The book Romance and Dim Trails by Katherine Christian (Mrs. J. W.) Douthitt, published 1938, has Bianca's story of her kidnapping on pages 190-194 that was told at the Clay County Pioneer Association luncheon. In part, she said that after she and her brother "Dot" were separated, and Mrs. Luster had escaped, she became the wife of Pawhatosa at the age of 17. His sister Tekwashana was to train and teach her. Bianca helped the squaws carry water, gather wood and prepare the food. She was treated well by her captors. The Comanches wandered over the northern part of New Mexico, and the Texas Panhandle, making frequent raids on settlers, taking their horses and cattle. One day they brought into camp some chickens and sheep which they had stolen. The homesick little white girl was delighted to see these familiar animals; they seemed to bring her in close touch with civilization again and brought back memories of her ranch home. She would play with them every day, talking to them in the Indian tongue, for she had forgotten her own language, having lived with the savages for nearly two years.
After her father paid $800 in ransom for her and her brother, they made their home in Henrietta, Texas, in 1880. Here she married J. D. Bell. Soon after her marraige, she made a trip to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where she saw several of her former captors. They were overjoyed to see her again and begged her to come live with them on their reservation.
John Scarff Babb left Wisconsin in 1854 with his wife, Isabelle Ann, and two sons, Hernandez Courtez "Court" and Theodore Adolphus "Dot", and headed for Texas. When they reached the Red River, border between Texas and the Indian Territory, the river was in flood stage and while they waited for the water to recede, Bianca "Banc" was born. The 1860 census says she was born in Indian Territory and the 1870 census says Kansas Territory. The family settled in Wise County,Texas.
In 1865, John and Court drove a herd of cattle to Fort Smith leaving his wife and three young children at home with a young, widow woman to help out. Shortly after, a band of raiding Indians attacked the house. The mother was killed and the two older children were taken captive along with the young woman. Neighbors arrived sometime later to find the eleven month-old baby playing in a pool of her mother's blood – unharmed.
The woman escaped, with Dot's help and because of his bravery, the Indians decided not to kill him. John Babb discovered the whereabouts of Bianca after about a year and was able to make a trade for her. Dot had been passed along to another tribe and remained with the Indians for about two years.
In later years, Bianca, now married to Jefferson Davis Bell, wrote a book about her experience (I do not know the name of the book and have not been able to find a copy of it). The story was turned into a play and was presented on Broadway.
The Texas Highway Department has placed a roadside marker near Chico near where her parents are buried to commemorate this event.
Source: Babb, T. A.. In the Bosom of the Comanches: A Thrilling Tale of Savage Indian Life, Massacre and Captivity Truthfully Told by a Surviving Captive, 1923
/with additional information from various undocumented sources.
James
∼Banc Babb was captured by Indians on 14 Sep 1866, near Chico, Texas, and was recovered Apr 1867, at Ft. Arbuckle, Indian Territory.
After her father paid $800 in ransom for her and her brother, they made their home in Henrietta, Texas, in 1880. Here she married J. D. Bell. Soon after her marraige, she made a trip to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where she saw several of her former captors. They were overjoyed to see her again and begged her to come live with them on their reservation.
John Scarff Babb left Wisconsin in 1854 with his wife, Isabelle Ann, and two sons, Hernandez Courtez "Court" and Theodore Adolphus "Dot", and headed for Texas. When they reached the Red River, border between Texas and the Indian Territory, the river was in flood stage and while they waited for the water to recede, Bianca "Banc" was born. The 1860 census says she was born in Indian Territory and the 1870 census says Kansas Territory. The family settled in Wise County,Texas.
In 1865, John and Court drove a herd of cattle to Fort Smith leaving his wife and three young children at home with a young, widow woman to help out. Shortly after, a band of raiding Indians attacked the house. The mother was killed and the two older children were taken captive along with the young woman. Neighbors arrived sometime later to find the eleven month-old baby playing in a pool of her mother's blood – unharmed.
The woman escaped, with Dot's help and because of his bravery, the Indians decided not to kill him. John Babb discovered the whereabouts of Bianca after about a year and was able to make a trade for her. Dot had been passed along to another tribe and remained with the Indians for about two years.
In later years, Bianca, now married to Jefferson Davis Bell, wrote a book about her experience (I do not know the name of the book and have not been able to find a copy of it). The story was turned into a play and was presented on Broadway.
The Texas Highway Department has placed a roadside marker near Chico near where her parents are buried to commemorate this event.
Source: Babb, T. A.. In the Bosom of the Comanches: A Thrilling Tale of Savage Indian Life, Massacre and Captivity Truthfully Told by a Surviving Captive, 1923
/with additional information from various undocumented sources.
James
∼Banc Babb was captured by Indians on 14 Sep 1866, near Chico, Texas, and was recovered Apr 1867, at Ft. Arbuckle, Indian Territory.
