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

"Shortly before daylight 1 aroused my companions; we mounted and approached the Indian camp until we were within about 300 yards of it. Then we divided into two parties, intending to attack from two directions. The number of Indians was more than double that of my detachment, but our superior arms gave us a great advantage. When it was good light I gave the signal to charge by firing a shot from my pistol. The Indians were taken completely by surprise, and at the point where my party struck the camp they scattered at the first onslaught, leaving three women tied to as many trees. One of the warriors as he passed near one of the women tried to kill her with a knife, intlicting an ugly wound in her shoulder. I was close to them at the time and by a lucky shot I made a good Indian of that particular warrior as he was in the act of striking a second blow at the woman. The fight was a hot one, but was of short duration. No party of Indians that ever raided the Texas frontier could stand the fire of six-shooters at close range. We"*stampcded the herd of liorseb and later gathered up forty or fifty head of them. The fight was scarcely over when John and George Bell, with four Mexicans, came dashing into the camp. It developed that the three women we had found in the camp were the wives of the two brothers and one of their vaqueros, and each of the women had a child about two years old. The Indians had attacked the Bell ranch near Laredo five days before, when all of the men were away four or five iiiiles from the ranch, where they had rounded up a bunch of cattle. On their return, about the middle oC the afternoon, they at once took the trail with all the men on the place. We had three men killed and four wounded. We found nine dead Indians, but of course we never knew how many were wounded. Mtogether we considered it a pretty good day's work."

First Commissioners' Court

The first Commissioners' Court of Bandera comity met on March 21, 1856, according to records on file in the county clerk's office. Present wereO. B. Miles, chief justice; William Ballantyne, William Curtis and William Ramsey, commissioners; \. Hoffman, sheriff; J. W. P'l^oole, clerk. Bonds of the following officers were approved: August Klappenbach, clerk of the district court; F. W. Davidson, justice of the peace, Precinct No. 1; F. L. Hicks, justice of the peace, Precinct No. 2; I. F. Carter, assessor and collector; Gideon Carter, county treasurer.

In the minutes of the Commissioners' Court, of May 20, 1856, appears the following: "Ordered by the court that F. W. Davidson. J. P., having absconded, his office as justice of the peace for Precinct No. 1 be declared vacant from and after this date." It is only right to add that some time thereafter the court entered a modification to this order by inserting in the minutes: "It is not meant by 'absconded' that F. W. Davidson had left with money belonging to said office, for money he had not."

The sheriff's bond was $200, and the district clerk's bond was 1100. In the minutes of the court July 26, 1856, number of poll taxes reported was 38; state taxes collected, $45.83; county taxes, $23.04.

On December 6, 1856, it was ordered by the court "Charles de Montel is hereby authorized to locate and survey all lands appropriated for school purposes by the state for use of this county, for which he is

February 16, 1857, the Commissioners selected and approved the following list of grand jurors: F. L. Hicks, Gideon Carter, I. F. Carter, P. D. Saner, A. Moncur, R. Ballantyne. J. Williams, M. Curtis, C. O. Isham, Spencer Smith, J. 1>. L. Gressman, A. Hawley, J. Ballantyne, ¥. M. Andrews, J. C'urtis, L. L. Wight, B. Bird, C. Montague, i\. W. Bird, I*. Moncur.

Monument Still Stands

In 1873 a law was passed providing that a monument be set up at each county seat to establish the true meridian, from which to get bearings and secure uniformity of all surveys. Chas. Montague, Sr., complying with the provisions of this law, that same year placed a monument on the public square, showing the true north line, and that monument is still standing. Many people living in Bandera today do not know why this monument was placed there. While it has withstood the elements for half a century, the monument is in fair condition, but steps should be taken to preserve it for ages.

Rescued Three. Children

In the early autumn of 1862 with a detachment of sixteen rangers, I followed an Indian trail away out somewhere to the northwest of old Fort Mason. We were not familiar with that section of country, and I did not know just where we were when we abandoned the trail and gave up the pursuit. Fort Mason is forty-five miles from the German town of Fredericksburg. Kerrville and Comfort were settled at first exclusively by Germans. They we^e a hardy class of settlers who came to that new country and some of them more bold and daring than others, had settled on ranches adjacent to the villages named, along the the beautiful streams and vallej^s in that section and these isolated ranches as well as the villages themselves at the time of the settlement, and for mahy years afterward, were subject to frequent raids and incursions from hostile bands of Indians. It is well known that the early German settlers of that section made several different treaties with the Comanche Indians by which they hoped to enjoyed immunity from Indian depredations. It is also well known that the Comanche Indians were never good hands to keep treaties. They were wont to abide by the terms of the treaty when it was to their own advantage but when they saw an opportunity to rob and plunder a German ranch and thought they could escape with the booty a little thing like a treaty did not count for much with them.

spoken of our horses were much jaded and we were out of meat and the first place we came to where water and grass was plentiful and game abundant we went into camp for five or six days in order to recuperate our horses and kill and dry enough meat to last us back to our own homes. We remained there five days and when we started back I determined to pass tne town of Bandera, which is situated on the bank of the Medina river, which heads above the now thriving town of that name. But the country around the head of the river was then wholly unsettled and it was said that the head of the Medina was a rendezvous for Indians; that when coming down upon the settlements during a raid they came in large bands together, divided up into smaller parties there, raiding into different sections of the country and meeting there again as they went out.

We camped one night about ten miles below the head of the river, and about twenty miles from the town of Bandera. WV had seen no Indians nor Indian signs since we had started on our return, but of course we kept a vigilant lookout on our horses when we camped at night. There being fifteen of us together we had no fear of an attack, the only real danger being that the Indians might stampede our horses at night. I should have stated that the town of Bandera was settled originally by Mormons, that some thirty miles below on the same stream was the town of Castroville, which was for many years the county seat of Medina county and was settled exclusively by Germans, while there were a few German ranches near the town as was the case near the other German settlements. On the night in question the moon was past the full and shone brightly at intervals, being occasionally obscured by drifting clouds, in fact the weather reminded one of what the old settlers called a weather breeder. There was not a settlement within twenty miles of where we were camped and about 10 o'clock I was making the round alone among the horses and when approaching a small thicket of bushes, T heard a voice distinctly saying, "Say, Mister, stop!" Of course I promptly halted and asked who was there. The voice replied, "Mister, you're a white man ain't you.'*" I replied in the affirmative and told the speaker to come out and he should not be hurt. Whereupoh two small boj^s emerged from the thicket and approached holding each other's hand. I took them back to camp and then began to questioned them. The elder said he was 11 years old, that his name was Fritz Krawitz, that his little brother aged 8 was named Willie; that the Indians had come to his father's ranch about ten miles from Castroville three or four nights before, while his moth-'^r was attending a sick neighbor. The father was at home with these two and a little girl of 6. That the Indians had killed his father, and carried off the three children. The boy said the Indians had camped, he thought, not more than three miles from us and that he and his little brother had found an opportunity soon after dark of stealing out of camp; that he hated to leave his little sister, but she was not near them at the time and these two little children had stolen out into the wilderness not knowing where they were, and only intent upon escaping from their captors.

