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  • 2021
    • October
      • MORE THAN A BADGE: ROUGH COUNTRY, THE LAW AND ME
        10/27/21


        Former Brewster County Sheriff Carl C. Williams has published a remarkable collection of far west Texas stories and memories of people knew in his lifelong law enforcement and photographic careers. Born in Marfa in 1934, Williams grew up in the Texas Big Bend. After graduation

  • 2019
  • 2018
    • December
      • OLD RIOT, NEW RANGER: CAPTAIN JACK DEAN, TEXAS RANGER AND U.S. MARSHAL
        12/28/18

        Award-winning author Bob Alexander presents a biography of 20th-century Ranger Captain Jack Dean, who holds the distinction of being one of only five men to serve in both the Officer’s Corps of the Rangers and also as a President-appointed United States Marshal.

        Jack Dean’s serv

      • ARVEL RODOLPHUS PONTON: FATHER OF MEDICINE ON THE TEXAS SOUTH PLAINS
        12/28/18

        Arvel Rodolphus Ponton Sr. was born January 1, 1885 in Fairfax, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma, where as a tall, strong, and athletic young man, he became the starting quarterback for the school’s prestigious football team. Following his undergraduate studies, Arvel Ponton

    • November
      • PORVENIR MASSACRE MARKER DEDICATION
        11/10/18


        The Texas Historical Commission has announced the Porvenir Massacre marker dedication ceremony will take place at the Presidio County Courthouse on November 30, 2018 at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to this public event.

        http://www.thc.texas.gov/news-events/ev

        Gj

    • October
      • PORVENIR MASSACRE AND THE HANDBOOK OF TEXAS
        10/08/18
        Back in the 1980's, I worked for the Texas State Historical Association as a staff writer for the New Handbook of Texas. I penned many history articles about West Texas, the Permian Basin and Big Bend. We had lots of revisions to make especially on articles concerning West Texas and the Big Ben

      • WAR IN EAST TEXAS: REGULATORS VS. MODERATORS
        10/02/18


        University of North Texas Press announces the July 2018 publication of War in East Texas: Regulators vs. Moderators by Bill O'Neal.From 1840 through 1844 East Texas was wracked by murderous violence between Regulator and Moderator factions. More than thirty men were killed in assass

    • September
      • HIGHER EDUCATION IN TEXAS: ITS BEGINNINGS TO 1970
        09/28/18


        Higher Education in Texas is the first book to tell the history, defining events, and critical participants in the development of higher education in Texas from approximately 1838 to 1970. Charles Matthews, Chancellor Emeritus of the Texas State University System, begins the story with t

      • BEN THOMPSON: PORTRAIT OF A GUNFIGHTER
        09/27/18


        University of North Texas Press announces the August 2018 publication of Ben Thompson: Portrait of a Gunfigher by Thomas C. Bicknell and Chuck Parsons. Ben Thompson was a remarkable man, and few Texans can claim to have crowded more excitement, danger,drama, and tragedy into their lives

      • THC PORVENIR MASSACRE HISTORICAL MARKER GOES TO THE FOUNDRY
        09/15/18
        Its been a long time coming but the Porvenir massacre THC marker is on its way to the foundry to be cast!



        TO: INTERESTED PARTIES

        FROM: MARK WOLFE

        DATE: SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

        RE: PORVENIR MASSACRE HISTORICAL MARKER

        The Texas Histori

    • August
      • CAPTAIN JACK HELM: A VICTIM OF TEXAS RECONSTRUCTION VIOLENCE
        08/28/18


        The University of North Texas Press recently published "Captain Jack Helm: A Victim of Texas Reconstruction Violence" by Chuck Parsons. Parsons has authored a number of good Texas histories/biographies including, "Captain John R. Hughes: Lone Star Ranger", "Texas

    • July
    • June
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
      • GRAHAM BARNETT: A DANGEROUS MAN
        12/05/17


        The University of North Texas Press has published a new book titled, "Graham Barnett: A Dangerous Man" written by James L. Coffey, Russell M. Drake and John T. Barnett. This book is the absorbing story of an early twentieth-century west Texas lawman who earned a fearsome reputa

    • March
      • EAVESDROPPING ON TEXAS HISTORY: A RIMROCK PRESS REVIEW
        03/03/17

        The University of North Texas Press recently published a thought-provoking new book titled “Eavesdropping on Texas History”, ISBN #9781574416879, 342 pages. Editor Mary L. Sheer posed an intriguing question to fifteen recognized Texas historians by asking, “At what point in Texas history

  • 2016
    • September
      • TRANS-PECOS PIPELINE THREATENS BIG BEND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
        09/07/16

        PHOTO BY JESSICA LUTZ

        PHOTO BY JESSICA LUTZ

        While many know about the Trans-Pecos Pipeline project in the Big Bend few realize that it is poised to destroy untold numbers of archeological sites in its path. Just as Energy Transfer Partners have shown their disregard for s

    • May
      • BOB ALEXANDER’S WHISKEY RIVER RANGER
        05/03/16

        Captain Frank Jones, a famed Texas Ranger, said of his company’s top sergeant, Baz Outlaw (1854-1894), “A man of unusual courage and coolness and in a close place is worth two or three ordinary men.” Another old time Texas Ranger declared that Baz Outlaw “was one of the worst and most

    • April
      • DID THE CAVALRY MASSACRE CIVILIANS ON THE BORDER?
        04/12/16
        John MacCormack wrote an excellent article on our archaeological work at Porvenir for the San Antonio Express. The Associated Press picked up the story and it ran in nearly a dozen newspapers nationwide! To read it click on the below link:

        http://newsok.com/article/feed/993031
        Also m

    • February
      • UNCOVERING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PORVENIR MASSACRE
        02/02/16
        My friend Lonn Taylor published an article in the Big Bend Sentinel about the Porvenir archaeological dig titled "Uncovering The Truth About The Porvenir Massacre".
        Read it at:
        http://bigbendnow.com/2016/01/the-rambling-boy-96/
        Thanks Lonn!
        Gj

      • A NEW LOOK AT THE PORVENIR MASSACRE
        02/02/16
        Marfa Public Radio recently did interviews and an article about the Porvenir Massacre archaeological investigation. Check it out at: http://marfapublicradio.org/blog/a-new-
        Be sure and click on the adobe acrobat best price audio link for the whole story.
        Many thanks to Tom Michael!
        Gj

  • 2015
    • December
      • PORVENIR MASSACRE ARCHAEOLOGY MOST REVEALING
        12/16/15
        Photo by Jessica Lutz

        One January night in 1918 a mass murder took place in far northwest Presidio County, Texas. It happened not far from a tiny, little known village called Porvenir. In Spanish, Porvenir means future however there was no future for the some 140 Mexicans living there at

      • BORDER CONTRABAND: A HISTORY OF SMUGGLING ACROSS THE RIO GRAND
        12/16/15


        Border Contraband: A History of Smuggling Across the Rio Grande By George T. Díaz (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2015, 228 pages, maps, illustrations, notes, bibliography, index, ISBN 978-0-292-76106-3, hardcover edition $45.00.)

        Professor George T. Díaz of Sam Houston

    • September
      • QUANAH PARKER'S STAR HOUSE
        09/05/15
        Check out this link for a short video about Quanah Parker's star house:
        http://www.voanews.com/content/comanche

        Gj

      • SAVING QUANAH PARKER'S STAR HOUSE
        09/04/15
        Dear Friends and Members of the Quanah Parker Trail:

        Please find below and attached information regarding the steps now being taken to address the deteriorating condition of Quanah Parker's "Star House." Holle Humphries of the Quanah Parker Trail steering committee had for

    • May
      • NEW BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED: FINDING THE GREAT WESTERN TRAIL
        05/21/15
        Finding the Great Western Trail by Sylvia Gann Mahoney
        Foreword by Ray Klinginsmith

        History / American West

        Grover E. Murray Studies in the American Southwest

        6 x 9, 304 pages; index
        60 halftones; 12 maps
        $34.95 hc 978-0-89672-943-8
        E-book availab

    • January
      • A CONFEDERATE IN THE PAINT ROCK GRAVEYARD
        01/22/15

        ABOVE IS A PHOTO OF JAMES WYLIE RATCHFORD

        “Boys, I have done the best I could for you. Go home now. And if you make as good citizens as you have soldiers, you will do well. I shall always be proud of you. Goodbye. And God bless you all."

