Jim Fish
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Articles by Jim Fish
The Making of a Texas Cowboy
In the untamed heart of 19th-century Republic of Texas, young W.F. Neal lived a life forged on the frontier. Born in Tennessee in 1851, he was just an infant when his family sold their farm and joined the bold migration to the newly promising state. After a grueling three-month journey by covered wagon, accompanied by their livestock, they carved out a ranch in Colorado County.
Crockett County appoints new fire marshal
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Army surgeon earned Medal of Honor
In the history of American military medicine, few figures combined courage, innovation and medical skill as completely as Assistant Surgeon Bernard John Dowling Irwin. His career carried him across the rugged frontiers of the American Southwest, through the Civil War and into the highest ranks of the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Along the way, he became a pioneer of battlefield medicine and earned distinction as one of the earliest recipients of the Medal of Honor.
Memorial Day ceremony honors sacrifice
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Court approves electricity contract
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Raised by a hermit
Shackelford County—In the rugged cattle country of Shackelford County, Texas, in the late 1860s, Judge William H. Ledbetter was a hard-eyed pioneer who carved a life out of mesquite and dust. He and his wife had built something resembling stability near Fort Griffin, but the frontier had a way of taking back what it gave. Their second son, John, was eight years old when he vanished. It happened on an ordinary school day. The kids were turned loose at recess to scrape mesquite gum off the trees.
Commissioners discuss flexible electricity contract
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A 1875 pursuit of horse raiders
In the blistering heat of an August night in 1875, a lone Texas Ranger named Lam Sieker swung into the saddle at the Frontier Hotel in old Fort Mason. What followed was no ordinary patrol. Over dim bridle paths and trackless prairie, Sieker rode 50 miles straight through until 8 o’clock the next morning. His destination: the ranger camp of the legendary Capt. D.W. Roberts—long-whiskered, Bible-quoting frontier preacher in appearance, but iron-willed Indian fighter. The reason for the desperate ride?
A private recalls the Battle of San Jacinto
Alfonso Steele, a Kentucky-born volunteer who joined the Texas cause in late 1835 at age 18, left one of the most vivid personal narratives of the Texas Revolution’s climactic battle. His account, later published and preserved in pamphlets and newspapers (including references to a 1917 Houston Chronicle piece), combines his direct experiences with the broader campaign.
Concho Valley eyes the stars
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An Alamo survivor’s story
Austin—March 6 and April 22 have come and gone a hundred and ninety times and Texans once again turn their thoughts to the Alamo... that small mission fortress where a band of 180 or so Texian defenders stood against Santa Anna’s thousands and bought precious time for the Texas Revolution. The story has been told in books, films, and schoolrooms for generations. Then there came a voice from the past, humanizing the legend. Such a voice belonged to Mrs.
Commissioners make policy updates
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Horror on the Texas frontier
Crockett County—In the arid expanse of southwestern Texas lies Crockett County, where the Devils River country meets the Pecos, is a lonely waterhole that once offered life to weary travelers for centuries. Howard's Well, also known as Howard Springs, stood as a vital oasis on the San Antonio–El Paso Road. On April 20, 1872, it became the site of one of the most savage attacks in the annals of the Texas Indian Wars.
Cynthia Ann Parker’s life reflects tragedy
Cynthia Ann Parker, often called the most romantic of Texas heroines, lived a life defined by violent upheaval and divided loyalties. Born around 1827 in Illinois to Silas and Lucy (Duty) Parker, she was roughly nine years old when Comanche and allied warriors raided her family’s fort on May 19, 1836. The attack killed several relatives and tore her from the only world she knew.
County explores role in growing space economy
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Centuries of history paved into modern roads
Nearly a century ago, the Del Rio Herald captured the enduring romance of one of Texas’ most storied routes. On Nov. 25, 1927, the paper declared: “Highway in Texas Has Vivid History.” The King’s Highway, also known as El Camino Real de los Tejas or the Old San Antonio Road was then undergoing rehabilitation and open to traffic for most of its roughly 400-mile length from Eagle Pass on the Rio Grande border to the old Mission of Los Adaes near Robeline, Louisiana.
Solar project gains ground in Crockett County
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Some frontier children crossed cultural lines
During the turbulent decades of American westward expansion, violent conflict between settlers and Native American tribes produced stories of loss, survival and unexpected cultural transformation. Across the Texas Hill Country, the Chihuahuan Desert and the broader West, mid-19th century raids on frontier settlements near Fredericksburg and beyond sometimes resulted in the abduction of white children.
