Document text
RLY
H. Davis, V.
Childress, ,Zath County
District 8
No. of words 400
File no. 230
1--ge I.
Reference
H. Davis, Box 5P, Childress, Texas
William H. Davis, Senior, came from North Carolina in the
spring of the year 1656 to Texas and settled on the North
Peluxy River. They were the seventh family to settle on the
Paluxy from its hood to its mouth, a distance of same fifty
miles or more. It took three months to make the trip to Texas
in covered wagons drawn by oxen. t this time, pnther, ber,
antelope, deer, wild turkey, prairie chicken, raccoon,
opossum, skunks, wild cattle, wild horses, wild hogs and
squirrels were in abundance in Irath County. The lonesome
howl of the coyote, the dangerous hiss of the rattle snake,
and the murderous whoop of the rAld IndiAlis were often herd.
These seven families lived from two to five miles apart.
From twenty to thirty miles away, there were other small settle-
ments in -i;rth County. L little later, Duvall, a surveyor es-
tablished the county lines.
For many years, the Indians made raids over Er:th County,
stealing horses ad mwrdering whites. Often the Indl ns would
not be satisfied with their stolen goods -lad would murder and
scalp the settlers. The raids were always made on the full of
the moon, perhaps because the Indians ivnted to take advantage
EARLY SLTTLatIZNT
rile 230
page 2
W. H. Doris, V. A..
Childress Lrath County
District 1 8
of an all-night moon to perform their depredations.
The last Indian raid in Erath County was made by a 1,nd of
seven Indians six bucks and one squaw. Some Where near the
south-east corner of Zrath county they were resisted by a few
white men, who g ve chase. These were joined by other settlers
as fast as runners could w-rn them out The band of whites was
increased almost hourly. The Indians were doing not far from
the east line of the county and heading northward. The whites
kept so close Jind recruits from the settlers began to arrive
from every directions so the Indians were forced to change their
course. They wAited to get out of Erath County in the hope that
if they did, pursuit would stop. The whites crowded the Indians
so closely, that, ne:x the north•east end of the county they
took refuge in the bed of Star Hollow or Creek, This Hollow is
at, or very near the east line of tatath county on the Morgan
Mill and Orenburg road. The Indians took refuge under a high
bluff, which g ve them an adIvnt2ge over the whites bec_use
they could only be attacked from the front, '_ind in open view of
the Indians. The whites charged, but were forced to retreat from
the shower of arrows. There were three white men seriously
wounded. The day w:s exceedingly hot an a sudden thunder storm
came. The down -pour filled the creek to a depth of four or
five feet in a very short time. This wet the bow strings and
arrows so that the Indians could not shoot with an accuracy.
AL F LT IITTLal NT
W. H. Davis, V. 1.
Childress, izoath County
District 8
File 230
Page 3
The whites had increased their numbers to about a hundred men
and charged the Indians. The bucks were killed first. As the
white men dashed up, the lone survivor spoke in broken nglish:
"Don't kill me ma squaw," But she had fought too svvagely to
be svred. The seven Indians were carried to the top of the
Bluff and left to their silent sleep, Newman D. Davis, eldest
son of William H. Davis was the only one of that family to take
p rt in tliis fight.
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