David was the Son of G.W. and Silvina DeLong. The first white child to be born in Tom Green County, Tx. Rancher, Director of the First National Bank of Eldorado,Tx. Married Annie Bell Smith in 1897.
~
MR. DAVE DELONG
By Mary DeLong
Dave DeLong was born eighteen miles southeast of San Angelo, Texas, at Lipan Springs, February 8, 1866. When Dave was six years old his father, G. W. DeLong, started to the South Concho in a wagon with two yoke of oxen to get timber to build a house. While on the way his father with a discharged Leiutenant [sic]named Love, who was at that time staying with him, saw dust off the road about two miles away, going in the same direction that they were but thought that it was caused by wild mustang horses. They paid no attention to the matter and continued on their way about five miles farther when they were waylaid by Commanche [sic] Indians. The Indians had hidden in tall Saeaweesta grass, and before G. W. DeLong saw them one shot him in the left arm. The man Love was shot with a poisoned arrow through the right ear. This drove him insane instantly. G. W. DeLong killed the Indian that had shot his comrade, but as his companion was helpless, he was all alone with fourteen Indians after his life. He placed his comrade in the bottom of the wagon and began trying to protect himself. He climbed down under the wagon with only a small brass-sided, rim-fire, forty-four Winchester for protection. He shot through the spokes of the wagon as the Indians began charging with poisoned arrows and guns. After a while all the Indians except the chief went back to a small knoll and held a consultation. The chief tied to his horse ran by with a six-shooter in both hands. G. W. DeLong aimed, fired at the chief and killed him. After the Indian warriors saw their leader killed, they retreated because it is a custom of theirs not to fight after their chief is dead.
Mr. DeLong turned the oxen back toward home, arriving at mid-night. When the family found that he had been wounded, there was great excitement. At that time there was a small place called Fort Concho, where San Angelo now stands, and at this place a small hospital had been erected. Mr. DeLong was taken to this hospital that morning and here he lay for six weeks before he revived.
When Dave was eight, the family moved to the South Concho, where they erected the first dam at Christoval, Texas, for the purpose of irrigation. Although only a small lad, Dave tried to assist in the digging and erection of the dam. At that time G. W. DeLong owned the land that Christoval now stands on. He also owned the land where a small ditch leads out of the Christoval river. DeLong and his sons dug this irrigating ditch for four miles so that he could irrigate all of his farm land. It took them three years to complete this work. All the assistance that they had while digging this ditch was a small plow pulled by oxen.
The land holding system of that time provided that the person who dug a good irrigation ditch over one square mile of land received six hundred and forty acres in return. In this way Mr. DeLong settled up all the land he then owned and the land that my grandmother now has her homestead on.
Once when only a small child Dave went on a buffalo hunt with his Uncle, Bill DeLong. They came to a large herd of buffalo and his uncle left him under a tree while he rode off to shoot some of the buffaloes. Dave played around the tree until he became tired and then wandered toward the place where his uncle was shooting at the buffalo. An old buffalo with a small calf came in the boy's direction. The uncle was not watching the small boy as he supposed that he was still under the tree where he left him. The buffaloes began chasing the boy and he began running toward his uncle.
The uncle saw them then and killed the older buffalo but could not shoot the smaller one without hitting the boy. The boy was not afraid of the small calf and tried to bull-dog it, but instead the calf began wallowing the boy. They began rolling over and over on the ground and the calf was stepping all over Dave. He was being bruised very badly, but the uncle was afraid to shoot for fear that he would hit the boy. He finally had to pull the calf off the boy and then shoot. Dave was frightened almost to death. He did not feel as if he would like to bull-dog any buffalo calves after being trod all over by this one.