Seventeen Rangers foiled an uprising
In the spring of 1839, just three years after the Texian victory at San Jacinto secured independence from Mexico, the Republic of Texas remained far from secure. Mexico had not accepted its defeat and continued efforts to destabilize the fledgling nation, encouraging unrest among Native American tribes along the Texas frontier. One such effort culminated May 22, 1839, in a brief but decisive clash along the San Gabriel River, about 15 miles north of Austin.
Commissioners approve community funding, review finances
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History blends with nature along Devils River
Devils River Country—In the rugged canyons of southwestern Texas, where limestone walls rise above arid scrub and the Devils River winds through remote wilderness, a cluster of clear springs bubbles up from ancient rock. Known as Dolan Springs, the waters feed Dolan Creek, which spills into the Devils River at Dolan Falls, one of the state’s most striking continuously flowing waterfalls.
A Texas Ranger’s fight for survival
Taylor Thompson wore many hats on the Texas frontier: printer, newspaper editor, Confederate veteran and Texas Ranger, but it was through his writings that he left one of his most enduring legacies. Born in the mid-19th century, Thompson lived through the Civil War and into the early 20th century, chronicling his experiences in a series of articles that brought frontier life into sharp focus.
Commissioners approve key grants
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Vanished outpost on Devils River Frontier
Val Verde County—In the remote canyonlands of northern Val Verde County, Beaver Lake once shimmered as a rare and vital oasis along the upper Devils River. Formed by beaver dams, the natural reservoir lay about three miles northeast of what would later become the ghost town of Juno. Surrounded by steep limestone canyons dotted with juniper, mesquite, sparse oaks and native grasses, the lake provided life-sustaining water in an otherwise unforgiving landscape.
Fort Davis Massacre tells grim story
Jeff Davis County—Nestled at the base of the jagged, majestic Davis Mountains in West Texas, Fort Davis stands as a testament to the turbulent history of the American frontier. Serving as the county seat of Jeff Davis County, the fort was named in honor of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Southern Confederacy. Established in the mid-19th century, it became a crucial military outpost during the Indian Wars, guarding against raids and protecting settlers in this remote region.
Care Center charts path toward stability
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Legend of the Lobo Wolf Girl
In the unforgiving wilds of 19th-century Texas, where Pecos Canyon carved a jagged scar into the land, a violent storm raged on a May night in 1835. Mollie Dent, heavy with child, clutched her belly in agony as thunder rolled across the canyon. Her husband, John Dent, a rugged trapper, had brought them to the remote Beaver Lake area in search of fortune in furs.
Commissioners wrap up 2025
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Conflicting accounts surround death of Comanche chief
In the chaos of a sudden frontier attack along the Pease River, Comanche warriors scrambled for their horses as Texas Rangers pressed hard into the encampment. Women fled in panic, but the element of surprise left little opportunity for organized resistance. According to Lawrence “Sul” Ross, later governor of Texas, his attention was drawn to two riders mounted on a single horse: a large warrior in front and another figure behind. Ross closed the distance and fired his revolver.
Court explores AI fleet management
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The death of Chief Peta Nocona
In the annals of Texas history, few stories encapsulate the brutal clash between settlers and Indian tribes as vividly as the Battle of Pease River in December 1860. At its center lies the disputed fate of Chief Peta Nocona, a formidable Comanche leader and father to Quanah Parker, one of the last great chiefs of the Comanche nation.
Crockett County honors responders’ heroism
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Fitness court promotes community health
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The fate of outlaw Black Jack Ketchum
Clayton, N.M.—One hundred and twenty-four years after the botched hanging that ended his life, Thomas E. “Black Jack” Ketchum still casts a long, sinister shadow across the history of the American West. His death on April 26, 1901, a decapitation caused by a miscalculated drop on the gallows, remains one of the most gruesome conclusions to an outlaw’s career ever recorded.
The Tonkawa: Texas' fiercest allies
In the annals of Texas history, few Native tribes evoke as much fascination and revulsion, as the Tonkawa. Known to early European explorers as nomadic hunters scattered across the central plains, they earned a fearsome reputation for ritual cannibalism: consuming small portions of fallen enemies in victory ceremonies. Yet these same warriors became indispensable allies to Anglo-Texans, serving as elite scouts in brutal campaigns against the Comanche.
Commissioners greenlight sheriff's live auction, delay impound lot
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Sam Houston sworn in as President of Republic of Texas
October 22nd, 1836 — In a ceremony marked by the simplicity of a frontier republic yet resonant with the gravity of nationhood, General Sam Houston was that afternoon sworn in as the first duly elected President of the Republic of Texas. The oath was administered at precisely 4 o’clock in the Hall of the House of Representatives by Speaker Ira Ingram, before a joint session of the newly convened Congress and a throng of citizens who had journeyed from every corner of the fledging republic.
