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Monday, January 14, 2019

African American Cowboys: An Important Part of America’s History by Shirleen Davies

After the civil war, many freed African Americans looked west for a better life. While white and black cowboys worked well together on the range with so much to do, African American cowhands were usually given the less pleasant tasks such as night watches, fording the streams first to test the waters, and horse breaking. Breaking wild horses was difficult and dangerous work, which often involved big falls, broken bones, torn ligaments, and even having your lungs pulled loose from the chest wall because of the horse’s violent bucking.  

African American Texas Cowboys
Making their days more difficult, living in town involved segregation for African American cowboys. They weren't allowed in most saloons and those that did let them in forced them to stay at one end of the bar.
Even so, many African American’s became western heroes. In some cases, famous outlaws. Here are just a few of the famous African American cowboys who shaped the west.


Bass Reeves
Bass Reeves was the first black U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi River. He was an impressive figure in a big cowboy hat, and boots polished to a gleaming shine. He always rode a large white stallion and had two Colt pistols in his gun belt, butt forward for a fast draw. Ambidextrous, he seldom missed his mark. Reeves was also a master of disguises, sometimes appearing as a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger, or outlaw.
Reeves earned his place in history as the most successful lawman in Indian Territory, arresting more than 3,000 outlaws. Many believe the classic Lone Ranger character was based on him.
Addison Jones’ unparalleled skills at breaking wild broncos were legendary. Whenever he showed up at a roundup, everyone was relieved, since he could top off horses other cowboys feared. Unlike most cowhands whose bodies couldn’t hold up to the punishment after 30, Jones was still breaking high-spirited horses until his early 70s.
Jones was a great all-around cowboy, who could best most men in all areas: bronc riding, roping, and cattle driving. He is mentioned in memoirs by cattlemen and cowhands who worked with him as one of the greatest cowboys in Texas and New Mexico.
Cherokee Bill Goldsby
Cherokee Bill Goldsby, the son of a Cherokee mother and an African-American “Buffalo Soldier” was one of the roughest, toughest, meanest outlaws in the west. He had to flee his hometown at 18 after he shot a man for beating up his younger brother. Bill was sure he’d killed him, though the man recovered. Cherokee Bill fled to the Creek and Seminole territory, where he joined up with outlaws Jim and Bill Cook.
The authorities tracked them down and in a shoot-out, that followed, Bill killed lawman Sequoyah Houston, then escaped. His sister Maud hid Bill until he shot her husband when he saw him beat her.
He rejoined the Cook brothers and robbed banks and trains across Oklahoma, shooting anyone who got in their way. The gang even held up the depot of the Missouri Pacific railroad, then rode hard for two hours to rob the railway agent in the next town over.
Cherokee Bill dodged the posse for a long time but was eventually captured and sentenced to death for the murder of an innocent bystander during the robbery of a General Store. However, a friend smuggled Bill a pistol in jail so he could break out. A gunfight with the guards was a standoff until they got another prisoner to negotiate Cherokee Bill’s surrender. Bill was hanged March 17, 1896. He’s buried in the Cherokee national cemetery in Oklahoma.

Robert Bob Lemmons
Robert Lemmons was one of the greatest mustangers of all time. Born a slave, he gained his freedom at seventeen at the end of the civil war. He moved to Dimmit County, Texas and started working for rancher, Duncan Lammons, who taught him about horses and gave Robert the surname of Lemmons.

No other cowboy equaled Lemmons skill and talent for catching mustangs, which were in high demand for roundups. Lemmons' method was to isolate himself from humans so he could infiltrate the heard and gain its trust. Then, by mounting the lead stallion, he took control of the herd, which followed him into a pen on a nearby ranch. At age twenty-two, he bought his own ranch and during his life he amassed 1,200 acres of land and impressive holdings of horses and cattle.  Later, Robert and his wife Barbarita Lemmons were fondly known as people who helped their neighbors during the Great Depression. 

Charlie Willis was a famed Texas bronco buster, cattle drover, and songwriter. He began breaking wild horses at the age of 18 and was a regular cattle drover along the famous Chisholm Trail. Today, Charlie is most well-known for writing the song “Good-bye, Old Paint” about his trusted horse on the Chisholm Trail. Charlie Willis lived to a ripe old age and was buried in 1930 in the cemetery next to his property in Bartlett, Texas.
Bill Pickett Bull Dogger


Hendrick Arnold was a hero of the Republic of Texas as a guide and spy during the Texas Revolution. He emigrated from Mississippi with his parents, Daniel Arnold, a white man, and Rachel Arnold, a black woman, in the winter of 1826 to Stephen F. Austin's colony on the Brazos River. Arnold took part in the battle of Concepción and in the Siege of Bexar. Arnold also served as a spy. Posing as a runaway slave, he infiltrated the Mexican camps. Through information Arnold supplied, Sam Houston was able to keep tabs on Santa Anna. It’s believed that Arnold`s intelligence prompted Houston to change his battle plan, which resulted in Texas’ victory at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Bronco Sam
After the revolution, Arnold was rewarded for his service with land beside the Medina River, a few miles northwest of where Bandera is today, and he also operated a gristmill in San Antonio. Hendrick Arnold died in the cholera epidemic in Bexar County in 1849 and was buried on the banks of the Medina River.





Angel Peak, book 12, Redemption Mountain historical western romance series, includes a sub-plat set in the historic town of Austin. It is available in eBook and paperback.




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3 comments:

  1. A great piece acknowledging the work of Black cowboys. Thanks Shirleen and for the Redemption Mountain series...I'm on #11, Rogue Rapids, and enjoying the series very much.
    Arletta

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  2. Thank you for the information. Some of these men were new to me. Doris

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is so interesting! Thank you Shirleen!

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