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Jack, Palo Pinto, Archer, Wise, Montague and other north central Texas counties endured the additional hardship of Indian raids out of Oklahoma Territory during the war. Settlement began in Jack County in the early 1850s and was on the outer edge of what was referred to as the Texas Frontier. Texas Rangers such as Orem's Company were often conscripted into service in order to protect the settlers on the home front during the war as Indian raids escalated dramatically during the period due to the fact that so many of the young and fit were off fighting in the East. Thanks to the efforts of second generation settlers such as Ida Lasater Huckabay, documented first hand accounts have survived. Below is but one example of such.
The West Texas Frontier or a Descriptive History of Early Times in Western Texas Volume 2
by Joseph Carroll McConnell
John Brown Raid
At the time of this particular raid, there were less than two hundred families living in Jack County. Since it was reasonably certain the savages would extend their foray further on into the settlements, the local citizens hastily dispatched a messenger to Weatherford, for aid and to alarm the people. At that time John Brown was living sixteen miles northwest of Weatherford, near Rock Creek, and on the Weatherford- Jacksboro Road. The messenger reached his home just before day, November 27, 1860. From Mr. Brown, this "Paul Revere" of the Western Frontier secured a fresh horse and hurried to Weatherford. Mr. Brown had about thirty-five head of horses penned in the peach orchard near the house. About sunrise he saddled one of his slowest ponies, and started to the home of Mr. Thompson, his neighbor, who lived about two miles to the West. Since the Indians had not been previously depreciating in that section, be told his wife before he rode away, that the redskins would not come that far south on this particular raid, but would eventually do so. He then started unarmed on a slow pony to the Thompson home. About thirty minutes after Mr. Brown had gone, and before be reached the home of Mr. Thompson, two of his slaves, a negro woman, and a boy about fourteen years of age, were on the outside of the yard a short distance to the southwest of the John Brown home. This house was newly constructed and was one and a half story "Log Cabin mansion." To their sudden amazement, when they looked up the road towards Jacksboro, and saw about fifty or sixty Indians riding rapidly towards the house, the negro, woman told the boy they must hide or else be killed. This brave negro lad said "No. I'll die with de misses and chilluns.." The negro woman then ran and bid in the high grass in the peach orchard, but the boy hurried to the house and related to Mrs. Brown, the Indians were coming. The approaching warriors could now be plainly seen. Mrs. Brown hurriedly gathered the following children: Mary, about ten years of age, John, about eight, Teranna about five, and Seaph, about two months old, and took them upstairs. She then, closed the trap door. About this moment it was discovered that Annie, about two and one half years of age, was missing. So the brave negro boy named Anthony Brown, after the Indians had completely surrounded the house, rushed down stairs in search of Annie, She was found playing in the negro cabin, about thirty feet from the house. Annie at the time was dipping ashes with a spoon. The negro boy picked her up and ran to the house. Mrs. Brown opened the trap door and the colored boy carried little Annie upstairs. About this time Mrs. Brown heard the rattling of chains, and since her husband's bridle reins had chains next to the bits, she thought it was he coming. So she looked out of a window and said, "Have you come." About that moment she discovered a savage in the very act of shooting her. So she jerked back only in time to receive an arrow in her ear. This weapon struck the window facing, where she had been standing. During this exciting time, the Indians were also chasing the horses in the orchard and the negro woman then hiding in the tall grass later stated that if she had not been hidden under the tree, the Indians would have ridden over her several times. The blood thirsty savages cut the bell from one of the horses, and started the herd westward toward the home of Mr. Thompson. They had gone only about one-half mile, when the warriors met Mr. Brown unarmed. He was soon killed with a lance, and scalped. But it is generally supposed he wounded one of the warriors with a pocket knife, for evidences of a wounded Indian were later discovered. The Indians continued their course westward, crossed the line from Parker into Palo Pinto County, and next appeared to exact their toll of human lives, at the home of Ezra Sherman, who lived on Stagg's Prairie, then known as Betty Prairie, and located a few miles north and east of the present city of Mineral Wells. Note:-Before writing this article, the author personally interviewed A.M. Lasater, who on June 8th. 1876, married Annie Brown, the little daughter playing in the ashes with a spoon when rescued by Anthony, the negro, boy. Mr. Lasater not only heard his mother-in-law many times relate this story, but remembers the occurrence himself for he was a boy several years of age when this occurred. Also interviewed Mrs. Wm. Metcalf, Mrs. H. G. Taylor, Mrs. Huge Bevers, James Wood, E. K. Taylor,J oseph Fowler, Mrs. M. J. Hart, B. L. Ham, James Eubanks, Mrs. Wm. Porter, and others who were living in Palo Pinto and Parker County at the time.
