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By Lem Lewis

Christmas Soiree and a Gunfight!

12/27/2017

3 Comments

 
Picture
​Image courtesy of Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum ©2003. Photo by Mike Cox
​Christmas Soiree on the Nueces
By  Linda Kirkpatrick

               It was back in 1888 in the town of Vance, Texas; the Taylor family was putting the finishing touches on the Christmas soiree that would be held at their house. These “get-togethers” were common practice and served as an important role of socialization for folks in those remote areas of Texas.        
         At this same time the lawmen of the area were planning their own little get-together. Sheriff Ira Wheat, of Leakey, Texas, got word that two brothers were heading to the Christmas soiree on the Nueces. He sent word to his deputy, Will Terry, in Vance, Texas that the brothers were headed that way and they were wanted……dead or alive. Terry then gathered Texas Ranger Captain John Hughes, Captain Ira Aten and Ranger Bass Outlaw. He assigned a local posse that included Paul Jones, Dan Crier, Jim Rhodes, Henry Wells and about twelve or fifteen other men to serve as back up to the Rangers.
           
          
 Alvin and Will Odle were looking forward to the dance at the Taylor’s and as anxious as the Odles were to get to the party that Christmas Eve, the law was just as anxious for the Odles to arrive at the party.
The Odles had problems with their in-laws and the law. When the family lived in Burnet County, John Odle, brother to Alvin and Will shot and killed his father-in-law and before the dust settled the family up and moved to the Nueces Canyon in the area of Vance, Texas. Then another death occurred. John Stroope , the brother in law of Alvin and Will, was killed. There is some inaccuracy as to the death of John Stroope but rumors have it that Will and Alvin were the guilty parties. Will was only twelve years at the time but to cover all bases both brothers were wanted dead or alive for the murder and for stealing horses. So you have to wonder why they thought that attending this Christmas party would be a good decision.
         With the excitement of dancing and Christmas vittles, it is no wonder that the two young men made their way to the remote hills along the Nueces River to join this Christmas party at the Taylor home. Why, who in the world would be hunting them in this faraway place they thought, especially on such a special holiday. They really underestimated the long arm of the law.      ​
Picture
Photo of Henry Charles Wells, courtesy of Ancestry.com
The Rangers and the posse set up an ambush and waited patiently until they heard the distant clip of metal horseshoes upon the rocks. The sounds got closer with the occasional blow from the horses. The Texas rangers and the posse patiently waited for the signal from Captain Hughes. They didn’t have to wait long because soon the captain stood and yelled, “Halt!” Those Odle boys turned their horses on a dime and were leaving faster than they were arriving. The Texas Ranger, Bass Outlaw, opened fire and didn’t stop until the two Odle brothers lay on the ground, not moving or breathing.  Or so everyone thought. Someone identified the two bodies as those of Alvin and Will Odle.
         But wait, Will was only twelve years old; would they have killed a twelve year old boy? It was later discovered that Will, also known as Walter, was charged with perjury in Arizona. A news paper later reported that Walter Odle died of typhoid fever. So who is buried at the foot of Bullhead Mountain besides Alvin? Maybe brother John had ventured down to visit during Christmas. Or maybe it was a friend of the Odle family, Henry Cavin. This is still a shivering cold case.
         Will the mystery ever be solved as who is buried next to Alvin Odle? Probably not but we will keep looking! I wonder if the soiree continued, just a little thought.

Picture
Linda Kirkpatrick is a ranch real estate agent, author and Texas Hill Country historian.
Meet Linda
3 Comments
Steve Rossignol
1/30/2018 01:24:01 pm

Hello Ms Linda:

Very cool story!

So where exactly is the Odle grave site? Is it accessible? I am researching some of the lesser known Hill Country outlaws.

Thanks

Steve Rossignol

Reply
Linda Kirkpatrick link
1/31/2018 12:21:22 pm

Hello Steve,
The graves for the Odles or whoever is beneath the ground there are somewhere around Bull Head Mountain in Vance, Texas behind a locked gate. Sorry that I don't have more info.
Keep coming back because I post here regularly and we are always adding new listings! BTW you can continue to contact me at lkirkpatricktx@gmail.com

Reply
Dan Winans
4/8/2018 09:57:34 am

Dear Ms. Kirkpatrick:
My dad, Francis Adolph Winans was born in Bull Head Canyon in 1915 on his father's ranch (Francis Marion & Mary Louis Ihnken-Winans). FM Winans was also the Edwards County Road Commissioner. FM's paternal uncle was Frank Winans.
I would appreciate any information/photos you may have/or come across relating to the Winans family or the Ira Wheat family (Ira Wheat's mom was Caroline Winans-Wheat). Ira's dad, George Wheat was killed by Apaches in 1861 down on Black Creek near present day Devine.
Thank you very much.

Reply



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  • Home Page
  • Properties
    • Search Properties
    • Exclusive Properties >
      • Live Water >
        • Real County, TX Lot 8 -frio river
        • Real County, TX 43 +/- Acres
        • Real County, TX 196 +/- Acres
        • Pinion Springs - 900 Acres
        • Pinion Springs - 1660 Acres
      • Ranches For Sale >
        • Coryell County >
          • Coryell County -103 Acres
        • Comal County >
          • Comal County -13 Acres
        • Real County >
          • Under 500 Acres >
            • Real County, TX Lot 8 -frio river
            • Real County, TX 43 +/- Acres
            • Real County, TX 196 +/- Acres
            • Real County, TX 255 +/- Acres
            • Real County - 400 +/- Acres
          • Above 500 Acres >
            • Real County - 885 Acres
            • Real County- 520 +/- Acres
            • Real County - 525 Acres
            • Real County - 600 Acres
            • Real County- 800 +/- Acres
            • Pinion Springs - 900 Acres
            • Real County - 1140 Acres
            • Pinion Springs - 1650 Acres
        • Williamson County >
          • Williamson County - 65 Acres
        • Edwards County
    • Sold Ranches >
      • Blanco County - 17 Acres
      • Blanco County - 18 Acres
      • Real County, TX 500 +/- Acres
      • Blanco County - 35 acres
      • Uvalde County - Frio 180
      • Uvalde County - Frio 203
      • Uvalde County - Nueces River 173
      • Real County - Creek 463
      • Real County - Frio - 1.44 Acres
      • Real County - 21.5 Acres
      • Sutton County - 519 acres
      • Real County - Frio - 2.4 Acres
  • ABOUT
    • About - Lem Lewis
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Ranch Services