27 No. 06 - March 1950

"Black Jack" Ketchum Notorious Outlaw

By J. Marvin Hunter, Sr.

Tom Ketchum, alias "Black Jack," was a notorious outlaw in the 1890's, and was known to many of the citizens of Western Texas, particularly in the San Angelo and Pecos river regions. He and his brother, Sam Ketchum, followed the outlaw trail for several years, robbing trains and places of business in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona, until retribution finally overtook them. Here is his story.

Mentions:* Des Moines, New Mexico * Folsom, New Mexico * Clayton, New Mexico * Tom (Black Jack) Ketchum * Sam Ketchum * L. D. Walters of Tucson, Arizona, * San Simon Valley of Cochise county, Arizona * Mogollon Mountains of New Mexico * the little mining town of Bisbee * Brewery Gulch saloon * Sam, George Franks, alias Bill Carver; a man named Spindel, and Cole Young * Sheriff Johnson * Sheriff Bob Leatherwood * U. S. Marshall Hall * Skeleton Canyon * Fort Bayard * Fort Grant * Deputy Sheriff Burt Alvord * Mud Springs * Jess Williams * Lochniel * Nogales * Sheriff Fly * Animas Valley * Jess Williams * Arjos Mountains * Dos Cabezas * a ranch near, a few miles south of Willcox, Arizona, * Conductor Healey * the A & P Railroad * the International Bank of Nogales * Cole Young * Rio Puerco * Brakeman Stevens * Deputy United States Marshall Loomis * Jess Williams * Separ, New Mexico * Joseph Temple * Hayes and Davis * Sulphur Springs Valley * Mr. Samuel Colt * Huachua Siding * San Simon * Postoffice Inspector Waterbury * Deming, N. M. * Teviston * the A. & P. mail train at Rio Puerco, N. M., * White Oaks, N. M. * San Simon, Cochise county * a Mr. Parker who lived near White Oaks, N. M. * Robson * (Bowie), Postmaster Wickersham * Colonel Milligan * John Slaughter, sheriff of Cochise county, Burt Cogswell and Billy King * Sheriff Shannon of Grant county, N. M. * Deputies Frank M. McGlinchey and Steve Birchfield, * Breackenridge of the Southern Pacific * the Diamond A Ranch on Deer Creek * Deputy U. S. Marshal `McGlinchey of the New Mexico District * Bob Hayes of the outlaw gang * Sam Hassels, a native of La Porte, Iowa * the Diamond A Ranch * the White Oaks-San Antonio stage * George Musgrave, alias Jeff Davis * Tom Anderson * Humphries Ranch * Ruch's Spring in Cochise county * La Morita * Frontieras, Sonora * Ed Bullion * Atkins, Cullen and Alverson * Dave Atkins, Ed Cullen, Leonard Alverson and Ed Bullion * Messenger Jennings * Sheriff Farr of Albuquerque * Bill McGuiness * Twin Mountain Curve * Conductor Frank Herrington * Engineer Kirchgrabber * Express Messenger Fred Bartlett * Sheriff Rinard * President McKinley * Stein's Pass * Leonard Alverson, Dave Atkins and Edward Cullen. William Carver, Sam Ketchum, Bronco Bill * executed at Clayton, New Mexico

Texas, 1845 To 1861

For fifteen years after annexation Texas remained under the Stars and Stripes of the United States of America, and these were years of plenty, progress, and broad increase for the commonwealth. Texas gained much by surrendering her sovereignty, for henceforth vexatious foreign affairs form not part of her history.

The population of Texas at the time of incorporation into the Union was about one hundred thousand Americans, with a comparatively small number of Mexicans, besides the Indian tribes. The production of cotton, corn and sugar cane and raising of cattle and horses and hogs were the principle industries, and, notwithstanding that the inhabitants were, during the first few years, mainly engaged in providing for their immediate necessities, by the time Texas became a state the exports almost equaled in value the imports, and the country had already assumed importance in the markets of the world. Here is the story.

Mentions:* J. Pinckney Henderson * President Herrera * President Polk * Alexander Slidell * General Zachary Taylor * Resaca de la Palma * Stephen W. Kearney * General John B. Wool * Commodores Stockton and Sloat * John A. Greer * Elisha M. Pease * P. Handsborough Bell * General Scott * George T. Wood, * David C. Dickson * Fort Belknap * Olmsted * Charles G. Edwards *

Dallas Stoudenmire, Marshall of El Paso

Owen P. White

In 1880 the old timers who lived in El Paso found themselves confronted by a situation which rendered either the education or the importation of a new kind of gunman an imperative necessity. Marshall Stoudenmire seemed the answer. Here is the story.

Mentions: * Ben Dowell's saloon * Marshall Campbell * the Manning brothers * Doc Cummings * Bill Johnson * Jack Doyle * German, named Krempkau * Johnnie Hale * the Campbell-Manning faction * Doc Cummings * Jim Manning * W. W. Mills *

Texas During The Civil War

J. Marvin Hunter, Sr.

In 1860, by the disruption of the Democratic party, Abraham Lincoln was elected president, and politically the North became dominant in the nation. The secession tide running so strong in the South, now reached its flood. Within two months after the national election all the Southern States east of Texas had seceded, South Carolina leading the way. It was Governor Sam Houston's opposition that delayed the secession movement in Texas. The legislature was not in session, and the Governor persistently refused to call it together. In the absence of the legislature the chief executive was practically the entire state government, and he used his position to combat the approaching crisis as long as he could. Finally in December, by extra-legal means, the people were asked to elect delegates to a state convention to meet in Austin January 28, 1861. Though the convention was constituted in an informal manner, it was clearly a popular measure. Under these circumstances Governor Houston yielded to the importunities of the political leaders and called a session of the legislature to meet one week before the convention assembled. The legislature when it met disregarded Houston's counsel for moderation, and sanctioned the calling of the convention, declaring it to be empowered to act for the people.

