Joel's wisdom

[Dave James]

THought that some wouldn't mind reading of my past a little.Just wish I still had the old photos like Range post.

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J.L. was my grandfather the only son of his mother Virginia, and the youngest son of 5. He grew up as a dirt farmer as he used to say,and it really upset off Grand Father George when he said it.. When he was five years old George started him off with his Colt's 44 cap and ball. grand dad said he loved those old pistols. The smoke and the smell and the solid ring when he hit the old saw blade in the back pasture. Due to a badly set broken left arm, he missed out on the little war as he called it{Spanish American} and WW-1, the next oldest my Uncle John went into the Army in WW-2 and served with Merrili's Marauders, as a sniper scout...

J.L. knowing that he couldn't get into the military took off from home at 16 with his best bud John Dale and went to Texas, where they worked several ranches as he said " honest to goodness cowboys", he swore he always packed a pair of Colts in his saddle bags both in 44-40 " Work better for shooting men, the rounds don't hang up when ya got to shuck them out"

Around the age of 18 he became a Stock Detective, for the Texas Stock man's assoc. He primarily worked western Texas along the New Mexico line, but did get called south from time to time.In the early years it was by horse back, and he continued to pack the Colt and a 95 Winchester carbine in 30-40 Krag,He spoke of gun battles with "border bandits" and cattle thief's,

One shooting he spoke about happened in the early evening,

He had been following one group who had borrowed a small herd of about 20 hertfords, for 3 days and had been waiting for them to herd up and settle down for the last night, he watched for the out rider, and then quietly slid up to him and butt stroked him as he took a ****, hog tied him and hobbled his horse and left him in the dirt, he slid over to the camp and placed himself behind and to the right on a slight rise,rolled a smoke and waited for them to finish their bacon and beans.

He said that as they stood around the fire warming them selfs , he announced himself and levered the 95, told them to throw out their weapons and lay on the ground,,they didn't and he shot the closest one, Through the head, the next two dropped to the ground,and he again order them to throw out their weapons,,some pleasantry's where exchange and he shot the second one.. where by the third man jump up and yelled "don't shoot me mister", He ended up taking the two back for trial and called the rancher and told him where the cattle where to be found..

Some time in his twenty's he returned to Kansas and took up playing Marshall, the last gun fight he was in ,, he claims was with the Dillinger gang,, {but I can't find any evidence of Dillinger in that area},

He got a call from the local operator and said that the bank was being robbed,he and the local deputy had been drinking coffee, so both went out like greased pigs he with his 95 and the deputy with a Savage 99, he stated that him and the deputy empty their rifles at the car and then went to pistols,,at this stage of his life he was carrying a 1911 38 Auto, he loved that pistol."Rounds go through them cars like hot butter"

The gang escaped but left most of the money behind, blood but no bodies to find as he put it.

J.L. was a tall man for his time at 6'5" and he carried the auto until he went into the ground,he suffered from an diseased spine that curved over at the time of his death he was 4' tall.

When I came along,he help train me,,he was very fond of El-Paso flower carved,border stamp leather holsters, and Lawrence shoulder rigs.

He more than granddad George instilled in me the use of sights on a weapon, he saw no need in practice up close," Every man I have kilt I done with the rifle",,HE was a VERY GOOD shot with the handgun, just didn't think it was a primary,,We practice shots from 50 yards and out drawing from the holster and firing,,this was the first 1911 I had ever seen up close and it had Colt's am-bi safeties on it, said it was a factory job,,WHY?? I don't know I never saw him shoot left handed due to his arm.But he did say he had used it that way,and would not discuss it further.
His draw was the same as the EU/ED type of move but he pushed his arm out and up to chest level before firing, He always fire 3 or 4 rounds each and every time he pulled it, "These here handguns aren't good stoppers D.J." "There're just incase"

He like George believed in giving a man time to screw up before closing in on them if you can,"Pick you time and place son" and always with the hand gun aimed for the chest, again Buckle to balls for up close.

"If'en your shooting,shoot don't yell or talk,man ain't going to hear ya any way" When shooting don't stop til he does and always press foreword.

The last time we went to see the "Col." J.L. went with us,and they had a grand ole time,talking about the border and such
__________________
"A shot never fired,is always a miss"
" Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam"

[Rusty]

Thanks Dave may he R.I.P.

[Steve Collins]

Dave, I didn't know you were over here too! That's what happens when I pay attention... It's good to see you, hope to read more of your stuff here. You've got a lot of knowledge to share...

[AJMD429]

Sounds like he lived back when men were allowed to be men.

[Blaine]

Not many of the Good Old Ones left......I surely hope we are growing some Good New Ones to take their place. I'll bet we are, it's just the good ones don't make the newspaper anymore, just the PC dummazzs.

[Dave James]

Great grand father was a Civil War Vet of the Union side and apon returning to Plevna Kansas went back to farming and Marshalling, as in Town not Federal.FOr awhile he carried the 44cal Black powder Army model with the barrels cut back to about 4", and later on when he went to smokeless pistols he prefered the big Colts, by the time my grand father and then my dad came along, he was working as a reserve Marshall and was carrying a pair of cut down New Service Colts one in 44-40 the other 38-40, both had the "Fitz" mods done, but where not done at the factory, must of been a local smith.

In the early years he covered ground by horse backand then Model A, T which ever was first, drove them until the wheels fell off, THe only car I remember him driving was a 52 Chevy 2 door and grand mother had a 36 Plymouth, Her family is the one that came out and settle in the Oklahoma Territory, and helped made the introductions to Mr.Bryce.

Granddad's last carry pistol was a S&W model 10 6" bbl carried in a Lawrence shoulder holster.

He was a quit man and had cold crystal blue eyes, and when pushed to the limit they would sparkle like diamonds.

When training started ,his hard and fast rule was new pull the gun unless you intend to kill something, this in his view included tin cans and such.

He taught me a little about tracking and along the way we discussed his "way"

When following a man give him breathing room, it allows mistakes, don't crowd him until your sure. When following at night on the dirt roads, look to the side ridges, they always for get to clear the prints from there.

Never trust a man if you can't see his hands, and even if you can watch the eyes.

His way of shooting was much as the ole western timers, single handed at arms lenght unless crowde d, he always stressed looking along the top of the bbl and aiming for the belt buckle,, if crowded push foreward and shoot as you go for the "buckle or balls"
When walking up to a house never come from the front,take your time and ease up to a window and peer inside,"Ole Statan maybe awaiting"

Never be afeared of "bulldog'en a man" ,and never fight fair thats for pansies and easter'ners.

Always use fresh ammo,in your fight'en guns, practice when you can, and never go any where with out.

He started me with the H&R break top 38S&W, grandmother sewed a leather pocket in my pants and we drew and fired from it until I could see stars. We worked up close no more than 10 feet away from things, cow patties, cans, rocks and when walking the farm snakes. He always had me shoot as much left handed as right. Jump shooting jack rabbits was another past time." Son you don't understand now,but some day this will save a life"

His favorite game was to close in on a rattler and try and out draw him, as he struck...{Not my cup of tea}

Never threathen a man,shoot him if you have to,kill when you do.
If the weather is bad keep a small gun close by, and your good hand on your big one.

Treat your weapons as you would a woman you love, and they will never let you down.
If your in the county by yourself on a call, always take your winchester
__________________
"A shot never fired,is always a miss"
" Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam"