Lawman- Peace Officer: Bat Masterson By G.C. Stevens

 

Photo from the authors collection

"Bat Masterson was the quintessential Peace Officer, who's good

 works are apparent by the legacy that he left behind"

-The Author

William B. 'Bat' Masterson, Was Ford County Sheriff and Dodge City citizen. W. B. "Bat" Masterson was born William Bartholomew (nee, Barclay) in Iberville County, Quebec, Canada on November 26, 1853. Bat was the second of five children. According to Masterson, in his book Gunfighters of the Western Frontier (1907), he gained his nickname later in life. Bat Masterson was the quintessential Peace Officer, who's good

 works, level head and attention to duty are apparent by the legacy that he that he left behind. 

"It was as a hunter he won his name of 'Bat', which descended to him, as it were, from Baptiste Brown, or 'Old Bat', whose fame as a mighty nimrod was flung all across, from the Missouri River to the Spanish Peaks, and filled with admiration that generation of plainsmen which immediately preceded Masterson upon the Western stage."

-Bat Masterson

Bat Masterson moved to Kansas sometime in 1871, he and his family settled near the small farming community of Sedgwick which is located near Wichita Kansas, along with a family friend, buffalo hunter, H.H. Raymond. The Masterson family had previously farmed in New York and Illinois. During the fall and winter, 18-year-old Bat went west to hunt buffalo with his 19-year-old brother Ed, together they camped with other hunters working along the Salt Fork River in present Comanche and Barber counties, Kansas. During this time, Ed and Bat Masterson met several people who would become Western legends, including Billy Dixon, Tom Nixon, "Prairie Dog" Dave Morrow, and Bat's lifelong friend, Wyatt Earp.  Bat and his brother also worked on a crew grading roadbed for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Their territory covered a four-mile stretch from near Fort Dodge, KS to a tent town then called "Buffalo City" later Dodge City. According to Robert M. Wright, Dodge City's founder, in his 1913 book, "Dodge City, the Cowboy Capital"

"Bat Masterson was the real deal. He came west in the 1870s and was at the Battle of Adobe Walls where the buffalo hunters held off the Comanche. He was an Army scout against the Kiowa; in 1877 he joined his brother Jim and Ed in Dodge City and was elected Sheriff of Ford County where he had a commendable record."

-True West Magazine

The Battle of Adobe Walls

Probably the most amazing and poignant story about Bat was his involvement in the Battle of Adobe Walls, it was in June 1874, when he was in the Texas Panhandle, when he along with other buffalo hunters took part in the Battle of Adobe Walls, Texas, starting  on June 27, Bat was one of twenty-eight men and one lone woman in the poorly protected settlement of Adobe Walls. They faced with an attack by 800-1000 Native Americans Indians, lea by Chief Quanah Parker, who commanded the Comanches; Lone Wolf, the Kiowas; Stone Calf and White Shield, the Cheyennes against the white buffalo hunters. 

Law Enforcement

In 1877, Bat Masterson was elected sheriff of Ford County, which included Dodge City. His tenure was marked by decisive action against crime, especially horse theft. He was known for apprehending nearly every horse thief who dared to operate in the area Police1. His leadership helped bring order to the chaotic frontier town.

In 1879, he served as deputy U.S. marshal for Dodge County. While working in this role, he was part of the local “Gang” of town bosses, but his law enforcement duties were often tied to protecting the community and enforcing federal and local laws. Bat’s brothers, Ed and Jim, were also active in law enforcement. Ed served as assistant marshal in Dodge City and was known for his bravery, 

Ed Masterson Lawman

"In June 1877, Ed was appointed deputy marshal of Dodge City and very quickly became popular and respected throughout the entire town. Seven months after his appointment to the police force, he was promoted to city marshal. In the evening hours of April 9, 1878, Ed, along with his deputy, Nat Haywood, tried to control a group of cowboys wooping it up at the saloon. Ed disarmed Jack Wagner and gave the gun to Wagner's boss, A.M. Walker. When Masterson left, Walker returned the pistol to Wagner. Wagner went outside and got into a wrestling match with Ed. Wagner's pistol discharged in the struggle and the bullet hit Masterson in the abdomen and exited through his lower back. Even though shot, and his jacket on fire from the powder blast, Ed pulled his gun and fired 4 shots, killing Wagner and wounding Walker. Masterson then turned and stumbled 200 yards to the saloon and fell to the floor. He was carried to brother Bat's room where he died a short time later. He was 25 years old. Ed's funeral was attended by the entire town who mourned the loss of the lawman that they had come to love and respect."

