Individual Report for Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Individual Summary:
Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Sex: Male
Father: Hugh Martin Childress Sr.
Mother: Susannah Watters
Individual Facts:
Birth:
Residence:
Residence:
Residence:
Death:
Military Label:
Shared Facts:
24 May 1835 in Bastrop, Texas, USA
1860 in Lampasas, Texas, USA
1870 in Coleman, Texas, USA
1880 in Throckmorton, Texas, USA
24 Sep 1897 in Grant, New Mexico, USA
CIVIL WAR - SOUTH
Hulda Ann Cox
Marriage: Bell, Texas, USA
Children: Tabitha Frances Childress
Lemuel Walter Childress
Solomon Benjamin Childress
Belle Childress
Notes:
Person Notes: The following information was taken from "Two Texas Pioneers Called Hugh
Martin Childress", compiled by Mrs. Tabitha Landsaw Morgan, Richvale,
California, and, Frank Duane Jenkins, Ballinger, Texas, Published in
Ballinger, Texas in 1978.
Hugh Martin Childress, Jr. - Cattle King of the 1870's
In 1879 Joseph G. McCoy, the first historian of the cattle industry, wrote
that there were few more widely known and persistent drovers than H. M.
Childress, a native born Texan. In 1891 The Silver City Enterprise of Silver
City, New Mexico stated that Hugh M, Childress (Jr,) had been a Cattle King
in Texas. John Ashton stated that Martin Childress was one of the largest
ranchers in northwest Texas in 1870. As a comparison to other cattlemen,
following are the number of cattle sent to market in 1870:
Person
Hugh Martin Childress, Jr.
James Patterson
John Hittson
John Simpson Chisum
Charles Goodnight
Number of Cattle
10,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
The biography of one of the most important ranchers and drovers is
generally unknown to West Texas historians. Hugh Martin Childress, Jr,
usually called Martin or Mart, was born in Bastrop County, Texas on 24 May
1835. He moved with his parents to Bell County, Texas in 1853 where he
married Hulda Ann Cox, a daughter of Solomon Cox who had moved from
Missouri to Texas in 1851. She was born 22 August 1835 at Chillicothe,
Livingston County, Missouri. After his marriage he took over his father's
herd of 180 cattle to manage.
Shortly after the establishment of Camp Colorado in Coleman County,
Texas, in 1856, Martin Childress established his ranch headquarters at Post
Oak Springs at the head of Home Creek in the western part of the county. A
land survey in the name of H. M. Childress was located about three miles
north by northeast of the present town of Talpa. This was perhaps the exact
Individual Summary:
Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Sex: Male
Father: Hugh Martin Childress Sr.
Mother: Susannah Watters
Notes:
north by northeast of the present town of Talpa. This was perhaps the exact
location of his ranch headquarters. In 1861 he was taxed for the ownership
of 400 cattle.
During the Civil War, Martin Childress was a private in the Confederate
Army in Company B under Captain Fossett at Camp Colorado in Coleman
County, Texas. In 1865 he was one of the participants, being a scout, and
one of the survivors of The Battle of Dove Creek, which occurred in what is
now Irion County, Texas.
In 1866, Martin Childress drove a herd of cattle into Central Iowa and sold it
at $35 per head. On 3 December 1866 Martin Childress registered his
brands as H and HED.
In 1861 Martin Childress drove a herd of 2,500 cattle to Abilene, Kansas
and failing to meet a purchaser, he sent his herd to Junction City, Kansas,
where he sold them to G,W, Pattison & Company which had commenced
operations on 9 October 1861. This packing operation was not a financial
success and failed shortly after its beginning. Martin Childress finally got his
money but not without great delay and vexatious wrangling.
In 1868 and in 1869 Martin Childress drove between 2,500 and 10,000
cattle to market. Prior to each drive, Martin Childress took his family to a
place of safety rather than to leave them alone at the ranch house. On his
return from the cattle drive, he always brought home presents to each
member of the family.
In 1870 Martin Childress drove 10,000 cattle to market and was recognized
as one of the largest ranchers in northwest Texas. His cattle, on the open
range, grazed in Coleman, Runnels, and other west Texas counties.
The year 1871 was one fraught with misfortune to Martin Childress. He not
only lost heavily in business but recklessly squandered many thousands of
dollars. Many of his cattle were stolen by the Comanche Indians and taken
to New Mexico where they were sold to beginning ranches.
In 1872 Martin Childress of Coleman County and John Hittson of Callahan
County decided to recover their stolen cattle. Escorted by a detachment of
U. S. Cavalry and armed with powers of attorney from many ranchers in
Texas, they boldly rode into New Mexico with about sixty to ninety
hard-faced Texas cowmen to look over the cattle there. The undertaking in
New Mexico was one fraught with hardship and danger, for those, in whose
possession the stolen cattle were found, would not give them up without a
struggle. Martin Childress and John Hittson, apparently partners, recovered
11,000 cattle and 300 horses. They killed a number of Mexicans but
escaped without injury to themselves or to any of their men. The cattle were
sold in Colorado and Martin Childress rounded up the year with a fortune for
his daring in carrying out The Great New Mexico Cattle Raid. The New
Mexicans claimed that Martin Childress was no better than a highway robber
himself, coming in and taking whatever pleased him.
