30 Facts About Herman Lehmann

Herman Lehmann was captured as a child by Native Americans.

Herman Lehmann lived first among the Apache and then the Comanche but returned to his Euro-American birth family later in life.

Herman Lehmann published his autobiography, Nine Years Among the Indians, in 1927.

Herman Lehmann was born near Mason, Texas, on June 5,1859, to German immigrants Ernst Moritz Lehmann and Augusta Johanna Adams Lehmann.

Herman Lehmann was a third child, following a brother Gustave Adolph, born in 1855, and a sister Wilhelmina, born in 1857.

Moritz Lehmann died in 1862, and Augusta married local stonemason Philip Buchmeier in 1863.

On May 16,1870, a raiding party of eight to ten Apaches captured Herman Lehmann, who was almost eleven, and his eight-year-old brother, Willie, while they were in the fields at their mother's request scaring birds from the wheat.

Herman Lehmann was adopted by a man named Carnoviste and his wife, Laughing Eyes.

Herman Lehmann spent about six years with them and became assimilated into their culture, rising to the position of petty chief.

Ranger James Gillett nearly shot Herman Lehmann before he realized he was a white captive.

Around the spring of 1876, Herman Lehmann killed an Apache medicine man, avenging the killing of Carnoviste, his adoptive father.

Herman Lehmann became lonely and decided to search for a Comanche tribe that he might join.

Herman Lehmann observed a tribe all day long then entered the camp just after dark.

Herman Lehmann joined the Comanches who gave him a new name, Montechema.

Herman Lehmann was wounded by hunters in a surprise attack on the Indian camp at Yellow House Canyon on March 18,1877, the last major fight between Indians and non-Indians in Texas.

Herman Lehmann was among the group that Quanah found camped on the Pecos River in eastern New Mexico.

Herman Lehmann questioned Colonel Mackenzie, the commanding officer of Fort Sill, whether there were any blue eyed boys on the reservation.

Herman Lehmann said yes; however, the description led them to believe that this was not her boy.

John W Davidson ordered that Lehmann be sent under guard to his family in Texas.

Herman Lehmann arrived in Loyal Valley with an escort of soldiers on May 12,1878, almost nine years after his capture.

Herman Lehmann had long believed his family dead, for the Apache had shown him proof during his time of transition to their way of life.

Herman Lehmann's family surrounded him welcoming him home and the distant memories began to come back.

Herman Lehmann rejected food offered, and was unaccustomed to sleeping in a bed.

Herman Lehmann hated this book for he felt Jones had taken liberty to fluff it up a bit.

Herman Lehmann was a very popular figure in southwestern Oklahoma and the Texas Hill Country, appearing at county fairs and rodeos.

Herman Lehmann requested that this time the book be written just as he told it.

Herman Lehmann's story inspired Mason County native Fred Gipson's novel Savage Sam, a sequel to Old Yeller.

Herman Lehmann chose a site near Grandfield and moved there in 1910.

Herman Lehmann later deeded some of the property over for a school.

Herman Lehmann died on February 2,1932, in Loyal Valley, where he is buried next to his mother and stepfather in the cemetery next to the old Loyal Valley one-room school house.