Join us on a journey down Iowa's Rustic Highway. The White Pole Road, Iowa's own Outlaw Trail.
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
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026
Post Card 1874, One card and a mysterious message: By G.C Stevens
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
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
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
"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).
&
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).
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Podcast: THE SILVER ENGINE Edited by G C. Stevens
THE SILVER ENGINE!
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Trains Trails & Outlaws Featured at Jones Bookstore, Books by G.C. Stevens Dusty Trails of the Old West Publishing
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.
Monday, August 31, 2026
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.
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!"
Photo by Lea McCarty
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
*
Sunday, August 30, 2026
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
The card was found with the following information written on the back in pencil
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
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.
Saturday, August 29, 2026
HOW THE WEST WAS WILD; On Facebook
Join the Central States Lawman
and Outlaws Historic Assn.
on
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!
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!
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
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.
250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY
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Podcast: Iowa's Outlaw Trail, The White Pole Road. By G.C. Stevens
Join us on a journey down Iowa's Rustic Highway. The White Pole Road, Iowa's own Outlaw Trail.
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