were in the party and he said he thought about thirty. When asked if he thought he could find the camp again, ]ie said lie believed he could. Justo Rodriguez, my corporal, old Macedonia, the trailer, and myself, held a hasty council of war and when I had interpreted to them all Fritz had told me, we determined to attempt the rescue of the little girl, though we had no doubt but that the Indian camp would be astir owing to their having missed the two boys.

Fortune favored us for though the little boy was unable to locate the camp himself we accidentally came upon it and found it more quiet than we had expected. The fact was, tnough we did not know it then, a portion, probably one-half, of the band were scouring the adjacent woods and brush for the fugitives, and it seemed almost miraculous that we had not encountered any of these. We stopped about four hundred Awards from the camp and Macedonia and 1 went cautiously forward through the brush to reconnoiter. We heard the little girl crying but could form little idea of the number of Indians there were in camp. Returning I left the little boy with two men to guard him behind some rocks and dividing the remaining fourteen into two parties we approached the camp from different directions as cautiously as possible. We had probably got within thirty or forty steps of the camp before we were discovered. Then the Indian lookout or sentinel gave a whoop and then we all dashed into the camp with a yell. By rare good fortune one of the men came to the child when there was no Indian nearer than ten or fifteen steps of her. Of course several had been left to guard her, but had evidently left their post for some purpose. There was a quick, sharp skirmish for five or ten minutes and then all the warriors who were able took to the brush. The only wonder was that they stood as long as they did, for they never ccmld stand firearms at close range. We had the little girl, however, and hastily started for where we had left our horses. Macedonio, however, stayed behind long enough to count the dead Indians, and said be found six lying among the trees. One of my men was killed and five wounded slightly in the skirmish.

In the meantime we heard horses coming toward us from different directions and we then knew that a part of the Indians had been out hunting for the missing boys. Our own dead comrade had been carried back to where we had left the horses and we remained where we were until daylight. Macedonia dressed the wounds of the five men, and the dead man was buried there, the grave being scooped out with hatchets and bowie knives. Five days later we delivered the three children to their parents, the father not having been killed as Fritz thought, though he was severely wounded.

Altogether we had made a pretty good night's work of it, for we had rescued the three children, had made six "good" Indians, as General Sheridan would have called them, and the morning after the fight we gathered up eight or ten horses before we left the scene.

Judge F. W. Dorow

One of the substantial citizens of Bandera county for manj' years was Judge F. W. Dorow, who died in Bandera October 18, 1921. Judge Dorow was born in Germany January 3, 1845, and came to America when he was seven years of age, his parents settling at New Braunfels, Texas. When he was seventeen years old he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served on the Mexican border and along the Gulf of Mexico during the war. He was married in 1869 to Miss Lena Voges at New Braunfels, and moved to Helotes Creek, near the present Helotes store and lived there until 1872, when he located on Pipe Creek where he resided until 1918. Here he raised his family, and when his children had all grown up, married and had homes of their own, he sold the old home place and went to live among his children. Mrs. Dorow died December 23. 1899. Surviving are the following children: W. V. Dorow of Beaumont; H. A. Dorow of San Antonio; A. E. Dorow of Utopia; Mrs. A. L. Mansfield. Mrs. A. Meadows, Mrs. D. W. Buck of Bandera, and Mrs. H. J. Babbitt of I'ipc Creek.

Judge Dorow was a member oi" tlie Masonic fraternity for more than forty years and in his dealings with mankind he exemplified the principles of that great order. He was a member of the Twenty-third Legislature, and served as County Judge of Bandera count}^ for four years. He also served as justice of the peace and county commissioner from the Pipe Creek precinct for many years. Always a staunch friend to the schools, and an exponent of civic ad- vancement, his work is still apparent on every hand and will be in evidence for many years to come. With his passing Bandera county lost one of her most honored citizens, and one whose place will be hard to fill, because men of such lofty ideals as Judge Dorow possessed are scarce the world over.

A. L. Scott

A. L. Scott came to Texas from Virginia in the early eighties and located in Karnes county. Members of his family contracted malaria and he sought the mountains of Bandera to aid them in recovering health. For many years he resided here, following the occupation of school teacher, and was for a number of years surveyor of this county, and owned a small farm just across the river from Bandera. Mr. Scott died several years ago, leaving a widow and seven children. Mrs. Scott now lives in San Antonio, and often visits Bandera. The names of the children are: A. L. Scott, Jr., now living in Central America; Mrs. Gussie Chancy of San Antonio; Miss Frances Scott, executive of Y. W. C. A. work at San Antonio; Dunklin Scott, civil engineer with headquarters in San Antonio; Mrs. Sadie Dullnig of San Antonio; Richmond Scott, engaged in the brokerage business in San Antonio; Herbert Scott, civil engineer employed by the City of San Antonio.

J. F. Tait

J. F. Tait was born in St. Louis Mo., in 1861, and came to Bandera county in 1882 when he located at Medina and opened a blacksmith shop. He remained there until 1899, then moved to Bandera to establish a shop in this city. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Rankin January 16, 1889, and they have two children, Lieut. George R. Tait of Brownsville, and Mrs. Cleora Risinger of San Antonio. Mr. Tait has built up a substantial business since coming to Bandera, and is one of the best known men in the county. He owns the Southwestern Telephone sj^stem here which has over 150 miles of lines and over 200 subscribers in the county besides long distance connection with outside points.

