Kiowa Raid of 1868 (SW Part of County)
On Jan. 5-6, 1868, Chief Big Tree and 150 to 200 Kiowas raided Willa Walla Valley, Clear Creek and Blocker Creek. Burned homes; killed 13 people; scalped one woman alive. Captured 10 women and children; 3 escaped, 2 were ransomed. Raiders reached Elm Creek at Gainesville before blizzard forced withdrawal. More damage and deaths would have resulted if George Masoner had not become the "Paul Revere" of valleys and warned settlers of impending danger. Indian raids such as this one were in retaliation for loss of hunting grounds to settlers. (1968)
33.5286° N, 97.1660° W
Where to Find It
From Valley View take IH-35 3 miles north to rest stop on east side of highway. Due to construction in the area, marker temporarily in TxDOT storage 12.2021
Nearby Markers
- 2.6 mi NW Spring Creek Cemetery Gainesville
- 2.9 mi S Valley View Valley View
- 6 mi N Newsome Dougherty Memorial High School Gainesville
- 6.1 mi N Gainesville Junior College Gainesville
- 6.2 mi N Hubert H. Moss Gainesville
- 6.2 mi N Clark, Randolph Lee (1871-1941) Gainesville