Search

Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

San Saba County, Texas

    Prior to his death, Chancy Couch lived on Deer Creek, about six miles north of the present town of Fredonia and near the McCulloch and San Saba County line. Early one morning about 1860, he and Lawrence Hays, his son-in-law, were on their way to cut a bee tree. Mr. Couch decided to walk through the woods while his son-in-law drove the oxen around the road. In due time, Lawrence Hays reached his destination and was ready to remove the honey, but his father-in-law failed to arrive. Search was then made, and Chancy Couch, found where he had been murdered by Indians.

    Note: The author personally interviewed Taylor Vanteneer and others who were living in that section of the state at the time.

The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.

Chancy Couch story by Wilbarger

The above story is from Indian Depredations in Texas by J.W. Wilbarger.

Join the discussion

Further reading

Recent Comments