Moses Hughes Home, 1856
Lampasas, Lampasas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Family kept a mule tied to live oak in the yard, to bray and warn them of Indian attack. RTHL - 1966
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Moses Hughes built this home in 1856 among the earliest settlers of the Lampasas area, on a frontier where the threat of Indian raids was constant. According to tradition, the family kept a mule tied to a live oak in the yard, trusting its braying to warn them of an approaching attack.
Why it matters
This small homestead illustrates the daily vigilance and ingenuity of pioneer families living on the exposed edge of Anglo settlement in central Texas.
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Related people
- ยท Moses Hughes
Themes & tags
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