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Shotgun John Collins

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Abraham G. Graham
Other namesShotgun John Collins, John Collins, John Graham
OccupationGunfighter
Criminal chargeCattle rustling and Horse stealing

Shotgun John Collins (November 22, 1851 – December 2, 1922) was a little known, though well associated, gunfighter of the Old West.

Biography

Born Abraham G. Graham, in Horry County, South Carolina, Collins was raised in an old plantation environment. His great grandfather, Captain Edward Connor, served in the South Carolina Militia during the American Revolution, under Francis Marion. His father, Hosea A. Graham, had married his first cousin Martha Ann Graham, and while Collins was still a child the family moved to Texas in covered wagons in 1859.

While living in Limestone County Texas teenagers Abe Graham, alias John Collins and John Wesley Hardin were partners, furthermore coming from stanch Confederate families. Hardin writes in his biography that John Collins was once married to one of his cousins (Tabitha Cox born in Bonham, Fannin County Texas) and comments while he was in Austin jail he met some noted men naming John Collins, Pipes and Herndon of the Bass gang, John Ringo, Mannings Clements and Brown Bowen.

Collins was sought by lawmen for crimes including cattle rustling, and fled Texas for Mexico. After that time cattleman John Collins moved into Ulvade Texas and became one of the five glorious Uvalde Minutemen, including Captain J. J. H. Patterson, Henry Patterson, W. B. Nichols, Tom Leakey and John Collins. These five fearless Minutemen did what the Texas Rangers could not do! After that time John Collins migrated into the western part of Old Socorro County. As reported by the Grant County Herald John Collins ushered the year 1875 out with a bang! On December 27, John Collins undertook to make a cold moist body out of James "Jim" Smith. He was arrested by Sheriff Whitehill and put into jail, later he bailed himself out for $60, and was so inclined to migrate into Lincoln County. He was in and around there for about five years. He became associated with Billy the Kid and fought in and all during the Lincoln County War on the McSween/Chisum/Cowmen's fraction. When the war was over both sides were still up in arms. The people who fought in the war were being persecuted and backwashed. Collins moved to the western part of Old Socorro County New Mexico. Collins Park in the Elk Mountain of today's Gila National Park was in tribute to Shotgun Collins. Billy the Kid was wanted at the time, and moving around often, and for a time Collins accompanied him. April 1879 John Collins was in Rynerson's Territory court in Lincoln New Mexico for rustling cattle and stealing horses.

He also met Wyatt Earp, then working for Wells Fargo, as well as Pat Garrett. He later worked as a buffalo hunter, and a US Cavalry Scout during the Army's struggle with Geronimo and the Apache. Collins was associated with the W-S Ranch. Eventually he came to own four ranches in old Socorro County, New Mexico as well as several ranches in Old Mexico until Pancha Villa Revolution. At that time Collins and his family escaped nearly losing their lives.

Collins had changed his name from Graham to his great grandfathers name when he left Texas, going by John Collins, to avoid trouble with the law on the earlier cattle rustling issue, but sometimes went by John Graham. Collins also worked, for a time, riding shotgun for Wells Fargo, and during this time his bond with Earp became strong. It was during this period that he became known, due to the numerous shootings he was involved in associated with his work, and from which his nickname "Shotgun" came.

Collins drifted for a time, through El Paso, Texas, and later to Dodge City, Kansas. At times he took part in outlaw activities, while at others he served as a member of posses. In 1883 he came to Dodge City with Wyatt Earp to support Luke Short during what became known as the Dodge City War. In the famous photographs in which Wyatt Earp, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, Charlie Bassett, M.F. McClain, Neal Brown, William H. Harris, and W.F. Petillion are pictured, as well as a less circulated copy that excludes Petillion and includes Bill Tilghman, Collins was present, as well as Johnny Millsap, "Texas Jack" Vermillion, and several others considered part of the "Dodge City Peace Commission". However they chose not to be in the photograph.

John Graham, alias John Collins was with Uncle John at the Wig Wam Saloon in El Paso Texas when John Selman was shot by George Scarborough and later testified in the Selman murder trial. He was never involved in any well known gunfights, with most of his notoriety coming from his days riding shotgun for Wells Fargo, and his association with the other members of the Dodge City Peace Commission. He died in a gunfight at the age of 71, in El Paso, during a dispute.

Ironically the Old Ghost Horseman wasn't a bad man or a good man. He was a product of the times! He was on census through out the Old West as John Collins, John Graham and Abraham Graham with wives and children. Outlaw "Shotgun" Collins was buried in an unmarked grave under his given name Abe Graham in the Catholic Section of El Paso's Concordia Cemetery in the same section as his old partners John Wesley Hardin and John Selman.

Grave Direction: {Gateway West Gate Entrance} Immediate to right by Concordia Wall to Jewish Wall, Section X, Lot 7, and Grave 6.}

[1]

References

  1. ^ *[1] The University of New Mexico, University Libraries Center for Southwest Research(Tape #151 Microfilm #2, Tape #152, microfilm #2, Tape #153, microfilm #2)
  • Rynerson's Court Lincoln New Mexico April 1879
  • The Life and Death of a Lawman on the Closing Frontier By Robert K. DeArment
  • Concordia Cemetery (Catholic Section) El Paso Texas
  • {Collins Park,} Catron County New Mexico tribute to "Shotgun" Collins
  • Alias Frank Canton By Robert K. DeArment
  • Whatever Happened to Billy the Kid By Helen Airey
  • The Life of John Wesley Hardin By John Wesley Hardin and Robert G. McCubbin
  • Bat Masterson: The Man and the Legend, By Robert K. DeArment [page #245}
  • The Place Names of New Mexico, By Robert Hixson Julyan, [Page #91}
  • Six-Guns and Single-Jacks By Bob Alexander, {Page 94}
  • Rasch Collection University of New Mexico by Phillip J. Rasch,

"identifies Abraham G. Graham as John Collins"

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