List of Old West gunfighters
This is a list of Old West gunfighters, referring to outlaws or lawmen, of the American frontier who gained fame or notoriety during the American Wild West or Old West. The term gunslinger is a modern, 20th century invention, often used in cinema or other media to refer to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun. A gunfighter may or may not be an outlaw or a lawman. An outlaw had usually been convicted of a crime such as Black Bart, but may have only gained a reputation as operating outside the law such as Ike Clanton. Some of those listed may have also served in law enforcement like Marshal Burt Alvord who subsequently became an outlaw, and some outlaws like Johnny Ringo were deputized at one time or another. Some of the gunfighters listed included professional scouts, businessmen, or even doctors.
Outlaws
The majority of outlaws in the Old West preyed on banks, trains, and stagecoaches. Some crimes were carried out by Mexicans and Native Americans against white citizens who were targets of opportunity along the U.S.–Mexico border, particularly in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. For example Pancho Villa was a bandit from Durango, Mexico who also conducted cross-border raids into New Mexico and Texas. Some individuals, like Jesse James, became outlaws after serving in the Civil War and others were simply men who took advantage of the wildness and lawlessness of the frontier to enrich themselves at the expense of others. Some outlaws migrated to the frontier to escape prosecution for crimes elsewhere.
Lawmen
Law was present if spread thin in the American Old West. It was usually present on three levels: the Deputy U.S. Marshal, the county sheriff, and the town marshal or constable. Sometimes their jurisdictions overlapped which could lead to conflicts like those between Deputy U.S. Marshal Virgil Earp and Cochise County, Arizona Sheriff Johnny Behan. When an outlaw committed a crime, the local sheriff or marshal would usually form a posse to attempt to capture them. Rewards were posted for outlaws which encouraged citizens to capture or kill them for the reward, leading to the profession of bounty hunter.
A
- John Hicks Adams (1820–1878)
- Burt Alvord (1866–??)
- Robert Clay Allison (1840–1887)
- David L. "Billy Wilson" Anderson (1862–1918)
- Charlie Anderson (1844–1868)
B
- Cullen Baker (1839–1869)
- Ben Cartwright[disambiguation needed] (1825–1910)
- Seaborn Barnes (1849?–1878)
- Richard H. "Rattlesnake Dick" Bartar (1833–1859)
- Sam Bass (1851–1878)
- "Queen" Ann Bassett (1878–1956)
- Josie Bassett (1874–1964)
- Charlie Bassett (c.1847–1896)
- Tom Bell (1825–1856)
- Jules Beni (??–1861)
- John Billee (??–1890)
- William "Tulsa Jack" Blake (c.1859–1895)
- Dan Bogan (1860–??)
- Charles "Black Bart" Bolles (1829–??)
- N. K. Boswell (1836–1921)
- Joaquin Botellier (??-??)(member of the Five Joaquins gang)
- Charlie Bowdre (1848–1880)
- Richard M. "Dick" Brewer (1850-1878)
- William "Curly Bill" Brocius (c.1845–1882)
- William L. "Buffalo Bill" Brooks (c.1832–1874)
- Henry Newton Brown (1857–1884)
- Rufus Buck (??–1896)
- John Bull (1836–1929)
- Seth Bullock (Marshal) (1849-1919)
- Laura "Della Rose" Bullion (aka "The Rose of the Wild Bunch") (1876–1961)
- Frederick Russell Burnham (1861–1947)
- Charlie "Dutch Charley" Burris (??–1881)
- Reuben "Rube" Burrow (1856–1890)
C
- Archie Clement (January 1, 1846 – December 13, 1866)
- Frank M. Canton (aka Josiah Horner) (1849–1927)
- "Laughing" Sam Carey (aka Laughing Dick Carey) (??–??)
- Joaquin Carrillo (??-??)(member of the Five Joaquins gang)
- William "News" Carver (1868–1901)
- Butch Cassidy(1866–1908)
- Jose Chavez y Chavez (1851–1924)
- Ned Christie (1852–1892)
- Billy Claiborne (1860–1882)
- Billy Clanton (1862–1881)
- Ike Clanton (1847–1887)
- "Dynamite" Dan Clifton (1865–c.1896)
- Theodore Clifton (1844–1868)
- Frank Coe (1851-1931)
- George Coe (1856-1941)
- Chunk Colbert (??–1874)
- Shotgun John Collins (1851–1922)
- George Contant (1864 - year of death unknown), brother of John Sontag
- Scott Cooley (1845–1876)
- Brack Cornett (1859–1888)
- Gregorio Cortez (1875–1916)
- Juan Cortina (aka "The Red Robber of the Rio Grande") (1824–1894)
- "Longhair" Jim Courtright (1848–1887)
- George "Flatnose" Curry (1864–1900) (not to be confused with George Manuse aka "Big Nose George Parrott")
D
- Bob Dalton (1868–1892)
- Emmett Dalton (1871–1937)
- Gratton "Grat" Dalton (1861–1892)
- William M. Dalton (1866–1894)
- John Daly (1839–1864)
- Ben Daniels (1852-1923)
- Pancho Daniel (??–1858)
- Roy Daugherty (aka Arkansas Tom Jones) (1870–1924)
- Jackson "Diamondfield Jack" Davis (1879–1949)
- Jonathan R. Davis
- Pat Desmond (1842–1890)
- Charles "Pony" Diehl (??–??)
