After George Richard (Dick) Spikes moved from Kaufman County to Crosby County with his family in 1890, he settled with his brothers John Julian, Frederick Henry, and Wesley Ernest on what some called "some of the best ranchland in New Mexico". The brothers drove a herd of cattle to feast on the rich grasses and plentiful water on the land. On January 21, 1902, Dick and his brothers John and Fred were ambushed as they came riding home after removing a drift fence. Both Dick and John were killed, but Fred, even though seriously wounded, survived. Another brother, Joseph Jefferson Spikes, drove a wagon to New Mexico and brought his brothers' bodies back to Crosby County to be buried in the Emma Cemetery.
After George Richard (Dick) Spikes moved from Kaufman County to Crosby County with his family in 1890, he settled with his brothers John Julian, Frederick Henry, and Wesley Ernest on what some called "some of the best ranchland in New Mexico". The brothers drove a herd of cattle to feast on the rich grasses and plentiful water on the land. On January 21, 1902, Dick and his brothers John and Fred were ambushed as they came riding home after removing a drift fence. Both Dick and John were killed, but Fred, even though seriously wounded, survived. Another brother, Joseph Jefferson Spikes, drove a wagon to New Mexico and brought his brothers' bodies back to Crosby County to be buried in the Emma Cemetery.
