Moses William Hindes

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Moses William Hindes came a long way to die defending his home. Born in South Carolina, he married Mary Jane Mason and spent years working his way across the South; Alabama first, then Mississippi.

But by the 1850s, Moses had bigger country in mind. In 1855, he loaded up Mary Jane and six children and pointed them toward Texas. Ox-wagon and horse-drawn hack, all the way to Texas.

They put down roots first in Lockhart, stayed about a year, and then Moses looked out at the sparse settlements to the southwest and decided that was his kind of country. He moved the family out in 1856. The land was raw and the water was scarce, and that mattered enormously to a man raising cattle.

He tried living along Ash Creek, then San Miguel Creek, searching for reliable water. Finally he settled on the Frio River, where things got so dry that in droughts, wells had to be sunk right down into the river bed itself. That is the kind of country this was.

Then the Civil War came. From 1861 to 1865, Moses and his son George rode as Confederate scouts. And while the men were stretched thin, Indians plundered that stretch of southwest Texas, stealing children, stealing horses.

The land was beautiful and it was dangerous, and the families out there knew it. The Civil War ended, but the danger did not end with it. On August 1st, 1865, word came: a new Indian raid was coming.

Neighbors from around the area gathered at Moses Hindes' home, nine miles southwest of where that marker now stands. Forty horses were penned in the corral, and six men took turns through the night guarding them. At daybreak, the Indians attacked.

Moses Hindes was shot to death defending his homestead. He was buried first in the Boothill right there, and later reburied in Pleasanton Cemetery over in Atascosa County. Erected by his great-grandchildren, Carrie Hindes Eppright and Leroy Hindes, that marker in 1968 made sure nobody forgets what was left behind.

Because something was left behind. His son George, the eldest, went on to found the town of Hindes in Atascosa County. The Hindes and Beever Store in Pearsall sold the first pearburner ever marketed.

And every generation of that family, the marker tells you, has had men who rode with the Texas Rangers. Moses Hindes didn't just settle this country. He bled for it.

And his heirs have never left.

What the marker says

A pioneer in settling of southwest Texas. Born in South Carolina; married Mary Jane Mason. Moved in 1840's to Alabama, then to Mississippi. With wife and 6 children came in 1855 by ox-wagon and horse-drawn hack to Texas. After a year in Lockhart, moved (1856) to this area of sparse settlements. To have adequate water for cattle raising, tried living on Ash and San Miguel Creeks. Then settled on the Frio, where in drouths "wells" were sunk in the river bed. During the Civil War (1861-1865) Hindes and his son George were Confederate scouts. In that time Indians plundered this area, stealing children and horses. On Aug. 1, 1865, warning came of a new Indian raid. Neighbors went to Hindes' home (9 mi. sw) for safety. 6 men took turns guarding 40 horses held in the corral. At daybreak when the Indians attacked, Moses Hindes was shot to death defending his homestead. Buried at first in this Boothill, he was later reburied in Pleasanton Cemetery, Atascosa County. His heirs remain loyal to this area for which Mr. Hindes died. George, the eldest son, founded the town of Hindes, Atascosa County. The Hindes & Beever Store, Pearsall, sold first pearburner ever marketed. Every generation has had men who rode with Texas Rangers. 1968 Incise in base: Erected by great-grandchildren, carrie Hindes eppright and Leroy Hindes.