Category Archives: OUTLAWS

Smugglers, Bootleggers, and other Scoundrels

Introduction The subject of smuggling is interesting, instructive, and not confined to any one country, region, or culture.  People are — who they are, and none of the folkways of a particular people change simply because they uproot themselves and … Continue reading

Posted in ANTIQUITY, COLONIAL PERIOD, HISTORY, INDENTURE & SLAVERY, OUTLAWS | 2 Comments

Frank Jones — Texas Ranger

No man in the wrong can stand up to a man in the right who just keeps on a-coming. —The Texas Ranger Creed Introduction The Texas Rangers began with ten men, appointed by Stephen F. Austin in 1823.  He enlisted … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, OUTLAWS | 4 Comments

The Adams Family

But first, a word … History seeks order from chaos.  It is one discipline of several in the social sciences.  The study of history must confine itself to evaluating written records.  Whatever history exists before written records must be studied … Continue reading

Posted in COLONIAL PERIOD, FRONTIER, HISTORY, OUTLAWS, POLITICIANS, REVOLUTION | 5 Comments

El Peludo

Introduction For thousands of years before the modern era, the land of present-day Arizona was home to several Indian civilizations.  The first European to establish contact with Arizona Indians was Marcos de Niza in 1539.  Several other historically significant Spaniards … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, LONE STAR, OUTLAWS | 2 Comments

Mister Montana

Last week — … we examined the outlaw sheriff operating in and around Virginia City-Bannack, in the Idaho/Montana Territory.  This week, we will look at a man who some would argue was as bad as the outlaw sheriff, only better … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, NATIVES, OUTLAWS, POLITICIANS | 4 Comments

Outlaw Sheriff

William Henry Handy Plumer was born in Addison, Maine in 1832.  He was the youngest of six children born to Jeremiah and Elizabeth Plumer.  Jeremiah died when William was still a teenager.  Henry left home in 1851, at age 19, … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, OUTLAWS | 7 Comments

In Search of Justice

In 1885, Joseph Isaac Clanton, known to his friends as “Ike,” surrounded himself with men such as Lee Renfro, G. W. “Kid” Swingle, a man named “Longhair” Sprague, Billy Evans, and Ebin Stanley (Ike’s brother-in-law).  They were a scruffy lot, all … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, OUTLAWS | 4 Comments

Death in Two Parts

The Story of Black Jack Ketchum Whenever anyone has absolutely nothing to call their own, and they happen upon someone else’s property, particularly when no one is looking, they find in this an opportunity for self-enrichment that cost them nothing … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, LONE STAR, OUTLAWS | 9 Comments

Three of a Kind

The story of Josie and Ann Bassett, and Etta Place ____________ “A man can sleep around, no questions asked, but if a woman makes nineteen or twenty mistakes, she’s a tramp.”  — Joan Rivers Introduction Years ago, Arthur and Fanny … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, OUTLAWS, THE LADIES | 10 Comments

God made man — but Texas made Texans

Introduction In 1820, Tejas (Texas) was a province of New Spain.  In that year, the population of Hispanics living in Texas was around 1,700 — mainly concentrated in San Antonio, but with a spattering of people also living in Nacogdoches … Continue reading

Posted in CIVIL WAR, FRONTIER, HISTORY, LONE STAR, NATIVES, OUTLAWS | 1 Comment