Western Adventures of Louis L'Amour

An American icon for Americana stories of the Old West, Louis Dearborn L'Amour is among the greatest authors of United States literature. Born 22 March 1908 and died 10 June 1988, his last name spelled as LaMoore, is known for his Western novels, but also wrote historical fiction like The Walking Drum, poetry and short stories. He even wrote one science fiction novel entitled The Haunted Mesa. In 1954 he was nominated the Academy Award for Best Story.

Old West: Texas Jack Omohundro

Not as well known as Buffalo Bill Cody, John Baker Omohundro, known as Texas Jack, rode as tall in the saddle and a colorful figure of the Old West, 1846-1880.

John Wilson Vermillion, 1860

While this article is about Texas Jack Omohundro, an Old West hero, there were two men named “Texas Jack”, the other being John Wilson Vermillion (1842-1911) who was an outlaw and later a reformed Methodist preacher, who never lived in Texas. Born in Russell County, Virginia he also fought under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart. After the Civil War, Jack Vermillion went to Indiana where he married Margaret Horton in 1865. They moved to Missouri where Jack Vermillion became a Territorial Marshal for the eastern part of the Missouri Territory. Jack's wife, daughter and son died of diphtheria while Jack was away and he left for Kansas in the late 1870s. During that time he went to Tombstone, Arizona from Dodge City, after hearing the Earp brothers were there. It is thought Jack also knew Doc Holliday. He was enlisted by Virgil Earp as a deputy city policeman on 22^ndJune 1881, the day of the Tombstone fire, when Virgil was acting city marshal. Jack was hired to help keep law and order and prevent looting during and after the disaster. It is unknown how Jack Vermillion became known as Texas Jack because he had not been to Texas. Once he was asked why folks called him 'Texas Jack' and he replied: “Because I'm from Virginia”.

Deadwood, South Dakota and Its Colorful Historical Characters

Deadwood, South Dakota is so named after the dead trees found in the gulch and name of the canyon. The Lakota Sioux call it Owáyasuta and it is today the county seat of Lawrence County. In the American Old West history, it is as famous as Dodge City and Tombstone.

William F. Cody: Buffalo Bill of the Wild West

William Frederick Cody who became known as Buffalo Bill, was a buffalo hunter (thus the name), United States Army scout, and an Indian fighter. He is best known in history as the man who brought the Wild West to the eastern United States and major European cities. The colorful show was called Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World – a long name that created a long historical reputation.

His life story is mixed with legend and fabrication, but it provided an insight for people who did not live in the West during the height of its notoriety and hailed a way of life that was disappearing in the Victorian and Industrial period of American history.

Annie Oakley: "Little Sure Shot" of American History

Annie's famous mirror trick shot

When mentioning the Wild West Show, two individuals pop in mind: Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley. The story about Annie is not complete without Frank Butler.

Annie Oakley was born on August 13^th, 1860 in Darke County, Ohio under the name Phoebe Ann Moses, which the family simply called her Annie.

Her parents (Susan Wise & Jacob Moses (Mauzy) were Quakers, immigrants from England who originally settled in Pennsylvania, where they married in 1848. They moved to Patterson Township in Ohio in 1855 where they rented a farm, which later they would mortgage. Annie's sister, Sarah Ellen, was born in 1857. Annie would be the sixth of seven children.

Chuck Wagons, Trail Drives and American Traditions

Deadwood 1877

The American West is not just a major part of American history, but it remains a special culture that is admired in certain European countries, like in Denmark country & western music combined with its unique dancing style, or in Germany and Italy. Indeed, there are cowboy ranches still in existence in Italy.

The staple food for a hearty meal for mountain men, pioneers and cowboys had been stew.At the end of this article is a Pioneer Stew recipe.

Old West: The Cowboy

I should've been a cowboy,

I should have learned to rope and ride.

Wearing my six-shooter riding my pony on a cattle drive.

Stealing the young girl's hearts,  Just like Gene and Roy.

Singing those campfire songs - Oh, I should've been a cowboy

I might have had a sidekick with a funny name, Running wild through the hills chasing Jesse James.

Ending up on the brink of danger, Riding shotgun for the Texas Rangers.

Go west young man, haven't you been told, California's full of whiskey, women and gold. Sleeping out all night beneath the desert stars With a dream in my eye and a prayer … In my heart … Oh, I should've been a cowboy.

Lyric from Toby Keith (Covel) song – Should Have Been a Cowboy

Wyatt Earp

Wyatt with his mother

John Moses Browning became famous as an engineer of innovative firearms and a master gunsmith of the late 19^th century on into the 20^th century making firearms that characters of the Old West used for defense and hunting for food and criminals used in their chosen careers,but men and a few women became famous using those firearms on both sides of the law.

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19^th, 1848-January 13^th, 1929) is probably the best-known figure of the Old West of the United States as a famous lawman, who has been probably the most misrepresented – outlaws and lawmen alike.