When Dave was about ten his father went off, leaving no one at home except the mother and a girl cousin with Dave, the eldest child. They were getting ready to go to bed one night when they heard war whoops in the distance. His mother and cousin ran for the gun, which was so large that they could hardly carry it. The old gun was filled with dirt dauber nests as it had not been used in a great while. The two women tried to clean the old gun but without much success. Suddenly louder war whoops were heard. As no help could be secured anywhere they hardly knew what to do. All the children were very frightened. They were afraid that the Indians were setting the house on fire as they could see the torches of the Indians through the windows. The noise stopped suddenly, and going to the door after a good while had passed, the family could see nothing. They were very thankful, for they realized what the Indians could have done if they had attacked the house.
As Dave DeLong grew older, he did not like the occupation of farming and took to cattle raising. He bought a ranch, in 1895, sixteen miles northwest of Eldorado in Schleicher County. A post office was built here called Thorpe, Texas. Later this post office was abolished because the people thought it about as easy to go into Eldorado for their mail since they had to get their supplies there anyway.
In 1899 Dave DeLong married Anna Belle Smith and they went to live on the ranch.
In 1905 there were two outlaws, Tom Ketchum and Dave Adkins, who were well known characters all over West Texas. They were known as bandits who held up trains. Mr. DeLong and Dave Adkins were boys and went to school together. When Dave Adkins was about eighteen, he killed a man in self-defense and got up and left the country. He was of a good family and could probably have beaten the case in court but he chose to run from the law.
Adkins became associated with Tom Ketchum who had also killed a man over his sweetheart. They began doing worse things and soon did not care, for they were hunted by officers everywhere. One day while riding in the pasture, Mr. DeLong came upon them sleeping in a canyon. Tom Ketchum had his horse trained to nicker when anyone was in sight; Dave DeLong was almost upon them when the horse nickered. Both outlaws jumped to their feet and put their guns on Mr. DeLong but recognized him and took them off.
After that they began hiding in this canyon frequently. Mr. DeLong did not care to have them there but as he had grown up with Dave Adkins and knew him well he could not ask them to leave. Tom Ketchum gave Mr. DeLong a beautiful quirt that he had made himself when they left. Some of the officers were on their trail, so they left their hiding place after a period of about one year.
Mr. Dave DeLong has continued ranching in this country for many years after this incident and now lives in Eldorado.
[From "Schleicher County, or, Eighty Years of Development in Southwest Texas", pub. 1930,
~
MR. DAVE DELONG
By Mary DeLong
Dave DeLong was born eighteen miles southeast of San Angelo, Texas, at Lipan Springs, February 8, 1866. When Dave was six years old his father, G. W. DeLong, started to the South Concho in a wagon with two yoke of oxen to get timber to build a house. While on the way his father with a discharged Leiutenant [sic]named Love, who was at that time staying with him, saw dust off the road about two miles away, going in the same direction that they were but thought that it was caused by wild mustang horses. They paid no attention to the matter and continued on their way about five miles farther when they were waylaid by Commanche [sic] Indians. The Indians had hidden in tall Saeaweesta grass, and before G. W. DeLong saw them one shot him in the left arm. The man Love was shot with a poisoned arrow through the right ear. This drove him insane instantly. G. W. DeLong killed the Indian that had shot his comrade, but as his companion was helpless, he was all alone with fourteen Indians after his life. He placed his comrade in the bottom of the wagon and began trying to protect himself. He climbed down under the wagon with only a small brass-sided, rim-fire, forty-four Winchester for protection. He shot through the spokes of the wagon as the Indians began charging with poisoned arrows and guns. After a while all the Indians except the chief went back to a small knoll and held a consultation. The chief tied to his horse ran by with a six-shooter in both hands. G. W. DeLong aimed, fired at the chief and killed him. After the Indian warriors saw their leader killed, they retreated because it is a custom of theirs not to fight after their chief is dead.
Mr. DeLong turned the oxen back toward home, arriving at mid-night. When the family found that he had been wounded, there was great excitement. At that time there was a small place called Fort Concho, where San Angelo now stands, and at this place a small hospital had been erected. Mr. DeLong was taken to this hospital that morning and here he lay for six weeks before he revived.
