In Search of Outlaw Treasure in the Flint Hills of Kansas, By Doc Hinck

 

The following story is from a friend of mine, Doc Hinck, who lives in the Flint Hills, along the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas. Doc is true adventurer, explorer and cowboy.  -The Editor

So about 5 years ago, Steph and I were out searching for arrowheads/deer antlers in the Flint Hills not far from the old Santa Fe Trail. We were informed by the property owner that he was told by his father many years ago that the particular location had a man that lived in a one room cabin. The story was, this fella was part of the Infamous Dalton/Doolin gang. He recalls hearing that he was not a Dalton brother but rode with the gang, and they used his cabin for an unknown hideout. He told us that when he was younger his father had come across an antique spur from the 1800s! The Dalton museum had offered to purchase it but his father refused to part with it. 

I know…I know…a neat story no doubt! However…I started really thinking about it. So I spoke with him later about it again. I gathered more details that started getting my curiosity on the rise! 

The location of the “hideout” was said to have been at the top of a bluff with a stream running below. There was suppose to be a big flat rock out front of the cabin. From the cabin, you could see a great distant across the prairie and easily spot danger arriving in plenty of time to make a daring escape! From the cabin, there was to be 3 or 4 easy escape routes from the cabin.

Long story short, my curiosity overtook me and Steph and I began exploring the area. After the next few years of grid searching, not having the slightest clue where this “so called hideout” would have possibly been located, I used an aerial map from a birds-eye view of the general area. We marked several areas of interest on our map and continued our search.

One day, Steph called me over to a big flat rock at the top of a large bluff. Instantly we thought it could be the one that might have stood out front of the cabin. While investigating it, we noticed a carving in the rock that appeared like a boat anchor or a J and a backwards J.??? 

Photo by Doc Hinck

We began metal detecting the area and quickly started to find some AWESOME sign of artifacts! First we started finding several square nails to prove something had obviously stood there once upon a time. Next we found several pearlike buttons. We searched under the big rock and found a fly tox cork bottle from the 1870/80s era. We also found a big cork whiskey bottle in excellent shape! We later discovered an 1848 penny. I found a big rock and stood on it and my detector picked up a 12 gauge brass shotgun shell on one side of the rock and not far away was a second matching one. We also found several brass shotgun shell remnants of old paper shells of that era as well! 

All photos courtesy of Doc Hinck

We searched that general area several times and later while hiking around with my buddy, he discovered another boulder over the hill with more carvings in it! Being pushed for time, we have yet to detect that area or explore further.  Once this weather clears and the snow and ice thaw I fully intend to get back to exploring. Could this be an actual outlaw hideout!? 

In the last year I have been spending a lot of time doing some major research and purchased two of Emmett Dalton’s books he had written himself. As most historians know and believe, the Dalton/Doolin gang were an Oklahoma/South Kansas based gang. However, they did have a brother that lived in California and spent time there. However, everyone knows of their hideout in Oklahoma as well as their sister’s house and tunnel in Meade, but why on earth would they have one clear up here in our area you ask? 

Could there be any sort of evidence of the Daltons traveling to Northeast Kansas south of Topeka area so to speak?

While reading one of Emmett’s books, he flat stated that while they were Marshals, they began a man hunt for a Cherokee man that had committed murder. They chased him clear up north through the “Flint Hills” hmm….first thing that really struck my curiosity.  Later he states that the gang had another “hideout” that as of then had not been discovered….hmm second strike of curiosity. 

Now everyone knows that the Daltons were kin to the James and Youngers. So what does that have to do with this particular location you ask? 

Capt. Bloody Bill Anderson’s farm was not far down the trail from this exact location. This was his particular stomping grounds. He was reported to have stolen horses less than a half mile from the location! We all know who looked up to Bill and rode with him. Frank and Jesse James…..another interesting strike of curiosity! 

I began my research on the James gang and was blown away when I found newspaper articles of a Wild West show in a town not 20 minutes from the location! Frank was the main attraction! Hmm…I had discovered that Frank continued to spend a lot of time in this general area for some unknown reason. What is funny is the fact that a friend/relative had once told me that his grandfather told him that his great great grandfather use to drink and play cards with Frank James in that nearby town. We both thought it to be a neat little tall tale. That was however, until we discovered that Frank had been there at the time his great great grandfather woulda lived there!

So what on earth would bring Frank to this countryside? 

