Vol 13 No. 02 - November 1935

Frontier Sheriffs Played Important Role

By Max Coleman, Lubbock, Texas

Among all of the important roles played by pioneer settlers on the Texas frontier, few have been as important and colorful as the County Sheriff. At first the country was thinly settled. There were no telephones, radios, motor cars and telegraphs for the interception of the criminals who had committed crimes. The early sheriff was a solitary guard for the protection of the weak and helpless and often his life, as well as the lives of others, depended solely upon his individual judgment, personal resources and skill in the use of fire-arms. He had all the dangers of a regular soldier but had none of their equipment and advantages, such as sustenance, prepared provisions and financial backing. After he had served his usefulness, he nor his family drew no pension, and sad to say, he was generally relegated to the scrap heap of humanity, worse than broke financially and physically, having given his all in the battles of right against might. This is the story of that great frontier legacy.

Further Mentions: The famous Billy the Kid was started on his outlaw career mainly from having been verbally appointed a law-enforcement officer and thought he was doing his duty * In the early '90s there was a sheriff at Lander, Wyoming, named John Ward * Butch Cassidy * a sheriff, in Lincoln county, New Mexico, named William Brady * John Chisunt * Murphy & Dolan * Pat Garrett * John Cause * Causey's hill * Pete Maxwell * Fort Sumner * Arroya Tivan (Stinking Springs), near Ft. Sumner, New Mexico * Cape Willingham * Tascosa's famous Boot Hill * young cowboy named Bob Russell * In 1891 the county of Lubbock was organized, William Lay being the first sheriff * the City of Lubbock * Tom Abel. * the city of Slaton * New Boston * a young grocery store manager, Bob Tharpe * Sheriff Abel * Sheriff Abel and his deputy Cap Moore * the Tharpe murder * Las Cruces, New Mexico * Paul Mitchell, Clyde Shaffer and Bill Doupe * two longterms named Stevens and Nelson * Deputy Sheriff Baxter Honey * W. S. Posey, Vice-president of the First National Bank and Campbell Elkins, a young attorney * Big Spring * Perchmouth Stanton * Cimarron Canyon * Roosevelt Beach on the Pacific Coast in Oregon * A prospector named Harvey Wilson * Cap Moore was born in Williamson county, Texas, in 1889 * a deputy sheriff and jailor tinder H. L. Johnson * Deputy Sheriff Baxter Honey was born in McLennan county in 1875 * Captain C. M. Grady of Brownwood, Texas * Santa Anna Mountain State Park, in Coleman county * State Rangers Memorial Park *

Noah Rose; A Frontier Photographer

By J. Marvin Hunter. (Includes photo of Mr. Rose)

In the 1880’s Noah Rose was a gangling country town boy, wearing jeans pants that reached midway between his ankle and his knee. His father, an ex-Confederate soldier, was a carpenter living at Menardville when the writer's parents moved to that straggling village in 1884. It was in 1889 that Noah Rose began working in the office of the Menardville Monitor as a printer's devil. He became intensely interested in photography, and soon purchased a larg camera, and within a year or two had a real sure enough photograph "gallery" in Menardville. He afterwards moved to Sonora, and engaged in business there for several years, and made hundreds of photographs of early day characters. He also operated studios at Mason, Brady and Del Rio, being located at the latter place for more than fifteen years. He took great pride in his work, and as the years passed Noah Rose became known as the best photographer in West and Southwest Texas. This is his story.

Further Mentions: Ballinger * the Ballinger BannerLeader * Luther Lawhon * Eugene Dickey * Falfurrias * John Warren' Hunter * Sonora * Mr. H. E. Rhoads * his most frequent customers. Zane Grey, Dave Coolidge, Gene Cunningham, Stuart Lake, Emmett Dalton, and various other writers and historians are on his list of purchasers. * the N. H. Rose Collection * C. L. Douglas

Dr. Leonidas Hudspeth, A Frontier Physician

By J. Marvin Hunter (Includes old photo of Dr. Leonidas Hudspeth)

Account of Dr. Leonidas Hudspeth, of Bandera county who cared for the health of the community in those old days when Bandera was just a struggling frontier village. Dr. Hudspeth located in this town in 1876, and remained here until his death in 1884, answering calls over a vast scope of rugged country, often going on horseback through an Indian-infested region to give relief to the sick. This is the story of his life.

Further Mentions: Hal Street Hudspeth of Bandera, and Mrs. Maggie Davenport of near Center Point * the old Bandera Enterprise * ''Leonidas Hudspeth was born in Pickers county, Alabama, April 28th, A. D. 1883 * his grandfather, Capt. Aires Hudspeth * his uncle, Dr. Thomas G. Hudspeth, of Panola county, Miss. * his father, Dr. Henry S. Hudspeth * Drew county Ark * Bethel College at McLamoresville, Tenn * the New Orleans School of Medicine * Hallettsville, Lavaca county * he was married to Miss Kate M. Chambliss, daughter of Dr. Nathaniel Chambliss, of Lavaca county Texas * General Whitfield * General McCullough's Brigade * the Elk Horn battle * the Galveston Medical College * the Collegii Medici et Nosocomii * the Bellvue Medical College of New York * Drs. Herff and Cupples * Dr. Wootan of Austin * Drs. Hadra * Hon. Pierce B. Ward of Cleburne * Elizabeth Crockett * Robert Crockett, and first setled on the Trinity River * Rucker's and Long Creeks, in Hood county * the Acton cemetery, on Walnut Creek * The little village of Acton * Senator Ward * Ashley W. Crockett and Mrs. T. H. Hinor * Cranbury *

TREASURE TALES REVIVED.

