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Murder of McWaits

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.

Stephens County, Texas

    At one time, McWaits and Rixey lived near where Palo Pinto, Stephens, and Young Counties joined. At another time, Dutch Franks batched with McWaits. But in 1867, McWaits batched alone in Veale's Hollow, near the old Bingham Salt Works, and near the northeastern part of Stephens County. One morning while he was grinding corn with an old-fashioned, two handled corn mill he was killed. He was not found for two or three days, but moccasin tracks were discovered. So it has been generally supposed McWaits was killed by Indians. Others, however, have surmised this deed was done by whites.

    Note: Author interviewed: J.A. Bozzell, C.A. Dalton and B.J. Thompkins, who lived in this vicinity at the time, and shortly afterwards.

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

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