They Died Holding Their Guns, The Barrow Gang Scrap Book : By G.C. Stevens

The Barrow Gang Scrap Book

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In the early 1930s, amidst the grit and desperation of the Great Depression, two names became synonymous with murder, rebellion, romance, and reckless defiance: Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Their story, etched into the American consciousness through a trail of bank robberies and shootouts, throughout the heartland of America. Against this backdrop of chaos, remains one of the most enduring legends of the 20th century. The Barrow Gang Scrap Book is not just a recounting of their crimes or a romanticized ballad of their doomed love; it is a vivid collage of their lives, pieced together from the fragments of historic—documents, photographs and newspaper clippings. This book invites you to step into the world of Bonnie and Clyde, to see them not as larger-than-life outlaws, but as complex, flawed, mortal and deeply human figures caught in a whirlwind of their own making. The scrap book is 52 pages containing many photos, death certificates, wanted posters and newspaper articles.

Miss Kitty, A Poem By William Stevenson

                             MISS KITTY

                                 Photo public domain

Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

Miss Kitty was a beauty, 

With a big heart so true.

A true golden lady,

The queen of the west

She stood for goodness,

Her friends were so blessed.

She owned the Longbranch, 

A popular bar.

Her heart belonged,

To the man with a Star.

Her boyfriend was Dillon, 

They both wanted more.

But serving the law,

Dillon couldn't ignore. 

So they lived life in love,

But still lived apart.

Kitty's beauty was endless, 

And held Dillon's heart.

She lives on forever,

A true TV star.

But to us she is more,

Than a queen of a bar.

She truly was special, 

An American prize.

So bright as the sun,

She shines in your eyes.

She played her part well,

Amanda we we're here.

To us you'll be Kitty,

And we'll always hold near

So we all love Miss Kitty,

That's easy to see.

A Gunsmoke original, 

Forever she'll be.

- WILLIAM STEVENSON

Gun Smoke Rerun's, 50 years old and More Popular than Disney Movie's: By G.C. Stevens

Drawing by Kelly Hynes  Fort Dodge Iowa. 

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:

Read here:

"Gunsmoke reruns, more popular than disneys star wars / marvel junk."

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."

-John Nolte

  Breitbart.com 

 Photo from the Authors. 

  Collection.

Ward Bond Country: By Dan Oelrirch

 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                          Actor Ward Bond

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. 

Western Poetry: The Tall Man, In Honor of John Wayne: By G.C. Stevens

 

John Wayne, public domain photo 

Copyright (c) 2025

               By G.C. Stevens

Memories  of The Tall Man

You rode in on the stagecoach against a dusty brown sky.

Your presence, tall, lean, with clear intent

A Kentuckian born in Iowa, clad in buckskin, a cowboy through and through

The dark sands of a hostile Island, told us the story, one of many we knew

Flying Leathernecks and Flying Tigers, lit up your sky

Another gunfight to settle, another trail to ride

You stood in the doorway, the light of honor surrounded your frame

Well mounted splashing across the Rio Grande, you came

Apache's on the bluff, miles of desert and monument valley below.

With True Grit in your heart, that only an American would know.

 

The Way West: The Arrival of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, Dows, Iowa (A Museum town), 1880, By G.C. Stevens (C)

 

                                          

        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.

 The following are different views of the area, 

all photos by the author

 

Evans Prairie Home 1889

One room school house

Dusty Trails of the Old West Anthology: 4 Star Review

 I'm honored that the Dusty Trails Anthology just got it's first review on Amazon.  And its a good review.  I'm very pleased. 

G.C. Stevens 

Dusty Trails of the Old West Anthology is available on Amazon for ereaders, soft, and hardcover 

Also available at  Barnes and Noble

Happy 250th Birthday America

 

    Photo by Brian Perhne

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.

George Washington 

Chato Indian Scout, Apache Dawn

  Photo by Dan Oelrich 
 

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.

    Chato Indian Scout, APACHE DAWN 

By

G.C. Stevens

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

G.C. Stevens, Apache Dawn

Iowa's "Outlaw Trail" The White Pole Road

Iowa's "Outlaw Trail"

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"

                                                           

                                                                     DEXTER IOWA 

Dexter Iowa Looking North. Photo by the Author

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

Photo from the Guttenberg project

The monument photo taken by the Author

Photo courtesy of the Adair News

Photo courtesy of the Adair New

Photo courtesy of the Adair news