1870 in the American Old West

"See also:"
1869 in the American Old West,
other events of 1870,
1871 in the American Old West and the
list of 'years in the American Old West'.

Events

*With the growing railroad industry and cattle boom, buffalo hunters begin moving onto the Great Plains. In less than ten years, the buffalo population are vastly reduced in numbers and remain an endangered species for much of the next century. cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/events/1870_1880.htm |title=New Perspectives on the West: Events in the West, 1870 to 1880 |accessdate= |author=Public Broadcasting Service |authorlink=Public Broadcasting Service |coauthors= |date= |year=2001 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=PBS.org |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]
*The Utah territorial legislature, supported by Brigham Young, grants women the right to vote. Over the next several decades, this provides the Mormons with an added margin of political power.
*Chinese laborers are brought in by the Union Pacific in Wyoming and are paid $32.50 a month as opposed to $52.00 a month for American-born railroad workers. Hiring cheap foreign labor will become a common practice for the railroad and other companies during the late 19th century. In time, this will create resentment from American laborers throughout the western United States in the belief that Chinese immigrants are competing unfairly for jobs and will eventually lead to racial violence and labor unrest in years to come.
*Settling in the New Mexico Territory, gunfighter Robert Clay Allison purchases a ranch in Colfax County. During this time, Allison is reported to have killed as many as fifteen men in gunfights according to local newspapers. [ Wexler, Bruce. "The Wild, Wild West Of Louis L'amour: The Illustrated Guide to Cowboys, Indians, Gunslingers, Outlaws and Texas Rangers". Philadelphia: Running Press, 2005. (pg. 78) ISBN 0-7624-2357-9 ]
*William "Hurricane Bill" Martin, a notorious Kansas outlaw, begins rustling cattle southeast of Abilene before he and his gang are driven off by a posse from Marion. [ Rosa, Joseph G. "Gunfighter: Man Or Myth?". Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1969. (pg. 47) ]
*Spring - With the emergence of Abilene as a major stopover for cattle ranchers, the town trustees unsuccessfully attempt to curb the violence brought by the beginning of the cattle season by passing a gun ordinance ban. This proves unenforceable as Texas cowboys made a habit of shooting up ordinance posters and tore town the city's first jailhouse. Although a posse was organized by local residents which successfully captures several of these cowboys, violence continues in the city until the appointment of "Bear River" Tom Smith as city marshal on June 4. [ Rosa, Joseph G. "Gunfighter: Man Or Myth?". Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1969. (pg. 196) ]
*January - Shortly after leaving office as Sheriff of Ellis County, Kansas, James "Wild Bill" Hickok travels to Missouri to visit friends and eventually he resumes his duties as a U.S. Marshal. Rosa, Joseph G. "Wild Bill Hickok, Gunfighter: An Account of Hickok's Gunfights". Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2003. (pg. 17) ISBN 0-8061-3535-2 ]
*July 17-18 - James Hickok is involved in a shootout with several members of the 7th Cavalry Regiment in Hays City after killing one trooper and wounding another.
*November - Marshal Tom Smith is murdered. The position of town marshal will remain vacant for several months before being accepted by James Hickok on April 15, 1871.

Arts and literature

*Bret Harte's "The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Sketches", a collection of stories based on his years as a San Francisco journalist, is published.

Births

Deaths

*July 17 - Jeremiah Lonergan, US 7th cavalry trooper
*July 18 - John Kile, US 7th cavalry trooper
*November - Thomas J. Smith, Abilene town marshal

References