Central States Lawman and Outlaws Historic Assoc.
In the late 1800s - and early 1900s The River of humanity flowing west, was both wide and deep. Caught in the current of manifest destiny, were settlers, soldiers, business interests, and Outlaws. It was a perfect whirlwind of the Wild west.
G.C. Stevens
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
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.
The Nebraska photo: Signed "Jesse James" From the author collection
On December 7, 1869, Frank and Jesse James robbed the bank in Gallatin, Missouri. The target was the Daviess County Savings Association, a modest one‑story bank on the southwest corner of the town’s business square. The robbery began shortly after twelve noon in dense winter fog, which enveloped the small town of about 1,000 people Inside the bank were the cashier, Capt. John W. Sheets, and a lawyer, William McDowell. One of the robbers, possibly Jesse—asked to have a $100 bill changed. As the cashier wrote a receipt, the robber drew his revolver and fired two shots: one into the cashier’s chest and another into his forehead, McDowell, fleeing through the doorway, was shot. Jesse James grabbed a portfolio of bank paper and escaped outside. He and Frank rode away, pursued by a posse, but they escaped. Taken the transcripts the Liberty Tribune newspaper dated: June 24th, 1870, tells the harrowing tale of what occurred that day and about a letter written by Jesse James.
G.C. Stevens
Monument in front of the Court house that tells the story of the Trial of Frank James on the charges stemming from both the Gallatin bank robbery ang the train robbery in Winston Missoui on July 15th 1881 Photo by the author
The Gallatin courthouse photo by the author
The train depot at Winston Missouri photo by the author
From the Kansas City Times.
More of the Shooting at Gallatin.
A LETTER FROM JESSE W. JAMES.
It will be remembered that on the 7th of December, 1869, the cashier of a bank at Gallatin, Missouri, was shot and instantly killed by some unknown parties. This cashier was named J. W. Sheets, and he was well known throughout that portion of Missouri. A horse belonging to the men who did the shooting, was captured in the town, and this horse was identified as one that had belonged to the two James' brothers, of Clay county—Jesse and Frank. Straightway it was declared that these two young men done the killing, and a great hue and cry were raised against them. The citizens of Gallatin offered a large reward for their apprehension; the Governor of Missouri added an additional sum to this one, and militia were ordered to be made ready to hunt down the brothers.
They were come upon at their home in Clay county, by a squad of men headed by the Sheriff and his deputy. A fight ensued, the Sheriff's horse was killed, the two James brothers escaped untouched, and from that day to this they have not been heard from.
Yesterday, however, we received the following letter from Jesse W. James, the eldest brother. It had neither postoffice mark nor was it dated upon any day, but had evidently been enclosed to us by some one else. It is addressed to Governor McClurg, and is as follows:
June, 1870.Governor McClurg:DEAR SIR: I and my brother Frank are charged with the crime of killing the cashier and robbing the bank at Gallatin, Mo., Dec. 7th, 1869. I can prove, by some of the best men in Missouri, where I was the day of the robbery and the day previous to it, but I well know if I was to submit to an arrest, that I would be mobbed and hanged without a trial. The past is sufficient to show that bushwhackers have been arrested in Missouri since the war, charged with bank robbery, and they most all have been mobbed without trials. I will cite you to the case of Thomas Little, of Lafayette county, Mo. A few days after the bank was robbed at Richmond, in 1867, Mr. Little was arrested in St. Louis, charged with being one of the party who perpetrated the deed. He was sent from St. Louis to Warrensburg under a heavy guard. As soon as the parties arrived there, they found out that he (Mr. Little) could prove, by the citizens of Dover, that he was innocent of the charge—as soon as these scoundrels found out that he was innocent—a mob was raised, broke in the jail, took him out and hanged him.
