Joe Littleton

Indians Charge Joe Littleton's Home in Parker County

About 1872, while Joe Littleton and his wife, who lived about fifteen miles northwest of Weatherford, were gathering pecans on the creek a short distance from the house, several Indians surrounded their home. Mary, Tex, and Julia, according to reports, were in the house at the time. When the Indians appeared, Mary, the oldest child, closed the door. But a savage shot through the house, and the bullet struck her in the leg. She stood near the door nevertheless with an old cap and ball pistol that was half cocked, and could not be fired. After Joe Littleton heard the Indians' guns, he hurried up a ravine back of the barn, and before the savages knew he was around, shot an Indian, standing on the ground. The Indians afoot then jumped on horses behind others, and as they started away, he shot a horse from under two Indians. Mr. Littleton's faithful dog was crowding the savages all the time. After the Indians were a considerable distance from the house, they stopped, and when they did, Joe Littleton fired again, and apparently he hit another savage, for his comrades rushed to his side. One Indian was left dead on the ground at the Joe Littleton home, and a few days later, another found, because of the circling vultures.

Note: Author personally interviewed: E.W. McCracken; Joe Moore; and one or two early settlers of Parker Co.

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