The native prairie grasses were so tall in the 1870s that when Lue Sherod (17) fell from her horse and broke her leg a few yards from the Alexander/Stephenville road she had to place her bonnet on a stick to be noticed by the passing stage. The passengers delayed a few moments while the possibility of an Indian decoy was discussed. Eventually an M.D. from San Antonio investigated and set the girl’s leg and convinced the stage driver to deliver her to her home near Alarm Creek.

Temple Nola Sageser-Hicks. Interview. Stephenville, 1981.