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Another
interesting account of early Clay Co. history has surfaced in
the archives room. The following is an account of life in the
southern most part of Clay Co. from 1875 to 1893, written by
Mr. J. E. Gates, born in 1871, son of T. B. Gates and brother
of James T. Gates.
"Back in 1875-77, the south part of Clay County, like all
other frontier counties, was very sparsely settled. Bluegrove
was the only settlement north before reaching Cambridge and
Henrietta. It was a scattered community and there was no other
settlement south between the communities now known as Shannon
and Jacksboro. Some of the early settlers were drifters who
stopped for a short time, built cabins of native logs, daubed
with mud, and moved on a few months later. But many stayed and
became builders of communities.
"This was the era before the wire fence came into use as
all the country was unfenced and was known as open range, so the
settlers were few and far between, and neighbors were scarce.
One did not see them except on rare occasions. Naturally the
wives and children had a rather lonely existence, as they had
little outside social contact of any kind.
"About the only thing to break the monotony would be an
occasional lone cow hand riding past, sometimes stopping for a
drink of water, a meal, or if he should be far from
headquarters, he might wish to spend the night. In this case he
always received a hearty welcome because he and his kind were
always courteous gentlemen.
"Sometimes, but not often, the family might see a freight
wagon headed toward or from Fort Worth, as this was the nearest
railroad and market. Coming from Fort Worth they were loaded
with supplies for a distant western point; returning they were
usually loaded with buffalo hides for the Fort Worth market.
These wagons were pulled by ox teams, consisting of from
one to three yoke of oxen, depending on the weight of the load.
Frequently there would be a trail wagon chained to the rear of
the first wagon.
"The drivers of these ox wagons, known as bull whackers,
were in a class by themselves, for they developed peculiar
characteristics not common to other people. There were long
stretches of miles when they saw nothing more exciting than
their own yoke of oxen as they plodded and strained at their
loads along the dim wagon trails. Those trails were never
repaired and were full of sand beds and mud holes with very few
bridges of any kind across the streams. And the bridges were
built of rough poles cut from nearby timber and were unsafe for
heavy loads.
"But as they plodded along their way they usually saw
plenty of wild game or an occasional bunch of Texas longhorn
cattle, which were as wild as game.
"These drivers developed and perfected a very colorful
vocabulary. While it would probably not be considered in
altogether good form, measured by our present standards,
whatever it lacked in culture, was amply atoned for in
forcefulness and profanity, for anyone who heard a member of
this gentry spiel one of his masterpieces, as he sometimes did
when coaxing his team to pull the load through a deep mud hole,
would pause and wonder that such eloquence could fall from human
lips. At any rate, these boys developed a technique for
which there was no worthwhile substitute. These men were
rough, but good and kind-hearted, and always ready to help
anyone through a tight place. They always saw their teams
got plenty of feed and water. Their Winchesters and six
shooters were just as march of their equipment as was their
clothing, and their courage went unchallenged. I
have given them space because they were necessarily a part of
the West at that time.
"During the time the U.S. soldiers were stationed at Old
Fort Richardson just across Lost Creek from Jacksboro, the
booming of the cannon at each sunrise and each sunset could be
heard across the county line and far into Clay County when the
atmospheric conditions were right. Just seeing the old military
telegraph line reaching from Fort Richardson in Jack County
across Clay County and on to Fort Sill sometimes reminded the
people that there was an outside world. This line came through
by way of Buffalo Springs where there was a small fort or
government house of some kind.
"In the years 1874-75, just prior to this period, roving
bands of Comanche Indians made foraging expeditions into Jack
County, and of course this was followed in 1876 by other reports
and scares. I remember at one time during this period that war
parties of Indians were reported to be only 12 miles from our
home. These reports were later proven to be false as we were
never at any time molested by the Indians. However, one time my
father and I met a small detachment of soldiers with two captive
Indians whom they had followed farther west and captured and
were returning them to Fort Richardson. I do not believe these
had at this time committed any serious offense, but I rather
think that bringing them in had a good moral effect on other
members of war parties who might have been planning to raid any
of the settlements. All these happenings and reports naturally
caused a good deal of nervousness and apprehension among the
settlers.
