Famous Outlaws and Gunmen of the Wild West

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The West, being an open area, had continued westward movement of the population in America from 1630 to 1880 though there was occasional expansion in other directions too. It was a period of treaties with foreign nations and native tribes, the building of farms and ranches, exploring trails, and digging mines in a ruthless effort to survive on the part of many people. It was the period of the Gold Rush and of cowboys. The second half of the 19th century is therefore known as the Wild West. All the gunmen were excellent at shooting, and what decided the fate in a duel was not just the fact of who shot first but being a matter of a split-second it was decided by the fact who was the quicker one to draw the gun. The Wild West emerged as a separate genre in the American film industry, and the movies about the Wild West were popular among viewers all over the world. Although exaggerated at times, the spirit of the Wild West had been best reflected in the movies. In order to survive, many lost their lives, and many more were declared outlaws.  Being declared an outlaw  was considered the most severe punishment.

1. Jesse James

Jesse James
Jesse James

Jesse James was born in Kearney, Missouri, U.S. on September 5, 1847 and died in St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. at the young age of 34. During the American Civil War, Jesse along with his brother Frank James participated in the Guerilla War against the Union Soldiers. After the war, Jesse was declared an outlaw, and he became the leading member of the James Younger Gang. The gang was known for committing bank robberies, robbing stage coaches and trains, and numerous murders. He was sometimes portrayed like Robin Hood while in real life he was in no way like him. He continued his activities through recruiting new gang members. The gang was most active from 1867 to 1875.  On April 3, 1882, Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford who was a member of the gang, lived in the James’ house, and intended to earn the reward announced by the state on James’ head.

2.  Billy the Kid

Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid

William Henry McCarty, Jr., better known as Billy the Kid, was born on November 23, 1859 and died in Fort Summer, New Mexico Territory, U.S. on July 14, 1881 at the young age of 21. He fought in the Lincoln County War and was declared an outlaw. As a popular belief, he was rumored to have killed more than 20 people which was not a fact, but he did kill at least 4 people. At the bloom of his lawlessness, he was usually known as ‘Bonney.’ He had a short stature and was only 4’10’ tall. He was fair complexioned with blue eyes, was usually well dressed, and it is said that he was often quite friendly too. He was considered a villain and a hero simultaneously by some people.

3. Butch Cassidy

Butch Cassidy
Butch Cassidy

Robert LeRoy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy, was born to Maximillian Parker and Campbell Gullies on April 13, 1866 and died on November 3, 1908. He led the notorious Wild Bunch Gang known for robbing banks and trains. He was convicted for horse theft and served imprisonment in the state prison in Laramie, Wyoming. He was also charged with several other charges of train and bank robberies. After being declared an outlaw, he fled along with one of his accomplices and his girlfriend first to Argentina and from there to Bolivia. It was not verified but generally considered that both Cassidy and his accomplice Longabaugh were killed in Bolivia.

4. Henry Longabaugh

Henry Longabaugh
Henry Longabaugh

Henry Longabaugh, better known as the Sundance Kid, was born to Josiah and Annie G. Longabaugh in Mont Clare, U.S. in 1867 and died on November 6, 1908 at the age of 41. He had been declared as an outlaw and was a member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch. In 1887 he stole a gun and a horse from a ranch located in Sundance, Wyoming and was convicted for this crime. He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and was in prison when he chose his nickname as the Sundance Kid. Although the gang, Wild Bunch, is sometimes portrayed as non-violent, in reality it was not the case. Longabaugh alone had killed five law enforcement officials.

5. John Wesley Hardin

John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin

John Wesley Hardin was born to James Hardin and Mary Elizabeth Dixon in Bonham, Texas, U.S. on May 26, 1853 and died in El Paso, Texas, U.S. on August 19, 1895 at the age of 42. He was a multifaceted person and was known as a teacher, lawyer, gambler, cattle rustler, and as a cowboy. He was particularly known as one of the youngest outlaws and gunfighters of the Wild West. He was captured in 1878 and imprisoned where he started writing his autobiography. He claimed to have killed more than 40 persons, but the contemporary press assigned 27 murders to him.

