Post Card 1874, One card and a mysterious message: By G.C Stevens

 

                                                            Stevens collection (c)

Post Card from the Authors collections

 A post card written on the Iowa frontier, a response that will never have closure.  But the recipient is identified as Mary Charlton who appears in the 1870 census, but she is living one county over in Adel, Dallas County Iowa, and she 19 years old. Which would have made her 23 years old at the time when the card was written, mailed and received in December of 1874. 

United States POSTAL CARD. Denomination 1 cent

From the Stevens Collection

U.S. POSTAGE ONE CENT

​Postmark:

DES MOINES, IOWA

DEC 18 

10 A.M.

​Handwritten Address:

To Miss Mary Charlton

Casey (Iowa)

Guthrie Co. Iowa

​Back (Message Side):

​Dateline:

Des Moines, Iowa

Dec 18 1874.

Message: Friend Mary, Your letter received. Before answering it, however, I want you to tell me what questions it is you refer to that you asked me in your first letter. I can't think of any that remain unanswered.

​Truly Yours,

Jim M McLaughlin

                       Census from Ancestry.com

Photographer & Stagecoach Robber Cicero Grime By G.C. Stevens

                           

An unverified photo of Photographer turned robber, Marcus T. "Cicero" Grime Photo appeared 

on the Territorial Troupers 

facebook page and on a the blog "Ernie's Place" in the story: "Laytonville Middeltons and the Arizona Middleton's are connected again"

CICERO GRIME PHOTOGRAPHER / ROBBER

This is probably one of the most unusual stories in western lore that I have run into. While assisting with some research for another fan western history and historic photos, he clued me in on a story about a western photographer by the name of "Cicero Grime." who had turned to a life of crime when he robbed a stagecoach in 1882.  Grime is listed in the book "Biographies of Western Photographers," by Carl Mautz. 

Grime was apparently the strangest pioneer photographer known, and he used the tagline, “White Buffalo Found Dead in the Photograph Gallery,” in his advertisements. Along with his brother, Lafayette, and accomplice Curtis B. Hawley robbed a Wells Fargo & Co. stage outside of Globe, Arizona, in August 1882. Cicero was nearly hanged but escaped the vigilantes and was later sentenced to 21 years in the Yuma Territorial Prison—bringing an end to his photography career.

"GRIME, CICERO"

"Active in Globe, 1880-81. Listed as “Photographer, Globe” and “Cicero Grime Photographic Gallery Globe City and Pinal Arizona.” He robbed a stagecoach and was nearly hanged, 1882; sentenced to Yuma Territorial Prison. Operated the California Art Gallery in Globe, ex-operator of I.C.U. Photograph Car in California. Made tintypes and stereographs."

- Carl Mautz

Article as it appeared in 

the Tombstone Epitaph 

Weekly on August 26th, 1882, which gives details

about the robbery.

Cell block at the Yuma Territorial Prison, 

Photo from the Library of Congress

References 

Newpaperarchive.com

Tombstone Epitaph August 26th, 1882

https://ernielb.blogspot.com/2010/11/laytonville-middletons-and-arizona.html?hl=en-US&m=1   (Article date November5, 2010 a fascinating read)

https://www.truewestmagazine.com/article/dr-jeremy-rowe/

https://www.truewestmagazine.com/author/jeremy-rowe/

Photo collector / Genealogist Alan Thatcher 

"Uncirculated Morgan Silver Dollars of the 19th Century" By G,C. Stevens

History Treasure Hunter

Gold bullion and silver bars from sunken Spanish war ships aren't found in the Midwest, though rumors of Jesse James hidden gold do circulate in the western states, but chances of running into such things are extremely rare. But all kidding aside. Midwesterners tend to seek treasure in other more obvious places such as antique stores, flea markets and coin stores which is where these western commemorative carded collectables came from. Each of these cards features a famous western figure, in this case Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane and Geronimo are featured, Each card has an uncirculated 90% silver Morgan Dollar on each card and an unused United States Postage Stamp mounted on a very colorful wild west style background, that the story each American Western Icon! This particularly series was good investment at the time and was for approximately $42.00 each, and are now worth between $125.00 and $135.00 on ebay. 

 This presentation card was produced by PCS Stamps & Coins (formerly known as the Postal Commemorative Society). It is part of their "Uncirculated Morgan Silver Dollars of the 19th Century" collector binder series. Each panel in the set pairs a uncirculated 19th-century Morgan Silver Dollar with a historic figure from the American "Wild West" era (matching themed US postage stamps and biographical details on the panel).