        Robert E. Lee

  • 2014
    • August
      • WHY TROOPS OR MILITA ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER IS NOT A SOLUTION
        08/11/14
        I have lived along the west Texas Rio Grande border on and off for many years. During this time I did a fair amount of research and writing about Big Bend border history and as a historian I cannot ignore the lessons of the past. Today Mexico is at war with itself. A massive tide of refugees is repo

    • July
      • RIDING LUCIFER'S LINE: RANGER DEATHS ALONG THE TEXAS-MEXICAN BORDER
        07/12/14


        Bob Alexander’s "Riding Lucifer’s Line" is a well researched collection of twenty-five sketches about Texas Rangers who died by gunshot in the performance of their duties along the Texas-Mexican border between the years 1875-1921. Writing from the knowledgeable perspective

    • May
      • THE HARNESS MAKER'S DREAM: NATHAN KALLISON AND THE RISE OF SOUTH TEXAS
        05/07/14


        Nick Kotz ‘ latest book “The Harness Maker’s Dream: Nathan Kallison and the Rise of South Texas” is a well-written and carefully researched piece of Texas history. Kotz tells the story of his uncle, Nathan Allison, born in the Ukrane, who left his native homeland and braved consi

    • April
      • COMANCHE CHIEF QUANAH PARKER CAME TO THE BIG BEND SEEKING PEYOTE
        04/10/14


        According to Fort Davis historian Barry Scobee, Comanche Chief Quanah Parker showed up in Fort Davis in the last part of the nineteenth century. As Quanah put it, he came in search of “the gift-of-God cactus to lighten the Red man’s burden”. Accompanied by Chief Rising Star and se

    • March
      • CATTLE AND DUDES: A FAMILY HISTORY OF THE PRUDE RANCH NOW AN EBOOK AT AMAZON
        03/21/14



        In 1897 Andrew Prude purchased three sections of land located not far from Fort Davis establishing the A. G. Prude Ranch. Soon he and his wife Ora moved into a small log cabin on their new property. In 1900 Andrew completed a wooden frame house for his family and in 1902 added 1257

      • DORWARD DRUG HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATION
        03/07/14


        David Dorward arrived in Borden County in 1892. He was born December 15, 1872 in Burleson County Texas to David and Anna Dorward. In 1893 David began working as a wagon cook for the Square and Compass Ranch. A year later he went to work for the Magnolia Land and Cattle Company. In 1901 D

    • February
      • LITTLE KNOWN HISTORY OF THE TEXAS BIG BEND NOW AN E-BOOK!
        02/13/14

        I am most pleased to announce my book "Little Known History Of The Texas Big Bend: Documented Chronicles From Cabeza De Vaca To The Era Of Pancho Villa" is now available in an E-Book edition at Amazon.

        For more information go to:
        http://www.amazon.com/Little-Known-Hi

  • 2013
    • September
      • BLOG READERSHIP SETS NEW RECORD
        09/09/13
        Some ten years ago when I first got the idea to do an online blog about Texas history I had no idea how many folks might be interested in such a focus. Last month Glenn’s Texas History Blog set a new record for readership. According to my latest site analytics in August, 38,764 readers worldwide

    • August
      • IPHONE TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKER APP
        08/27/13
        On Wednesday, August 14, 2013, 08:48 PM, Sanjay Nasta wrote:

        I thought your readers might be interested in the Texas Historical Marker App for the iPhone. The Texas Historical Landmarks app gives you access to detailed historical information to over 14,000 historical markers designated by

      • HISTORY AT HEREFORD
        08/27/13


        Dear Friends and Members of the West Texas Historical Association (WTHA)

        It is not often that we have news that needs to be sent forward by itself owing to its importance. Many of us who love history and are involved in this association and others like it occasionally rue the

    • June
      • BIG SPRING HERALD NOW ONLINE
        06/10/13

        The Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library (SWC/SCL) at Texas Tech University announces the availability of the Big Spring Herald online at http://collections.swco.ttu.edu/. In a cooperative project between the Howard County Library and the SWC/SCL, the newspaper is available to any

    • May
      • FUNDING FOR TEXAS STATE ARCHIVES AND RECORDS COMMISSION
        05/15/13
        Dear Friends and Members of the Association:

        Please find a message below from one of our members asking for assistance in lobbying to have sufficient budget for the Texas State Archives and Records Commission to properly preserve official digital documents. Apparently, the welfare of dig

    • February
      • A BRIEF CHRONICLE OF PRESIDIO DEL NORTE: HOMELAND OF THE JUMANO
        02/27/13


        A Brief Chronicle of Presidio del Norte: Homeland of the Jumano is a book about the La Junta de los Rios region that became known as, Presidio del Norte which includes a large portion of West Texas as well as Northeastern Chihuahua and Northwestern Coahuila, Mexico. The book includes no

      • COYAME: A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN SETTLER
        02/07/13


        I just finished reading a new book; "Coyame A History Of The American Settler" by Dr. Francisco Javier Morales Natera. Although this is a first book for Dr. Morales who is an optometrist presently living in Andrews, it is a most interesting regional history and one that very mu

  • 2012
    • August
      • BEN KILPATRICK'S LAST TRAIN RIDE TO BOOTHILL
        08/23/12


        I've always enjoyed high quality history documentaries. However it seems in recent years such a thing is getting more and more difficult to find. Left wing agendas have pretty much taken over the National Geographic Channel and the History Channel is more likely to have stuff about

    • April
      • BALLINGER FRIEND PROJECT CELEBRATION
        04/06/12
        On April 29, 2012, a very special day will transpire! Special guests will travel short and long distances to be recognized while honoring our new Indian statue, "A Friend", and recognize the place on which he stands that has come to symbolize many things to a wide range of people. Come be

    • February
      • BALLINGER FRIEND PROJECT BECOMES REALITY
        02/16/12

        Two and a half years ago in May of 2011, after jumping off into the unknown with 75 sixth graders, a crazy notion of raising a large amount of money to purchase a ten foot tall new Indian, and the task of finding the perfect artist to bring the statue to life, WE DID IT!! My goal as

  • 2011
    • December
      • THE SPIRIT OF TEXAS: A NEW BOOK BY WINSTON MENZIES
        12/03/11


        In June of 1876, a young carpenter arrived in Galveston with nothing more than a chest of tools and a desire to find work in the burgeoning seaport city. His name was William Menzies. He was 21 years old, fiercely independent and determined to make his way in the world. Galveston was cle

    • November
      • ECTOR COUNTY, TEXAS: 125 YEARS OF HISTORY NOW AVAILABLE
        11/14/11


        Historical Publishing Network of San Antonio has just gone to press with "Ector County, Texas: 125 Years of History" by Glenn Justice. The book is available at Cactus Book Shop in San Angelo see www.cactusbookshop.com and online at www.rimrockpress.com just in time for pre-Chri

  • 2010
    • April
      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE REVISITED
        04/03/10
        The little foot bridge at Candelaria has been gone for some time now. Here is a very interesting Utube video update. Take a few minutes and check it out.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQqqnJt6Fjk

        Gj

    • March
    • February
      • ODESSA: COWTOWN TO BOOM TOWN 1881-1926
        02/04/10

        Photo by Jack Nolan of old Ector County Courthouse. Nolan came to Odessa in the mid-1920's where he operated a photo studio. In 1936 Nolan established the Odessa Daily News

        Under the hot July sun of 1881 a Texas and Pacific railroad construction crew pitched their tents at

    • January
      • WEST TEXAS YESTERDAYS-REMEMBERING BARNEY HUBBS
        01/23/10
        When Barney Hubbs came to Odessa in 1926 to start a newspaper most folks assumed he would go broke. After all, nobody in their right mind would try to get into the newspaper business in a little cow town populated by only 750 residents. Others had tried and failed. That same year, "Josh&qu

      • WISDOM FROM THE PAST
        01/22/10

        "If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must man be of learning from experience."

        Abraham Lincoln
        December 26, 1839
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        "If men could only lea

      • 100 GREAT MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
        01/15/10
        Lots of stuff on utube these days but I think anyone with an interest in history will like this. Thanks Amber!

        http://www.onlineschools.org/2009/11/18

        Gj

      • NATCHEZ INDIANS IN TEXAS?
        01/13/10
        Hello there,

        Dunno if this will lead to anything but who knows? I am writing from Luxembourg but my mothers family (Brown) is from Florida.

