Near Valley View in Cooke County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Kiowa Raid of 1868

(SW Part of County)

Photographed by Brian Anderson, August 10, 2018

1. Kiowa Raid of 1868 Marker

Inscription. On Jan. 5-6, 1868, Chief Big Tree and 150 to 200 Kiowas raided Willa Walla Valley, Clear Creek and Blocker Creek. Burned homes; killed 13 people; scalped one woman alive. Captured 10 women and children; 3 escaped, 2 were ransomed. Raiders reached Elm Creek at Gainesville before blizzard forced withdrawal.

More damage and deaths would have resulted if George Masoner had not become the "Paul Revere" of valleys and warned settlers of impending danger.

Indian raids such as this one were in retaliation for loss of hunting grounds to settlers.

Erected 1968 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 2958.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is January 5, 1868.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 33° 31.714′ N, 97° 9.964′ W. Marker was near Valley View, Texas, in Cooke County. It was on Interstate 35 at milepost 490, 2.8 miles north of East Obuch Street (Farm to Market Road 922), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in a picnic area accessed from

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an exit on northbound I-35 at milemarker 490. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Gainesville TX 76240, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It was also in the American South.

Globally, it was in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Valley View (approx. 2.8 miles away); Newsome Dougherty Memorial High School (approx. 6 miles away); Gainesville Junior College (approx. 6.1 miles away); Hubert H. Moss (approx. 6.2 miles away); Randolph Lee Clark (approx. 6.2 miles away); The Houston House (approx. 6½ miles away); Davis House (approx. 6½ miles away); Potter-Hurley House (approx. 6½ miles away).

More about this marker. Entire picnic area is under construction and sign is missing.

Photographed by Brian Anderson, August 10, 2018

2. Kiowa Raid of 1868 Marker

Kiowa Raid of 1868 Marker - Missing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark St. Martin, March 20, 2026

3. Kiowa Raid of 1868 Marker - Missing

Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,586 times since then and 125 times this year. Last updated on March 20, 2026, by Mark St. Martin of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 15, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. 3. submitted on March 20, 2026, by Mark St. Martin of Kalamazoo, Michigan. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.