Wilkins Family

Indians Assault the Wilkins Family

While the Indians were on a horse-stealing raid, about three miles east of Stephenville, they chased and almost succeeded in capturing a son of Geo. Wilkins. The savages fired at him several times, but he safely reached the house. Mrs. Wilkins ran out to tell the Indians not to shoot her dog, and about that time a savage shot at her and the arrow hit the gate post, by which she stood. This occurred about 1867. So Geo. Wilkins sold his stock and other belongings and moved back to East Texas. The citizens the succeeding day, followed the savages, but were only able to see their dust in the distance.

Note: Author interviewed: C.E. Ferguson, who heard the firing, Ben Beech, Ike Roberts, and possibly one or two others who lived south and east of Stephenville at the time.

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