Bandera County, Texas - The whole text, 1922 (part 4 of 5)

Bandera'S First Baseball Club

Along in 1891 Bandera's first baseball club sprang into existence. It was sponsored by Judge Charles Montague, and enthusiastically boosted by Judge Hugh Duffy. The nine was duly organized and equipped with bats and mitts and a catcher's mask, and Mrs. Montague made the uniforms for the whole club. After a time and much practice the team tossed a challenge to any baseball club for a game on tl.e Bandera diamond. Kerrville accepted the challenge, and came over and pulled oft' the first baseball game ever played in Bandera, waltzing off with all the honors. The visiting team piled up a score of 94, while Bandera failed to cross the home plate. George H. Rice was captain of the Bandera team, while the captain of the Kerrville team was a health-seeker by the name of Barrett. Anton Pyka caught for Bandera, at least he occupied the catcher's box, and saw every ball delivered by the Bandera pitcher knocked into the old bull pen. Anton was also the only Bandera player to connect the bat with the ball. He reached third base.

A Tragedy Of The Civil War

When the country was in the throes of internecine strife many tragedies occurred that did not reflect credit upon the communities wherein they took place. Almost every county in this state had its hangings and murders of men who did not espouse the cause that was lost. Bandera county did not escape the stigma that attached itself to the perpetration of a crime that was wholly uncalled for and without reasonable excuse. However, it is in measure gratifying to know that the perpetrators of the blackest crime that stained the pages of Bandera's history were men who did not belong in this county, but were citizens of other sections, and therefore no blame can placed upon the citizenry of this county which has always been of the highest order.

In 1863 a party of men, who, not caring to take sides in the great struggle that was being waged between the North and the South, left their homes in Williamson county, Texas, and started to Mexico. They were well provided with good mounts, heavily armed, possessed several hundred dollars in cash, and were fully equipped for the long journey to the neutral republic on the other side of the Rio Grande. This party of eight men and a boy passed through Bandera, and stopped here for a day or so, resting their horses and buying such supplies as they needed on the trip. They did not make any secret of their destination or the cause of their going, but openly stated that they were on their way to Mexico, to avoid conscription.

When it became known that this party of men were in tne country and going to Mexico, a detachment of twenty-five men under command of a Major Alexander set out to apprehend them. When the detachment reached Bandera the men had gone, but they were overtaken on Squirrell Creek, below Hondo, and were promised a fair and impartial trial by court martial if they would surrender. They gave up their arms and in company with the soldiers started back, little dreaming that they would never see another sun rise. When the party reached the Julian, a few miles east of Bandera late in the afternoon thej?^ went into camp for the night. After supper some of the men suggested that they hang the prisoners right there. Others opposed such outrageous action, but those opposing were overruled, and some of them left the camp, refusing to have anything to do with the crime, or even witnessing it. The officer in command seemed to give his consent and the unfortunate prisoners were hanged, one at a time, to a live oak tree. A hair rope was used, and as each man was strangled to death, he was cut down, the noose left on his neck, and another one pulled up to slowly strangle. One of the prisoners requested that he be shot, and his request was granted. He was shot through with a full charge, the ramrod being left in the gun and penetrated through his bod3^

Joseph Poor, who lived over on Middle Verde, was camped near the scene of the murder that night, but did not hear tlie disturbance. Next morning he went out to look for his horses that had strayed away from his camp, and he came upon the bodies of the men. Seeing the ramrod protruding from the body of one of them he mistook it for an arrow, and thought they had been slain by Indians. He hastened to Bandera and gave the alarm, and a party comp(»sed of O. B. Miles, George Hay, John Pyka, Robert Ballentyne, Amasa Clark and others hastened to tne scene of the murder, and found the bodies of the eight men lying scattered about, just as they had been left. An inquest was held and a verdict rendered, attaching blame on the major and his party. A shallow grave was dug, and the eight bodies, wrapped in blankets, were placed into it and covered with dirt and stones.

The boy who was with this party of Williamson county men, was taken away by the murderers, and was never heard of again. What his fate was no one knows.

After the war ended, and courts were again functioning, the men responsible for this crime were indicted by the grand jury in this county, but all had disappeared. They wer«" never brought to trial, although the case was continued from term to term. The court records of Bandera county will reveal the names of the men who stood charged with the crime of murdering helpless prisoners.

In after years a monument was erected over the grave of the murdered men, and it stands there today in an out of the way place in Frank Pjdva's pasture. Inscribed on the tombstone are the names of the men as follows: "C. J. Sawyer, W. M. Sawyer, George Thayer, William Shumake, Jack W hitmire, Jake Kyle, John Smart, Mr. VanWinkle. Died July 25, 1863." In its seclusion the grave is never disturbed, while in the springtime wild flowers grow and bloom over the mound, songbirds make melody in the nearby trees

The Bandera Enterprise

In 1862 William Hudspeth and a Methodist minister named Chambers established the Bandera Enterprise, which was published for more than thirty-five years. The printing office was first located upstairs in the building now occupied by the Bandera postoffice, and after it was purchased by Charles Fee it was moved to a building alongside of the property where the Risinger building now stands. Mr. Fee died in 1896, and T. A. Buckner leased the paper, editing and publishing it for a number of years. He was succeeded by other editors from time to time until 1916, when the plant, which still belonged to the Fee heirs, was destro^'ed by fire. The Enterprise was never re-established after the plant was burned. Sometime later J. F. Rocke, an itinerant newspaper man, came along and started the Bandera New Era, later disposing of it to Dr. J. M. Rappold, who published it for awhile, then sold the business to T. A. Buckner, who in turn sold the New Era and its equipment to the present owner, J. M. Hunter.

The Bandera Enterprise was one of the old landmarks of this town. For years it chronicled the comings and goings, the marriages and deaths, the trading and trafficking, the joys and sorrows of l^andera people. It was always a welcome visitor in the homes of the people of this county.

Sketch By W. F. Surber

My father, Adam Surber, was born in Virginia in 1804, and when he was about 18 years old he emigrated to Kentucky with his parents where they bought land in Pulaski county at fifty cents per acre. My grandfather's name was Jacob Surber, and he lived many years after moving to Kentucky. There were eight children in our famih% but I am the only one now living. I was born Januarj^ 13. 1835, and am therefore 87 years old. My wife and I have raised 11 children, all now married except one girl and she is living with us. We have 34 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

I left Kentucky January 10, 1870, and landed at Center Point, Texas, one month later. This was in Indian times, and raids frequently occurred. One time while I was away from home, up on the Verde threshing, my wife had a severe toothache and got up during the night to get fresh air, and when she opened the door someone jumped over the fence and ran away. The next morning there were two horses about 300 yards from the house that had been killed by the Indians. Not long after that the redskins came in again and stole two fine Kentucky horses from my cousin, Munroe Surber, near Comfort. The last and most brutal raid occurred in 1876. A family named Terry lived about a mile and a half south of Center Point. When the Indians came in on this raid they found Mr. Terry and his four little children some distance from the house and killed him and two of the children, badly wounded a third child and carried a little girl, nine years old, off with them. A negro boy named Jack Hardy had been captured in this raid and witnessed the killing of Terry and his children. At the time of the attack Terry was sitting down on the ground riving boards from cypress blocks and his children were playing about. As he had his head down he did not see the Indians approach, and was unaware of their presence until one of them shot him with a rifle. He sprang to his feet, ran a short distance and fell and was then lanced to death by the Indians. Mrs. Terry, at the house, heard the commotion and seeing the danger, made her escape, ran to the settlement and gave the alarm. A party of men took the trail of the Indians and followed it to the Frio where they ran onto the savages and recaptured the little girl. The negro boy got away from the Indians and was picked up by the pursuing party. I helped to wash and prepare the body of Terry for burial the next day. He was horribly butchered. Besides being shot he had been pierced through the bodv with lances and was bloody from head to foot.

Was Born In Slavery

Andrew Jackson, colored, came to Bandera October 16, 1870, acquired a body land here and is today living on it. He was born in slavery in Tennessee April 1, 1847, and w^as owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Duncan. In 1867 he enlisted in the United States Army nnd served three years at frontier posts in Texas. He received his discharge and came to Bandera, and during the fifty-two years he has lived here he has been a peaceable, and law-abiding citizen.

John H. Ross

John H. Ross was born at Bandera March 4, 1861. His father, Judge Edward Merritt Ross, came to Texas from New York in the early fifties. He was a school teacher and taught a school in San Antonio, later going to Castroville to teach. He was stationed at Camp Verde while in the United States army, and while there sustained a broken leg. and was sent to San Antonio for treatment. He returned to New York, where he was married to Miss Katherine Delaney, and then came back to Texas and located at ^*^'"" ^- ^^^^

Bandera, on the place now owned by E. Buck- John H. Ross, while a boy, was sent to New York and spent two j^ears there. He returned to Bandera and grew to manhood here. On September 2, 1890, he was married to Miss Caroline Guiske. and to them were born eleven children, all of whom are living. They are Mrs. Kate Moore, Mrs. Wilhelmina Ferguson, Charles W. Ross, John P. Ross, all living at Yoakum; Frank Ross, of Medina Lake; Eddie Ross, with the U. S. Marines in the Dominican Republic;

Freddie, Carolyn, Elenora, Inez and Clyde Ross of Bandera. Mrs. Ross died August 5th, 1914, since which time Mr. Ross has been keeping house with the aid of his unmarried daughters at the Ross Ranch below Bandera. He is a good citizen, has the esteem of his fellowmen, and can be counted upon to use his means for the upbuilding of the country.