- Cornelius "Lame Johnny" Donahue (1850–1879)
- Bill Doolin (1858–1896)
- Mart Duggan (1848–1888)
- Rose "Rose of the Cimarron" Dunn (1879?-1953?)
- William B. Dunn (??–1896)
E
- Warren Earp (March 9, 1855 – July 6, 1900)
- Wyatt Earp (1848–1929)
- Virgil Earp (1843-1905)
- Morgan Earp (1851-1882)
- Chris Evans (1847–1917)
- Jesse Evans (1853–??)
F
- John Fisher "King" (1854–1884)
- Juan Flores (1834 – 1857)
- Friedrich "Plug" Fluger (aka "Colonel Fluger") (??–c. 1868)
- Tom O'Folliard (c. 1858 — 1880)
- Charles Wilson "Charley" Ford (1857–1884)
- Robert Newton Ford (1862–1892)
- Jim French (??-??)
G
- Lige Gardner (c.1846–c.1901)
- Pliney Gardner (c.1835-1893)
- Patrick "Pat" Floyd Garrett (1850–1908)
- John Joel Glanton (1819–1851)
- Crawford "Cherokee Bill" Goldsby (1876–1896)
- Dick Gosset (?-1869)
H
- Devil Anse Hatfield (1839-1921)
- John Wesley Hardin (1853–1895)
- Pearl Hart (c.1871–??)
- Haskay-bay-nay-ntayl "The Apache Kid" (c.1860–??)
- Marion Hedgepeth (1856–1909)
- Boone Helm (aka "The Kentucky Cannibal") (1828–1864)
- James "Wild Bill" Hickok (1837–1876)
- John "Pink" Higgins (1848–1914)
- Robert Woodson "Wood" Hite (c.1850–1881)
- Thomas J. "Tom Bell" Hodges (aka "The Outlaw Doc") (1825–1856)
- John Henry "Doc" Holliday (1851–1887)
- Tom Horn (1860–1903)
I
- Rufus Henry Ingram (1834–??)
- John "Red" Irving (?-1851)
J
- Frank Jackson (1856–1930?)
- Frank James (1843-1915)
- Jesse James (1847-1882)
- Henry Jerrell (1845–1868)
K
- Thomas "Black Jack" Ketchum (1863–1901)
- Henry "Billy the Kid" McCarty (1859–1881)
- Ben "Tall Texan" Kilpatrick
- Jeff Kidder (1875-1908)
- Sandy King (1852?–1881)
- John Kinney (1847–1919)
L
- Elzy Lay (1868–1934)
- Buckskin Frank Leslie (1848?–1930?)
- James Andrew "Dick" Liddil (1829–1905)
- Pío Linares (??–1857)
- Harvey "Kid Curry" Logan (1867-1904)
- " Steve" Long (?–1868)
- Harry "Sundance Kid" Longabaugh (1863–1908?)
- "Wild Bill" Longley (1851–1877)
- Frank Loving (1860-1882)
M
- Chris Madsen (1851–1944)
- George "Big Nose George Parrott" Manuse (aka "George Warden") (??–1881)
- Alfred Marlow (1862-1889)
- Boone Marlow (1864-1889)
- Charles Marlow (1850-1941)
- Geroge Marlow (1865-1945)
- Lewellyn Marlow (????-1889)
- Martha Jane Keeton Marlow, Sons of Mother (1827 - 1907)
- John Mason (??–1866)
- Bat Masterson (1853–1921)
- Mysterious Dave Mather (1851–1886?)
- Benjamin Mayfield (1831–187?)
- Tom McCauley aka, James "Jim" Henry (??–1865)
- William J. McClosky (????-1878)
- Lucas McCain (1838-1899)
- Sherman McMaster (1853–c. 1892)
- Frank McNab (??-1878)
- William McWaters (1844-1875)
- Bob Meeks (??-1912?)
- John Middleton (c. 1854–c. 1885)
- Michael "Texas Tom" Miles (1866–1888)
- Jim "Killer" Miller (1866–1909)
- Jeff Davis Milton (1861–1947)
- Bill Miner (1847–1913)
- John J. Moore (1847–1868)
- William "Outlaw Bill" Moore (??–??)