-Find a Grave

refs

• kansashistory.us/fordco/batmasterson
• True West Magazine
• Find a grave

Civil War Reenactment 2026; Zearing Days Iowa By G.C. Stevens

 

ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST

Event Report 

Zearing Iowa 

July 25th 2026

I'm really proud to be a member of the Army of The Southwest. The people of ASW bring their hearts and knowledge along to every event. We not only share our experiences and knowledge with the public, but we share that knowledge with each other as well, which makes us a stronger living history group.                                    

We had smaller and tighter area to set up camp this year at Zearing, but we made it work, and we had some really great displays, which is one of the hallmarks of the ASW. Our displays always generate a lot of good discussion with the public. 

All photos by the author

Members of the ASW, mounted up for

 the Zearing days Parade

19th Century mode of transportation came by 

camp at fairly fast trot!

Dept: Artillery, display

Dept: Unit Photographers Camp

Dept; Medical: Medical Demonstration

 

The Michigan Cabinet Card, Identified Photo By G.C. Stevens

Fred Reader: 

 Returned to Mason County Michigan:  

Genealogy, Genealogical Databases, Forensics 

&

  Social Media Walk Hand in Hand.

I love old photos and old documents. I've been collecting these items for over twenty-five years, and my house is full of genealogical family records. Each document and each photo has its own story to tell. Some old photos, particularly cabinet cards and Carte de Visite photos, in many cases (not all) automatically tell part of their story about which city they came from and who took the photograph. This is because many of the photo galleries of the day, used their photos for advertising and calling cards. These types of photos were printed on albumen paper and carried the name of the photographer and location printed somewhere on the card. Adding to this, many of these cards that found their way onto auction websites like eBay, and/or landing in antique malls, carry the names the families who owned these cards. We know this because they wrote information on them, in the way of the identities (or suspected identities) of former family members / ancestors. As I was shopping in an antique mall one day, I saw a small wooden crate of old photos with a sign on the side of the box that read: "Instant Ancestors." I think that particular dealer (who probably did that as a pun) said more that he or she knew. But its foregone conclusion that the photos in that box (or on eBay) were and are in fact someone's relative or ancestor. And with all due respect, in 95% of the photos that I've seen or possessed, the images on each card, ambrotype, cart etc. display images of people who were well dressed and well groomed. I think it's good assumption that theses well rounded people of this time period, intended to preserve their family history through the photographic medium. That being said, photography wasn't free, though it became cheaper as each new technology came along. Then the computer and the internet came along and changed the whole game.

                                               

      THE MICHIGAN PHOTO

                            

“Technology has been deployed to help speed processes that used to take years. Sophisticated online databases, facial recognition applications, and link analysis tools have allowed us to become interconnected across continents, bridging gaps between long lost families, spurred commerce, and have enriched the lives of countless people. As long as people use technology responsibly, the possibilities for the continued enrichment of our lives is an interesting prospect indeed.” 

-Michael Streed  

Retired Polce Sergeant and Forensic Facial Imaging Consultant

                  

                     

                 The name was written on the back of this photo in blue pen.

                        I obviously realized this inscription was modern     

Every single day, auction houses, and online auction websites are alive with people selling and purchasing these old-time images, I know this because I am one of them and I have found that it's not an obscure thing to find a photo of place or person that can be identified. The identification of the Fred Reader photo is one example of many such cases where identification was made possible, not just because someone made a notation on photo. And the fact is, there are many photos with these notations and newer technologies have evened the playing field. The tech that has emerged over the last twenty years, such as intuitive websites like Ancestry.com, facial forensic technologies, artificial intelligence and traditional genealogical state by state, county by county searches which have become easier in recent years due computer technology being readily available to all archivists all over the world. And it these types of technologies that made it possible to quickly and efficiently track down the origin of the Fred Reader photo.

