February 5, 1887

Col. J. H. Brown

Dallas, Texas

Since hearing from you last, I have been in correspondence with several parties relative to Mrs. Horn’s book. Not with the success I hoped for, however, but perhaps you will be able to use what little information I have gathered.

I mail you at the same time with this, a copy in writing of Mrs. Horn’s book. It was copied as a writing exercise by a young girl, who afterwards married one of my uncles, B. D. Dodson of Richland, Missouri. The book is the property of the girl’s mother, a very oId lady still living, who cherishes it as a memento of the daughter who died a number of years ago. When you have looked it over to your satisfaction, I will be glad to have you send it back to me in order that I may return it to the mother of my deceased aunt. My own mother died in January 1880. Had I supposed that information on these matters would ever have been desirable, I could have informed myself fully from her, as like Mrs. Gordon, her memory was a rich storehouse. Accustomed to hear these things mentioned frequently in the family, I did not attach much importance to them, until my opportunity passed away forever.

However, the main incidents are still fresh in the minds of an uncle and aunt of mine, still living in Missouri, a brother and sister of my mother’s, who had this book sent to me together with what they remembered of the incidents as related by my father and mother, on their return from Mexico. You will observe in Mrs. Horn’s recounting her experiences among the Indians, her release from captivity, etc. She speaks of American traders negotiating for her ransom and of Mrs. Harris having left with some who were returning before her release was effected; of the merchant or traders having set out for Independence hastily, in consequence of the war having broken out, etc.

Now I have the testimony of my uncle, Dr. William Dodson, and my aunt, Mrs. Lucy Estes, of Camden Co., Mo, that my father paid out his own money for the purchase of these three ladies, Mrs. Rachel Plummer, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Horn, from the Indians. That Mrs. Plummer and Mrs. Harris were delivered over to him before the breaking out of the troubles in Santa Fe, and were living there with his family when compelled to seek safety in flight; that they both returned to Mo. with my father and mother, and all went to the home of my grandmother, Mrs. Lucy Dodson of Pulaski County. After my father accompanied and established them at my grandmother’s, he went back to Santa Fe to try to recover what they had in their haste, been compelled to leave behind in the shape of property, merchandise, mules, horses, etc. While there this last time, he was able to make arrangements with some returning traders, to have Mrs. Horn brought to Mo. Although he had purchased Mrs. Horn from her captors, he had never seen her, as negotiations had been carried on through Spaniards and friendly Indians, with whom my father had considerable influence. Mrs. Horn was left with some friends in Mo. until after the return of my father the second time, when she came also to the house of my grandmother, where she saw my father for the first time, and remained several months. While she was there at my grandmother’s with my mother, my father left for Texas with Mrs. Plummer, whom he restored to her famiIy, and then went back to Mo. after his own family, consisting of my oldest sister -- born in Mo., my second sister-- born in Santa Fe, myself also born in Santa Fe, my mother, and the slaves she had in the mean time drawn from the estate of my grandfather, and moved to Texas in the fall of 1839. Mrs. Harris had relatives in Texas, but would not return with Mrs. Plummer, so great was her dread of the Indians. Afterward she learned of some family connections near Boonville, with whom she made her home until her death soon after. Mrs. Horn lived at my grandmother’s several months, but died while on a visit to some friends in an adjoining county.

Both she and Mrs. Harris did not long survive their restoration to civilization, as their constitutions had been completely broken by hardships undergone among the Indians, and they bore terrible scars from wounds inflicted by their savage masters. Mrs. Horn’s book was written during the intenal that elapsed between her arrival in Mo. and my father’s second return from Santa Fe, and as she truthfully says, "She did not know to whose noble act she owed her release." But afterward she found out all about it. My relatives attest that they (these restored captives) were ladies in the highest sense of the word. From what I remember hearing from my mother, the ransom of the three cost him about nine hundred dollars in merchandise. He went himself after Mrs. Plummer and Mrs. Harris, and had to carry with him some of my mother’s clothes for them to put on, their Indian masters requiring them to give up all they had that was of any service when they gave them into the keeping of the negotiators.

My father spent about five years in Santa Fe, going there in ‘33 and coming away in ‘38. He was born in Kentucky in 1798, and died at this place in 1845. He married my mother in Mo. in 1831, my maternal grandfather, Dr. James Dodson having moved there from Tenn. some years previous to that. When my parents decided to make Texas their home, they expected to locate in the vicinity of Austin, but from some cause I do not recollect they settled here, [Clarksville] where the family has since remained, myself being the sole surivor of six children. As it had always been a desire with me to sometime visit the place of my birth, about a year and a half since I, in company with my wife and children, visited Santa Fe, finding no little pleasure in idenfifying landmarks I had heard my mother speak of though too young when we moved from there to remember anything myself. Had no trouble in locating the home in which I was born, as it cornered on the Plaza, and is now known as the old "Exchange Hotel." My parents liked Santa Fe, and doubtless my father would have spent his life there had it not been for thc dangers threatening his farnily from the turbulent spirit of Mexicans and Indians.

At first I thought of having this little book rewritten, as it is very difficult to read in places, then it occurred to me that perhaps you would like to see it as it came from the hands of a child who copied it so many years ago.

Have used my best endeavors to obtain a printed copy, but without success. My Uncle and Aunt are of great integrity of character, too conscientious to vary an account in the least so that you can rely on these statements which are to the best of their recollections. My father was a man of unflagging energy, of great public spirit, and would no doubt have made his mark high had his career not been cut short by death at the age of forty-seven years. Of my mother’s energy and commanding spirit, there are too many now living to bear witness of for me to enter more fully into details. If my efforts avail the least to furnish you any desirable material, I shall feel very thankful, or if you can suggest anything else I can do, will gladly undertake it. With very best wishes, believe me.

Truly yours,

J. B. Donoho

James then added the following:

I forgot to mention that while in Santa Fe it was settled to my satisfaction, that my second sister born in 1835, and myself, born in 1837, were the first white Americans born in Santa Fe ["New Mexico’’ is inserted above Santa Fe]. The honor or distinction (if it can so be called) had been clairmed by others in behalf of one born there in 1838, but which was later than my own and sister’s.

taken from Marian Meyer. Mary Donoho: New First Lady of the Santa Fe Trail.