Account of Captain Neal Coldwell who was born in Dade county, Missouri, in May, 1844. His father, Thomas Coldwell, was a soldier under General Jackson in the war of 1812, and participated in the famous battle of New Orleans, fought on the 8th of January, 1815. In 1850 Thomas Coldwell immigrated to California, but the family later settled in Kerr county, Texas in 1860. Here is the famous Ranger's life story.
Excellent, very early history of this part of McCulloch county, TX and the early settlers of the tiny town of Waldrip. This is excellent early genealogy of original settlers of the region.
Mentions: Captain J. F. Chafin * Dead Man's Crossing * Senterfitt's Ranch * William's Ranch, now Goldthwaite, * Stepp's Creek * Trickham * Aunt Cynthia Stockton * Billy Castell, a Mr. Safford * Matt Breedlove * Fort Concho * Reverend Ben and Can Wilson * Bill Walker * Kitchen Well * the Captain S. E. Hayes estate * Captain J. W. England * Richland Springs * the Pool family * Jeff Feasel *J. M. Feasel * Ben Hickey * Mr. Pierce * A. J. Ballard * J. W. Trimble * Ben Taylor * Rev. J. C. Avery * Rev. Crocker * Mr. Evans * Rev. Mr. Waller * a man named Yoho. on Onion Creek, near Rochelle * Berry Bros * Salt Gap * old Mr. Mitchell * Father Rey * Pool's Store * Hayes' Store * S. R. Coggin * a ranch on Home Creek * D. C. Randals * J. W. Tisdale * Mrs. Gholson * Clay and Nat Randals * Rockwood bridge * Sam Gholson * Bill Goode; Billy Barton, Webb Brown and Mr. Bonds * John Prued * I. G. Lambright * the Rhem brothers * Mr. Vanwinkle * Bill and Lit Walker * Aunt Julia Brown * her four sons, Jim, Bill, Tom and Sam * Mr. Esselenger * Bull Creek * the Lee family * Mrs. Jernigan, Jack Flood, old Mr. Crumb and his son, Willis * the widow Pollard, a Mr. Upton and old Mrs. Brannon *Joe Brannon and Pete Brannon * Martin and Matt Breedlove * a Mexican boy named Labrado Chapa * Joe and Pete Rhem * Badger Clark.
Account describing the frontier life an Indian confrontations of Mr. Samuel Fessenden, an ex-ranger, old frontiersman, and Indian fighter, who in 1859 married Miss Lizzie Tate, in Victoria county, and then came to Guadalupe, and from there to San Saba county and settled near Richland Springs. Soon after, he joined a company of rangers commanded by Capt. Riley Woods. This company scouted a great deal, and Mr. Fessenden was in many chases and fights with Indians. The incidents of this account of frontier life were obtained from Mrs. Elizabeth Fessenden, who was familiar with all the facts.
Mentions: the "Peg-Leg" crossing of the San Saba * the forts of Graham, Griffin, Belknap * Jesse Poe * Brady City * Uncle Jim Wood's * Harvey Creek * Pick Duncan * Hickory Creek * Sam De Buss * the family of Youngblood * Grape Creek * Cypress Creek * De Buss * William Alexander * Mr. Watcher * Fredericksburg * Stockman's Creek, near the Johnston fork. * Mr. Dowdy * Alice and Rilla .
“A freezing mist stung the stranger's face when he alighted from the bus in Stinnett, a northern Panhandle town. He saw nothing that looked like a hotel—just a little row of weatherbeaten frame business houses that bordered the highway from Borger to Spearman.
Constable Ben Foster, a small, lean, middle-aged man, walked up and stuck out a hand.
"What can I do for you, friend?" "I have to spend the night and I'm looking for a room."
“The men about the chuck wagon were relaxed but their faces still bore signs of fatigue. Their mission had been completed and the 3,000 steers marketed in Abilene, Kansas; the badlands had again been traversed and they were back on Texas soil. From here on home they could take it easy.
As they refilled their coffee cups and grouped themselves in a casual semi-circle about the low fire, the new look-out rode off to his post.
The conversation turned, as usual, to their own northern drive. Its full flavor unappreciated in the midst of the sweat and dust and stampedes, was now mulled over.
Mentions: Chickamauga * Claiborne W. Merchant.