THE INVESTIGATION

The Fred Reader photo was purchased on Ebay from a dealer in Marietta Georgia. The photo was part of a large lot of twenty photos, there was no initial provenance connected to this photo. I did not question the dealer about them, because as a general rule, most dealers purchase these photos in groups and rarely have any background on them. When I received the lot, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that many of the photos, which was a mix of cabinets cards and tintypes, were well annotated. The Fred Reader photo also had a notation on it, but it was different because it was written in what appeared to be blue ballpoint pen. I almost disregarded this note because, I was immediately guarded, and blue ball point pens did not become popular until the 1960's in the United States. But I decided to check the name and photo gallery location anyway. The photos next clue was that the photographers name: "Carson and Graham" and the location "Hillsdale Michigan" was printed on the back of the card. I knew that my next move was simple, and that was to query Ancestry.com. That query yielded immediate results. As it turns out the Reader family, particularly Fred Reader had a significant connection to Mason County Michigan, and more importantly to Scottville Michigan, a town which legend says was founded by Georger Reader in a legendary coin toss: 

"The story of how Scottville got its name is part of local lore, the result of a coin toss between two businessmen due to a scandal. The story is told on an official State of Michigan historical marker in downtown Scottville and has been told in many historical accounts over the years. In the late 1870s, scandal struck the little town of Sweetland, located in the center of Mason County. The town’s namesake, James Sweetland, had apparently left his wife, Annett, while she was pregnant with twin daughters. He supposedly left town with a Native American woman. The townsfolk were so distraught about this they called a meeting and determined the name of the town should be changed. This task fell on business owner Hiram Scott and his colleague, George Reader, who flipped a coin resulting in Scott winning and naming the town after himself: Scottville.

At least, that’s how the story goes."

-Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

  Mason County Press

I then posted the photo on the Scottville History Facebook page, and members of the Reader family confirmed that the photo was connected to their line. I then reached out to the Mason County Historic Society and emailed Rebecca Berringer Executive Director and Amber Valentine Collections Manager and they advised that they were indeed interested in the photo. 

Definition of Forensic Genealogy

Forensic genealogy is the application of genealogical research, analysis, and reporting in legal or investigative contexts, often involving living individuals or unresolved legal matters International Society of Genetic Genealogy. It is a professional discipline that combines traditional genealogical methods with legal standards and, increasingly, with DNA analysis to produce evidence that can be used in court or other formal proceedings.

Core Legal and Investigative Uses

Forensic genealogists may be engaged in: Probate and estate cases to identify unknown or missing heirs, beneficiaries, or remainders men International Society of Genetic Genealogy.

Military repatriation to reunite service members’ remains with families using DNA profiling International Society of Genetic Genealogy.

Kinship determination in adoption, foster care, guardianship, and citizenship cases International Society of Genetic Genealogy. Land and real estate disputes involving title, adverse possession, mineral rights, and unclaimed property International Society of Genetic Genealogy. Coroner’s cases to identify relatives of unclaimed remains International Society of Genetic Genealogy. Cold case investigations to generate leads in unsolved crimes, including homicides and sexual assaults biologyinsights.com. Provenance and intellectual property claims International Society of Genetic Genealogy.

G.C. Stevens

Editor   

 

Dusty Trails of the Old West Events Schedule

 

G.C. STEVENS U.S. PHOTGRAPHER 

Traveling Artist & Writer

Come Visit the Photo Gallery at the listed living history events

Dusty Trails Books will be attending the Adair Iowa Market and Crafts

2026 Event Schedule: Photo Gallery and Book Signings

• July 25th Zearing Iowa: 19th Century Photo Gallery

•   Aug 16th Adair Iowa: Craft / Market             

4-6 pm

Aug 30th Adair Iowa Craft/ Market 
4-6 pm

• Sep 5th & 6th Madrid Iowa 19th Century Photo Gallery

• Sep 20th Adair Iowa Craft / Market

 4-6pm

• Oct 4th Adair Iowa Craft / Market

 4-6pm 

• Oct 10th and 11th Winterset Iowa: 19th Century Photo Gallery

Army of the Southwest

250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

   

History Delights: Tracks the Union Pacific Big Boy at Carroll Iowa

 

THE UNBELIEVABLE UNION PACIFIC 

STEAM ENGINE!

