The legend says that Billy Thompson—brother of gunfighter Ben Thompson—met his end in a shootout with Mexicans in Arizona. It seemed plausible....
He Died with His Boots Off
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Mark Boardman
Like Father, Like Son
Gunfighter Ben Thompson (photo) made his living as a sporting man, a fellow who played games of chance for fun and profit. But he was determined...
Hard Hearted
Adelbert Ames was a Union general and Civil War military governor of Mississippi. In 1876, he was also an investor in the First National Bank in...
‘Stone ‘Em!’
The James-Younger Gang was fighting for its life on September 7, 1876. The attempt to rob Northfield, MN’s First National Bank had gone awry and...
Rough Justice
The James-Younger Gang was on the run after the Northfield robbery debacle, and posses were on the hunt. One group led by Minneapolis Police...
Tombstone Tragedy
John Clum is best known for his time in Tombstone as mayor and founding editor of The Tombstone Epitaph. But that period was also one of personal...
The Earp Attorney
W.J. Hunsaker is best known for his connections to Wyatt Earp—helping to defend him against murder charges stemming from the OK Corral fight, and...
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
Wilson Mizner is well known as a playwrite and storyteller. But he was a few other things before that. In 1897, he journeyed to the Klondike Gold...
An Inflated Reputation
Sul Ross is renowned in Texas history for his work as a Ranger, Confederate general, Indian fighter, president of what became Texas A&M, and...
A Mixed Legacy
Peter Burnett was an important figure in the early history of Oregon and California. A lawyer, businessman, farmer and speculator, Burnett gained...
“…Kill or Hang All Warriors…”
If one winner came out of the Battle of the Washita, his name was Custer. In 1868, Southern Cheyennes and other tribes were camped along the Washita...
Kin to the James Boys
Allen Parmer is best known as the brother-in-law of Jesse and Frank James—with some accusations that he also rode the outlaw trail with them. But...