Vol 08 No. 05 - February 1931

Picturesque Judge Roy Bean (By the way, that's 'ol Judge Bean on the cover)

ONE OF THE most picturesque characters of the entire Southwest was Judge Roy Bean whose "Law West of the Pecos" has furnished source material for hundreds of stories of the west. From Judge Bean's bar was dispensed liquor and justice, both profitable .occupations for the proprietor. Judge Bean's liquor was unquestionable, but his dispensation of justice was effective even though according to statutes of his own enactment. The saloon which: formed the center of Judge Bean's operations bore a sign over the front with the words "Law West of the Pecos. " The name of the eccentric, proprietor's place was first called Vinagaroon but was later changed to Langtry in honor of the noted actress Lily Langtry. It was in 1881 that the name was changed, due to a visit of the famed actress. Roy Bean fell in love with the beautiful actress and immediately changed the name of his place to Langtry….

Up The Cattle Trail in 1867

As Written to T. U. Taylor by E. P. Earhart

This graphic story of the real trade travelers is full of interest and history. Historians who do not live by legends or rumor will note that Mr. Earhart did not strike the Chisholm trail 'till he crossed the North Canadian at Chisholm's. Trading Post. This place is now known as Council Grove, Oaklahoma.

Further Mentions: J. B. Thoburne, C. H. Park, of Lubbock, Texas., Grayson county, at Old Preston, J. B. Earbart, Mr. Henson from Jack county, Chisholm's Trading Post., The Wichita Indians, Mr. Greathouse, Wit Adair, Jim Youtig, Mead's Store on the Whitewater, Wylie Robins, of the firm of Robins and Tipton of Jacksboro, Texas,

ORIGINAL CHISHOLM TRAIL

By T. U. Taylor

Excerpt from Andreas' "The History of Kansas",

"Early in the spring of 1846, the Wichita Indians and affiliating tribes, who had been driven from the Indian Territory in the winter of 1861-2, and who had made temporary homes in Woodson county (Kansas), removed from there and established a camp at the mouth of the Little Arkansas. The name of their camp was Wichita, from which the present City of Wichita derived its name. These Indians engaged in peaceful vocations, cultivating harvesting large fields of corn and vegetables. They remained until the fall of 1865, when they returned south. With the Wichitas came Jesse Chisholm, a half-breed Cherokee, and an adopted member of the Wichitas. He built his house on the stream which derived its name from him, east of the present City of Wichita, and moved into it with his family. He also established a "ranch" between the two rivers, three miles above their junction... In the spring of 1865 Chisholm located a trail from "ranch" to the present site of Wichita River, Indian Territory, a distance of 220 miles. This trail subsquently became and is still known the "Chisholm Trail." It was established for the purpose of enabling the traders in the Arkansas Valley to obtain wagon communication with the Indians in the Indian Territory, and the trail was used …

The Hersey Trail

"Tim" Hersey, a civil engineer, surveyed the direct cattle route from Abilene, Kansas, to Wichita. He was employed by Joseph G. McCoy and he blazed the way through timber, plowed across the prairies, put up stakes and rock piles until the line was well marked by the feet of the cattle and it was soon several hundred feet wide. It was known as the Hersey, McCoy, or Abilene trail.

Further Mentions: Geary, Oklahoma., the "Johnny Left Hand Spring.", Jesse Chisholm,

WHEN TEXAS WAS MADE A STATE

Eighty-six years ago a joint resolution providing for the annexation of the then Republic of Texas to the Union was passed by Congress. On the following day President Tyler gave his official assent to the measure. So -was taken a step that led not only to the acquisition of the vast Lone Star State but also to the. Mexican war and the consequent expansion of the United States over a tremendous western territory, including the present State of California, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Yet if a sick man in Indiana hadn't bad a good physician all the tremendous course of events might have been changed.