        I was wondering if there is any information about the Natchez native American tribe coming to / passing by / Brownsville Texas OR if there

  • 2009
    • December
      • TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKERS SUFFER NEGLECT AND VANDALISM
        12/02/09
        It is certainly not news that large numbers of Texas historical markers are in bad shape or in some cases missing due to years of neglect and vandalism. Any Texan with an interest in local and/or state history can probably attest to this fact because the problem is statewide and damaged markers can

    • October
      • MYSTERY PHOTO
        10/22/09


        We have a copy of an old journal laying around the WTHA office with a cover that has provoked conversation over the years. The journal is "Studies in History" volume 1, 1971 and it was published by Texas Tech University History Graduate Students. The cover features a man sitt

      • NATE FULLER AND A. G. BEARD
        10/14/09


        Glenn,

        Because you've published items on Nate Fuller and A.G. Beard in your blog over the past couple of years, I thought you might enjoy the attached photograph of Fuller (left) and Beard pretending (?) to slake their thirst in an undated picture. My nephew, Caleb who l

    • September
      • MY FRIEND ELMER KELTON
        09/19/09
        The evening before he passed away, I had my last conversation with Elmer. I had stopped for a visit with him at the care center where he'd been undergoing rehab for about two months. He was propped up in his hospital bed, and as he shook my hand, he admitted to being "a little tired&q

      • BALLINGER'S FRIEND TO RETURN
        09/02/09

        Palacine Indian North, courtesy of www.oklahomahistory.net<http://www.oklahomahistory.net>

        Palacine Station photo courtesy of Steven Harris, Ardmore, OK--collector of Palacine Indian Memorabilia

        Photo of Indian sculpture, courtesy of Cinnamon Carter

        In

    • August
      • ELMER KELTON, GREATEST WESTERN AUTHOR OF ALL TIME, PASSES ON
        08/23/09


        (August 22, 2009) The prolific and highly respected Texas author Elmer Steven Kelton died in his sleep early this morning in San Angelo at the age of eighty-three years. Elmer was born April 29, 1926 on the Five Wells Ranch east of Andrews to Buck and Beatrice Kelton. He graduated from C

    • July
      • HARRIS AND SADLER HAVE DONE IT AGAIN!
        07/29/09


        Charles H. Harris III and Louis R. Sadler have given us a history tour de force with their new book "The Secret War in El Paso: Mexican Revolutionary Intrigue, 1906-1920". Published by University of New Mexico Press, this recently released 488-page study is much more than simpl

      • PROFESSOR FRED RATHJEN PASSES
        07/21/09
        Dear WTHA Board members and friends,
        Tai (who is temporarily out of the office) has asked me to contact you and let you know that our esteemed friend and dear colleague Professor Fred Rathjen passed away, apparently of liver cancer, yesterday around 2pm. Member Christena Stephens passed the wor

      • JUDGE EDWIN H. FOWLKES
        07/10/09
        Hi,
        Can you tell me anything about Judge Edwin H. Fowlkes? He was a friend of John Prude's. He had a ranch and a home around Ft. Davis. He named one son after John Prude and another after Dr. Coleman. Any help would be appreciated.
        Thanks,
        Lynda

        Lynda,
        See:"

      • LACK OF HISPANIC HISTORY
        07/04/09
        On Saturday, July 4, 2009, 10:23 AM, Felix Boniulla Salmeron wrote:

        I am amased at the lack of history in the West Texas region. I am a desendent of the Benavidez-Ortiz-Bonilla families of the Van Hron, Valentine, Ruidoso, Ft Davis, Alpine Toya Kent areas. Muy Great Grandmother was born i

      • JOE SITTERS PHOTO
        07/03/09
        Hello,

        I am Joe Sitters great granddaughter, Sylvia. I would also like to receive a copy of the photo of my great grandfather.

        I would be more than happy to pay for any printing and shipping costs!

        Thank you for all you are doing!

        Sylvia Sitters

      • GRANDMOTHER JETTIE
        07/03/09
        On Friday, June 26, 2009, 04:48 PM, David Tiller wrote:

        Glenn,

        I am very interested in finding the grave site of my Great Grandmother Jettie Smith who was related to the Prude Family and lived in Ft. Davis until her death around 1988. I believe that she was buried in Marfa. I c

      • SAN CARLOS COAL MINE AND RIO GRANDE NORTHERN
        07/02/09
        On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 07:39 PM, Derrick Perrin wrote:

        I found your story on line about the old ranch and rail line near Valentine. Do you have any other information on the location. I love the history of the area and I am in search of stories about the area.

        Thanks
        De

    • June
      • PRUDE FAMILY UPDATES
        06/15/09


        I recently picked up and read your book Cattle and Dudes... a most enjoyable read. My reason for picking it up was because I am interested in John and Amanda Prude, so I found myself quickly turning to Chapter 4 and trying to learn more about this couple. The reason for my interest

    • May
      • FIRE IN THE SIERRA VIEJA
        05/14/09

        FIRE BURNS ON WESTWARD SLOPE OF SIERRA VIEJA

        LOW FLYING SINGLE ENGINE PLANE SCOUTING AND SPRAYING THE FIRE IN MUSGRAVE CANYON

        (Candelaria, Texas, 12p.m., 5-14-09) A large fire is presently still burning in the Sierra Vieja as aircraft continue to drop fire retardants thi

      • WAS LINCOLN DYING OF CANCER?
        05/05/09
        A recent book by John G. Sotos, M.D. poses some very interesting historical questions about the 16th President of the United States. In "The Physical Lincoln" published last year, Dr. Sotos suggests President Abraham Lincoln was suffering from terminal cancer and would have died from the d

    • April
      • MORE ON 1917 PRESIDIO SHOOT OUT
        04/04/09
        Thursday, February 28, 2008, 04:24 PM
        Glenn,

        I am researching some family oral history which occurred in Presidio, likely in the summer of 1917. I am looking for a newspaper/official account of this event. Can you suggest some directions/web sites?

        Regards,
        Hugh Fletc

    • March
      • DR. GERALD RAUN PASSES
        03/26/09


        Our dear friend and colleague Gerald Raun passed away March 25, 2009 in Alpine, Texas. He will be greatly missed. Services are to be announced later. Gerald Raun was born July 14, 1932 in Maryville, Missouri. After living in Lincoln, Nebraska, San Francisco, California and Tulsa, Oklahom

      • GRAY'S RANGERS, COMMENTS AND CAPTIONS
        03/08/09
        On Sunday, March 8, 2009, 09:34 PM, Monty Waters wrote:

        Thank you for posting the photo of Jerry Gray's Ranger Company. It has been reproduced many times in books, but not on the internet.

        The list below is from multiple sources. The first name is as it appears in the Adju

    • February
      • BIG BEND ARTIST AND WRITER KELLY PRUITT IS GONE
        02/25/09
        Kelly Pruitt died in Presidio last Sunday. For more click below. Gj

        http://www.alpineavalanche.com/articles

      • GERONIMO'S SKULL
        02/19/09
        Lots of us have probably heard about Yale's infamous Skull and Bones Society. Many important people are said to have been members of Skull and Bones including several former U. S. Presidents. The society is supposed to have a bizarre collection of skulls used in strange rituals. Rumors have lon

      • HARDCORE HISTORY
        02/05/09
        Dan Carlin is a 41-year-old Los Angeles radio talk show host and self described "amateur historian" who offers fresh and well thought out insight into how history is always a factor in today's world. He uses the new media of pod casting to bring his insightful views to the world with

    • January
      • BRITISH CITIZENS WANT THEIR GUNS BACK
        01/30/09
        Six years ago, it became illegal for British citizens to legally own a handgun. In the U.S. our Second Amendment rights are now in great peril. Take a few minutes to view this video and see what is happening in England today. Gj

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTq2NEUlhDE

      • TOM GARDNER
        01/24/09
        Hi: Was doing some research on Tom Gardner and found your comments. There is quite a bit of detail about Tom in DeArment's great book Alias Frank Canton, including a picture on page 87. You can search the book using google's book search option.I have an old note by another researcher sayin

      • TEXAS RANGER CAPTAIN JOHN R. HUGHES' LOST LOVE
        01/24/09
        Glenn
        After viewing your page about your various titles I thought I would ask you a question which no one else seems to know the answer, for sure.You are no doubt familiar with the story of John R. Hughes intending to marry a young woman . . . but she died of some disease prior to the wedding.

