Wyoming's Territorial Sheriffs
Ann Gorzalka
Outlaws’ names are remembered and recorded, but little is known or written of the men who were faced with upholding the law. Wyoming’s territorial sheriffs were courageous and handy with a gun and rope.
Nathaniel Boswell, T. Jeff Carr, and Jim Rankin were brave and colorful. Frank Canton lived on both sides of the law. Joseph Young was called a coward. Bill Jaycox left town without an explanation.
The majority of the men who enforced the law were average citizens who carried out the routine duties of office. Some served in a time of high adventure; some were not as brave as others; some drank too much; and others were escaping shadowy pasts; some rose to the occasion when faced with adversity. Others arranged to be out of town. As Gorzalka chronicles the life of each of the fifty-five sheriffs in Wyoming’s territorial days—their successes, failures, and motivation—the stories combine to create the era’s history. Includes photos of most of the sheriffs.
"Ann Gorzalka has not only preserved the history
of law enforcement of the Wyoming territory, but by her massive research,
her keen insights and judiciousness the reader will learn much about territorial
Wyoming in general. She has placed all of us interested in Wyoming history
perpetually in her debt."
•• Gene M. Gressley, old west historian & author
• 0-931271-38-x • trade paper • index • bibliography • 336
pp • photos • $14.95
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