Congressman Claud B. Hudspeth

Bandera count}^ people look with pride upon the achievements of Claud Hudspeth, son of Captain Street Hudspeth, who formerly lived at Medina. Left an orphan at an early age the subject of this sketch entered the old Bandera Enterprise office and learned to set type. He later went to Brady and there obtained an old Washington hand press and a few pounds of old type which he moved to Ozonaand started the Ozona Courier, in 1892, later changing the name of his paper to the Ozona Kicker, which was published until 1911. When he embarked in the newspaper business he was only about seventeen years old, but he had grit and pluck and soon began to climb upward. In the course of time he was elected to the legislature for several terms, then became state senator from the same district. Later he moved to El Paso and in 1918 was elected to Congress, which high position he now holds.

Ben Batto

Ben Batto was born in Germany in 1841, and came to America with his parents when he was only two years old. The family came with the Castro Colonists and were among the first settlers at Castroville, later moving to D'Hanis. The name Batot was pronounced Batto, some of the family spelling it that way. Mr. Batto was married to Miss Rosa Nother of San Antonio, and to them were born four children, Will Batto, Mrs. Isabella Adamietz, Ed Batto, of Bandera, and Mrs. Rosa Mandry of San Antonio. With his good wife Mr. Batto lives on the place he settled thirty-six years ago, two miles west of Bandera. He has an interesting life history, a part of which is revealed in the following sketch:

"I was about 18 years old when T joined a company of rangers, during the Civil War. Captain Robertson and Lieutenant Malone were the first leaders, and Chris. Kelley of Sabinal was the Indian trailer. While we were in camp at Moss Hollow, about six miles below D'Hanis, we received a report that the

Indians had killed Big Foot Wallace. It was about twenty miles to where Wallace lived, but we iuiniediately set out, about ten of us, and arrived at his place about dark. His lonely little cabin was deserted, no one there, and all we found in the way of j)r()visions there was a small piece of bacon and ;i little corn meal in a sack. We prepared to camp, and in about an hour Big Foot Wallace came strolling in with his gun over his shoulder, his two pistols in his belt, his Mexican blanket on his arm, and leading his horse. When we told him of the report that had reacned us he laughed heartily and told us that that morning he had seen a party of Indians coming, and had employed a ruse to make them believe that a bunch of white men were near. lie appeared in plain view of the redskins and waving his big ]Mexican hat, yelled loudly to "Come on," and dashed toward the Indians, who scattered and ran off, leaving all of their horses. Wallace told us that he seldom slept in his cabin, but would take his blanket, go out into the brush some distance away and spend the night. Often when he came in next morning he would find moccasin tracks around the cabin. The next morning Wallace drove up a fat yearling and shot it down, then told us to help ourselves to the meat, and we did.

"We afterwards went to Petro Pinto, on the other side of Fort Clark, and were kept busy scouting, going out almost every day. We .found a big Indian trail and prepared to follow it. Chris. Kelley, myself, old man Reiley, with several others, followed the trail to the other side of Devil's River, to a point called the Painted Cave, then proceeding' on to about five miles further a short halt was made for dinner. Here we filled our canteens and after eating we again took up the pursuit, the signs on the trail indicating that the Indians were not very far ahead. We traveled until dark. The water supply had been exhausted and we made a dry camp. Early next morning our thirst was extreme, but we resumed the chase hoping to soon find water. Scouts were put out to search for water as we went on. After traveling all day a report came in late that evening that water had been found, and all made a rush for it, but when we got there we found we had to jump six or eight feet over rocks to get to it. Old Man Reiley told me to hold the horses and he would get me some water, but when he brought it he would let me have only a swallow or two at a time for fear that it would make me sick. We had to make a detour of about a mile to get our horses to the water. The men drank so much water that it made nearly all of them sick, and that night only three were able to stand guard, Mr. Reiley, Mr. Kelly and myself. The next day we again took the trail and struck the Pecos about sundown, and all struck for water, ])ut it was so red and ijiuddy looking we could hardly drink it. Mr. Reiley lohl lis he \vr>nl(l show us how lo clear the walcr, so laklug a prickly pear he split it open and put a little of the slime in a vessel of water and it immediately cleared. We went on to the Rio Grande and found another big camp that had been abandoned only two or three days before. They had crossed into Mexico and we could not follow as we had no orders lo go into Mexico. We then returned to Pietro Pinto an<i tiftlT spending several mouLliLi' in camp we wTre permitted to go home subject to call, but the company soon disbanded. T then began working at the stonemason's trade, building houses at several places. T went to Fredericksburg and built two-story houses for Mr. Doel)ler and others, and Mr. Doeblcr liired me to go to Fort Concho to build a sutler's store for Jim Trainer. About this time the government work started there and I had employment for about fifteen months. Then I decided to go to Fort Griffin, and in company with George Fulbright we started for that post. While nooning at Dead Man's valley we heard a noise and I went up on the bank of the creek to ascertain what it was when a bunch of Indians appeared and tried to run over me on their horses, but I pointed my pistol at them when they came too close and ran back to my partner. We were greatly outnumbered and it looked as if they would sure get us. We ran down the creek a short distance and found a dry hole in which we took refuge and prepared to make our last stand. The Indians stayed around us until dark, but did not venture near enough to get shot. About nine o'clock that night they tried to scare us by yelling and shooting in our direction. One bullet fell right beside me and filled my eyes full of sand. Finally one of the Indians called out in Spanish, 'Come out, we will not hurt yon' but we did not go out, for we felt pretty safe where we were. The Indians then left, and about two o'clock that night we left our place of refuge and went to where we had left our camp and horses, but the Indians had taken everything except two tin cans. We hastened to Mountain Pass where some soldiers were guarding the stage stand and reported the presence of the In- dians but the soldiers were too busy guarding the stage mules to take the trail. I secured a night job in a barroom at Ft. Griffin with a man named Dash. The saloon was usually crowded with soldiers and friendly Indians, the soldiers playing cards, and the Indians loitering around to beg for whiskey, but I was forbidden to give them any liquor. I bought a little pony from a Tonkaway Indian, and kept it staked not far away. One night I suspected that some of these friendly Indians intended stealing my pony, so I went out and sat down by a little bush near the horse and began watching. Pretty soon two Indians came riding up to the horse and tried to loosen the stake rope. I yelled at them and asked in Spanish what they wanted to <lo with my horse. They immediately ran off, leaving an old poor horse there with mine. It hat) a piece of l)utt'alo hide on its back. I went up to the horse and began to examine him, when suddenly an arrow sped in my direction and found lodgement in the old horse's neck. I fired my pislo! in the direct ion Trom whence \\w, arrow came, llicii dropped lo the gr(jiiiid and lay lliere for a})Out Iwenly niinulcs, bul as llic Indians did not. re-a|)f)ear I l(»ok bolli horses and wen I l»ack lo I he barroom. I thought these Indians were Tonkaways, who were friendly and hung about the fort, but the next morning the Tonkaways came in and said the Comanches had stolen all of their horses that night. I had a very lucky escape, after all.

"I went to Fort Belknap on the Brazos, and from there went with a crew of men to Buffalo Springs where it was intended to build a fort. After being here about a v.eek our water got so low the mechanics had to dig for water. Ten of the wagons were ordered down on Brushy, about 25 miles from Jkilfalo Springs, and a day or two later the report came in that the In*dians had killed the teamsters and taken all the mules. After working here several months, putting up several buildings, the place was finally condemned and we went to Jacksboro to build Fort Richardson. I spent fifteen months there, and then returned to San Antonio, later going to D'llanis where I secured the contract for building VA. Dominica's church, a two-story store house for John Phone, and other buildings.

"Yes, I have hunted buffalo and enjoyed the sport. On one occasion a man named Pruesser and mj^self, accompanied by a negro servant, left Fort Concho and went on a buffalo hunt up on the North

Conclio river. IVIr. Pruesser was a great buffalo hunter. We killed several of the animals late one aftenior^n while the negro had stayed in camp. The iici;ro li:i(| ii(>\(>r killed ;i huffnlo, and was very anxious to try his hand, so we took him out to where we had shot down an old l)ull, and told him to kill the animal. He aimed his gun and pulled the trigger, and then ran up to see if he had made a fatal shot. As he approached the old bull suddenly got up and made for the negro, who seeing that flight was immediately necessarjs at once lit out for a small tree not far away, with trie bull bearing down upon him. He reached the tree and swung himself out of reach of the infuriated beast, and right there he stayed until the bull exhausted his energy and fell over dead. The negro did not want to hunt buffalo again.

Judge R. H. Burney

Hon. R. H. Burney, who has for many years been District Judge of the Bandera district, composed of Bandera, Kerr, Medina, Zavalla. Real, Edwards and Kendall counties, is a pioneer of this section. He was born October 22, 1854, in McNary county, Tennessee, and came to Texas with his pjirents when he was two years old, His father, Judge H. M. Burney settled in Kerr county and was one of the prominent men of this section during his life time. Judge Burney's mother is still living and has reached an advanced age.