6. Dallas Stoudenmire

Dallas Stoudenmire
Dallas Stoudenmire

Dallas Stoudenmire was born to Lewis and Elizabeth Stoudenmire in Aberfoil, Alabama, U.S. on December 11, 1845 and died in El Paso, Texas, U.S. on September 18, 1882. He was a sheep rancher, Texas Ranger, and town marshal. He was an excellent gunfighter and was best known for a short-lived fight famously known as the ‘Four Dead in Five Seconds Fight.’ Constable Krempkau, George Campbell, John Hale, and an innocent bystander were involved in the fight while Stoudenmire, who was the sheriff in that locality, was having dinner at the time of the fight. He rushed to the site and killed two persons. He was reputed as a deadly gunfighter.

7.  Tom Horn

Tom Horn
Tom Horn

Thomas ‘Tom’ Horn, Jr., better known as Tom Horn, was born to S. Horn, Sr. and Mary Ann Maricha in Scotland County, Missouri, U.S. on November 21, 1860 and died in Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S. on November 20, 1903 at the age of 42. He was a well-known outlaw and gunman of the Wild West. It is alleged that Horn killed a Mexican lieutenant in a duel. His skills with the gun were matchless; therefore, he was hired by a detective agency as a tracker. However, he had to resign from that position after he was found involved in the murder cases. He was considered to be the most known cold-blooded killer of his time. He was convicted for the murder of Willie Nickell and was hanged in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the age of about 43.

8. Jim ‘Killer’ Miller

 Jim 'Killer' Miller
Jim ‘Killer’ Miller

Jim ‘Killer’ Miller was born to Jacob and Cynthia Basham in Van Buren, Arkansas on October 25, 1866 and died in Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 1909. Variously known as Killin’ Jim and Deacon Jim also, he was a murderer and an outlaw of the Wild West. He had killed 12 persons during gunfights. He refrained from smoking or drinking and attended the Methodist Church regularly. Therefore, at times he was known as Deacon Jim. He killed a deputy U.S. Marshall, and a reactive mob hanged him in revenge. It was one of the most widely known cases of lynching.

9. Clay Allison

Clay Allison
Clay Allison

Robert Clay Allison, better known as Clay Allison, was born to Jeremiah Scotland Allison and NancyAllison on September 2, 1840 and died on July 3, 1887. As a Texas rancher and gunfighter, he is one of the most known persons of the Wild West in American history. He was a violent and easily irritable person. While fighting in the Civil War, he was hit on the head and was discharged after he showed erratic behavior. He is said to have beheaded a person whose head he brought with him to his favorite bar. He killed another outlaw, Chuck Colbert, after having a meal with him and reflected upon his action saying, ‘I wouldn’t want to send a man to hell on an empty stomach.’

10. Wild Bill Hickock

Wild Bill Hickock
Wild Bill Hickock

Wild Bill Hickock was born in Troy Grove, Illinois, U.S. on May 27, 1837 and died in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, U.S. on August 2, 1876 at the age of 39. He was a folk hero on account of his shooting acumen. He started his career as a coach driver and became a lawman later on. He fought in the Civil War. He was a good shot with his pistol since childhood.  He had been involved in many well-known shootouts. He killed a man in a quick-draw duel. He was killed in a saloon while playing poker. His birthplace became the Wild Bill Hickock Memorial as a listed historic site.

Conclusion:

An outlaw meant that someone was out of the protection of the law and the law was not there if the outlaw was maltreated, injured, harmed, or even murdered by anyone, anywhere, and anytime. These free-for-all targets, termed as ‘outlaws,’ had to give their 100 percent in critical situations in order to protect themselves. Their susceptibility to sudden attacks polished their skills and enhanced their courage to deal with any unforeseen situations.

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