Author Archives: Mustang
Captain Sam Walker
Samuel Hamilton Walker was the son of Nathan and Elizabeth Walker, the fifth of seven children. He was born on 24 February 1817 at Toaping Castle, Maryland. What we know about him is mostly third hand, but this doesn’t detract … Continue reading
The Story of Phantly Bean
Kentuckian by birth in 1825, Phantly Roy Bean, Jr. was the youngest of five children born to Phantly Roy Bean, Sr., and the former Anna Henderson Gore. Poverty combined with little hope for useful employment near the homestead sent young … Continue reading
The Sergeant Major
It is difficult to determine which of these positions has the greatest prestige: a sergeant major of Spanish Marines [1], or a Governor of Texas. Martín de Alarcón served in both capacities. He also served as a Knight of the Order … Continue reading
Old Ben
In Texas history, scholars refer to this man as Old Ben Milam. He wasn’t old at all when he met his fate —just 47 years of age. Benjamin Rush Milam was born in present-day Frankfort, Kentucky on 20 October 1788. … Continue reading
Deadwood Dick
I enjoy researching and writing about the Old West because there is no history quite as colorful or as interesting as that of America’s westward expansion. Unhappily, very few of our present-day colleges or universities offer courses in American history … Continue reading
The Overland Stage
Despite Hollywood depictions of the old west stagecoach, the reality of this venture —the overland stage, was considerably different. The journey was tough, extremely dangerous, and very short lived. Stagecoach service existed in England in 1300’s, but the first recorded … Continue reading
James Butler Bonham
A country gentleman In the old American south, in the years before the Civil War, southern gentlemen wielded every facet of economic and political power. They also created their own standard of gentility and honor; they not only defined southern … Continue reading
Clay Allison, gunfighter
Robert Clay Allison was the fourth of nine children born to Jeremiah Scotland Allison and Mariah Brown Allison. Jeremiah was a Presbyterian minister and a subsistence farmer. Clay may have had a hyperactive disorder, as it appears that he was … Continue reading
When Saints Became Sinners
Massacre in the Meadow After the original frontiersmen came the pioneers, men, women, and children who set out for the western frontier in family groups. In some cases, these family groups included “extended” relations. Generally, the pioneers agreed to meet … Continue reading
The Origins of Zorro
Most people in my generation grew up reading about or watching film serials and television programs about western heroes. We saw these heroes in such programs as The Lone Ranger, Lash Larue, The Cisco Kid, The Durango Kid, Roy Rogers, … Continue reading