In 1843' Daniel Kelso, a prominent Hoosier lawyer, was running for State Senator from Switzerland county, Indiana. The district was close and great interest was manifest in the election, since the Indiana Legislature would be called upon to choose a United States Senator. The sick man referred to had once been charged with murder and had been acquitted. Kelso had defended him, and the man naturally felt under great obligations to the attorney. A week before the election the doctor told the patient that his end was near. The sufferer begged him to use every means to stave off death until he could cast his ballot for Kelso. On election day the sick man was carried to the polls, cast his vote and immediately collapsed, dying in a few hours. When the ballots were counted it was, found that Kelso had won by one vote. Then came the election of a United States Senator by th'e Hoosier lawmakers. The annexation of Texas was the great issue before the people. The South favored the measure, but in the North there was bitter opposition, on the ground that such. action would increase the area and political strength of the South and certainly lead to war with Mexico.

Indiana, as always, was it doubtful State, and the Legislature was evenly divided…

DEATH CLAIMS A PIONEER

Speaks of Pauline Wiess Coffin, picturesque pioneer resident of East Texas and forebear of many prominent Beaumont residents. Wild animals were their neighbors and bear, deer and wildcat were …

Further Mentions: one grandson, Arthur Wiess Coffin, who resides at Wiess Bluff; one great-granddaughter, Pauline Jeannette Coffin ; ten nieces, Mrs. Paul 0. Sergent of San Antonio, Mrs. W. A. Priddie, Mrs. Rae Hoopes, Mrs. Tom Andrus, Mrs. W. W. Kyle, Mrs. Virgil Keith, Mrs. Frank Votaw, Mrs. Mattie Ivy and Mrs. Maggie Hooks, all of Beaumont, and Mrs. Blanche, Pauline Wiess was born in Nacogdoches, the only daughter and the oldest child of Simon Wiess and Mary Sturrock Wiess. seven nephews, E. C. Wiess of Mineral Wells, Abel Wiess of Silsbee, Ray and Harry C. Wiess of Houston and Perry M. and Byron Wiess. of Beaumont; eight grandnieces, Mrs. Gerald Donovan of New Rochelle, N. Y., Mrs. Kenneth Cunningham of Detroit, Airs. Joe Ellis of Dallas, Mrs. Phil Justice of Beaumont, Mrs. Amos Carter of Fort worth, Mrs. Phil Lauglin of Fort Worth, Mrs. Allen Ames of Oklahoma City, Ok., and Mrs. Alexander Marshall of Beaumont.

GEOLOGIST LIVED FOR 40 YEARS AS SOLE RESIDENT OF COLORODO TOWN

He was G. H. Judd, a promising young geologist with a college degree. Judd lived in the boom town of Gothic on the crest of the boom and stayed to be the "ghost city's" only inhabitant for years. Further Mentions: the famous Leadville stampede, the Elk Mountains., Tincup,

Recollection of a Trip to California 47 Years Ago

By Vinton L. James, San Antonio, Tex. Interesting account of Uvalde county sheep rancher who sold out and took his new bride to California in 1883.

Further Mentions: Mayor French and the elite society of San Antonio, the G. H. & S. A. Railroad, Vinton L. James, Wagner Sleeping Car, At Langtry I met my old friend Roy Bean then the "Law West of the Pecos" (he had hauled my wool to San Antonio in former years). He named his place "Vinagoroon" (the name of a deadly poisonous insect peculiar to that locality). Pat Garrett, General Lew Wallace, the author of Ben Hur, Geromino, General Nelson A. Miles, the John James herders, James Houston, Mr. Franchild, In 1883 San Francisco had the best and cheapest restaurants in the world; the Palace Hotel, corner of Montgomery and Market Streets, one of the finest hotels in the United States. It was built of California redwood and was only a few blocks from the Market Street ferry… Colonel Andrews, the man who built the first raidroad into San Antonio, my father-in-law, now arrived from Texas and we departed for the Hotel Del Monte,… wealthy people of San Francisco and California, the Crokers, Huntingtons, Hopkins, and Fargoes, Hotel Del Monte, Miss Hattie Croker, Charles Croker on Knob Hill, San Francisco, Colonel Grey, I accompanied Colonel Jack Hays, formerly the.celebrated Texas Ranger, then a citizen of Oakland, California. Colonel Hays was now in tile winter of his distinguished, life, and suffering from all the infirmities of old age, bedridden and almost helpless, one could see at a glance that he was not long for this world, but he received us with all the warmth of a brother Texan, and inquired about the Mavericks, and many others of his old friends, and spoke about old times in San Antonio, Texas, Mrs. S. Maverick,