The Stanard Family

In the spring of 1871 Harvey A. Stanard, with his wife and two small children, came to Bandera county in a hack, and located on Laxson's Creek. They had started to Bandera from Cedar llapids, Iowa, seeking a change of climate on account of Mr. Stanard's health. En route to this county they tarried for a short time at Waxahachie, where the second child, now Mrs. Leora Stiles, was born. As soon as the family located on Laxson's Creek the Indians came and stole the only team of horses Mr. Stanard possessed, leaving him afoot. But with the true pioneer spirit he set about to improve his homestead with the means at hand. He procured a yoke of steers and with these he broke the ground which he had cleared for a little farm. For many years he and his faithful wife struggled along, and aided in every way in the development of the community, and the Stanard home became noted far and wide for its hospitality.

Harvey A. Stanard was born in Virginia, March 26, 1842, and was one of thirteen children. From Virginia his parents moved to Illinios and lived near Nauvoo City. Later they came to Texas and settled at Old Helena, in Karnes county, where Harvey Stanard grew to manhood. He was married to Miss Sarah Kathrine Lewis, and went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to locate, but after spending some time there his health failed, and he decided to come back to Texas. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stanard, namely: Mrs. Cleora Browning, lives at Medina; Mrs. Leora Stiles, lives at Winslow, Arizona, but at present is sojourning in Medina; AVarren AYilJiam Stanard, died at Medina in 1904; Mrs. Maude Newcomer died at Medina in 1918; Mrs. Ada Mae Nesting, lives at Winslow, Arizona; Lillie Lewis Stanard. died at Medina in 1885; Harvey A. Stanard, Jr., died at Nixon, December 7, 1914.

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey A. Stanard died at Medina, January 6, 1901, within just a few hours of each other. Both father and mother had been sick with pneumonia only a few days. In the family burial ground at the old home on Laxson's Creek they sleep side by side, and those of their children who have passed on to the eternal home, rest near them.

It is correctly said that Mrs. Stanard was a true type of the frontier mother. She was born in Iowa October 9, 1845, and came to Texas with her father, Levi Lewis, wiien she was quite small. Her mother died aiid her father came to the Lone Star State with his children and located in Atascosa county, and when Sarah Lewis grew to womanhood she was happily married to Harvey Stanard, as previously stated. When Mrs. Stanard came to Bandera county she saw the need of religious influences on tne sparsely settled frontier, and accordingly she set about to provide religious teaching in her little log cabin home, where she she invited the neighbors to come in and be taught. A little Sunday school was started there, and in this work she was ably assisted by Dr. Hudspeth of Bandera, who was there every Lord's Day to help the devout woman plant the cause of Christ in that community. She had been an orphan herself, and naturally her sympathies went out to the motherless boys and girls of the land, and on more than one occasion she took orphaned children under her care and gaVc them that tender love which only a mother bestows. Among these orphaned children who came to her was H. E. Rambie, who is today a prominent ranchman of Bandera county. While a small bo}^ Ed Rambie became a member of the Stanard household and lived there as one of the family until he was grown, receiving the love and admonition which that good mother gave to her own children, and today when he speaks of her it is to utter blessings and praise to her dear name. A little log school house was finally erected on Laxson's Creek, and here Mrs. Stanard taught school for many years, instilling into the minds of her pupils the knowledge which has m^ade some of them leaders in the affairs of today. After a time the pioneer preachers began coming along, and church services were held in the little school house. Jack Potter, tlic ''fighting parson," was among these early preachers, and the first time he stopped overnight at the Stanard home Mr. Stanard was absent. After supper family prayers were conducted, and Rev. Potter, as was his custom, prayed for God's blessing to rest upon llic lumscliold, .'iiid in liis rcr\'(Mil pciilioii lie ;isked the Lord lo ''bless lliis poor widow and I he lillle orphan ehih:lren who had l>eeii deprived of i\ husband's and father's losing care." The good preacher did not learn until the next morning at the breakfast table that Mrs. Stanard was not a widow and her children were not orphans.

As their children grew up it was the hope of this pioneer couple to give them all of the educational advantages their circumstances would allow. They sent their eldest daughter. Miss Cleora Stanard, and F(i Rambie \6 Ad Ran College at Thorp Sp'rings, and kept the other children in school as long as possible. Limited means, and living in a remote region proved quite an obstacle in the carrying out of their plans to a great extent. Gradually their children grew to manhood and womanliood. Miss Cleora Stanard married James E, Browning, has a beautiful home in Medina; Miss Leora Stanard married Barnett Stiles. He died September 27, 1914, on a railway train in New Mexico, and is buried at AVinslow, Arizona. Miss Maude Stanard married Joe Newcomer, and died in 1918, leaving four children, Ethel Maude, Mattie Mae, Joe Harvey and Leora Joyce. Miss Ada Mae Stanard married Charles O. Nesting, and tliey have two children, Charles Stanard and Anna Mac. Harvey A. Stanard. Jr., married Miss Alta Freeman, and to them were born three children, Warren Webster, Cleora Alice and Floy Harvey; Mrs. Freeman now lives at Ecla, Texas.

Mrs. Barnett Stiles, like her sainted mother, has proven herself a friend to orphan children. Some years ago she gave a home to a lilllc ()ri)han boy, Cecil Thomas Carr by naiuc\ and today tlie hul is a student in the Medical Department of tlic Universily of Texas. He is making good, and all who know him predict a great future for the ambitious boy, and a reward of obedience and gratitude for the worthy foster mother.

Ike Stevens, Sr

The subject of this sketch was born in Arkansas August 14, 1847, and came to Texas with his parents when he was quite a boy. He lived in Bandera county many years and was well known to all of the early settlers. For twelve years he served as sheriff of this count3^ discharging the duties of that office in a fearless and satisfactory manner, and proving himself a man capable of dealing with the lawless element that sometimes invaded this region. When his health began to fail he moved to El Paso, in 1910, where he had two sons, Ike and Robert Stevens, on the police force in that city, and while he was there he was killed by a train when he was crossing the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. His remains were brought to Bandera for burial.

During the early days Mr. Stevens was a member of Robert Ballantync's company of rangers, and spent a great deal of time trailing and fighting Indians who came down into this county on their raids.