Bloody Bill made several raids in this area and several of his “gang” were “unamed”…

I recently discovered that some Kin of my very own rode with Capt. Anderson and Capt. Quantrill themselves! One of them that rode with Anderson just happened to be on a posse that was searching for Anderson and the gang after they murdered Judge A.I. Baker near Rock Creek Crossing about 20 min from this “hideout location”. Whats funny is, my Kin, and his posse never located Anderson yet, is seen on the roster of Anderson’s men in Missouri shortly after.  Could Frank and Jesse have rode with Anderson and Quantrill through these Flint Hills? There’s no way to know but a person can and will always wonder. 

Now what really got me is this! So I was at an antique auction a couple years ago and purchased a book that had a neat photo and story of Bloody Bill! I had to get to reading! When I opened up and began reading I was blown away to say the very least! It talks about “outlaws robbing some travelers along the Santa Fe Trail and burying the loot somewhere along the prairie.” It explains in detail the area where it was supposedly buried but never discovered. I literally got chills when I read it! It explains the area to a T! Exactly the same as the location where we had discovered our finds.

Now back to the hideout location. Not far from where we found everything, we dug up an all iron hatchet, an 1850s half dime and what appears to be the front of a pot bellied wood stove? We also discovered buckles off a horse harness and a couple of old ink wells. One was glass and one was pottery. We also found a few 1800s horse shoes!

There’s likely no way we’ll ever know unless we strike it rich  but my curiosity has me losing sleep at night wanting to get out and go exploring again and try to piece this story together.  The more research we do, the more the story is starting to play out and the more the dots are connecting! I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in months!

I’d love everyone’s thoughts on this!  If anyone may have any leads, or knowledge that might be of assistance I’d greatly appreciate your thoughts.

Bob Ford, Villain or Patsy? By G.C. Stevens

 

                                              Bob (right) and Charley (left) Ford were both 

were present at 1318 Lafayette St, in St. Jo Missouri when Bob Ford

shot Jesse James in the back of the head, killing him, on April 03rd, 1882.

Photos courtesy the Missouri state Historic Society and Find A Grave.

In the annals of American outlaw history, few names resonate as powerfully as Jesse James. Known for his daring bank and train robberies, his Robin Hood-like mythos, and his cunning escapes from the law, Jesse James became a legend. However, his life came to an abrupt and ignominious end at the hands of one of his own gang members, Robert Newton "Bob" Ford.  But was Bob Ford a villain, or a patsy for the Governor of Missouri Thomas Crittenden?

Born on January 31, 1862, in Ray County, Missouri, Bob Ford grew up in the shadow of the Civil War, a time that shaped many of the outlaws of the era. His brother, Charley Ford, was also involved in the criminal underworld. The Ford brothers' paths crossed with Jesse James' when they joined his gang, lured by the promise of fame, money, and adventure, but also by the danger and notoriety that came with associating with such a figure.

By 1882, Jesse James was a wanted man, but he had managed to evade capture for years. He trusted few, and his paranoia was well-founded. On April 3, 1882, in St. Joseph, Missouri, under the alias Thomas Howard, Jesse James was betrayed by Bob Ford, who had secretly made a deal with the Governor of Missouri, Thomas T. Crittenden. The deal promised Ford a full pardon for his past crimes and a reward for bringing Jesse to justice. In a house at 1318 Lafayette Street, while Jesse was adjusting a picture on the wall, Bob Ford shot him in the back of the head. The shot was fatal, and Jesse James died instantly, thus ending one of the most famous criminal careers in history.

 Ford was but twenty years old at the time of Jesse's killing. One can only see Bob Ford as  naive young man who was manipulated by the "new establishment" in Missouri that came to power after the civil war. A state government who not only refused to pardon the guerillas for their actions during the war, but also banned former confederate supporters from earning a living on their own soil. Thus painting the government in its own corner.  And like so many cases in modern times that have shined a light on the dubious and corrupt habits of  government to use unwitting, blackmailed or compromised operatives to accomplish their dirty work. Its easy to see the same scenario played out in the case of Jesse James and his assassination.

                                        

                               The following photos were taken by the Author 

                               at the Patee House Museum in St. Jo Missouri

                                   The location where its believed that Jesse James was killed

Bob Ford's actions were indeed controversial. While some viewed him as a traitor for killing a man in such a dishonorable way, others saw him as having done the state a service by removing a dangerous outlaw, which is a fact that cannot be overlooked. Jesse James was a cold blooded killer who engaged in war crimes during the civil war and committed many crimes before he was finally killed in St, Jo.  However, Ford's life post-assassination, was far from peaceful or prosperous.

