Mike Nave Remembers

I originally found this on the Colorado County TXGenWeb site in honor of the Nave and Stapleton Families. If you're related to this family, you've hit the jackpot....and if you're not, I would still stop by and read all of Mike Nave's story since it's a very interesting glimpse into the past.

The information on the Colorado County site was donated by Gordon "Ray" Nave, and when I contacted him, he graciously gave me permission to share the story with you about his ancestor being robbed in Menardville.

My sincere thanks to Mr. Nave for being so kind!

Mike Nave
The Galveston Daily News-April 12, 1908

......(Excerpt)......WERE HELD UP ON STAGE COACH:

"After I returned from the Civil War I again returned to and followed my old trade for many years. Finally, I got the job of shoeing horses on the stage line from San Antonio to Fort Concho. I used to make regular trips over the line on stage. On one occasion, after returning from Fort Concho with the stage driver, John Chadwell, we were held up three miles from Menardville. It was a cold frosty night and we saw a bright blazing fire on the side of the road and men standing around it. We thought nothing of this until Winchesters were thrown upon us and we were ordered to get out and come to the fire to warm. The driver was also requested in a tone of one exercising authority to bring those sacks with brass locks. This John did without serious or stubborn protest. The sacks were ripped open and all their letters and packages were carefully searched for money and valuables under the glare of the blazing and crackling fire. After my first scare had passed and I felt that we would not be hurt, I remarked to John while gazing into the barrel of the Winchester, "Well, John this office of delivery has been established since we passed last." For this piece of pleasantry the robber who had me in charge gave me a jab on the head with his gun and replied, "Yes, we have established it for our special benefit and convenience, and you be careful how you use your tongue, or we will establish a graveyard in connection with it for you're sort." I needed no further invitation to hold my tongue, and I still carry a scar on my head as a relic of that night's experience. The next trip I made we were held up near the same place. We were marched about 100 yards from the road into the chaparral and there the scoundrels broke our lamps and left us in the dark, and it was sleeting. Fortunately the driver, who was a cigarette smoker, had some matches and got a fire started, and we managed to take care of the ladies until morning, when we could see how to hitch up our team and continue our journey. The robbers knew us and I knew them and our turn came next to get even.

TURN TABLES ON ROBBERS:

"The stage owners furnished us, John Chadwell and myself with money and we stayed around Menardville two weeks or longer, drinking and playing billiards and carousing with the very men who had robbed us until we got them all located. Everything being ready and all the parties implicated in the robbery being properly located and identified, tried in U. S Court and convicted. One went to the penitentiary for 4 years and three went for 20 years each."

"After the arrest, trial and conviction, it was not altogether safe and healthy for the witnesses and officers who had been connected with the prosecution of these robbers. The sheriff, while sitting in this house reading one night, received three loads of buckshot in his body. Two of the deputies or witnesses met death in a similar manner, and from the same source. Not knowing how soon Chadwell and myself would receive attention from the friends of these outlaws, I said to him that the climate of Menardville was not conductive to happiness, continued good health and long life, so far as we were concerned. And that we had better make ourselves scarce thereabouts, for awhile at least, and so we left. I do not know what became of John, but I went to San Antonio and remained there, until finally I decided to return to my home near Weimar." (Source: Shared by Gordon Nave)

NOTE:  While I strive for accuracy in all transcriptions, please be advised that typing errors may be present.  I would suggest you always verify my online information with a copy of the actual record.

All contents of this web site are the property of Alicia Brown unless otherwise noted. You are free to copy or print out pieces of information for your personal genealogical research, but nothing on this site may be used in other ways without my permission.

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Saturday, March 22, 2008 11:00 AM

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