Lemuel Alse Franks and Caroline Olivia "Linnie" (Chapman) Franks are buried in Pleasanton City Cemetery, Pleasanton, Atascosa Co., TX. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.

Edna E. Franks is buried in Pleasanton City Cemetery, Pleasanton, Atascosa Co., TX. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.

Fannie E. (Franks) Henshaw is buried in Pleasanton City Cemetery, Pleasanton, Atascosa Co., TX. Her husband, Wallace W. Henshaw, is also buried there. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.

Lemuel Alse Franks, Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas, Austin, TX.

Trail Drivers of Texas, University of Texas Press, Last Publication: 1923

AN INDIAN BATTLE NEAR THE LEONA RIVER

By L. A. Franks of Pleasanton, Texas

In 1865 occurred one of those sad frontier tragedies where the settlers were unable to sustain themselves in an Indian battle, and wives and mothers were made to mourn for loved ones who never returned except as mangled or inanimate bodies. This noted fight occurred on the 4th day of July in the above named year near the mouth of the Leona River in Frio County. The settlers in the vicinity at that time were the Martins, Odens, Franks, Bennetts, Hays, Parks, Levi English and Ed Burleson. These were all in what was known as the Martin Settlement.

On the morning in question Ed Burleson went out a short distance from his ranch to drive up some horses. He was unarmed and riding a slow horse. Suddenly and unexpectedly to him he was attacked by two Indians, who ran him very close, one on foot and the other mounted. The one on foot outran the horseman and came near catching Burleson, but he ran through a thicket and, coming out on the side next his ranch, arrived there safely. Quite a lot of people had collected at his house, men, women and children, to celebrate the Fourth and wind up with a dance. Ere the sun went down on that day, however, the festivities were changed into mourning. Instead of the gay tramp and joyous laughter of the dancers, wailing and the slow tread of a funeral procession was heard. Excitement ran high when Burleson dashed in and gave the alarm. Most of the men mounted in haste to go in pursuit and others were notified. When all the men had congregated who could be gotten together on short notice, they numbered eleven and were as follows: Levi English, L. A. Franks, G. W. Daugherty, Ed Burleson, W. C. Bell, Frank Williams, Dean Oden, Bud English, Dan Williams, John Berry and Mr. Aikens. Levi English, being the oldest man in the party and experienced to some extent in fighting Indians, was chosen captain. When the main trail was struck the Indians were found to be in large force, and going down the Leona River. They crossed this stream near Bennett's ranch, four miles from Burleson's. They then went out into the open prairie in front of Martin's ranch, ten miles further on. The settlers first came in sight of them two miles off, but they went down into a valley and were lost to sight for some time. Suddenly, however, they came into view again not more than two hundred yards away. They were thirty-six Indians, mounted two and two on a horse. The Indians now discovered the white men for the first time and at once commenced a retreat. The white men were all brave frontiersmen and made a reckless and impetuous charge and began firing too soon. The Indians ran nearly a mile and, thinking likely they had well-nigh drawn the fire of the settlers, checked their flight at a lone tree at a signal from their chief, and each Indian who was mounted behind another jumped to the ground and came back at a charge, and for the first time commenced shooting. The mounted ones circled to right and left and sent a shower of arrows and bullets. Some of the Indians went entirely around the white men and a desperate battle at close quarters ensued. The redmen had the advantage of the whites in point of numbers and shots. The latter, having nearly exhausted their shots at long range, had no time to reload a cap and ball pistol or gun in such a fight as was now being inaugurated. Captain English in vain gave orders during the mad charge, trying to hold the boys back and keep them out of the deadly circle in which they finally went. Dan Williams was the first man killed and when he fell from his horse was at once surrounded by the Indians. English now rallied the men together and charged to the body of Williams, and after a hot fight drove them back, but in so doing fired their last loads. The Indians were quick to see this, and came back at them again, and a retreat was ordered. Frank Williams, brother to Dan, now dismounted by the side of his dying brother and asked if there was anything he could do for him, and expressed a willingness to stay with him. "No," said the stricken man, handing Frank his pistol, "take this and do the best you can —I am killed— cannot live ten minute's. Save yourself." The men were even now wheeling their horses and leaving the ground, and Frank only mounted and left when the Indians were close upon him. The Comanches came after them yelling furiously, and a panic ensued.

