Ketchum and Hamer

Two legendary Old West names came together in 1900.

In 1900, sixteen-year-old Frank Hamer—later a Texas Ranger legend–was severely wounded by Dan McSween. Hamer had refused to perform a contract killing for McSween. Frank was laid up for some time—and his father was concerned that McSween might come after them Frank and his brother Harrison.

So he sent the boys to live with family friend Green Berry Ketchum (photo) at his ranch near the Pecos. The Hamers eventually cowboyed for Ketchum. They were doing that when Ketchum’s younger brother—Black Jack Tom Ketchum—was hanged for train robbery.