Mr. Stevens was married lo Miss Agnes Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown, early settlers on the frontier. To them were born twelve children, eight of whom are still living, namely: Allie Stevens, lives on Mason Creek; Mrs. Laura Tait, lives at Morenci, Arizona; Robert H. Stevens, lives at San Antonio; Ike Stevens, Jr., lives in Bandera, Mrs. Velma Barrett, lives in San Antonio; Mrs. Jessie Barrett, lives in San Antonio: Mrs. Mary iNIullins, lives in San Antonio; Mrs. Edna Powell, lives in San Antonio. Mrs. Stevens, the mother, also lives in San Antonio. Sh^ frerfirently comes to Bnnrlera and it is a great pleasure to her many old time friends for lier to visit them. Mrs. Stevens ran relate manj^ thrilling? incidents that occurred here in the early days, as well as many things things that happened in Kendall county where her parents former)}' resided. Her pioneer mother, Mrs. Brown, saw an Indian prowling about tlie premises one night trying to steal a horse, and she fired a bullet into the redskin's body that sent him off howling with pain. During the gold excitement in California Mr. Brown took his family to the Golden State, but later returned to Texas.

San Antonio Trading Point

From the beginning of Bandera's history, San Antonio has been the chief trading point for all of this vast region. The distance from Bandera to that city is fifty miles, and in the early days a round trip could be made with an ox-team in seven days. Today the round trip can be made in a Ford automobile in seven hours. In those days shingle-making was the chief industry, and the shingles were hauled to San Antonio and marketed. Today many of Bandera county's products are hauled hy truck to the San Antonio market.

A Polly Rodriguez Story

' V\e wer.t i.iintii.ir oFiCe from San Antonio to Bandera county. We had four horses and six dogs. We killed se^'eral deer, a number of turkeys, one bear, and cut several bee trees. We found a bunch of wild cattle, most of them black or brown. We got after one and killed her. Lynn had an eight-shooter pistol he had made himself, a rifle and a pair of holsters; I had a rifle, a six-shooter, and a pair of holsters. We fired twenty shots into the body of that black cow before we killed her. Then we camped in a clump of small trees, prepared our supper, fed our dogs plenty of beef, and laid down to rest. Suddenly the dogs jumped up and ran out as if some one were coming, and we heard somebody talking low. We thought it was Indians, and we hissed on the dogs in English and they ran out farther barking furiously as if they had something at bay. We hallooed loud and hissed the dogs. The Indians could not see how many there were of us, and no doubt thought our crowd was large. They stayed around us all night, but feared to make a charge. They made all kinds of animal calls and cries, sometimes barking like wolves, then hooting like owls, fighting like cats or quacking like ducks. They thus tried to decoy us out or get us to expose ourselves, but we lay low. The Indians were all afoot, and there must have been twenty or thirty of tbem, as the trail would indicate. Just before daylight we heard them leave. After we found that they were afoot we decided to follow them, and found where they had killed a deer. They carried awaj'' every particle of the deer except the heart. We followed this trail until we saw their smoke rising from a little hill, and decided there were too many of them to attack, although we were well mounted and armed. They went on, and we thought it best to go home. We learned later that this same party of Indians had killed four men, (icrmans, who were campeil on Ihe Medina making shingles. They cut open lli 'ir breasts and took out their hearts. They seemed to have some superstition about the heart, for they left the deer's heart but cut out and carried away the hearts of the men.

"Jacob Lynn and I, with a number c^f others, went hunting on the Medina Christmas, 1847. I took an ox cart to haul our game. Game was plentiful, and we had wonderful success.

While my father lived on the Medina I was once going to San Antonio with a load of wood. My aunt accompanied me. "My dog scented the trail of some animal and, following it, began to bark. I took my gun and found that he had treed a large panther in a willow tree which overhung the Leon Creek. I took aim at his head and fired. It was not a dead shot and the animal dropped into the water, which was deep at that place. My dog jumped in after it, and they clinched and both sank. To save my dog I jumped in tlie water. When they came up the dog swam one way and the panther the other. I caught the panther by the tail and lifted it up so as to sink his head, and we swam around and around, he trying to get at me. I got to where I could stand on the bottom, and holding up his tail, I soon drowned him and took his hide."

The Killing Of Nicholson

I will here give you an account of the killing of an old man by the name of Nicholson, which occurred about four miles above Kerrville some time in 1859. The year 1857 was very dry, and in many parts of the country the streams dried up and people had to move their stock on account of the drouth. At that time stock raising was the principal business. In the following years, 1858 and 1859, a great many of the stockmen had to move their stock to where there was permanent water, and Nicholson, who was living on the Cibolo during the drouth, gathered his stock and moved up on the Guadalupe about four miles above where Kerrville now stands. He had four grown daughters, all good riders and experienced in working with stock and inured to outdoor life. They wore six-shooters, and were not afraid to use them.

I met Nicholson after he had moved up there, and he gave me such a fine description of that country I concluded to visit him, and shortly afterw^ard I went up there. As there were no roads in that region, I missed Nicholson's ranch and went some three or four miles beyond and came to a camp where three men were making shingles. It being late in the afternoon I spent the night with these men, and next morning I went to Nicholson's camp. The old man and his family seemed very glad to see me, and I had a most enjoyable visit. During the time I was there, Mr. Nicholson showed me the country. It was a wild, beautiful region, abounding with game of all kinds, and frequently visited by Indians. I noticed that the old man seemed careless and did not use caution in going about. I called his attention to his apparent carelessness, and told him that in that country it was very necessary to keep his eyes and ears open, see and hear everything, observe all signs, and be ready at all times for a fight; that in going about he would have to double back, cross his own trail, and frequently look back to see if Indians were following him. The old man did not seem to think so much caution was necessary, and was inclined to laugh at my fears for his safety. I left his camp on Tuesday for my home, and on Thursday followiiig I heard he had been killed bj^ the Indians. So far as I know he was the first man killed in Kerr countv.