      • NEW BOOK: THE MILLINGTON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN PRESIDIO, TEXAS
        01/17/09


        On December 2, 1747, Spanish Captain Commander Joseph de Ydoiaga arrived at the Pueblo of San Cristobal after crossing the Rio Grande somewhere in the vicinity today's Presidio, Texas. Captain Ydoiaga, escorted by a contingent of militia and six Indian guides, came to San Cristobal

      • IMPORTANT NEW TEXAS HISTORY BOOK BY ROSS MCSWAIN
        01/14/09


        Anybody who thinks central Texas was not a dangerous and violent place to live following the Civil War needs to read Ross McSwain's fine new book, See No Evil, Speak No Evil: A History of Mob Violence In The Texas Heartland 1869-1904. This dark and disturbing part of Texas history h

      • PANCHO VILLA'S DEATH MASK
        01/01/09
        Here is an interesting story about Pancho Villa's death mask from the History Channel. I first saw the death mask on display at the Cavalry Museum outside El Paso in the 1980's. About this time, Texas Governor Bill Clements attempted to exchange the mask for the battle flag from the Alamo

  • 2008
    • December
      • UNBRIDLED COWBOY: JOSEPH B. FUSSELL by E. R. Fussell, Editor
        12/18/08


        Summary

        Unbridled Cowboy is a riveting firsthand account of a defiant hell-raiser in the wild and tumultuous American Southwest in the late 1800s. At the age of fourteen, Joe Fussell hopped trains to escape from school and the authority he scorned. Joe became a roving cowpunch

      • WALKER AND COMPANY SAN CARLOS TOKEN
        12/10/08
        On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 11:23 PM, JAMES KATTNER wrote:

        Glenn,

        Rick Albin is my friend, and he suggested that I should contact you on this. I have a Walker & Co. San Carlos, Texas token which through a great letterhead/letter copy (which I think you provided?), it was

      • DONNIE MEALS WINS ACCOLADE COMPETITION
        12/08/08
        San Antonio, Texas, 12/4/08 Donnie Meals of Edit Point Studios has won a prestigious Award of Excellence from The Accolade Competition. The award was given for Meals exciting documentary El Corrido: The Two Sides of the Story which explores the transformation of this historic art form and the effec

    • November
      • MORE ON NATHAN FULLER
        11/21/08


        On Friday, November 21, 2008, 09:41 AM, Monty Waters wrote:

        Gary Owen asked for more information on Nathan Fuller. I can supply some.

        He notes some confusion about Fuller's re-enlistment in May 1918. This occurred at the height of the Porvenir investigation and

      • EL CORRIDO, THE TWO SIDES OF THE SONG
        11/13/08


        Donnie Meals new documentary film "EL CORRIDO, THE TWO SIDES OF THE SONG" is simply outstanding and a definite must see for anyone interested in Mexican history or Mexico today. I have long been fascinated with corridos, those powerful Mexican ballads that so simply but effecti

      • TEXAS RANGER A.G. BEARD
        11/06/08
        It was very interesting for me to read Gary Owen's memories of Nate Fuller. One of the ranger's listed in his list of Ranger Company B, September 1917 is my grandfather A.G. Beard. Like Fuller, he enlisted in the rangers in May 1916 in the expansion of the force which followed the Glen S

      • THE SAN CARLOS COAL MINE AND THE RIO GRANDE NORTHERN RAILWAY
        11/05/08

        ABOVE IS THE RIO GRANDE NORTHERN RAILWAY TUNNEL BLASTED THROUGH BRACKS CANYON IN 1895

        In May 1892, the San Carlos Coal Company leased and purchased some 54,000 acres of land in northwest Presidio County, Texas with the intention of mining coal. Because of the remote location of the

    • October
      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE STORY MAKES WALL STREET JOURNAL AND GERMAN FINANCIAL TIMES
        10/25/08
        The Candelaria bridge story is not dead yet. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about the bridge but can't give you a link since it is a subscription service. Also, this morning the German Financial Times published an article on the bridge titled "Frontier Culture Roughl

      • MORE GARDNER BOYS
        10/23/08
        Hi Glenn,

        Yes, I read the news article I have again and it stated that Herbert Cody Blake actually enlisted one of the uncles of the Gardner boys into the search. Blake even followed the treasure map. It would be nice to find those gold bars though!

        If I get enough information

      • GARDNER BOYS IN WEST TEXAS
        10/23/08
        Hi Glenn,

        I hope and believe that the Gardner boys are real, and just the fact that Blake mentioned, or the newspaper mentioned those old newspapers, it convinces me.
        I am not hunting treasure, don't have the time, patience, and money to do so. Herbert Cody Blake didn't sou

      • THE GARDNER BOYS LOST GOLD, HERBERT CODY BLAKE AND DOBIE
        10/17/08
        Hi, I am researching the Gardner gang. I found these outlaws mentioned in a 1928 Decatur, Illinois news article about Herbert Cody Blake, a former Wild West performer, hunting treasure buried by the bandits. Their treasure is legendary.

        According to the article, the Gardner boys had robbe

      • EXCELLENCE IN WEST TEXAS HISTORY FELLOWSHIPS
        10/16/08
        The West Texas Collection at Angelo State University in San Angelo has announced The Excellence in West Texas History Fellowship Program for 2009-2010. Applications are now being accepted for two fellowships of $40,000 each to be awarded in April 2009. Application deadline is February 27, 2009. Fell

    • September
      • NEW CACTUS BOOK SHOP WEB PAGE
        09/24/08
        Felton Cochran, owner and operator of the Cactus Book Shop, has just put on line a fine new web page at www.cactusbookshop.com/. Felton specializes in books on Texas and the Southwest. While small, Cactus Book Shop stocks a truly exceptional inventory of Texas books in downtown San Angelo, Texas. In

      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE ARTICLE IN TEXAS MONTHLY
        09/18/08
        Texas Monthly has just published an article by Katy Vine in their October issue about the Candelaria bridge. Check it out at:

        http://www.texasmonthly.com/2008-10-01/

        Also, be sure to view the Nat Stone video interviews with Abel Tellez and Johnnie Chambers at:

        http:/

      • LONG TIME BIG BEND TEACHER AND MERCHANT PASSES
        09/17/08


        Celia Ann (Smith) Hill owner and operator of the La Junta General Store in Ruidosa, Texas is no longer with us. She died September 10, 2008 following a short illness. Born May 25, 1928 to Harris Seymore and Winnie Donald Smith, Celia Ann grew up on her parents ranch located on the west s

      • CASAS BOOK COMMENT
        09/08/08
        -Felton Cochran, my good friend and associate at one of our few remaining independent book shops, Cactus Book Shop in lovely old San Angelo, Texas: greetings. I read your criticism of Federico Villalba's Texas: A Mexican Pioneer's Life in the Big Bend by Juan M. Casas on Glenn Justice

    • August
      • ANDY CLOUD NEW CBBS DIRECTOR
        08/27/08
        Its official, William A. (Andy) Cloud is the new director of the Center For Big Bend Studies http://www.sulross.edu/cbbs/ at Sul Ross in Alpine. The center could not have found a more qualified and experienced new leader; Andy knows his Big Bend archaeology. He holds a B.A. in Archaeological Studie

      • Preface: Why Heroes and Heroines?
        08/25/08
        I came to Mexico in 1994 to accept a job teaching English literature, History, and Composition in English (the latter, basically a course in writing the so-called "college essay,") at the Facultad de Filosofia Y Letras, a discipline within the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua at Chihuahua

      • CHICO CANO
        08/24/08
        On Sunday, August 24, 2008, 02:32 AM, Domingo Garcia Cano wrote:

        Chico Cano was my great grandfather and he was who the Rangers were looking for when they got to Porvenir,Texas. I visited the masscare site during a family reunion in Van Horn, and all the bodies of the victims were buried

      • FEDERICO VILLALBA'S TEXAS: BOOK DISCUSSION
        08/13/08
        Having posted my review of the new Casas book I invite open discussion of the work here on the blog. I did not see the manuscript and based my analysis of the book after it went to press. A recent review of the manuscript by Jim Glendinning says that Casas overstates racial prejudice in South Brewst

      • FEDERICO VILLALBA'S TEXAS: A RIMROCK PRESS REVIEW
        08/13/08
        Iron Mountain Press has just published an attention-grabbing new book titled Federico Villalba's Texas: A Mexican Pioneer's Life in the Big Bend by Juan Manual Casas. Casas begins his absorbing account of the Villalba family with the arrival in present Mexico of a Spanish ancestor, Lt. G

    • July
      • THE MURDER TRIAL AND KILLING OF HOD ROBERSON
        07/31/08
        Some still think of H. L. (Hod) Roberson as an exemplary Texas Ranger who met his death while quietly sitting in a chair in 1923. Even today, the Officer Down Memorial Page remembers Roberson as a law enforcement hero with no mention of his dubious past.

