Herman Lehmann (1859-1932)

Herman Lehmann (1859-1932) was a German immigrant who was captured, along with his younger brother Willie, by a band of Apache raiders in 1870 near Loyal Valley in southeastern Mason County, Texas. While his brother escaped captivity and returned home after 9 days, Herman was adopted by his Apache captor, Carnoviste. There he underwent tribal initiation and warrior training which would use him later in life when he joined war parties against the Texas Rangers, Comanches and Mexicans. After his adoptive father was killed, Herman killed an Apache medicine man and had to spend a year alone on the plains. At the expiration of his solitude he joined the Comanches, who called him Montechena and with whom he fought the Tonkawas and U.S. cavalry regiments. After the cessation of hostilities between the Comanches and the U.S, Herman settled down at the Fort Sill reservation where he was adopted by Quanah Parker. However, he was required to return to his family in 1878 after 8 years with the Natives, as he was a white captive. Back home Herman could not adapt to his old life, as he wouldn't eat pork or sleep in a bed, wore body paint, leggings and feathers and attempted to kill the neighbor's pigs and calves. After some time he relearned German, learned English and did numerous odd jobs. He married twice and had 5 children. Herman always stayed in touch with his Native brothers and was a local celebrity in his town for his skills in riding, roping and archery. Herman is pictured on the left and his adoptive father Quanah on the right.