FIRST WAGON THROUGH TOWN OF INDIAN GAP.
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IN the early part of 1913 the Arrow was established at Indian Gap, Hamilton county, Texas, by Mr. O. G. Campbell of Gustine, with Clyde Hammers of Dublin as editor, and was the first newspaper venture in this little burg. One of the first issues contained the following bit of interesting history of that section:
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“Known all over Texas for the picturesque beauty of its location, unsurpassed in grandeur by the Pyrenean range of France, clinging to the sides and on top of the surrounding* hills, Indian Gap, is indeed, to be envied.
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“A little more than fifty years ago a party of early settlers, who had settled near where Newbury now stands, organized a party to cut a road from there to Lampasas and as the gap in the mountain where Indian Gap is now located was in their path, a road was cut through the gap, then heavily covered with timber and matted with underbrush. Among the party was Aaron Cunningham, now living at Comanche, who, according to his statement, was the first man to drive a wagon through the gap, the surrounding country at that time being unfenced and to a certain extent unknown.
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“It was many years after before the cocks crow ever broke the morning stillness, or the woodchoppers ax echoed against the hills that are now covered with a growing town, but the black, rolling prairies, stretching away on every side as far as the eye can see, were too rich and too valuable to remain long untilled after the early settlers had seen and heard of it, and it was during the late 60's that cabins began to dot the valleys along the Cowhouse, and the settler’s ax cleared out little patches in the rich cover on the mountains.”
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The Comanche Chief, under date of February 15, at greater length describes this first wagon through Indian Gap; “Referring to the story of Aaron Cunningham of Comanche; this is a true story, and we are indeed grateful to the Arrow for placing it upon the pages of their history. It was in the year 1856 that the incident above referred to occurred. Mr. Cunningham and nine others, including his father, Capt. James Cunningham, T. J. Holmsley, Dave Cunningham, his brother, Mr. Bonds, Bill Reed, Dave Parks, Mr. Mercer, from whom Mercer creek got its name, and the others, the names of whom have been forgotten. Aaron Cunningham was driving he first wagon, and it was by this reason that he was the first man to move a wagon between the two mountains.
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“The company depended upon securing groceries and other necessaries of life from Williamson county. Heretofore, they had been forced to travel the government road by way of Gatesville, and it was for shortening the distance to market that the new road was cut through this section. They passed through Indian Gap to a distance of about one and a half miles, crossed the ridge between School-land Cove and the branch where the Geralds settled, and from School-land Cove they followed the Lampasas river to Hart’s ranch, and from there to Gillette’s ranch. Prom this point a road had already been prepared. On reaching the end of the old road all the crowd, except • Aaron Cunningham and Dave Parks, returned home, the latter two proceeding on to Williamson county for groceries. A crossing was made on Cowhouse creek just above the Homestead of the Prices, which road is used for a crossing at this time.
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“In those days this was one of the .best sections for wild game in this portion of the state — deer abounding across those prairies in great herds, plenty of bear and buffaloes, besides all kinds of small game.”