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
On July 16th 2025, I found an Article on Breitbart news that was written by columnist John Nolte, who is a writer that has his finger of the pulse of modern media. He gives Particular attention to modern Hollywood. Nolte is an outstanding movie critic with an eye for good movie making, and a discerning palette when it comes to recognizing bad movie making, and he calls out movies makers who have pressed too hard on the political gas pedal.
The headline of Nolte's most recent article was titled:
The title of the article (and the article) hit nerve with me, because in recent weeks, I found myself not only watching reruns of Gunsmoke myself, but I had picked two books (of a six book Gunsmoke series) from Boot hill Books , "Blood, Bullets, and Buckskin, and "The Day of The Gunfighter." Both written by Author, Joseph West.
My return to Gunsmoke after all these years was based upon a few things, such as, literary research, my modern media fatigue, and of course my love of history. I felt that I needed to be close to some common sense for a while. Common sense that was in the past. Thats what I try to achieve at "Dusty Trails of the Old West" A little John Wayne style of common sense, We also have some awesome contributors who write great stuff and contribute photos to this blog.
And I'm grateful for ya pards!
Gene
Gunsmoke first arrived on the scene in the form of a radio drama in 1952. Before it went off radio in 1963, 480 episodes were produced.
"The television show premiered in 1955 and ran straight through to 1975 with 635 episodes. Unless you count the few seasons where Burt Reynolds appeared, there are no A-list stars. What you have in Gunsmoke is a traditional TV Western set in Dodge City, Kansas, starring James Arness as Sheriff Matt Dillon."
Ward Bond was a well-known actor who appeared alongside John Wayne in many movies and also appeared in the TV series "Wagon Train." Writer Dan Oelrich from Colorado Springs Colorado, shared this photo essay with me. Dan is a published author and avid traveler of the American west. All photos courtesy of Dan Oelrich.
Here’s some photos from just inside the Colorado border from Nebraska, along the border and some photos from just inside the Colorado border from Nebraska. Along that route that parallels the Republican River, of which I sent you photos of previously. You pass through the town of Benkleman, home of the famous Western actor Ward Bond. (he played the trail boss in the series Wagon Train) On the route from Wray, Colorado, to Burlington, there’s some pretty nice geography, if you know where to look. There’s also the site of a battle between Indians and Army Scouts, called Beecher Island. Well worth the side trip to see.
-Dan Oelrich
The area pictured is a bit off the main highway and is a long gradually descending dirt Road that leads to a creek bed. I like to stop there and stretch my legs, because it breaks up the monotony of the plains. One interesting thing about this area is that it seems to have the right kind of topography to attract the most incredible of thunderstorms. As if the towering clouds form on a line right on the border.
The Rock Island RR Station Dows IA, Photo by the Author
It was the creation of the railroads that gave Iowa its first big boost in urban development. Many of those early railroad towns still exist, some have grown beyond those days and prospered. While others sit still, frozen in time. Dows Iowa, is one of those towns that is frozen in time. It is a living historic, and an authentic representation of a late 1800's and early 20th century railroad town. Dows features original homes, business buildings, railroad depot, one room school, a black smiths shop and a wheelwrights shop.
In 1880 after the arrival of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, The town of Dows Iowa was founded. It was named after Colonel William Greene Dows, a railroad contractor. Dows was, and is unique, because it is the only town in Wright County that straddles the county line, extending into Franklin County. The area was originally called Otisville before being renamed Dows. The first settler was, A.S. Eskridge, who arrived after the Civil War. Like many other town's in Iowa, Dows development was closely tied to the railroad, with the first depot being built in 1896. This depot, now the Dows Depot Welcome Center, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Blacksmith and Wagon Shop: The Quasdorf Blacksmith and Wagon Museum, built in 1899,
is another significant historical site, restored in 1990.
Views through outside window of the blacksmith shop and the wheelwright shop
The rear windows appear to be original, with period
correct panes of glass Photo by G.C. Stevens
Note, Dows Street Historic District: While the Dows Street Historic District is located in Ely, Iowa, it highlights the importance of transportation and the railroad in the development of towns in the region.
