Llano County Indian Depredations

 As recanted by Winnie Tate-Morgan via Tate Family History

 

1859 May 23

Rev Jonas Dancer killed by Indians working to cut a new road from Llano to Austin.

The West Texas Frontier by Joseph Carroll McConnell

 

1864

William Kinderly killed by Indians buried in Board Branch Cemetery near Lone Grove according to oral history.

 

1865

A Mexican herding sheep for D. Rode in Llano Co 9 mi SE of Cherry Springs____ 

T he West Texas Frontier by Joseph Carroll

 

1868

Alexander Roberts, other rangers & citizens, John Crownover & A. Hardin pursue & over take Indians with stolen horses near Packsaddle Mt. (Amos Hardin, this writer's gg-grandfather married Lurena Phillips the granddaughter of John Crownover) The West Texas Frontier by Joseph Carrol McConnell  

 

Feb 6 1868

Legion Valley -- Matilda Friend, the woman who survived was the daughter of Rev. Jonas Dancer who had been killed by Indians in 1859.

 

In “The Life and Times of Susan Alice Tate Phillips”, an autobiography and also in “The Record”, a family history, both by Susan’s daughter, Mattie Phillips Hallford, are stories about how, on moon light nights when most of the men in the Sandy Mt area of Llano County would be away...the women and children gathered at the Sam W. Tate for protection. The men and older boys would sleep outside while the women, girls and small children slept indoors; and Mattie tells how both her grandfather Benjamin Phillips and her father J. R. “Code” Phillips loved fine horses and how her father once had a fine mare he called Puss. One night he chained and padlocked her to the house just outside the window to keep the Indians from stealing her. Late that night his little boy awoke and said. “Pa, there is a big old dog out there scaring Puss. Of course it was an Indian and before ‘Code’ got get his rifle and get outside, he heard a thud as the horse fell, and found the Indian had shot his horse through the heart with an arrow.

 

1869

Raid on Sam W. Tate place, Indian raid on Sam W. Tate place foiled by cowboys, resulted in the loss of Tate’s son-in-law, J. R. “Code” Phillips,’ horse. John C. Tate rode to the Ben Phillips place and warned them. Next morning two groups tracked the Indians with those from Phillips ranch overtaking them first. Several Indians were killed and Phillips’ horse recovered.

 Haynes Family Papers by Bill Duncan Haynes

 

1869 July

Hiram Andrew Wolf, age 19 Killed by Indians and his little brother taken hostage. Location was at Wolf's Crossing on the Colorado River near Sam W. Tate place. The little brother was recovered, unharmed, a few days later.

 

1870

Whitlock Family, Long Mt.

 

1871

Wm S. Kidd and Harve Putnam survive attack by Indians near Loyal Valley.

 

1873 August       Packsaddle Mountain Indian Fight                 

 

1874

Wylie Everett’s Mexican Killed by Indians abt. 3/4 mi from the Llano Courthouse, between Flag Creek and Llano River. He had managed to kill one of the Indians_____ Interview Wylie Everett and Will H. Roberts (Will H. Roberts married Rosa Lee Tate, 11th child of this writer’s ggg- grandparents, Sam W. Tate and Martha Means)

The West Texas Frontier by Joseph Carroll McConnell