equally tragic . Having cleaned up a good deal of the frontier mess in the West , he was set to marry and retire to a ranch he ’ d purchased near Boerne , Texas . The San Antonio Light of Dec . 18 , 1883 , reported : “ It is rumored that General R . S . Mackenzie of this department [ military Department of Texas ] will on Tuesday next be married to Mrs . [ Florida ] Sharpe , daughter of Mrs . F . P . Tunstall .” But the wedding bells never rang out for Mrs . Sharpe and the General ; a mere two days after the snippet of nuptial gossip published , Mackenzie ’ s name was back in the news . The San Antonio Light reported in its Dec . 20 issue : “ It was a topic of almost universal conversation yesterday concerning the aberration of mind under which General McKenzie [ sic ], commanding this department , now suffers … He is a gallant gentleman , chivalrous in everything , manly and noble in every attribute which endows his life and record as a civilian . He is remembered with gratitude by the citizens of Texas , and espe-
Custer as a cadet
cially those exposed on the frontier , because he was always prompt in the saddle and never tangled his spurs in the maze of endless red tape when it became necessary to rally a few years ago into Mexico . There will be one universal and harmonious prayer that General McKenzie [ sic ] may speedily be himself again .”
Mackenzie ’ s mental and
emotional equilibrium continued to diminish . Some have surmised that the breakdown began when his mother died in Santa Fe during February of 1883 , others that the malady resulted from a blow to the head Mackenzie received when thrown from a wagon in 1875 . Laterday speculators have suggested he suffered from syphilis . However , given the symptoms and the Army ’ s own record , what is now commonly referred to as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome seems a more plausible diagnosis . Regardless , the general ’ s behavior became erratic , at times violent , and he drank excessively . At one point , he was beaten unconscious on a San Antonio street and tied to a cartwheel .
Finally , the army tricked him into returning to Washington , ostensibly to discuss reorganization of the War Department with Gen . Philip Sheridan . The Army wanted an up-close and professional look at the ailing Mackenzie . Instead of
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257 Silver Spur Drive Weatherford Tx 76087 $ 750,000
3 bed 2.5 bath , 2,936 SqFt , 3.8 Acres
Beautiful rock home sits on almost 4 acres in the gated edition of Silverado On the Brazos . Custom features include commercial glass wall window , heated saltwater pool and spa , cozy outdoor dining area with fireplace , outdoor kitchen and entertainment area , custom woodwork , stained concrete floors and countertops , tank stocked with catfish , fenced yard , live oak trees and access to private boat ramp and trail riding area .
1551 Wilson Bend Rd Millsap Tx $ 645,000 3 bed 2 bath , 1,386 SqFt , 60 Acres
Wind down a long scenic driveway before arriving at the rustic ranch home which sits on 60 acres of sandy loam soil . The exterior features include 2 large stock tanks filled with Bass , Catfish and Crappie , a loafing shed with feed room , cattle working pens , a workshop and storage buildings . The front 20 acres are coastal Bermuda grass , ideal for grazing or hay production , while the back 40 acres are partially wooded with clearings .
9240 Westfort Trail Ft Worth Tx 76179 $ 550,000 4 bed 3.5 bath , 2,841 SqFt , 5 Acres
AG Exempt ! Near Eagle Mountain Lake with amazing views and perfect equine set up on 5 acres , possibility to lease additional 15-20 acres behind the home . Completely fenced and cross fenced , 40x30 barn with 3 15x15 stalls , 90x70 riding arena with lights , 60x40 workshop with electric , additional storage shed , plenty of trailer parking , backyard is perfect for entertaining guests , huge deck with lots of mature trees .
200 Ellis Drive , Weatherford , TX 76088 $ 275,000 3 Beds , 2 Baths , 2 Car Garage , Beautiful 3BE 2BA on 5.843 acres with pond . Heavily treed acreage , but behind the home is flat & open with sandy loam soil . Property would make a great horse property . Minutes from shopping , restaurants & entertainment . Kitchen recently updated with granite counter tops . House freshly painted with hardwood floors throughout . New roof July 2016 . Concrete slab , 30 x 26 feet , behind house currently being used as sports court but could be multi-use .
Emily Beck 817.773.4427 ebeck @ briggsfreeman . com
3131 W 7th Street , Suite 400 Fort Worth , TX 76107 817.294.6634
DECEMBER 2016 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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