        See:

        http://www.odmp.

      • THE 1915 SHOOTING DEATHS OF HENRY FOOTE BOYKIN AND WALTER SITTERS
        07/30/08
        Hi Glenn,

        While researching the burial location of my great-grandfather, Henry Foote Boykin, I came across your website listing his obituary in 1915. Since my grandfather, Henry Foote Boykin, Jr., was only three years old when his father was killed, he never could tell me a lot about his

      • TEXAS STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION PORTAL
        07/26/08
        Check out the future of Texas history at the Texas State Historical Association on line portal:

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qap4uIOWUA

        Gj

      • TEXAS HISTORY ON LINE
        07/26/08
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlDx9n4wFb0

        There are more and more excellent Texas history sites on line. I will be posting some of the best as I locate them. Note: These videos may require a high speed connection. If they won't load, sorry. Take a minute and look at University of No

      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE ARTICLE BY ROSS MCSWAIN
        07/17/08
        Here is an article about the Candelaria bridge by Ross McSwain published in the San Angelo Standard-Times:

        http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/ju

        Gj

      • CANDELARIA R.I.P.
        07/17/08
        Borderstories.org has posted an article about the Border Patrol removal of the Candelaria footbridge. See it at:

        http://www.borderstories.org/blog/?p=41

        Gj

      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE ARTICLE FROM TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS REVIEW
        07/16/08
        Check out the article from Texas Civil Rights Review about the Border Patrol removal of the Candelaria bridge. Gj

        http://texascivilrightsreview.org/phpnu

      • VILLA TURNS ATTENTION TO OJINAGA AND CAPTURES THE BORDER TOWN: A 1966 PEN FROM THE PAST BY ROSS MCSWAIN
        07/12/08


        Pancho Villa, well supplied after taking Juarez in mid-November 1913, sent three brigades of about 3,000 men to attack Ojinaga and entrap a long time foe, Gen. Luis Terrazas, who was trying to escape to the United States with gold bullion believed to be valued at $2 million.

        T

      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE VIDEO
        07/11/08
        Check out this Candelaria bridge video just posted on utube from Drlabash:

      • SENORA VILLA SAYS OF PANCHO: POOR PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO LOVE HIM. A PEN FROM THE PAST BY ROSS MCSWAIN
        07/10/08



        In mid-October 1965, a new mayor took office in Ojinaga, just across the river from Presidio. A gala fiesta was planned for the change in municipal officials. Dignitaries from all over the state of Chihuahua were on hand for the event.

        But probably the most important per

    • June
      • FLOODING IN THE SIERRA VIEJA
        06/30/08

        UPPER WALKER CREEK

        UPPER WALKER CREEK

        UPPER WALKER CREEK

        UPPER WALKER CREEK

        CAPOTE CREEK

        CAPOTE CREEK

        In the last 24 hours some 2 inches of rain has fallen in Candelaria and the ranches to the north in the Sierra Vieja. Walker C

      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE IS GONE: ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL
        06/24/08

        ABOVE IS THE BRIDGE ON 3-22-08
        PHOTO BY GLENN JUSTICE


        ABOVE IS FORMER BRIDGE SITE ON 3-24-08
        PHOTO BY GLENN JUSTICE




        PHOTO COURTESY CLARA LONG@BORDER STORIES.ORG
        PHOTO BY GLENN JUSTICE


        Yesterday after I posted the

      • CANDELARIA FOOTBRIDGE STILL HERE
        06/24/08

        PHOTO BY GLENN JUSTICE

        PHOTO BY GLENN JUSTICE

        PHOTO COURTESY CLARA LONG@BORDERSTORIES.ORG





        The old Candelaria bridge is still here. It spans a muddy trickle some five-foot wide in an almost dry arroyo. It's hot in the Presidio Valley

      • FLAGS TEXAS CONFEDERATES CARRIED INTO BATTLE
        06/15/08


        Above are four Texas Confederate battle flags from the Texas State Archives.

        Truth is, the thousands of fine, brave Texans who fought and died in the Civil War did not fly the red, white and blue stars and bars of the south into battle. They did not fight to keep their slaves

      • TEXAS BIG BEND CEMETERIES
        06/15/08


        Glenn Willeford and Gerald Raun have done an insightful study of Big Bend cemeteries. Their "Cemeteries and Funerary Practices in the Big Bend of Texas, 1850 to the Present" is 240 pages packed full of out of the ordinary tidbits of information that genealogists or anyo

      • NEW BOOK BIG BEND HISTORY BOOK BY JOHN CASAS
        06/13/08
        John Casas
        Five years ago I undertook a project that, like a time machine, catapulted me back to the Trojan War, then to our subsequent ancestral home in Italy, and, via Spain and Mexico, to the Big Bend of Texas.

        Initially, my intention was to put together a primer for the immediate

      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE ISSUE RESPONSE FROM MARTIN LUJAN-CHEIF OF STAFF FOR TEXAS REPRENSATIVE PETE GALLEGO
        06/10/08
        Mr. Justice:

        Thank you for the information. While I was not aware of this, Mr.
        Gallego may be. Regardless, I will distribute this to everyone in our
        office so that it is on our radar.

        Thanks again.

        Martin

        -----Original Message-----
        From: edi

      • BIG BEND RADIO ON THE INTERNET
        06/07/08
        Have just learned that you can now hear Big Bend radio live on the internet at bigbendradio.com during scheduled times. There you will find the voice of the last frontier broadcasting KVLF and KALP feeds from their studio at Kokernot Field in Alpine. They have Big Bend news, sports and weather and t

      • J. J.'s FLOWER BLOOMS AGAIN: A 1919 PEN FROM THE PAST
        06/06/08

        Above is James Judson Kilpatrick Sr. known in later years as the "King of Candelaria".



        Above is Darwin Dawkins Kilpatrick, son of J.J. Sr. Dawkins or D.D. served as a scout for the last American punitive expedition into Mexico in August 1919. He operated the Ca

      • ALWAYS THE MONEY
        06/05/08
        Glenn, I have one question. Are the children that are not going to be able to get a ride on the bus to school living in the USA? If not, who is paying the taxes to fund the school that they are attending? If they are living in Mexico, why are they going to school in the US? Lacy

        Roy,
      • HOW TO USE THE BLOG
        06/03/08
        There is a great deal of information here on the blog. To access information, you may simply scroll down to find the history and Mexican border news articles but since there is so much here this can be tedious. A to get a better idea of what is here, click on archives then when the next archives pag

      • PORVENIR BRIDGE NEXT ON BORDER PATROL LIST TO BE REMOVED
        06/01/08


        According to the latest reports, the little footbridge shown above at the Porvenir/Pilares crossing of the Rio Grande is next on the Border Patrol removal list. The Border Patrol is requesting landowners on the Texas side tear the bridge down. Below is landowner Fred Nelan's respons

    • May
      • HISTORY REPEATS AGAIN AT CANDELARIA
        05/31/08
        Once again it is happening at Candelaria. Nothing-new when innocent law abiding folks come under the gun of politically motivated military style repression. Fear and intimidation is always the common element and the bad guys end up smiling. This comes as no surprise to those of us who study and inte

      • CANDELARIA FOOTBRIDGE PHOTOS FROM CLARA LONG OF BORDERSTORIES.ORG
        05/28/08
        The below photos of the Candelaria footbridge have been graciously provided from Clara Long for Borderstories.org. Thanks Clara! Gj

      • TO BLAME INDIVIDUAL BORDER PATROL AGENTS MISLEADING
        05/27/08
        Some blame individual United States Border Patrol agents for the recent order to destroy the Candelaria, Texas, footbridge across the Rio Grande. This may be misleading. The removal order probably came through a maze of bureaucratic channels before reaching the desk of Sector Chief Smietana at Marf

      • U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION SENDS CANDELARIA BRIDGE REMOVAL ORDER TO WRONG LANDOWNER
        05/25/08
        In a strange turn of events Chief Patrol Agent John J. Smietana, Jr. of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on May 20th. Fed Exed the following letter demanding Fred Nelan of the Coal Mine Ranch tear down or block the Candelaria footbridge in 60 days. While Fred is an owner of the Coal Mine Ranch

      • LAJITAS CLOSING OF THE CROSSING, WILL THE SAME HAPPEN AT CANDELARIA?
        05/24/08
        Some years ago, the Border Patrol closed the Lajitas crossing. The effects were terrible on the good and decent local people just across the river. Please take a look at the Borderstories.org film: http://borderstories.org/index.php/laji
        Gj

      • THE BRIDGE ISSUE FROM BORDERSTORIES.ORG
        05/24/08
        April 19, 2008 -- The footbridge between Candelaria, Texas and San Antonio del Bravo, Chihuahua may be one of the last "informal" crossings along the eastern U.S.-Mexico border.

