TX BIOS:  W. H. Davis
   Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   [EARLY SETTLEMENT?]
   
   [W. H. Davis, V. A.?]
   
   Childress, [Erath County?]
   
   District #8 [5-700 632?]
   
   No. of words 400
   
   File no. 230
   
   Page 1 230 [?]
   
   Reference
   
   W. H. Davis, Box 52, Childress, Texas
   
   -------
   
   William R. Davis, Senior, come from North Carolina in the spring of
   the year 1856 to Texas and settled on the North Paluxy River. They
   were the seventh family to settle on the Paluxy from its head to its
   mouth, a distance of some fifty miles or more. It took three months to
   make the trip to Texas in covered wagons drawn by oxen. At this time,
   [panther?], [bear?], antelope, deer, wild turkey, prairie chicken,
   raccoon, opossum, skunks, wild cattle, wild horses, wild hogs and
   squirrels were in abundance in Erath County. The lonesome howl of the
   coyotes the dangerous hiss of the rattle snake, and the murderous
   whoop of the wild Indians were often [heard?].
   
   These seven families lived from two to five miles apart. From twenty
   to thirty miles away, there were other small settlements in [Erath?]
   County. [A?] little later, Duvall, a surveyor established the county
   lines.
   
   For many years, the Indians made raids over Erath County, stealing
   horses [and?] murdering whites. Often the [Indians?] would not be
   satisfied with their stolen goods [and?] would murder and scalp the
   settlers. The raids were always made on the full of the moons perhaps
   because the Indians [wanted?] to take advantage
   
     NOTE: [C12- 2/11/14- Texas?]
     
   00012of an all-night moon to perform their depredations.
   
   The last Indian raid in Erath County was made by a [band?] of seven
   Indians -- six bucks and one squaw. Some where near the south-east
   corner of Erath county they were resisted by a few white men, who
   [gave?] chase. These were joined by other settlers as fast as runners
   could [warn?] them out. The band of whites was increased almost
   hourly. The Indians were going not far from the east line of the
   county and heading northward. The whites kept so close and recruits
   from the settlers began to arrive from every directions so the Indians
   were forced to change their course. They wanted to get out of Erath
   County in the hope that if they did, pursuit would stop. The whites
   crowded the Indians so closely, that, [near?] the north-east end of
   the county they took refuge in the bed of Star Hollow or Creek. This
   Hollow is at, or very near the east line of Erath county on the Morgan
   Mill and Granbury road. The Indians took refuge under a high bluff,
   which [gave?] then an [advantage?] over the whites [because?] they
   could only be attacked from the front, and in open view of the
   Indians. The whites charged, but were forced to retreat from the
   shower of arrows. There were three white man seriously wounded. The
   day was exceedingly hot and a sudden thunder storm came. The down-pour
   filled the creek to a depth of four or five feet in a very short time.
   This wet the bow strings and arrows so that the Indians could not
   shoot with an accuracy. 00023[EARLY SETTLEMENT?]
   
   [W. H. Davis, V. A.?]
   
   Childress, [Erath?] County
   
   District #8
   
   File no. 230
   
   Page 3
   
   The whites had increased their numbers to about a hundred men and
   charged the Indians. The bucks were killed first. As the white men
   dashed up, the lone survivor spoke in broken English: "Don't kill me -
   me squaw." But she had fought too [savagely?] to be [spared?]. The
   seven Indians were carried to the top of the Bluff and left to their
   silent sleep. [Newman?] D. Davis, eldest son of William H. Davis was
   the only one of that family to take [part?] in this fight.

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