The book Romance and Dim Trails by Katherine Christian (Mrs. J. W.) Douthitt, published 1938, has Bianca's story of her kidnapping on pages 190-194 that was told at the Clay County Pioneer Association luncheon. In part, she said that after she and her brother "Dot" were separated, and Mrs. Luster had escaped, she became the wife of Pawhatosa at the age of 17. His sister Tekwashana was to train and teach her. Bianca helped the squaws carry water, gather wood and prepare the food. She was treated well by her captors. The Comanches wandered over the northern part of New Mexico, and the Texas Panhandle, making frequent raids on settlers, taking their horses and cattle. One day they brought into camp some chickens and sheep which they had stolen. The homesick little white girl was delighted to see these familiar animals; they seemed to bring her in close touch with civilization again and brought back memories of her ranch home. She would play with them every day, talking to them in the Indian tongue, for she had forgotten her own language, having lived with the savages for nearly two years.
After her father paid $800 in ransom for her and her brother, they made their home in Henrietta, Texas, in 1880. Here she married J. D. Bell. Soon after her marraige, she made a trip to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where she saw several of her former captors. They were overjoyed to see her again and begged her to come live with them on their reservation.
John Scarff Babb left Wisconsin in 1854 with his wife, Isabelle Ann, and two sons, Hernandez Courtez "Court" and Theodore Adolphus "Dot", and headed for Texas. When they reached the Red River, border between Texas and the Indian Territory, the river was in flood stage and while they waited for the water to recede, Bianca "Banc" was born. The 1860 census says she was born in Indian Territory and the 1870 census says Kansas Territory. The family settled in Wise County,Texas.
In 1865, John and Court drove a herd of cattle to Fort Smith leaving his wife and three young children at home with a young, widow woman to help out. Shortly after, a band of raiding Indians attacked the house. The mother was killed and the two older children were taken captive along with the young woman. Neighbors arrived sometime later to find the eleven month-old baby playing in a pool of her mother's blood – unharmed.
The woman escaped, with Dot's help and because of his bravery, the Indians decided not to kill him. John Babb discovered the whereabouts of Bianca after about a year and was able to make a trade for her. Dot had been passed along to another tribe and remained with the Indians for about two years.
In later years, Bianca, now married to Jefferson Davis Bell, wrote a book about her experience (I do not know the name of the book and have not been able to find a copy of it). The story was turned into a play and was presented on Broadway.
The Texas Highway Department has placed a roadside marker near Chico near where her parents are buried to commemorate this event.
Source: Babb, T. A.. In the Bosom of the Comanches: A Thrilling Tale of Savage Indian Life, Massacre and Captivity Truthfully Told by a Surviving Captive, 1923
/with additional information from various undocumented sources.
James
∼Banc Babb was captured by Indians on 14 Sep 1866, near Chico, Texas, and was recovered Apr 1867, at Ft. Arbuckle, Indian Territory.
After her father paid $800 in ransom for her and her brother, they made their home in Henrietta, Texas, in 1880. Here she married J. D. Bell. Soon after her marraige, she made a trip to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where she saw several of her former captors. They were overjoyed to see her again and begged her to come live with them on their reservation.
John Scarff Babb left Wisconsin in 1854 with his wife, Isabelle Ann, and two sons, Hernandez Courtez "Court" and Theodore Adolphus "Dot", and headed for Texas. When they reached the Red River, border between Texas and the Indian Territory, the river was in flood stage and while they waited for the water to recede, Bianca "Banc" was born. The 1860 census says she was born in Indian Territory and the 1870 census says Kansas Territory. The family settled in Wise County,Texas.
In 1865, John and Court drove a herd of cattle to Fort Smith leaving his wife and three young children at home with a young, widow woman to help out. Shortly after, a band of raiding Indians attacked the house. The mother was killed and the two older children were taken captive along with the young woman. Neighbors arrived sometime later to find the eleven month-old baby playing in a pool of her mother's blood – unharmed.
The woman escaped, with Dot's help and because of his bravery, the Indians decided not to kill him. John Babb discovered the whereabouts of Bianca after about a year and was able to make a trade for her. Dot had been passed along to another tribe and remained with the Indians for about two years.
In later years, Bianca, now married to Jefferson Davis Bell, wrote a book about her experience (I do not know the name of the book and have not been able to find a copy of it). The story was turned into a play and was presented on Broadway.
The Texas Highway Department has placed a roadside marker near Chico near where her parents are buried to commemorate this event.
Source: Babb, T. A.. In the Bosom of the Comanches: A Thrilling Tale of Savage Indian Life, Massacre and Captivity Truthfully Told by a Surviving Captive, 1923
/with additional information from various undocumented sources.
James
∼Banc Babb was captured by Indians on 14 Sep 1866, near Chico, Texas, and was recovered Apr 1867, at Ft. Arbuckle, Indian Territory.
Gravesite Details
w/o Jefferson Davis Bell / Card File & Blue Book info - Ledger
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