MAJOR W. M. GREEN DEAD

Major Green was born in Hill county, Texas, in 1854., and served With the Texas Rangers in 1871 and 1872. He took the lead in organizing The Texas Ex-Rangers Association, which body was perfected at Weatherford in 1920. He was elected' to the position of major commandant which place he held until his death. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Homer of Laniesa and Ocie of Colorado; three daughters, Mrs. Bessie Harding. of Vincent, Mrs. Burt Smith of Colorado and Mrs. Roy Smith of Odessa.

When Beavers Made Reservoirs on the San Saba

Great early history and observation on Mason Co, TX

Mentions: The big and little Saline Creeks, upon which are many valuable salt licks, Big Bluff and.Little Bluff Creeks, Leona, Honey, Comanche, Willow Elm, Beaver and San Fernando Creeks are the principal Mason County tributaries of the Llano, while Tecumesch Creek and Ranch Branch are the tributaries of San Saba. Fort Mason is the post where the brave and good man now General Robert E. Lee, had his headquarters while in command of the Second Cavalry of the United States forces. The people are generally devoted to stock raising, because it is so much more profitable and so much less laborious in this county than farming. Devil's River, James River, and Mill Creek,

CAMELS IN TEXAS

The pushing of an old claim by relatives of Col. Bethel Coopwood, deceased, for payment for a herd of camels claimed to have been seized from Col. Coopwood by Federal soldiers, is perhaps the first intimation many Texans have had that camels were ever brought to this State to be used as beasts of burden. Further Mentions: Indianola, Texas, Kerrville,

The Adventures of Big-Foot Wallace

By John C. Duval. (Continued from last month) Sad account of the effects of the "white flag" at Mier and journey to Camargo, Reinosa and Matamoros

We delivered up all our arms to the Mexicans, who marched us off in double file to our quarters in, some deserted stone buildings. Never shall I forget the humiliation of my feelings, when we were stripped of all our arms and equipments, and led off ignominiously by a numerous guard of swarthy, bandy-legged, contemptible, "greasers." There we were, two hundred killed in the fight. How many were wounded we never knew. Now … delivered over to the tender mercies of these pumpkin-colored Philistines, and all through the workings of that miserable little "white flag." .I could have cried with a right good will if hadn't been so mad.

As I have before stated, as soon as we had surrendered, they fastened us up in some deserted stone like so many pigs, where we were kept for five or six days with nothing to cat except a little dried beef, was so tough I gave one-half of my rations to a messmate, who had a remarkably strong set of teeth, to chew the other half for me; and, to wash…

Besides, on the morning of the second day after we were imprisoned, while I was sitting in front of a small grated window, looking out ruefully and hungrily upon the passers-by, a little Mexican maiden-bless her little tawny hide-came tripping alone, and unsuspecting, from my woe-begone visage, the empty condition of my stomach, made signs to me to know if I didn’t want something to eat. I could not speak a word of Spanish at that time, but I easily made her understand that she had guessed how matters were with me precisely, and she forthwith tripped off, and soon returned with a batch of the inevitable tortillas, some red peppers, and a considerable chunk of roast kid-meat, which she handed to me through the little window. I made her a low bow, pulled my forelock, and smiled as sweetly and as amiably as I could with my powder burut and dirt-begrimed countenance. She went off laughing at my grimaces, and turning a corner, I lost sight of my little pumpkin-colored angel forever.

In some places the inhabitants, and especially the women, seemed to compassionate the miserable condition of the "Gringos," as they called us, and gave us water to drink, and sometimes more substantial refreshments. In others, we were booted at by the mob, that was sure to collect around us whenever we stopped for a few moments, who would call us, by all sorts of hard names, and pelt us with stones and clods of earth, and stale eggs...

