DIMMIT COUNTY, TEXAS

The English Family of Dimmit County

(Sketch of the English family of Carrizo Springs, Dimmit County, Texas, taken from The Trail Drivers of Texas, edited by J. Marvin Hunter, first published 1920-1923, reprinted and published by Argosy-Antiquarian Ltd, 1963, pp. 494-498; Early Settlers and Indian Fighters of Southwest Texas by A. J. Sowell, first published 1900, reprinted and published by Argosy-Antiquarian Ltd, 1964, pp. 14-8, 48, and 567-574; further information provided by Charter Members Lelia Ruth Morton, Doyleen Routh, and Wanda Brown.) Source: "Acorns and Branches" SWTGS Quarterly Vol. I n. 2 - December 1985 Levi English was one of the very early settlers of Texas, having arrived in Texas around 1836. He was born 25 August 1817 in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, the son of Edward English and wife. The name of Levi's mother is unknown but she was Indian, either Chickasaw or Choctaw - closely related tribes, both of whom early established territories in the middle sections of present day Alabama and Mississippi, although family tradition is that Levi's mother was born in Virginia. Levi was married 14 May 1838 in Grimes County, Texas, to Matilda Burleson, who was born 19 February 1824 in Tennessee, the daughter of Aaron and Rebecca (Rutledge?) Burleson, both of whom were born in Kentucky. According to Sowell, Matilda was the sister of Buffalo John Burleson and of Jacob Burleson, who was killed by Comanches near Austin in 1839; the cousin of General Edward Burleson, of the father of former Postmaster General Albert Sidney Burleson, and of Joe Hornsby, who lived on the Colorado River. Both Levi and Matilda (Burleson) English died in Carrizo Springs, Dimmit County, Texas. Levi on 14 May 1894 and Matilda on 20 June 1901; and both are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Carrizo Springs. Levi was a ranchman and a noted Texas Ranger and Indian fighter; his mate was a gutsy lady, well suited to share his chosen life. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Early Texas settlers were a mobile group and the English family was no exception, as can be seen by the known birth and marriage places of the eleven of Captain and Mrs. Levi English: (1) John (Bud) b. 1839 in Grimes County, Texas; m. 27 July 1858 in Pleasanton, Atascosa County, Texas, to Margaret Bell, b. 27 July 1838 in Koscuoska, Mississippi, the daughter of Jonathan Ruben Bell and Martha (Mangrum) Davis; killed in Indian fight 4 July 1865 at Martin Settlement, Frio County, Texas (see p. 15 for an account of this 4th of July fight with the Indians). (2) Lucinda (Sis) b. 10 August 1842; m. 24 March 1859 in Pleasanton, Atascosa county, Texas, in Silas (Sy) Hay; d. 1912, Marfa, Presidio County, Texas. (3) Merelda (Relda) b. 11 February 1845; m. 28 June 1860 in Pleasanton, Atascosa County, Texas, to Joseph Tumlinson, Sr.; d. 1 June 1870(?) in Carrizo Springs, Dimmit County, Texas, and is buried Mount Hope Cemetery. (4) Jonathan b. 1846; m. 19 December 1867 in Pleasanton, Atascosa County, Texas, to Mattie English (relationship, if any, to this English family unknown); d. 1870 near Derby, Frio County, Texas. Jonathan was shot while chasing horses; he may be buried at the Martin Settlement in Frio County. (5) Elizabeth b. 16 January 1849 in Caldwell County, Texas; m. 28 February 1870 in Maverick county, Texas, to Rubin Bell; d. 28 January 1927 in Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas. (6) Edward Burleson, Sr. b. 27 April 1852 near Yorktown in DeWitt county, Texas; m. 1st on 30 September 1869 in Uvalde County, Texas, to Margaret (Bell) English, widow of his eldest brother, Bud, and mother of four sons by Bud; m. 2d in 1896 to Mrs. Elizabeth (McFarland) Brock. There were four sons and one daughter by the first marriage; one daughter by the second marriage. Died 27 October 1920 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas; buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Carrizo Spring. (7) Plaseit/Plasette B. (Plas) b. 9 August 1855; m. 1st ca 1872 to Mary ___; m. 2d 13 June 1887 in Carrizo Springs, Dimmit County, Texas, to Zillah Bolya; d. 9 April 1906 in Carrizo Springs. (8) Joel b. ca 1857 in Atascosa County, Texas; m. ca 1876 in Eagle Pass (?) to Cordelia McCarley; d. 1 June 1911. (9) Amanda (Mandie) b. 10 February 1859 in Atascosa County, Texas; m. 30 July 1877 to Jack Lloyd; d. 6 December 1917. (10) Jacob (Jake) b. 10 July 1860 in Frio County, Texas; m. 1st on 2 October 1882 in Carrizo Springs, Dimmit County, Texas, to Emma Carr; m. 2nd on 11 February 1890 to June Stuart; d. 6 June 1935. (11) Sarah (Sallie) b. 15 February 1866 in Carrizo Springs, Dimmit County, Texas; m. 22 November 1882 in Carrizo Springs, Dimmit County, Texas, to V. W. Foster; d. 9 May 1896 in Carrizo Springs. From DeWitt County, where their sixth child was born in 1852, the English family moved to Bexar County, remaining a short while, then went to Atascosa County and settled just above the present town of Pleasanton, being the first family, along with the Sam Lytle family, to locate on the Medina River near Von