        The two communities connected by the bridge, which crosses a diminutive Rio Grande on gapped wooden

      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE REMOVAL IS JUST WRONG!
        05/24/08
        Few outsiders really understand the impact of the Departmant of Homeland Security's order to tear down the Candelaria bridge. The only nearby medical clinic is at San Antonio del Bravo just across the river from Candelaria and the bridge is a vital link to many of us who never know when we need

      • OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN RODRIGUEZ
        05/23/08
        To Congressman Ciro Rodriguez: subject, the recent Homeland Security ordered dismantling of the suspension footbridge across Rio Grande at Candelaria, Texas, in Presidio County.

        Sir, we met at Rocksprings, Texas, a few months back when you graciously attended the homecoming for former E

      • CANDELARIA BRIDGE MAY SOON BE HISTORY
        05/23/08
        Recently the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the Candelaria owners demanding the little foot bridge across the Rio Grande be removed. Details are sketchy but the owners met with federal agents to discuss their concerns about tearing down the bridge. One report I have heard says that

      • PLEASE HELP GODE!
        05/20/08
        Gode Davis is a wonderfully talented filmmaker and writer. I have known him since 2002 when he contacted me about the Porvenir massacre and came to west Texas to film Juan Flores and document first hand that terrible day in 1918 at Porvenir. Gode is producing a documentary titled: "American Lyn

      • COOL OLD PHOTO
        05/19/08
        I can now post photos on the blog. My friend Billy Ray sent me the following photo. Its not Texas but a picture of Sheriff Hugh Porter (right) made in 1915 at the Log Saloon in Douglas, Arizona. Thanks Billy Roy! Also thanks to my web wizard Mike Middleton.

      • PORVENIR COMMENTS FROM AFGHANISTAN
        05/18/08
        Dear Glenn, 18 May 2008

        I am Jim Willeford, Glenn Willeford is my father. If we met years earlier, I hope you will forgive me for not remembering. Regardless, I have read your Porvenir article over and again; I find it and the accompanying photos fascinating.

        I first read of th

      • GODE DAVIS
        05/16/08
        Friday, May 16, 2008, 06:01 PM
        Hello everyone.I appreciate the fact that more ballistics have been recently found at the Porvenir Massacre site where I took a crew to film in 2002.

        I am starting to recover my health and would like to return to production and complete American Lynchin

      • GODE DAVIS AND THE JUAN FLORES INTERVIEW: AN UPDATE
        05/16/08
        Several years ago, documentary filmmaker Gode Davis videotaped an interview with Juan Flores, the last living survivor of the Porvenir massacre. Davis has written and produced a number of films over more than 20 years including The Nature of Biology; Winter: The Saint Paul-Sapporo Connection: The Pa

      • BLOG ARCHIVES SEARCH
        05/12/08
        Glenn's Texas History Blog contains many archived articles and book reviews. If you wish to search the archive simply type your topic into the search box. Example, if you are interested in articles on Porvenir simply type Porvenir in the search box and the archived articles will come up. Gj

      • A MEXICAN PIONEER'S LIFE IN THE BIG BEND
        05/10/08
        I read your piece on the Porvenir Massacre with great interest. You see my great-grandfather was Federico Villalba (1858-1933) who, at the time of the killings, had a Warrant of Authority from the Texas Rangers. Federico's 20,000 acre Rancho Barras was located in Burro Mesa. When word got back

      • YESTERDAY'S BIG BEND NEWS: BORDER CROSSED AFTER BANDITS
        05/05/08
        U.S. CAVALRY AND AIRMEN HUNT BANDITS

        San Antonio Evening News-Tuesday-August 19, 1919. "American cavalrymen and airplanes crossed the border at Candelaria, Texas this morning at daybreak in pursuit of the Mexican bandits who kidnapped Lieutenants H. G. Peterson and Paul H. Davis, Uni

      • YESTERDAY'S BIG BEND NEWS: MEXICANS KILL TWO TEXANS IN AMBUSH
        05/04/08
        The Galveston Daily, May 27-1915. "A Texas ranger and a river guard have been ambushed and killed by Mexicans near Pilares, on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, according to official advices received today by Adjutant General Hutchings from Marfa, Texas. Ranger Winfield F. Hulen, brother of fo

    • April
    • February
      • YESTERDAY'S BIG BEND NEWS: FUNERALS OF ROBERTSON'S (SIC) TWO VICTUMS HELD AT SIERRA BLANCA
        02/28/08
        El Paso Herald January 19, 1915. Sierra Blanca, Texas. "The body of H. F. Boykin, who was killed by H. L. Robertson at an early hour Saturday morning, was interred in the Sierra Blanca cemetery at 2:30 p.m. Monday. The casket and grave were beautifully decorated with flowers. Relatives from el

      • 1917 PRESIDIO SHOOT OUT
        02/28/08
        Glenn,

        I am researching some family oral history which occurred in Presidio, likely in the summer of 1917. I am looking for a newspaper/official account of this event. Can you suggest some directions/web sites?

        Regards,
        Hugh Fletcher
        hfletcher@yahoo.com

        In

      • DIAS y OCHO ARMY CAMP
        02/10/08
        Hi Glenn,

        What information can you give me about Dias y Ocho Army camp?
        All I have is one paragraph from the Electric Coop article. Also the church on the Rio Grande. North of Porvenir.
        Octaviano's place.


        James Lopez

        James,

        Also known

      • JOE SITTERS GRANDAUGHTER
        02/10/08
        Hello,

        My name is McKenna Apodaca and I am the Great Great Grand Daughter of Ranger Joe Sitters. I am nine years old, and I have just finished reading a chapter about Joe Sitters in Mike Cox's book about Texas Rangers. My father and I decided to search my GG Grandfathers name and you

  • 2007
    • November
      • HISTORY BOOK PUBLISHING PITFALLS
        11/25/07
        Hello Mr. Justice,

        Saw your website and decided to send you an email.

        It's possible we have crossed paths at the West Texas Historical Assoc. meetings?

        Like yourself, I am also very interested in West Texas history.
        Currently I am serving on the Board of Di

      • POSTCARDS OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION
        11/25/07
        In going over my father's library we found a stack of post-cards stuffed in a small binder. They were postcards of scenes of the conflict with Villa at Columbus and other locations. The cards are in fair condition. Not great, and show some gristly scenes as well
        as scenes of troop trains e

    • October
      • MORE VIOLA PETTUS
        10/28/07
        Mr. Fain, as Glenn Justice reminds us, more needs to be done on the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918 in the Big Bend region of Texas. At present, Dr. Paul Wright at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, may be the best resource for obtaining new information. Wright's research into birth

      • VIOLA PETTUS AND THE SPANISH FLU EPIDEMIC OF 1918
        10/21/07
        Glenn -- I really like your blog. I am looking for background on a woman named Viola Pettus who is known locally as having been the "nurse" at the influenza quarantine tent city just south of Marathon during the 1918 outbreak of "Spanish flu". Her husband Ben was a well-known cow

      • THE TEXAS RANGER KILLING SEASON
        10/18/07
        Examples of ineptitude and injustices perpetrated by individual Texas Rangers (TR) as well as entire units are not uncommon throughout the history of Texas, even up the present day. UT historian W. P. Webb, generally considered an apologist for the TR service, criticized TR activities back to the 18

