NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

MENARD COUNTY, TEXAS



March 22, 1870
The Galveston Daily News

Seven hundred and fifty dollars reward in gold is offered by P Field for
the safe delivery at any point in the United States fo Mrs. Dorothy Field,
abducted by Indians from Menard county, on the San Saba river, four
miles below Fort Kavitt, Texas, on February 27th.

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Aug. 27, 1870
The Galveston Daily News

A DISTRESSED HUSBAND. -- Mr. P. Field, of Menard county, writes to
the San Antonio Herald, that he will give $1200 in specie for the return of
his wife, Dorothy Field, who was stolen by Indians some time ago.

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Jan. 4, 1871
The Galveston Daily News

POSTAL MATTERS
The following changes of postmasters in Texas have been made:
Fort McKavett, Menard county, George Paschal in place of James
Larson, resigned.

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April 15, 1871
The Galveston Daily News

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
STATE OF TEXAS,

Report of Indian depredations committed
in Menard county, from January 1, 1866,
to March 31, 1871:
No. of persons killed .................................3
No. of person wounded.............................2
No. of person carried into captivity.........2
No. horses and mules stolen....................619
No. of cattle killed and stolen....................6,660
No. of housed burned.................................1
Total value of property destroyed..........$101,430
These outrages were commited by the
Kickapoo and Comanche tribes of Indians.
Official: JAMES DAVIDSON,
Adjutant General of Texas

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Dec. 3, 1874
The Austin Weekly Statesman

Another Ranger - Indian Fight. -- Five Indians Killed
and one Captured.

On Saturday morning, last, a portion of Major Jones's escort
and a detachment of Capt. Perry's company, encamped on Elm
creek, in Menard county, and about one hundred and sixty miles
west of this city, encountered a party of nine Indians, with the
above result. The Indians came down Elm within a few miles
of camp, and, running in on a beef detail of two men, Scott
Cooley and Billy Trawic, opened fire upon them, when they
fled to camp in hot haste, prusued by the Indians, who fired
several shots, Cooley returning the fire. The Indians were
immediately pursued, and overtaken after a gallop of about
twelve miles, when a running fight took place, the Indians
being at a disadvantage because of the superior numbers of
the rangers. The Indians would occasionally halt to make a
standing fight, but the showering bullets would soon put
them to flight at break-neck speed, rought rocky places
having no terrors for them. Five Indians were killed and
one captured, together with their horses, arms, bows, and
arrows, shields, etc. The captured Indian, a Comanche,
was brought to the city yesterday by a detail of five or six
rangers, and as he passed up the Avenue in wild Indian
costume, strapped to a mule, all eyes were turned to him,
and large crowds of people followed him to the Capitol
grounds, where the red warrior was gazed upon by hundreds
of curious eyes. The captured Indian ran about two miles
after his horse was shot from under him, but seeing he
would be caught, he turned back to the men, fell upon his knees
and throwing up his hands, shouted "bueno amigo," which is "the
good friend." The Indian who is now in jail, will, we understand,
be sent back to camp, and perhaps then tried by a court martial.
If so, we wouldn't give much for his chance. The boys brought some
fresh scalps with them, and they report that Scott Cooley, who was
fired at and run into camp, not only cut a wounded Indian's throat,
but stripped a large piece of skin from his back, saying that he would
make a quirt out of it.

The following is the official report of Major John B. Jones regarding the
the fight:
HEADQUARTERS FRONTIER BATTALION,
AUSTIN, TEXAS, November 24, 1874.
Gen. W. Steele, Adjutant General:
Sir -- I have the honor to report that on the twenty-first instant, Lieut.
Roberts, with a detachment from Capt. Perry's company, and Lieut.
Beavert, with a detachment from my escort, came upon a party
of nine Indians in the southern part of Menard county, having followed
their trail for several miles, going in the direction of Mason. They
immediately gave the Indians chase, and in a running fight of several
miles, killed five and captured one, together with their horses, arms and
equipments. Three of Lieut. Robert's hourses being wounded and all
of them broken down he was forced to abandon the chase, but at last
accounts, Lieut. Beavert, with a few men well mounted were in close
pursuit of the other three, with fair prospects of coming up with them, as
they had an open country to run over.

No men were killed or wounded on our side.

The Indians were Comanches.

The prisoner will arrive in this city tomorrow to be disposed of as the
Governor may direct.
JOHN B JONES,
Major Commanding Frontier Battalion.

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Jan. 17, 1875
The Dallas Daily Herald

On the morning of the 15th of December Captain Ingraham, G W
Tatum, W R Stafford and ten men, attacked a band of twenty-five
Indians at Sand Flat, Menard county, and after a desperate fight killed
seven Indians, recaptured a boy and girl, children of R P Jones of that
county, forty horses and ten mules. John Clark, an employe of
Stafford's was killed, and Tatum hurt by his horse falling on him.
Another ranger received a slight wound. This is business.

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July 17, 1875
The Dallas Weekly Herald

THE HERALD COMPRESS.
Mr. Felix Mann and Miss Fannie Speer were married in Menard
county, last week.

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May 24, 1877
The Austin Weekly Statesman

The grand jury of Menard county has found ninety inditements,
forty of which are for felony.

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June 7, 1877
The Austin Weekly Statesman

Mr. Carlin, a Frenchman, has bought 30,000 acres of land in Menard
county, upon which he will locate 9000 head of Merino sheep.

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September 26, 1878
The Austin Weekly Statesman

Sheriff Comstock, of Menard county, in returnig from Hunt county with
two prisoners, was set upon by ten well armed men who demanded the
release of the prisoners. Comstock told the spokesman he would give
them up only after being shot down, and that he would get one man at
least himself, who should be the spokesman. The mob, after a second
demand, held a parley and retired. The mob wanted to murder the
prisoners. As they left, Comstock called to them and told them not to
tell to the people of Hunt county that one man had "toed off" ten well
armed men, and they promised they wouldn't.

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Nov. 14, 1878
The Austin Weekly Statesman

The following county officers are elected in Menard county:
County judges, A B Wyatt
county district clerk, R P Beddow
sheriff J H Comstock
surveyor Sam H Wade
assessor J W Mears and Joseph Layton
tie vote, no election. Sam Wade above named, is the son of our
excellent fellow-townsman Col. Wade. Same beat his formost
competitor three to one.

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Jan. 3, 1879
Brenham Weekly Banner

Green Johnson, colored, formerly a soldier, was leagally hanged at
Menardville, Menard county, on Friday last, for the murder of his wife.
He met his fate bravely and died in the hope of entering a beter world.

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Brenham Weekly Banner

Ed Brown, one of the parties charged with rescuing Scott Cooley from
the Lampasas jail in 1876. was arrested in Menard county and taken to
Lampasas, where he is now in durance vile.
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May 23, 1879
The Galveston Daily News

MENARD
On Postoak creek, Menard county, last week, the body of a welll-dressed man, with his skull crushed in and evidently murdered, was found by a herder. The skeleton was 5 feet 8 inches high, and on the little finger of his left hand was a heavy silver ring, with the initials F.M.

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June 12, 1879
The Austin Weekly Statesman

Stockmen, appreciating a good officer, presented Sheriff Comstock, of
Menard county, with a Centennial rifle.

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July 18, 1879
Brenham Weekly Banner

Henry Carson, a school teacher, has been arrested in Menard county,
charged with being implicated in the "road agency" business, or in
other words, stage robbing.

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