Metro Jacksonville

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OKLAHOMA AND INDIAN TERRITORIES known as "The Twin Territories," were still minus a panhandle, until "No Man's Land," was formed into part of both the Texas and Oklahoma.

Some of you know my "Okie roots," my time at Oklahoma State University and a some years living in my little house on the prairie.  Always the history collector, I just read through a previously unknown story that is so damn funny that I thought I'd share it with y'all.

For those interested in western history, the cowboy era, pioneers, sod buster's, ranchers, and infamous bad guys, did you know that MOST of the west of lore took place in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Colorado, and even Arkansas and Missouri. Some of it was even closer to home, Doc Holiday, was raised in Valdosta, and likely visited Jacksonville.

Proof that the "old west," wasn't really that far west can be found in this FLORIDA account:

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JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

QuoteAfter McNelly’s retirement in 1876, John B. Armstrong was promoted to Lieutenant, and the Special Force was absorbed into the Texas Rangers Frontier Battalion.  Armstrong was involved in several gunfights while trying to restore order to the lawless areas of Eagle Pass and Laredo, and at one point he tracked down and killed convicted murderer John Mayfield, probably by pulling his arm off during an arm-wrestling match and then beating Mayfield to death with his own fist.  The biggest case of his career however came in 1877, when he was given the task of taking down one of the deadliest gunfighters in the Old West â€" John Wesley Hardin.

In terms of sheer body count, John Wesley Hardin was one of the most insane gunmen in American History.  During his career as a gambler, gunfighter, and outlaw, Hardin notched 44 confirmed kills, taking down everything from card sharps and thieves to Sherriffs and Marshals, and anybody in-between.  Basically, this wasn’t a guy you wanted to look at cross-eyed, because he’d end up putting a bullet in your brain.  In 1877 however, Hardin crossed the line when he shot a couple of Texas Rangers to death.  Now Rangers really hate it when you kill their buddies, so they took the mission personally and were determined to succeed where hundreds of posses and lawmen had failed.  John Barclay Armstrong volunteered for the job as soon as it was posted, even though at the time he was recovering from a gunshot wound to the leg and had to walk with a cane.  Since he had such an outstanding record as an asskicker, his superiors assigned him to the job.

Armstrong first went to Alabama, where Hardin was last seen robbing railroad cars.  He set up shop there for a while, gathering clues, and eventually was able to intercept a letter that indicated Hardin would be traveling from Alabama to Florida under an assumed name.  John Barclay Armstrong caught up to the dangerous outlaw on a train in Pensacola on 23 July.  He walked into Hardin’s train car and came face-to-face with Hardin and three other members of his gang.  Armstrong ordered their surrender, and upon recognizing what was taking place, Hardin exclaimed, “Texas, by God!”, which only makes me think of a local truck dealership commercial where a crazy dude in a cowboy costume sticks his face right into the camera and screams, "MY GAWD, THAT'S TOO CHEAP!!"

Hardin and his men all reached for their pistols.  One of Hardin’s men drew and fired a shot the put a hole through Armstrong’s hat.  Armstrong got really pissed off about getting a gunshot hole right through is favorite hat, so switched his cane over from his right hand to his left, quick-drew his pistol and fired a shot right into the man’s chest, killing him instantly.  He then leapt over and grabbed Hardin’s pistol right as he drew it from its holster.  Hardin kicked Armstrong off him, but Armstrong quickly rebounded and brained Hardin in the fucking head with the butt of his Colt .45 Peacemaker hard enough to knock him unconscious for two hours.  The other two members of the gang dropped their weapons, probably because they were in complete shock that this one dude had just Kung Fu-ed the butt out of their fearless leader.

Unfortunately, even though he had Hardin in custody, Armstrong didn’t have the proper warrants ready so he was unable to transport the prisoner.  Several of Hardin’s associates telegrammed Armstrong threatening to bust Hardin out of jail by any means necessary, but Armstrong cooly responded by saying that if anyone tried to fuck with him he'd just shoot Hardin right in the fucking face.  That shut those dickheads up pretty quickly.  Before long, the warrants arrived, and Hardin was extradited to Texas to stand trial for his crimes.

