Index       << Previous  A  B  C  D  E-G  H  I-J  K  L  M  N-O  P-Q  R S-U  V-Z  Next >>

David C. McCanles (18??-1861) - McCanles owned the property upon which the Rock Creek Station sat on the Oregon Trail in Nebraska. On July 12, 1861, McCanles would be shot and killed by Bill Hickok, giving rise to Wild Bill's frontier legend and labeling the entire affair as the "McCanles Massacre." McCanles bought the Rock Creek property when he was on his way to the Colorado gold fields in the spring of 1859. However, after meeting a number of miners who were returning from Colorado with nothing in their pockets other than disappointment, he decided to take up “road ranching” instead. There are a number of variations on the tale of McCanles' killing, which are still in debate today. His "outlaw" persona comes from Hickok, who said he was a ruthless killer her lead a vicious the vicious McCanles Gang throughout the region. However, other versions of the tale say that while he was the local bully, and perhaps an unethical businessman, he was not an outlaw. In any event, McCanles, along with at least two other men, were shot and killed by Bill Hickok after an altercation at the ranch. More ...

David C. McCanles

Find an Outlaw

In what has since forever been known as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton made the mistake of cocking their pistols when approached by the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. It is not really known who fired the first shot, but Doc’s bullet was the first to hit home, tearing through Frank McLaury’s belly and sending McLaury’s own shot wild through Wyatt’s coat-tail. The 30-second shootout left three Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury dead. Virgil Earp took a shot to the leg and Morgan suffered a shoulder wound. Frank and Tom McLaury are both buried at Tombstone's Boothill.

Tom McLaury (1853-1881) - The tenth of eleven children, McLaury was born in Korthright, New York on June 30, 1853. Two years later the family moved to Iowa where they settled in Belle Plaine. In 1878, Tom, along with his brother, Frank, moved to Hereford, Arizona and met the Clanton family. Three years later they would find themselves embroiled in the bitter dispute between the Clantons and the Earps in Tombstone , Arizona. On October 26, 1881, during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Tom McLaury shot Morgan Earp in the shoulder. Doc Holliday instantly countered, blowing McLaury away with blasts from both barrels of his shotgun. His brother, Frank, was also killed in the gunfight. Both are buried at Tombstone's Boothill.

James "Jim" P. Miller, aka: "Deacon" Miller (1866-1909) - Miller, born in Arkansas in 1866, was seemingly one of those "bad seeds" almost from the beginning. When he was still very young, he was orphaned and sent to live with his grandparents in Coryell County, Texas. When Miller was 8, his grandparents were murdered, and the boy was arrested for the crime. However, he was not prosecuted because of his age and was then sent to live his sister. Never getting along with her husband, John Coop, he shot and killed him when he was 18. Prosecuted and convicted, he won the case on appeal and was acquitted. He soon hooked up with an outlaw gang in Saba County, Texas, robbing trains and stagecoaches, and often killing in the process.

Though his reputation wasn't stellar, Miller also served briefly as a deputy sheriff and a Texas Ranger. Though Miller wasn't known for being "fast" with a gun, he was known as a mean hombre and by the late 1880's he was working as a gun for hire. During this time he is thought committed eight murders in his new line of work, as well as being involved in another six killings in saloon disputes. In April, 1909, Miller, along with three other men by the names of Jesse West, Joe Allen, and Berry B. Burrell, were arrested for the killing of Oklahoma rancher Gus Bobbitt and taken to the Ada, Oklahoma jail. Though it was well-known in the area that Miller and the others had killed Bobbitt in a murder-for-hire scheme, the evidence was not solid. Aware of this, a lynch mob of more than 150 men stormed the jail on April 19th, over powered the deputies and dragged the four men outside. All four were hanged in a livery stable behind the jail.

 From left to right: Jim Miller, Joe Allen, Berry Burrell, and Jesse West, hanged by vigilantes in Ada, Oklahoma, 1909.
This image available for photographic prints HERE!

McClelland "Clell" Miller (1850-1876) - Born on January 9, 1850, Miller grew up to be a member of Quantrill's Guerillas under "Bloody Bill" Anderson. After the Civil War, he joined the James-Younger Gang. He participated with the gang in several robberies including a Corydon, Iowa bank in 1871. In this heist, the outlaws made off with $40,000. Miller was captured and tried for the crime but was later acquitted. Continuing his outlaw ways, he was with the gang when they attempted to rob a Northfield, Minnesota bank on September 7, 1876. However, when citizens realized a robbery was in progress, they took up arms. When the smoke cleared, Clell Miller and William Stiles, aka: Bill Chadwell were dead. The remaining members of the gang fled. Though Frank and Jesse James were able to escape, Cole, Jim and Bob Younger were captured and sent to prison. Miller was first buried in a potter's field in Minnesota, but was later reinterred at the Muddy Fork Cemetery, north of the James farm in Kearney, Missouri.

Joaquin Murrieta was the leader of the Five Joaquins.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Free eNewsletter

Our eNewsletter features articles on the Old West, travel destinations, ghostly legends, and subscriber only specials from our Rocky Mountain General Store. Sent directly to your inbox, grab a cup of coffee and travel the historic paths of the American West. Sign up today!

Guestbook

We are so glad you came to visit us at Legends of America! Please, let us know what you think. Your feedback will make our website even better!