At one time, McWaits and Rixey lived near where Palo Pinto, Stephens, and Young Counties joined. At another time, Dutch Franks batched with McWaits. But in 1867, McWaits batched alone in Veale's Hollow, near the old Bingham Salt Works, and near the northeastern part of Stephens County. One morning while he was grinding corn with an old-fashioned, two handled corn mill he was killed. He was not found for two or three days, but moccasin tracks were discovered. So it has been generally supposed McWaits was killed by Indians. Others, however, have surmised this deed was done by whites. Note: Author interviewed: J.A. Bozzell, C.A. Dalton and B.J. Thompkins, who lived in this vicinity 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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