"So in the summer of 1876, in response to the appeal of the
people for some protection, the government sent an official of
some kind among the pioneers asking every able bodied man to
join what became known as the Minute Company organized for
protection of each man's family. Membership in the organization
was strictly voluntary and in no way compulsory, but on becoming
a member each man was oath bound to respond to any call for
assistance at any time or at any place on one minute's notice. I
think it was from this that the company derived its name. Very
well do I remember when my father, Thomas B. Gates, joined this
organization, for he was given a gun together with 100 rounds of
ammunition. This gun was known as a needle gun and to my
childish mind at that time it was a very vicious looking
shooting iron.
"But as there were no further Indian troubles, as far as I
know, none of these men were ever called to defend any part of
the country. At any rate, about one year later, an official came
through and collected all arms given to the Minute Company.
"While this writer has lived in Clay County practically all
his life, it was so near the Jack County line that at times he
does not feel sure as to whether his feet were on the right side
or the wrong side of the Clay County line. I mention this with
reference to seeing the captive Indians as well as mention of
the Minute Men; these are both recollections of Jack County.
Although my father lived at this time not more than one-half
mile from the county line, the happenings in either county
were so closely related and interwoven that it becomes almost
impossible to write any of my recollections without barging
across the county line, for this invisible line at that time
meant very little to a community where everyone had friends and
neighbors on either side of it.
"Prominent among the early cow men and cowboys in this
section and period were: Sanford Wilson; Nub White; William
McElroy; Newt Jones; Ben Cobb; R. S. Hilburn; Sandy McGraw; Sim
Melugin; W. B. Sheffy; Sam Sherwood; Mr. Woodward; R. C. Brumley;
George Brumley; Wig Brumley; Bob Brumley; S. B. Harbison;
Charley Burch; Elbert Hicks and many more.
"A few more prominent old timers were: Hiram Burch; William
Hammer; M. E. Ivie: Jeff Penn; Bob Haney; Wallace Haney; Tom
Haney; J. F. Williams; Mr. Keetle and several sons; Ben
Canterbury; the Whitingtons; the Whites; E. L. Collie; Ash
Moore; Cart Renfro; the Slaughter family; and Jimmie Eiland,
father of A. D. Eiland. Now, for fear some of my old friends of
Shannon and surrounding communities may wonder why I have failed
to mention their names, I repeat that I am writing only of the
period from 1876 to 1883.
"Old Stampede Springs was a great watering place for cattle
before the country was fenced in. The old springs are located
about one-half mile east of the little town of Shannon and about
equal distance from Jack County line and barely in Clay County.
"It was here in 1879 that T. B. Gates, father of the writer
and grandfather of Claude, Rex, Lola, Winnie and Floyd Gates,
established and operated a small store. It was the first of its
kind in all the south part of the county with the exception of a
few businesses that were established at Newport and one located
at Buffalo Springs some two years earlier.
"My father's store was a popular gathering place especially
when his two weeks old copy of the Kansas City Times arrived as
he was one of the very few newspaper subscribers in that
locality at that time.
"The old timers of these settlements made every effort to
give their children some kind of an education. The houses of
learning were constructed of both logs and lumber and consisted
of one room only. The length of the school term was usually two
or three months in mid-winter. Some of these early day teachers
I remember were Ben Canterbury, Stark Whitington, and Steve
Fugate.
"And to these I think it altogether proper and fitting that
I should include the name of Mrs. T. B. Gates, mother of the
writer, who in 1882 taught one term. This was after the death of
my father in 1881.
"To the memory of these men I offer grateful tribute, for
it was largely through their patient and untiring efforts that
this writer was enabled partly to master his three R's.
Notwithstanding the fact that they sometimes inflicted
punishment by forcing me to stand up on top of an empty nail keg
which always stood conveniently and conspicuously in one corner
of the room near one end of the wall black board. This was a
very choice location, as it provided an unobstructed view for
the other pupils, who always derived a great deal of enjoyment
from these little entertainments. But for some unexplainable
reason, the chief actor in this little drama did not appreciate
the fun caused, I suppose by different points of view, for
circumstances alter cases. But the sweetest morsel of revenge
for the offender came when the member of the audience who
enjoyed the show to the fullest became the chief actor for the
next entertainment, but on this occasion his mirthful ardor was
subdued to the extent that it was impossible for him to
appreciate the fun.
