Colorful Characters of the Old West

OLD WEST LEGENDS

Other Colorful Characters of the Old

Wild West

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There are literally hundreds of colorful characters in the Wild West that though they weren't an outlaw, or a lawman, trailblazer, or gunfighter, or other easily categorized figure, were still extremely interesting characters that deserve to be mentioned in our lists of Old West people.

Here, you'll find eccentrics, businessmen, poker players, ministers, entertainers, doctors, and more.

Though these many people may not have become icons of the American West, so often referred to in everything from history books to "dime novels," each and everyone of them had some interesting tale to tell.

From such colorful names as Poker Alice, to Potato Creek Johnny, Rawhide Jimmy, Levi Strauss, and others. Watch while this Old West List of Colorful Characters grows.

Rodeo Clown, 1940

Rodeo Clown, 1940, Lee Russell, Farm Security Administration.

Find Colorful Characters of the Wild West

Index of Colorful Characters:

Samuel Brannan (1819-1889) - One of the major capitalists of the California Gold Rush, Brannan was a Mormon newspaper publisher, store owner, and politician who became California's first millionaire.

Wayne Brazel (1876-1915?) - A stockman in New Mexico, Brazel allegedly killed Pat Garrett in 1908.

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) (1835-1910) - The best known author during the days of the Old West.

James Joshua Dolan (1848-1898) - One of the primary instigators of New Mexico's Lincoln County War, James Dolan attempted to control the economy of Lincoln County in the 1870s. He led the Murphy-Dolan faction and was suspected of riding with the posse that killed John Tunstall. He was charged with the murder of H.J. Chapman on February 18, 1879, but nothing came of it.

George Donner (1786?-1847) - One of the leaders of the infamous Donner Party, his group would become trapped in the early winter snows of the Sierra Nevada. Many died and some of the emigrants resorted to cannibalism. George died at his camp in the Alder Creek Valley in Nevada County, California in March 1847.

Camillus Sydney “Buck” Fly (18??-1901) – Best known for his photography of the Geronimo's surrender in 1886, Fly was living and working in Tombstone during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He also served as the sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona for two years.

Albert Jennings Fountain - Soldier, lawyer, and politician, the mystery surrounding Albert Jennings Fountain’s disappearance in the deserts of southern New Mexico has puzzled lawmen and historians for more than a century.

Joseph F. Glidden (1813-1906) - The inventor of the barbed wire widely used in the west.

Jack Langrishe (18??-1895) - A native of New York, Jack (John) S. Langrishe, an actor, impresario, and production manager, operated theatres throughout the West, including Deadwood, South Dakota,

Denver, Colorado, and and another in Helena, Montana.

James Wilson Marshall (1810-1885) - Discovered gold in California in 1848 at John Sutter's Mill in Coloma, the area around which quickly became Coloma, California. His discovery started the California Gold Rush.

Lucien B. Maxwell - (1818-1875) - The owner of the largest land grant in U.S. History, a friend of Kit Carson, and a frontier scout and guide, Maxwell, who has been called the "Emporer of the Old West," died in poverty in New Mexico.

Peter Maxwell (1848-1898) - The only son of New Mexico land baron, Lucien B. Maxwell, Peter was living at Fort Sumner during the reign of Billy the Kid and it was at his home that the Kid was shot by Pat Garrett in 1881.

Alexander McSween (1843?-1878) - A lawyer in Lincoln County, New Mexico, McSween, along with partner, John Tunstall, opened a rival store in Lincoln, vying for the business that had been controlled by the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking. After Tunstall was murdered in February, 1878, it ignited the Lincoln County War. On July 19, 1878, McSween and his supporters, including Billy the Kid, were besieged by their opponents in McSween's house. His home was set on fire and several people were shot dead as they came out of the house, including an unarmed Alexander McSween.

Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872) - Creator of a single wire telegraph system, co-inventor of the Morse Code, and painter of portraits and historic scenes.

Lawrence Murphy (1831 or 1834-1878) - An Irishman who immigrated to the United States, Murphy was a Civil War Veteran, cattleman, and businessman, whose greed ultimately spawned New Mexico's Lincoln County War.

John Perrett, aka: Potato Creek Johnny - One of Deadwood's most colorful characters, John Perrett, more often referred to as “Potato Creek Johnny,” is credited with finding one of the world’s largest gold nuggets. Though he never made his fortune, he did become a local attraction, in and of himself, up until the day he died at the age of 77 in February, 1943.

Frederic Remington (1861-1909) - An American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the American West.

William Penn Adair "Will" Rogers (1879-1935) - Cherokee-American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, Presidential candidate and actor.

Charles Marion Russell (1864-1926) - One of the great artists of the American West, Russell created more than 2,000 paintings of cowboys, Indians, and landscapes set in the Western United States, as well as bronze sculptures.

Joseph Smith (1805-1844) - Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more well known as the Mormons. He was one of the most charismatic and influential religious figures in American history.

Levi Strauss (1829-1902) - The inventor of Levi's, Strauss first sold them to California gold miners.

Granville Stuart (1834-1918) – Frontiersman, miner, Montana Land Baron, leader of the vigilante group called Stuart's Stranglers, author and more, Granville Stuart is recognized as a Montana pioneer and hero.

John Sutter (1803-1880) - The owner of the property where gold was first discovered in California, his land was taken over by prospectors. He ended up experiencing economic setback and went bankrupt.

Alice Ivers Tubbs; aka: Poker Alice (1851-1930) – Perhaps the best known female poker player in all of the Wild Old West, Alice Ivers Tubbs moved from mining camp to mining camp building her reputation as a superb gambler. After rambling through the West for years, she finally settled down in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where she died in Rapid City in 1930.

John Henry Tunstall (1853-1878) - An English cattleman in Lincoln County, New Mexico, Tunstall, along with partner, Alexander McSween, opened a rival store in Lincoln, vying for the business that had been controlled by the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking. Tunstall's rivals murdered him in February, 1878, igniting the Lincoln County War.

Frederick J. Turner (1861-1932) - Historian of the American West.

Mark Twain - See Samuel Clemens

Dr. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman - Among the first American settlers in the West, the Whitmans played an important role in opening the Oregon Trail, opening the Whitman Mission in 1836. They were killed in what is known as the Whitman Massacre.

Brigham Young - Leader of the Mormon movement to Utah, president of the church from 1847 to 1877, and the first governor of Utah. Young's legacy is varied, with praise for his many accomplishments and historical influence, as well as controversy, for a number of 19th century events, including the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Vintage Photographs of the Old West - From our personal Photo Print Shop, you can now order prints that provide dramatic glimpses into the rich heritage of the American West. From notorious outlaws, to Indian Chiefs, buffalo roaming the range, and pioneers on the trail, this varied collection grows daily.