John Gardner

Background

John E. Gardner was born in 1845 at Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. His father removed the family to Texas.

Career

The Gardner family were known as cowboys and Indian fighters. The Gardner brothers all worked as cowboys on the Texas frontier. Gardner stated in a short autobiography that he was involved in many fights with Mexicans and Indians, but held back thinking it would "sound fishy these days".

Gardner was said to have been a gunman with the Sam Bass Gang during the 1870s robbing stagecoaches in the Dakota Territory.

John Gardner was one of the first men to drive cattle into the Black Hills along with the Collins brothers and Sam Bass. lieutenant was said that Gardner was involved in the Big Springs train robbery with the gang.

Gardner later settled on a ranch in Maverick County, Texas. The Texas folk song, "John Gardner"s Trail Herd", described Gardner as a man who "would meet you on the square" and that he was the "biggest cow - thief" that ever roamed.

Gardner"s reputation as an outlaw is controversial, but he had been a Texas Ranger for three years.

A neighbor described him as "big" and "hairy", and man who was kind and never allowed anyone to run over him. John Gardner died in 1926 from natural causes in El Paso, Texas.

Achievements

• He was the father of Joe Gardner, a noted World Roping Champion.

Membership

lieutenant was often alleged that John Gardner was a member of the Sam Bass Gang.