Son of John S. & Tennessee Jane Dancer Friend
LEGION VALLEY MASSACRE. The Legion Valley Massacre occurred on February 5, 1868, when a band of about fifteen Comanche Indians raided the home of John S. and Matilda Jane (Jones) Friend near the confluence of Sandy and Legion creeks, about fifteen miles south of Llano in Llano County. Eight related women and children had gathered at the Friend home in the absence of their menfolk. In addition to Matilda Friend, the group included Rebecca (Stripling or Stribling) Johnson and infant, Samantha (Johnson) Johnson and infant, Miss Amanda Townsend (who was about eighteen), and two children, Malinda Ann Caudle and Lee Temple Friend, both about eight years old. In resisting the raid, Mrs. Friend was stabbed, shot with arrows, badly cut across her hand, scalped, and left for dead as the marauders robbed the dwelling and rode off with the seven remaining members of the group as captives. Within a few miles of the Friend home, the two young wives, their infants, and Amanda Townsend were mutilated and killed by the Indians; the two children were held as captives. Malinda was recovered in about six months and returned to her parents. Lee remained a captive until December 1872, and when finally recovered had acquired the language and culture of his captors. He did not readapt well and died on June 2, 1876, soon after having been returned to his family. By feigning death, Matilda Jane Friend survived the attack; three weeks later she gave birth to a daughter. As soon as she and the new child were able to travel-which was before the year was out-she moved with her family to El Dorado Township, Kansas. There, she and her husband had another five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Friend both died in El Dorado, Matilda Jane on January 24, 1909, and John S. in 1929. Malinda Ann Caudle died on March 11, 1933, in Marble Falls, Texas.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: J. W. Wilbarger, Indian Depredations in Texas (Austin: Hutchings, 1889; rpt., Austin: State House, 1985).
Johnie Lee Reeves
The Emporia Weekly News, 10 Jan 1873, Friday
NOTES FROM EL DORADO
El Dorado, January 1, 1873
Mr. John Friend, of this place, has just received his lost son from the Comanche Indians. He was captured by them five years ago, on the Texas border. At the time, Mrs. Friend was scalped and left for dead, but happily recovered, and is now a citizen of El Dorado. The boy remembered the tragedy well, and when the mother exhibited the scar caused by the brutal savages, he at once recognized his mother, whom he supposed was dead. The boy's appearance indicates that his treatment has been very severe. He cannot speak a word of English. The boy was eight years old when taken.
Note: above bio provided by Becky Doan (#46821009)
∼Temple Friend was captured by Indians 5 Feb 1868, in Llano County, Texas, and recovered 14 Nov 1872, at Ft. Sill, Indian Territory.
LEGION VALLEY MASSACRE. The Legion Valley Massacre occurred on February 5, 1868, when a band of about fifteen Comanche Indians raided the home of John S. and Matilda Jane (Jones) Friend near the confluence of Sandy and Legion creeks, about fifteen miles south of Llano in Llano County. Eight related women and children had gathered at the Friend home in the absence of their menfolk. In addition to Matilda Friend, the group included Rebecca (Stripling or Stribling) Johnson and infant, Samantha (Johnson) Johnson and infant, Miss Amanda Townsend (who was about eighteen), and two children, Malinda Ann Caudle and Lee Temple Friend, both about eight years old. In resisting the raid, Mrs. Friend was stabbed, shot with arrows, badly cut across her hand, scalped, and left for dead as the marauders robbed the dwelling and rode off with the seven remaining members of the group as captives. Within a few miles of the Friend home, the two young wives, their infants, and Amanda Townsend were mutilated and killed by the Indians; the two children were held as captives. Malinda was recovered in about six months and returned to her parents. Lee remained a captive until December 1872, and when finally recovered had acquired the language and culture of his captors. He did not readapt well and died on June 2, 1876, soon after having been returned to his family. By feigning death, Matilda Jane Friend survived the attack; three weeks later she gave birth to a daughter. As soon as she and the new child were able to travel-which was before the year was out-she moved with her family to El Dorado Township, Kansas. There, she and her husband had another five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Friend both died in El Dorado, Matilda Jane on January 24, 1909, and John S. in 1929. Malinda Ann Caudle died on March 11, 1933, in Marble Falls, Texas.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: J. W. Wilbarger, Indian Depredations in Texas (Austin: Hutchings, 1889; rpt., Austin: State House, 1985).
Johnie Lee Reeves
The Emporia Weekly News, 10 Jan 1873, Friday
NOTES FROM EL DORADO
El Dorado, January 1, 1873
Mr. John Friend, of this place, has just received his lost son from the Comanche Indians. He was captured by them five years ago, on the Texas border. At the time, Mrs. Friend was scalped and left for dead, but happily recovered, and is now a citizen of El Dorado. The boy remembered the tragedy well, and when the mother exhibited the scar caused by the brutal savages, he at once recognized his mother, whom he supposed was dead. The boy's appearance indicates that his treatment has been very severe. He cannot speak a word of English. The boy was eight years old when taken.
Note: above bio provided by Becky Doan (#46821009)
∼Temple Friend was captured by Indians 5 Feb 1868, in Llano County, Texas, and recovered 14 Nov 1872, at Ft. Sill, Indian Territory.
