Jack County, TX - Obituary - Mann Davis Tackett

*************************************************************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
by: Dorman Holub  <txarchives@mac.com>

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
*************************************************************************************

Mann Davis Tackett

Mann D. Tackett and family moved to Parker County in 1854 and for a few
years lived about twelve miles north of Weatherford. During 1858, they
moved to Jack County and settled on Boone's Creek, in the southwestern
part of the county.

October 26, 1863, during the early afternoon, J. H. Tackett, a son of
Mann Tackett, went out in a southwesterly direction in search of stock.
Shortly afterwards, his father, who was armed with a double barrel gun,
went north for the same purpose. Mr. Tackett's gun was loaded with a
ball on one side, and buck shot on the other. He was also armed with a
pistol. When be had gone only about one mile from his home, be found
himself surrounded by fifteen or twenty savages. At first he made an
attempt, to run home. But since his best horses had been stolen by the
Indians, the savages soon overtook him. Mr. Tackett then dismounted to
sell his life as dearly as possible, at a point within one-half mile of
his own residence. He fought the warriors away for some time, as was
shown by the circular trail some distance from the tree, behind which
Mr. Tackett found shelter. On such occasions, the Indians preferred
staying on their ponies, and running in a circle around their victim.
Mr. Tackett, perhaps, held the Indians at bay until be discharged all of
his loads, for seven or eight shots were beard at the residence.

When J. T. Tackett reached home, he was informed of the firing, and had,
perhaps, heard some of the shots himself. As a consequence, be and a
younger brother, Caleb, went out in search of their father, and it seems
that Caleb, previous to this, had made an attempt to offer his father
some assistance, but realized that it was of no avail, for the savages
were still on the ground. In a short time, J. H. and Caleb Tackett
reached their father, who was already dead, stripped of a part of his
clothing, but not scalped. His guns were gone, and many arrows were in
the tree by which he stood, on the ground, and in his body. The boys
hurried to the ranch for a wagon, notified the neighbors and arranged
for a coffin to be made at Veale's Station where he was buried.

A posse of citizens followed the Indian trail, and after going for,
perhaps, half a mile, they found a dead savage, and indications
disclosed others were wounded. The dead Indian was dragged to the
Tackett ranch and stood against a tree some distance from the residence.

Many years after the death of Mr. Tackett, the metal part of his old
double barrel gun was found a short distance from where the fight
occurred.

Note:-Autbor personally interviewed Mrs. H. G. Taylor. A. M. Lasater,
James Wood, Joe Fowler, B. L. Ham, Geo. and A. C. Tackett, nephews of
Mann Tackett. We are also indebted to Walker K. Baylor, who furnished
the author with a hand written account of this killing. Mr. Baylor wrote
the manuscript after conferring and consulting with J. H. Tackett
mentioned above.


The following story is from the book:

The West Texas Frontier or a Descriptive History of Early Times
in Western Texas
Volume 2
by Joseph Carroll McConnell