This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Indian Depredations in the Hill Country of Texas
Harold Preece recalls early Travis and Williamson counties hills west of Austin. Stories from grandmothers and settlers tell of Comanche and Tonkawa raids, ambushes near Lookout Mountain, Batery Hill, and the Perdenales. Notable events include Judge James W. Smith killed in 1841, the Jayne family massacre, and Tonkawa battles led by Captain Dolson. Early education and frontier life, forts, and church efforts shape a vivid Texas hill country history.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harold Preece
Austin
Texas
Home Color Print Co
Hill Country
Colorado River
Lookout Mountain
Batery Hill
Llano County
Clear Creek
Ranger
James W. Smith
Travis County
Judge Smith
Shoal Creek
Simpson
Lonely Mountain Wilds
Jayne
Texas Republic
Travis Guards
Perdenales River
George M. Dolson
Dolson
Barton Springs
United States
Fred Lohmann
Birdtown
W. H. Dixon
Chisholm Hollow
William S. Kerr
Kerr
Ireland
Commonwealth of Texas
Cypress Creek
Travis
Williamson
Cypress
Billy” Harrell
Billy
Harrell Swimming Hole
Congress Avenue
Fourth Street
E. G