Chalkley Beeson

Chalkley McArtor Beeson
Chalkley Beeson, Dodge City, Kansas
Born	April 24, 1848(1848-04-24) Salem, Ohio, USA
Died	August 8, 1912(1912-08-08) (aged 64) Dodge City, Kansas, USA
Other names	Chalk
Occupation	Hunting Party Guide Cattle Rancher Musician Saloon Owner Sheriff of Dodge City Ford County state representative (1903-1908)
Known for	Owner of Long Branch Saloon of "Gunsmoke" fame
Spouse	Ida Gause
Children	Otero Beeson Merritt Beeson

Chalkley McArtor "Chalk" Beeson (April 24, 1848 – August 8, 1912) was a well known businessman, lawman, cattleman, saloon owner, manager and keeper of the Old West, best known as being one of the many owners of the famous Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas.

Biography

Originally from Salem, Ohio, Beeson was the seventh born child of Samuel and Martha Beeson. The family moved to Iowa, and at 19 Beeson left home, moving to Denver, Colorado. He worked, for a time, as a guide to buffalo hunters, with his clients including Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia, Phil Sheridan, and George Custer.

By the mid-1870s he was living in Dodge City, Kansas, becoming involved in many citizen organizations, and becoming wealthy in the cattle business. He married Ida Gause on July 17, 1876. He later, in 1878, became an owner of the Long Branch Saloon with partner William Harris, which led to his becoming associated with noted lawmen, outlaws, and gunmen of the time, to include Luke Short, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, James Masterson and Ed Masterson, Charlie Bassett and others. Under Beeson's leadership, the Long Branch Saloon boasted a 5-piece orchestra and Beeson also formed the Dodge City Cowboy Band which still exists today. Entertainment was a big part of the offerings at the Long Branch Saloon and today, a recreation of that entertainment (the Long Branch Variety Show) is presented in the reconstructed saloon at Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas. During this period he once helped to defuse a confrontation by convincing a group of cowboys led by noted gunman Clay Allison to leave town to prevent trouble. That incident was witnessed by well known Pinkerton Detective Charlie Siringo, who at the time was a young cowboy. Siringo later wrote an account of the event, discounting Wyatt Earp's claim, made years after Allison's death, that he had "backed Allison down".

Beeson served for two terms as the Ford County sheriff, serving from 1892 to 1896. His most notable accomplishment while serving as sheriff was when he and Deputy US Marshal, Tom Hueston,^[1] killed Doolin Dalton gang member Oliver "Ol" Yantis, on November 30, 1892. Deputy Marshal Hueston was later killed during the Battle of Ingalls, a shootout between US Marshals and other members of the gang. Beeson was later twice elected to the State Legislature. He has been said to have been one of the most respected members of Dodge City during its wildest times. Beeson died on August 12, 1912. His wife, Ida, lived until June 15, 1928.

References

1. ^ Deputy US Marshal Tom Hueston - Officer Down Memorial Page

External links

Biography portal

• Beeson, Steve, - "A Brief Biography of Chalkley Beeson" - (excerpt Beeson/Beason family) - Family History Center microfilm #1035659, Item #9
• Vertical File Biographies: Chalkley M. Beeson - Kansas State Historical Society
• Story of Chalkley Beeson’s participation in the Royal Buffalo Hunt of January, 1872 (extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans)
• The Long Branch Saloon - Boot Hill Museum
• Story of The Long Branch Saloon - Legends of America.com
• Story of the Dodge City Cow-Boy Band - American Brass Band
• Inductees - Dodge City Trail of Fame
• Chalkley Beeson at Find a Grave

Persondata
Name	Beeson, Chalkley
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 24, 1848
Place of birth	Salem, Ohio, USA
Date of death	August 8, 1912
Place of death	Dodge City, Kansas, USA