The subject of this sketch had but meagre opportunities to secure an education as he was growing up, but being ambitious he made the best of such opportunities that came his way, and by dint of hard study and self-denial he entered the Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, in 1875 and graduated in 1879 from that institution with the degree of bachelor of arts, and also in the same year, after a course of lectures, was made a bachelor of laws in the law department of Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tennessee.

Judge Burney served as a ranger under Capt. Neil Caldwell, and rendered excellent service in this capacity. He was State Senator from this district for a number of terms, the district at the time being composed of sixteen counties. On the bench Judge Burney is at his best. His wide experience, his thorough knowledge of law, his fair and impartial decisions, and his kindly bearing stamps him as one of the best jurists that has ever occupied the bench in this district.

Tribute To Colonel Duffy

To me Bandera has not been the "sam«^ old place" the past two summers. The glorious sunshine, the soothing breeze, the singing river and the haunting melody of the mocking bird still greet me but there is no cheery "Come in, Fm so glad to «ee you again." For somewhere ad own the long, long trail far from old Bandera, the kindly Colonel Duffy is greeting old friends who preceded him to the home of his Father. And, oh! how I miss the gentle soul! To know him was a benison: to listen to his philosophy of life, a reward. His Southern courtesy, lofty ideals and untainted purity of mind were an inspiration tq all who came in contact with him Never did I hear a slighting remark fall from his lips about any human being. He saw but the good in all. Troubles of his own he undoubtedly had, yet you never heard them. Unthinking, I unburdened on him a tale of woe, and lo! before the Colonel's cheery words of consolation the clouds of care rolled away and the sun was shining, the flowers blooming and my whole being was in tune with Nature. Had he an enemy, I have not heard about it. Scores who knew^ him in a small community for decades assured me that they never heard anyone allude to Mr. Duffy in other than terms of sincere appreciation.

One day I asked the Colonel to briefly state some simple creed which he would consider a helpful guide for the mortal with high ideals. The simple answer came, ''Remember the (lolden Rule. You know the Good Book says 'To err is human,' Uphft the fallen." What a world of advice in |)lain. understandable language! No wonder Mr. Duffy was every man's friend.

He has passed on, but that stream of consciousness which we call his soul still lives on - in the good that he did, in the example of kindness and cheer that clung around him as a halo, in the fact that the coming generations will be told of him as a model, a plain pioneer of Bandera wlio lived here some fifty years and of whom they may be justly proud. K.

Christopher Fagan Written By Rtchauu J. Fagan. Rahway, New Jersey

My uncle, Christopher Fagan, was one of the first permanent settlers near the head of the Medina, at the place now called Lima. He left Rah way, N. J., when he was about grown, and went to Ottawa, 111., to visit his sister but soon enlisted for service against the Indians in the west. For twelve years no tidings came from him, but one day my father received a letter from him saying that he had been an Indian fighter, had been in a great manj^ battles with Indians, and later had been through the Civil War and had not received a wound of any kind. lie stated that he had located at Medina, in Bandera county, Texas, and spoke highly of the country, the climate and the people. In 1865 he took up some cypress land along the Medina river and erected a saw mill to make shingles. These shingles were conveyed to San Antonio in wagons drawn by six yoke of oxen. Several men are still living in Bandera county who were employed by him at the mill. I can readily recall the names of Jim Walker and John Pyka. The saw mill prospered until a great storm and flood washed it and the dam away, and he escaped only by swimming to higher ground. He did not rebuild the mill but turned his attention to stock-raising and followed that business successfully until his health began to fail. At the time of his death he had large herds of cattle scattered over the country.

Christopher Fagan was a man of very few words and never talked about himself, so perhaps we lost some interesting and thrilling events in his life's his- tory. In his later years he wrote very interesting letters to his brother (my father) in New Jersey, and these letters showed how much he was attached to Texas and her people. He loved the picturesque Medina river and the majestic hills. He often advised my father to come and live there. Some his land is now owned by T. H. Phillips and some of it is owned by J. C. Hillman. Uncle Christopher never married. He died in 1882, and was buried in Bandera cemetery by his friends.

Death Of J. T. Stevens

Since the sketch of J. T. (Uncle Jack) Stevens was written and printed in preceding pages of this book, death has laid its icy fingers upon his brow and his great soul winged its flight to the realms above on Friday, June 30, 1922. Thus another of the old pioneers has crossed the borderline to rest beneath the shade of the trees on the other side. He was a true type of the frontiersman, noble, generous, upright, and leaves to his descendants the record of a life well spent and full of deeds worthy of emulation.

Today his mortal remains repose in the Medina cemetery. A grass-covered mound, bedecked with flowers, and marked with an appropriate monument, will proclaim that *'llere sleeps a pioneer," and the passing generations will not forget that he helped to blaze the paths through the wilderness for the tender feet of civilization and made this land a safe place in which to live.

The Thalmann Family

Among the earliest settlers of Bandera was Leibreicht Thalmann. who came here before the Polish colony located at Bandera. With his wife and two children he came from Germany to America in 1852, stopped in Goliad county, and while they tarried there another child was born to them. They later went to Castroville and then came to Bandera, in 1854. Mrs. Thalmann died in 1865, and Mr. Thaiman died during the late '70s. When he came to Bandera he })uilt his home on the site where the Davenport store property is located, and later he secured a ranch on Mason and Bandera Creeks. Seven children were born to this couple, but the onl}^ one now living is Orlando Thallman, who ranches on Middle Verde Creek, southeast of Bandera. Of these seven children four grew to manhood and womanhood here, Laura, Herman, Leibright and Orlando. Laura married Andrew Mansfield and became the mother of the Mansfield boys, Andy, Ed, John and Padd}^ substantial citizens of this county; Herman Thalmann married Miss Viola Porter of Missouri, and to them were born two children, Marcus Thalmann and Mrs. Laura McCurdy, the latter died this year, 1922. Mrs. Herman Thalmann died in 1881, and Mr. Thalmann was next married to Miss Louise Maudsley, and to them were born thirteen children, eight of whom are living: Mrs. Louise Jones of Mooresville, Herbert Thalmann of Hobby. Mrs. Mabel Whisenhunt of Medina, Fred, Ellen, Amy, Winifred and Victor Thalmann of Bandera. Herman Thalmann died in 1914, leaving his family in good circumstances. Since his death his

Orlando Thallman, with whom this sketch will now deal, was the youngest son. He was born in 1855. the midwife presiding on that auspicious occasion being Mrs. Samuel Adamietz, who often stated that it was her first case after coming from Poland, and that he was probabl}'' the first American child born in Bandera. He grew up here, attended school, knew all the best swimming holes and fishing places in the river, and hunted game in the woods. In 1874 he married Miss May E. Cole, and went to liousekceping on the ranch where he now lives. Mrs. Tlialmandied in 1910. Seven children of this union are living, Dave Thallman of China, Texas; Mrs. Joesphine Eckhart, O. F. Thallman, Bandera; Jim Thallman, Oxford, Fla. ; Henry Thallman, Beaumont; Aaron Thallman, Hondo; Miss Eva Thallman, chief <lietician in the General Hos{)ital, Boston, Alass. For reasons of his own, Mr. Tliallmaii prefers to spell the family nnnic "Thallman" instead of "Thalmann." When a boy he went to school to old Professor Koenigheim, and speaks in highest praise of that pioneer teacher. Among the pupils of that school he recalls the following: Bob and Hi Thompson and their sisters of the Sabinal Canyon, Mart Binion, Jim and Billie Biggs, Ike Stevens, Frank, John and Berry Langford, Dave. Robert, Arantha and Rena Chipman, George and Amanda Hay, Tom and George Stevens, Tom, Brannick, Rebecca and Rhoda Riggs, and others. The ager. of the scholars ranged from five to thirty years, and old Prof. Koenigheim would lick the largest as readily as he would spank the smallest. Mr. Thallman also attended a short term of school on Doe Creek, taught l)y Prof. Dobljins. Former teachers had had difficulty in controlling obstreperous boys in that school, until Dobbins, who was a stranger, came along and applied for the school. He straightened out some of the big boys, read the riot act to the district supervisor, and was giving general satisfaction to the patrons, when he suddenly took a notion to leave and quietly departed for parts unknown.

Mr. Thallman was raised here during Indian times, but says he never saw an Indian while he was working on the range. They made frequent raids into this county, stealing horses and killing people, and he believes they often saw him, but he never saw tbem. One morning, when he was about thirteen years old, he went out after the oxen, which grazed near the head of Privilege Creek. Seven of the oxen had bells on, and when he had located these bells he went to the fatherest ones to round them up and drive them in, going in a gallop and hallowing to them as he went along. He was gone about half an hour, and as he came back he found one of the oxen had been killed by Indians and they had hurriedly cut out and carried away some of the flesh. He dismounted and removed the bell, little realizing that perhaps savage eyes were watching his movements. Rounding up the remaining oxen he proceeded leisurely homeward, and when he reached town and informed Robert Ballentyne and some of the rangers of what had occurred they would not belie \'c him, bul in a fc\v huur^ ruuucrij came in

When Mr. Thallman located a pre-emption on Middle Verde he was the first settler to establish a home on that creek. The nearest habitation at that time was the sheep ranch of Judge Booker Davenport. Here Mr. Thallman has remained all these years. His ranch of 2225 acres is one of the ideal stock-farms of the county.

