Bud Ballew - Gunfighter & Lawman of Oklahoma

OLD WEST LEGENDS

Bud Ballew - Gunfighter & Lawman of Oklahoma

<< Previous 1 2 Next >>

David Monticello "Bud" Ballew (1877-1922) - Though not nearly as well known as other Oklahoma lawmen, such as Heck Thomas or Bill Tilghman, Bud Ballew was just as colorful and respected as both a gunfighter and lawman.

Born David Monticello Ballew, to Bryant and Mary Turban Ballew in Fannin County, Texas in 1877, Ballew inherited his father's nickname "Bud" from an early age. When he was a young boy, he helped his father on the family ranch and became extremely adept as a horseman as well as handling firearms. While still more than a boy, Bud left the family in 1890 and made his way to the Ardmore area in Indian Territory. Three years later, his father and the rest of the family would follow him and also settle in the area. Bud started a small ranching operation and before long met a girl named Fannie Mariah Harper. The two married on April 17, 1901 and settled on his ranch at Lone Grove, Oklahoma.

By 1910, Bud had a stable ranching operation and the couple had two sons. In the Spring of 1914, his ranch was running so smoothly that he began to look around for something else to do.

Bud Ballew on the left, Sheriff Buck Garrett on the right.

By this time, the area was filled with oilfields and the rough characters that often worked in them. When Carter County Sheriff,

Buck Garrett offered him a job as a deputy sheriff, Bud accepted. For the next 12 years, Ballew would work as a lawman, as well as continuing his ranching operation, and also speculated in oil leases.

During this time, Bud was described as being 5'11" tall, stockily built, with a shock of curly red hair, and a hearty booming laugh. He was fond of the gambling dens and saloons, where he was often spied wearing a wide brimmed cowboy hat, high topped cowboy boots, a pistol on each hip, and a large diamond tie-tack. His cherubic looking face and ready laughter often belied his character. He feared no man and would be credited with killing as many as eight men over the next 12 years.

Ballew first made headlines on November 19, 1915 when he killed Pete Bynum who was in the middle of holding up a liquor joint in Wirt, Oklahoma. Catching Bynum in the act, Bud intervened, and Bynum shot him in the stomach. Ballew returned fire, and not only killed Bynum, but also a man named Alison, who was unlucky enough to be sleeping in an adjoining room. Though the bleeding was no doubt, profuse, Ballew's wound was not serious.

After Ballew had fully recovered, he was sent to arrest a wanted outlaw named Steve Talkington. However, when Talkington resisted arrest, Ballew shot and killed him. He was then sent to retrieve the commission from City Marshal Highnote of Wirt. However, Highnote had been fired and refused to vacate his position or hand over the reward. As a result, Ballew killed him too.

The next killing occurred when Deputy Ballew, along with fellow officer, Fred Williams were escorting a prisoner, a black man named James Perle on a train. Unfortunately, when the prisoner jumped from the train in an attempt to escape, both officers fired, and he was killed. In another incident, Ballew and a fellow officer were involved in a shooting with a man named Arch Campbell in an Ardmore barber shop.

On another occasion, Ballew saved

Buck Garrett's

life when the Sheriff was trying to apprehend two highway men who had robbed a man named

Jim Taliafero. As the bandits,

Charlie Thomas and Arthur "Dusty" Miller,

were fleeing east of Ardmore, Garrett

overtook the pair and a fight ensued between Thomas and Garrett

. As Dusty Mills circled the two men, trying to get a clean shot at the sheriff, Bud arrived.

Mills whirled on him, but a fraction of a second too late, as Bud shot first and the outlaw fell victim to his .45.

Ballew's most famous gunfight was with former U.S. Deputy Marshal Dow Braziel on January 31, 1919. The two apparently had a long standing feud because Buck Garrett and Bud Ballew had not enforced the Prohibition laws as aggressively as Braziel. Very early in the morning, Ardmore Chief of Police Les Segler met up with Bud Ballew in the east part of the city, where gunshots had been heard. After talking for a time, the two headed to the California Cafe, at the corner of Main and Mill Streets for breakfast. As the pair entered the cafe, they noticed Dow Braziel standing on the east side of room. Before they knew it, Braziel fired two shots at Bud Ballew. The deputy immediately returned fire, emptying his pistol and hitting Braziel six times, leaving Braziel dead on the floor. Bud was then arrested by the Police Chief, taken to the police station, and later transferred to the county jail. However, Chief Segler made a formal statement as to the facts and Bud was released.

Though there were numerous headlines during Ballew's career, it would be the Clara Smith case that would popularize both Buck Garrett and Bud Ballew across the country. On November 21, 1920 Ardmore oil king and potential political power, Jake L. Hamon, stumbled into Hardy Sanitarium with a gunshot wound.

Dow Braziel was shot and killed by Bud Ballew on Juanuary 31, 1919.

The prominent oil king claimed he had been cleaning a gun when it went off. He died six days later. Despite the fact that the incident had occurred in a very small town north of the Red River, it gained national attention because Hamon was not only a rich oilman, but also a Republican National committeeman and was slated for a post in President Warren Harding's cabinet.

Continued Next Page

<< Previous 1 2 Next >>

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Old West Books - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected a number of Old West books for our frontier enthusiasts. For many of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click HERE!