frontier times – Page 7 – Texas History Notebook

Corwin F. and Lide Doan

The Vernon Daily Record issue of June 1, 1929 carried the headline “Death Claims C. F. Doan, One of the First Settlers in County.” Doan was one of the first people of European descent to make his residence in Wilbarger County in North Texas and is usually credited (sometimes with his uncle) for being the founder of the old trading post at the nearby Red River crossing into Oklahoma that became known as Doan’s Crossing. Doan had taken a fall a few days earlier and suffered a fractured left hip bone and passed away on the previous Friday, May 31. Funeral services for the Texas pioneer were slated for the following Sunday, June 2, at the First Methodist Church of Vernon with interment to follow at Eastview Memorial Park, a few miles out of town.

Ten Bears, Comanche Leader

The Comanche and Kiowa tribes influenced much of the history of north Texas and the southwest. Some leaders such as Quanah Parker are likely somewhat more familiar, but there were several from both tribes who were influential for long periods of time.

Jim McIntyre & Jim Courtright

As unlikely as it might seem, the Saturday, May 16, 1885 edition of the Stratfordshire (England) Sentinel Daily and Weekly carried an article with the title “A Pair of American Desperadoes” about the search for two criminals, Jim Courtright and Jim McIntyre, the latter of whom had just been apprehended.

Sarah E. Putman Mitchell, Former Captive

Sarah Elizabeth Putman Mitchell was one of the four children of Mitchell A. Putman (1794 – 1887) and Rebecca Hall Putman (1802 – 1846) who were taken captive by the Comanche on December 9, 1838 along with Matilda Lockhart. Sarah was born to the couple in May, 1832 while they were living in Benton, Alabama.

Mobeetie, Texas

Mobeetie is generally considered to be the first town to arise and also remain in the Panhandle of Texas. It now is located in Wheeler County. Its origin dates back to the mid 1870s when trading in buffalo hides was economically profitable. Trails were established where traders from northern states including Kansas would interact with buffalo hunters. The settlement that sprang up became known as Hide Town or Hidetown.