Commissioners canvass Nov. 4 Election results
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1875 Hurricane leaves a port in ruins
Indianola-September 1875—A monstrous hurricane, born in the far reaches of the tropical Atlantic, descended upon the fair city of Indianola, TX, on Thursday, Sept. 16, 1875, leaving a trail of sorrow and ruin that has forever marked the annals of Calhoun County. The “West India Tornado,” as some called it, struck with the ferocity of a Category 3 storm, boasting winds of 115 miles per hour, though some swear gusts reached 150.
County Commissioners approve software switch
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The complex life of Herman Lehmann
In the unforgiving Dry River Country and Hill Country of Texas during the 1870s, where German settlers carved out precarious lives amid the constant threat of Indian raids, the story of Herman Lehmann unfolds as a remarkable testament to survival, adaptation, and the collision of cultures on the American frontier. Return to a Forgotten Home In May 1878, Lehmann’s world shifted once more. At Fort Sill, a captive girl recognized his blue eyes and a childhood scar, marking him as a white captive.
The captive who became a warrior
Mason County— In the unforgiving Dry River and Hill Country of Texas during the 1870s, where German settlers struggled to survive amid the constant threat of Indian raids, the story of Herman Lehmann unfolds — a remarkable testament to survival, adaptation, and the collision of cultures on the American frontier. Born June 5, 1859, to German immigrants Moritz and Augusta Lehmann, Herman grew up in the harsh realities of frontier life.
Pioneers face peril in early Texas
Nacogdoches County, Texas—In the mid-1830s, the Greenwood family set their sights on the pine forests and fertile soil of East Texas, hoping to carve out a permanent home. For their eldest son, Jordan Greenwood, that meant venturing into the wilderness alone, accompanied by one hundred stock hogs and a loyal dog named Bolen. Forty miles from family and surrounded by Native American villages, Jordan set to work.
Pioneers face peril in early Texas
Nacogdoches County, Texas—In the mid-1830s, the Greenwood family set their sights on the pine forests and fertile soil of East Texas, hoping to carve out a permanent home. For their eldest son, Jordan Greenwood, that meant venturing into the wilderness alone, accompanied by one hundred stock hogs and a loyal dog named Bolen. Forty miles from family and surrounded by Native American villages, Jordan set to work.
Greenwood family’s journey through Texas’ revolution
Nacogdoches—Long before highways and railroads cut across East Texas, settlers like Garrison Greenwood pushed wagons through dense forests, cut their own roads, and built crude cabins in hostile territory. Greenwood, born in Illinois in 1799, is remembered as one of the early figures who helped shape Texas during the turbulent years of revolution and frontier conflict.
Mustang Gray proved a relentless survivor
In the turbulent early days of Texas, when the frontier stretched wide and untamed, few men embodied the spirit of adventure like Mabry “Mustang” Gray. With striking blue eyes and a wiry frame, Gray carved his place in Western lore through daring exploits, fierce battles, and an indomitable will to survive. His nickname, “Mustang,” was not lightly earned. It came during a buffalo hunt gone wrong, when the young Gray found himself stranded on the open prairie after his horse bolted.
Commissioners Court approves budget, considers new projects
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Archaeological sites reveal Jumano history
Ozona— In the rugged expanse of west-central Texas, where the sun beats down on dry canyons and scrubland, the story of the Jumano Indians still echoes through the landscape. Long considered a “vanished” people, the Jumano instead adapted, transformed and left a lasting imprint on the region’s history and culture. Archaeological traces at sites such as Gobbler Shelter, a tributary canyon of Live Oak Creek in Crockett County, provide a glimpse into their lives.
The enduring tale of the Lady in Blue
In the folklore of the American Southwest, few stories are as mysterious—or enduring—as that of the “Lady in Blue.” Rooted in 17th-century records, the tale connects a Spanish nun in rural Castile to Native communities thousands of miles away in what is now West Texas and eastern New Mexico. The story begins with María Coronel, born in 1602 in the Spanish village of Ágreda. Known for her intelligence and deep faith, she persuaded her father to convert the family castle into a Franciscan convent.
The enduring legacy of Polly’s Village
Bandera County—Just six miles northeast of Bandera, tucked beneath the shadow of a volcanic cone called Polly’s Peak, lies the quiet remnant of a once-thriving settlement. Today, Polly’s Village is a ghost town—its chapel, cemetery, and scattered stones the only reminders of a bold experiment in faith, resilience, and community.
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