Zearing Iowa Event 2026 Photos: G.C. Stevens

 

ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST

Zearing Iowa Event 2026

Unless otherwise stated, all photos are by the author/Photographer

G.C. Stevens

Photo by Elaine Fargo

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

About The Editor

 

Gene Stevens, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959, is an American author, historian, and blogger known for his work in historical crime literature and his engaging online presence under the pseudonym G.C. Stevens. With a deep passion for uncovering the untold stories of America's past, Stevens has carved a unique niche as a writer and researcher, blending meticulous historical detail with gripping narrative storytelling. His most notable work, A Fiendish Crime, explores the true story of the first train robbery in the American West, showcasing his ability to bring forgotten events to life with vivid prose and a keen eye for historical context.
Stevens’ journey to authorship was shaped by a diverse and adventurous life. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Naval Reserves and Army National Guard, he transitioned into a career in law enforcement. Over the years,  he served as a patrol officer, juvenile officer, and D.A.R.E. instructor. His experiences in security, law enforcement and military police training—provided him with a unique perspective on crime and justice, which he channels into his writing.
As G.C. Stevens, he maintains a blog titled Central States, Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association, where he delves into topics ranging from Wild West mysteries to Civil War history. His posts reflect his extensive travels across the United States, visiting historic sites, and his dedication to genealogy, tracing his family’s roots back to Ireland and England. Stevens’ love for history extends beyond the page—he spent over three decades as a living historian, reenacting periods from the Revolutionary War to World War II.

In addition to A Fiendish Crime, Stevens has authored other works, including Red Flag of Defiance, about the Black Hawk War, and the semi-fictional Ten Eycke Chronicles: Return to Tombstone. Now residing in Des Moines, Iowa, where he runs a private investigative company, Stevens continues to explore the intersections of history, crime, and human experience. Married in Tombstone, Arizona, in 2017, he lives with his wife and remains an avid researcher, traveler, and storyteller, committed to preserving the past for modern readers.

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Gene Stevens Wild West Anthology

The author associated with the "Wild West Anthology" is Gene Stevens, a historian, author, and former law enforcement officer. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959, originally named Eugene Curtis Stawinski, and was raised in Chicago after his mother passed away when he was six years old. Stevens served in the United States Navy from 1978 to 1982, completing basic training at Great Lakes Naval Base and serving aboard the USS Wichita AOR-1, where he participated in operations during the Iran Hostage Crisis and assisted in rescuing Vietnamese refugees. He later served in the US Naval Reserves, the Illinois National Guard, and various law enforcement agencies, including the Fox River Grove and Spring Grove Police Departments in Illinois, where he held roles such as Patrol Officer, Juvenile Officer, and D.A.R.E. Officer.

Stevens is a genealogist who traced his family's roots back to Ireland and England, and he is a descendant of the Curtis family who settled in Illinois in the 1830s. He is a living historian who has reenacted historical periods from the Revolutionary War to World War II. He has written numerous articles on Western history and self-published several books, including Red Flag of Defiance, which details the first battle of the Black Hawk War, The Battle for Apple River Fort, and A Fiendish Crime, the true story of the first train robbery in the West. He is also the author of the semi-fictional Ten Eycke Chronicles: Return to Tombstone. His work often focuses on the American West, with topics including the history of the Santa Fe Trail, Old West ranching, and the lives of figures like Wyatt Earp and Jesse James. He and his wife were married in Tombstone, Arizona, in 2017.

Stevens is the founder of the Central States Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association and maintains a blog where he shares his research and historical narratives. He has been recognized with several military and civilian awards, including the Navy Battle E, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the National Defense Medal. He currently owns a private investigative company in the Des Moines, Iowa, region. While he is known for his historical non-fiction, the "Wild West Anthology" likely refers to his body of work featured in his blog and publications, which explore the history and legends of the American frontier