When Dave was eight, the family moved to the South Concho, where they erected the first dam at Christoval, Texas, for the purpose of irrigation. Although only a small lad, Dave tried to assist in the digging and erection of the dam. At that time G. W. DeLong owned the land that Christoval now stands on. He also owned the land where a small ditch leads out of the Christoval river. DeLong and his sons dug this irrigating ditch for four miles so that he could irrigate all of his farm land. It took them three years to complete this work. All the assistance that they had while digging this ditch was a small plow pulled by oxen.
The land holding system of that time provided that the person who dug a good irrigation ditch over one square mile of land received six hundred and forty acres in return. In this way Mr. DeLong settled up all the land he then owned and the land that my grandmother now has her homestead on.
Once when only a small child Dave went on a buffalo hunt with his Uncle, Bill DeLong. They came to a large herd of buffalo and his uncle left him under a tree while he rode off to shoot some of the buffaloes. Dave played around the tree until he became tired and then wandered toward the place where his uncle was shooting at the buffalo. An old buffalo with a small calf came in the boy's direction. The uncle was not watching the small boy as he supposed that he was still under the tree where he left him. The buffaloes began chasing the boy and he began running toward his uncle.
The uncle saw them then and killed the older buffalo but could not shoot the smaller one without hitting the boy. The boy was not afraid of the small calf and tried to bull-dog it, but instead the calf began wallowing the boy. They began rolling over and over on the ground and the calf was stepping all over Dave. He was being bruised very badly, but the uncle was afraid to shoot for fear that he would hit the boy. He finally had to pull the calf off the boy and then shoot. Dave was frightened almost to death. He did not feel as if he would like to bull-dog any buffalo calves after being trod all over by this one.
When Dave was about ten his father went off, leaving no one at home except the mother and a girl cousin with Dave, the eldest child. They were getting ready to go to bed one night when they heard war whoops in the distance. His mother and cousin ran for the gun, which was so large that they could hardly carry it. The old gun was filled with dirt dauber nests as it had not been used in a great while. The two women tried to clean the old gun but without much success. Suddenly louder war whoops were heard. As no help could be secured anywhere they hardly knew what to do. All the children were very frightened. They were afraid that the Indians were setting the house on fire as they could see the torches of the Indians through the windows. The noise stopped suddenly, and going to the door after a good while had passed, the family could see nothing. They were very thankful, for they realized what the Indians could have done if they had attacked the house.
As Dave DeLong grew older, he did not like the occupation of farming and took to cattle raising. He bought a ranch, in 1895, sixteen miles northwest of Eldorado in Schleicher County. A post office was built here called Thorpe, Texas. Later this post office was abolished because the people thought it about as easy to go into Eldorado for their mail since they had to get their supplies there anyway.
In 1899 Dave DeLong married Anna Belle Smith and they went to live on the ranch.
In 1905 there were two outlaws, Tom Ketchum and Dave Adkins, who were well known characters all over West Texas. They were known as bandits who held up trains. Mr. DeLong and Dave Adkins were boys and went to school together. When Dave Adkins was about eighteen, he killed a man in self-defense and got up and left the country. He was of a good family and could probably have beaten the case in court but he chose to run from the law.
Adkins became associated with Tom Ketchum who had also killed a man over his sweetheart. They began doing worse things and soon did not care, for they were hunted by officers everywhere. One day while riding in the pasture, Mr. DeLong came upon them sleeping in a canyon. Tom Ketchum had his horse trained to nicker when anyone was in sight; Dave DeLong was almost upon them when the horse nickered. Both outlaws jumped to their feet and put their guns on Mr. DeLong but recognized him and took them off.
After that they began hiding in this canyon frequently. Mr. DeLong did not care to have them there but as he had grown up with Dave Adkins and knew him well he could not ask them to leave. Tom Ketchum gave Mr. DeLong a beautiful quirt that he had made himself when they left. Some of the officers were on their trail, so they left their hiding place after a period of about one year.
Mr. Dave DeLong has continued ranching in this country for many years after this incident and now lives in Eldorado.