- Jim Murphy (1861–1879)
- Joaquin Murrieta (c. 1830–1853)
- L.H. Musgrove (??–1868)
N
- George "Bittercreek" Newcomb (1866–1895)
- Nick Barkley (1860–1915)
O
- Joaquin Ocomorenia (member of the Five Joaquins gang)
- Edward Capehart O'Kelley (1858–1904)
- "Cool Hand Conor" O'Neill (1865–1888)
- Michael "Johnny Behind the Deuce" O'Rourke (1862–1882)
- Commodore Perry Owens (1852-1919)
P
- Tom Pickett (1858–1934)
- Salomon Pico (1821–1860)
- Charley Pierce (c. 1866–May 2, 1895)
- Thomas Bell Poole (1818 - 1865)
- Jack Powers (1827–1860)
- Procopio (c. 1841–c. 1880)
Q
- Queho (1880–c. 1940)
R
- Nathanial "Texas Jack" Reed (1862–1950)
- James C. Reed (1845?–1874), husband of Belle Starr
- Bass Reeves deputy U.S. Marshal (1832-1910)
- Frank Reno (1837–1868)
- Simeon Reno (1843–1868)
- William Reno (1848–1868)
- James "Jim" Riley (1853–??)
- Johnny Ringo (1850–1882)
- Porter Rockwell (1813 or 1815–1878)
- Vincente Romero (??-??)
- Charles Roseberry (1843–1868)
- Dave Rudabaugh (1854–1886)
- Charles L. Ruggles (1870–1892) and John D. Ruggles (1859–1892), the "Ruggles Brothers"
S
- Jack Slade (January 22, 1831 - March 10, 1864)
- Yginio Salazar (1863-1936)
- Ab Saunders (1851-1883)
- George Scarborough (1859-1900)
- John Scroggins (??-??)
- Doc Scurlock (1849–1929)
- John Selman (1839–1896)
- Luke Short (1854–1893)
- Cyrus Skinner (??–1864)
- George "Reelfoot Williams" Skinner (??–1856)
- Adelbert Denton "Bertie" Slye (1856-1940), member of the Slye-Wilson gang, aka the "Hedgepeth Four"[1][2][3][4] "Bertie" Slye, "Illinois Jimmy" Francis and "Dink" Wilson
- "Tiger Sam" Smith (??-??)
- Jefferson Randolph "Soapy Smith" Smith (1860–1898)
- John Sontag (1861-1893)
- Frank Sparks (1841–1868)
- "Little Bill" Standifer
- Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed "Belle Starr" Starr (1848–1889)
- Henry Starr (1873–1921)
- Tom "Uncle Tom" Starr (1813–1890)
- Matt "Steiny" Steinmueller (??-??)
- "Dirty Steve" Stephens (18??-??)
- Frank Stilwell (c 1856–1882)
- Charlie Storms (18??-1881)
- Dallas Stoudenmire (1845–1882)
T
- William "Russian Bill" Tattenbaum (1853–1881)
- Jack Taylor (1884–1887)
- Heck Thomas (1850-1912)
- Ben Thompson (1842–1884)
- Billy Thompson (1845-1897)
- Tom Threepersons (1889—1969)
- Bill Tilghman (1854–1924)
- Harry Tracy (1874–1902)
- Dangerous Dan Tucker (1849-??)
- Trino Lee Lopez "U Can Do It" (1852–1894)
U
- Francisco Ulibarri (??-??) - Comanche Indian
- David "Big Dave" Updyke (1830–1866)
V
- Joaquin Valenzuela (??–1856)(member of the Five Joaquins gang)
- Tiburcio Vasquez (1835–1875)
- Henry Clay “Hank” Vaughan (1849–1893)
- "Texas" Jack Vermillion (1842–1911)
- José Doroteo “Pancho Villa” Arango Arámbula (1878-1923)
W
- Fred Waite (1853-1895)
- William "Bronco Bill" Walters (1869–1933?)
- John Joshua Webb (1847–1882)
- Richard "Little Dick" West (1860–1898)
- Henry Clay White (??–1900?)
- Lucius R. "Dink Wilson" (??-1894), member of the Slye-Wilson gang[4]
X
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Y
- Jim Younger (January 15, 1848 - October 19, 1902)
- Milt Yarberry (1849-1883)
- Bob Younger (1853–1889)
- Cole Younger (1844–1916)
Z
- Robert Zachary (??-??)
- Francisco Zamora (??-??)
See also
References
- ^ id=Keq4cmuIqegC&pg=PA89&lpg=PA89&dq=slye+wilson+dink+gang+hedgepath&source=bl&ots=xmYL4lfT_E&sig=phLVKJrMnD9HNnHWsQtAP0_G_nY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4sPsT8brEcHk0QHB1vD-BQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=slye%20wilson%20dink%20gang%20hedgepath&f=false Harold Schechter.
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(help) - ^ ""HEDGEPETH DIED A ROBBER. The End of the Missouri Bandit in a Chicago Saloon Holdup". Kansas City Times. 4 January 1910.
- ^ "The Board of Crimes". The Weekly Gleaner. Vol. 14, no. 27. 3 March 1892.
- ^ a b "Murderer Wilson Executed". The New York Times. 14 May 1894.