Fredda Davis Jones's Blog (15)

Isaiah Jefferus Kimberlin was not a Texan at the time the Civil War errupted across this country. Like so many, he came here after the war and also like so many, he was running; I found his story very interesting.

Isaiah served in General Joe Shelby's brigade during the war; he was a spy (Shelby's story itself is well worth some study.), and like so many others he found himself in…

I just love finding old letters, don’t you? They give us such personal insight into the days that came before us.

  John "Jack" and Saphronia Wright

The following was written in 1935 by Elina Jane Wright Wilson, daughter of the man often called Captain Jack Wright, John Ahart Jack Wright, and his wife Sophronia Ann…

You've all seen the banks that bear the Frost name, but I'm assuming that most of you do not realize that those banks could have begun in Comanche County, Texas. That is they could have if their founder…

As I’ve said before, Comanche, Texas just couldn’t get past being a rough, rough frontier town. This fact was never more clear than it was in the summer of 1880. (I can't guarantee my spelling of surnames.)

On June 21, 1880, John Hibarger was plowing his field on Resley’s Creek when he was shot and killed by two men. There were several witnesses to the murder, but they were too far away to recognize the men. All they knew was…

True historians struggle on a daily basis to write the facts; they also try extremely hard not to rewrite history. However, since none of us has a time warp to transport us back into the past, there are times when we just get some things wrong.

For years I have written about the killing of Boss Greene, and I thought that I was as…

After the Civil War, M.E. "Boss" Greene went on to become a U.S. Deputy Marshall who lived in Comanche, Texas when in 1876 a wanted criminal by the name of Joe Horner rode into town and robbed the banking house of Henry R. Martin, which was located on the east side of the square.

As luck would have it, an army scout named Henry F.…

M.E. "Boss" Greene would eventually become a U.S. Deputy Marshall who lived in Comanche, Texas; however, when he wrote to his sister in on October 7, 1863, he was just another wounded Confederate soldier. His letter gives us another clue as to the suffering endured by so many during this crazy, crazy war.

“…But I have to state to you…

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

The following was printed in Comanche, Texas in the Comanche Chief on May 22, 1879, and it is especially interesting to me since I have spent years researching John…

The following became to be terribly important for what would become my county, Comanche County. Of course, the county was not established until 1856; however, being a part of the Texas frontier for so many years assured that it would remain a very dangerous place for years.

Combined with the fact that the railroad did not come to Comanche  for almost 40 years after the first settlers…

First off,  I need  to tell you that  I have the extreme  good fortune to live right  in the heart of what was once a part of the Comanche  hunting grounds...of course,  a trememdous part of those who live in Texas can say the same thing! I also was blessed to be born into a family that does not find it strange for people to reach the century mark with sane mind; this helped tremendously in being able to get information from the proverbial horse's mouth.

The following is a…

L.D. Cox has been a personal friend of mine for some years now. I have listened to his story, recorded his story, seen his story re-enacted, and even performed his story…and I never tire of hearing it.

In fact, I surprised myself by tearing up during the filming of this interview. Why? I guess for just a…

Old Cora, Comanche, Texas

Known as the oldest existing log courthouse in Texas, the tiny courthouse that has come to be known as Old Cora, housed the Comanche County records from 1856 until the county seat was moved to the soon to…

In 1854 Comanche County, Texas was still two years away from being organized as a county, and just the name COMANCHE was enough to strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest…

The following happened in Hamilton County, Texas. After the Civil War, Texas was still plagued by Indians; however, with cattle roaming free on the range, many were willing to take their chances with the Comanches. Men began to flock to the…