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November 5, 2024
Frontier Times Museum holds Texas Ranger lecture
By Rebecca Norton
Executive Director, Frontier Times Museum
As part of their Veterans Day celebration, the Frontier Times Museum will welcome James McCrae to speak on the history of one of the most noteworthy Texas Rangers, Jim Gillett. McCrae, author of the recently published Concho Plains Battle: Texas Ranger Company Versus Mescalero Apache, will present this fascinating history on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m.
James Buchanan Gillett was born in Austin, on Nov. 4, 1856. By 1872, the family had moved to Lampasas. Gillett soon started working at the local ranches. In 1875, he went to Menard and joined the Texas Rangers. He served mainly in Kimble, Mason, Menard, Kerr, San Saba, Llano, Lampasas, Burnet and El Paso counties. In addition to dealing with cattle thieves and outlaws, the Texas Rangers were responsible for protecting settlers along the Texas frontier in skirmishes with the Native Texans. Gillett’s Texas Ranger company often fought with the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Indians.
In January of 1881, Gillett, as part of a company led by G. W. Baylor, participated in what is called the last fight between the Texas Rangers and the Indians. After pursuing a group of Apaches who had attacked a stagecoach, the Rangers surprised the Indian camp, killing six, capturing a woman and two children, and scattering the rest of the band into the mountains.
In December of 1881, after six years of service, Gillett resigned from the Rangers. He was appointed assistant city marshal of El Paso. In June of 1882, he became marshal of El Paso. Gillett had a reputation as a man without fear. He left the Marshal's Office in April 1885 to become a rancher, becoming the manager of the Estado Land and Cattle Company. He held this position for six years, resigning to begin ranching for himself in west Texas and New Mexico. Retiring from ranching in 1923, he moved to Marfa and helped organized the West Texas Historical Association.
In 1921, Gillett wrote and published his memoirs, Six years with the Texas Rangers. It has remained in print ever since. The book was condensed into a textbook in 1928 and was used in public schools for many years in at least seventeen states. He is an inductee in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.
McCrae is the former director of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation and has done extensive research on Jim Gillett. McCrae currently serves of the CEO of the LoneStar Heritage Foundation. This program is being presented by the foundation.
The LoneStar Heritage Foundation is dedicated to working with local heritage organizations, museums and history oriented centers, to assist them in the common goal of supporting and promoting the rich culture and history of Texas.
The presentation is offered with museum admission and refreshments will be served. The museum is located at 510 13th Street, Bandera, Texas.
James Buchanan Gillett was born in Austin, on Nov. 4, 1856. By 1872, the family had moved to Lampasas. Gillett soon started working at the local ranches. In 1875, he went to Menard and joined the Texas Rangers. He served mainly in Kimble, Mason, Menard, Kerr, San Saba, Llano, Lampasas, Burnet and El Paso counties. In addition to dealing with cattle thieves and outlaws, the Texas Rangers were responsible for protecting settlers along the Texas frontier in skirmishes with the Native Texans. Gillett’s Texas Ranger company often fought with the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Indians.
In January of 1881, Gillett, as part of a company led by G. W. Baylor, participated in what is called the last fight between the Texas Rangers and the Indians. After pursuing a group of Apaches who had attacked a stagecoach, the Rangers surprised the Indian camp, killing six, capturing a woman and two children, and scattering the rest of the band into the mountains.
In December of 1881, after six years of service, Gillett resigned from the Rangers. He was appointed assistant city marshal of El Paso. In June of 1882, he became marshal of El Paso. Gillett had a reputation as a man without fear. He left the Marshal's Office in April 1885 to become a rancher, becoming the manager of the Estado Land and Cattle Company. He held this position for six years, resigning to begin ranching for himself in west Texas and New Mexico. Retiring from ranching in 1923, he moved to Marfa and helped organized the West Texas Historical Association.
In 1921, Gillett wrote and published his memoirs, Six years with the Texas Rangers. It has remained in print ever since. The book was condensed into a textbook in 1928 and was used in public schools for many years in at least seventeen states. He is an inductee in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.
McCrae is the former director of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation and has done extensive research on Jim Gillett. McCrae currently serves of the CEO of the LoneStar Heritage Foundation. This program is being presented by the foundation.
The LoneStar Heritage Foundation is dedicated to working with local heritage organizations, museums and history oriented centers, to assist them in the common goal of supporting and promoting the rich culture and history of Texas.
The presentation is offered with museum admission and refreshments will be served. The museum is located at 510 13th Street, Bandera, Texas.