On this day on July 04 1776, America declared its independence from Great Britain.
Be Americans. Let there be no sectionalism, no North, South, East or West. You are all dependent on one another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation. Be Americans, and be true to yourselves.
I'm very pleased to announce that I just published another article with Frontiertales.com, Called Chato, Indian Scout, "Apache Dawn." I'd like to thank the Editor of Frontier Tales, Duke Pennell. I am grateful to him, and I'm honored to be a published Author on Frontiertales.com Please stop by and check out my article and read the other articles there too. You can vote on your favorite story. The winner of each month has their short story included in an anthology later on. So please vote.
In the heat of the Indian wars of the southwest, strong men risked their lives to bring in hostile Apache's. They also understood that they were agents of change in the lives of the Indians, and were caught in between the government and the native people
Situated in the beautiful rolling hills of Western Iowa between Des Moines Iowa and Atlantic Iowa is a stretch of historic roadway. A place called the White Pole Road. The White Pole Road is a 26-mile stretch of road in Iowa, formerly known as Iowa Highway 925. It is named for the white-painted telephone poles that line the route, reminiscent of the historic "Great White Way" that once ran through the area. The road is a popular byway for scenic drives and offers a glimpse into Iowa's history and small-town charm. The original "Great White Way" was a route connecting Des Moines and Council Bluffs, marked by white-painted poles to guide travelers. It is a 26-mile stretch of scenic highway, and historic byway that runs parallel to Interstate 80. It runs from mile markers 76 and 100 and connects the communities of Adair, Casey, Menlo, Stuart and Dexter Iowa. It is marked by over 500 painted white poles, that paint the way down Iowa's own "Outlaw Trail." The names of the outlaws Jesse James, Frank James, Cole Younger, Jim younger Bob Younger, Arthur McCoy, Clyde Barrow, Buck Barrow, Bonnie Parker and W.D. "Deacon" Jones, resonates along this historic passage.
Courtesy of Google Maps
DEXTER IOWA
1933 The Bonnie and Clyde Shootout
After fleeing a gun battle in Platte City, Missouri, the gang hoped to hide and recover in the abandoned Dexfield park.
In July of 1933 a resident of Dallas County Iowa, by the Name of Henry Ney decided to take a stroll in search of black berries on a warm summer day, by the old Dexfield amusement park, which closed doors in 1932 because of the great depression. It was now a remote location. While Henry was looking for berries, he stumbled upon a group of rough looking people, who looked all bloodied up, and had blood covered rags on the ground. Henry knew something was deeply wrong, he did not make eye contact with the people and exited Dexfield Park in haste. He contacted Dexter town Constable John Love and notified him of what he had seen. He told Love that he had found some unusual things, including a partially burned road map with blood all over it, and a shirt with bullet holes in the back covered with blood stains. John Love then accompanied Henry Ney back to the area to check on the situation there. Upon seeing the presence of two autos, Constable Love was immediately suspicious and returned to Dexter to contact people for additional help, and he called Sheriff Clint Knee. Suspecting that the trespassers might be the notorious Barrow gang, a large posse made up of locals and law enforcement was assembled.
On Sunday evening the posse met at Webb's lunch stand in Dexter Iowa to discuss a plan. At 06:00 AM the following Monday on July 24th, In the morning, Constable Love returned to Dexfield Park with several other men armed with weapons. Constable Love, said he saw a man he identified as Clyde Barrow, roasting a hotdog over a fire. one of the Lawman yelled "You're surrounded raise your hands." Clyde immediately put down the hot dog and picked up one of the Browing automatic rifles that had been stolen from a National Guard Armory, and opened fire, spraying gun fire all around the woods.