[From "Schleicher County, or, Eighty Years of Development in Southwest Texas", pub. 1930,
David was the Son of G.W. and Silvina DeLong. The first white child to be born in Tom Green County, Tx. Rancher, Director of the First National Bank of Eldorado,Tx. Married Annie Bell Smith in 1897.
~
MR. DAVE DELONG
By Mary DeLong
Dave DeLong was born eighteen miles southeast of San Angelo, Texas, at Lipan Springs, February 8, 1866. When Dave was six years old his father, G. W. DeLong, started to the South Concho in a wagon with two yoke of oxen to get timber to build a house. While on the way his father with a discharged Leiutenant [sic]named Love, who was at that time staying with him, saw dust off the road about two miles away, going in the same direction that they were but thought that it was caused by wild mustang horses. They paid no attention to the matter and continued on their way about five miles farther when they were waylaid by Commanche [sic] Indians. The Indians had hidden in tall Saeaweesta grass, and before G. W. DeLong saw them one shot him in the left arm. The man Love was shot with a poisoned arrow through the right ear. This drove him insane instantly. G. W. DeLong killed the Indian that had shot his comrade, but as his companion was helpless, he was all alone with fourteen Indians after his life. He placed his comrade in the bottom of the wagon and began trying to protect himself. He climbed down under the wagon with only a small brass-sided, rim-fire, forty-four Winchester for protection. He shot through the spokes of the wagon as the Indians began charging with poisoned arrows and guns. After a while all the Indians except the chief went back to a small knoll and held a consultation. The chief tied to his horse ran by with a six-shooter in both hands. G. W. DeLong aimed, fired at the chief and killed him. After the Indian warriors saw their leader killed, they retreated because it is a custom of theirs not to fight after their chief is dead.
Mr. DeLong turned the oxen back toward home, arriving at mid-night. When the family found that he had been wounded, there was great excitement. At that time there was a small place called Fort Concho, where San Angelo now stands, and at this place a small hospital had been erected. Mr. DeLong was taken to this hospital that morning and here he lay for six weeks before he revived.
When Dave was eight, the family moved to the South Concho, where they erected the first dam at Christoval, Texas, for the purpose of irrigation. Although only a small lad, Dave tried to assist in the digging and erection of the dam. At that time G. W. DeLong owned the land that Christoval now stands on. He also owned the land where a small ditch leads out of the Christoval river. DeLong and his sons dug this irrigating ditch for four miles so that he could irrigate all of his farm land. It took them three years to complete this work. All the assistance that they had while digging this ditch was a small plow pulled by oxen.
The land holding system of that time provided that the person who dug a good irrigation ditch over one square mile of land received six hundred and forty acres in return. In this way Mr. DeLong settled up all the land he then owned and the land that my grandmother now has her homestead on.
Once when only a small child Dave went on a buffalo hunt with his Uncle, Bill DeLong. They came to a large herd of buffalo and his uncle left him under a tree while he rode off to shoot some of the buffaloes. Dave played around the tree until he became tired and then wandered toward the place where his uncle was shooting at the buffalo. An old buffalo with a small calf came in the boy's direction. The uncle was not watching the small boy as he supposed that he was still under the tree where he left him. The buffaloes began chasing the boy and he began running toward his uncle.
The uncle saw them then and killed the older buffalo but could not shoot the smaller one without hitting the boy. The boy was not afraid of the small calf and tried to bull-dog it, but instead the calf began wallowing the boy. They began rolling over and over on the ground and the calf was stepping all over Dave. He was being bruised very badly, but the uncle was afraid to shoot for fear that he would hit the boy. He finally had to pull the calf off the boy and then shoot. Dave was frightened almost to death. He did not feel as if he would like to bull-dog any buffalo calves after being trod all over by this one.
When Dave was about ten his father went off, leaving no one at home except the mother and a girl cousin with Dave, the eldest child. They were getting ready to go to bed one night when they heard war whoops in the distance. His mother and cousin ran for the gun, which was so large that they could hardly carry it. The old gun was filled with dirt dauber nests as it had not been used in a great while. The two women tried to clean the old gun but without much success. Suddenly louder war whoops were heard. As no help could be secured anywhere they hardly knew what to do. All the children were very frightened. They were afraid that the Indians were setting the house on fire as they could see the torches of the Indians through the windows. The noise stopped suddenly, and going to the door after a good while had passed, the family could see nothing. They were very thankful, for they realized what the Indians could have done if they had attacked the house.