The West Texas Frontier or a Descriptive History of Early Times in Western Texas Volume 2
by Joseph Carroll McConnell
John Brown Raid
At the time of this particular raid, there were less than two hundred families living in Jack County. Since it was reasonably certain the savages would extend their foray further on into the settlements, the local citizens hastily dispatched a messenger to Weatherford, for aid and to alarm the people. At that time John Brown was living sixteen miles northwest of Weatherford, near Rock Creek, and on the Weatherford- Jacksboro Road. The messenger reached his home just before day, November 27, 1860. From Mr. Brown, this "Paul Revere" of the Western Frontier secured a fresh horse and hurried to Weatherford. Mr. Brown had about thirty-five head of horses penned in the peach orchard near the house. About sunrise he saddled one of his slowest ponies, and started to the home of Mr. Thompson, his neighbor, who lived about two miles to the West. Since the Indians had not been previously depreciating in that section, be told his wife before he rode away, that the redskins would not come that far south on this particular raid, but would eventually do so. He then started unarmed on a slow pony to the Thompson home. About thirty minutes after Mr. Brown had gone, and before be reached the home of Mr. Thompson, two of his slaves, a negro woman, and a boy about fourteen years of age, were on the outside of the yard a short distance to the southwest of the John Brown home. This house was newly constructed and was one and a half story "Log Cabin mansion." To their sudden amazement, when they looked up the road towards Jacksboro, and saw about fifty or sixty Indians riding rapidly towards the house, the negro, woman told the boy they must hide or else be killed. This brave negro lad said "No. I'll die with de misses and chilluns.." The negro woman then ran and bid in the high grass in the peach orchard, but the boy hurried to the house and related to Mrs. Brown, the Indians were coming. The approaching warriors could now be plainly seen. Mrs. Brown hurriedly gathered the following children: Mary, about ten years of age, John, about eight, Teranna about five, and Seaph, about two months old, and took them upstairs. She then, closed the trap door. About this moment it was discovered that Annie, about two and one half years of age, was missing. So the brave negro boy named Anthony Brown, after the Indians had completely surrounded the house, rushed down stairs in search of Annie, She was found playing in the negro cabin, about thirty feet from the house. Annie at the time was dipping ashes with a spoon. The negro boy picked her up and ran to the house. Mrs. Brown opened the trap door and the colored boy carried little Annie upstairs. About this time Mrs. Brown heard the rattling of chains, and since her husband's bridle reins had chains next to the bits, she thought it was he coming. So she looked out of a window and said, "Have you come." About that moment she discovered a savage in the very act of shooting her. So she jerked back only in time to receive an arrow in her ear. This weapon struck the window facing, where she had been standing. During this exciting time, the Indians were also chasing the horses in the orchard and the negro woman then hiding in the tall grass later stated that if she had not been hidden under the tree, the Indians would have ridden over her several times. The blood thirsty savages cut the bell from one of the horses, and started the herd westward toward the home of Mr. Thompson. They had gone only about one-half mile, when the warriors met Mr. Brown unarmed. He was soon killed with a lance, and scalped. But it is generally supposed he wounded one of the warriors with a pocket knife, for evidences of a wounded Indian were later discovered. The Indians continued their course westward, crossed the line from Parker into Palo Pinto County, and next appeared to exact their toll of human lives, at the home of Ezra Sherman, who lived on Stagg's Prairie, then known as Betty Prairie, and located a few miles north and east of the present city of Mineral Wells. Note:-Before writing this article, the author personally interviewed A.M. Lasater, who on June 8th. 1876, married Annie Brown, the little daughter playing in the ashes with a spoon when rescued by Anthony, the negro, boy. Mr. Lasater not only heard his mother-in-law many times relate this story, but remembers the occurrence himself for he was a boy several years of age when this occurred. Also interviewed Mrs. Wm. Metcalf, Mrs. H. G. Taylor, Mrs. Huge Bevers, James Wood, E. K. Taylor,J oseph Fowler, Mrs. M. J. Hart, B. L. Ham, James Eubanks, Mrs. Wm. Porter, and others who were living in Palo Pinto and Parker County at the time.