SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 522

WHEREAS, The Parker County Historical Commission's application for an Official Texas Historical Marker commemorating the Hill Gang was approved by the Texas Historical Commission on June 15, 2020; and

WHEREAS, In 1854, Allen C. Hill bought 160 acres of land in the county and built a compound for his family; he and his wife, Ladusky, were the parents of eight children, Jack, Nancy, Martha, Adeline, Allen, Eliza, Katherine, and Isabelle; the farming community of Springtown was founded about a mile away from their homestead in 1859; and

WHEREAS, Tensions arose between the townspeople and the Hills, who were viewed as suspicious characters and believed to be harboring horse thieves with bounties on their heads; disputes spiraled out of control, and after Allen Hill was shot dead, allegedly in a barroom argument, his son Jack met a similar fate; one day, the Hill sisters, all armed with guns, reportedly took over the saloon and then rampaged through the town square with their henchmen, and the mayhem ended with the fatal shooting of an innocent young man; and

WHEREAS, A posse tracked down members of the gang and hanged Nancy Hill; the subsequent murder of a stagecoach driver and his shotgun rider was attributed to Martha and Katherine Hill and three men, and vigilantes caught the sisters, hanged them, and then burned down the Hills' home and executed Ladusky, Adeline, and Eliza Hill; two young Hill children, Allen and Isabelle, escaped to neighbors and were later placed under the guardianship of the Reverend Pleasant Tackett; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, the story of the Hill Gang has been a source of fascination to numerous county residents, and the historical marker commemorating this tumultuous period serves to remind Texans that while the frontier represented freedom and opportunity, it could also be a harsh and lawless place; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th Legislature, hereby congratulate the Parker County Historical Commission on the approval by the Texas Historical Commission of its application for an Official Texas Historical Marker commemorating the Hill Gang and extend sincere appreciation to all those involved in the effort to secure this honor; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Springer

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 28, 2021.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate