The Wild West has made lawmen, criminals, and cowboys the stuff of legends, not only in books but also on the silver screen. It has also created legends of the weapons that these famous and infamous characters carried. And just like the legends that made them famous, these guns now emit an aura of mystery …
Doc Holliday’s Gun: Everything You Need to Know About the Legendary Gunslinger Read More »
Intro We’ve been working on an E-Book chronicling Wyatt Earp’s days in Dodge City. Upcoming sometime in the future. We’ll give a bit of a preview here, in that it begins with some of his first days when entering Kansas. He first appears in Sumner County in late 1872. When Wyatt ends up in Kansas …
Intro Have you heard of the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, about 120 miles West of Fort Worth, Texas? The U.S. 6th Cavalry built Fort Wilson there the summer of 1867, on a plateau. Name changed soon to honor General Charles Griffin. The Old West Frontier Town built up around it. But it had …
Introduction With October’s Gunfight Remembrance, thought we’d bring up a person whose name came up a lot in the aftermath of that Tombstone incident. You’ve heard his name: Wells Spicer. His career spanned the law, mining, politics & journalism. We’ll find out more on this man, born in Chemung NY to farming parents in 1831. …
Intro It wasn’t easy for women to make a way for themselves in the Old West. Reading through newspapers of the time, when women of note are mentioned, many times it’s difficult to even find out their first names. If married, they’re most often described with their husband’s name. For instance, speaking of Allie they’d …
Tom Jeffords: Do You Remember Him? Born Thomas Jefferson Jeffords in NW New York State, New Years Day 1832. The gold rush attracted him West when he was age 27. First to Pikes Peak CO, then New Mexico & Arizona. If you’re a bit of the older generations, or you like watching old Western reruns …
Before Tombstone Joyce family research finds Patrick Robert Joyce born on Oct. 16, 1847, in County Cork, Ireland. Potato Famine caused the family’s immigration . Settling in Richmond, Virginia, the baby’s name became Melvin (called Milton?? don’t know!) Edward. Thus he’s listed VA born on 1880 AZ Census. Enlisted at age 15 with Confederate army. Moved to …
John Philip Clum: Some Tombstone Firsts! Born in upstate NY Sept. 1, 1851. He eventually became a well-known resident of Tombstone. He was its 1st voted Mayor & the 1st Editor of the iconic Tombstone Epitaph. Also got involved in lots more in town. Let’s see how John P. Clum got there – his story… …
Intro When you hear the name John B Allen, somehow it brings to mind something familiar! Yes – that’s right. It’s Allen Street. Is that who Allen St. in Tombstone AZ is named after? You’re exactly correct in thinking that. So exactly who was he? And why was Allen Street, Tombstone Arizona named for this …
Intro Crawley Dake was Canadian born Sept. 1836. But his family crossed to the opposite side of the St. Lawrence River, relocating to Ogdensburg New York when he was very young. He grew up there. At age 19 he moved to Romeo, Michigan, opening a store, running for office, getting married, & having a son. …
Mattie Had a Strong Beginning Her home town was Monroe Township Iowa, where she was born in Jan. 1850, the 3rd child. Named Celia Ann Blaylock, she went to church & school, with typical parental discipline of the time. She lived on the family farm, had local friends & activities. But was apparently restless there. …
Billy Stiles Had a Good Start William Larkin Stiles was born in Casa Grande Arizona. About mid-state, half-way between Tucson & Phoenix. Mostly flat area, lots of cotton fields. Raised there, he learned mining & ranching. He drew newsworthy attention with a good copper ore strike in June 1896 at 24 years old. Later that …
