During 1857, or early in 1858, William Holden was staying with his brother Frank, who then lived on the Clear Fork, nearly twenty miles north of Breckenridge. The father of William and Frank was old Uncle (Dicky) Holden, who at the time lived about three or four miles east of Springtown. William went out from home in search of some stock, and was killed by Indians. The crime was traced to the Comanches living on the Upper Reservation. A demand was made for the guilty Indian and he was produced by Katumpsy, and the other Indians. William Holden’s pistol was also recovered, and unmistakably identified. He had previously written the number of his gun in a note book and the number, No. 14271, on the pistol corresponded exactly with the number in the notebook. The pistol was identified in other ways. This was the first bloodshed in Stephens County after the arrival of the first settlers. Ref.: The author interviewed Geo. Tackett, of Springtown, A.C. Tackett, of Gerard, L.L. Tackett, of Leedy, Oklahoma. Also interviewed James Clark and others who were living in Young and adjoining counties at the time, and shortly afterwards. The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
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