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Killing of Hodges, McGee, and Hill, and Narrow Escape of John Keyser and His Father

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.

Jack County, Texas

    During 1863, Wm. Hodges, John McGee, Pete Hill, John Keyser and his father, all of whom lived at Red River Station, were out cow-hunting on the Ten Mile Prairie in Jack County, very near the present town of Post Oak. The five had just finished dinner and John Keyser started for the horses, which had grazed a short distance away, when suddenly charged by a large band of savages. Jno. McGee, Wm. Hodges and Pete Hill were killed in a pile, Jno. Keyser was wounded in the foot, and his father narrowly escaped. The two Keysers became separated, but after traveling some distance, the father accidently came across his son who was hobbling along toward Victoria Peak.

    Note: Before writing this section, author personally interviewed Joe Bryant, W.A. (Bud) Morris, A.M. Lasater, and perhaps one or two others who were living in Jack Montague Counties at the time.

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

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