The Coolidge examiner., 1935-08-09

% the old West. character In the drama of
the frontier who Is almost much myth as
maa.
Back In the days when Ned Buntllne. Col
Preutiss Ingraham and others OF the hang bang.
hang school % literature were turning out their
food OF paper-backed dime novels 20 thrill
Americas youth one of their fnvorite characters
"California Joe whom they built up as a
mystery man" But the California Joe" OF
dime novel fame and the Moses MIlner-seout~
who sleeps In the graveyard AT Fort Robinson
were and the same man.
Fortunately for bis future fame. a book which
has recently been published dispels the myths
and legends that have grown Up around bis name
and gives what is evidently the first complete
account of his amazing career. Tha, book is
California Joe written by Joe F. MIner. his
grandson. and Earle II. Forrest. and published
by the CaIton Printers. Ltd. OF Caldwell. Idaho.
IL Is based upon war department records and
the personal history Of the Milner family and
such Is valuable contribution TO authentic
literature Of the frontier.
California Joe's" full name was Moses En-
bree Miner. lie was born May s. lsca. near
Stamford. Ky. on the plantation OF his father.
Embree Armstead Miner. veteran Of the War
of 1872 whose father had served In the Revo-
luton. The frst Miners in America were two
brothers who emlgrated from Yorkshire England
70 Virginia. In 1853. From that time on mem.
hers OF the family were restless and westward
fafng pioneers. a fact which makes the career
OF their NEST famous member. California joe -
more understandable
Young Miner grew up IN land where SKIN
with the long rifle was paragraph one. chapter
one. In Its enforcement OF the law OF survival
% the httesf. SO II is not surprising to learn
that at the age OF twelve he killed his FIRST deer
and by the time he was fourteen he was one OF
the best shots In that part OF Kentucky. AT
this tender age also the wanderlust seized him
and the Odyssey OF California Joe began.
~one day In August. 1S43. he shouldered his
Kentucky rifle and. telling his parents that he
was going hunting for few days. started out
through the forest That was the last they saw
OF their son for five years: and then one day In
1SiS he appeared at their new home In Warren
county. Missouri. Embree Mlner having emlgrat-
ell to that state because Kentucky was getting
too thickly populated 10 suit him and he wanted
& little more elbow ROOM
In those five years the Kentucky boy grew
into efficient frontier manhood almost overnight
as 50 many OF the youngsters OF his time seem TO
have done Wandering westward he had reached
81. Louis. the first city he had ever seen AT
that time IL was the gateway TO the West and
headquarters OF the fur trade. There he Joined
party OF trappers route 10 Independence
where they outfitted themselves for hunting
and trapping trip up the Platte river. The next
spring they went 10 Fort Laramie TO sell their
peltries TO the American Fur company. owners
of that post
At Fort Laramie Miner Joined party OF trap
pers headed by the noted Tim Baker. which was
bound for the Yellowstone country. In a battle
with Blackfeet Indians the ffteen-yearold boy
killed his first Indian-three OF them In fact
One OF them he shot through the head at a dis
tsnce OF 400 yards. feat which won from Jim
Baker the prediction that There's a lad who
will have great name on the frontier some day
he keeps on Ike he did today a prediction
Baker lived 10 see come true.