Wolf And Hoffman Killed

We had captured a bunch of horses from a part}^ of Indians and returned to D'Hanis with them, and put them in a corral adjoining Joseph Ney's store and saloon. I then went to my ranch to look after things there and did not get back until ten o'clock the next morning. When I got back I found the stock gone. The Indians had torn down a part of the corral and taken the horses while the parties tliat were left to guard them were in the saloon playing cards. I got the men together and took the trail and we followed it until night, then camped. As we were not far behind the Indians we did not build a campfire for fear it would reveal our presence. At dajdight next morning we pushed on and after going six or seven miles we found where they had killed a Mexican who was in the employ of Ross Kenedy. We followed on the trail to the Sabinal and from there it led across to the Blanco Canyon. About a mile beyond the Sabinal we came to a large live oak tree and in that tree w^e found a dead Indian hanging by the neck, in his war paint, with his bow and quiver and a large shield on him. The tree had lots of arrow spikes in it, and broken arrows were hwing around, showing a hard fight had taken place there. About 200 yards from the tree, and down in the Sabinal valley, we saw two objects and wlien we approached nearer we discovered these objects were the bodies of a man named Wolf and a man named Hoffman. They had not been scalped, but AVolf's throat had been cut. Indications showed that the two men had made a heroic stand at the big tree, but had left there to get to a point of timber which offered better protection, but when they reached open ground the Indians closed in on them ;iiid kill('(l I hem. TToO'mnn likely fell first, and Wolf killed the Indian we found in the tree. We sent a man back to D'llanis to notify our people to come and get the bodies, and again took the trail. When we had gone about ten miles we met a party of scouts from Uvalde who informed us that they had surprised the Indians at the edge of a big cedar brake in the Blanco Canj^on where they had killed a beef and were making preparations for a feast. The Indians fled into the cedar brake, and the rangers got the horses, saddles and pistols belonging to Wolf and Hoffman. We returned to where we had left the bodies, and soon others came and the dead men were taken to D'Hanis for burial.

Joseph Wolf, a brother to one of the murdered men, was my neighbor, and while he was out on a cow hunt shortly after his brother was killed, the Indians got after him and ran him all day. I had gone to San Antonio and when I returned he told me about the race the Indians gave nim, and said, "Smith, I thought of you many times that day, and wished you were with me." On another occasion he joined a party that was trailing a bunch of Indians, and when they overtook them a fight ensued. An Indian squaw made signs to the white men tluit she was a sc|uaw. Wolf shot her down, and when one of his comrades told him he ought not shoot the s(|uaw. Wolf said: "Why she would have raised more little Indians to bother us."

Mrs. T. M. Weldon

One of the dear old mothers of Bandera today is Mrs. T. M. Weldon, who has dwelt here for nearly half a century, witnessing the many changes that have taken place. Her recollection of early events and her remembrance of the friends of those days are vividly recalled, and she talks of them in a manner most pleasing. When she came to this county with her husband in 1876, Bandera was only a small village, and the county's population amounted to only a few hundred souls. She was born at Denmark, near Jackson, Tennessee, June 7, 1837, and grew to womanhood the^'c. In March, 1860, she was happily married to J. F. Weldon, in Ballard countj^ Kentucky, and in 1864 they came to Texas and located in Goliad count}', where Mr. Weldon engaged in the sheep business. After remaining there a few years he moved his flocks to Bandera county and leased range on the James ranch, now owned by J. A. Miller, amounting to 3,000 or 4,000 acres for which lease he paid $100 per annum. When the family moved to Bandera they occupied a house - later destroyed by fire - near the Chas. Montague home. Later Mr. Weldon built the pretty farm home which is now owned by Alex Adamietz, northeast of the city, and the family lived there for many years.

Mr. Weldon's father was one of the Kentucky pioneers, and helped to blaze the way for civilization in the Blue Grass state, and when the son emigrated to Texas he likewise became a pioneer. He followed sheepraising on an extensive scale, and portions of the ranch he owned now belong to J. W. Short and

Mrs. Weldon, in speaking of the oUI homestead northeast of town, said it was a most delightful spot, and she spent manj^ happy years there. She knew nearly all of the older pioneers of those days, only a few of whom are left, and among these few she mentioned Uncle Frank Langford, Aunt Mary Hudspeth, J. P. Heinen, Sr., Amasa Clark, and several others. She says that when she came to Bandera there was not a cistern in the town, the water being hauled from the river in barrels, on push carts, by Polish citizens and sold for fifteen cents per barrel. Three public school houses have been built in Bandera since she came here. The first was moved off to make room for a larger one and now forms a part of Ed Clark's dwelling. The second was torn down and the lumber was used in the construction of the present imposing school building. When she came here there was no Protestant church building in the village, and the first preaching she remembers attending here was in a liltlc building which luid a dirl floor. Rev. Kingsbury was the first Methodist minister to locate in Bandera. The Methodists erected their church building in 1882, and some years afterward the house was remodeled and enlarged to its present size. Mrs. Weldon knew Andrew Jackson Potter, ''the Fighting Parson," and he was often a guest in their home. In 1900 the family again moved to town. Mr. W eldon's health failed, and ho died June 14, 190S. Besides the widow, two daughters survive, Mrs. Liz3ie C<>H'^''t)^ Comstock. and Miss May Weldon of Bandera.

Mrs. Weldon has in her possession several copies of Bandera's first newspaper, the Bandera Bugle, published in 1880 by Stephenson & Ward, one of the copies being of the very first issue of that paper.

It is indeed a pleasure to sit and talk to this pioneer mother and hear her recount events of those early days. Although she has reached the advanced age of eighty-five years, her memory is excellent and she recalls many things that occurred in Bandera in those days. The Indians made their last raid into this county only a few weeks before she came here; the barbed wire fence was then unknown; the oxwagon was still in use; it required four or five days to make a trip to San Antonio and return; there were no telephones then; the comforts and luxuries of the citizens were very limited. Great changes have taken place, and Mrs. Weldon has observed all of these changes and talks very interestingly of them.

William Wallace was born in Uockbridgc counly, Virginia, in 1816, and died January 7, 1899. He came to Texas in 1830, arriving a short time after the battle of San Jacinto. He had a brother and a cousin killed at Goliad, and said he came to Texas to take revenge out of the Mexicans. He was at the battle of the Sal ado in 1842, when General Woll captured San Antonio. He was also in the Mier expedition, but was one of the lucky ones who drew a white bean, and after returning to Texas he joined Colonel Jack Hays" rangtrs and was in many t\( iling Indian cam- paigns. In 1846 he was with Hays at the storming of Monterey, where he took ''full toll" out of the Mexicans for killing his brother and cousin at Goliad. Later he commanded a ranger company which was organized to protect the frontier, and subseciuently had charge of the mail line from San Antonio to El Paso, which was the most dangerous mail route in Texas. Wallace's frontier life was fraught with many perilous adventures and narrow escapes. He was once captured by Indians and condemned to be burned at the stake, but was rescued by an old squaw, who assisted him to escape.

