The incident that led to the largest confrontation took place in Morris' saloon. After the expiration of his five-year term, he re-enlisted and became first sergeant of Company D, 10th Cavalry.ĭuring 1878 when Crawford was two years old serious trouble began to occur in San Angela (San Angelo), Texas between the black soldiers and cowboys and hunters. In 1867 George enlisted in the 10th Cavalry Regiment (Buffalo Soldier) under his proper name, George Goldsby, and by 1872 he was promoted to sergeant major. During his last visit, the word was out that he would be captured and lynched for going over to and fighting with the Union Army, after which time he departed the area for Indian Territory. (The spelling sometimes varied between Goosbey and Goosley).Īfter the Civil War ended, he returned to the Selma, Alabama area. While at Gettysburg, he escaped and went to Harrisburg worked as a teamster in a Quartermaster unit and subsequently enlisted as a White man in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment under the name of George Goosby. George served as a hired servant with a Confederate infantry regiment during the Civil War. George also stated that he had four brothers and two sisters by the same father and mother, Crawford, Abner, Joseph, Blevens, Mary, and Susie. His father was Thornton Goldsby of Selma, Alabama and his mother was Hester King, a mulatto, who resided on her own place west of Summerfield Road between Selma and Marion, Alabama. In a signed deposition on January 29, 1912, George Goldsby stated that he was born in Perry County, Alabama on February 22, 1843. Both had been slaves once owned by Jeffery Beck, a Cherokee. Crawford's maternal grandfather was Luge Beck, described as being a Cherokee of the half blood, and grandmother was Tempy Beck. The older sister was Georgia Eller and the two brothers were Clarence and Luther.Įllen was born in the Delaware District of the Cherokee Nation. He was the second of four children and the oldest son born to Ellen Beck and George Goldsby. He murdered his brother-in-law, lawmen, and anyone he disliked who crossed his path.Ĭrawford Goldsby was born on Februat Fort Concho, Texas. For over a two year period during the last decade of the nineteenth century, he led a reign of terror throughout the territory which included murder and robbery. Looking around at the crowd that had gathered to witness the occasion, he stated, "This is about as good as day to die as any." A short time later there was a creaking sound as the trap was sprung and he was dead ending the life at twenty of the most notorious outlaws to roam the Indian Territory and perhaps the entire Western Frontier. On a sunny afternoon on Maas Crawford "Cherokee Bill" Goldsby escorted by prison guards, his mother Ellen, Amanda Foster, an elderly lady who had help raise him, and Father Pius, a Catholic priest, walked to the gallows to be hanged for murder.
Reprinted and posted from Volume 1, Number 4 - July, 1994.
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