    • September
      • T.O. RANCH RACE HORSES
        09/25/07
        Hello, Glenn ~ I am trying to identify 2 unused real photo postcards (circa 1910) that feature beautiful horses ("Flambeau" on one, "Resultal" on the other) with their trainers. The horses' names and "T.O. Ranch" were handwritten on the negatives before the photos

      • A COLD BLOODED KILLER WITH A TEXAS RANGER BADGE
        09/06/07
        H. O. (sic) Robertson is the person responsible for the murder of my grandfather, Rodrigo Barragan and his friend, Febronio Calanche. Robertson was a cold blooded killer, worked the border as a river rider, was deputized as a Texas Ranger and when his friend, Joe Sitter was killed, he took revenged

    • August
      • LEWIS GARDNER: SOUTH TEXAS GUNFIGHTER
        08/30/07
        I am researching my mysterious ancestor named Lewis Gardner. He was born c. 1810 SC, migrated to GA where he married, fathered children, and farmed. He then migrated to MS where he owned a farm. His wife divorced him and he went to Texas after the Civil War. Lewis lived in Houston County for a time

      • MORE SENOR LUNA
        08/24/07

        On Friday, August 24, 2007, 03:42 PM, Gary Owen wrote:

        Since the last post, I have done a little more thinking about what I remember of those episodes. Senor Luna was a somewhat enigmatic chap, dis-appearing for long stretches, and then suddenly reappearing, often to the accompanime

      • PRESIDIO IN TIMES GONE BY
        08/21/07
        Here is more from Gary Owen remembering his days in the 1960's with the Border Patrol. Gj


        All this remembrance of Nate Fuller and my time in Presidio has made me think of many things I saw in that time 40 years ago.There were many interesting characters in residence in Presidio

      • MORE BORDER BANDITS
        08/19/07
        This just came from Kirby Warnock about his Border Bandits film. Gj

        Just a note that we've been invited to screen BORDER BANDITS at some
        theaters in Texas in September. We'll be in Austin, San Antonio and Mission
        September 13-15.
        All details are on our Web site at

      • QUANAH AT HOTEL LIMPIA
        08/19/07
        Here is an email question from Rolando Romo
        about Quanah Parker coming to the Big Bend to buy peyote.

        I am a history graduate student at Texas A&M International University and I am working on a thesis of John Richard Parker, Uncle to Quanah Parker.

        I came across an i

      • WOODY GUTHRIE AND PAMPA
        08/16/07
        I just finished reading Joe Klein's insightful book titled "Woody Guthrie: A Life" published by Dell Publishing. It is not a new work but simply the most definitive book I have found about the life the legendary folksong writer and political activist Woody Guthrie. Klein's volume

      • MORE ON NATE FULLER FROM GARY
        08/08/07
        "In my comments on the photo in"Chronicles of the Big Bend",I referred to it as Company "B"in 1918,and it is so identified in the caption.I believe this to be an error,as I have the same photo from the Moody Texas ranger library identifying it as a photo of company "A&q

      • TEXAS RANGER NATHAN "NATE" FULLER
        08/08/07
        I read your post about the passing of the last witness to the Porvenir massacre with great interest. My own life was touched in a small way by those tragic and desperate times. I was a border patrolman for a short time (1966-67) stationed in Presidio. I got to know an old Texas Ranger named Nate Ful

    • June
      • BORDER BARRIERS ON WRONG SIDE
        06/30/07
        According to the Associated Press, some 1 miles of recently constructed border barriers near Columbus, New Mexico will have to be removed because they were mistakenly placed on the Mexican side of the border. It could cost as much as $35 million to correct the mistake. In March, U.S. officials disco

      • THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS
        06/23/07
        It seems that the fabled Yellow Rose of Texas may have actually existed and the story has some truth to it. At least according to Kent Biffle of the Dallas Morning News that is. For those not familiar with the story of the Yellow Rose, she was a "Mulatta girl" by the name of Emily who ke

      • YESTERDAY'S BIG BEND NEWS: CAPTAIN JOHN R. HUGHES
        06/22/07
        January 5, 1947. El Paso Times. Captain John R. Hughes, whose life as a Texas Ranger in the gun-toting days sounds like a movie scenario and earned him the title of "Border Boss" was found dead today at the age of 92 Tuesday night in Austin, Texas, a bullet through the roof of his mouth. J

      • A SHOT IN THE DARK
        06/22/07
        Hello Mr Justice,

        I am writing to you as a shot in the dark. I was told a story by and uncle years ago regarding my grandfather(Jose Valdez) and how he and his brother(Mercedes Valdez) were reunited after many years. They were separated after their mother's death and did not have kno

    • May
      • BORDER BARRIERS
        05/10/07
        According to the Associated Press, some 200 miles of steel vehicle barriers resembling those built by the Nazis on the beaches of Normandy during World War II are being constructed in Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Park. The steel barriers are designed to block roads used by drug

    • April
      • HIGH TECH VIRTUAL BORDER WALL
        04/29/07
        According to U.S. Border Patrol chief David Agular, a new high tech virtual wall will soon be operating along the U.S. Mexican border. The pricey new system manufactured by the Boeing Company will be composed of hundreds of interconnected 98 foot tall mobile towers that contain ground sensing radar,

    • March
      • CHISOS MINING COMPANY CAMP
        03/07/07
        Whatever happened to the town of Chisos, Texas, and the quicksilver mine? My grandfather used to work there about 1914-1920 or so. Are there any book on the area.
        Thanks
        George R Brown

        George,
        The Chisos Mining Company Camp was located at Terlingua in Brewster County. See

    • February
      • THE BURRO LADY HAS PASSED
        02/03/07
        I can't tell you how many times I have driven by the Burro Lady in the Big Bend over the years. You would see here everywhere in the Big Bend along side the road with her burro and big hat. Sometimes she would be camped out but mostly always seemed to be on the move. I even remember seeing her

      • PORVENIR MASSACRE
        02/02/07
        In January 1918 a heavily armed group of Texas Rangers, ranchmen and members a troop of U.S. Cavalry descended upon the tiny community of Porvenir, Texas on the Mexican border in western Presidio County. After rounding up the inhabitants of the village and searching their homes, the vigilantes

      • HARRY RANSOM CENTER
        02/01/07
        The Harry Ransom Center located on the University of Texas Austin campus is celebrating its first fifty years of existence this year. The Ransom Center is a remarkable facility filled with countless thousands of historical treasures ranging from one of five Gutenberg Bibles in the world to the first

    • January
      • RETURN: THE PARKER STORY
        01/18/07
        Eleven years after Neeley's fine study of Quanah Parker comes Jack K. Selden's "Return: The Parker Story". Published by Clacton Press, this 311 page hardcover book, ISBN-13:978-0-9659898-2-4, details the story of the Parker family, the kidnapping of Quanah's mother, Cynthia

      • YESTERDAY'S BIG BEND NEWS: VILLA MARCHES ON OJINAGA IN 1913
        01/10/07
        SALAZAR AND OROZCO WILL RESIST ATTACK BY REBELS

        "PRESIDIO, TEXAS (Via United States Army Telephone to Marfa) Special Wire to the El Paso Times, December 9, 1913, 12 Midnight. It is generally believed here that the federals expect and attack here and are preparing to resist."
      • WHERE WAS THE OCHOA MARKER?
        01/10/07
        On Tuesday, January 9, 2007, 05:52 PM, John Smith wrote:

        "From where was the marker moved? Looking at the aerial maps it appears that the road was moved when it was paved effectively placing the marker on the other side of FM 170. The USGS shows the marker correctly (presuming the gr

  • 2006
    • December
      • IT IS THE ANTONIO CARRASCO GANG
        12/29/06
        Here is an email that just came in from Lupe Rodriguez:

        "Per the query below a Contreras gang was stealing silver from the Shafter mine. According to an article originally published in Old West magazine Vol. 34 (Summer 1998): 10-14, it was the Antonio Carrasco gang. Which is correc

      • A CONSIDERABLE STRETCH
        12/29/06
        I received the following email raising the question of whether the Texas Rangers were created "for the sole purpose" of annihilating the Comanche Indians.