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Sorry JTA, it's just that I come from a LONG line of hell raisers and trouble makers...LOL

Meanwhile over in Indian Territory, and up into Kansas...

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BELLE STARR

Belle Starr, a Confederate guerrilla and heroine, little credited for her rather incredible exploits, chocked up a number of hilarious tales. My favorite involved an expedition to sell army horses stolen from Texas, to an army post in southern Kansas. After the sale, pockets full of money, Belle discovered a high stakes poker game was going on in an upstairs room at the town hotel. She climbed the back stairs to an open window, when she stuck her head in with her two pearl handled 44's, she told the gathered boys, "FOUR FOURS BOYS, that's four of a kind, only three combination's can beat it, you don't have a higher four of a kind, and I don't see an ace straight flush... Hand over the purse y'all." With those words she cleaned out the pockets of some 7 or 8 of some of the most infamous law men and outlaws ever to saddle a horse.  Forcing them to strip nude, she tossed their clothes into the back alley and made good her escape back to High Early Mountain, Indian Territory. The robbery was never reported as the macho group was far too embarrassed to admit she had robbed them naked, but the story has been passed down through the families of the guilty parties.

Quote
THE FLORIDA CONNECTION:

The area near Younger's Bend (Belle's home, about 100 miles west of Fort Smith, AR) was being settled by farmers. One individual, Edgar A. Watson, and his wife had arrived seeking land to rent. Belle agreed to rental arrangements and accepted payment in advance. Later, as she became better acquainted with Mrs. Watson, she learned that Edgar Watson was wanted for murder in Florida. Remembering the tribal council's threat to expel her from her land if she were caught harboring fugitives again, she attempted to back out of the deal with Watson. Her efforts were to no avail; Watson insisted that he would farm the land for which he had paid. Finally, in a face-to-face confrontation, she chided him with a comment that Florida authorities might be interested in his whereabouts. That did it. Watson was furious, but he accepted refund of his rent money and rode away. The Watsons settled on another farm in the vicinity.

Wild West

On Saturday morning, February 2, 1889, Belle and her husband set out together from Younger's Bend. July was headed to Fort Smith for his horse-stealing hearing, and Belle was going to a nearby community to shop. After Belle did her shopping, she and her husband spent the night with friends in San Bois (about 15 miles east of Younger's Bend) before parting on Sunday morning. July continued on to Judge Parker's court, while Belle started for home. She never made it.

Belle stopped at the house of some neighbors, the Rowes, on Sunday afternoon. Jackson Rowe's home was a popular Sunday gathering place for members of the community. She hoped to see her son Eddie, who had been staying there, but he had left before she arrived. There were a number of other visitors, one of whom was Edgar Watson. Soon after Belle's arrival, Watson left.

Belle ate and chatted with her friends. She was nibbling on a piece of cornbread as she went out the door and headed for Younger's Bend. The road passed within several hundred yards of the Watson place. As Belle turned onto the river lane, a shotgun blast blew her from the saddle. She attempted to raise herself from the roadway, but a second shot boomed out, striking her in the face and shoulder. Her horse bolted and galloped home. Pearl, alarmed when Belle's horse showed up riderless, set out at once. Meanwhile, Belle had been discovered by a youth returning home. Pearl and neighbors arrived at Belle's side before she died, but she was unable to utter any last words.

But absolutely one of the funniest tales, besides the antics of one Belle Starr, happened in Oklahoma Territory .

Just above old GUTHRIE, Oklahoma came this little clipping.

QuoteDateline: LAWRI,E OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, August 7, 1894.

William Cardwell, a Cherokee Strip boomer, who had become hard up, some days ago announced that he was going to sell his wife to the highest bidder. The sale was held in Lawrie last Friday. There were half a dozen bidders present, and as the woman was buxom and good looking, bidding was spirited.

John Insley, a grass widower of Guthrie secured the prize, for $100 dollars in cash , a cow, a horse, and a lot of furniture. The woman seemed to be wholly unconcerned and departed with Insley, after he had turned over the things in his bid. The strangely mated pair were last seen heading south to Texas in a covered wagon.

OCKLAWAHA