As Americans expanded west in the mid to late 1800s, they did so in search of wealth, freedom, and opportunity. Instead they found poverty, hardship, and lots of crime. That's what tends to happen when you put a bunch of rejects together with virtually nothing in the way of organized government.
The wild west produced a cast of memorable characters too wide for even the most ambitious HBO showrunner, but we wanted to highlight a few of them for your reading pleasure.
Here are 21 photos of wild west lawmen, gamblers, gunfighters, and more.
1
Cherokee Bill (Crawford Goldsby)
A prominent outlaw, Cook Gang leader, and murderer.
2
Doc Holliday
Prominent gambler, shady business man, and dentist.
3
Big Nose Kate
Gambler, outlaw, and partner to Doc Holliday.
4
Wyatt Earp
A famous wild west lawman, who killed three outlaws at the O.K. Corral shootout and worked in multiple cities.
5
Billy the Kid
Perhaps the wild west’s most infamous outlaw, Henry McCarty was linked to nine murders and multiple crimes when he was killed. However, evidence for his wrongdoings is spotty at best.
6
Cockeyed Frank
Frank Loving was a gambler and gunman who became involved in two high profile shootouts.
7
Wild Bill Hickok
An all encompassing lawman, gunman, gambler, vigilante, and more. Hickok was killed in a casino shootout in 1876, but tall tales of his exploits remain.
(On the right along with Texas Jack Omohundro, and Buffalo Bill Cody as the "Scouts of the Plains" in 1873.)
8
Prairie Dog Dave
Dave Morrow was a Dodge city law officer.
9
Bat Masterson
A lawman, gunman, gambler, buffalo hunter, and more.
10
Bill Tilghman
A lawman and politician.
11
Pat Garrett
The Lincoln County, New Mexico sheriff who killed Billy the Kid.
12
John Wesley Hardin
Called “The most sadistic killer to ever come out of Texas.”
13
Philip and Gypsy Clarke
Brothers who owned a mercantile store in Ruby, Texas. Typically well armed, the brothers sold their store but warned of dangers from Mexican bandits. The new owners were promptly killed.
14
Captain De Lamar
A mine owner in Delamar, Nevada, responsible for the deaths of many of his miners.
15
Calamity Jane
A frontierswoman, sharpshooter, and adult worker, known for her daredevil attitude and kind spirit.
16
Charlie Bassett
A lawman and saloon owner in Dodge, Kansas.
17
George Hearst
A mine owner, eventual senator, and grandfather to the Hearst publishing business.
18
Henry W. Smith
A methodist church minister killed while walking to church.
19
Ike Clanton and Billy Clanton
Founding members of the Clanton gang along with Frank and Tom McLaury. The gang participated in the infamous O.K. Corral shootout.
20
Jesse James
An infamous bank, train robber, and leader of the James-Younger Gang.
21
A James-Younger Gang Train Robbery
Danger on the rails.
