Hugh Martin Childress, Jr. - Family Histories

      In 1874, Joseph G. McCoy, the first historian of the cattle industry, wrote that there were few more widely known and persistent drovers than H. M. Childress, one of the largest ranchers in northwest Texas in 1870. As a comparison to other cattlemen, following are the number of cattle sent to market in 1870: Hugh Martin Childress, Jr - 10,000; James Patterson - 8,000; John Hittson - 7,000; John Simpson Chisum - 6,000; Charles Goodnight - 5,000.

     Hugh Martin Childress, Jr., usually called Martin or Mart, was born in Bastrop County, May 24, 1835. He moved with his parents (See Hugh Martin and Susannah Childress) to Bell County, in 1853 where he married Hulda Ann Cox, a daughter of Solomon Cox, born August 22, 1835 at Chillicothe, Missouri. After his marriage, he took over his father's herd of 180 cattle to manage. Shortly after the establishment of Camp Colorado in 1856, Martin established his ranch headquarters at Post Oak Springs at the head of Home Creek in the western part of the county. During the Civil War, he was a private in the Confederate Army in Company B under Captain Fossett at Camp Colorado. In 1865 he was one of the participants, being a scout, and one of the survivors of the Battle of Dove Creek, which occurred in what is now Irion County.

     From 1866 to 1869, Martin drove between 2,500 and 10,000 cattle to market. Prior to each drive, he took his family to a place of safety rather than to leave them alone at the ranch house. On his return, he always brought home presents to each family member. His cattle, on the open range, grazed in Coleman, Runnels, and other West Texas counties.

     The year 1871 was one fraught with misfortune to Martin. He not only lost heavily in business, but recklessly squandered many thousands of dollars. Many of his cattle were stolen by the Comanche Indians and taken to New Mexico, where they were sold to beginning ranches. In 1872, Martin and John Hittson of Callahan County decided to recover their stolen cattle. Escorted by a detachment of U.S. Cavalry and armed with powers of attorney from many ranchers in Texas, they boldly rode into New Mexico to look over the cattle there. Martin and John, apparently partners, recovered 11,000 cattle and 300 horses. They killed a number of Mexicans, but escaped without injury to themselves or to any of their men. The cattle were sold in Colorado and Martin wound up the year with a fortune for his daring in carrying out the Great New Mexico Cattle Raid.

     Upon his return to Coleman County, Texas, he found that the Indians had burned and destroyed his ranch headquarters. His family was safe, but he decided to leave Coleman County. He sold the ranch to George K. Elkins and Sam S. Gholson. Elkins had moved to Coleman County about 1868 and had worked for Childress as a drover, and had prospered. About 1877, Martin moved to Throckmorton County. About 1888, he moved to Grant County, New Mexico where he established a ranch on the Upper Gila River. His wife, Hulda Ann (Cox) Childress, died on December 20, 1889 at Silver City, New Mexico. About 1896, he sold his ranch on the Upper Gila River and was considering moving to Arizona or to Old Mexico when he was accused of the murder of Ed Moss. A posse tracked down and shot and killed Martin on September 23, 1897.

     The children of Hugh Martin, Jr. and Hulda Ann (Cox) Childress were:

       Lemuel Walter, September 14, 1856; died June 6, 1900, Red Rock, New Mexico; married December 16, 1889, Sarah Ann Hill, born October 11, 1874, died May 14, 1953, Phoenix, Arizona. Solomon Benjamin, February 27, 1858, died January 2, 1859, Coleman County.

     Tabitha Frances, May 12, 1861, died February 22, 1952, Throckmorton County. married February 5, 1878, Harmon Hurst Landsaw.

     Belle, August 22, 1864, died November 28, 1959, Los Angeles, California; married (1) July 22, 1884, Baylor County, Texas, William Marion Bevers; married (2) Clarence S. Brady, married (3) ? Martinez.