Near Mountain Home in Kerr County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Dowdy Tragedy of 1878

Dowdy Tragedy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 31, 2020

1. Dowdy Tragedy Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The pioneer family of Susan (1830 - 1913) and James Dowdy (1818 - 1900) moved from Goliad to Kerr County in 1878 and settled on Johnson Creek. Shortly after the family arrived, four of the Dowdy children Alice, Martha, Susan, and James were killed by Indians while tending sheep near their home. The attack occurred on Oct. 5, 1878, at a site about 3.5 miles northwest of present Ingram. The victims were buried the following day at Sunset Cemetery, northwest of Ingram. This incident was one of the last Indian raids in Kerr county.

Erected 1979 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5324.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 30° 9.281′ N, 99° 20.466′ W. Marker is near Mountain Home, Texas, in Kerr County. Marker is on Junction Highway (State Highway 27) 0.1 miles south of Tecaboca Road, on the left when traveling north. The marker is located at the north end of a rest area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mountain Home TX 78058, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sunset Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hunt Japonica Cemetery (approx. 5.3 miles away); Hunt (approx. 5.9 miles away); Schumacher Crossing on the Guadalupe River (approx. 6 miles away); Henderson Cemetery (approx. 6.1 miles away); Site of Sherman's Mill (approx. 6.7 miles away); History of Stonehenge II (approx. 8 miles away); Old Ingram (approx. 8.2 miles away).

Regarding The Dowdy Tragedy of 1878. Later reports indicated that many people thought at the time that Indians were not to blame but bandits dressed up as Indians. "It is believed at headquarters that the murderers of the Dowdy family were white men, and that the girls were outraged (sexually assaulted)". Source: The Galveston Daily News, Nov. 27, 1878

Also see . . .
1. Unsolved Mystery of the Dowdy Family Massacre. Texas Hill Country website entry (Submitted on November 12, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. Mountain Home, Texas. TSHA Texas State Historical Association (Submitted on November 12, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Photographed By James Hulse, October 31, 2020

2. Dowdy Tragedy Marker

Dowdy family graves - Susan, Alice, Martha, James image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 31, 2020

3. Dowdy family graves - Susan, Alice, Martha, James

Susan and Alice are in the left grave and Martha and James are in the second grave from the left. The other two graves on the far right were not readable.

Closeup of Susan and Alice's grave indicate they were murdered. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 31, 2020

4. Closeup of Susan and Alice's grave indicate they were murdered.

Both parents are buried next to them as well as other Dowdy family members.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 8,062 times since then and 7,744 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 12, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.