Jonas V. Brighton—aka Rawhide Jake—is best known to history for killing Ike Clanton in 1887 as the outlaw tried to escape arrest. But Brighton had a long history as a stock detective, lawman and, perhaps, gun for hire.
Reportedly, Brighton was employed by the Apache County (AZ) Stock Association to take down rustlers by any means necessary. He was also a deputy for Sheriff Commodore Perry Owens.
In addition to dispatching Ike, Jake is known to have killed Clanton associate Lee Renfro. He also may have helped lynch outlaw Kid Swingle.
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Mark Boardman is the features editor for True West Magazine as well as the editor of The Tombstone Epitaph. He also serves as pastor for Poplar Grove United Methodist Church in Indiana.