CHECK OUT OUR SALES AT

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EBAY

 This presentation card was produced by PCS Stamps & Coins (formerly known as the Postal Commemorative Society). It is part of their "Uncirculated Morgan Silver Dollars of the 19th Century" collector binder series. Each panel in the set pairs a uncirculated 19th-century Morgan Silver Dollar with a historic figure from the American "Wild West" era (matching themed US postage stamps and biographical details on the panel).

Podcast: THE SILVER ENGINE Edited by G C. Stevens

 

THE SILVER ENGINE!

​The Grant Locomotive Works, of Paterson, New Jersey, built a locomotive, shipped it across the Atlantic, reassembled it within the vast concourse of Transportation Hall, called it "America," This engine returned to American and became the show piece of the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad in 1869. It toured the United Staes between the Great Lajes and the Missouri River. The story was adapted from the book "Great Rock Island Route" The Spirit of Romance the Spirit of Enterprise  

Trains Trails & Outlaws Featured at Jones Bookstore, Books by G.C. Stevens Dusty Trails of the Old West Publishing

 

Trains, Trails & Outlaws

Featured on 

Jones Bookstore!

 Old West Anthology by G.C. Stevens 1, 2 & 3 

Dusty Trails of the Old West, Stories of the old west.

Frontier Dust Stories and Poetry of the old west

Trains Trails and Outlaws, anthology #3 (and book #2) of poetry and stories 

of the American frontier.

VISIT OUR GENERAL STORE!

CHECK OUT ALL OF MY BOOKS AT

DUSTY TRAILS OF THE OLD WEST

PUBLISHING

An Evening on The White Pole Road In Adair Iowa by G.C Stevens

 

WHITE POLE

​ADAIR

​The railroad was built through the ridge of the great watershed divide here in 1868-69 and the area was known as "Summit Cut". It was the highest point on the railroad line and the summit for water to flow into either the Mississippi or Missouri rivers. George C. Tallman of Brooklyn, New York laid out the town on land that he owned and the town plat was recorded on August 20, 1872. Adair was named in honor of General John Adair, an officer in the War of 1812 and the sixth governor of Kentucky.

​The White Pole Road connects the railroad communities of Dexter, Stuart, Menlo, Casey and Adair much like it did from 1910 and we hope you'll stop to explore their treasures.

Along the historic White Pole Road 

in Adair Iowa

It was a pleasure to attend the Adair Farmers and Craft Market, Home Grown Heros Event!  While there I got to talk to a lot of great people and to discuss the history of Iowa's wild west days and the history of the famed White Pole Road, which I call Iowa's "Outlaw Trail!"

IOWA'S OUTLAW TRAIL!

Photo by Lea McCarty

My Western Anthology, 

Books 1, 2 & 3

Frontier Dusty Anthology II

Dusty Trails of the Old West Books

Also find my books on Lulu.com

Author G.C. Stevens

Selling my artwork and books!

 Follow @the406market on Facebook. My phone number is 402-676-3473. The address of the store is 406 Audubon St, Adair, IA 50002. www.the406market.com

*

Iowa In The Civil War, Veteran Edgar L. Sweet, By G.C Stevens

 

A cabinet card photo taken in Independence Iowa, which is located in Northeastern Iowa. The photo is a very distinguished portrait of civil war veteran, Edgar L. Sweet, who served with the 1st Iowa Cavalry. Photo from the authors collection.

Edgar L. Sweet aka, Edgar L. Winsor

1846-1933

Find a grave

The card was found with the following information written on the back in pencil

Previous Article 

The state of Iowa had only been in the union for fourteen years when the war between the states broke out in the west. Iowa was strategically positioned in the war to help execute operations in the trans-Mississippi, which was crucial for securing the western United States. and approximately 76, 500 Iowa men served in the war. The war in the west was a crucial phase and the war which had begun in the west, would also end in the west as many staunch supporters of the confederate cause in the trans-Mississippi would be among the last to surrender after Lee's capitulation to Grant at Appomattox Virginia. Edgar L. Sweet would serve in the final days of the civil war, tasked with the difficult task of not only dealing with guerillas in southwestern Missouri, but conducted other expeditions to multiple areas during the short time of his enlistment