The people of Dexter would go down in history by becoming involved in the biggest gunfight to ever occur in Iowa. Bigger than the gunfight at the OK Corral. And the townspeople were facing off with a very dangerous gang, armed with 20th century military grade full auto weapons. The following article, video(s), and photos are part of my research on my book "Scoundrels of Iowa"
A view of Dexfield Park in its Heyday. Photo taken at the Dexter
Historic Museum by the Author
A historic Marker on Dexfield Road adjacent to the location
of the old Dexfield Park, taken by the Author
Dexfield Park historic marker. Photo taken by the author
Dexter Historic Museum photo taken by the Author
Stuart Iowa
Approximate eight miles to the west of Dexter Iowa, is the town of Stuart. On April 16th 1934, Nine Months after the shootout in at Dexfield Park near Dexter Iowa. Bonnie and Clyde returned to Iowa and robbed the First National Bank in Stuart Iowa. The Barrow gang robbed banks in Rembrandt, Knierim, Lamoni and Stuart Iowa. The second Iowa crime-wave associated with the notorious dust bowl era criminals. A large posse, mad of Police and citizens almost captured the gang at an abandoned amusement park in Dexter, Iowa (23 miles west of Des Moines) during mid-July 1933.
Photo by Jon Morgan
Adair Iowa
The First Train Robber in the West
Jesse James, Frank James and Gang
July 21st, 1873
On the evening of July 21st a formidable band of eight of the most desperate men that ever committed a crime, took position in a dense thicket beside a deep cut in the railroad approximately a half mile west of Adair Iowa. They hitched their horses out of view of passengers on the train and then, after a few minutes' work, displaced one of the rails. This[Pg 61] accomplished, they waited the coming of the express train which was due at that point at 8:30 P. M. From a knoll near the rendezvous Jesse James descried the blazing headlight of the coming train, and then made everything ready for their villainous work. A sharp curve in the track prevented the engineer from discovering anything wrong, until it was impossible to prevent the disaster which the banditti had prepared for. The screaming engine came thundering like an infuriated mammoth, which a reversal of the lever only began to check when it struck the loosened rail and plunged sideways into the bank, while the cars telescoped and piled up in terrible confusion. The engineer was instantly killed, and a dozen passengers were seriously injured, but the desperadoes did not stop to consider this terrible disaster. The moment the havoc was complete the bandits fell upon the excited passengers, whom they robbed without exception, both men and women, taking every species of jewelry and the last cent that could be discovered from the wounded as well as those who remained unhurt
It's been 92 years since Henry Ney, a resident of Dallas County Iowa, decided to take a stroll in search of black berries on a warm summer day, by the old Dexfield amusement park, which closed doors in 1932 because of the great depression. It was now a remote location. While Henry was looking for berries, he stumbled upon a group of rough looking people, who looked all bloodied up, and had blood covered rags on the ground. Henry knew something was deeply wrong, he did not make eye contact with the people and exited Dexfield Park in haste. He contacted Dexter town Constable John Love and notified him of what he had seen. He told Love that he had found some unusual things, including a partially burned road map with blood all over it, and a shirt with bullet holes in the back covered with blood stains. John Love then accompanied Henry Ney back to the area to check on the situation there. Upon seeing the presence of two autos, Constable Love was immediately suspicious and returned to Dexter to contact people for additional help, and he called Sheriff Clint Knee. Suspecting that the trespassers might be the notorious Barrow gang, a large posse made up of locals and law enforcement was assembled.
On Sunday evening the posse met at Webb's lunch stand in Dexter Iowa to discuss a plan. At 06:00 AM the following Monday on July 24th, In the morning, Constable Love returned to Dexfield Park with several other men armed with weapons. Constable Love, said he saw a man he identified as Clyde Barrow, roasting a hotdog over a fire. one of the Lawman yelled "You're surrounded raise your hands." Clyde immediately put down the hot dog and picked up one of the Browing automatic rifles that had been stolen from a National Guard Armory, and opened fire, spraying gun fire all around the woods.
The people of Dexter would go down in history by becoming involved in the biggest gunfight to ever occur in Iowa. Bigger than the gunfight at the OK Corral. And the townspeople were facing off with a very dangerous gang, armed with 20th century military grade full auto weapons. The following article, video(s), and photos are part of my research on my book "Scoundrels of Iowa"
This is the Dexter Historic Museum. This is where I met Historian and Author Rod Stanley, who is a Bonnie and Clyde, / Dexter Iowa Historian. He has assembled an extensive collection of Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia ,and artifacts. The collection includes many documents and photos of the Barrow gang and that includes their activities in Iowa.
