily, married Wil-
liam B. Hickox (1872-1953). To them were
born Emil Thomas (1908-1964) and Louise
(1912-).
After about one-half century, the old home
place was sold and a smaller retirement place
was bought in the Clifton-Cranfills Gap area.
It was here that Emily and William (Bill)
lived the remaining years of their lives.
Bosque County will always be thought of
with love by the Linnstaedt and Hickox
children, as it was there that we were born
and there that so many memories still exist
for us.
by Freda Linnstaedt Lail
' ' ~rLINNSTAEDT-HICKOX FAMILY
F748
Two Linnstaedt owned freighters plied the
river waters between Germany and Poland.
Great-grandfather Linnstaedt and his nine
sons composed most of the crews. They were
good workers and prospered for many years.
When great-grandfather Linnstaedt died, his
spendthrift sons became indebted and lost
the freighters.
One son, Frederick Linnstaedt (1836-
1903), married Augusta Reidel (1843-1906)
and came to Pittsburgh, Pa. They had three
children: Mary (1865-1957), Gustave Adolph
(Ed) (1868-1903) and Charlie (1870-1942).
Early in 1877 they moved to Sherman,
Texas. Their older son, "Ed," helped with
stock and farm work and also became leader
of the small Sherman Band. In 1893 he met
and married Emily Rauch (1874-1948). Two
years later they came from Denton County to
Bosque County with Emily's parents, Emile
Rauch (1843-1932) and Caroline Rauch
(1838-1922) and the family bought land in
Bosque County.
Eight years later, by a tragic accident,
Emily was left a widow with four small
children: Nora Marguerite (1894-), Freda
Lena (1896-), George Adolph (1899-1954)
and Eddie Dorothea (1903-).
In 1906 Emily Linnstaedt and William
Babb Hickox (1872-1953) were married. To
them were born Emile Thomas (1908-1964)
and Emily Louise (1912-). There were now six
children. Grandmother and Grandfather
Rauch were also a part of the family until
their deaths.
Life moved on and there was always much
work to be done, with ranch and farm work.
There was a minimum of entertainment,
such as Sunday night singings, parties and
box suppers. Each summer Walnut Springs
had a fair, then later in the summer we went
on camping and fishing trips. Often we went
to Jackson's Crossing on the Bosque River.
Dad Hickox was a good fisherman. Some-
times his mother, Mary Hickox (1846-1924)
joined us on our trips. She had been reared
by Negro slaves and knew many interesting
superstitions. One was to encircle our camp
ground with lariats. She said snakes would
never cross a rope. How well we children slept
on our pallets after hearing this assurance!
There was a good spring and branch a few
hundred yards from our home. During wind-
mill breakdowns, or later gasoline motor
pump breakdowns, it was helpful to have the
good spring nearby. As the number of cattle,
sheep and horses increased, it became more
distressing when the water pumps failed. The
men often had to work day and night to get
pumps repaired quickly. The cattle and
sheep suffered from thirst with much lowing
and bleating and the horses pawed their
troughs. To our sorrow, the spring eventually
became dry.
In the spring, sheep shearing was a busy
time. Filling the huge six-foot bags was
exciting when we children could help tramp
the fleece down into the bags which hung
from wooden frames while being filled.
Through the years, there were many
Mexican families who lived and worked on
the ranch. My French mother, Emily, felt
their children must have an opportunity for
education. She spoke English, German and
483
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Bosque County History Book Committee. Bosque County: Land and People (A History of Bosque County, Texas), book, 1985; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91038/m1/499/?q=campbell: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Denton Public Library.