Alvin Clark

During the early summer of 1866, the savages were discovered north of Springtown, in the Terrapin Neck Community, near the Parker-Wise County line. Alvin Clark, John Hill, and nine others had followed the Indian trail from the Goshan Community. At the former place E.P. Curby, Jim Curby, Tom Nalls, Jack Gore, Negro Fane, Frank Holden, Curby, and Andy Gore, joined the expedition. After the trail was followed three miles further, the whites found themselves confronted by a large band of savages. It was agreed that the citizens advance and dismount so they could fight the Indians from the ground. Alvin Clark and John Hill, who were in the lead, seemed to have been about the only two to dismount. The Texans discovered the savages had overwhelming numbers, and since a retreat was made by the remaining citizens, Alvin Clark and John Hill found themselves being swept away by an avalanche of Indians. Hill, however, escaped, but brave Alvin Clark was killed.

Note: Author personally interviewed: E.P. Curby, E.W. McCracken, Dole Miller, and others who lived in the northern part of Parker County at the time.

The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.