Early Day Barbecues In Old Bandera

A few days ago three old timers got together and in swapping early day reminiscences the talk reverted to some of the barbecues that used to take place in Bandera county. This set your scribe to inquiring, and in ruminating around I reached the conclusion that life was really worth living. in those days when Bandera was a remote frontier village where a certain primitive simplicity pervaded everything. Coming from the States to Bandera at the time of which I write, one would have arrived at Fifty- Years-Ago. He would have been handling implements, enjoying the usages, contemplating the cast of characters, eating the viands, sitting by the cabin fireplaces and snuffing the candles of 1836. And along with these the traveler would have noticed that with the manners and customs of a past age had been preserved the primitive health, vigor, feelings and virtues - a certain hearty, honest, homely dignity of character, which we have been told our grandparents possessed. Everything was done slowly, and these people had time to live, to grow old, and to grow fat. I said that everything was done slowly. I must make two exceptions. One was when word was brought that Indians were in the country. Haste, speed, and swift rustling to get on the trail was the response. Ask George Hay about it. The next exception was when the cry of affliction was heartl. This cry was ne\er unheeded, and relief took the wings of Love and Charity, and the sufl^erer found himself in the trouse of fiisfrreiitlsi Ask J. P.

Heinen Sr., or Uncle Frank Langford. But the public feasts of those days! The 21st of April, San Jacinto Day, and the Fourth of July were the great days of the year; rain or shine, there was feasting and revelry on those days; but there were other occasions for jollification through the spring, fall and summer months, and the smallest local happening of good fortune wound up with a barbecue and grand ball; and at these barbecues, always held in some one of the great cypress groves on the banks of the Medina river, the prettiest stream in Texas - there was no dearth of orators. Every man was called on for a speech, and even the boys were led forward and in most instances forced to "make a talk." A good story is told of Lee Risiuger's first and rather compulsorj' efforts along the line of oratory. Lee was a big barefoot boy, 14 years old, and was one of the fifteen pupils (they called them scholars in that day) that comprised the Bandera school. He had completed his McGuffey's Fourth Reader, stood head in the Blue Back Speller class, had licked everytliing in the school except the teacher, whose sex only saved her bacon, and as the close of school was at hand and the event was to be celebrated with a great barbecue, the foremost pupil in school - and that was Lee - must make a speech. Lee demurred, but his demurrer was overruled. The teacher would assist him. She would write out his speech. His theme was to be "Education." And this is the first paragraph of the oration written for Lee by his erudite preceptress:

"Knowledge is power. The school house is the bulwark of our liberties. The diffusion of knowledge cxpacdb the bru'dde^l rau^- uf Lbt huuiau ru1"clfci:l.

Lee was out of school a week memorizing his "speech." It was to be his first effort and everybody was expecting an oratorical sensation. Other rewards besides the plaudits of a shouting multitude awaited him. Mrs. Koenigham had promised him a big red rooster; Mr. Davenport had promised him a new straw hat, and Charles Montague was going to buy him a dozen fish hooks and a nice red cork. Lee spread himself. As usual all the country attended the barbecue. Besides oratory, there wasjmusic. Charlie Haiduk and his fiddle was the band, and between orations when the "band" with energetic movement played "Rye Straw," every foot in the audience was seized with a nervous restlessness. Finally it came Lee's turn to take the stand and win fame and fishhooks- lie bravely niuujited the little platform and faced a sea of upturned faces. All at once Lee became rallied, but rallying courage, lie began:

"Knowledge is power. The bull house is \\\c school - (Here he took .'i liilcli .'il his i);iiils ;in(l sj);il through his teeth) The the scliool bull lli<' bull school house is on Mansfield's lioss range, and - and - and Knowledge is power; the school bull is the - ah - um, um, the bull in the schoolwark - the bull, bull, bull - "

"Say, Lee, your shirt tail's out!" shouted a small boy in the audience, and with becoming grace the orator left the platform. The boy who interrupff^d Lee's speech was Andy Mansfield, then a lad about Lee's age, and it is related that Lee spent the remaindejL' of the day chasing Andy up and doVrn the forest-

But I must return to my subject - those early day barbecues. For many years John Pyka was the chef at all these functions, always aided by a full corps of able volunteer assistants. The pits were prepared under John's supervision, ample supplies of seasoned liveoak wood was placed on the ground, and the fires were lighted on the evening before the day of the celebration. John's vigilant eye was on that meat from the time it was spitted on clean wooden skewers until the day following when it was removed to the carving tables, brown, crisp, tender, thorouglily cooked, and retaining all its nourishing juices. All night long he stood over those furnace-like pits, reducing the heat here, adding more fuel there, all tiie while turning and "basting." And that ''basting!" To the novice it was a liquid compound, profoundly mys-. terious. Delicious? John Ross once declared that it would clear a man's conscience, and (liarlie Scliiuicttkc urged him lo confine IiimseU* to that diet for one year. It must not be inferred that John Pyka was the only l)arbecue expert in Banderaland. By no means. To barbecue meats properly was an important part in a boy's education in those days, and every native was schooled in that line. In the cow camp, on the hunt, at the roundup, nnd on the Indian trail, all these afforded opportunities to learn, and all the pupils were apt.

And in those days when a barbecue was suggested, no one thought of carrying a paper around, soliciting subscriptions to defray expenses. Never. There were no "privileges" for sale. The baneful clutch of commei'cialis'm had not reached these Virtuous, hospitable people. Ice cream, lemonade, cold drinks, and the merry-go-round were unheard of. Even ice water was unknown, save that quaffed from the pure sparkling fountains that gushed from the everlasting hills. I repeat, there was no solicitation for donations for the barbecue. The bare announcement of a function of that kind was all sufficient, and the only task was to fix the limit in order that there might not be an overabundance. Fat yearlings, goats and sheep were delivered at the pits. To offer an old animal, however well conditioned, would have been regarded as an insult. The old timers - those of the few who yet survive - will never forget the early day barbecues at Bandera. They vividly recall the early morning visit to the grounds on the banks of the blue, limpid river, where the air was redolent with the delightful aroma arising from the steaming pits, and the verdant groves echoed with the laughter of youth and the happy greetings of age. The long tables, the bare-armed matrons, the great array of boxes and baskets - all these are treasured in Memory's storehouse. And when the feast was spread the tables were not roped off to prevent the onrush of the rude and untutored rowdy. The women were always first in the esteem of Bandera men, and they taught their sons to admire and respect womanhood. The ladies dined first, as they deserved, and then became waiters when the men were called to the feast. The menu of the modern barbecue is usually baker's bread, roasted meat and pickles. It would puzzle the old time Bandera man to undertake to explain the menu offered at the early day barbecues in Bandera, He would have to include every delicacy the country afforded and that the genius of intelligent housewives could suggest. The rarest bread, cakes, pies, pastrys, and preserves, besides fish, fowl and fruits, all combined in making a feast fit for kings and higli prelates. And these people feasted ! Indigestion was unheard of in those days; the germ, baccilus. pellagra, iiookworm, breakfast food and appendicitis were unknown, and the village doctor had to swap horses for a living.