Dean Oden was the next man to fall a victim. His horse was wounded and began to pitch and the Indians were soon upon him. He dismounted and was wounded in the leg, and attempted to remount again, but was wounded six times more in the breast and back, as the Indians were on all sides of him. Aus Franks was near him trying to force his way out, and the last he saw of Oden he was down on to his knees and his horse gone. The next and last man killed was Bud English, son of the late captain. His father stayed by his body until all hope was gone and all the men scattering away. The Indians pursued with a fierce vengeance, mixing in with the whites, and many personal combats took place, the settlers striking at the Indians with their unloaded guns and pistols. In this fight all the balance of the men were wounded except Franks, Berry and Frank Williams. Captain English was badly wounded in the side with an arrow; G. W. Daughtery was hit in the leg with an arrow; Ed Burleson also in the leg; Aikens in the breast, and W. C. Bell in the side. In this wounded and scattered condition the men went back to the ranch and told the news of their sad defeat. Other men were collected and returned to the battleground to bring away the dead, led by those who participated but escaped unhurt. The three bodies lay within a hundred yards of each other and were badly mutilated. The Indians carried away their dead; how many was not known, but supposed to be but few, on account of the reckless firing of the men at the beginning of the fight. Bud English was killed by a bullet in the breast, and there was also one arrow or lance wound in the breast. The head of Dan Williams was nearly severed from the body, necessitating a close wrapping in a blanket to keep the members together while being carried back. Oden and Williams were brothers-in-law, and were both buried in the same box. Eight out of eleven were killed or wounded.

UP THE TRAIL TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO

By L. A. Franks of Pleasanton, Texas

I was born in Guadalupe County, Texas, on the San Geronimo Creek, February 21, 1847. Moved to Atascosa County in 1853. My father, Ben F. Franks, being a cattleman from his boyhood days, I was raised a cowboy from the cradle up and spent my boyhood days in Atascosa County. My father, having passed away in 1862, myself and brother were left to take care of our mother and sisters. I worked cattle and fought Indians for several years, and in 1867 I settled on a ranch of my own in La Salle County. Was married in 1870 to Miss Caroline Chapman of Bell County. After several years raising cattle I started up the trail with my first herd in 1872 for G. W. Chapman and myself. I left La Salle County in March for the Wichita (Kansas) market, and went by way of San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth and straight on up the trail. We left with 1,000 head of steers and, with plenty of water and grass, we had a good trip and lost only a small number of steers on the way, arriving at the Wichita market in June. Returning to my ranch, I remained there until 1886 and started up the trail again for Presnall, Withers & Co., this time for Northern New Mexico. I left Presidio County in April and this trip was full of hardships all the way out to Roswell, New Mexico. We went by way of Alpine and Toyah and struck the Pecos River at Hash Knife Ranch, and the night we got there our herd stampeded early in the night and we did not get them checked until early morning. Again at Toyah we had a stampede that lasted all night and until sunrise the next morning, and this time we lost 22 head of steers. We went up the Pecos to Seven Rivers and on up. Striking the Pecos again, we followed it as far as Roswell, New Mexico. We had a tough time getting there, with no grass and no rain. We suffered heavy losses all the way up the Pecos, pulling and digging cattle out of bogs every day and losing some each day. We were a dilapidated looking bunch, cattle, horses and men, and when we arrived within five miles of Roswell we had a glorious rain and storm that made our trip the balance of the way very good. We left the Pecos at Roswell and went up by old Fort Sumner, crossed over to the Canadian River and by the old Bell ranch, then went on up the Goodnight Trail through the mountains and reached the market in July with 1,600 head of steers out of the 2,200 that we left Presidio County with in April. This was my last trip up the trail and I came back to Atascosa County and am still here.

A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas, Illustrated, Volume II, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907

D. G. FRANKS, the popular proprietor of Hotel Franks at Del Rio, was born in Caldwell county, Texas, December 1, 1848. He was reared upon a ranch and his early educational privileges were limited, but as the years have passed he has acquired a good practical education and has worked his way upward financially. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Martha P. (Spears) Franks, both of whom were natives of Alabama but were married in Walker county, Texas. The mother was a daughter of Mrs. Lucinda Spears and she and her husband were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married. Mrs. Spears was a daughter of Mr. Williams, who married into a Pennsylvania Indian tribe. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Spears they made their way southward and settled in Alabama, where Martha Spears was reared. The father died there and Mrs. Spears afterward married a Mr. Knight, who removed with the family to Texas at an early day, settling in Walker county, where his death occurred. The members of the Spears family were John B.; Martha P., who became Mrs. Franks; Lemuel; Mrs. Anna Young; Bethenia, and Elizabeth. The last two married men of the name of King and resided in Walker county.