As Dave DeLong grew older, he did not like the occupation of farming and took to cattle raising. He bought a ranch, in 1895, sixteen miles northwest of Eldorado in Schleicher County. A post office was built here called Thorpe, Texas. Later this post office was abolished because the people thought it about as easy to go into Eldorado for their mail since they had to get their supplies there anyway.
In 1899 Dave DeLong married Anna Belle Smith and they went to live on the ranch.
In 1905 there were two outlaws, Tom Ketchum and Dave Adkins, who were well known characters all over West Texas. They were known as bandits who held up trains. Mr. DeLong and Dave Adkins were boys and went to school together. When Dave Adkins was about eighteen, he killed a man in self-defense and got up and left the country. He was of a good family and could probably have beaten the case in court but he chose to run from the law.
Adkins became associated with Tom Ketchum who had also killed a man over his sweetheart. They began doing worse things and soon did not care, for they were hunted by officers everywhere. One day while riding in the pasture, Mr. DeLong came upon them sleeping in a canyon. Tom Ketchum had his horse trained to nicker when anyone was in sight; Dave DeLong was almost upon them when the horse nickered. Both outlaws jumped to their feet and put their guns on Mr. DeLong but recognized him and took them off.
After that they began hiding in this canyon frequently. Mr. DeLong did not care to have them there but as he had grown up with Dave Adkins and knew him well he could not ask them to leave. Tom Ketchum gave Mr. DeLong a beautiful quirt that he had made himself when they left. Some of the officers were on their trail, so they left their hiding place after a period of about one year.
Mr. Dave DeLong has continued ranching in this country for many years after this incident and now lives in Eldorado.
[From "Schleicher County, or, Eighty Years of Development in Southwest Texas", pub. 1930,
~
MR. DAVE DELONG
By Mary DeLong
Dave DeLong was born eighteen miles southeast of San Angelo, Texas, at Lipan Springs, February 8, 1866. When Dave was six years old his father, G. W. DeLong, started to the South Concho in a wagon with two yoke of oxen to get timber to build a house. While on the way his father with a discharged Leiutenant [sic]named Love, who was at that time staying with him, saw dust off the road about two miles away, going in the same direction that they were but thought that it was caused by wild mustang horses. They paid no attention to the matter and continued on their way about five miles farther when they were waylaid by Commanche [sic] Indians. The Indians had hidden in tall Saeaweesta grass, and before G. W. DeLong saw them one shot him in the left arm. The man Love was shot with a poisoned arrow through the right ear. This drove him insane instantly. G. W. DeLong killed the Indian that had shot his comrade, but as his companion was helpless, he was all alone with fourteen Indians after his life. He placed his comrade in the bottom of the wagon and began trying to protect himself. He climbed down under the wagon with only a small brass-sided, rim-fire, forty-four Winchester for protection. He shot through the spokes of the wagon as the Indians began charging with poisoned arrows and guns. After a while all the Indians except the chief went back to a small knoll and held a consultation. The chief tied to his horse ran by with a six-shooter in both hands. G. W. DeLong aimed, fired at the chief and killed him. After the Indian warriors saw their leader killed, they retreated because it is a custom of theirs not to fight after their chief is dead.
Mr. DeLong turned the oxen back toward home, arriving at mid-night. When the family found that he had been wounded, there was great excitement. At that time there was a small place called Fort Concho, where San Angelo now stands, and at this place a small hospital had been erected. Mr. DeLong was taken to this hospital that morning and here he lay for six weeks before he revived.
