The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-07
FAMOUS OLD John JOY
CAST THE ONLY VOTE FOR LINCOLN
IN TEXAS IN 1860.
Had Killed 100 Indians and walked
1000 Miles to Join the Union Army
Wife fought the Redskins.

This is the life story of two old heroes,
man and wife. The deeds of the man are
those which generally are lauded, but the
deeds of this wife are no less heroic. They
are hardy mountaineers-these two old
folk-the same as they have been all of their
eighty odd years OF life. and they live in
western Texas. John Joy. son of a soldier
of the revolution, and himself a veteran of
the Mexican war, cast the only vote Tor
Abraham Lincoln, so it is said. that was
cast in all Texas. His pistol insured the
depositing of that ballot in the proper box.
He had fought Indians TO protect his home
has now loo scalps to show for his proves
and in the early days of the civil war he
was guarding his home on the frontier.
Later on he and some companions Travelled
1000 miles, mostly on foot, to join the
Union army, and Mrs. Joy stayed at home
and looked out for the Comanches, killing
one chief herself during a foray on the set
Element. Now, in their ripe old age, they
are of the same political faith. man and
wife. that they were forty years ago.
joys father was Virginian and a SOL
der of the revolution. They were al
ways poor mountaineers. In early days
they emigrated to Arkansas, where they
lived until 1850. Here the old soldier of the
revolution died while his son John, under
Gen. Zach Taylor. was fighting the Mex
leans In 1850 John Joy started with a long
train of Arkansas people across the plains
toward California, taking the southern
route. They got lost on the plains. and
finally concluded to go to the mountains of
western Texas and remain until the next
spring. They settled on the Guadaloupes,
and, being pleased with the fine climate
and great abundance Of game, they located
lands and improved small farms. The
young men of this colony grew up In a
school Of arms. Whenever a full moon rode
in the sky the terrible Mescalaro Commences
were almost sure to make a raid on the set
Element. There was hardly a young man
among these people who had not killed an
Indian, and many of the women were proud
Of the fact that they had made a Comanche
warrior bite the dust. Every young girl In
or pistol. John JOY was then in the prime
of life, and his ability TO endure fatigue,
coupled with his remarkable courage and
GOODNESS under fire, soon made him a leader
even among a set of the most v~alorous of
Indian fighters. He has now in his posses
sion nearly a hundred scalps as modest
trophies OF his proves on the warpatn.
STARTING OUT TO VOTE
Early in that famous campaign which ele-
waited Abraham Lincoln to the presidency
of the United States Mr.. Joy declared that
he was opposed to negro slavery. and often
DuDlCly pTOcldllltu lldl he lItSlucu ~ No'S
for Mr.. Lincoln for President. On the day
of the election. accompanied by some ten
or more of his Indian fighters, he rode to
the nearest voting place. which was nearly
one hundred miles away and in a section
where the abolition candidate was regarded
a little less than a fiend incarnate. Dis
mounting from his horse, he walked TO the
window of the little building where the
officers were holding the election and asked
for a Lincoln ticket. Supposing that he was
playing a practical joke. everybody laughed
uproariousiy, but when the crowd found
that he was in earnest he was quickly sur
rounded by armed men, whose faces wore
a threatening look.
you want to vote for old Abe you will have
TO get out of Texas You can't put in any
vote of that kind here"
We'll, 1 shall try my best" said Mr.. JOY,
and, drawing a piece Of paper and a pencil
from his pocket. he wrote:
II, John Joy, a citizen of Texas-a Mex
lean war Observation-Disclosures OF the frontier
and the son of a soldier of the revolution.
cast my vote for Abraham Lincoln for
President of the United States"
Handing the paper to one of the Judges,
he stood his ground for a moment with his
hand on his pistol and then coolly turned
away and mounted his horse. 1t required a
great deal Of courage TO do that.
When the war broke out the troops were
withdrawn from the frontier and the In
dams raided the settlements in swarms.
John Joy was in the saddle nearly all the
time at the head of a company of his neigh
bors trying TO protect their homes and their
women and children from the scalping knife
OF the merciless Con anches.
Every effort was made to induce Joy TO
join the Southern army, but he refused to
be governed by other than the Union senti-
ment that was strong within him. Finally
his life was threatened. and upon more than
one occasion he narrowly escaped being
made a prisoner.
After carrying his life in his hands for
more than two years his brave wife said TO
him one day: John, between the Conan
ches and your other enemies i am afraid
you will lose your life. / expect you had
better go and join the Union army. I and
the boys and girls will be able to stand of
the Indians.
This was exactly what he wanted to do.
but he hesitated TO leave his family on the
frontier, and then the question as TO how
the federal lines were to be reached pre-
sented itself. After consulting with his
~neighbors he selected nine of the hardest
gathered several hundred mead of their cat
tie and started across the plains right
through the heart OF the Indian country in
the direction of the Rio Grande. They were
hardly out OF sight of the Guadaloupe
mountains before the Indians began to ap-
pear on the hills. and after that scarcely a
day passed without an exchange of shots
between the cattlemen and the Comanches.
1000 MILES TO ENLIST.
1t was . terrible march. Water was
scarce and the hot sands were blazing. but
after enduring Incredible hardships and
fighting many battles they reached the