Thanks to Rod Stanley of Dexter Iowa for taking his time to talk to me and to allow me to use his narration here.
-Gene Stevens
Watching the video(s) first is highly recommended
PART I Of my interview with Rod Stanley
From the beginnings of Dexfield Park, to the day that
the Barrow gang was detected there.
Part II of my interview with historian Rod Stanley.
Part III
The Shootout, About Bonnie and Clyde. Artifacts Found, Witness stories and more
A famous photo of the aftermath of the shootout Buck Barrow lay on the ground.
He is dying, but does not die in Dexter. He dies later in Perry Iowa
Picture by the author, taken at the Dexter historic museum
Included in the posse, were two state police officers, Bill Arthur and "Rags" Riley, a small force from the DesMoines Police Department and a National Guard Officer Dr. H.W. Keller.
Keller has brought with him a Thompson .45 caliber machine gun, which he borrowed from the National Guard. Constable John Love with Dallas County Sheriff Clint Knee and two deputies were also present. Also present were a number of Dexter residents, including Virgil Musseman, Jim Young, Harry Leeper and Kirt Piper. The group was armed with Winchesters, revolvers and shotguns.
Framed photos at the Dexter Historic Museum. Three views of Dexfield Park in its heyday.
The main attraction of Dexfield Park. The Olympic size spring fed pool.
Another view of Dexfield Park
Dexfield Park was a popular attraction as one might guess from
the numbers of automobiles in this photo
The Barrow gang was at Dexfield Park for several days. No knows the exact reason of how the Barrow gang ended up there. But locals have speculated on several theories. Clyde may have been there in the past, possibly attending a rodeo, or he may have simply seen a sign for Dexfield park. But that information is lost to history.
While hiding out there Clyde frequented Dexter several times buying food, clothing, and medical supplies. It's the middle of the great depression, so the people of Dexter are probably happy with Clydes money. But they do not know who he is. And due to the location being on the "White Pole Road," it wasn't unusual for strangers to be in town
The Above photos are of the historical marker north of Dexter on Dexfield Road
Photos by the author
A view of Dexter Iowa looking north
Pohles Pharmacy where Clyde Barrow bought medical supplies.
On the East of the street.
-James L Graham Bonnie and Clyde and the Iowa Connection
The Dexter Iowa Train Depot Year unknown
Members of the Posse after the shootout Photo by the author at the Dexter Hist. Museum
The Stevens .410 single shot, shotgun, carried by Doyce Pitts. A young member of the posse.
Outlaw W.D. (Deacon) Jones
Bonnie and Clyde, Date unknown
Constable John Love. The lawman who sounded the alarm
Bonnie and WD Jones
WD Jones and Clyde Barrow
Military grade weapons stolen by the Barrow gang from National Guard Amories.
The Barrow had in their possession, .45 cal, automatic pistols, and multiple Browning Automatic full auto rifles
More weapons
"Rags" Riley at the Grave of Clyde and Buck Barrow
Blanche Barrow
Captured at Dexfield Park
The meeting location of the posse
A "BAR" Recovered after the shootout
An unverified letter allegedly sent to Henry Ford by Clyde Barrow signed
"Clyde Champion Barrow"
The Saga of Bonnie And Desperate Clyde
By Bonnie Parker
You have read the story of Jesse James, of how he lived and died.
If you still are in need of something to read. Here is the story of Bonnie and Clyde.
Now Bonnie and Clyde are the Barrow gang, I'm sure you all have read how they robbed and stal, And how those who squeal, are usually found dying or dead.
There are lots of untruths to their write-ups,
They are not merciless as that:
They hate all the laws, the stool pigeons, spotters and rats.
They class them as cold blooded killers, they say they are heartless and mean, But I say this with pride, that I once knew Clyde when he was honest and upright and clean.
Someday they'll go down together, and they'll bury them side by side. To few it'll be grief, to the law a relief.
