TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE...!! Question: What was the usual price of the .45-caliber 1873 Colt Peacemaker, the weapon that became known as 'the gun that won the West'..?    Answer is on this page......       Copyrights AzLHG...

 

 

          No photo available        No photo available                     
          James H. Travis          John H. Jackson              Burton C. Mossman       Thomas H. Rynning          Harry C. Wheeler
               1860 - 1861                  1882                               1901 - 1902                      1902 - 1907                      1907 - 1909

Gunfights, Prostitution, Cattle Rustling, Gambling....
You name  it and probable you could find it
 in the last part of the Old Wild West....
the Territory of Arizona
along came

The Provisional Governor Dr.Lewis S.Owings with James  Henry Tavis as their Captain first formed up the Arizona Territorial Rangers in April 1860, their Headquarter was in Pinos Altos. When Arizona joined the Confederacy, the men that formed the Arizona Rangers joined the Confederate Army, disbanding the rangers (for the first time).

After the Civil war the Territory of Arizona was not only having Indian problems but snowed under with crime and regular under attack from raiders crossing its eastern border from New Mexico and its Southern border from Mexico. Considering that this inhospitable and rough country was the last part of the Old Wild West it held great attractive power for rugged men, good and bad.

In  March 1882 Frederick A Tritle was installed as the sixth Arizona territorial Governor. He drafted two Executive letters addressed to John H. Jackson, the first authorizing the formation of the 1st Company of Arizona Rangers making Jackson the Captain and accepting the election off officers and men.
The second Executive letter to Captain Jackson assigned the official mission of the rangers to scout near the border of the territory for Indians, and those who commit the plain killings.
The Governor knew at the time he authorized the rangers that funds in the territory were an issue that he would have to address.
In May 1882 he went to Washington D.C to get Congress to approve funding needed to keep the rangers afield, but without real success.
In his last known letter he wrote to Captain Jackson that as long he got enough money remaining to have watch kept on there horses and equipment he hoped that the Captain would do so and that as long as the company exists it would preserve order.
And so it did as long as they could.
This ended the second period in the history of the Arizona Rangers.

In 1901, likewise the successful Texas Rangers, the Arizona Territorial Governor Murphy formed up the Arizona Rangers again and gave them the job of cleaning up and bringing back 'law and order' in his territory.
A friend of Governor Murphy, Burton C.Mossman, was perfect for this task and became a commissioned Captain of the Arizona Rangers on August 30, 1901 he selected his headquarters in Bisbee, Arizona. For personal reasons Mossman had an agreement with Murphy; he would take the post for one year and his first task would be to establish a group of tough lawmen.

                        (click on picture)
Under his command the Arizona Rangers rapidly became a group of 14 men, hard as a rock. One Captain, one Sergeant and twelve Rangers had to fulfill an almost impossible task.
Their Job?
Lawless areas of 114,06 square miles had to been cleaned and liberate their inhabitants from crime and criminals. There was a lot of work to be done for each of them.
It's also known that Mossman recruited many former Texas Rangers and returning soldier's noted for their famous charge up San-Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War.

Two other Captains, Tom Rynning and Harry Wheeler, took their turns commanding this rugged organization.
Tom Rynning was in 1902 the successor of Mossman and in 1907 Harry Wheeler became the third and last paid Captain of this Arizona Ranger's episode.
                          (click on picture)
Later on the Rangers were authorized in a total of 26 men. Still undermanned they fulfilled an almost not possible mission and in a scant seven years the territory was safe.
The rugged Arizona Rangers had to ride and fight hard to establish this goal and became rapid the reputation of being tough and pitiless. Most criminals had to think twice before they dare to confront them.
They arrested many and shot a few but they all have contributed into better times in Arizona. A total of 107 Territorial Rangers did their job in a few years and many men think that what they comprehended in that time frame was a greater effort than the results of the better-known Texas Rangers. .
By January 1909 politicians (the assembly) made headway with their anti-rangers attempts. February 15, 1909 the bill to abolish the Arizona Rangers was approved and sent to Governor Kibbey, who vetoed the bill and returned it. The assembly overrode the veto and abolished the organization.
On March 25, 1909 Captain Harry C. Wheeler was officially discharged.

So ended the Rangers of the Arizona Territory.
Or did it?

This was just a reduced history.
For more extensive historical information please visit the website
 of  The Arizona Rangers U.S.A. the present day Arizona Rangers.

With thanks to The Arizona Rangers and
The Arizona Territorial Rangers Reenactment Group
for provided information.

"Music MIDI file Arizona"

FACT:
The .45-caliber 1873 Peacemaker, which was made by Colt's Fire Arms
Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut, could be purchased
by mail order for $ 17.