He and his brother Charley initially received only part of the reward money and pardon from the governor who used them, and then cheated them. But the public's reaction was overwhelmingly negative. Ford faced ridicule, threats, and was ostracized. Songs and stories painted him as a coward, and the fame he sought turned into infamy. And yet his governmental handlers were never blamed for their role. They conveniently escaped accountability behind a curtain of deceit, and plausible deniability. Much in the way that Lee Harvey Oswald became the only name that would be spoken to place the label of blame for the Kennedy assassination.

In a misguided attempt to capitalize on his notoriety,  Bob Ford performed in a traveling show, reenacting the murder of Jesse James, but as could have been expected, public disdain only grew. He moved to Colorado, where he opened a saloon, but his past continued to haunt him. On June 8, 1892, Ford was shot and killed by another career criminal, Edward O'Kelley in his tent saloon in Creede, Colorado, an act that some saw as revenge for Jesse James, or simply an expression of the deep-seated contempt many felt for Ford. O'Kelly was arrested and sentenced to life in prison, but a petition was created and signed by seven thousand people in Missouri begging for O'Kellys release, he was erroneously pardoned by the governor of Colorado and released back into the public. In an Ironic twist O'Kelly got into an altercation with a Police Officer in Oklahoma City, and was shot and killed.

Little is known of O'Kelley's past, although his birthplace is reported as Harrisonville, Missouri. His mother was Margaret Ann Capehart (July 6, 1836 – July 27, 1903), but at the time of her July 14, 1857, marriage to Dr. Thomas Katlett O'Kelley (October 20, 1833 – October 9, 1923) she was already pregnant with Edward. It is believed that Thomas was not Edward's father. Edward was a child during the American Civil War. In Thomas' Civil War Veteran Pension File, where Thomas was required to list all his children and their dates of birth, Edward is not included on the list

Bob Ford's legacy is a complex one. And, history has been unfair to that legacy. He is remembered less for any heroism and more for the act of betrayal against one of America's most infamous criminals. His life illustrates the thin line between fame and infamy, honor and disgrace, in the Wild West. The tale of Bob Ford and Jesse James has been retold in numerous books, films, and songs, each adding layers to the myth of these characters.

Bob Ford's life, the murder of Jesse James and Bob Ford's subsequent murder by Ed O'Kelley, are emblematic of a times when lawlessness, government deviance, and legend intertwined in the American frontier. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of cooperating with corruption in government, betrayal, the fleeting nature of fame, and the harsh judgment of history on those who choose the path of treachery. While Jesse James' name has become synonymous with the misguided outlaw spirit of the Old West, Bob Ford's name is forever linked with the act that ended that legend, painting him as both a figure of historical significance and a pariah in the folklore of America. On an end note; After a period of deep depression following James' death, terminal illness from tuberculosis, and a debilitating morphine addiction, Charles Ford died by suicide on May 6, 1884.

The Author is the Editor of the CSL&OH.A. and Associate Member of 

the Western Writers of America.

Doc Holliday by G.C. Stevens

                             The Legend of Doc Holliday: 

                      Gunslinger, Gambler, Dentist, Enigma

                                         Photo from the Authors Collection
There I was standing on the street in Tombstone, when I was invited into the rear door of an old saloon and suddenly found myself face to face with a man at a faro table who began to tell stories of the famed gun slinger, Doc Holliday. What he told me, made realize that Doc was both a mystery and legend.

-Gene Stevens

In the tapestry of American folklore, few characters are as enigmatic and captivating as John Henry "Doc" Holliday. Born on August 14, 1851, in Griffin, Georgia, Doc Holliday was not only known for his prowess with a gun but also for his complex personality shaped by both his education and his diseases. We actually know very little about Doc except that he made his way west under mysterious circumstances, and according the one lone historian that I met on the dusty trail, Doc was not what anyone thought he was. But this is what we think we know.

Holliday was the son of Henry Burroughs Holliday, a prominent planter, and Alice Jane McKey. His upbringing was marked by privilege; he was educated at the prestigious Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, where he graduated in 1872. Initially, Holliday practiced dentistry in Atlanta but soon his life took a dramatic turn, and to the best of our knowledge, being diagnosed with tuberculosis. This diagnosis was a death sentence at the time, apparently pushing him westward in search of a drier climate, which was believed to be beneficial for those with lung conditions, or so the story goes.