Benjamin F. Franks (father) was born in Alabama and when about four years of age was left an orphan. He had no one to care for him and went to live with strangers but became dissatisfied with the people by whom he was reared and the treatment they gave him, so that he ran away and joined some emigrants coming to Texas. He was then but a small boy. He grew to manhood upon the frontier amid the exciting experiences incident to the settlement of Texas. Deprived of all parental training, he made good use of his opportunities in many ways, becoming a broad-minded, intelligent man of strong determination and progressive spirit. He became one of the highly respected and prominent residents of his part of the state. He owned a number of slaves and was a successful stockman and farmer. In Walker county he married and began raising stock and after the birth of three of his children he removed with his family to Atascosa county in 1852. The range was free and grass good and he carried on business successfully there until 1861, when he established a ranch on the Leona river in Frio county, which is yet known as the Franks ranch. He was active in all matters pertaining to the county and state and was a friend of Sam Houston, and with Houston and others strenuously opposed secession. When the final vote was taken he was one of only two voters in Atascosa county who stood for the Union, his companion being Calvin Musgraves. When the state did secede he removed to Frio county, where he established his ranch and was quietly pursuing his private business interests when in 1864 a "vigilance committee of regulators" arrested him on a false pretext and started for San Antonio, supposedly to place him in prison. Instead of doing this they brutally and cowardly hanged him. He died a martyr for his principles. When told of the fate that awaited him he replied that he was in their power but that he had nothing to retract and that all he had said and done he owed to the Union. He predicted, too, the failure of secession. He was a man of firm purpose, unfaltering in a course that he believed to be right and his honorable manhood was widely acknowledged. Six feet tall and of athletic build, he was very powerful and fearless, especially in defense of what he believed to be right. He died June 6, 1864. Calvin Musgraves. his friend, who voted with him to support the Union, fearing that their lives were endangered, had gone to Mr. Franks and tried to persuade him to go to Mexico but the latter refused, saying that it was his duty to remain with his family. Mr. Musgraves, however, went to Mexico and when the war was over returned to Texas, where he remained until his death twenty years later.

Mrs. Franks survived her husband until January 31, 1865, when she passed away. Her brother, John B. Spears, who had lived with the family many years, continuing with them after his marriage, took charge of the children who were thus orphaned and with his aid and advice the sons did all they could to save the stock and property but much of the stock got away. During the war the Mexicans, abetted by the white thieves, were stealing all of the best stock throughout the country and running them into Mexico. Dan G. Franks, then but a boy, yet a born leader, devised a plan and with his brother and nine companions made many runs after the thieves and brought many of them to justice, over thirty Mexicans being killed. This put an end to cattle thieving in that locality. At times the party went for two and a half days without food or water and all were about exhausted, but they persevered in their undertaking and at length succeeded in ridding the county of the bad men who infested its borders. In 1865, John B. Spears, the uncle, removed with his family to San Marcos in order to give his children educational privileges, after which he returned to the ranch and took care of the family property. He remained in the same county until his death in 1887. He was a worthy member of the Baptist church and a grand, good man.

The children of Benjamin F. Franks were seven in number, five sons and two daughters: John B., who died in 1869; Lemuel A., a stockman of Atascosa county; Daniel G.; William M., a stockman who died at Eagle Pass in 1882, leaving a wife and five children; James M., a stockman of Maverick county, who died leaving four children; Mrs. Lucinda Williams, of Atascosa county, who died leaving one son, Benjamin; Nancy A., the wife of R. Turner, a resident of Atascosa county.