"The spiritual interest and religious life of this
community was kept alive largely through the efforts of two
visiting preachers, Rev. Dick Miller of the Methodist, and Rev.
M. A. Epps of the Baptist Church. The former at that time was a
young man. Later he became one of the famous preachers of the
state. He was one whom everyone loved and all homes were open to
him regardless of creed or sect and everyone appreciated his
visits. The same can truthfully be said of Rev. Epps, who was a
very lovable old gentleman. These men sometimes preached in the
little school house or if the weather was fair, under a brush
arbor.
"For several years including this period, the country
seemed to undergo no great change. But in the year 1882 the Fort
Worth and Denver City Railroad made its advent into Clay County
and on into Henrietta. At that time the country began to go
under fence, as the barbed wire was beginning to come into use.
This meant the breaking up of the free and open range and marked
the end of an epoch as well.
"After the country was all fenced, certain men and certain
elements, who were opposed to the fencing of the country,
organized themselves into secret bands for the purpose of
destroying these fences. At night they worked along the fence
lines. Each was furnished with a good heavy pair of pliers,
known at that time as wire cutters, and thus supplied they were
able in a very short time to destroy several miles of fence.
Their work was very thorough, cutting all the wires on both
sides and close up to each post. Naturally, the next day when
the owners of these pastures saw their wrecked fence, they
boiled with rage. But several months went by and there was no
let up in these depredations. In the meantime feeling was
running high. So one dark night, when the cutters were
destroying the east line of a big pasture belonging to the Red
River Cattle Co., suddenly a rain of bullets poured into their
ranks and one of the cutters was killed and there was
supposition that others were wounded. It was generally credited
that the company hands had been laying for the wire cutters. But
this tragedy broke up their organization and brought to an end
its unlawful acts. This took place about one mile north of where
the town of Prospect was later located.
"Prior to the year 1883 we had no nearby post-office. True
we did not receive much mail of any kind, but what few pieces
were sent us had to be addressed to some distant post-office.
When some of the community made a trip to some distant
post-office he called for mail for all the neighbors and
delivered to different homes on his return. On account of this
isolation it can very easily be understood why we had little
news of the outside world and why we were not well posted on
world events and general news of the day.
"Finally, after receiving many urgent petitions, the
Post-office Dept. at Washington sent out an inspector to make a
survey of our needs. He happened to be a fair minded man and
sent in a favorable report. The request was granted and we had
our first post-office.
"M. E. (Grandpa) Ivie, whose untiring efforts, more than
any other one man, should be given the honor of securing this
desperately needed service. Myrtle was the name given to this
post-office and was located two miles north of the place where
Shannon was located several years later. Mrs. M. E. Ivie was the
first postmistress and the post-office was in her home. She
served faithfully and creditably up to the time this office was
closed.
"It was the late Al Snearly who secured the first star
route contract to carry the mail to this point from Henrietta.
Later the line was extended to Graham in Young County, serving
Myrtle, Antelope and Gertrude on the way. This overland route
from Henrietta to Graham was about 70 miles long and served the
places along its lines until the railroads began to build into
the country, thus ending its usefulness, so it was discontinued.
"In passing it is only fair to say that this chronicler
first saw the light of day in the year 1871, and he is trying to
record facts, some of which happened in 1876 and none later than
1883.
"In recording the foregoing I have tried to be fair to
other communities of the south part of the county. With special
references to Newport and Buffalo Springs origin, I am in some
doubt, as my knowledge is little and memory vague concerning the
early days of this place. In this writing I mentioned the years
of their beginning, according to my best recollection. If I have
made any mistakes in this, I shall be only too glad to
acknowledge the mistake when called to my attention.
"Now if you will pardon my reference to my family name, I
wish to say that in the passing of the late James T. Gates, the
writer's brother, who on account of his public and official
life, enjoyed a much wider acquaintance than I, this left me the
sole surviving member of the original family. Our brother,
William Claude Gates, born 1877 at Stampede Springs, died in
1899.
"The days of long ago with all the hardships, with all the
inconveniences, with all the vicissitudes, and with all their
loneliness, passed; we would not return to them if we could, yet
they were days of happiness." |