Upon arriving in the West, Holliday found his dental practice waning in popularity, perhaps due to his own deteriorating health or the rough-and-tumble life of frontier towns. He turned to gambling, a profession that suited his quick mind and even quicker hands. His reputation grew not only as a cardsharp but also as a man not to be trifled with. His skill with firearms and a knife became legendary, though it's worth noting that much of the mythos surrounding Holliday has been embellished by Hollywood and dime novels.

One of the most pivotal relationships in Holliday's life was his friendship with Wyatt Earp. A relationship, which would have a tarnishing effect of Wyatt. Their paths crossed in Fort Griffin, Texas, and their bond was sealed in Tombstone, Arizona, where they would become embroiled in one of the most famous gunfights in American history: the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. This incident which lasted a mere thirty seconds occurred, On October 26, 1881, Holliday and the Earps faced off against the Clantons and McLaurys. This event cemented Holliday's place in the annals of the Wild West.

Doc Holliday was known for his cool demeanor under pressure, his loyalty to friends, and his sharp wit. He was said to have had a dry sense of humor, often using it to diffuse tense situations. Despite his numerous legal troubles and brushes with the law, Holliday was never convicted of any serious crime, which adds layers to his character – was he a villain or a victim of circumstance?

The tuberculosis that drove Holliday West eventually caught up with him. By the late 1880s, his health had significantly declined. On November 8, 1887, Doc Holliday died in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, at the age of 36. His last words, according to legend, were "This is funny," a testament to his enduring sense of humor even in the face of death.

Holliday's life has been immortalized in countless books, films, and TV shows, with portrayals by actors like Kirk Douglas, Dennis Quaid, and Val Kilmer, whose performance in "Tombstone" is often cited as definitive. His story resonates not only because of his association with the Wild West but also due to the human elements of tragedy, resilience, and the quest for redemption.

Doc Holliday remains a symbol of the complexity of human character — a man who was both a product of his time and someone who transcended it through his actions, friendships, and the myths that have grown around him. His legacy is a reminder of the multifaceted nature of history's figures, where truth and legend often interweave to create something larger than life.

Announcement, Western Writers of America

 

I am very proud to announce that I have been accepted as an Associate member of the Western Writers of America. I feel very humbled and will continue to work to preserve our history through reenacting and writing. These are two things that have been my true north for over 30 years.

-Gene Stevens

Editor of the CSL&OH.A.

The Greatest Western Movies Made; The Magnificent Seven 1960

 

     Photo is in the public domain 

The Timeless Charm of "The Magnificent Seven"

Introduction

In 1960, Hollywood delivered an enduring classic with "The Magnificent Seven," a Western that has captivated audiences for over six decades. Directed by John Sturges, this film is an American adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1954 Japanese samurai epic, "Seven Samurai." Here, we delve into the making, impact, and legacy of "The Magnificent Seven."

Plot Overview

"The Magnificent Seven" follows the story of a small Mexican village oppressed by the bandit Calvera (played by Eli Wallach) and his gang. Desperate for help, the villagers seek out mercenaries to defend them. They find Chris Adams (Yul Brynner), a seasoned gunslinger, who agrees to help for a price. Chris then recruits six more men, each with unique skills but all with personal demons, forming an unlikely team to protect the village.

The Cast and Characters

• Yul Brynner as Chris Adams, the stoic leader with a moral compass.
• Steve McQueen as Vin Tanner, a charming drifter with sharpshooting skills.
• Charles Bronson as Bernardo O'Reilly, an aging, thoughtful gunman with a tragic past.
• Robert Vaughn as Lee, a nervous, refined gunslinger with a secret.
• Brad Dexter as Harry Luck, the mercenary driven by greed.
• James Coburn as Britt, the laconic, deadly knife-thrower.
• Horst Buchholz as Chico, the hot-headed young man seeking to prove himself.

Each actor brought a unique flavor to their role, contributing to the film's rich tapestry of personalities, which mirrored the original dynamics in "Seven Samurai."

Production and Direction

John Sturges' direction was pivotal in translating the essence of Kurosawa's film into a Western setting. The film was shot in Cuernavaca, Mexico, providing an authentic backdrop that enhanced the movie's atmosphere. The cinematography by Charles Lang captured the rugged beauty of the Mexican landscape, making the setting a character in itself. Elmer Bernstein's score became iconic, defining the sound of Westerns for generations with its rousing main theme.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

"The Magnificent Seven" was not just a commercial success but also critically acclaimed, earning nominations for several awards, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and Best Costume Design, Black-and-White.