Dan G. Franks spent two terms in school at San Marcos and returned to the ranch in 1867. He made himself useful in many ways, going and returning to the ranch at intervals, and with a brother he spent much time in the brush. In 1868 he married and commenced farming with his wife's mother, who had five children. He reared them all and did a good part by them. Following his marriage he purchased land certificates, securing in this way ten thousand acres, after which he established a ranch ten miles north of Cotulla, where he engaged in the stock business successfully until 1877. He then sold out and returned to Atascosa county, where he built a fine home, remaining there until 1881. During this time the family remained at home and Mr. Franks went to LaSalle county, purchasing and driving large herds of cattle to Kansas for market, but prices were low and he lost all that he had invested but the homestead to which he returned. In 1881 he engaged with a Mr. Camp in sheep industry, purchasing and driving the sheep to Menard county, where he herded. The number of sheep increased until 1883, when he sold out at a loss. He and Mr. Camp then returned to the old homestead in Atascosa county on which he had left a bunch of growing cattle, and he then bought thirty-five hundred cattle and drove them to Pecos county, where he established a ranch and continued until 1885. He then sold out to the Pecos Land & Cattle Company for one hundred thousand dollars, after which he worked for a salary for the Pecos Land & Cattle Company. In the meantime his cattle at home had been doing well and he removed his family and stock to Pecos county. A fine herd was coming up, but during the drought of 1892-3 many of them died. He then sold the remainder for twenty-one hundred dollars, giving the money to his children. He removed from Pecos to Cedar Springs, where in 1885 his wife passed away. The same year he removed with the children and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Elkins, to Wilson county, where they remained until 1888, when Mrs. Elkins died.

In 1887 Mr. Franks was married again and after the death of Mrs. Elkins he took his children to Pecos county, where he lived until 1893, engaged in the stock business. He then accepted a position with the Cattle Raisers' Association of Texas, covering the territory from San Antonio to El Paso to protect cattle raisers. He continued in that position until 1905, or for twelve years, when he resigned. When he took charge of this work, there was much thieving and smuggling at that time and Mr. Franks did much detective work, in which connection he rid the country of many criminals. So effective was his service in this direction that for four years previous to his resignation there was not a single case of thieving to report.

In 1897 his wife came to Del Rio and opened a hotel, while Mr. Franks remained in the employ of the cattle association until 1905, when he returned home and has since given his attention to the management of the hotel. He has built up a large business, which has so increased that he has been compelled to erect two additions, and the Hotel Franks is the pride of Del Rio. In this, as in all other things which he has undertaken, Mr. Franks has displayed a spirit of strong purpose and successful accomplishment that has made him a leader among men.

Mr. Franks was first married to Miss Zezrilda J. Elkins, who was born in Guadalupe county, Texas, and was a daughter of Preston and Jolly Elkins. Her father was a farmer by occupation and died in 1864. His children were: Mary, the wife of J. W. McMains; Zezrilda, who became Mrs. Franks; James W., a stockman; Margaret, who married J. Elkins and died two years later; Miles, who died in childhood; Queen, the wife of James Franks; and Breckenridge. It was these children that Mr. Franks reared, doing a father's part by them. His own marriage was blessed with six children, two sons and four daughters: Alonzo V., who is now conductor on the Mexican Central Railroad in Mexico; Artie and Arrie, twins, the former the wife of H. A. Neal, of San Antonio, and the latter of John M. Doak, a prominent rancher; Lela, the wife of L. F. Hurd, a stockman of Midland, Texas; Oscar, who is paymaster for the International & Mexican Railroad with head­quarters at Diaz, Mexico; and Dannie, now Mrs. T. Shields, of Monterey, Mexico.

Mr. Franks' second marriage, in 1887, was to Mrs. Alva Brite, the widow of Charles Brite. By her first marriage she had four children: John W., a section foreman; Mattie, who married Mr. Friesen, by whom she had a son, Carl, and for her second husband married Mr. Crew, by whom she has one child, Gedney; Bennie and Dan H., both married.

Mrs. Franks was born in Bexar county, Texas, in 1856, a daughter of Rev. H. L. Thompson, a worthy minister of the Methodist church for over forty years. He was one of the pioneer preachers in Texas and was also a stock farmer. He spent the last seven years of his life in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Franks, where he was surrounded with loving care and attention. His children were Mrs. Rosa Renshaw; Mrs. Roana McMains; Mrs. Julia Neal; Mrs. Kate Kurrey; Alva A., now Mrs. Franks; John H., and Florence, who after the death of her first husband, Mr. Clark, married Dr. Barnwell, of Bell county, Texas. Rev. Thompson was twice married and had two children by the second union, Charles and Hiram, both residents of Bell county, Texas. To Mr. and Mrs. Franks have been born three interesting children : Alva, Bob Ingersoll and Penny.

