Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-07
TEXAs HISTORY.
A Sketch OF the rar,y History OF Dsntpn
aud Cooke Counties.
Written Tor nc SUNDAY t.aaoile


Written for the sunday Gazette
PnoT PoiSq, Tx (, Feb. cat the time
this narrative commences the counties
above named were sparsely settled and
buffalo, deer, antelope and other wild
game roamed al Will over the beautiful
prairies and sought shelter from the
scorching rays Of the sun durIug the SUM
mer and the cold northers In the winter
in the forests that lined the
streams in the iarfamed cross timbered
belt. Frequent Ihcursions were made by
the wild Indian tribes Of the Upper Red
River valley from the early settlement
down MS late as 1868, when
the last great raid WAS made
by band OF the Comanches
estimated at 300 strong Among the
early pioneers who endured the hardships
aud trials to secure horne in the sunny
cline OF Texas, and who now Is an es-
teemed and prosperous farmer adjacent
TO this city, was Mr.. ID. G.. Menasco, who
gave TIE GAzHTui representative q
thrilling account OF his experience in the
last great Indian raid mentioned above,
which he kindly glvos to the numerous
readers OF THE GAZETTE,
In the winter OF 1858 Mr.. Minasco mar
ried Miss Sophia Brown, daughter Of
Judge Brown OF Navarro, and with his
young wife located early in January, 1859,
on Clear creek, near the county line
which separates Denton from Cooke, about
twenty-five miles west or little north OF
west from Pilot Point. There were Mt
the time OF the settlement occasional
Indian raids by small bands not euttl-
GENTLY alarming 70 drive the hardy pio-
neers from their homes, their chief pur-
pose being TO stealthily drive away
the settlers horses, massacreinR those who
perchance came In their way, end very
many fell victims TO their brutal
savagery. In the year 1861 the father,
mother, brother and sister OF Mr.. Men
asco arrived from Arkansas and shared
his home and hospitality. Himself and
brother enlisted In the Confederate ser
vice, leaving their families In the care and
protection OF the father. During their
absence the mother died. AZ the close Of
the fratricidal strife, Mr.. Monasco camo
home and engaged inth pursuits Of farm
life. During the period Of his army life,
the Indians continued 70 make frequent
incursIons into the vicinity OF
his new home, but happily
without molestation 10 his family.
Hoping TINT 10 the near future times
would grow better and the government,
afford them protection against the saw
ages, they resolved with heroic purpos,
10 defend their homes. The Indians con
tlnued their depredations, killing 50 man,
persons and stealing stock, till u ap
peared as IL they would be forced te
/ abandon their homes and the country
/ Then for period there was q cessation
OF the hostile incursions till the beginninS
OF the year 1858, when suddenly on IN,
| 9Th OF January began the last memorable
raid, IN which more than 200 painted war
riors took part The attack being nnex
pected, the citizens were unprcpared 70 re
slst the overwhelming number. Mr.. Me
nasco and his brother.in-law, Capt. Shegog
who had married the sister named Lizzie
were absent from home on the day men
toned. Mr.. Meuasco's two Oldest Chill
dren, Lizxlc and May, were visiting thci
aunt, Mrs. Shegog, whose home was on
mile west Of Mcnasco's. Hearing ina
!, the Indians were In the country u
fathcr Of Mr.. Menasco went 70 Capt
Shegog's home 70 bring his daughter an
grandchildren over 70 Mr.. Menascos Il
safety and hetter protection. Will
! returning the Indians came upo
. and surrounded the fleeing party, KILN
J outright the grandfather by smoothing al
, down, making captiyes Of the other
The weather Tor that season Of the yci
: being warm, they were thinly clad, ~
!, capture occurred about O'Clock 70 =