Another Trail Driver: William Hinton Posey

Cora Addison Posey. Posey braved many dangers as a driver supplying Confederate forces in the Civil War. After the war Posey located at Indian Creek delivering many herds of cattle at Alexandria, La., Little Rock, Ark., Abilene, Kansas, and other points. In 1868 he drove to California, following the Overland Mail Route to Los Angeles, etc, etc

Further Mentions: Miss Isabella Addison, Cuba to New Orleans, Geo. W. Flemming., Past Grand Master, D. F. Johnson,

On The Great American Desert in 1849

Account speaks of the harsh endurance and incredible dangers associated with pioneers and gold-rush travelers through Arizona. The route usually followed was by the Gila Valley, and the Americans reached Tucson from the Rio Grande, for the most part by Coke's Wagon route of 1846

Further Mentions: Lieut. Cave J. Coutts, Camp Calhoun, Dr. Langdon, Fort Defiance, John Glanton, Farish, excepting C. O. Brown, who afterwards became prominent as one of the early settlers of Tucson, Jaeger and Hartshorne, Lieutenant Sweeney, Dr Webb, Yuma Indian Tribe, Caballo en Pelo, or the 'Naked Horse," the head chief of the Yumas. Gen. Conde, the massacre of Gallantin (Glanton) and his party, the Alarieopas, Mr. Thurber.

The Overland Mail Line

Fascinating, lengthy and descriptive account of two famous mail lines of the 1850’s, including routes, topography, dangers, bandits, raids, Indians, etc.

"The first mail eastbound was started from San Diego, California, in October, 1857, about which time a contract for the opening of a wagon road was made by Superintendent James B. Leach and Engineer N.. H. Hutton. This, according to Bancroft, corresponded largely with the route taken by Col. P. St. Geo. Cooke in 1846, but led down the San Pedro to the Aravaipa, and thence to the Gila, 21 miles cast of the Pima Villages, thus saving forty miles over the Tucson route, and by improvements about five days for wagons. The work was done by Leach and Hutton from the Rio Grande to the Colorado between October 25th and August Ist, 1858.) Although the advertisement in the San Francisco papers noted four horse Concord coaches, it (the mail) was really carried in saddle bags until some months later, when stations were established and stock strung along the line...

Further Mentions: Farish's History of Arizona, Silas St. John, who was connected with the San Antonio and San Diego Line, . Mr. James E. Birch, president of the California Stage Company, Mr. Isaiah C. Woods, previously at the head of Adams & Company's Express in California, Charley Youmans took saddle and with two remounts reached Cariso Creek via Warner's Ranch at 8 p. m. Here the mail'was taken by Silas St. John,, accompanied by Charles Mason, to the next station, Jaeger's Ferry at Fort Yuma, in 32 hours 'without a remount. Fairly good time for 110 miles, only one water hole open, Cooke's Well…" "Fort Yuma Captain Wallace (Big Foot) rode to the next station, Maricopa Wells. He had a companion and two relief horses. From Maricopa Wells to Tucson John Capron and Jim McCoy were the riders '" James Laing of Kentucky, and William Cunningham of Iowa., Poston's trains, Edward E. Dunbar, Col. E. V. Summer, Fort Davis, Camp Lancaster, In 1858 the Butterfield Line was organized to run, from Marshall, Texas, to San Diego, California. Its eastern termini were St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, converging at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the western terminus was San Francisco, California. Its president was John Butterfield of Utica, New York, who had a contract with the Government for carrying tire mails over this route for $600,000 per annum… William Duckley of Watertown, William Brainard, Linder, Dragoon, Springs, James Hughes of Watertown, New York, the line blacksmith, James Laing, William Cunningham, Bonifacio, Mr. Archibald, B. J. D. Irwin,

Tascosa's Lone Settler Recalls Wild Days

A. B. MacDonald. Account of Mrs. Mickle McCormick, TASCOSA settler, on the Canadian River in the Texas Panlrandle, who lived there when it was the toughest, wildest, liveliest, most lawless cow town of all the wild frontier. She remained after the other 500 who had lived there prior had died or gone away. Nearly all the adobe houses, saloons, dance halls and gambling dives that were there then have crumbled in the beating rains and winter blizzards of the Panhandle, and the dust of their walls has been scattered by the four winds of heaven.

