Frank James’ brief retirement brought peace and contentment. For Frank James, the years just after the James-Younger Gang’s disastrous raid on...
A Detour From the Outlaw Trail
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Blog
The 1847 Walker Colt
Despite the popularity of the Colt revolver among Texans, Colt's company failed in 1842. Realizing the revolver needed more durability for use on...
Nancy Kelsey: The First Woman to Cross the Sierra 1841
The year was 1841 and the Kelsey clan, often on the move, once again had itching feet. A letter from a Dr. Marsh (Dr. John Marsh) in California...
Rangers and Ranger Wannabes
Rangers have always occupied a special place in American history. During the Seven Years War or French and Indian War. In 1755 Captain Robert Rogers...
Picking the Wrong Horse
Bill Tilghman lost the job of his dreams by backing the wrong candidate Bill Tilghman may have been a great lawman, but as a politician he left much...
Lawman and the Land Rush
Bill Tilghman made his mark with the boomers and sooners. Bill Tilghman is famed as a lawman of the Oklahoma and Indian territories. But he was also...
A Solemn Warning
Citizens of an all-black town told land rushers to stay away. Around 1890, Edward McCabe helped found the all-black town of Langston, about 10 miles...
Bounties
How was reward money collected in the Old West? Was it paid out by local law enforcement, banks, the court system, or did it come from some other...
Burt Mossman and the Arizona Rangers Part 2
Read Part 1 HERE During that year the Rangers put 125 outlaws behind bars, killing only one in the process. They also lost one Ranger, Carlos...
Burt Mossman’s Rangers Part 1
Burt Mossman was Governor Murphy's choice to be the first captain of the Arizona Rangers. The rawhide-tough cowman had made quite a reputation for...
Houston, We Have a Problem
The Texas president took charge to end a bloody feud. Between 1839 and 1844, two factions—the Regulators and the Moderators—fought for control of...
The Final Journey
Montana pioneer James Stuart got his last wish. James Stuart has been overshadowed by his younger brother Granville in the history of Montana and...