Tom Shaw and Kevin Schmitt from History Delights

Follow our two history trackers from western Iowa, Kevin Schimt and Tom Shaw as they visit the beautiful and nostalgic Carroll Iowa train depot. Carroll was one of the stops that the "Big Boy" made along the route through Iowa.

Every Day Life, Everyday People & Humor: By G.C. Stevens

 

Not Jesse James 

(To prove a point)

T.J. Sellers?  

Photo from the authors. collection 

  

The soft youthful glow of this young man's face jumped out at me as

 I looked through a new group of Carte devisite's that I had recently purchased.The photo also had a possible name written on the back, TJ(?) M Sellers, apparently of Versailles Kentucky. The photographer's studio name and location is also on the back of this photo: "S.C. Williams Photograher" 56 E. Main St. Lexington, Ky. It's worth noting that Lexington and Versailles are approximately thirteen miles from each other. But my efforts to find out more about him, lead me in different direction.

"So far as the population of the city, the immediate environs are concerned, they were as orderly and law-abiding as any community of equal size anywhere."

-John Clum Mayor of Tombstone Az giving the everyday citizens their due respect.

The pursuit of history in our modern world is heavily driven by popularity, controversy and sometime criminal behavior. As I writer, I also find myself caught up in the grinding perceived seriousness of the many historic topics that I write about here. But as I pour over old news articles online or sift through old photos in wooden boxes in antique malls, I am reminded that there is and was a world occupied by normal everyday people. And the soft face of young Mr. Sellers reminded me of that fact. When I started digging around about information about this particular young man, I came upon a series of humorous short blurbs about photographers in the Lexington Bluegrass Blade between 1891 and 1910. And I found out something I did not realize, and that was that people of the day seemed to view photographers, much in the same way that they viewed barbers, and the barber shops of that time was always a place of local gossip and humor. 

There were a number of photographers who set up shop 

on Main Street in Lexington Kentucky this is just one ad of many.

I had to look this one up! An Octocyon is a bat eared fox. 

I have not determined what the term dig-dig refers too.

I'm sure there's a hidden story here

Could this be a veiled ad for postmortem services?

Good people skills were essential for photographers 

Photograph Investigation, Civil War Veteran: Edgar L. Sweet by G.C. Stevens

 

Large Cabinet Card (4x6 inch)

Edgar L. Sweet: Find a Grave

From Find a Grave:

Civil War Veteran who used this alias during his service:

Edgar L Winsor

Residence:

Age at Enlistment: 18

Enlistment Date: 1 Oct 1864

Rank at enlistment: Private

State Served: Iowa

Survived the War?: Yes

Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, Iowa 1st Cavalry Regiment on 17 Oct 1864.Mustered out on 17 Oct 1865 at Hempstead, TX.

Birth Date: abt 1846

This was photo was a very nice find and the I was very pleased to add to my collection. The photo appeared on ebay, but unlike most photos there, the listing included historic resources to show the provenance. The photo was very unique because someone had not only penciled in the name Edgar Sweet (aka) Edgar L. Winsor, they also wrote a short bio on the back of the photo. Edgar's name appears in the civil war military record, with some additional proof that he used both names. It's a bit of a mystery as to why he used an alias, I suspect that may he did this because of his age when he enlisted in the union army. He had just turned eighteen years old when he signed up for the 1st Iowa cavalry.

                                      

                    

Additional 

Supporting Documents

DUSTY TRAILS OF THE OLD WEST BOOKS

250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Happy Birthday America, From the Central States Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association 2026

 

DUSTY TRAILS OF THE OLD WEST BOOKS

G.C. STEVENS U.S. PHOTOGRAPHER