Henry Rackow

Henry Rackow, who died in Bandera June 27th, 1 922, was one of the pioneer citizens of the county, coming here in 1871. He was born in Prussia in 184G, grew to manhood in that country, served in the Prussian army in the war with Denmark, and immediately thereafter he came to America and enlisted in the United States Army, where he served several years. When Mr. Rackow came to Bandera he accepted a position in the Carmichael mill and worked there for a number of years. He became assistant postmaster and served through several terms. Later he purchased some sheep and engaged in ranching on Mason Creek for awhile. He was a charter member of and helped to organize the first Masonic lodge in Bandera, and was an active member of that body up to the time of his death. Mr. Rackow was never married, and is survived by only two or three relatives in the United States.

Andrew Gatluf Jones

The Jones famil^^ has been one of the solid, representative and substantial families of Bandera county since the early days of settlement. "Uncle Andy," as he is familiarly known, is one of the best citizens Bandera county has ever produced, and his sons and daughters are numbered among the quiet, thoroughly honorable and upright citizens of the county. He was born in Bexar county February 24, 1853. His father, John A. Jones, a true type of the Texas pioneer, came to Bandera county in 1864 with his familj^ and located on Myrtle Creek, Mr. Jones dying there in 1895, and his good wife, Mrs. Mahala Jones, surviving until 1920, when she died. There were eight children in the famih- of John A. Jones, five boys and three girls, namely; Sam Jones, deceased; Jim Ike Jones of Parker Canyon, Ariz.; Ranse Jones, deceased; John L. Jones, for many years sheriff of Kimble county, now deceased; Andy G. Jones, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Margaret Stevens, deceased; Mrs. Mahala Brown, deceased; Mrs. Eliza Brown, lives on the Nueces River.

Coming here in an early day, and foreseeing wonderful development for this region in the years to come, John A. Jones accumulated extensive land holdings and when death called him he left his family in good shape to meet the struggles of life. In 1914 the old Jones homestead was destroyed l>y fire. All of the house furnishings, clothing, and $700 in money were lost in the fire. The house was built in 1864.

grew to manhood, married and raised his family here, and today lives on a beautifully located ranch not far from the location made by his father in the early days. He went to school in a little clap-board shack with a dirt floor, which stood at the forks of Bandera and Myrtle creeks. Tom Buckner, father of T. A. Buckner the newspaper man, was his first teacher, and Mr. Jones says he was a good one. lie taught there in'ne months, it being a pay school, with an enrollment of al)out 25 scholars at $1.50 per month per scholar. Among the pupils were Sam Jones, Joe Minear, Tom Stevens, Jim Brown, George Stevens, Margaret Jones, Armizenda Curtis, Lydia (Curtis, Heman Chilson, Will Chilson, Martha Buckelew and others. All the larger boys carried sixshootcrs to school for protection, Mr. Buckner was loved by all of his pupils, and took great interest in their sports. During the recess and at the noon hour he would plaj'' their games with them and engage in such sport as ""Bull Pen," "Keep Sake" and other playgrouud pastimes. Another teacher of that frontier school was a man named Bryant, who had formerly been a sheepherder. Mr. Jones says Professor Bryant was very absent-minded, and one day while the scholars were studying their books Bryant began whistling a tune that caused all the school to titter. Noticing the commotion, and not aware that he himself had produced it. Prof. Bryant rebuked Andy Jones for whistling in school.

In 1874 Andrew G. Jones was married to Miss Anna Stevens. They had six children, five of whom are yet living, Mrs. Dora Duncan of Medina Lake; Ish-d. Lelia Emsley, di'dclin P.W; Jolm Ilxnny JoiTCb, lives in Kerr county: Lou B. (Baker) Jones, lives on Bandera Creek; George Jones, lives near his father; Mrs. Noma Smith, lives near Camp Verde. Mrs. Jones died in 1889. Mr. Jones next married Miss Laura Nerthlin, and to this union were born six children, as follows: Florida, Pink, Virgil, Gervis, Manila and Salome Jones, all of them being at home.

**I was a member of Robert Ballentyne's company of minute men, organized for the protection of the frontier. We had to scout twenty days in each month, and our pay was $20 per month. We furnished our own grub and mounts, while the state supplied us with guns and ammunition, and gave orders how we should take care of our horses. When in camp we had to stake and sideline each animal and put out A guard. \ Mexican named Manuel, who has been an Indian captive for fifteen years, was our trailer and guide, and he was a good one. He knew just how to follow all signs and trails, and he thoroughly hated an Indian. One day we struck an Indian trail on Mason Creek and followed it to where the San Antonio road crosses Privilege Creek. Here the tr;iil led lip I lie creek, and wo foimd a M<*\i<:iii lli.il Icid been killed b^ tlif redskins. The Mexican was at work building a fence when he was attacked, and when he was struck with a rifle ball he ran and took refuge in an old chimney which was standing where a frontier cabin had once stood, and there he died. We found the body in this chimney in a sitting posture, with his pistol in hand ready to shoot. From Lhcic \vc went on and came to a hbuoe which the In- dians had pillaged. They carried off a number of articles and trinkets, some of which we picked up as we hastily followed the trail. We found where they had stopped and painted themselves, preparatory to an attack on Jim and John Scott, wdio were clearingland, but they probably discovered our approach and fled, scattering in several directions, so that we could not successfully follow their trail. We then went to the Bladen Mitchell ranch and decided to go over to the Casey ranch on the Hondo and try to intercept the Indians as they came out of the country. We patrolled that region, two men each twenty miles apart scouting and observing signs, but without success. Then we crossed over to West Prong of the Medina, and here we found a bunch of big wild beef steers. Our captain told us to kill them and we shot eight of the big fellows, and as wild as cattle ever got. Taking a supply of the beef we went on to the head of the Frio, Tom Click and I patrolling. We found a place where the Indians had left fourteen Indian saddles, and also where they had made a great many arrows and mended moccasins. We stayed there four days expecting the Indians to come and get their saddles, but as they did not show up we burned the rudely made saddles, and left there.

''I remember when the Indians killed Mr. and Mrs. Mocu'e on North Prong of the Medina river. We took their trail the next day and followed it across the mountains. They went into dense cedar brakes where it was impossible for more than one or two men to go together. F. L. Hicks was with us on this scout and when we came to the dense brakes our captain said it was unsafe to go in, and several of the men turned l)ack, but Mr. Hicks said Lo me: 'And}', let's go in; we can whip every red rascal in there,' so in we went. It was a risky thing to do, but Mr. Hicks was a man absolutely without fear and when dni.v t'alh'd lie was always ready Lo respond. it is said Uial Indians will not kill a crazy man, so I guess they Ihouglil W(? were crazy j'oi- (Milcring llial l)ig Ihiekcl.

"The ncxl scodi wc niadt* we hired old man Smith with his three yoke of steers and went to the Frio Water Hole, where we built a good pen, and then we went to Bull Head on the Nueces and gathered 400 steers which we intended Lo bring to Handera and sell Lo Schmidtke &: Hay for $2 per head. We appointed Sam Jones as our boss on this mavericking cxpt'di'tion. "'"^liile on the Nueces vre two government horses on tlie range with halters on. They had escaped from some post some months or years before and had become wil(h We brought the steers in to the pen as we gathered them, and one night they stampeded and seventeen of tliem were killed by running against cedar stumps which had been left in the pen. About ten miles this side of the water hole was another pen which was called Post Oak, and we brought our steers to it. Four men had to stay with the wagon, and as we were coming to the Post Oak pen, Jim Brown, Jim Gobble, Lum Champion and myself intended to reach a spring at the head of a hollow. There was some Indians there, but I suppose they heard the wagon and hid oul, as we did not see them. Near the spring I picked up a pair of moccasins and a small mirror which had been dropped by them. Leaving Champion and Gobble with the wagon, Jim Brown and I scouted around the spring to try to locate the Indians, but without success. We found where they had killed a cow just a short time before and taken some of the beef. They were afoot, evidently coming down into the settlements on a horse-stealing expedition. When we reported our discoveries to the captain he said we could not leave the cattle to follow the Indians, but to guard against attack. That night old Manuel and I stood guard around the horses, and at different times during the night the horses showerl signs of alarm and we made ready to secure an Indian scalp, but they did not come. We delivered our steers in due time and received $2 per head for them, and also received $50 for the two government horses we had captured, and we thought we were making money. Somebody reportefl to Austin tliat wo liad gatViered the 400 steers, and our arms were ordered to be returned and we all got tired from the ranger service.

"When I was a boy on my father's ranch the government kept a lot of camels at Camp Verde. One day we hobbled three of our horses and turned them loose near the house, and fourteen of those old camels came lumbering along. The horses took fright at the sight of them, and we did not see those horses again for many days. My brother and I penned the camels, all of them being gentle except one. We roped the wild one, but never wanted to rope another, for the old humped-back villain slobbered all over us, and that slobber made us deathly sick. W^e had a jolly time with those camels when we got rid of the foul, sickening slobber, and as we often rode broncos and wild steers we rode those camels too. The camel has a swinging pace and is easy to ride when you catch the motion of its gait. They could easily travel 100 miles in a day. The Indians seemed to be afraid of the camels and of course never attempted to steal any of them."

