Babb Cemetery
In September of 2000 when we found Babb
Cemetery there were only 18 readable headstones (complete information at the bottom of this page).
It's hard to find back in the pasture and it's very grown up in brush and briars. I took
many pictures of the headstones and also the way in and the surroundings because of the
difficulty of finding this cemetery.
There's a historical marker on FmRd 1810 (about 1 mile east of Chico on the south side of the road) and also one at the cemetery. The text is as follows:
Indian Captives Dot and Bianca Babb
(Captured 2 miles south; this town on getaway route)
Two of Texas history’s best-known
Indian captives, 13-year-old T.A. "Dot" Babb (1852-1936) and his 9-year-old
sister Bianca (1855?-1950) were stolen by Comanches from their home near here in September
of 1865.
While at play one day, the children were surprised by a raiding party
of 35 to 40 Indians. Mrs. Babb was killed and Dot, Bianca, and a Mrs. Luster (a visitor)
were taken to Indian Territory (present Oklahoma). After helping Mrs. Luster escape on the
way, Dot was very nearly executed, but so stoic was he in facing death that the Indians
admiringly spared his life.
For the next two years Dot and Bianca lived, in different tribes, as
adopted Comanches. Bianca later recalled that the Indians held a feast – with coffee,
a luxury – upon her arrival and that they colored her blonde hair with charcoal and
buffalo tallow.
Dot, after a winter as the squaws’ flunky, asserted has male
rights and thereafter spent his time taming horses. He was taken on raids against other
tribes and showed signs of becoming a fine warrior.
After two years, the children’s father ransomed them and a joyful
reunion occurred. Both Dot and Bianca spoke with sympathy, however, of many Indian customs
and of kind treatment during captivity. (1971)
Babb Cemetery
Established September 5, 1866 when Mrs. John Babb was killed by Comanche Indians. The party also captured a widow, Mrs. Luster (who soon escaped), as well as two of Babb’s children, Dot and Bianca, who were held captive for two years before being rescued by their father.
About one mile east of Chico on Fm Rd 1810 take CR 1340 to the south and follow it for about a mile. Turn right (or south) on CR 1326 and you will soon come to an oilfield gate on the right (see picture). It says Elbert Bailey lease on the fence. There are several oil tanks visible from the road.
Follow the oilfield road and go behind the old Bailey house (picture) and barn and then out in the pasture on the road pictured below.
Hunting headstones in the brush and briars.
The only "Babb" headstone we found had a rock fence around it. (Engraving is chalked)
Table of information: Headstones are numbered # in no particular order (just as we came to them).
| # | Last Name | First Name | Born | Date of Death | Information |
10 |
Babb | Isabel A. | Aug 13, 1866 |
Wife of J.S. - Aged 36 years | |
11 |
Babb | John S. | July 14, 1883 |
Aged 65 Years - Headstone with Isabel A. | |
9 |
Bailey | J.M. | Apr 7, 1863 |
Mar 16, 1884 |
|
7 |
Gamble | J.O. | Aug 20, 1843 |
Aug 13, 1882 |
|
6 |
Gamble | M.M. | Oct 2, 1844 |
Mar 16, 1885 |
Wife of J.O. |
5 |
Gamble | Robert P. | Mar 6, 1875 |
July 1, 1892 |
Son of J.O. & M.M. |
8 |
Hanna | F.A. | Oct 3, 1878 |
May 9, 1883 |
|
1 |
Kay | Authur Arnold | June 6, 1883 |
Apr 22, 1885 |
Son of E. H. & S.E. |
2 |
Lovejoy | John L. | July 6, 1829 |
June 18, 1905 |
Headstone with Nancy |
3 |
Lovejoy | Nancy | Oct 27, 1831 |
Jan 15, 1921 |
Headstone with John L. |
4 |
Rann | John Estrela | Jan 18, 1880 |
broken |
|
18 |
Remder | James T. | Jan 4, 1881 |
Feb 24, 1881 |
Son of E.W. & D.E. |
13 |
Stubblefield | Albert | Apr 22, 1883 |
Feb 11, 1902 |
|
17 |
Stubblefield | Bertha L. | May 22, 1891 |
Dec 29, 1936 |
|
14 |
Stubblefield | Infant | Oct 14, 1883 |
Jan 13, 1884 |
Son of R.K. & L.J. |
16 |
Stubblefield | Janie L. | Mar 18, 1868 |
Nov 7, 1940 |
|
15 |
Stubblefield | Robert King | Nov 25, 1859 |
July 19, 1923 |
|
12 |
Stubblefield | Sarah A. | Feb 26, 1857 |
Mar 8, 1900 |
Wife of John A. |