PANTALEON TUNTSANDE

This is the story of one family, the Pantaleon Clan of the Lipan Apache.

 

The Alaquinez and the Soto families both came out of the Pantaleon Clan of the Lipan Apache, merging several times throughout our history.  This story was told, and passed down, from generation to generation, in my family, with the stories, no matter who told them, they they are all same story.  My Family's ancestors camped out by the San Antonio, area in what was then known as Yanaguana, which means, "The main vein, of the heart vein, of the water".

 

When the Spanish came, my ancestors helped build two of their missions, Mission San Jose and Mission Espada. Some of them sought refuge from the Comanches at the missions, while others stayed in a camp nearby, under the leadership of Chief Magoosh, who as a young boy, witnessed the Battle Of The Alamo.  During the Battle Of The Alamo, my ancestors wanted to help the Texians in their fight for independence,  but at that time the Priest at the Mission forbade them to take any part in the battle or the fight, and since "We were all God's children" the priest wanted to protect my ancestors. 

 

My people witnessed the marching of Santa Anna's troops through the missons on their way to the Alamo, as well as the Fall Of The Alamo. After Santa Anna gained control over the area, things were not the same, so our Chief gathered his people and fled to the east.  In their traveling east, they met Sam Houston who told our Chief , "Do not run, help us to push the Spanish back into Mexico."  

​

My ancestors helped Sam Houston and the Texians to do just that.  In return for our help, Sam Houston promised the Lipan Apache that they could have their own land, and that they could live in peace with the Texians.  After Texas gained their independence,  the Lipan Apaches buried a horse and all of their weapons in front of the Alamo, as a sign of peace, saying " We will never ride against, nor pick up our arms against the Texians again."  That was all a part of the treaty between my ancestors and the President of Texas, Sam Houston.  There was peace for a while...

 

Peace did not last long though, as Texas became part of thenited States. The treaty between the Republic Of Texas and the Apaches was not kept, since the Republic Of Texas was now part of the United States.  Because of this, and the outbreak of Small Pox in the San Antonio area, Chief Magoosh took some of his band and fled to be with the Mescalero Apaches in New Mexico.  Some others went to Mexico and settled near Zaragosa,

Coahuila, and some fled to the near south, which is  now Atascosa County (which is the group my family came from).

 

When the Mescaleros were placed on a reservation in the 1870’s, Chief Magoosh and his followers formed the core group of Lipan Apaches living on the Mescalero reservation in the 1870’s.  His descendants still live at Mescalero. Chief Magoosh was the last chief in my ancestory of the Lipan Apache. In looks, he was a very rare, bald Apache. The actual date of Magoosh’s passing was about 1910, not 1900 as often shown. 

​

                                                         photo ~ Chief Magoosh - cira 1830 - 1910

​

​

​

 

​