Joe Sheppard Wounded

"On one occasion, above where M«^dina City is now, about where the Crockett place is, Joe Sheppard was riding along alone, and was shot by an Indian with a gun, who was hiding behind a big cypress stump.

Sheppard saw the Indian just before he fired and thought it was a bear. When the ball struck him he sprang from his horse and ran behind a drift near the river and waited with his gun ready to shoot, not knowing how many Indians there were, and supposing they would follow him. No Indians came, however, but soon a man named Joe Henning came upon the scene in a wagon, and helped Sheppard get into it and lie down. The ball hit him in the side and he was badly hurt. Henning carried him to a doctor, but he could not find the ball and said it must have dropped out while jolting in the wagon, or else dropped inside of him, as he was unable to find it. After a hard struggls Sheppard recovered."

The accuracy of the above is in doubt. In the sketch of W. S. Hinds, Sr., to be found on page 132 of this book, mention is made of the wounding of Joe Sheppard, and it is stated that Mr. Hinds picked the wounded man up and hauled him to John Benton's home, where his wounds were dressed.

In those days such attacks often occurred. The pioneer settler expected these attacks and usuallj' went prepared to meet them. The silent speeding arrow was the weapon most generally used in making attacks from ambush, but in the case of Joe Sheppard a large calibre rifle was used.

The Mayfield Family

Mrs. Samantha Elizabeth Mayfield, who lives at Medina, has furnished the following sketch of the coming of the Mayfield family to Bandera county:

"On December 25th. 1877, four families left San Saba for Bandera. They were W. L. Mayfield, wife and six children; B. M. Mayfield, wife and seven children; W. W. McElroy, mother and three children; Mrs. White, sister of Mr. McElroy, and two little girls; and besides these four families there was Bud Wilson, Will Campbell and a Mr. Brown. We had a very enjoyable trip. Between Fredericksburg and Boerne we were caught in a snow storm and had to remain in camp several daj^s, but we had good tents and did not suffer. Our travel was necessarily slow as we bad three ox teams and one horse team. About January 10, 1878, we arrived at the Polk Ranch on the head of Red Bluff Creek, where we stopped for awhile and cleared some land for Louis Polk, then we went to the Hondo Canyon and settled a place about six miles above where Tarpley is now located, or about where the Cleophas Hicks ranch is situated. If I remember correctly, there were onh'' fourteen fam.ilies living in Hondo Canyon when we went there: Uncle Tommie Lewis and his two sons, Dave and Jim; Mrs. Annie E. Brown, better known as Grandma Brown: Uncle Street Hudspeth, Joe Hudspeth, INIr. Tuckoi*, Uncle Henry Jeffers, Martin Jefi'ers, Taylor Hester, Joe Shull, Marsh Click, Joe Phelps, Uncle Joel Casej' and his son, Sam Casey. I know of only one person new living in the Hondo Canyon who was there when we ipoved in and that is Grandma Brown, unless it be that her daughter, Mrs. Ryle, is still living there. We remained on the Hondo one year, and then moved to what is now known as the Hansen ranch on Winan's Creek. This was a wild country with plenty of game, deer, turkey and a few bear. We have been here forty-four years, and durinjjthat time have made only two crop failures - in 1879 and 1917. We can make more with less work and as little rain here as any place in the United States.

My husband. B. M. Mayfield, died January 9, 1912, aged 77 years. I am the mother of twelve children, seven boys and five girls. Four of these children have died, leaving eight, who are married and have large families. Walter, the oldest, lives at Medina: Brice, also of jNIedina: Mrs. Ernest Banta of Medina; Harry, of Port Arthur; Sam and Mrs. T. A. ikickner of San Marcos; Mrs. L. A. Holster of Shreveport, La., and Jas. H. Maj^field of Medina, with whom I make my home.

"T believe I am the only one left of the older ones of our original party that came here in 1877. I am now 78 years old, in very good health, and quite stout for a person of my age."

The Buckner Family

Among the pioneer settlers of this county were Judge E. E. Buckner and his son. Thomas L. Buckner, who came out from Kentucky to cast their fortunes on the frontier. Judge Buckner was one of the first Judges of the old 38th Judicial District and made his headquarters at Castroville, then the county seat of Medina county. His son, Thos. L. Buckner, who had had the advantage of a good education, went to Austin and entered the Confederate Army and was commissioned a lieutenant. After the war he returned to Bandera and married Miss Martha Buckelew. Two sons were born to them, Emmett and Tom Buckner, who grew to manhood here. The father died in 1875. Mrs. Buckner in 1881 married Jas. Pogmore and taking up a pre-emption on Winan's Creek they lived there many years, Emmett Buckner married Miss Elorence Hinds, daughter of W. S. Hinds. Sr,, of Rocky Creek. They had eight children, six of whom are still living. In 1919 Emmett Buckner moved with his family to California where he died with influenza. His wife and three unmarried children still reside in that state while the three oldest daughters still live in this section, being Mrs. Wm. Edwards of Pipe Creek, Mrs. Ered Smith and Mrs. Sterling Eisher of Utopia. Toni Buckner was married in 1894 to Miss Harriet Mayfield and they have reared a family of four children. For many years they lived in Bandera county, Mr. Buckner entering the newspaper business when in 1904 he leased the old Bandera Enterprise. Later he was engaged in newspaper work at Center Point and Kerrville, and now he and his son, Walter

The senior Thos. Tv. Buckner was Bandera's first county and district clerk. He taught school for a number of years, and there are many old men and women living here who were among his pupils.

Judge E. F. Buckner, after living here several years, went back to Kentucky where he died at a ripe age. One of the ancient landmarks of the county is the old Buckner homestead on Myrtle Creek, on the old Ike Stevens place. It is built of cypress logs, covered with home-made shingles, and by request of Mr. Stevens before his death, the old house has been allowed to stand as a monument to the early settlers. At the time Judge Buckner built this cabin on Myrtle Creek, Clias. Montague and his son, Charlie, settled on the present Montague ranch and built the old rock residence which still stands there. The two boys, (Charlie and Tom, were close chums as they grew up and later soldiered together. Their friendship and experiences of the early days is perhaps the cause of the close friendship that through all these years has existed between the two families. A remarkable feature of this friendship is the fact that as there was a Charlie Montague and a Tom Buckner to chum together in the seventies, their sons, Charlie, Jr., and Tom, Jr., were special chums when they grew to young manhood, and the close bond of friendship still exists.

(xrandma Pogmore. mother of the lUickner boys, lived until 1915, when she died at the home of her son, Tom Buckner, at Kerrville. The step-father, James Pogmore, died some years before at the home of Emmett Buckner on the Hondo.

Amasa Clark

A word painter with vision enough to grasp history in the making could weave a wonderful story of the life of this grand old man, Amasa Clark, who looks serenel.y back upon almost a hundred years of the greatest changes the world has known. Men have looked with awe upon some inanimate object - a tree or a towering peak - that has stood immutable amid the changes of the years. Amasa Clark h a s watched changes as great, and more, he can tell of them. His memory is fresh, and he tells the story with interest and spirit.

Mr. Clark was born on Socharrie Creek, in Socharrie county, New York, September 3, 1828, only a few years after Old Hickory whipped the British at New Orleans and before the Alamo and San Jacinto field were baptized into immortality by the blood of Texas heroes, he has passed through five wars on the soil of the Ignited States. Thus he has faced all the dangers, hardships and privations that were the lot of those who went ahead to soften the wilderness for the tender feet of civilization. From the time when armies contended with muzzle- loading muskets, and wooden frigates sailed the seas, he has watched the science of warfare develop into systematic slaughter by aerial monsters, hurled by the tremendous force of explosives a thousand times more powerful than the gunpowder that prostrated the American Indians with awe at the £oming of the first white men. He has lived from the time when solid shot was the greatest weapon at the command of the armies to the day of the explosive shell which sweeps all things living from vast areas. He has watched the trail of wild things through the wilderness metamorphosed into teeming paths of commerce. He has seen the place of the oxdrawn vehicle taken by the high-powered automobile and the giant airplanes contending for the supremacy of the air. Amasa Clark has seen much, and it is his earnest hope that he may live to see Society and its foster-mother, Civilization, triumph at last in the realization of universal peace.

When Amasa Clark came into this world Texas was a province, the home of wild beasts and savage men; a province whose rivers, mountains and i)lains were unexplored, and whose future found oiilline only in the aml)itious plans of a Uurr, a Wilkinson, or a Blannerhassett. When but a lad he left his native state, New York, enlisted in the army and valiantly fought his way from Vera Cruz to Chapultepec with General Scott, and when victory had crowned the American arms in Mexico he came to Texas. Here he cast his lot to blaze the way for oncoming generations. He has seen the signal fires of the savage gleam from a thousand peaks and lia^ fol- ToVy-ed their encri'mscned trail across the hills an'd plains along the vast extent of our Texas border. Sitting upon the pedestal of years, he now looks down upon an Empire state where savage invasion is only a memory; where homes, towns and cities dot the land, where a million boys and girls go to school, and with lofty and exultant pride may well this venerated father exclaim, "I was an humble factor in this wonderful achievement."

