1By Anna Belle Hardwick 1889, A Family Record Pages 9 and 10.
1Renfro, Creath of Madison County, Illinois 1835. "Land Sale,Creath sold land Madison County, Illinois . in 1835.". "Moved to Texas/Cransfill Gap in 1849
Creath & Susan listed in Dallas census 1850."2Land, Texas Land Abstracts for Creath Renfro. "Texas Land Title Abstracts
about Creath Renfro
Grantee: Creath Renfro
Certificate: 8/380
Patentee: Creath Renfro
Patent Date: 19 Oct 1859
Acres: 80
Adjoining County: Hamilton
District: Milam
County: Bosque
File: 197
Patent #: 370
Patent Volume: 4
Class: Mil. Scrip
Adjoining Acres: 40."3Joseph Carroll McConnell 1938, Book "The West Texas Frontier" about Creath Renfro. "This was copied from a book called "The West Texas Frontier" written by Joseph Carroll Mc Connell- 1938. Copy in Library -Brady Texas.
#263. Massacre of Creath Renfro, and son Francis Renfro. ----Creath Renfro was born in Iowa, December 2, 1806. He married Susan Mc Mahan, and in 1849, together with his family, moved to Texas. During 1857, the Renfros moved to a point about three miles southwest of Cranfill Gap, and established a stock farm in the corners of the present Bosque, Coryell, and Hamilton Counties. Francis had improved a place. He and his father went early one morning to find the stock, for they were going back to their former home, six miles from Lancaster, where Francis was to be married. David Conway was also sent out in search of the same stock, but he went in a different direction, and Mr. Renfro and his son another. Conway found the horses, drove them home and put them in the corral. He then hitched up an ox team and started toward Lancaster, thinking that Mr. Renfro and his son would soon overtake him. Later during the same morning, the horse Francis had been riding ran home, and was smeared with blood. A searching party was soon sent out, and his body was found in a short time where Francis had been massacred by the Indians. Mr. Renfro, however, could not be found. For three or four days the settlers of that section searched in vain. Mrs. Renfro stated that for three years she never heard the dogs bark unless she thought perhaps it were her lost husband returning home, About three years later, some cowmen found the body of Mr. Renfro where he had died on Neil's Creek about three or four miles southwest of Cranfill's Gap. After being mortally wounded he rode his horse into a thicket at this point, unsaddled his horse, and made a bed out of his saddle and overcoat, on which he lay, nobody knows how long, mortally wounded and finally died. He was identified by the initials on his saddle and his pocket knife. Where he was found was an extremely brushy place, and if some thirsty stockmen had not come to this point for water, no doubt it would have been considerably later before his remains were discovered.
David Conway reached Lancaster before he learned of the misfortune of Mr. Renfro and his son. The news of their death had a shocking effect on the entire Texas frontier, for their massacre marked the beginning of a long and bitter conflict waged with West Texas Indians.
An investigation of this tragedy was made among the Indians of the several government agencies and according to early reports it was done by the Kick-a-Poos, who were ever known to be treacherous; but still professed to be a friendly tribe. Some of the early frontiersmen were of the opinion that Indians of the Texas Reservation, played an important part in the killing of Mr. Renfro and his son.
Ref.-----Before writing this section the author conversed and corresponded with Mrs. M. S. Murphy, a granddaughter of Creath Renfro, O.M. Braunsted, J. M. Robertson, Frank Gholson, Mrs. Swenson, Jacob Olston, and several others who were living in Bosque, Coryell, Hamilton and other adjoining counties at the time, or shortly afterwards. The author drove several hundred miles at the time, to gather the facts for this single story.
#264. The Fight of F. M. Kell, Robert Renfro, and others. Because the Indians were almost constantly stealing horses on the frontier, and because of the death of Mr. Renfro and his son, the citizens were now in arms ready to attack any invading enemy. During the latter part of 1857, or early in 1858, S.M. Kell, Robert Renfro, a son of Creath Renfro, Abe Kell, Jim Babbs, Anderson and Rusk Cranfill, were out near the Lookout Mountain, in search of Indians. From the summit of this hill, Mr Kell discovered a band of five warriors leaving the settlements with a drove of stolen horses. The six citizens immediately charged, and a running fight followed.
S.M. Kell singled out the Indian leader who was armed with a Spanish steel lance and whose body was protected by a bright steel. A bitter conflict followed, but the Indian, who managed his horse, steel and spear with the greatest of dexterity, finally made his escape. One by one, the other Indians were killed. The fourth and last that was shot down rose again and leaned against a tree, ready to fight again with his bow and arrows. But to avenge the death of his father and brother, Robert Renfro was permitted to end this Indian's career. Robert, Sylvester and George Renfro, sons of Creath Renfro, hung three Indians scalps in their father's smokehouse to avenge the death of their beloved father and brother.
Ref.---The author interviewed, Don Holland, Mrs. M. F. Murphy, and others who were living on the frontier at the time, or shortly after this fight occurred. We are also indebted to H. J. and C. M. Cureton for information furnished in their sketch of the early history of Bosque County. (1904).
Notes from Jean Renfro Copland
Uncle Johnnie wrote the following notes to me in July , 1996. Coot Petty lives about 10 miles South of where Creath & Francis Renfro were killed. (Uncle Coot lives in Gatesville, Tx.) Creath's bones were put in a flour sack and given to his widow.
Sylvester's sister, Susan married Clement Gore. I suppose that is where my Uncle Clem(J.C.) got his name, also mine, [this was James Clement, Sylvester's child..JC]
At the Proctor Cemetery where Sylvester was buried, there were no Renfro headstones, but several unmarked graves were there. Uncle Johnnie said Daddy took him there once.
During 1854-1855, Creath was a Dallas County Commissioner."
1Susan was listed in the Dallas county census for 1860 living in Lancaster, TX..
2The spelling of Susan's name was found on an Illinois Marriage database.