Ormy. From Atascosa they moved to Frio County in 1860 and settled on the Leona River. While they were living there a band of 300 Indians made a raid in that section and killed several white men, among those murdered being Leonard Eastwood and Jim Saunders (or Sanders); John Spears was wounded. The families got together, gathered up their stock and household goods, and started back to fifty Indians threatened to attack them but, when the white people showed fight, the savages made haste to depart. These families remained in Atascosa about a year and then moved back to Frio County. At a later time the Indians made another raid in that section, and Levi English with ten men (see p. 15) overtook them near where Dilley now stands. There a desperate engagement ensued, in which three of the white men, (Dan Williams, John English, and Dean Oden) were killed and six wounded. John (Bud) English was the oldest son of Levi; another one, Jonathan, was accidentally killed while hunting horses near Derby, Texas, which was then in Atascosa County but is now in Frio County. In 1865 Captain English moved his family to Dimmit County, where there was at that time only one house. Captain English settled three miles below this house and was the founder of Carrizo Springs in 1869. One day in July 1866 Ed English, with his younger brother, Joel, was out on the range hunting horses. The two boys were attacked by seven Indians who had come upon them unawares. Ed shot one of their horses and the Indians closed in upon him, shot him in the arm, and knocked his gun out of his hands. An Indian made a lunge at him with a lance, which pierced his pistol scabbard. He nevertheless managed to pull his pistol and killed the foremost Indian with it. When the other Indians ran to the fallen brave, Ed and Joel made a dash for the ranch, with three Indians following, and in the chase one of the Indians shot Ed in the back with an arrow. The boys outdistanced their pursuers and reached home, where Captain English pulled out the arrow and found that it had a long steel spike on the end of it. Ed was laid up with his wounds for nearly two months. The next raid the Indians made was in 1870. A band of about 200 swooped down on the ranch of Charles Vivian, killed a Mexican, and captured a Mexican boy. Before they reached the Dave Adams ranch the Indians met a party of five cowboys - Will Bell, Joe Tumlinson, Si Hay, John Smith, and a Mexican. As they were greatly outnumbered, the boys had to retreat. Adams was at a pen near his house when the Indians came up. Since he had no gun with him, Adams tried to gain the brush but was cut off and killed by the Indians. The alarm was spread and, when none of the Indians were within a half mile of Carrizo Springs, several men, including William Pickens, Rube Bell, and Caldwell Roberts, went out and engaged them in battle but were driven back. Other men had come in from the upper region and got around the Indians to the Adams ranch and engaged the main body in a desperate fight. While the Indians were killing Adams a wagonload of people who were going to Carrizo Springs drove upon the scene. They were Jack McCurly (cousin to Ed English), Jake Burleson, Pat McCurly, Plas English (son of Levi English), and Mrs. Levi English. They turned the wagon and ran from the Indians, with only two of their party following the wagon. The others remained to take part in the fight with the cowboys. One thing that particularly stands out in these accounts of Indian encounters is the number English kinfolk involved. In the above 1870 raid, there were included, besides Levi's wife and sons, three of his sons-in-law; the Burlesons were certainly relatives; Jack McCurly was probably related; and William Bell was also probably related. It would appear that, with the English family in a community, protection from the Indians was built in. Two last stories, about the sixth son of Levi and Matilda English, are related to demonstrate other evidence of the good character of this large family. As a small boy Ed English contracted to herd and shear some sheep, for which he received $5.00. He put that money aside to use for going into the cattle business. One day a cow hunt stopped at his home to auction off some mavericks which they had found. Among the cattle to be auctioned off were two brown heifer yearlings, and Ed went to the man in charge and asked if he would be permitted to bid. He was told that he could bid and was asked how much money he had. The lad proudly replied that he had $5.00 and explained how he had obtained it. About thirty men were there but none of them bid against the ambitious lad, and he got the two yearlings for $4.00. During his lifetime, Ed English had power of authority to handle more cattle than any other man in his part of the state, that power extending from Brownsville to the Conchos. The last settlements he made were with Jim Lowe, Billie Slaughter, Mont and Cal Woodward, Bill Ward, and Lease Harris. During his long career he never learned how to block a brand or run one over and he never handled a wet horse. [Submitted by Amanda Jowers]