Like most men of his advanced age the period of second childhood has succeeded that of vigorous manhood, but the memory fraught with the record of three generations is not bedimmed by the frailties of extreme age, and he has a ready recollection of events and incidents of the early period that is, to say the least, remarkable. Just a question or a suggestion is all that is needed to awaken his memory and he unfolds narrative after narrative of thrilling events of the distant past. Incidents of his early childhood days are clearly remembered by him and he relates them to his grandchildren and great grandchildren today. He claims his age as 94, and has records to prove it. He is still a well preserved man apd quite active. He has never used tobacco or liquor, and is proud of it. Mr. Clark is today drawing a pension of $50 per month from the government for his service in the Mexican War in 1847. He is one of onl}' 73 survivors of that great conflict. He landed at Vera Cruz with General Scott's forces and marched to Mexico City, taking part in all the bloodj' engagements along the way, finally making a triumphant entry into the Mexican capital and saw the Stars and Stripes ^\ ave proudly from the National Palace. It would require a \ blume to recount his experiences in

Mr. Clark manages his farm of 160 acres, looks after his business affairs with the same ability he has always displayed. He gets about without the aid of a cane, his step is sprightly, and his extreme age is indicated only by his stooped shoulders and white hair. In appearance he would easily pass for a man about 68 or 70 years old. He is the father of nineteen children, several of whom are now old men and women. Sixteen of his children are living. On July 10, 1859, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Eliza Jane Wright, at Fredericksburg, Texas. To them were born eleven children ; Annie and x\masa, Jr.. died with diptheria while quite young; Ed Clark, lives in Bandera; Isaac Clark, lives at Caddo Mills, Texas, Mrs. Amanda North, lives at Poteet, Texas; Mrs. Mary Selby, died in Atascosa county; Mrs. Caroline Taylor, lives at Van Nuys, California; Mrs. Olive Cosgrove, lives near Bandera; John Clark, lives at Tarpley, Texas; Mrs. Eliza Massey, lives at VanNuys, California; Sam Clark lives near Bandera. Mrs. Kli/a Jane (lark died July 1, 1888. On May 4, 1885, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Lucy Wedgeworth. To them were born eight children: Zack Clark of Atascosa county; Ben Clark of Bandera; Orange Judd Clark of Bandera; Mrs. Bessie Schmidtke of Bandera; Mrs. Albert Maass of Randlett, Oklalioma; Mrs. Bertha Hill of San Antonio; Alvin Clark of ('harlotte, Texas; Mrs. Kittic Evans of San Antonio. Several of Mr. Clark's children have large families, and he does not laiovv llie number uf his deijccndanlb.

Today Mr. and Mrs. Clark live on the farm, four miles west of Bandera, which Mr. Clark purchased many years ago from a man named Hardin, Here Mr. Clark engaged in the nursery' business until advancing age compelled him to retire from that work. He still has a fine orchard, and last year, 1921, he marketed nearlj^ 1,000 bushels of pears at $1.00 per bushel.

At the close of the Mexican War Mr. Clark was discharged from the service at San Elizario, near El Paso, and afterwards came to Bandera and has resided here continuously ever since. He gives some of his experiences here as follows:

"After my discharge from the United States army, and from active service in Mexico, I went to San Antonio, where I remained for some time. Then I went up on the Guadalupe river, just below where Center Point is now situated, and assisted O. B. Miles, who was hauling shingles to San Antonio for Gillis & Wilkins, w^ho had the only shingle camp there, A tribe of Delaware Indians were encamped nearby and were very kind and friendly toward us. Some of our men had visited the Bandera Pass region and had often spoken in such glowing terms of the picturesque scenery and the abundance of game in the Medina valley that T determined to visit this region myself, They reported three families camped on the Medina, and those three families were the founders of the first settlement in Bandera county, which afterward became the town of Bandera. The Delaware Indians fre((uently invited me to join them in their hunting forays, and one time they insisted that I accompany them to the ^ledina vallev to kill deter for the hides.

Thus I made my first visit to the beautiful Bandera region. T found game plentiful, and the three families here were so hospitable and friendly and treated me witli such kind consideration I decided to tarry with them for awhile at least. That sojourn has been prolonged over a period of seventy years, and I am still here. This country was in its wildest state when I came here in 1852. It was no trouble to step out a short distance from camp and kill deer or turkey. Grass was knee high, there was not as much brush and oak timber here then as grows on our hills today. The country was open and you could see objects a mile or two away much easier than you can now see them a few hundred yards distant. I remember the first bear I ever killed. I had gone out to Privilege Creek one time to cut hay, and while there our supply of meat gave out, so I went forth to kill a deer, and came upon a big bear. I shot him dead, and we had plenty of meat. Another bear experience that might interest the boys and girls, happened when I had some cattle on the Davenport ranch. I went out there one day to look after them, and while on my way I found an old bear with two very small cubs. I caught one of the cubs and the old bear stood upright and made for me, growling and showing her teeth, but I outran her and got away with the young one. She did not seem inclined to pursue me very far, probably because she was afraid to leave the other cub. 1 took my cub home with me and raised it to a good size. He became very gentle and afforded me much pleasure and amusement. Sometimes I would turn him loose and he would invariably head fur the slop bucket and eat the contents, and often he would climb to the water shelf and sit down in the water bucket. I went off on a trip one day and when I returned I was grieved to find some bc^ys had killed my beloved pet.

*'The first Indian raid that occurred in this region that I know of took place along about 1854. Charles de Montel had a horse-power saw mill, and worked eight or ten horses. A negro named Oliver was the driver. One morning this negro went out to look for the mill horses but could not find them, for the Indians had stolen them and taken them up the river to a point known as White Bluff. As soon as it became known that the Indians had driven them oft', Gideon Carter, Irvin Carter, O. B. Miles, Dan Turner, and several others took the trail and started up the river, and when they had gone several miles \hey met the horses coming back, as they had escaped from the Indians. Turner was leCt in charge of the horses and the other members of the party pushed on to overtake and chastise the Indians. Some distance further on they espied two Indians coming on the back trail with their heads down, following the horses' tracks. When the Indians saw the white men they dashed off* jirul got into ihe brush. Tlie white men went on and soon discovere'd th« Indiiins' camp and made ready to charge it, bul a deep gulch prevented them from advancing far, so they had to go around some distance to get to it. The Indians, seeing them approaching, left the camp and went up on a mountain, one of them riding a beautiful white horse, but during the charge which followed the Indian killed that white horse to keep him from falling into the hands of the white int'n. The InVJian^ made ^bud their escape and the pursuers returned to the camp where they found a bible and some boys' clothing in one of the wigwams. This occurred about twenty-five miles above Bandera. "I remember when the Duffy hotel was built. It was erected for Mrs. Nicholson, a daughter of Mr. Savery, and the lumber in it was sawed out of heart cypress. Later Duffy & Martin ran a little store therein. I recall an amusing incident that occurred in the little store one day. The firm had on sale some canned cranberries, which was a new berry to many of the citizens here. Some of the boys called them 'cram' berries, and one asked Duffy, 'Where do we cram 'em.^' Mr. Duffy promptly replied, 'Cram them in your mouth.' I greatly miss Hugh Duffy. He was one of the noblest characters I ever met. The many years that I knew him I always found him the same generous, gentle, kind and afi'able gentleman. Another polished gentleman who came here in those early times was Joseph H. Poor, who came from Portland, Maine. He was a well bred, scholarly gentleman, and had a sheep ranch on Middle Verde. I lived with him for some time, and while I was there the Indians killed two of his slieepherders, an Irishman whose name I have forgotten and a German named Karl Asmus. Poor owned several negroes, and after the Civil War he was shot by one of the freed negroes named Dave, and came near dying from his wounds. Andrew Mansfield and myself, when we heard of the shooting, went over there and attended Poor, who finally recovered. The negro was tried for attempt to murder, but for lack of sufficient evidence to convict he was acquitted. Poor later went back to Maine a'n'd dt^d ili't'rc :^cfme years aftcAvai'd.

"O. B. Miles was another early settler here who was one of my good friends. He was in my regiment in the Mexican War, but we were not in the same company. Mr. Miles, like myself, was born in -New York state. He lived for awhile over on the Guadalupe near Comfort, and moved his family to Bandera in 1853, and became chief justice here when the county was organized in 1857. The first term of court was held in a little building in the western part of town.

"Bandera has many running creeks which flow into the Medina river. It may be interesting to know how some of these creeks were named. AYhen the hrst three families, vSaner, Milstead and Odeni. came here from Boerne in 1852, they moved in wagons drawn by oxen. They crossed a little stream which they called Red Bluff Creek because of the reddish color of its steep bank. They camped on another httlc stream, and while there Odem lost his pipe. Since that time that stream has been called Pipe Creek. They journeyed forward and came to another gurgling brooklet where the prospect was so pleasing and the landscape so inviting Odem was heard to say that he would 'lay his pre-emption there with the ])rivilcgc of lifting iT it' lh(\v found better land farther oil. Th;il w.is cxcr nllcrw itrd ciiljcd i*ri\'ilcg(' ('iTck. HundciM (.'reek was Ihiis e.illed lieeMilse ll li;ul ils '\j\x\it- near Bandera J 'ass Creek was at one time called Wolf Creek. Milstead killed a doe on a little branch and it was named Doe Creek, and a dry run nearby was called Mud Creek. Winan's ('reek, Hicks' Creek, Laxson's Creek, l^rewingtoirs Creek, and W^illiams' Creek were named for first settlers; \Yallace Creek \vas ;jo named because Big Faul AYal- lace at one time owned land there. Rocky Creek was rightly named. Julian (pronounced hool-yan) is a Mexican name, as is also Verde. Tn that language 'verde' means green. There are many other streams in the county that T do not recall how tliey were were named.