Son of John S. & Tennessee Jane Dancer Friend
LEGION VALLEY MASSACRE. The Legion Valley Massacre occurred on February 5, 1868, when a band of about fifteen Comanche Indians raided the home of John S. and Matilda Jane (Jones) Friend near the confluence of Sandy and Legion creeks, about fifteen miles south of Llano in Llano County. Eight related women and children had gathered at the Friend home in the absence of their menfolk. In addition to Matilda Friend, the group included Rebecca (Stripling or Stribling) Johnson and infant, Samantha (Johnson) Johnson and infant, Miss Amanda Townsend (who was about eighteen), and two children, Malinda Ann Caudle and Lee Temple Friend, both about eight years old. In resisting the raid, Mrs. Friend was stabbed, shot with arrows, badly cut across her hand, scalped, and left for dead as the marauders robbed the dwelling and rode off with the seven remaining members of the group as captives. Within a few miles of the Friend home, the two young wives, their infants, and Amanda Townsend were mutilated and killed by the Indians; the two children were held as captives. Malinda was recovered in about six months and returned to her parents. Lee remained a captive until December 1872, and when finally recovered had acquired the language and culture of his captors. He did not readapt well and died on June 2, 1876, soon after having been returned to his family. By feigning death, Matilda Jane Friend survived the attack; three weeks later she gave birth to a daughter. As soon as she and the new child were able to travel-which was before the year was out-she moved with her family to El Dorado Township, Kansas. There, she and her husband had another five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Friend both died in El Dorado, Matilda Jane on January 24, 1909, and John S. in 1929. Malinda Ann Caudle died on March 11, 1933, in Marble Falls, Texas.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: J. W. Wilbarger, Indian Depredations in Texas (Austin: Hutchings, 1889; rpt., Austin: State House, 1985).
Johnie Lee Reeves
The Emporia Weekly News, 10 Jan 1873, Friday
NOTES FROM EL DORADO
El Dorado, January 1, 1873
Mr. John Friend, of this place, has just received his lost son from the Comanche Indians. He was captured by them five years ago, on the Texas border. At the time, Mrs. Friend was scalped and left for dead, but happily recovered, and is now a citizen of El Dorado. The boy remembered the tragedy well, and when the mother exhibited the scar caused by the brutal savages, he at once recognized his mother, whom he supposed was dead. The boy's appearance indicates that his treatment has been very severe. He cannot speak a word of English. The boy was eight years old when taken.
Note: above bio provided by Becky Doan (#46821009)
∼Temple Friend was captured by Indians 5 Feb 1868, in Llano County, Texas, and recovered 14 Nov 1872, at Ft. Sill, Indian Territory.
LEGION VALLEY MASSACRE. The Legion Valley Massacre occurred on February 5, 1868, when a band of about fifteen Comanche Indians raided the home of John S. and Matilda Jane (Jones) Friend near the confluence of Sandy and Legion creeks, about fifteen miles south of Llano in Llano County. Eight related women and children had gathered at the Friend home in the absence of their menfolk. In addition to Matilda Friend, the group included Rebecca (Stripling or Stribling) Johnson and infant, Samantha (Johnson) Johnson and infant, Miss Amanda Townsend (who was about eighteen), and two children, Malinda Ann Caudle and Lee Temple Friend, both about eight years old. In resisting the raid, Mrs. Friend was stabbed, shot with arrows, badly cut across her hand, scalped, and left for dead as the marauders robbed the dwelling and rode off with the seven remaining members of the group as captives. Within a few miles of the Friend home, the two young wives, their infants, and Amanda Townsend were mutilated and killed by the Indians; the two children were held as captives. Malinda was recovered in about six months and returned to her parents. Lee remained a captive until December 1872, and when finally recovered had acquired the language and culture of his captors. He did not readapt well and died on June 2, 1876, soon after having been returned to his family. By feigning death, Matilda Jane Friend survived the attack; three weeks later she gave birth to a daughter. As soon as she and the new child were able to travel-which was before the year was out-she moved with her family to El Dorado Township, Kansas. There, she and her husband had another five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Friend both died in El Dorado, Matilda Jane on January 24, 1909, and John S. in 1929. Malinda Ann Caudle died on March 11, 1933, in Marble Falls, Texas.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: J. W. Wilbarger, Indian Depredations in Texas (Austin: Hutchings, 1889; rpt., Austin: State House, 1985).
Johnie Lee Reeves
The Emporia Weekly News, 10 Jan 1873, Friday
NOTES FROM EL DORADO
El Dorado, January 1, 1873
Mr. John Friend, of this place, has just received his lost son from the Comanche Indians. He was captured by them five years ago, on the Texas border. At the time, Mrs. Friend was scalped and left for dead, but happily recovered, and is now a citizen of El Dorado. The boy remembered the tragedy well, and when the mother exhibited the scar caused by the brutal savages, he at once recognized his mother, whom he supposed was dead. The boy's appearance indicates that his treatment has been very severe. He cannot speak a word of English. The boy was eight years old when taken.
Note: above bio provided by Becky Doan (#46821009)
∼Temple Friend was captured by Indians 5 Feb 1868, in Llano County, Texas, and recovered 14 Nov 1872, at Ft. Sill, Indian Territory.
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Son of JS & TJ Friend