So was triggered, the events which shaped Texas during the war of Northern aggression. Here is the story of that dreadful period.

Mentions:* Lieutenant Governor, Edward Clark * General Twiggs * Colonel Ben McCulloch * Colonel Ford * Francis R. Lubbock * Pendleton Murrah * Liput. Col. John R. Baylor * General Sibley * General Canby * Val Verde * General Magruder * General Banks * Dick Dowling * General Steele * E. J. Davis * General Kirby Smith * General Sheridan * General Canby *

Driving Cattle Up The Trail To Kansas

J. Marvin Hunter, Sr.

When the Civil War ended in 1865, the Texas ranges were covered with cattle by the thousands, for which there was no market. Up to and during the war New Orleans had been the principal market for Texas cattle, but during four years of internecine strife, cattle on the open ranges had increased tremendously and in a wild state. The owners, returning from war, found themselves to be "cattle poor;" many of the soldiers coming home from war were without employment of any kind. Conditions were bad. With more than 6,000,000 cattle feeding the broad acres of Texas, and beef commanding high prices in the North and East, wise cowmen began to make plans to drive their cattle to northern markets. How they managed that task is the theme of this article.

Mentions:* The Union Pacific railroad * the valley of the Kaw river * Joseph G. McCoy * Jesse Chisholm * Asher, Oklahoma * Chisholm Trail * Red River Station * Fort Reno * Caldwell, Wichita, and Newton * S. D. Houston * Sam Garner, of Lockhart, Texas *

First Railroads in Texas

In 1850 there was not a mile of railroad track in Texas. Fourteen years before, December 16, 1836, the first railroad charter had been granted in the Republic, but this, with many others, had been forfeited. The first Texas railroad originated at Harrisburg, and was the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railway, which was incorporated by the act of February 11, 1850. Harrisburg was the center of railroad enterprise for many years. In 1840 some citizens undertook the construction of what was known as the Harrisburg & Brazos Railroad, and an item in the Houston Star, May 16, 1840, says: "Laborers are said to be grading and preparing for laying of rails." This road was chartered January 9, 1841, as the Harrisburg Railroad & Trading Company. Some grading was actually done, but as the work depended on local capital, it being impossible to secure outside capital as long as the existence of the Republic was threatened, the undertaking failed. The account of these first railroads is the subject of this article.

Mentions: * General Sidney Sherman * Stafford's Point in Brazoria county * Richmond * Alleytown * Eagle Lake * Sugarland * the B. B., B.&C. * the Houston & Texas Central * The Galveston & Red River Railroad * Houston & Texas Central Railway Company * Cypress * Hempstead * Millican * Hockley * Courtney and Navasota * Pierce Junction * the Houston Tap & Brazoria Railway Company * J. D. Waters * the Sabine & Galveston Bay Railroad & Lumber Company * Col. A. M. Gentry * the New Orleans & Opelousas Railroad * Berwick's Bay * Dr. I. S. Roberts * Madison (now Orange) *

Hanged, Shot and Left for Dead

Oran Warder Nolen

Many years ago Matagordo county was the scene of a harrowing incident in which a man who was hanged with two companions and left for dead managed to escape, and was ever afterward haunted by the memory of his terrible experience. Here is the story.

Mentions:* Charles Siringo * the Dunn brothers and Ike Hewitt * Captain Paulson of Sea Drift * doctor by the name of Madden * Capt. Sylvanus Hatch * Rockport * James Hatch, * Sea Drift *

A New County History

Book review of "Ninety-four Years in Jack County, 1854-1948," by Mrs. Ida Lassater Huckabay.

"Pioneering in Southwest Texas"

Book review of "Pioneering in Southwest Texas" by Frank S. Gray. Edited by J. Marvin Hunter. Mentions:* primitive conditions in Southwest Texas in an early day. A Dance at the Dolsen Ranch; Finding and Penning Wild Horses; Selecting the County Seat of Edwards County; The Devil's Sink Hole; Getting Lost in Edwards County; Experience with a Rattlesnake; Activities of the Green Goods Men; The First Fence in Edwards County; A February Blizzard; The First Angora Goats in Edwards County; Concho Cattle Drifting; Wat Williams and His Outlaw Horse; Wildcat's Second Performance; A Mean Horse to Shoe; Shooting a Coyote; Experience with Bear in Edwards County; Rainbows; From Open Air to Prison Cell; The Bible Peddler; A Boy in Trouble; My Twin Brother, John, Killed by a Wild Horse; Fencing a Pasture in Edwards County; True Incidents; Attempted Train Robbery at Coleman Junction; A Killing at Green Lake; Edwards County's First Officers; A Big Trail Herd; Trailing a Herd to New Mexico; The Last Indian Raid.