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Range -lore
Ruby Mosley
San Angelo, Texas.
Page one
RANGE -LORE
Mrs. M. L. Reasoner was
born in 1841 in Illinois and
came to Texas in 1847 with her
parents. Their first settle-
ment was made in Navarro County,
then they moved to Young County,
enUlater pushed on to Erath
County where permanent settle-
ment was established. At the
age of 16 she was captured by
the Indians and life was spared
due to the color of her hair.
Several years passed before her
marriage. She reared a large
family. Mrs. Zeffie Autry of
San Angelo, Texaspis one of her
grandchildren and tells an ex-
perience of her grand mother,
Mrs. Mahuldah Lemley Reasoner
who died four years ago at the
age of 93 years.
”my grandmother, Lrs. Mahuldah Lemley Reasoner,witnessed
a terrible tragedy," says Mrs. Autry. "She, with two sisters
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4nd a friend, Mrs. Lucinda Woods, were captured by the
Indians. One day the men had gone to cut logs to complete
their house and the mother had stepped out for a few minutes.
When she returned the house was in terrible disorder and the
girls were gone.
"The Indians carried the four captives to a spot near
what is now Lingleville. They dismounted and helped their
captives to the ground. Then, before the eyes of Mrs.
Reasoner and one of her sisters,the Indians cruelly murder-
ed Lydia Lemley and Mrs. Woods. The long, beautiful tresses
of Mrs. Woods' golden hair was taken by the Indians but the
hair of Lydia Lemley was not molested.
"The surviving sisters, my grandmother and my auntie,
were very happy over their raven tresses, as the Indians
would not scalp any one with black hair. They were turned
loose by the Indians and permitted to find their way as best
they could back to civilization, or fall prey to the wild
beasts. The girls wandered for hours, not knowing what direc-
tion their home or civilization might be. At last they came
to wagon tracks. They still possessed enough reasoning sense
to follow the trackstknowing that they would lead to some
kind of settlement, and sure enough they led them to a house
in a clearing. It happened to be the frontier home of Will
Roberts, the father of ivirs. Woods, one of the slain girls.
The men had learned of the kidnapping and were in pursuit
of the Indians. They came upon the bodies of Lydia Lemley and
Mrs. Woods after long search.
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"The family did not complete the house but moved to
Young County, where the second tragedy occurred,
"Twelve men went out on a cattle round -up. John and
George Lemley, brothers of Mrs. M. L. Reasoner, were among
the bunch. They were soon surrounded by Indians who opened
attack as soon as their encircling movement had been com-
pleted. My greet uncle, John Lemley, age 19, was killed
during the fight and his brother George was wounded, Champ
Carter was also killed but all the others escaped death.
"Some years later my grandmother married, about the
time the Indians made their last stand against the sturdy
white settlers."
Hay Arnim,
ik.on Angelo, Tesaa•
BULLOGIt,11fir
mre. 4eftle Autry, win Angelo, Datee, laterirler
ed, January 13, lime.