The film's influence extends beyond its immediate success:

• Cultural Impact: It inspired numerous remakes, adaptations, and homages, including a direct sequel, TV series, and a 2016 remake directed by Antoine Fuqua.
• Genre Influence: It helped define the "gunslinger team-up" trope in Westerns, which has been echoed in countless films and series.
• Music: The theme has become synonymous with Western genre music, often parodied or homaged in other works.

On a deeper level, "The Magnificent Seven" explores themes of courage, redemption, and the fight for justice against overwhelming odds. It showcases the transformation of mercenaries into protectors, highlighting personal growth and the human spirit's resilience. The film also subtly comments on the nature of heroism, questioning whether true heroism is found in the act or in the aftermath of the deed.

"The Magnificent Seven" remains a landmark in cinema, not just for its genre but for storytelling. Its blend of action, character development, and moral questioning continues to resonate with new generations. The film's legacy is not only in its direct influences but in how it exemplifies the power of cinema to transcend cultural and temporal boundaries, making it a magnificent watch even today.
Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai
Western film genre
more on cultural impact

Buffalo Bill's Legacy, By Matthew Kerns

 

 Photo and article courtesy of Matthew Kerns. 

On January 10, 1917, 108 years ago today, died.  The shadow his life and legacy cast over the popular understanding of the American West is immense. Westerns aren't set in the American West; they're set in Buffalo Bill's Wild West.

Cody’s life took him from message delivery boy for the parent company of the Pony Express to jayhawker, Union soldier, hotel owner, buffalo hunter, and scout. He was the fictional hero of a series of dime novels written by Ned Buntline, who convinced Cody and his friend and fellow scout John "Texas Jack" Omohundro to join him on a stage tour called "The Scouts of the Prairie" in the winter of 1872.  From the moment he rose to prominence in 1869 until his death nearly fifty years later, Bill Cody exemplified and embodied the American West.

Though initially referred to as a melodrama or a "blood and thunder" production, his initial play with Texas Jack was the very first Western, the antecedent of the many plays, movies, and shows that would follow. The following season, Cody and Omohundro parted ways with Ned Buntline and added to their dramatic company their mutual friend James "Wild Bill" Hickok, though his refusal to take his dramatic career as seriously as his friends did led to his departure from the stage before the end of a full season. Cody and Omohundro spent the next several years touring together in the winter and hunting together in the summer before General Custer's death at the Little Bighorn sent both men to Montana to once again serve as scouts under the auspices of the United States Army. They parted dramatic ways after their tour of 1876 but remained friends until Texas Jack's death in Leadville, Colorado, in 1880.

After a few more years touring stages, Cody began what he came to call his Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. Touring the nation by train, Cody brought the West to all of America, planting his version of the American frontier indelibly into the minds of citizens in the more than 1,400 cities the show visited. 

Traveling to Europe, Cody became the first American superstar and perhaps the most well-known man in the world by the end of his life. Throughout this time, he extolled and showed to the world the virtues of the cowboy, first popularized by his old friend Texas Jack and now acted out on the world stage by the cadre of entertainers in Buffalo Bill’s entourage.

In late 1916, Cody traveled to Glenwood Springs to recuperate from a bronchial infection. Realizing that his health was not improving, Cody boarded a train to Denver to return to his family.  On the return ride home, he made a stop at the Leadville station on January 6th, 1917. 

As the train pulled in, he told his daughter and his nurse about his old friend Texas Jack, buried across town.  Thirty-seven years after his best friend's death, Buffalo Bill Cody still teared up talking about Texas Jack. Not well enough to leave the train due to his declining health, Cody was unable to walk across town to Evergreen Cemetery and the grave he had generously erected for his friend. As the train pulled out of the station, Cody waved goodbye for the last time to the people of Leadville and to his old pard Texas Jack.

Four days later, Buffalo Bill was dead.

If you have never taken the opportunity, I urge you to visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, and the Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum on Lookout Mountain, Colorado. The lasting legacy of the man is immense.  There really is an American West—prairies and plains and canyons and deserts—but the version of it in John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies, in Louis L’amour and Johnny Boggs books, in shows like Bonanza and the Lone Ranger is the one William F. Cody created—Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.

This is the last picture of William F. Cody, known to the world as Buffalo Bill, taken as he left Glenwood Springs the week before his death.