Governor, when I think I can get a fair trial, I will surrender myself to the civil authorities of Missouri. But I never will surrender to be mobbed by a set of blood-thirsty poltroons. It is true that during the war I was a Confederate soldier, and fought under the black flag, but since then I have lived a peaceable citizen, and obeyed the laws of the United States to the best of my knowledge. The authorities of Gallatin say the reason that led them to suspect me, was that the mare left at Gallatin, by the robbers, was identified as belonging to me. That is false. I can prove that I sold the mare previous to the robbery. It is true that I fought Deputy Sheriff Thomason, of Clay county, but was not my brother with me when we had the fight. I do not think that I violated the law when I fought Thomason as his posse refused to tell me who they were.
Three different statements have been published in reference to the fight that I had with Thomason, but they are all a pack of falsehoods. Deputy Sheriff Thomason has never yet given any report of the fight, that I have seen. I am personally acquainted with Oscar Thomason, the Deputy's son, but when the shooting began, his face was so muffled up with furs that I did not recognize him. But if I did violate the law when I fought Thomason I am perfectly willing to abide by it.
But as to them mobbing me for a crime that I am innocent of, that is played out. As soon as I think I can get a Just trial I will surrender myself to the civil authorities of Missouri, and prove to the world that I am innocent of the crime charged against me.
"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country"
-John F. Kennedy
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the birth of this great nation, I am reminded of this statement by President John F. Kennedy.
This iconic line comes from Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961. Delivered at the start of his presidency, the speech emphasized both domestic and international responsibilities, reflecting the challenges of the Cold War and the need for global cooperation. It was a call to civic responsibility and public service, urging citizens to contribute actively to the nation.
Kennedy's administration was fraught with extreme dangers, and that political danger resulted in his assassination on November 22nd, 1963. His death was a stark reminder that there are always dark forces at work that seek to topple what Americans have worked so diligently to secure for the last 250 years.
Kennedy's call was also reminder that we have a civic responsibility to preserve our history and to honor of ancestors who risked everything to give us a better life. No one has the right to destroy our history or our culture without our consent, or to unite with outside forces to overthrow our elected government. We are a nation of freedoms, which must be protected at all costs. It is a travesty when writers, journalist and historical gatekeepers hide behind cheap political platitudes, silence or self-righteousness to serve themselves or slave masters when freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of content and freedom of open research is at stake.
Our national elections must be both free and secure. Honest, free and secure elections are a pillar of democracy. Our borders must also be secure, as it is the inherent responsibility of all governments to protect its citizens, this is the first and foremost duty of the United States government and those protections are enshrined within our Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln held the utmost respect for the Constitution and believed that any of his controversial actions in relation to the Constitution were necessary for the preservation of the Union during the extraordinary times of the Civil War. Throughout his career he spoke of the importance of the Constitution.
1856
“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”
1858
“[The prosperity of the United States] is not the result of accident. It has a philosophic cause. Without the Constitution and the Union, we could not have attained the result.”
1861
“I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made.”
ref National Park Service
I pray that everyone has a safe and prosperous July 4th.
Dan Oelrich is a good friend and an avid local historian from Colorado Springs. Dan recently took a moonlight stroll through the "Garden of the Gods." This is a breath-taking photo essay of one of the wonders of the American west.
Long before colonization, the area surrounding the Garden of the Gods was the ancestral homeland of several Indigenous peoples. For the Ute people, the site held deep spiritual significance; they resided at what is now Rock Ledge Ranch while journeying to a sacred site in Manitou Springs.
The park's iconic name originated in 1858 during a surveying trip by M.S. Beach and Rufus Cable, who were scouting locations for a new town. Upon encountering the striking red rock formations, Beach suggested the area would make an excellent beer garden. Cable famously countered that it was "a place fit for the gods to assemble," inspiring the name "Garden of the Gods." This exploration fueled the founding of nearby Colorado City, known today as Old Colorado City.
In 1871, railroad tycoon William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs, envisioning it as a resort town with the Garden of the Gods as its central attraction. He persuaded his business partner, Charles Elliot Perkins, to purchase 240 acres of the land in 1879. Instead of developing it, Perkins chose to preserve its natural beauty, expanding his holdings and keeping the space open to visitors. Following his death, Perkins’ children donated the land to the City of Colorado Springs in 1909, fulfilling his wish that it remain "forever free to the world."
