During 1868, after selling their small herds to Jim Burleson, John and Wm. Morris were employed to help move a herd of cattle to New Mexico. At Fort Sumner, they were paid for their services, and in company with others, started back over the Goodnight-Loving Trail, for their home in Texas. When the settlements were reached, from time to time different cowmen were continually leaving the others, and when the two Morris brothers were within or near the present Mills County, they also started alone toward their home, near the present town of Evant. in Coryell County. The Morris brothers who had a wagon and about three horses, camped on Mullin's Creek, near the present place of Mullin. The next morning, the boys traveled about seven miles, were four miles north of Goldthwaite, and intended to reach their home by noon. Wm. Morris suggested that while John drove the wagon along, he would drive out through the timber and kill a deer. He had hardly gotten out of sight, when the savages charged the wagon. The two boys were soon again together and attempting to fight their way to the John Williams Ranch. From thicket to thicket they fought. John had two six-shooters, and Bill, one. Finally they reached Brown's Creek, near where that stream is crossed by the present Santa Fe bridge. By this time, John was wounded five times and told his brother to get away if he could, for he was already dying. Wm. successfully reached the John Williams Ranch, and when the cowmen returned to John Morris, his body was badly mangled. He was buried on the Williams Ranch in Mills County. The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
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