"A great many tragedies have heen enacted during the time I have lived here, and to recount them all woidd require a book several times the si/e of this volume. There were murders committed bj' the Indians, and killings by white people. A man named Harnes, who lived on the Hondo, disappeared sometime during the sixties. It was beHeved at the time that he was murdered and his body burned.

At the time the Indians killed Tom Click they stole a good horse from me. The horse was a very fast animal, and that daj^ while I was at the Rangers camp Joe Sutherland and Polly Rodriguez matched a race. Quite a crowd gathered to see the fun. It was agreed that the one who got beat in the race would have to run against my horse. They did not know the speed of my nag. When all was in readiness they selected me to start the horses off, and old man Chipman and others went to the coming out place to judge winner. As I gave the order to 'go' they dashed off and my horse followed. I just let him run and he beat the other two horses by a good lengtli. Chipman said I had judged the race at both ends of the track. That night the Indians stole my horse.

"Yes, I attended all of the weddings and social functions in those early days, and danced with the belles of the community. . I knew all of the Polish girls.. Sou^e of them are still living and, like myself, have grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Miss Kusha (Kate) Dugos was a comely maiden. She married Anton Anderwald, still lives in Bandera, and is now past eighty years old.

"One time, in 1856, when I was returning from a trip to San Antonio with Dr. Thompson and John Ivindla, we were attacked hy robbers at night while we slept. Dr. Thompson was killed outright, and Mr. Kindla was so badly injured he never recovered, and died some years later from his wounds. I was badl}^ battered up, and rendered unconscious for several hours, and I still carry the scars on my head. An old rusty gun barrel was the weapon used. When I came to myself the next morning I managed to get the oxen yoked to the wagon, and assisted Kindla into it, and we made our way to the only house between San Antonio and Bandera, where we were given aid. We were then taken to San Antonio and I spent some time in a hospital there. A posse was organized and the robbers were trailed to San Antonio, where a battle ensued in which Phil Stroupe, the city marshal, and one of the robbers were killed. While I am very active and in good health now at the age of ninetyfour, I believe the injuries sustained in this murderous attack weakened my constitution to some extent and greatly impaired my hearing.

''I remember when the camels were brought to Camp Verde, and how the government expected to use them to transport dispatches across the desert to El Paso and to other posts. I worked with those camels for fourteen months, 1859-1860, and as a relic of these days I still have in my possession two pillows made from camels' hair. The camels are gone, and

Mrs. Lucy Clark, the present wife of Amasa Clark, was born in Jackson county, Mississippi, January 7, 1859, and came to Texas with her mother Mrs. James Wedgeworth, in December. 1881. settling near Sabinal Station. Later Mrs. Wedgeworth moved to Vanderpool in Bandera county, where her daughter, Miss Lucj'^ Wedgeworth, was married to Amasa Clark in 1885. Three of Mrs. Clark's brothers are still living. Zack Wedgeworth lives at Clovis. California; James Wedgeworth lives at Jourdanton, Texas, and John Wedgeworth lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Two sisters are also living, Mrs. S. D. Smith of Melvin, and Mrs. Amanda Snow of Ingram. Mrs. Clark is the mother of eight children, four boys and four girls, all living, and their names are given in the list of the Clark children on a preceding page. In that list the name of one daughter appears as Mrs. Albert Maass, when it should be Mrs. Elberta Maass. Two of Mrs. Clark's sons. Orange and Alvin Clark, were in the service during the World War, Orange with the Marines, and Alvin in the air service. Both of them went overseas and came back without injuries.

Gabriel Anderwald

1 was born in Poland, March 24, 1851, and when I was four years old ray parents, Frank and Elizabeth Anderwald, came to America with a colonj^ of onr people and settled at Bandera in 1855. Here I was raised and for sixty-seven years I have lived right here at Bandera. In 1880 I secured the farm tract where I am now living and improved it, but the life of a bachelor did not suit me at all, so in 1881 I was married to Miss Mary Moravietz, and we have lived on that farm more than forty years,raising: a family of nine children, four boys and five girls. Their names are as follows: Mrs. Annie Dugos. of Bandera; Mrs. Susan Gavlich, of Boerne; Tom Anderwald, who married Miss Nona Snare and now lives at Pipe Creek; Raymuld Anderwald, lives at home; Genevieve, who has taken the veil and is now in the Sisterhood; Frank Anderwald, who married Miss Agnes Tanheiser and lives on Middle Verde; Henry Anderwald. lives at *White Deer, Texas, and Misses Augustina and Amelia Anderwald, live at home. I have seen Bandera grow from a straggling village with only a few families to a good sized town and the population of the county increased from two or three hundred to several thousand. When I was a boy I worked for fifty cents a day, from before daylight in the m.orning until after dark in the evening, and thought I was getting big wages. I wore homespun clothing, home-made shoes and a hat plaited from wheat straw. Our luxuries were very few and our means limited. But we had our pleasures in those days, despite the dangers that surrounded us and the inconveniences with which we had to contend, and I believe we enjoyed life then much better than the young people of this day and time with their automobile joy rides, picture shows, jazz dances, and scant attire. We Jiad our parties and dances, picnics and barbecues, and best of all the wedding celebrations. 1 remember when my father-in-law, Tom Moravietz, married Miss Frances Haiduk. Is was his second marriage, his first wife having died some years before. The couple went to San Antonio in an ox-wagon, where the ceremony was performed and when they returned to Bandera three days later a big celebration was held. We feasted and danced all day and all night. Albert Haiduk was the fiddler on this occasion, and he kept the music going as long as the crowd stayed. John Pyka, Mrs. John Adamietz, Cuistian Dugos, John Anderwald, and others yet living can remember what a big time we had. And another celebration that is not forgotten was the double wedding of my brother, John Anderwald and Miss Annie Jureczki and Cuistian Dugos and ^liss Agnes Halamuda, which took place on July 2, 1872. We feasted and danced for two days and two nights, and were all utterly exhausted when the festivities ended. Both couples are still living here.

In the early days F. A. Hicks opened a silver mine on the ranch of A. McCiill on Cow Creek, about ten miles west of Handera. He found some ore Ihal promised good returns, but after going some depth it did not pay. A man named Meyer bought the mine and spent a great deal of money on it, but without returns. It was finally abandoned. While the mine was being worked, a man named Jim Buckelew lost his life by falling into the shaft.

I went up the trail to Wichita, Kansas, in 1873 with a herd of cattle for Schmidtke & Hay . In 1874 I worked for the same firm cutting logs and making shingles. While I was engaged in this work Morgan Moncur and myself were sent down to the old Mormon Camp, accompanied by two negroes with teams to haul the logs. We camped at Mrs. Spettel's place, now covered by Medina Lake, and while here the Indians stole our work stock one night. They did not get our saddle horses for we had them staked close by. The negroes got scared and pulled out, but Moncur and I took the trail of the Indians, followed it to Turk's Head hill, from there west to Bee Bluff on the Verde, then towards the Hondo, but the trail circled back and came out below the Davenport rancJi and then went on to Burns' Pass. When we reached the Pass we saw five Indians on Commission Creek with a large drove of horses. The Indians discovered us about the same time and started the horses in a run, while one of the redskins took a position on a small hill to watch our movements and see if more men were likely to come and join us. We stopped and held a council to decide just what to do, when suddenl3' the lookout Indian dashed away to join his comrades. We then went to Casey's ranch for help and Joe Casey and Bill Hester agreed to go with us in pursuit of the Indians. We knew they were making for the head of the Hondo, so we cut across the country to intercept them, and when we reached the head of the Hondo the Indians were already there, and we discovered their presence when a rifle ball whizzed dangerously close to us, causing us to scurry for cover behind some trees. Bill Hester had a

Winchester and returned the fire, causing them to circle about a bit and then they passed over the ridge going upon another hill vvliere four other Indians joined them, making nine in all. It being after sundown, and darkness coming on we decided to give up the chase, as there were only four of us, and we were poorl\' armed. We returned home, and the next day INIorgan Moncur gathered a party of nine or ten men and went to the head of the Medina, where they overtook the Indians, and found about eighteen of them. The redskins scattered and all got away. Only one horse was captured by the white men, and that was an old animal belonging to William Ballentvne and it had been left behind by the Indians.

