Chapter 9.

FORT GRIFFIN – LAWLESSNESS ON THE BRAZOS

Fort Davis was abandoned by the Andersons and many other settlers around 1867. Families were moving to Fort Griffin, just a short distance west of Fort Davis

Work began on Fort Griffin in 1867, when Lieutenant Colonel Samuel arrived with four companies of the Sixth Cavalry. Almost immediately, after the fort was completed, a new settlement began at the bottom of the hill called “The Flat”. We assume that would be where the George, Anderson, Ratliff and Wilson families would have settled as pioneers in ranching and agriculture.

The Flat, was considered one of the West’s wildest towns, with streets filled with soldiers, buffalo hunters, drovers, gamblers, saloon girls, surveyors, outlaws, clerks, merchants and ranchers. As early as 1868, the Flat’s gaming tables, restaurants, livery stables and bordellos provided general amusement for the soldiers at nearby Fort Griffin. Besides spending most of their wages there, soldiers from the fort were often called upon to police the town. Story from the TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION and LEGENDS OF AMERICA.

The Flat eventually became a stop-off point for cattle drives headed north to Dodge City, Kansas and Colorado. This again made business good for the Anderson family, since the demand for horses and mules would be great for these cattle drives. When George, Ratliff, Wilson and Anderson boys started moving cattle north to the Texas Panhandle and Colorado, they found several areas along the cattle trails ideal for future homes of their families. Albert Anderson’s family would find La Junta, Colorado much cooler than West Texas. Albert’s brother, John Henry Anderson, married Martha Emma Wilson on June 8, 1867; she was a sister of Nancy Wilson, Albert’s wife.

The Flat was bustling with outlaws, gunfighters and gamblers. Some of these characters would later become well known in the annals of history, including Doc Holliday Wyatt Earp and brothers Bat and Jim Masterson. Doc Holliday was practicing dentistry from his room in Fort Griffin. He promised complete customer satisfaction, but that was the last known time he worked as a dentist. This is where he gained the nickname “Doc”.

U.S. Marshall Wyatt Earp came to Ft. Griffin looking for outlaw Dave Rudabaugh. He went to the Bee Hive Saloon owned by John Shaunissy, whom he had known for years. Shaunissy told Earp that Rudabaugh had passed through town earlier in the week, but he did not know where he was headed. He suggested Earp ask gambler Doc Holliday, who had played cards with Rudabaugh. Holliday told Earp that Rudabaugh was headed back to Kansas. This first meeting between Earp and Holliday was the beginning of a life long friendship (as noted in the movie, GUNFIGHT AT THE OK CORAL).

While Holliday was dealing cards (Faro) at Shaunissy’s saloon, Doc met Mary Katharine Harony, a dance hall woman and occasional prostitute. Her nose was a prominent feature and gained her the nickname “Big Nose Kate”.   Tough, stubborn, and fearless, she was educated but chose to work as a prostitute because she liked her independence. This was the only woman with whom Doc had a relationship. (Wikipedia)

During the Fort Griffin times with Henry and Sarah Anderson, the settlement was so decadent that it was labeled “Babylon on the Brazos”.  Wonder if Sarah really believed that “tough times don’t last”?