As you go east on 180, just to your left is where W.J. Hale was returning from Dallas when five Indians chased him. During his pursuit, he ran into two other guys who threw in with him and helped repel the raiders.
During the spring of 1872, about a dozen men were bivouacked at D.B. Warren's cow camp when in the early morning hour, a band of Indians attacked the camp and successfully managed to steal a good number of horses. The men chased the raiders through Fortune Bend and into Dark Valley before they gave up and returned to camp.
Further west, Bill Peters was killed by the same band that attacked W. J. Hale. He made it to Hazlewood's cabin but was killed through the cracks in the walls. Five years later on the same day, March 1st, Hazlewood was killed on his porch.
February, 1867, local boys took after some Indians with the aid of their coon dogs. Sixteen whites eventually confronted twenty Indians, of which a big warrior jumped upon a rock and yelled, "Me Mexicana, by God!" Shots were fired, at which point Uncle Henry Belding said, "The exciting fight in the cedar brakes near two large white bluffs near the top of the mountain began on an extensive scale." It is described as an exciting chase with the hollering citizens in the lead and screaming Indians blowing whistles and ringing bells, closely crowding them. The white men made a stand in a deep ravine on the Brazos, except for one individual who kept going until he made it to his house.
Further east and on the south side of 180, in 1863, Benjamin Franklin Baker ran into a small band of Indians, who shot four arrows into him but he managed to stay in his saddle. He made it to a neighbor's house where he died but kept his scalp.
Near this area is the place where Chesley Dobbs was confronted and killed by Indians on his way to his ranch in Palo Pinto. The Indians, in possession of his scalp, were confronted several days later at the Old Painted Camp near the Brazos.
Dick Lemons and some of his friends were gathered at his house. Dick had brought one of them a new Winchester when Mrs. Lemons heard Indians coming and warned the men. They set up an ambush near the front gate. The Indians were surprised and badly shot up. They were separated from most of their horses which caused them to fight even harder. Mrs. Lemons was twice required to bring more ammunition to her husband and his friends before the Indians were repelled.
In 1860, some locals chased a band of Indians into a cave somewhere near Lake Creek Mountains from which they successfully escaped before morning.
In 1867, two preachers, who had departed from Stephenville, were chased the last mile into Palo Pinto by a band of Indians. A posse was formed and caught up with them at Ward Mountain. George Cathey gave the command, "Charge them, Boys, I will go after more help." The fight proceeded to get hot. At one point, H. G. Taylor hollered at an escaping Indian, "Damn you, why don't you stop and fight?" The rusty old warrior replied, "Damn you some too."
In 1864, Captain Culver led his Erath County rangers into Palo Pinto, following a fresh Indian trail. On the second day, he split his troop and the one he led managed to confront three braves, killing two and severely wounding the third who managed to escape with the captain's horse. Culver and his men followed the trail, surprised that there was no blood. Further examination proved that the Indian had cupped his hand over the wound and when necessary, dismounted, dug a hole and buried the evidence. He was forced to take a defensive position in the rocks and was eventually killed and the captain's horse recovered.
For an interesting Stubblefield story which occurred just to the south of this mark, click here.