Fulmore'S Version

In Z. T. Fullmore's "History and Geography of Texas as Told in County Names," appears the following version of the naming of Bandera county. Some of the early settlers here do not vouch for the truthfulness of the last paragraph :

"Bandera county took its name from Bandera Pass. The word means "flag." The reason for the application of this name to the pass, which is the natural gateway through the Guadalupe Mountains, is not certainly known. There are three traditions in regard to it, two of which are in entire accord with well known historical facts and virtually connect themselves with them. The pass is about fifty miles northwest of San Antonio, and was directly on the route from San Antonio to the San Saba Mission. For many yeare it was a strategic point for the Indians. Yoakum's History of Texas informs us that in 1752 an armed force pursued a band of marauding Apaches, who had made one of their numerous forays to San Antonio. That around and near this pass the Indians had their villages, and when they reached this place they made their stand and fought vigorously, but were severely beaten by the Spaniards. A tradition was current among the old Manchaca and other families in San Antonio a hundreds years ago as to this battle, with the added statement that the Spaniards, after they had severely chastised the Indians, left their flags planted upon thf mountain top as a signal and warning that more punishment would be meted out if they resumed their raids upon the settlements. We are informed by the histories that the

Comanches, a few years later, came down into this region, made war upon the Apaches and soon overcame them. Not content with this, they began their raids upon the settlements, and in 1758 destroyed the Mission San Saba and its garrison.

"The government at the Citj^ of Mexico had persistentl}" failed to garrison San Antonio with a sufficient force to protect the settlers. In 1759 they induced the Apaches to join them as auxiliaries and with a force of 500 men, a majority being Apache auxiliaries, marched against the Comanches. Meeting a force of 0,000 Comauches and allied warriors, they retired to San Antonio and disbanded. The only hope for protection of any sort now rested upon their ability to treat with the Comanches, and for this purpose Padre Calahorra and other priests were deputed to make treaties. One of the results was the fixing of a boundary- between the regions they were to occupy and the Gaudalupe Mountains became the line and a flag on the mountain was the sign of the treaty. AYliile the treaty was habitually violated by the Comanches it afforded the only i)rotection the settlers had in after years.

"The circumstances and facts of the tradition, which refer to this treaty, were related to a party of gentlemen who were traveling through that region in 1867. They encamped for the night at the count}^ site, and while there some thieving Comanches crept in under cover of the darkness and stole some horses. As soon as it was found out, the sheritf with a posse started in pursuit, riding as rapidly as possible to this pass, through which they knew the thieves would attempt to go, but when they reached the puij they found the Indians had preceded them and had left a red flag planted upon the mountain nearby. They immediately abandoned pursuit and returned home. Upon being asked why they abandoned their pursuit they explained that that flag meant a fight with an armed force of Comauches in the event they went beyond; that the Comanches claimed the mountains as a line which set aside to them all the region to the north and west of this pass under an ancient treaty with the Spaniards (evidently the treaty above referred to), and any thieving Indian band who could get their stolen property safely across that line, was fully protected by the whole tribe. They relied upon this old treaty to give legal color to their robberies."

J. A. Teggert was born in Canada in 1845, and emmigrated to the United States when he was quite a young man. He came to Texas in 1871, finally locating at Somerset in Atascosa county, where he was married to Miss Eugenia Lewis in 1876. In 1877, with his wife, Mr. Teggert moved to Bandera county and rented land from Harvey Stanard, near Medina City, on which he raised big crops. He was so favorably impressed with the country that he was content to remain here many years, and although he now resides at Electra, in the Panhandle, he ma,kes frequent visits to old Bandera count}', where he still has many friends who are always glad to welcome him. Mrs. Teggert died at Medina in 1914.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Teggert, and grew to manhood and womanhood in Medina. The children are Mrs. Essie Johnson of Medina, Miss Flora Teggert of Arizona, Jim Teggert of Electra, Mrs. Lela Hardwick deceased. Homer Teggert of Electra, Mrs. Zella P'reeman of Panhandle, Mrs. Louie Brown of BeaumonL, Robert Teggert of Panhandle, Mrs. Beatrice Wyatt of Electra, Miss Gladys Teggert deceased.

Taylor Thompson, veteran newspaper man who died in the Confederate Home at Austin in 1919, commanded a body of rangers that made frequent scouting trips to this region during the sixties. I have quite a number of sketches which Mr. Thompson contributed to the press a few years ago, and among them I find the following:

"On one occasion, with a squad of fourteen men I followed the trail of a party of Indians from a point in Medina county to somewhere near the head of the Medina river, where we despaired of overtaking them, and abandoned the trail. The next morning I sent ten men under the command of my corporal, to return south, going down the Hondo Creek, while with three companions I took the more easterly route, intending Ibo go by the town of Bandera and thence down the Medina river to a rendezvous agreed upon on the lower Hondo. When a few miles below the old Mormon Camp on the Medina late one evening we came to the camp of three men avIio were traveling in a w'agon. They were strangers to us but we camped wath them for the night, the two parties together numbering seven men. We learned that the three men lived in Atascosa county and had been up in the mountains on a bee hunting expedition. W^ehad seen several Indian signal smokes that day. There was not a settlement within ten miles of our camp, and as there were ten or fifteen horses in the camp, we all prepared to sleep with one eye open that night, though of course the sentinel was posted before we retired. I took the tiecopd watch, going on duty at 11 o'clock. 1 had scarcely reached mj' post when a voice, seemingly about twenty yards away, called me by name and said, 'Come out here, I want to show you something.' Of course I did not go, but after looking around cautiously I went to camp and saw that my six companions were all lying on their blankets. When I resumed my post another voice on the opposite side of the camp called out in Spanish, 'Look out, you d - d rangers, we'll get all of your horses tonight, and may be some of your scalps.' The voice did not seem to be more than twenty j^ards away, but I could find no one where the speaker seemed to be. I knew that many Indians spoke Spanish, and I aroused my companions and we scouted the vicinity thoroughly but could find no one. The voice continued to sound at intervals, in different directions, always speaking in Spanish. We began to think the place was haunted. I slept no more that night, but nothing untoward occurred. While drinking our coffee the next morning and discussing the events of the night, I noticed that one of the Atascosa men, George Powers by name, could scarcely control his risibilities. He finally exploded and told us that he was a ventriloquist and had been amusing himself at our expense that night. We took the matter good naturedly, but when we reached the little town of Castroville we nearly bankrupted Mr. Powers making him 'set 'em up' to us.

"The Medina river has its source about thirty miles above the town of Bandera. When I entered the ranger service early in 1864, the head of the Medina was a rendezvous or gathering place for the Indians, a large body of whom would assemble tliere, and then dividuig into b'mall parties, would raid the country to

"On one occasion, with my entire detachment I was camped on the Verde Creek, not far from the old military post of Camp Verde, which at that time was not occupied. We had been there several days, and one afternoon one of our scouts come in and reported having discovered a fresh Indian trail going south, some miles to the east of our camp, the Indians probably intending to pass down between the Hondo and the Medina. A little later two more scouts came in and reported having found two other trails going south, some distance apart, and several miles to the west of our camp. I knew how useless it would be to attempt to follow these trails in all their windings and turnings and feeling sure that the Indians making these different trails had divided at the rendezvous and would meet there again as they went out. Accordingly we moved to the head of the Medina, where we kept as closely concealed as possible, carefully scouting the country in the vicinity, and keeping a close lookout for Indian signal smokes to the south and west.

*'We had been in our position four or five days when one day some of our scouts reported having seen a signal smoke to the east of our camj), and the same day 1 discovered two signal smokes to the west> and some distance apart. We felt sure that these smokes indicated that three parties of Indians were returning to the rendezvous, the route each party was pursuing gradually converging. We also felt sure that each party was still some distance away, that being so far -fi'om any settlement they felt comfortably secure from pursuit, iaii'd \vb'uld c^ainp Avhei^e iilght c'\'ert'c^ok I hem and not attempt to reach the rendezvous until the following day; and we also knew that the rate of speed at which they would travel would depend largely upon the number of stolen horses they were driving. T held a consultation with our old trailer, Macedonio Delgado, and several other experienced frontiersmen, and we determined to start to meet the party that had made the signal smoke the furtherest to the west. I do not know why we came to this decision, but as the sequel proved, it was fortunate that we did so. The sun was about three hours high when w^e started, and we kept our movements concealed as much as possible by taking advantage of brushy sections of the country as well of the many hills in that mountainous region, all of which was covered with a growth of scrub timber. Shortly before sundown, by the aid of my glass, I discovered two more signal smokes much nearer together than the first two I had seen to the west, whicli indicated that the two parties were gradually (h'awing nearer together, and our object had l)ecn to meet one of the ])arties before they formed a junction. Wc waited until night had fallen, and then cautiously advanced in the direction of where we had seen the last smoke. Our scouts felt sure that tlie Indians were not more than ten miles away, and we kept a sharp lookout for their camp fires. We had proceeded probably ten miles when we discovered five or six fires and then we knew the Indians had gone into camp for the night. We approached as near as possible without detection, and then Macedonio and myself proceeded on foot to rcconnoiter. We approached the camp so closely that we distinctly heard the sound of female voices speaking in Spauj-fh, aa well as the SQuud of childrcii Ci';fiiig, and we knew that the Indians had taken several captives, and we judged that there were fifty or sixty warriors in the camp, which proved that the two parties had come together. We also plainly saw in the moonlight a large bunch of liorses which was being herded by six or eight Indians. We watched the camp until everything became quiet, then returned to our companions. All but three sentinels lay down to sleep, for we intended to attack the camp at daylight As there were so many Indians together, we knew they would not be in a great hurry about breaking camp in the morning.