        Bubba (sir_onion<at>yahoo.com)
        Thursday, December 28, 2006, 09:46 PM
        A review on Amazon quoted below...
      • THE LAST COMANCHE CHIEF
        12/24/06
        I just finished reading with great enjoyment "The Last Comanche Chief: The Life And Times Of Quanah Parker" by Bill Neeley. This 276-page book, ISBN 0-471-16076-8, is well written and Neeley's first class research using an abundance of primary source documents makes it a fine study of

      • THE CHINATI MUMMY
        12/21/06
        In the 1960's a group of artifact hunters explored a cave located a few miles from Chinati Peak in western Presidio County and made a remarkable discovery. Using flashlights, the men climbed through the cave entrance into a large rock shelter filled with ancient Native American artifacts. On th

      • EXPERIENCE THAT WHICH YOU WRITE ABOUT: SOME BIG BEND HISTORIOGRAPHY
        12/09/06

        Any successful novelist worth his salt understands the value of first hand experience in writing. Who wants to read a historical novel or any novel without the ring of truth? There are many exceptions. Science fiction writers must rely entirely on their creative minds to produce a saleable wo

      • THE HANDBOOK OF TEXAS
        12/08/06
        In the 1980's, I had the great privilege of working as a staff writer for the Handbook Of Texas published by the Texas State Historical Association. This massive encyclopedia of Texas history is anything but a handbook. The print edition contains more than 23,000 articles on the people, places

      • THE STORY OF QUANNAH PARKER'S MOTHER
        12/03/06
        Clacton Press in Palestine, Texas has just published an appealing new book about Comanche Chief Quanna Parker's mother. "Return: The Parker Story" by Jack Selden, is 328 pages and looks to be a fine contribution to Texas history by telling the story of Cynthia Ann Parker in detail for

    • November
      • THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
        11/30/06
        "A people who do not hold in reverence the splendid achievements of their ancestors will not of themselves accomplish anything to be remembered of posterity. We must keep an eye on the shrines of yesterday if we would rock aright the cradles of tomorrow."

        Texas Governor Pat Morr

      • STATE LAND OFFICE RAISING MONEY TO PRESERVE HISTORIC TEXAS MAPS
        11/30/06
        Old maps are such an invaluable historic resource. They offer a way for us to look back in time and see Texas past through the eyes of those who lived in those days. The folks at the Texas General Land Office in Austin work hard to restore and preserve thousands of old maps and make fine reproductio

      • WAS OCHOA MENDOZA'S LA NAVIDAD EN LAS CRUCES?
        11/21/06
        In the 1930's the Texas Historical Commission placed a granite historical marker at the abandoned Presidio County community of Ochoa. Ochoa is located about ten miles north of Presidio, Texas on F. M. 170. Historians have long postulated that this could be the approximate location of a Spanish

      • JAMES HINDS
        11/14/06
        James Edward Hinds of Ruidosa, Texas left this world quite suddenly for adventures beyond on Wednesday, November 8, 2006. James was born January 29, 1941 to Edward Granison Hinds and Lucille Holcomb Hinds in Brownwood, Texas.

        His life was a culmination of adventures that most p

      • TEXAS NEWSPAPERS
        11/04/06
        If you are like me and enjoy keeping up with news in Texas from local newspapers check out: http://www.newsbystate.com/texas.htm. Gj

      • GRAHAM BARNETT, FATHER AND SHOOTIST OF THE BIG BEND
        11/03/06
        Those of you interested in Graham Barnett's story will not want to miss John Barnett and Jim Coffey when they present their paper, "Graham Barnett: Husband, Father and Shootist of the Big Bend" at the CBBS Conference. Barnett and Coffey are scheduled Saturday morning, November 11th. a

    • October
      • A MURDER IN THE BIG BEND: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHN SIMPSON HOWARD
        10/25/06
        With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, John Simpson "Jack" Howard answered Teddy Roosevelt's call to arms by enlisting in the 1st U. S. Volunteer Cavalry at San Antonio, Texas. As a Rough Rider, Howard served with distinction in Cuba, taking an active part in the

    • September
    • August
      • T. O. RANCH
        08/31/06
        "I am in the process of researching a fairly well known Border character named Graham Barnett. At an early period (c. 1912-13) in his career he worked for the TO Ranch which was, I believe, about 50 miles west of Pilares. Do you have any information on the TO? There is some in the Joyce Me

      • WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?
        08/12/06
        I have been asked who are the men pictured at the top of my blog. On the left, standing in his Rough Rider uniform is John (Jack) Simpson Howard. Jack Howard fought in Cuba during the Spanish American War and was later appointed to the U. S. Customs Service by President Theodore Roosevelt. Mexic

      • YESTERDAY'S ODESSA NEWS
        08/12/06
        DEAD BANK ROBBER REWARD IS SCORED


        Austin, Texas, April 3, 1928 The New York Times. "The entire southwest is watching the more or less single-handed fight which Ranger Captain Frank A. Hamer is waging on the standing reward of $5,000 offered by the Texas Banker's A

      • THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
        08/12/06
        "I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past."

        Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

      • JOHN BEN SHEPPERD PAPERS
        08/09/06
        The extensive and insightful collection of former Texas Attorney General John Ben Shepperd's (1915-1990) personal papers are now available at the University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin in the J. Conrad Dunagan Library Special Collections. Shepperd was a personal friend and political advisor t

      • HISTORY OF THE CIRCLE DUG RANCH
        08/09/06
        For an online history of the Circle Dug Ranch see http://www.circledugranch.com/ and click on the history button at the bottom of the page. Gj

    • June
      • COMANCHE CHIEF QUANAH PARKER COMES TO THE BIG BEND IN SEARCH OF PEYOTE
        06/04/06
        According to Davis Mountains historian Barry Scobee, Comanche Chief Quanah Parker came to Fort Davis in 1894, as the Chief put it, in search of"the gift-of-God cactus to lighten the Red man's burden". Accompaned by Chief Rising Star and several other diginatries from the Indian

    • February
      • TEXAS RANGER CAPTAIN JOHN R. HUGHES
        02/16/06
        Glenn,
        A fellow sent me an e-mail today asking about Ranger Captain John R. Hughes. In particular,"his dealings in Shafter Texas at the turn of the century when the Contreras gang was known to have been stealing massive amounts of silver." I'm familiar with Captain John R. Hughes

  • 2005
    • November
      • NEW LITTLE KNOWN HISTORY EDITION NOW AVAILABLE
        11/01/05
        The new indexed edition of Little Known History Of The Texas Big Bend is now available through Rimrock Press. In addition to a comprehensive index, the new edition has updates throughout the book including the story of Juan Flores who narrowly survived the Porvenir Massacre in January 1918. Mr. Flor

    • October
      • YESTERDAY'S BIG BEND NEWS: KILPATRICKS AND PANCHO VILLA
        10/20/05
        KILLED AT CANDELARIA

        The New Era, Marfa, Texas February 22, 1912 "News was received at Marfa, on Tuesday that on February 12th, P. S. Boyd had been shot and killed at Candelaria by J.J. Kilpatrick Jr. An examining trial was heald at Marfa last week and Mr. Kilpatrick was released up

    • August
      • ADOBE WALLS: A RIMROCK PRESS REVIEW
        08/03/05
        Occasionally I run across a Texas history book that is an absolute pleasure to read and review. These exceptional books usually have in common two basic elements: first class research and good writing. "Adobe Walls: The History and Archeology of the 1874 Trading Post" ISBN 1-58544-176-7 p

      • HARRIS AND SADLER'S TEXAS RANGERS
        08/02/05
        Harris and Sadler's Texas Rangers: A Rimrock Press Review

        Walk into any Texas bookstore carrying Texana and you may well discover more books written about Texas Rangers than you really wanted to find in the first place. Happily, however, a new Ranger book by Charles H. Harris and Lo

    • July
      • OCHOA: FIRST SPANISH MISSION EAST OF THE RIO GRANDE ?
        07/11/05
        Presidio County has more than its share of abandoned communities. Little out of the way places that somehow prospered briefly before fading away. Some folks call them ghost towns and doubtless a sprit or two inhabit these places. Probably the oldest known abandoned historic community in the western

    • June
      • AMERICAN LYNCHING AND THE PORVENIR MASSACRE
        06/27/05
        I recently received the following email from Gode Davis, director of the film "American Lynching". This is a very worthwhile and important film that very much needs to be finished and its story made public. For more information check out Gode's website at: http://americanlynching.com

    • May
      • WARNOCK
        05/25/05
        Good stuff, Glenn. Glad to see you still kicking.
        Just an update: BORDER BANDITS aired on Texas PBS stations on May 16 and pulled a good audience. We now have the documentary available on DVD. Go to our web site, www.borderbanditsmovie.com to order online, or send in a check.

        You sa