Mrs. McCormick's house, a little 'dobie of two rooms stands, alone, in a clump of weeds and mesquite bushes. Its walls of sun dried earthen bricks have been worn so thin by the rains and winds of half a century that they have sagged inward, and have cracked in places, and the finger marks of Mrs. McCormick are there. Rags and old hats are stuffed in the windows that are broken. Wild buffalo grass grows thickly right up to the doorsill, and the rickety, weather-beaten door shakes. She offers a good description of Billy the Kid who she knew well.

Further Mentions: Boot Hill. the nearest town on the north was Dodge City, 242 miles away. The nearest town on the west was Springer, in New Mexico. To the. east it was about the same distance to Mobeetie. Everything we used was freighted in from Dodge. "I knew Billy the Kid well, and Pat Garrett, who killed him, I knew, too. He lived here for a year and a half." Cape Willingham, Jack Ryan's saloon, " …four dead men were carried past my door next day and I fell in with the procession and went to the funeral on Boot Hill. It wasn't much of a funeral. There wasn't a preacher within 200 miles, probably, and I don't believe there was a Bible or prayer book any nearer. There wasn't a soul in Tascosa that could say a. prayer at the funeral, so we all tried to look as solemn as we could while we buried 'em," John Lang, Ed King, Fred D. Chilton, killed Mch. 21, 1886, Frank Valley and Ed King, McMaster's saloon,

Early Days on the Plains

By Rollie C. Burns. Lubbock, Texas. IN MARCH, 1873, an exploring and surveying party organized at Sherman, Texas, under Gov. E. J. Davis' administration to explore Northwest Texas. There were one and ten men all told. Fifty were mounted and furnished Spencer rifles and Colts forty-five pistols. Their business was to guard and keep the company supplied with fresh meats. The author, Mr. Burns, was with this company when he was 16 years old. This is his account of very early Lubbock history. NOTE: THIS IS GOOD GENEALOGY OF EARLY LUBBOCK.

Further Mentions: Gainsville, Cook county, Captain Wegefarth, Wichita river, at the mouth of Holiday creek, Waggoner's camp on the Wichita river, the Pease river and the Prairie Dog Town Fork of Red River, First Lieutenant Lamb and Second Lieutenant Sicker, (The Sicker brothers later became noted Texas Rangers of southwest Texas), Henrietta, in Clay county, which then consisted of three or four log houses., Montague, Charlie Moore, Collin county, J. W. Wilson, who was starting a ranch in, Clay county., Dr. Warren and Ham Scott., B. C. Warren., Walker, Loving's Ranch., the famous 22 ranch., the Hensley brothers, Van, Sanders, was foreman of the ranch., Singer's store, the Kidwell ranch, O. L. Slaton's present ranch house, Buffalo Springs. This hill is east of town and I believe is still known as Cozzy Hill; the land is owned by J. W. Peppers. George U. Boles. C. W. Singer and a Mr. D'Quay., Estacado, Marshman and Underhill, the 10A ranch, J. K. Milwee, Mrs. Singer, Mrs. R. C. Burns, The Kidwells and Brighams, In 1890 came J. W. Rayner, and located a townsite in Section 20, Block A. There was also a town located by J. T. Loftin and John Harrison of Ft. Worth, and F. E. Wheelock and R. C. Burns on Section 7 Block A. In 1891 ,there was a consolidation of the two towns on the present site of what is now Lubbock, The election of officers ,and the organization of the county took place in March, 1891, and the following officers were elected: G. W. Shannon, county judge, W. M. Lay, sheriff; Geo. C. Wolfarth, clerk; U. G. Moore, treasurer; W. S. Clark, assessor; J. B. Jones, surveyor; J. D. Caldwell, F. E. Wheelock, L. D. Runt, and Van Sanders, Commissioners. Each of the competing towns had put up buildings, and each faction had eight or ten small houses, so after the consolidation they moved to the present site. Nicolett Hotel, now the Broadway Hotel, J. D. Caldwell, Preston Phoenix, Will Sanders, Joe P. Lewis, In 1892, R. E. L. Rogers published the Lubbock, Leader, M. M. Cox, J. W. Hunt, J. J. Dillard, and Jas. L. Dow.