When Dave was eight, the family moved to the South Concho, where they erected the first dam at Christoval, Texas, for the purpose of irrigation. Although only a small lad, Dave tried to assist in the digging and erection of the dam. At that time G. W. DeLong owned the land that Christoval now stands on. He also owned the land where a small ditch leads out of the Christoval river. DeLong and his sons dug this irrigating ditch for four miles so that he could irrigate all of his farm land. It took them three years to complete this work. All the assistance that they had while digging this ditch was a small plow pulled by oxen.
The land holding system of that time provided that the person who dug a good irrigation ditch over one square mile of land received six hundred and forty acres in return. In this way Mr. DeLong settled up all the land he then owned and the land that my grandmother now has her homestead on.
Once when only a small child Dave went on a buffalo hunt with his Uncle, Bill DeLong. They came to a large herd of buffalo and his uncle left him under a tree while he rode off to shoot some of the buffaloes. Dave played around the tree until he became tired and then wandered toward the place where his uncle was shooting at the buffalo. An old buffalo with a small calf came in the boy's direction. The uncle was not watching the small boy as he supposed that he was still under the tree where he left him. The buffaloes began chasing the boy and he began running toward his uncle.
The uncle saw them then and killed the older buffalo but could not shoot the smaller one without hitting the boy. The boy was not afraid of the small calf and tried to bull-dog it, but instead the calf began wallowing the boy. They began rolling over and over on the ground and the calf was stepping all over Dave. He was being bruised very badly, but the uncle was afraid to shoot for fear that he would hit the boy. He finally had to pull the calf off the boy and then shoot. Dave was frightened almost to death. He did not feel as if he would like to bull-dog any buffalo calves after being trod all over by this one.
When Dave was about ten his father went off, leaving no one at home except the mother and a girl cousin with Dave, the eldest child. They were getting ready to go to bed one night when they heard war whoops in the distance. His mother and cousin ran for the gun, which was so large that they could hardly carry it. The old gun was filled with dirt dauber nests as it had not been used in a great while. The two women tried to clean the old gun but without much success. Suddenly louder war whoops were heard. As no help could be secured anywhere they hardly knew what to do. All the children were very frightened. They were afraid that the Indians were setting the house on fire as they could see the torches of the Indians through the windows. The noise stopped suddenly, and going to the door after a good while had passed, the family could see nothing. They were very thankful, for they realized what the Indians could have done if they had attacked the house.
As Dave DeLong grew older, he did not like the occupation of farming and took to cattle raising. He bought a ranch, in 1895, sixteen miles northwest of Eldorado in Schleicher County. A post office was built here called Thorpe, Texas. Later this post office was abolished because the people thought it about as easy to go into Eldorado for their mail since they had to get their supplies there anyway.
In 1899 Dave DeLong married Anna Belle Smith and they went to live on the ranch.
In 1905 there were two outlaws, Tom Ketchum and Dave Adkins, who were well known characters all over West Texas. They were known as bandits who held up trains. Mr. DeLong and Dave Adkins were boys and went to school together. When Dave Adkins was about eighteen, he killed a man in self-defense and got up and left the country. He was of a good family and could probably have beaten the case in court but he chose to run from the law.
Adkins became associated with Tom Ketchum who had also killed a man over his sweetheart. They began doing worse things and soon did not care, for they were hunted by officers everywhere. One day while riding in the pasture, Mr. DeLong came upon them sleeping in a canyon. Tom Ketchum had his horse trained to nicker when anyone was in sight; Dave DeLong was almost upon them when the horse nickered. Both outlaws jumped to their feet and put their guns on Mr. DeLong but recognized him and took them off.
After that they began hiding in this canyon frequently. Mr. DeLong did not care to have them there but as he had grown up with Dave Adkins and knew him well he could not ask them to leave. Tom Ketchum gave Mr. DeLong a beautiful quirt that he had made himself when they left. Some of the officers were on their trail, so they left their hiding place after a period of about one year.
Mr. Dave DeLong has continued ranching in this country for many years after this incident and now lives in Eldorado.
[From "Schleicher County, or, Eighty Years of Development in Southwest Texas", pub. 1930,
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David E. DeLong
Feb 8,2866-
Apr 5, 1950
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