Excerpt from the 1st Iowa Cavalry History

Ref National Park Service Battle Unit Details

 March 23-May 3, 1864. Antoine and Wolf Creeks April 2. Elkin's Ferry, Little Missouri River, April 3-4. Prairie D'Anna April 9-12. White Oak Creek April 14. Camden Cross Roads April 15. Occupation of Camden April 16-18. Camden April 20. Marks Mills April 25. Moro Bottom April 25-26. Jenkins' Ferry, Saline River, April 30. Veterans on furlough May and June. Non-Veterans on duty at Little Rock till February, 1865. Expedition to Fort Smith, Ark., September 25-October 13, 1864 (Detachment). Reconnaissance to Princeton October 19-23. Hurricane Creek October 23. Expedition to Saline River November 17-18 (Detachment). Veterans moved from Iowa to Missouri June 20, 1864. Operating against guerrillas, headquarters at Macon, Mo., till October. Scout in Boone and Howard Counties September 6-12. Skirmishes in Boone County September 7-8. Scout in Randolph, Boone and Howard Counties September 15-19 (Detachment). Skirmishes at Columbia September 16. Massacre at Centralia, North Missouri Railroad, September 27. Moved to Jefferson City, Mo., October. Skirmish at California October 9. Booneville October 9-12. Campaign against Price October-November. (Served as body guard to General Rosecrans.) Marais des Cygnes, Osage River, October 25. Moved to Warrensburg, thence to St. Louis, Mo., and to Helena, Ark., November-December. Operations in Arkansas January 1-27, 1865. Action at Dardanelle January 14. Expedition from Little Rock to Mt. Elba January 22-February 4. Ordered to Memphis, Tenn., February 17, and duty there till June. Expedition into Northern Mississippi March 3-11. Moved to Alexandria, La., June 15-22; thence to Hemstead, Tex., August 8-26. Moved to Austin, Tex., October 20-November 4, and duty there till February, 1866. Mustered out February 15, 1866. Moved to Iowa February 19-March 12, and discharged March 16, 1866.

HOW THE WEST WAS WILD; On Facebook

 

Join the Central States Lawman 

and Outlaws Historic Assn.

on 

HOW THE WEST WAS WILD

In keeping with the unstoppable spirit of 

The American West!

The CSL&OH.A. has partnered up with the Facebook page

How the West Was Wild!

The wild west on post cards

In Wyatt Earps shadow 

Lets Talk about the Wild West!

Billy the Kid

Wyatt Earp

Jesse James

"Wild Bill" Hickok

Doc Holliday

Bass Reeves

Buffalo Bill Cody

Annie Oakley

Butch Cassidy

The Sundance Kid

Calamity Jane

Bat Masterson

Pat Garrett

Belle Starr

John Wesley Hardin

Black Bart

Seth Bullock

Davy Crockett

SEE YOU ON THE DUSTY TRAIL!

Podcast: Epitaph of the Wild West; By G.C. Stevens

 

     

Boot Hill Cemetery Tombstone AZ. 

RPPC from the Authors Collection 

The western period of American history began in earnest in the 1840's

and just 60 years later the entire landscape was changed.

Central States Lawman & Outlaw H.A. 

Youtube Channel

250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Blue Eyed Devil, History in the Making By G.C. Stevens

Lloyd Stricklin Jr. wants to tell the 

whole story about Jesse James

09/01/2026

Update

The writer and producer of Blue Eyed Devil, Lloyd Stricklin Jr. received word that Paramount liked his script and that they wanted to meet with him to discuss the idea. If anyone would be interested in help the project with funding. You can find his 

Go Fund Me Page here.

Lloyd Stricklin, a Missourian from St. Louis who is undertaking a monumental project to tell the whole unfiltered story of the famed outlaw Jesse James. According to Stricklin, he is a longtime fan of the western movie genre, and he anticipates that there will be a future resurgence of the western genre in the film making industry, primarily the made for TV western movies. He has already written multiple chapters of his movie script, "Blue Eyed Devil," which he describes as a new approach to the western genre and the Jesse James story. He has sent also sent his script proposal to Paramount Pictures, which is going to be a three season TV series on Jesse James. "As a Missouri boy, I have to do this right. I feel it's my duty." He wants to create his own production company, and he is already in the process of writing other concept scripts for other series in addition to "Blue Eyed Devil" Lloyd told me that, New West Entertainment was born out of a desire to break the mold of traditional Westerns. Blue Eyed Devil is just the opening shot; every story we tell will venture into uncharted, unexpected corners of the West. 

How The West Was Wild Facebook Page

   Be sure to watch the 

Central States 

Lawman 

& 

Outlaws

Historic Assn. 

for up-dates

"As the founder of New West Entertainment, I build stories that bridge the grit of history with modern imagination. While Blue Eyed Devil is our first chapter, New West is built for the long haul—reimagining the American frontier one legend at a time."

-Lloyd Strickland

"As the founder of New West Entertainment, I build stories that bridge the grit of history with modern imagination. While Blue Eyed Devil is our first chapter, New West is built for the long haul—reimagining the American frontier one legend at a time."

-Lloyd Strickland