Mr. Franks is an enterprising and public-spirited man and has done much good in the world, being charitable to the needy, while to many children he has taken the part of a father as well as friend. He is a worthy member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Elks. He has lived through the period when lawlessness and strife were very common in the state, when the Indians and thieving white men took the stock and often the lives of the settlers, and has borne his part in ridding the country of such characters. He was a strong supporter of the Democracy until President Cleveland's second administration, when he decided that the nation was too great a thing for the Democratic party to handle and he has since given his support to the Republican party. He is highly esteemed for his many good traits of character and has a genial, jovial, hearty manner which makes him popular with many friends.

Early Days On Texas Cattle Trails, By Cora Melton Cross.

TEXAS was in her swaddling clothes and the "49" gold rush to California was at its height when Jonathan M. Doak joined the caravan marching "Westward Ho!" It was a far cry, and a farther distance, reckoned by the mode of travel those days, from Madison, Miss., to the broad stretches of Texas prairie. But the call of the great outdoors had come and the lure of horn and hoof with the open range, was paramount; for it was raising. cattle, not panning pay dirt, that Jonathan Doak purposed and Texas, not California, was the objective point. Weeks of travel in a prairie schooner with household goods and family alike bundled in for the journey, finally ended for the time being in Gonzales County, where two years later we find that same Jonathan Doak recording the D. O. K brand marking his Texas longhorns on the range.

Six years later trekking again fevered his blood, nor did it cool until with family and livestock he landed in Atascosa County and established ranch headquarters, And it was there, surrounded by an atmosphere of danger adventure, hardship, the lure of yellow gold and a constantly increasing murmuring of a Northern market for Texas cattle, that John Doak Jr. was born. He is the subject of this story.

Characters: Jonathan M. Doak, Jim Lowe, John Smith, Jim Currie, Red Jim Harrison, John Dawson, Dick Marshall, Watson Peacock, Jim Mansfield, Burl Musgraves, L. A. Franks, Bob Turner, Babe Willis, R. E. Chapman, John F. Camp, John Abney, W. W. Simonds, Dan Franks, Roger Gillis

Locations: Gonzales County, Atascosa County, Frio River, Dog Town, Tilden, Ouichita River, Pleasanton, Fort Sill, Dodge City, Great Bend, Cotulla, Cibolo Creek, Boneyard Ranch, Pecos County, Dryden, Terrell County, Del Rio, Lampasas, Devils River

The San Antonio Light, San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX, Thursday, October 26,1882

Arrivals at the Hord.

D. G. Franks, Menardville, .....

The San Antonio Light, San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX, Monday, June 4, 1883

Mr. D. G. Franks, stockman of Menard county, is registered at the Central.

The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, Galveston Co., TX, March 7, 1884

(Special to The News.)

SAN ANTONIO, March 6. -

Dan Franks, who was arrested by the Mexican river guards for being on the Mexican side, mounted and armed, was released to-day by order of Dr. Ornelsas, Mexican consul here. Franks held a permit from Colonel Valdez, of the Mexican army, to cross the river to recover strayed cattle. The customs authorities refused to recognize the order, as it was outside Valdez's jurisdiction.

Wallace W. Henshaw Death Record.

POSTMASTERS & POST OFFICES OF
PECOS COUNTY, TEXAS
1872 - 1930   DRYDEN (Pecos, Terrell) (see also THURST)

(Re-established) Franks, Dan'l. G., 24 Jun 1891

Index to Probate Cases of Atascosa County Texas

September 28, 1857 to March 6, 1939

Contributed by Terri Goins Lorenz

Partial Index to Probate Cases

NAME	STATUS	DATE FILED	CASE NUMBER
Franks, Alonzo, Artie, Dannie, Lela, Ortie, Oscar and Zorilla	Minors	April 7, 1885	89
Franks, B. F., Deceased; James, Mary L., Mathew, Nancy Ann and William	Minors	Aug. 20, 1863	11 (A)
Franks, Charlie P. and John S.	Minors	Sept. 27, 1912	418
Franks, Essie, Florence and John	Minors	July 26, 1922	626
Franks, Essie O.	Deceased	May 16, 1921	602
Franks, L. A.	Deceased	Nov. 10, 1883	73
Franks, W. M.	NCM	July 29, 1914	451
Franks, Wm. A.	Deceased	March 3, 1916	486
Franks, Wm. A.	Deceased	March 3, 1916	586 (A)