News from 1915

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 8 No. 16
Thursday, February 4, 1915
(page 6)

Kills His Sixth
El Paso reports the killing of Patrolman Gus Chitwood, a former Mason county boy, at that city last week by a Negro desperado. Chitwood punched cattle through this neighborhood some years ago. The Negro was afterwards captured and killed in an attempt to escape by Patrolman Fenley, a brother of Dr. Fenley of this place. The doctor states that this makes the sixth man which his brother has killed in gun fights while serving as Patrolman in El Paso during the past six years.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 8 No. 19
Thursday, February 25, 1915

(page 5)

Mr. Napier was busy the last of the week erecting a beautiful red granite monument over the grave of Miss Mina Murchison.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 8 No. 22
Thursday, March 18, 1915
(page 4)

HEXT NEWS:

Mrs. George Wagoner is very sick with typhoid fever.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 8 No. 24
Thursday, April 1, 1915
(page 1)

Suffering From Blood Clot

A. S. Thurman was taken suddenly sick, Saturday, and has been confined to his bed ever since that time. The physicians report that there is a broken blood vessel in his brain which while causing him no pain has made him lose control of his speech. He says that while out hunting jack rabbits Saturday morning a blindness came over him and that it again came on while returning from town and he could scarcely get home. It is to be hoped that his sickness is only a temporary one and that he will soon be out once more.

(page 3)

Hext News:

Nettie Lee Westbrook, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Westbrook fell from the porch, Friday night and injured her arm badly. It is better now however.

Temas Keith moved to Mr. Wallace’s last week. He is working on the farm for Mr. Wallace while that gentleman is working the road in this section of the country.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 8, No. 44
August 19, 1915

MAN TIED TO TREE; LIFE THREATENED

Will Callan, Houston Callan and Others Arrive in Time to Save Mark Kirkpatrick’s Life.

Other Man Thought to be Insane.

Sunday afternoon while riding near his Sutton county ranch, Will Callan in company with Houston Callan and others ran upon a most exciting scene. Near the road side the saw a man tied to a tree and another threatening his life with a rifle. The man tied was Mark Kirkpatrick well known by many people here. The man with the gun called himself “Landermilk” and another time “Wilson”. He claimed Kirkpatrick had said something about his wife and was engaged at the time of their arrival in trying to make him acknowledge it and was going to kill him.

He would not allow the intruders to approach him and Will Callan had to argue him out of his intention to commit murder while he himself was threatened with the gun which was a 25-30 Remington automatic and had a most businesslike and dangerous appearance. Kirkpatrick was finally freed and the party went on to the ranch from which place they notified the Sutton county officials of the incident.

This did not end the affair for “Wilson” came up to the house in a few minutes dragging his two children and rifle. They were prepared for him and had him covered from the time he entered the gate; however, they had nothing but a light Winchester and a shot gun. “Wilson” insisted on talking to Mr. Callan alone and did so while the others covered him with the guns. He wanted to learn what Mr. Callan intended to testify against him but got no satisfaction beyond the fact that Will said he was going to tell what he had seen and heard. All through the conversation “Wilson” was uneasy and seemed to think that Kirkpatrick was following him. They finally persuaded him to turn over his gun and wait the coming of the officials.

Those who saw the man seemed to think him insane and Kirkpatrick is also of the same opinion. Kirkpatrick claims to have been riding along the road when this man held him up with his rifle and forced his wife to tie him to a tree where he was fortunately found by the Menard party.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 8, No. 50
September 30, 1915

PIONEER WOMAN VISITS MENARD

Mrs. H. E. Harkey, one of Menard county’s pioneer ladies came in Sunday from her home in Tankersley for a long visit with her sister, Mrs. R. A. Chapman whom she hasn’t seen in twenty-five years as well as many of her old time friends here. Mrs. Harkey lived in Menard county before there were any signs of a town and when the savage Indian roamed over the country causing so much distress among the settlers, and where stone and brick buildings now stand, were prairie dogs and mesquite brush.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 8, No. 51
October 7, 1915

EARLY DAYS IN MENARD

(By Mrs. H. E. Harkey) Mrs. H. E. Harkey, daughter of John Jackson, better known by the old settlers as “Humpie” or “Uncle Johnnie” came to Menard county in January 1861, nearly fifty-five years ago. She was ten years of age at the time and where the present town of Menard now stands was only barren prairie covered with low mesquite brush. They settled on the San Saba river about seven miles below the present city of Menard .

Their house was a three room structure made out of hewn logs a clap board roof and puncheon floor, large cracks in the walls served as port hole through which they fired their rifles at attacking Indians. Many were their exciting experiences.

Jim Jackson, a brother of Mrs. Harkey, built the first house in Menard. It was a one room log structure and was later used as a store by Adam Bradford, being the second store ever built in Menard. A Mr. Smith conducted the first store.

Mrs. Harkey tells of one time when Ace Ellis and Pete Robinson were cow hunting on Calf Creek, the country being open and no fences, they saw the Indians coming, twenty in number. There was nothing to do but fight, which they did being equipped with Winchester rifles and six shooters.

Pete was wounded in the side and they retreated, Ace holding his wounded partner on the horse. They finally reached the John Jackson cabin where there was always a welcome, as indeed there always was at all the homes in those days. Jackson sent a runner, Bill Tipton, to the Robinson home, on Las Moras for Mrs. Robinson who stayed about three weeks nursing her husband. (end)

J. C. Wagoner and little son Leslie, of Hext were in Menard Saturday.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 9, No. 10
December 23, 1915

(page 5)

Stove Wood Delivered promptly on order ERNEST ALEXANDER phone 1002.

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