I can see, in my mind's ej^e, the old-time fiddler, the most important functionary of the occasion, as he rides in from the ranch. His fiddle is enclosed in a flour sack and carried under his arm. Everybody hails the cheif (musician) and the chief magnifies his office. All you old grandmothers and granddaddies around Bandera recall the happj' days of your j^outli when under the trixy strains of Haiduk's old fiddle your nimble feet made the gravel fly in the open air dance or trimmed the splinters from the puncheon floor ball room.

There were all kinds of goodships around Bandera in those good old days. There was good fellowships, comradeship, friendship, social relationship, and occasionally the "Fighting Parson," old Jack Potter would come around and then they would have worship. When it was announced that Parson Potter, or any other preacher was in town and was going to preach that night or next day, no matter what was on foot - horse race, dance or ball - everything was called off, and everybody went to church. Protracted meetings were often held, always well attended, always earnest and orderly, but it was hard to get up a great revival. Parson Potter said it was no use to tell these people of paradise; they wanted no better place than Ban- dera. But withal, there were devout men and women among them in those days, most of wliom have passed from the busj^ walks of men to join the immortal hosts that sweep with silent tread through the gates to the tomb, and "their works do follow them." They laid the foundations deep, solid. They wrought well; they builded wisely. Witness the Bandera of today - the handiwork of their sons and daughters who still remain to keep burning the fires of hospitalty and patriotism on the alters erected by their pioneer fathers. Bandera was staked off as a town in 1854. For many years it lay in the path of the marauding Comanche and Apache, and her soil was often encrimsoned with the blood of her defenders; but with all of this, legally and morally, she presents the cleanest record of awy county in Texas.

It is pleasant to dwell on these splendid achievements, but we would turn back the pages of time, live over the old, old days among the simple, honest, virtuous and hospitable pioneers of Banderaland, to hear their voices once more in song and merrj' jest, to participate as of old in their homely joys, innocent pastimes and public festivities, not the least of which was the old time barbecues on the banks of the Medina.

Great Floods In The Medina

In 1870 a great flood swept the Medina Vallej^ Heavy rains caused the Medina river and its tributaries to get out of banks, the angry waters carrying away live stock, crops and small cabins. At Bandera the houses in the lowlands were washed away, among these being- the store of J. P. Heinen, Sr. Mr. Heinen lost his stock of goods, and sustained a total loss.

In 1900 a still greater flood was witnessed, much damage being done -around Medina City, chief of which was done to farms along the river. This was on August 5th, 1900. A big barbecue and picnic took place at Medina the day before. The heaviest loser at that time was probably W. C. (Pomp) Freeman, whose farm was just below the little town of Medina. Mr. Freeman lost everything, his house, barns, farm machinery, wagons, etc., being swept away by the raging stream, and his family barely escaped by wading deep water to higher ground.

Other floods have occurred in recent years, but none so disastrious as that of 1900. In 1901 much damage was done to growing crops by a flood, and in September, 1920 the river got on a rampage, and at Bandera the water was several feet in the Ardrey cottage and in the old Hudspeth homestead.

C. A. Frick came to Bandera in the 70s and established a blacksmith shop. He served one term as sheriff of Bandera count}'. In 1875 he was married to Miss Marj^ Kissling of this place, and to them were born eight children, six of whom are living, Henry Frick of Eagle Pass, Charles Frick of San Antonio, Alvin Frirk of Tampico, Mrs. Frankie Rechel of San Antonio, Mrs. Stella McNeir of Houston, and Mrs. Ella Riche}' of San Antonio. Mr. Frick moved to Castroville in 1878, later going to San Antonio where he was in the employ of the S. A. Traction Co. for 21 years. He. died in 191G. His widow lives in San Antonio.

Mrs. Mattie Jones

Mrs Alartha Southward Jones was born in George town, Texas, January 24, 1852, and came to Bandera in 1865. She was married to Sam Jones July 2, 1868, Chief Justice Henry Stevens performing the ceremony. For two years they resided with Mr. Jones' parents on Myrtle Creek, then moved to the Jack Ranch where they lived several years. Six children were born to them, five of whom are living: Mrs. Armena Gibbons, lives in San Antonio; Mrs. Mahala Southward, lives in Apache, Oklahoma; Jim I. Jones, lives near Helotes; William C. Jones, lives near Junction; Sam Jones, Jr., lives in San Antonio.

Sam Jones, Sr., died December 15, 1876. He was a member of Jack Phillips' company of minute men, organized for frontier protection. Tom Stevens, Jack Sheppard. Jim Brown, Hugh Bandy, and John Clark were members of this company, which was quite active in scouting and trailing and chastising the redskins.

Mrs. Mattie Jones - everybody calls her "Grandma" Jones - owns a pretty little home in Bandera, where I visited her a few days ago and was received with that broad hospitality characteristic of our noble Texas mothers. She talked interestingly of the days that are past and gone, of the days of her girlhood, of the friends of those days, many of whom have passed on to the fairer laud. Tn relating incidents of pioneer days she said :

"This was a sparsely settled region when we came here in 1865. There were only a few girls of my age and they lived so far apart we were seldom thrown together. I remember, in 1866, five of my girl friends,

Sarah Kelley, Fannie Thompson, Sarah O'Bryant, Christina Wish and Sarah Binyard, came over from the Sabinal Canyon to spend the fourth of July with me. On the night of the Fourtli a grand ball was given at the Duffy hotel. These girls remained with me a week, and a dance was given in their honor every night they were here. Fannie Thompson afterwards married Prof. Koenigheim.

"I went to school here, and one of my teachers was Prof. Tom Buckner. In those days the Indians made frequent raids and kept us in a state of dread all of the time. I never saw a wild Indian, but I have heard them yell, and have seen their trail. One morning I found a pair of mocassins near our back door where a savage had dropped them.