During the Great New Mexico Cattle Raid, at Loma Parda the populace, led
by their police chief and postmaster, Edward Seaman, decided to defend
their cattle against the encroachments of the Texans. According to a letter
written by James Patterson, Edward Seaman presented a revolver in the
Individual Summary:
Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Sex: Male
Father: Hugh Martin Childress Sr.
Mother: Susannah Watters
Notes:
written by James Patterson, Edward Seaman presented a revolver in the
face of Martin Childress with the threat of instant death. Martin Childress
had no time to draw and to defend himself. A man from behind shot Edward
Seaman through the head killing him instantly. A storm of controversy flared
through the newspapers of New Mexico against the Texans and Martin
Childress after this incident. A couple of months later Martin Childress and
several others were arrested to face charges of horse stealing and of
murdering Seaman and Garcia. They were placed in the Las Vegas Jail, the
"strongest and costliest edifice of its kind" in New Mexico, but escaped
within three days. The disappointed New Mexicans, suspecting bribery,
imprisoned the Jailor and four of the five guards on duty when the escape
occurred.
In 1873 Martin Childress drove a herd of 10,000 cattle to Kansas and was
unable to sell them. This was the year of The Panic of 1873 and business
was paralyzed. Martin Childress left the cattle to graze on the Kansas
prairie and a lot of them drifted south into The Indian Territory, some as far
as the Cimarron. Martin Childress was one of the first cattlemen to let his
cattle graze together with buffalo. Martin Childress returned to Kansas in
1874 and hired a team of buffalo hunters, headed by Bill Tilghman to round
them up. They were paid $45,000 in cash to round up 9,000 cattle and to
drive them to market at Dodge City, Kansas.
(Comment: After working for Hugh Martin Childress, Jr., Bill Tilghman
became deputy sheriff of Ford County, Kansas under Charles Basset in
1875 and under Pat Sughrue in 1876. Later Bill Tilghman became city
marshall of Dodge City, Ford County, Kansas and still later a U. S.
Marshall.)
Upon his return to Coleman County, Texas, he found that the Indians had
burned and destroyed his ranch headquarters which was made of wood.
His family was safe but Martin Childress decided to leave Coleman County,
Texas.
Martin Childress sold his ranch in Coleman County, Texas to George K.
Elkins and Sam S. Gholson. George K. Elkins had moved to Coleman
County, Texas about 1868 and had worked for Martin Childress as a drover
and had prospered.
About 1877 Martin Childress moved to Throckmorton County, Texas, where
he purchased about two sections of land just north of the present county
seat of Throckmorton. While there he managed a small ranch and took an
occasional job as a drover. He constructed a stone ranch house which was
later used by J. H. Herring. Martin Childress recorded his brand as H on 11
July 1879.
About 1888 Martin Childress moved to Grant County, New Mexico where he
established a ranch on the Upper Gila River and was considering moving to
Arizona or Old Mexico when he was accused of the murder of Ed Moss. A
posse headed by deputy sheriff Benjamin F. Crawford tracked down and
killed Martin Childress on 23 September 1897.
Martin Childress was a convivial, jolly fellow, always full of fun and frolic,
with a heart as large as that of an ox. He would walk boldly into death's
jaws to relieve or avenge a friend; he had a nerve of iron and was cool and
Individual Summary:
Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Sex: Male
Father: Hugh Martin Childress Sr.
Mother: Susannah Watters
Notes:
jaws to relieve or avenge a friend; he had a nerve of iron and was cool and
collected under fire. He was a deadly pistol shot and did not hesitate to use
one effectively when occaison required; yet he would always rather avoid a
quarrel than to seek one. He would not shrink from facing the most
desperate characters. To his enemies he presented, in anger, that peculiar
characteristic of smiling demoniacally while he was plainly and openly
maneuvering to shoot them through the heart. One the other hand many of
the finest traits of the true gentleman were his. He was generous,
scrupulously honorable and honest. He was never happy himself as when
he could make his friends happy, by performing generous acts of kindness.
On the morning of October 7, 1978 this paper was read before a meeting of
The Edwards Plaeau Historical Association, The West Texas Historical
Association, and The Runnels County Historical Commission at Winters,
Runnels County, Texas.
The following account is from the 28 September 1897 edition of The Silver
City Enterprise, Silver City, New Mexico.