-Matthew Kerns 

For more information,  the reader can visit https://www.facebook.com/jbomohundro?mibextid=ZbWKwL

The Wild West in Iowa: Where Pioneers Met Cowboys, By G.C. Stevens

 

When one conjures images of the Wild West, the vast plains of Iowa might not be the first place that comes to mind. Yet, Iowa's history during the 19th century paints a picture of a frontier state with its own unique slice of Wild West lore, where the echoes of cattle drives, gunfights, and Native American encounters resonate through its history.

The Frontier Era
Iowa's transformation from Native American lands to a state teeming with settlers began in earnest in the 1830s. Before statehood, the area was home to several tribes including the Sauk, Meskwaki, and Sioux, whose presence and interactions with early settlers set the stage for frontier life. By 1846, when Iowa was admitted to the Union, the landscape was already changing with the influx of pioneers looking for land, opportunity, and adventure.

Cowboys and Cattle in Iowa
While Iowa might not be synonymous with cattle drives like Texas or Wyoming, the state had its own share of cowboy culture, particularly in the western regions. Towns like Sioux City and Council Bluffs, situated close to the Missouri River, were influenced by the trails that passed through or near them, including the Mormon Trail and later, the Pony Express. These areas saw a mix of frontier life, where the cowboy ethos was not just about herding cattle but also about the lifestyle of the time—tough, independent, and ready for the unexpected.

• Sioux City: Known for its wild reputation, Sioux City had its moments of lawlessness, highlighted by gunfights, including one where a pastor attempted to enforce prohibition laws, leading to a shootout. The town's history aligns more closely with the frontier dynamics of South Dakota and Nebraska, giving it a uniquely "western" flavor within Iowa.

• Council Bluffs: Acting as a starting point for the Union Pacific Railroad and a stop on the Mormon Trail, this city was a gateway to the West, embodying the spirit of exploration and the rugged individualism associated with the Wild West.


Native American Influence
The narrative of Iowa's Wild West also includes the complex relationship between Native Americans and settlers. The state's history is marked by treaties, conflicts, and the eventual displacement of indigenous peoples. The Black Hawk War, involving the Sauk and Meskwaki, was one of the significant events that shaped early Iowa, leading to land cessions and the movement of these tribes westward.

Cultural and Economic Life
The economy of frontier Iowa was tied to agriculture, but the spirit of the Wild West was also evident in its burgeoning towns, where saloons, gambling, and the occasional lawlessness were part of the daily life. The arrival of railroads in the 1860s further connected Iowa to the broader American West, facilitating the flow of goods, people, and ideas, which included the cowboy culture from further west.

Modern Echoes of the Wild West
Today, while Iowa is primarily known for its agriculture and modern cities, traces of its Wild West past can still be felt:

• Cultural Events: Rodeos and historical reenactments in places like Albert City, Fort Dodge and particularly Winterset Iowa, which is also the Birthplace of The most famous American Cowboy figure, John Wayne, helps to keep the cowboy spirit alive.
• Historical Sites: The Jordan House in West Des Moines, now a historical society,  Jordan was a cattle farmer from Virginia, although the area is now in West Virginia, who settled in central Iowa in 1846. As a businessman he organized the State Bank of Des Moines and was involved in bringing the railroad to Des Moines. He platted Valley Junction and raised $70,000 to create a railhead there, which was also near his cattle operation.

• Wildlife: The state has preserved areas where one can still experience the wildness of Iowa's past, with wildlife management areas providing a habitat for species like bison, elk, and various birds, echoing the natural aspect of the frontier.


The Wild West in Iowa might not match the scale of the more famous western states, but it holds its own charm and historical significance. It was a land where the cultures of the Midwest and the West blended, where the pioneer spirit met the cowboy ethos, creating a unique chapter in America's story of westward expansion. As Iowa continues to evolve, the echoes of its Wild West days remind us of a time when the state was indeed a frontier, full of promise, peril, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

Old West Show 2025, National Congress Of Old West Shootists

 Just passing this on from Bear Tooth Bill ( John Hoker). The National Congress of Old West Shootists is putt'n on an Old West Show & Sale! It's over by the Mississippi river in Davenport Iowa. See the flyer below, or check out their website at NCOWS.COM.

Gene Stevens 

CSL&OH.A.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 Merry Christmas  and Happy New Year From the Central States Lawman and Outlaws Historic Assn.

 (c) CSLOHA

 All photos are in the public domain

The John Wayne Birthplace and Museum

 I'm proud to  be a new member of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum!