The
Online Archive of Terry's Texas Rangers
Sharing & preserving the history of the 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment, 1861-1865
The
Online Archive of The Dunmans of Terry's Rangers
by
Robert Leander "Coon" Dunman and his brother, Aaron Martin "Dick" Dunman both enlisted in Company K, Eighth Texas Cavalry Regiment. A brother, Daniel Wallis Dunman, enlisted in another regiment. Daniel died in 1865 shortly after returning from the war. Another brother, Solomon William Dunman, enlisted in Company F of DeBray's 26th Regiment of Texas Cavalry. Pvt. Solomon Dunman was killed on April 9, 1864, during the Battle of Pleasant Hill. Two Dunman cousins also served and were killed. In all six young Dunman men from Chambers County, Texas, went to war but only two survived.
Upon
their return to Chamber County, R. L. married Lucinda Elvina Winfree on October
18, 1866. Lucinda was the step-daughter of Richard Augustus "Gus"
Buck. Aaron Martin married Augusta Buck, daughter of Gus Buck, in 1879. Both
young men joined their father-in-law in raising cattle in Chambers County.
In 1869 the Dunmans and the Buck family moved west to Refugio County where
they ranched near Old St. Mary's for ten years. During this ten year period
R. L., his brother, and other family members who had joined them in Refugio
County began driving their cattle north on the Western Trail. In 1878, Robert
took 5,000 head to the Black Hills of Dakota. It was at this time that R.
L. selected the area of Coleman County as the new home for his family. He
bought a ranch before returning to Refugio where there had been much trouble
with Mexicans, who were killing the cattle for their hides. The ranch he bought
was located between the Colorado River and the Brady Mountains. It comprised
about 400 square miles between the present towns of Coleman, Brady, Paint
Rock, and Ballinger. The cattle were branded "D" on the shoulder
and "O H " on the hip which gave the ranch the name of "D &
O H". The family moved to Coleman in 1879 bringing with them 2000 head
of cattle from South Texas. He sold the ranch in 1882 and lived out his life
in Coleman. He died June 9, 1924, and was a 32 degree Mason for more than
40 years. His wife, Lucinda, died November 29, 1945. Both are buried in the
Coleman City Cemetery. On the same cemetery lot are the graves of Aaron Martin
who died December 1, 1902, and his wife Augusta who died in 1884.
It is interesting to note that on page 13 of J. Frank Dobie's A Vaquero of the Brush Country, is listed a group of cowmen who had gathered near Refugio to put together a herd of 1200 big steers for a man who had a contract with the U. S. Government to furnish beef for an Indian agency. Among the cowmen listed is "Coon" Dunman. "Coon" is also briefly mentioned in the Trail Drivers of Texas.
R. L. was my g-g-uncle by marriage. His wife, Lucinda, was half-sister to my great grandmother. The Dunman's final home was in Coleman County. I recall many times that my dad spoke of Uncle Coon and Aunt Cindy and visiting in their home. Other than the fact that they both served in Terry's Texas Rangers there is no family relationship between R. L. Dunman and James Folk. James Folk is my great grandfather on my mother's side of the family. R. L. was my dad's great uncle.