Vol 25 No. 01 - October 1947

Sam H. Gilliland Has Eventful Life

J. Marvin Hunter, Sr.

This is the first-hand account of the life of Samuel Houston Gilliland, when he was in his 89th year, as related to the author. Gilliland speaks of the old days that he knew so well and his keen remembrance of the settlers he knew, and his description of conditions that existed in Callahan, Coleman and Brown counties, when these counties were on the extreme frontier.

Mentions: born in Washington county, Texas, December 19, 1858 ,Mr. and Mrs. Haynie Gilliland ,Eli Gilliland ,"Old Hickory" Jackson ,Haynie Gilliland ,Pecan Bayou ,Burkett ,W. E. Gilliland, Sam and A. G. Gilliland, twins; Judith Gilliland and Jennie Gilliland. Judith married J. E.Hinnigan, and Jennie married Rufus Collier ,W. E. Gilliland ,Dr. Windham ,Amy Gilliland ,Dave Parker ,the Baird Star ,the Tecumseh Banner ,Ad-Ran College. ,Miss Linnie Rawlins ,Mrs. Ruthie May Roebuck of Graham ,Miss Blanche Gilliland of Dallas, and John Haynie Gilliland of Dallas ,Virgil Rawlins Gilliland ,Mrs. Ray Strong of San Antonio ,Trickham.

Bowie's Battle On The San Saba

J. Marvin Hunter, Sr.

“On Calf Creek, in McCulloch county, about half-way between Brady and Menard, there stands a marker, placed there by the State of Texas, proclaiming to the world that at that spot there was fought a battle between James Bowie's party of 11 men and a band of Indians, in 1831. For years there was ample evidence that a great battle had been fought there, but it seems that somebody has made a blunder in designating the spot as the place where Bowie and his men fought in 1832. I have been on the battle ground, and saw traces of a great battle, particularly a low wall of stones which evidently protected the besieged, but I have never been convinced that this was the battle described by Rezin P. Bowie, related by him to Mrs. Mary Austin Holly, and printed in her book, "Texas," published in 1836.”

Matthew Doyal, who died at Mason in 1888, was with Bowie on this expedition, and was wounded through and through with a rifle ball in the battle. He often visited in our home in Mason when I was a small boy, and I have heard him relate incidents of the fight, and he stated that it took place on a creek about four miles east of the old Spanish mission, San Saba. Doyal spent the last years of his life searching for the "Lost Bowie Mine."

Mentions: Mrs. Mary A. Nunley ,Bowie Springs where the former James Bowie had a fight with the Indians ,Celery Spring ,Rezin Bowie ,a war party of Waccos and Tawackanies ,James Bowie, David Buchanan, Robert Armstrong, Jesse Wallace, Matthew Doyal, Cephas D. Hamm, James Corriell, Thomas M'Caslin, Gonzales and Charles, servant boys. ,Caddos ,chief, Isaonie ,Mr. Hamm ,Matthew Doyal ,Thomas M'Caslin ,Robert Armstrong ,James Carriell.

The Texas Rangers

Carlysle Graham Raht

“One of the most interesting products of the Southwest, during its pioneer days, was the Texas Ranger. To tell all that is worth telling about this type of man would about fill a good-sized volume; and all this article can hope to do is to confine itself to the subject generally, and relate briefly a few of the adventures of the Texas Ranger, during the interim of 1874 and 1880.”

Mentions: Adjutant General Steele ,the Frontier Battalion ,Maj. John B. Jones ,Capt. L. P. Seiger ,J. B. Gillett ,Capt. D. W. Roberts ,Saline Creek ,John Wesley Hardin ,the "Peg Leg" gang ,the "Jesse Evans" gang of "Lincoln County War ,the "Dick Tutts" gang of Travis county ,the "Bill Redding" gang of Llano county ,the "Taylor" gang in Lampasas county ,the "King Fisher" gang in Maverick ,the 'Bone I'V 1-son" gang in Erath county ,Major John B. Jones ,Capt. G. W. Baylor ,Capt. S. A. McMurray ,Capt. George Arrington ,Capt. L. P. Seiker ,Capt. C. L. Nevill ,Capt. T. L. Ogelsby ,Capt. Neal Coldwell ,F. C. Nelson ,W. K. Jones, ,Pat Dolan.