A recently abandoned 6-foot trench at the foot of triple oak trees and a rust-lined depression in one wall of the excavation are the seeds of a mystery tale anywhere. When the setting is placed in a legend-infested region, once bisected by the famous Butterfield trail, however, it is fuel to the imagination of folk familiar with frontier tales of stage coach robberies and buried gold

The men who dug the trench are known, but they deny a treasure was removed. The depression in the wall of the excavation lies beneath interlaced tree roots and many believe it the imprint of a …

Further Mentions: a ranch near Bronte, Coke county * the "Bronte gold" * Fort Chadbourne * B. F. Elkins, a farmer in that region * the old Butterfield hotel *

A Journey Through Texas In 1856

By Frederick Law Olmsted

NOTE: This is the first installment of a most interesting serial, which is taken from the book of the above title, now considered a very rare collector's item. The story runs through several months, and will prove of much value to students of Texas history, from the graphic description given by the author of conditions in this State at that early period. We urge you to preserve each copy of Frontier Times which contains an installment of the "Journey Through Texas," and when it is completed you will have a most valuable contribution to add to his library. – The other installments are available from us here at FrontierTimesMagazine.com.

Mentions: Dr. J. H. Olmsted * The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad * Harper's Ferry * the B. and O. Railroad * David L. White * Henry Clay's Ashland * David A. Tomkins * Smithland *

This account traces the author’s journey from its origins through the state of Kentucky enroute to Texas. (Continued Next Month)

Texas Rangers were Rough And Ready Fighters

Sarah Ellen Davidge.

In 1886 Texas was still the cattle country of wild west legend. A man's fortune was in his herd and there was plenty of cattle thieves who tried to take it away from him. Everyone "packed" a gun and murder was a slight offense in comparison to cattle thieving. The local sheriffs often could not preserve law and order and more often would not because they were in sympathy with the outlaws. The law of the Lone Star State was enforced, when all other local officers failed, by the rangers, small companies of men who were ordered from place to place when needed by the citizens. Account follows the experience of J. Allen Newton, a resident of Galveston, who joined Captain William Scott’s Company F, Frontier Battalion, Texas Rangers.

Further Mentions: Josie Gossett of Crockett * Governor Ross * The Conner gang * Old man Conner * Some men named Smith and Lowe * Conner's range * Hemphill * A man named Allford * another fellow by the name of Pete Loggins * J. T. Polley * Marshall. Capt.. Scott * Ed Randall * Henry Harris * Capt. Weathred * Camp Handy * Jim Moore of Kerrville * Sergeant Brooks * Capt. Carmichael * John M. Spradley * Ben Brook * Fed Conner * Jim Pied Creek, on Lev Baugh's ranch * Bird's Store precinct * Coupland brought his family down to Brownwood * Capt. Mahony * Miss Della Parks of Ennis * Mrs. Walker * Baird, in Callahan County. * T. H. Jones * L. and H. Blum of Galveston * S. H. Dixon *

Three Pots; One Of Them Irish

Miss Ruth Dodson, Mathis, Texas, recalls frontier memories triggered by the recollections of significant pots that held a prominent place in frontier life.

Mentions: the McMullen - McGloin Colony* Mrs. Pugh * San Patricio * Martin Culver *

Indian Warfare On The Frontier

By Col. M. L. Crimmins, U. S. Army, Retired.

This account describes the story of the surrender of Red Cloud, in 1891, from Col. Charles W. Taylor who was in command of the 13th U. S. Cavalry.

Further Mentions: Major Herbert S. Taylor, General Staff. * J. B. Henderson, chairman of the Senate Committee of Indian Affairs; J. B. Sanborn of Saint Paul,Minn. ; Generals Sherman, Terry, Harney and Augur ; N. G. Taylor, Indian Commissioner, and S. F. Tappan * Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse * Chief Red Cloud, head chief of the Ogallallas, was without doubt the most noted and famous chief at the time of his death, December,1909 * the massacre at Fort Phil Kearny in December, 1866 * Dr. Roselli K. Dixon * the San Andreas Mountains in New Mexico * Pine Ridge * Neobrara and Standing Rock * Fort Robinson, Neb * Fort Omaha * Gen. Forsythe, 7th Artillery * Phillip Wells * General Brooke * Lieutenant Casey * the Carlisle Indian School * Short Bull and Kicking Bear *

Colonel Dahlgren's Leg

By John S. Mayfield, Washington, D. C.

Account of perhaps the most unusual object ever placed in a corner stone.

Further Mentions: Admiral John A. Dahlgren U. S. V., wounded July 6, 1863, while skirmishing in the streets of Hagerstown (Maryland) with the rebels after the battle of Gettysburg."* West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia

Bits Of Historical Information

By J. Marvin Hunter.

Mentions: Castroville, in Medina county, Texas, was founded September 3, 1844, by Henry Castro,, a French Jew, who brought German colonists from Alsace Lorraine to Texas * James Bowie had acquired great notoriety from a duel fought with Major Norris Wright, on a Mississippi sand-bar * Tamaulipas and Coahuila * The first railroad actually constructed in the state of Texas was the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado, commonly called the Harrisburg Railroad * Governor E. J. Davis * Richard Coke * Palmito ranch near Brownsville, Texas * Colonel John S. Ford * Tom Hickman, senior ranger captain * W. T. Jackman of San Marcos * Mrs. G. F. Buell in San Antonio * her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Shirley * Mr. Shirley killed a bear in a close combat * Kerr County Pioneers' Association * George Doyle