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William Frank Mitchell

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William Frank Mitchell

Birth
Tennessee, USA
Death
7 Jun 1877 (aged 34)
Lampasas County, Texas, USA
Burial
Adamsville, Lampasas County, Texas, USA Add to Map
Plot
Grave Site GPS: 31.27591 N. 98.14693 W.
Memorial ID
View Source
William Frank Mitchell and his brother Bob were friends of John "Pink" Higgins. The Higgins Party had been having trouble with the Horrell Brothers over the possession of cattle which was being stolen in the area of Lampasas County Texas. As a result, these men had been involved in several gunfights. On June 7, 1877 Pink Higgins, Bob Mitchell, and Bill Wren rode into the Lampasas Court House Square and were shot at from ambush by members of the Horrell Brothers gang.

Bill Wren was wounded, and helped to a position of safety by Bob Mitchell. Hearing the gunfight, but unarmed due to the fact it was illegal to carry firearms in town, Frank Mitchell rode to the aid of his brother and friends. Taking a gun from Bill Wren, he joined in the fight. After shooting Horrell Gang member James Waldrup, Frank was killed by Mart Horrell. Local townspeople were able to put a stop to this gunfight. Texas Rangers helped to negotiate an end to the Horrell-Higgins Feud. Three deaths were directly attributed to this feud, Merritt Horrell, James Waldrup, and Frank Mitchell. Frank and Bob Mitchell were brother in-laws to John Pinkney Calhoun Higgins.

The old headstone shows birth date:
December 7, 1842, however the newer headstone shows birth date: November 7, 1842. Unknown which birth date is correct.


William Frank Mitchell and his brother Bob were friends of John "Pink" Higgins. The Higgins Party had been having trouble with the Horrell Brothers over the possession of cattle which was being stolen in the area of Lampasas County Texas. As a result, these men had been involved in several gunfights. On June 7, 1877 Pink Higgins, Bob Mitchell, and Bill Wren rode into the Lampasas Court House Square and were shot at from ambush by members of the Horrell Brothers gang.

Bill Wren was wounded, and helped to a position of safety by Bob Mitchell. Hearing the gunfight, but unarmed due to the fact it was illegal to carry firearms in town, Frank Mitchell rode to the aid of his brother and friends. Taking a gun from Bill Wren, he joined in the fight. After shooting Horrell Gang member James Waldrup, Frank was killed by Mart Horrell. Local townspeople were able to put a stop to this gunfight. Texas Rangers helped to negotiate an end to the Horrell-Higgins Feud. Three deaths were directly attributed to this feud, Merritt Horrell, James Waldrup, and Frank Mitchell. Frank and Bob Mitchell were brother in-laws to John Pinkney Calhoun Higgins.

The old headstone shows birth date:
December 7, 1842, however the newer headstone shows birth date: November 7, 1842. Unknown which birth date is correct.




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