Pease River
Encyclopedia
The Pease River is river in Texas
in the United States
; it is a tributary of the Red River
that runs in an easterly direction through West Texas
. It was discovered and mapped for the first time in 1856 by Jacob de Córdova, who found the river while surveying for the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad Company; it was named after Texas Governor Elisha M. Pease
. In December 1860, the Texas Rangers
recaptured Cynthia Ann Parker
and her daughter from the Comanche
Indians at an engagement along the river.
The river begins 20 miles (32.2 km) northeast of Paducah
in northern Cottle County and runs eastward for 100 miles (160.9 km) to its mouth on the Red River 8 miles (12.9 km) northeast of Vernon
. Its course flows through "flood-prone flat terrain with local shallow depressions, surfaced by sandy and clay loams"; part of it forms the county line between Hardeman
and Foard
counties.
The river has three main branches, the North Pease, Middle Pease, and Tongue (or South Pease) rivers; the beginning of the main river is variously given as where all three branches come together, or where only the North and Middle Pease Rivers intersect. Satellite and topographical imagery, however, clearly shows that the Tongue River empties into the Middle Pease before the latter's meeting with the North Pease.
in eastern Floyd County and runs 60 miles (96.6 km) through Motley, Hall and Cottle before meeting the Middle Pease River. It begins at 3100 feet (944.9 m) and descends over 1500 feet (457.2 m), cutting a wide, sandy bed through mostly flat terrain; most of the area through which it passes is remote ranchland.
at the confluence of Mott and Boggy Creeks in western Motley County; it flows about for 65 miles (104.6 km) in an eastward direction before joining the North Pease in northeastern Cottle County. It runs through flat, isolated ranch territory; the only settlement ever established on its banks was the now-ghost
of Tee Pee City
. The state has established a 28000 acres (113.3 km²) region called the Matador Wildlife Management area along its course in northwestern Cottle County.
in southwestern Motley County and flows 40 miles (64.4 km) east and northeast through rugged ranch- and canyonland. The geographic feature of Roaring Spring (not to be confused with the town), 4 miles (6.4 km) downstream from the river's source, was a popular gathering place for Indians
, cowboy
s, and others. A ranch club is now located near the spring, where State Highway 70 crosses the river
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; it is a tributary of the Red River
Red River (Mississippi watershed)
The Red River, or sometimes the Red River of the South, is a major tributary of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in the southern United States of America. The river gains its name from the red-bed country of its watershed. It is one of several rivers with that name...
that runs in an easterly direction through West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
. It was discovered and mapped for the first time in 1856 by Jacob de Córdova, who found the river while surveying for the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad Company; it was named after Texas Governor Elisha M. Pease
Elisha M. Pease
Elisha Marshall Pease was a U.S. politician from the 1830s through the 1870s. He served as the fifth and 13th Governor of Texas .A native of Enfield, Connecticut, Pease moved to Mexican Texas in 1835...
. In December 1860, the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
recaptured Cynthia Ann Parker
Cynthia Ann Parker
Cynthia Ann Parker, or Naduah , was an American woman of old colonial stock of Scots-Irish descent who was captured and kidnapped at the age of nine by a American Indian band which massacred her family and...
and her daughter from the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
Indians at an engagement along the river.
The river begins 20 miles (32.2 km) northeast of Paducah
Paducah, Texas
Paducah is a town in Cottle County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,498 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cottle County...
in northern Cottle County and runs eastward for 100 miles (160.9 km) to its mouth on the Red River 8 miles (12.9 km) northeast of Vernon
Vernon, Texas
Vernon is a city in Wilbarger County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 11,660; it was 11,077 in the 2005 census estimate. Vernon is the county seat of Wilbarger County....
. Its course flows through "flood-prone flat terrain with local shallow depressions, surfaced by sandy and clay loams"; part of it forms the county line between Hardeman
Hardeman County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,724 people, 1,943 households, and 1,319 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile . There were 2,358 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
and Foard
Foard County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,622 people, 664 households, and 438 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 850 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
counties.
The river has three main branches, the North Pease, Middle Pease, and Tongue (or South Pease) rivers; the beginning of the main river is variously given as where all three branches come together, or where only the North and Middle Pease Rivers intersect. Satellite and topographical imagery, however, clearly shows that the Tongue River empties into the Middle Pease before the latter's meeting with the North Pease.
North Pease River
The North Pease rises 9 miles (14.5 km) southeast of Cedar Hill on the Caprock EscarpmentCaprock Escarpment
The Caprock Escarpment is a term used in Texas and Eastern New Mexico to describe the geographical transition point between the level elevated plains of the Llano Estacado and the surrounding rolling terrain. In Texas, the escarpment stretches around 320 km south-southwest from the northeast...
in eastern Floyd County and runs 60 miles (96.6 km) through Motley, Hall and Cottle before meeting the Middle Pease River. It begins at 3100 feet (944.9 m) and descends over 1500 feet (457.2 m), cutting a wide, sandy bed through mostly flat terrain; most of the area through which it passes is remote ranchland.
Middle Pease River
The Middle Pease river rises 8 miles (12.9 km) northwest of MatadorMatador, Texas
Matador is a town in and the county seat of Motley County, Texas, United States. The population was 740 at the 2000 census. In 1891, it was established by and named for the Matador Ranch...
at the confluence of Mott and Boggy Creeks in western Motley County; it flows about for 65 miles (104.6 km) in an eastward direction before joining the North Pease in northeastern Cottle County. It runs through flat, isolated ranch territory; the only settlement ever established on its banks was the now-ghost
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of Tee Pee City
Tee Pee City, Texas
Tee Pee City is a ghost town in eastern Motley County, Texas, United States.This ghost town is located "near the confluence of Tee Pee Creek and the Middle Pease River in eastern Motley County, began in 1875 as a trading post serving buffalo hunters and surveying parties...
. The state has established a 28000 acres (113.3 km²) region called the Matador Wildlife Management area along its course in northwestern Cottle County.
Tongue River
The Tongue River, or South Pease River, was named allegedly named for the Black Tongue, a 19th-century disease that killed many area buffalo. It rises 11 miles (17.7 km) west of Roaring SpringsRoaring Springs, Texas
Roaring Springs is a town in Motley County, Texas, United States. The population was 265 at the 2000 census.Roaring Springs was originally an Indian campground. At the time of the recapture of Cynthia Ann Parker in Foard County, Roaring Springs was the main Comanche outpost. It was known for the...
in southwestern Motley County and flows 40 miles (64.4 km) east and northeast through rugged ranch- and canyonland. The geographic feature of Roaring Spring (not to be confused with the town), 4 miles (6.4 km) downstream from the river's source, was a popular gathering place for Indians
Plains Indians
The Plains Indians are the Indigenous peoples who live on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. Their colorful equestrian culture and resistance to White domination have made the Plains Indians an archetype in literature and art for American Indians everywhere.Plains...
, cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
s, and others. A ranch club is now located near the spring, where State Highway 70 crosses the river