"I remember many of the early weddings. When Tom I^axson and Miss Rufana Chipman were married I helped to cook their infair dinner. One day while I was a school in Bandera, in 1866, Hugh Bandy, then a good sized boy, came to the school house and asked the teacher if he could speak to me. I went to him and he said, '^Nlattie, Pap sent me over here to tell you all that my brother, Jim Bandy, and ^Nlandy Roland are going to get married over at Utopia, and the whole school, including the teacher, is invited to come to the infair at our place. If you all ain't got a way to come, Pap will send a wagon for you.' And sure enough, ^Vv. Bandy sent a big ox wagon to haul us out there, and about twenty of us, including the teacher, went to the infair, where a big supper awaited us, and we danced until sun-rise the next morning.

time, and I would have to stay at the ranch alone. iMany nights I spent in fear and trembling, thinking of my helpless condition if the Indians should come. We owned an old gray mare that we always kept a bell on. One day I heard this old belled mare running, and when I went out of the house to investigate I saw a man, bareheaded, and with longhair, running after the horses. I hastened into the house, loaded a rifle and sat down by the door. Soon the horses dashed into the pen, and when I peeped out I was relieved to discover that my supi)osed Indian was Ike Stevens, who was after the horses."

J. A. Miller

One of the solid men of the county is John Albert Miller, who lives four miles east of Bandera. Mr. Miller was born in San Antonio September 10, 1851, and grew to manhood there. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Miller located in that city sometime during the year 1848, and passed through the cholera epidemic that raged there in 1849. On Februarj^ 26, 1878, the subject of this sketch was happilj^ married to Miss Jennie C. Davenport, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Davenport, who lived on the Cibolo, 16 miles northeast of San Antonio. Mr. Miller moved his family to Bandera in 1883 to occupy the John James ranch of 3500 acres, which he had purchased about two years before, and he engaged in raising cattle. At that time, he says, themescjuite grass was very scarce, but the whole range was covered with a dense growth of sage grass. At first they lived in the house where Rev H. L. Atkins now lives, but later moved to town and })uilt a nice liome, which they afterwards sold to B. F. Langford, Jr., and whicli was remodeled. Mr. ^Miller then built the elegant home on the ranch which he, with his wife and only daughter. Miss Minnie Miller, now occupy. This home is beautifully situated, commands a grand view of the whole surrounding country, and is one of the most conveniently' arranged homes in the county.

Mr. Miller has always followed the stock business He is a true type of the old West Texas cowman, big-hearted, generous, and a lover of nature. He knew all of the early day characters here. Major Valerius P. Sanders who served as sheriff, as county treasurer, and as postmaster here for many years, was an inmate of this hospitable home for a long time. Major Sanders was a Tennesseean b}' birth, but came to Texas when he was a very small boy. He served in the Civil AVar, was a Texas ranger, and at the time of his death, which occurred in Uvalde December 31, 1908, he was seventy five years old. Mr. Miller speaks in terms of highest praise of Major Sanders and the great esteem in which he was held by all who knew him.

Mrs. Miller's father. Captain William Davenport, was well known throughout this region in the early daj^s. He was a brother to Judge Booker Davenport, who settled on the West Verde during Indian times, and became one of the prominent citizens of the county. Captain Davenport organized a minute company on the Cibolo, and frequently followed Indian trails through this county. At one time he was engaged in a battle with Indians on Paint Creek when the chief and two of the warriors were killed.

He died several years ago, but his widow is still living on the Cibolo, is now 84 years oM, and carries her years lightly. John Davenport, who lives near Center Point, is a brother to Mrs. Miller. He was a trail driver and pioneer stockman, and has had his share of frontier experience.

John A. Miller, as previously stated, has always followed the stock business, and has been very successful. In 1873 he made a trip uj:) the trail to Kansas, as he says, "to give away a little bunch of cattle." He sold them on credit, and never got his pay. After coming to Bandera he served as county commissioner and rendered excellent service. He is a man of keen vision, sound judgment, and does things in a practical business waj^ No half-way methods satisfy him.

Mr. Miller has two brothers living, W. F. Miller is one of the largest cotton planters of Bexar county. George C, Miller, the other brother, is a retired stockman and lives at Hamand, Texas. He also has a sister, Mrs. Julia Meyer, who lives at Belton.

In Conclusion

I do not want the reader to form the conclusion that this book contains all of the pioneer history of Bandera county, for there is much yet untold. I have attempted in my feeble way to compile the history of this county, from about 1852 down to 1892, covering a period of fifty years. There are many events that occurred during that half century which you will not find mentioned in these pages, for the reason that facts concerning them were not available. There are quite a number of the older citizens who failed to furnish data or give their experience for publication in this history, although I have solicited and urged them to give in their narratives. However, most of the pioneers have nobly responded, and this book contains a record of their achievements that will be preserved so that their children and their children's children will know of the things that occurred when Bandera county was young.

This book was printed in a small country printing house; the type was set by hand, the printing was done with a small cylinder press, and the sewing and binding was done by hand . Therefore, we do not expect this volume to compare with the books that are turned out by large publishing houses. It is the contents that make the book, anyway, so I have no apologies to offer for its typographical appearance. I ara really proud of what the "Pioneer History of Bandera County" contains. The labor incident to its publication pales into insignificance when compared to the pleasure I have found in compiling and editing the work. It has indeed been a pleasing task to meet many of these old timers and, in my feeble way, to write of the deeds of the pioneer men and women of this county. My only regret is that I have not been able to meet all of them and hear from their own lips the story of their joys and sorrows, their hardships and struggles, of the privations the}^ endured, and of the rare pleasures they enjoyed in the daj's of long ago. Mj^ book is incomplete. Many of the pioneer families have no sketches herein, because I was unable to obtain the data - the Bauerleins, Bandy, Davenports, Wilson Clark, Banta, Taylors, Thompsons, Freemans, Bentons, Hudspeths, Browns, Sheppards, Caseys, Klappenbach, D. A. T. Walton, Obrieski, Minear, McGill, Curtis, and a host of others - but sometime in the future I hope to compile a second volume of this history, and, with this in view, I would kindly ask eveiy old pioneer to at once furnish me with an account of his experience on the frontier.

In placing the record of pioneer achievement before the rising generation it is my hope that our boys and girls will be guided by the examples shown and become as good citizens as their forefathers and mothers have been.