Category Archives: Uncategorized
Poker Alice
Life in the old west was hard on everyone, but it was especially difficult for the ladies. In the post-Civil War period, it was common for proper young ladies to accompany their new husbands into the western territories. It was … Continue reading
The Texas Highsmith Family
Even under the best of circumstances, whether by land or sea, the passage into Texas was an arduous undertaking in the early times. Families making the overland trip knew that they would face a plethora of challenges, so they prepared … Continue reading
John Coffee Hays
In 1836, a 19-year-old young man by the name of Jack Hays migrated from his home in Tennessee to the Republic of Texas. He came from a good family, was well-educated, and had influential friends or friends of the family, … Continue reading
James Wilkinson: Image of Respectability
James Wilkinson (1757-1825) is one of those characters in American history that one seldom hears about. At the end of his life, he had achieved prominence as the senior officer of the U. S. Army, a politician, and one of … Continue reading
Gambling, Hard Drinking, and Gunfights
Nearly everyone interested in the old west is familiar with the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas but what most people don’t know is that the saloon was named after one of its founder’s home towns, Long Branch, New … Continue reading