About two weeks ago a prospector that was camped at Johnson's Cienaga
near Duck Creek unexpectedly came upon two men with winchesters who
told him to get out of the vicinity, he immediately started away. He had gone
a short distance when he met Shorty Miller and another man riding the
range. To these men he detailed his experiences with the two mysterious
armed men who had ordered him to leave. It was at once thought that the
men were Martin Childers and John Gully, the two men suspected of the
murder of Ed Moss. It was naturally supposed that the men were receiving
food and aid from Lem Childers, son of the accused man, who was foreman
for the L. C. Company at the White House Ranch. Sheriff McFee was
notified and a posse consisting of Hinton Moss, Ben Crawford and Loosely
Harrington were detailed to watch the White House Ranch. The former
named deputies are brother and uncle of the deceased, Ed Moss, who
Childers and Gully were accused of murdering. About midnight Tuesday,
the 21st inst. the deputies secretly left Siver City. At Duck Creek they were
joined by Will Witt, Ed Head, Melvin Taylor, and Shorty Miller. On
Wednesday night the posse of seven men lay in wait about the White House
to capture either of the refugees from justice who might seek ingress from
the White House. About 4 o'clock Wednesday morning, September 23 a
moving object was discovered coming towards the White House. At first it
was supposed to be a horse but soon the outlines of human form were
recognized. According to the testimony given at the inquest deputy sheriff
Dan Crawford, commanded the man three times to halt, then gave the
posse orders to fire. Three shots were fired and the human target fell
uttering a last piercing cry. The body fell into a deep cut made by the recent
rains and the posse fearing a ruse to get a shot them did not approach the
place but called to Lem Childers who was awakened and came out having
heard the shot in the house. They asked Childers to go ahead of the posse
and ascertain to the certainty who the person was. He went to the ditch and
stooping over discovered the dead body of his father. On the bank of the
ditch the gun of the deceased was found without any cartridge in the
chamber and a piece of gunny sack stuck in the muzzle. If the deputies
called at the man three times he evidently meant to make no resistance or
he would have thrown the cardridge into the chamber of his gun, had he
heard the challenge. But one ball struck the deceased entering the right
Individual Summary:
Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Sex: Male
Father: Hugh Martin Childress Sr.
Mother: Susannah Watters
Notes:
heard the challenge. But one ball struck the deceased entering the right
breast and taking a diagonally downward course coming out on the left side
on the small of the back. The course of the bullet shows that the man was
walking with his head down picking his way in the semi-darkness. Any
animal as well as man will invountarily throw the head up when suddenly
suprised with the sound of a human voice and the posture of Childers body
when struck by the bullet as shown by the course of the ball demonstrates
the fact that the man heard no such challenge or command to halt. That
Childers was one of the two men implicated in the murder of Ed Moss,
circumstances seem to point with little doubt but he had never been proven
guilty, had never been legally accused. That seven men could not arrest
one man without shooting him first is incomprehensible. Especially this true
where there is no indications that the deceased had made an attempt at
resistance by loading his gun. An inquest was held by Justice Givens of this
city who went to the scene of the killing for that purpose only.
There will be a church service at the Pinos Altos next Sunday, Oct. 3rd at
7:30 PM. Good Music. All are cordially invited.
O. C. Laizure
Residence Notes: 1860 United States Federal Census
about H M Childers
Name: H M Childers
[Hugh Martin Childress]
Age in 1860: 25
Birth Year: abt 1835
Birthplace: Texas
Home in 1860: Lampasas, Texas
Gender: Male
Post Office: Lampasas
Household Members: Name Age
H M Childers 25
Hulda A Childers 24
Lemuel W Childers 3
Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: , Lampasas, Texas; Roll:
M653_1299; Page: 173; Image: 355; Family History Library Film: 805299.
Residence Notes: 1870 United States Federal Census
about H M Childress
Name: H M Childress
Birth Year: abt 1835
Age in 1870: 35
Birthplace: Texas
Home in 1870: Coleman, Texas
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: San Saba
Household Members: Name Age
H M Childress 35
Individual Summary:
Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Sex: Male
Father: Hugh Martin Childress Sr.
Mother: Susannah Watters
Notes:
H M Childress 35
Huldah Childress 34
Lemuel W 14
Tabitha F Childress 9
Bell 5
Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: , Coleman, Texas; Roll:
M593_1579; Page: 306A; Image: 7; Family History Library Film: 553078.
Residence Notes: 1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Hugh M. Childress
Home in 1880: Precinct 1, Throckmorton, Texas
Age: 45
Estimated birth year: abt 1835
Birthplace: Texas
Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head)
Spouse's name: Huldah
Father's birthplace: Ireland
Mother's birthplace: Alabama
Occupation: Farmer
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Hugh M. Childress 45
Huldah Childress 44
Lemuel W. Childress 23
Belle Childress 15
Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 1, Throckmorton,
Texas; Roll: 1328; Family History Film: 1255328; Page: 290B; Enumeration
District: 180.
Photo Album for Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Hugh Martin Childress Jr
Birth:
Death:
24 May 1835
24 Sep 1897
Marriage:
Childress, Hugh Martin, Jr - Dalton.jpg
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Father:
Mother:
Hugh Martin Childress Sr.
Susannah Watters
Spouse:
Hulda Ann Cox
Hugh Martin Childress, Jr-1.jpg
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Hugh Martin Childress, Jr-2.jpg
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