Some names mentioned in this volume:

Wit Adair; Isabella Addison; Mrs Allen Ames; Gen Ampudia; Col Andrews; Mrs Tom Andrus; Austin; Dr Eugene C. Baker; Judge Bean; James E. Birch; Rev William Coleman Bitting; George M. Boles; William Brainard; C. O. Brown; Mrs Tom Bugby; R. C. Burns; Mrs R. C. Burns; Rollie C. Burns; John Butterfield; Hinton Caldwell; J. D. Caldwell; Susan Calvert; Gen Canales; John Capron; Will M. Carlton; Mrs Amos Carter; Chabot; Fred D. Chilton; Jesse Chisholm; W. S. Clark; Arthur Weiss Coffin; Pauline Jeannette; Mrs Pauline Wiess; Mangus Colorado; Gen Conde; Col P. St George Cooke; Bethel Col Coopwood; Lt; Cave J. Coutts; M. M. Cox; George Cozzy; Capt Cremony; Charles Croker; Miss Hattie Croker; Mrs Kenneth Cunningham; William Cunningham; Davis; J. J. Dillard; Dixon; Mrs Gerald Donovan; James L. Dow; Edward E. Dunbar; William Dunkley; Duval; E. P. Earhart; J. B. Earhart; Jim East; Mrs John L. Edwards; Mrs Joe Ellis; George W. Flemming; Mayor French; Garrett; Gillett; Glanton; Mrs Charles Goodnight; Mrs W. G. Grady; Gen Green; Homer Green; Ocie Green; Col Grey; Edwin A. Hannigan; Mrs Bessie Harding; John Harrison; Hays; Col Heintzelman; T. F. Hersey; Tim Hersey; Ben Holliday; Mrs Maggie Hooks; Mrs Rae Hoopes; James Houston; James Hughes; J. W. Hunt; N. H. Hutton; N. H. Maj Hutton; B. J. D. Irwin; Mrs Mattie Ivy; James Ivy; Past Grand Master D. F. Johnson; J. B. Jones; G. H. Judd; Mrs Justice Phil Judd; Mrs Virgil Keith Judd; Daniel Kelso; Ed King; Mrs W. W. Kyle; James Laing; Lt Lamb; John Lang; Dr Langdon; Lily Langtry; Mrs Phil Lauglin; W. M. Lay; Col James B. Leach; Supt James B. Leach; Lee; Lehmann; Lemley; Joe P. Lewis; J. T. Loftin; Longley; Judge Lynch; A. B. MacDonald; Mrs Alexander Marshall; Charles Mason; Jim Mast; Mrs S. Maverick; Mrs Mickle McCormick; Jim McCoy; Joseph G. McCoy; Miles; J. K. Milwee; Bonifacio Mirando; Mirando; Charlie Moore; U. G. Moore; C. H. Park; Caballo en Pelo; J. W. Peppers; Preston Phenix; Pierce; Cora Addison Posey; Capt Jno W. Posey; W. H. Posey; William Hinton Posey; Mrs W. A. Priddie; Guadalupe Ramirez; Pablo (alias Chino); J. W. Rayner; Miss Lizzie Rinehart; Roberts; Wylie Robins; T. D. Robinson; R. E. L. Rogers; Don Casimiro Romero; Piedad Senorita Romero; Rose; L. D. Runt; Rusk; Frank de Ruyther; Jack Ryan; Van Sanders; Mrs Paul O. Sergent; G. W. Shannon; Lt Sieker; C. W. Singer; O. L. Slaton; Mrs Burt Smith; Mrs Roy Smith; Silas St. John; Col E. V. Summer; Lt Sweeney; Fayette Tankersley; Taylor; J. B. Thoburne; A. N. Town; Twohig; Pres Tyler; Frank Valley; Mrs Frank Votaw; Capt Big Foot Wallace; Gen Lew Wallace; B. C. Warren; Dr Warren; Washington; Dr Webb; Capt Wegefarth; Abel Weiss; Byron Weiss; E. C. Weiss; Harry C. Weiss; Mary Sturrock Weiss; Pauline Weiss; Perry M. Weiss; Ray Weiss; Simon Weiss; F. E. Wheelock; Z. T. Williams; Cape Willingham; J. W. Wilson; George C. Wolfarth; Isiah C. Woods