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= Rudolph Fischer = Rudolph Fischer was a German America boy captured by the Comanche in July 1865. Rudolph Fischer would spend twelve years with his adopted Comanche family. Rudolph chose to return to the Comanche after only a brief time back in the community he was born in. He was never able to assimilate into his pre-Indian life. Rudolph Fischer lived the rest of his life in Apache, Oklahoma Territory where he farmed and raised a family.

Early Life
Rudolph Fischer was born January 12, 1852. Rudolph grew up on a 110 acre farm that his parents Gottlieb and Sophia Fischer purchased in 1851. The farm was located in a German American Community in Gillespie County Texas. . Rudolph's parents immigrated to Texas from Germany following the promises of land and protection from The Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas.  Early contact with the Comanches was relatively peaceful. This was due to the peace council between the German settlers headed by John Meusebach and several native chiefs to include Ketumsee. . However, by 1850, violence did break out between the German settlers and the Native Indians. Life on the farm itself was difficult. Rudolph and his family, worked hard yet the farm still struggled to make ends meet. . By the time Rudolph was thirteen he would be tasked with herding cattle in remote areas of the isolated farm. Rudolph was a healthy teen with fair skin, curly black hair and dark eyes.

Capture
Rudolph Fischer was abducted by the Kwahadi Comanche on July 29th 1865, he was taken while searching for stray cattle. Despite the dangers of heading out alone, Rudolph would head out after the animals. The struggling family could not afford to lose even one. Rudolph walked alone, hie was barefoot in a pair of buckskin pants and a stripped shirt according to reports of the time. Rudolph knew the threat of abduction and understood not to fight. This probably saved his life. A scouting party was sent but was unable to find Rudolph. His father Gottlieb Fischer even wrote to the the President, Andrew Jackson, requesting aide in retrieving his son. While living among the Natives, Rudolph Fischer received a Comanche name, Asewaynah (Gray Blanket).

Life with Comanches
Rudolph Fischer was captured by Naahsueca but was adopted and raised by Black Crow. He would spend his time learning to hunt, ride, the the art of combat and weapon making with the other young Comanche boys. Banc Babb another captive noted Rudolph seemed completely assimilated when she met him in 1866. Rudolph Fischer became an accomplished warrior. Rudolph Fischer participated in raids and even became a commander of his own squad of Comanche warriors. . Marcus Goldbaum, a trader, would meet Rudolph twice during his captivity. The first meeting in April 1866 Goldbaum reports the possibility of rescue was discussed. . The second meeting, in the fall of 1870, Goldbaum indicated that Rudolph Fischer refused to consider leaving the tribe. Rudolph Fischer would become an enemy of the Buffalo hunters. Rudolph Fischer was the right hand man of Quanah Parker and with him raided the Buffalo Hunters at Adobe Wall June,1874. This raid would end in Indian defeat and surrender to Colonel Mackenzie at Fort Sill. Quanah and his followers, including Rudolph Fischer would be relocated to a reservation. Although Rudolph Fischer would marry into the Comanche tribe it is unclear if he was married at the time of capture.

Return and Readjustment to Fredericksburg
In 1877 Rudolph Fischer was noticed by officials at Ft Sill and questioned. Rudolph would remember the name Fischer and the city of Austin. In a effort to locate family, an add was placed in the Austin paper. On September 12, Gottlieb Fischer set out to retrieve his reluctant son. Rudolph Fischer stayed with his white family only several months, leaving them in May of 1878. Rudolph took the opportunity to return to his Indian family while on a job herding horses to the Nebraska Territory. Rudolph left the group at Fort Concho and returned to the reservation.

Return to the Comanche
Rudolph Fischer lived out his years farming and raising cattle near Apache in Oklahoma Territory. Converting to Catholicism, Rudolph would give up one of his wives. This split was amiable and Kahchacha would remarry. Rudolph believed in education and his children would go to catholic boarding schools. Rudolph Fischer was described as prosperous and a good citizen. .  He would visit Fredericksburg in 1900 to settle Gottlieb Fischer's estate and again in 1939 to attend a funeral.

Legacy
Rudolph Fischer is considered to be the captive with the longest time with the Indians in the post Civil War Texas era. .  A marker in the gardens of the MarktPlatz of Fredericksburg Texas lists Rudolph Fischer among other Indian captives. The marker commemorates the friendship between the Comanche Nation and the residence of Gillespie County. . Rudolph Fischer is also listed as Among the most formidable "White Indians" on the Texas State Historical Association West.

Source Material

 * Connections. (n.d.). Retrieved October 09, 2020, from https://gw.geneanet.org/boydorville?lang=en
 * Zesch, Scott. The Captured. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2005
 * Michno, Gregory and Susan J. A Fate Worse Than Death Indian Captivities in the West, 1830-1885. Caxton Printers Ltd, 2009.
 * “Indian Captives.” Accessed October 10, 2020. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries
 * Heard, Joseph Norman, "The Assimilation of Captives on the American Frontier in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries." (1977). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 3157. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/3157
 * “Rudolph Fischer (1852-1941) - Find A Grave...” Accessed October 10, 2020. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86226021/rudolph-fischer.