The Lost Nigger Mine

Much has been written about the "Lost Nigger Gold Mine," which is supposed to exist somewhere in the Big Bend country, below Alpine. Here is the account by Carlysle Graham Rath.

Mentions: John Reagan, Frank Reagan, and Lee Reagan ,A negro named Bill ,Stillwell's Crossings ,Jim Reagan ,Sanderson ,Wilson Bourland ,the lost mine of Tiopa, in Mexico ,old ex-prospector, by name Corbett ,Jim Wilson, J. E. Davenport ,Joe and Will Kincaid ,D. S. Combs.

The Contest Between Civilization and Barbarism

Nowhere has this perpetual conflict been waged with more bloodshed and atrocity over a longer period of time and with as many varied rivals as in the State of Texas. This story explains and focuses especially on the Tarrant county and Fort Worth area.

Mentions: Capt. Alfred Wallace ,Peters Colony ,Bird's Fort in Tarrant county ,Comanche Peak on the Brazos ,Capt. Ed Terrell ,Maj. K. M. Van Zandt ,John P. Lusk ,Shackwith ,the Texas and Pacific and Frisco roads ,Live Oak Grove ,Charley Daggert ,Gen. William J. Worth, ,Major Ripley Arnold ,Jack Hays ,Abe Harris ,Archie Robinson ,Robinson's Branch ,J. W. Connor ,Isaac Thomas, Jack Baugh and Lew Edwards ,Pete Schoonover ,Dr. Carroll M. Peak ,Marine creek ,Cross Timbers ,the Blue Mound ,Lieut. Holladay ,M. T. Johnson and Archie Robinson ,Lewis Kane ,Abe Harris ,Henry Daggett ,Julian Fields and Rev. Matson ,the T & P depot ,Dr. Peak ,J. Peter Smith, ,E. M. Daggett. ,Col. Jack Hays ,Don H. Biggers ,General Arbuckle ,the large trading house of Charles Barnard ,Fort Belknap and Camp Cooper.

Colonel Buck Barry

J. Marvin Hunter, Sr.

Colonel James Buckner Barry, better known to early Texans as "Buck" Barry, was one of those intrepid Texas Rangers, who before, during, and after the Civil War, became famous for his valor in defending the frontier and was noted for his high individual courage in all times of danger. He died at his home in Walnut Springs, Bosque county, at the ripe age of 87. Here is his story.

Mentions: his great grandfather, James Buckner Barry ,Bryan Buckner ,Beaufort, North Carolina ,640 acres of land near Corsicana ,Captain Eli Chandler ,the battle of Monterey ,Camp McCord ,Captain M. B. Loyd and Captain Whiteside ,Battle Creek and Deep Creek ,Martha Peveler.

LIPANTITLAN

Cyrus Tilloson

“It would not be apparent to any-one driving along the country road leading from the ancient village of Bluntzer, up the west side of the Nueces River, that they were near the ancient capital of the Lipan Nation of Indians; but the site is less than a mile to the east of this road, and near the bank of the river. This village bore the name of Lipantitlan.” Here is the story.

Mentions: Planticlan by local pronunciation ,De Leon ,Jean Archoveque and Jacques Grolle ,Lake Lipantitlan ,Lipantitlan Creek ,Capt. McFarland of the Magee-Gutierrez filibustering expedition ,the Gauchupin War of 1812-13. ,Arrendondo ,Capt. Rodriquez ,James McGloin ,Lieut. Marcelino Garcia ,Paso Piedra ,Aqua Dulce and San Patricio ,Filisola ,Matamoros ,Gen. Antonio Canales and Col. Jose Maria Gonzales ,Col. S. W. Jordan ,Col. Reuben Ross ,Juan N. Seguin ,W. S. Fisher ,Col. Jordan ,Nicholas Bluntzer ,Gen. James Davis.