Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-16
BROWN AND WHEELER.

The Caldwell Journal gives the fol-
lowing sketches of the lives of Brown
and Wheeler:
Henry Newton Brown is the only
one OF the band who has achieved any
notoriety as a desperate. He was ma
tive of Rolla, Phelps county, Missouri,
but at an early age left his home for the
west. He went first to Colorado, and
from there drifted into a cow camp in
northern Texas, where he killed a man
after firing three shots at him. He
shortly went into the band of the cele-
brated BILLY the Kid" and participant
ed In many of his most daring exploits.
In the Lincoln county war he was with
the Kid S party when they lay ambushed
for Sheriff Brady's party and killed him
and nearly all of his men. In the fall
OF 1878 he was at Tuscosa, Texas, with
the Kid with betweenS75 and 100 stolen
horses. In short time he went to
New Mexico and was employed as boss
of ranch, but owing to a shooting
scrape there he left for Texas, having
been among the number pardoned by
the governor of that state for participa-
tion in the Lincoln county war. He
was appointed deputy sheriff of Oldham
county by Capt. Willingham in 1880,
but only held the Office a short time,
when he started up the trail and came
to Caldwell. Bait Carr was then Mar
shal of this city, and having known
Brown as deputy sheriff in Texas, had
him appointed as his deputy marshal in
the summer of 1882. In the fall of that
year, Carr having resigned, he was ap-
pointed marshal, and has since held
that position, being re-appointed the
third time only four weeks ago. Since
in office he has killed two men. The
only fault found with him as an officer.
was that he was too ready to use his re-
volyer or Winchester. He had gained
the entire confidence of the people how
ever, and had conducted himself in such
a manner that the doors of society were
always open to him. He neither drank,
smoked, chewed nor gambled. In size
he was rather under the medium. but
compactly built, and such man as
would be supposed capable of great
physical endurance. He was very light
complexioned, blue eyes and light mus
tache. He was twenty six years old last
fall. He leaves relatives in Rolia, Mis-
souri,. and sister in Iowa. Only six
weeks ago he was married to most es-
timable young lady in this city, Miss
Alice NJ. Levagood.
Ben Robertson, alias Ben +. Burton.
alias Ben f. Wheeler, was native of
Rockdale, Milan county, Texas, where
he WAS born i'm 1854, and where he has a
number of relatives who are most estim-
able people. One of his brothers was at
one lime general land agent of the state
OF Texas. Wheeler, as he was known
here, left Texas about six years ago on
account of a shooting scrape in which
he severely wourded man. He went
to Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, where
he stayed for some time and then start
ed south again with cattle. At Indian
ola, Nebraska, he met Miss Alice NJ.
Wheeler. In November. 1871, they were
married under the name of Burton. at
her parents residence in that place.
where they lived happily together until
the next spring. He then left and came
to this place, where he was soon ap-
pointed deputy marshal. She came i'm
a few months, but he refused to keep
her here, and told her if she would 90
away he would support her. She stayed
away most of the time, but last winter
spent several weeks here. Her father
died last December, and she is left alone
to support her aged mother and one sis
ter, and also her eighteen months old
child. She is willing and anxious to
work for their support. and in her brave
resolution she will no doubt meet with
ready help from the kind hearted ladies
of this city.
OF Smith and Wesley little is known
other than that they were natives of
Texas, one of Vernon and the other of
Paris. Smith was employed on the T5
range, and had just been given charge
there. He was about % years of age.
Wesley has been employed on Tread
well & Clark's ranch all winter. and
when he left Sunday afternoon he stat
ed he was going to meet Smith In Kan.
sas. He was always considered hard
citizen, but good hand about the
ranch. lie always carried his six-shoot-
er, and never retired at night without
his Winchester was within his reach.
He was about so years old.
Wheeler is said to also have a wife
and four children in Texas, under the
name of Robertson.