List of Old West lawmen

This is a list of Old West lawmen: notable people who served in various law enforcement positions during the Old West period.

NamePortrait Life Years activeComments Ref.John Hicks AdamsNo image available1830–18781864–1878Sheriff, Santa Clara County, California, Deputy U.S. Marshal, Arizona TerritoryAlfred Shea Addis1832–18861883–1886Territorial Marshal, Tucson, Arizona 1883–1886; Deputy US Marshal, Grant County August 12, 1882, reported in The New Southwest and Grant County HeraldSamuel B. Amidon1863-19251897-1901County Attorney, Sedgwick County, Kansas. Prosecuted Carrie Nation, once advised Bill Dalton, member of the Dalton Gang and leader of the Doolin-Dalton GangWilliam "Red" AngusNo image available1849–19221888–1893Sheriff, Johnson County, WyomingElfego Baca1865–19451884–1890New MexicoPhillip Cuney "P.C." BairdNo image available1862–19281882–18841888–1898Sheriff and Texas Ranger, Mason County, TexasMariano BarelaNo image available1837–1892Sheriff and U.S. Marshal, Mesilla, New MexicoJoel Almon BascomNo image available1832–1912Chief of Police, Provo, Utah and constable of Mona, UtahJohn Watson Bell BascomNo image available1869–1948Deputy Sheriff, Uintah County, Utah and constable of Naples, UtahCharlie Bassett1847–18961873–1879Sheriff of Ford County, Kansas, Marshal of Dodge City [In Dodge Peace Commission Photograph Bassett is seated in the front row at far left]Johnny Behan1845–19121871–1882Sheriff, Cochise County, Arizona TerritoryHorace Bell1830–1918Los Angeles RangerJames W. BellNo image available1853–1881Deputy Sheriff, Lincoln County, New MexicoSam BernardNo image available1880–1964Deputy Lincoln County, New Mexico, Hillsboro, New MexicoCarl P.F. "Charles" BirkenfeldNo image available1852–19231904–1917Constable, Pima County, ArizonaN. K. Boswell1841–1904Sheriff, Laramie, WyomingWilliam J. Brady1829–18781869–1878Sheriff, Lincoln County, New MexicoBilly Breakenridge1846–1931Deputy Sheriff and U.S. Marshal, Cochise County, Arizona TerritoryWilliam L. Brooks1832–1874Marshal, Newton, Kansas and Dodge City, KansasCharles "Charley" J. BrownNo image available1845–18841875–1884Sheriff, Pembina County, Dakota Territory; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Dakota TerritoryHenry Newton Brown1857–1884Marshal, Tascosa, Texas (ghost town) and Caldwell, KansasNeal "Skinny" BrownNo image available1844–19261879–1895Assistant Marshal, Dodge City, Kansas; U.S. Marshal, Oklahoma TerritorySeth Bullock1849–1919Sheriff, Lewis and Clark County, Montana; Sheriff, Lawrence County, South Dakota; U. S. Marshal Dakota TerritorychMathew CaldwellNo image available1798–1842Gonzales Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers 1836, Sheriff of Gonzales (Guadalupe, Dewitt, Caldwell, Lavaca) Counties 1837, Gonzales & Seguin Texas Rangers 1839Frank M. Canton1849–1927Sheriff, Johnson County, Wyoming; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Oklahoma Territory; Under Sheriff, Q County, OklahomaJames W. CarrNo image available1845–1926Marshal Silverton, Colorado; Marshal Rico, Colorado; Deputy Sheriff Ouray County, Colorado; Deputy Sheriff Dolores County, ColoradoCharles Francis Colcord1859–1934Deputy U.S. Marshal, Oklahoma Territory; Chief of Police, Oklahoma, Oklahoma TerritoryDavid J. Cook1842–1907Marshal, Denver, Colorado"Longhair" Jim Courtright1848–1887Omaha, Nebraska Marshal, Marshal, Lake Valley, New Mexico; Sheriff, Fort Worth, Texas; Detective, Fort Worth, TexasFrank Dalton1859–1887Deputy U.S. Marshal, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Oklahoma TerritoryBen Daniels1852–1923US Marshal, Pima County, Arizona sheriff, superintendent of Yuma Territorial PrisonJames "Jim" M. DodsonNo image available1876–1890Prescott, Arizona City Marshal; Arizona State Penitentiary Wall Guard (post retirement)Ed Drew1865–1911Pinal County, Arizona deputy sheriffMorgan Earp1851–1882Deputy Sheriff, Ford County, Kansas; Marshal, Butte, Montana; U.S. Deputy Marshal, Arizona Territory; Deputy Policeman/Marshal, Arizona TerritoryVirgil Earp1843–1906Deputy Policeman and Assistant Marshal, Dodge City, Kansas; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Prescott, Arizona; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Tombstone, Arizona; Marshal/Chief of Police, Tombstone, Arizona; Sheriff, Colton, California; Deputy Sheriff Esmeralda County, NevadaWarren Earp1855–1900U.S. Deputy Marshal, Cochise County, Arizona Territory; Special Ranger (Arizona Cattleman's Association)Wyatt Earp1848–1929Constable, Lamar, Missouri; Marshal (for 1 hour), Ellsworth, Kansas; Deputy Policeman, Wichita, Kansas; Assistant Marshal, Dodge City, Kansas; Deputy Sheriff, Pima County, Arizona, Arizona Territory); Deputy Policeman and Assistant Marshal, Tombstone, Arizona, Arizona Territory; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Arizona TerritoryStringer W. FentonNo image available1865–1936Marshal, Indian Territory, Oklahoma, Osage CountyJohn King Fisher1854–1884acting sheriff of Uvalde County, TexasCamillus Sidney FlyNo image available1849–1901Sheriff, Cochise County, Arizona TerritoryPat Garrett1850–1908Sheriff, Lincoln County, New Mexico; Sheriff, Doña Ana County, New Mexico; Customs Collector, El Paso, Texas; Texas Ranger Captain, TexasLee Hall1849–1911Texas RangerWiley G. HainesNo image available1860–1928Undersheriff, County P, Oklahoma Territory; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Oklahoma Territory; Chief, Osage Indian PoliceJohn Coffee "Captain Jack" Hays1817–1883Captain in the Texas Rangers; first sheriff of San Francisco (1850)Jack HelmNo image available1838–1873Sheriff, DeWitt County, TexasJames Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok1837–1876Marshal, Abilene, Kansas and Hays City, KansasJohn Henry "Doc" Holliday1851–1887Special Police Officer, Tombstone, Arizona Territory; Deputy U.S. Marshal Arizona TerritoryJohn R. Hughes1855–1947Texas RangerJames B. Hume1827–1904Marshal, Placerville, California; Undersheriff, El Dorado County, California; Sheriff, El Dorado County, California; Chief Detective, Wells, Fargo & Co.Grant JohnsonNo image available1858–1929Deputy U.S. Marshal, Indian TerritoryJohn "Liver-Eating" JohnsonNo image available1824–1900Deputy Sheriff/Town MarshalJohn B. Jones1834–1891Texas RangerJeff KidderNo image available1875–1908Arizona RangerJohn M. LarnNo image available1849–1877outlaw and Sheriff, Shackelford County, TexasJames Franklin "Bud" LedbetterNo image available1852–1937Deputy Sheriff, Johnson County, Arkansas; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Oklahoma Territory; Sheriff, Muskogee County, OklahomaIsaiah W. LeesNo image available1830–1902Detective, San Francisco, CaliforniaWilliam Sidney "Cap" LightNo image available1864–1893Deputy Sheriff, Belton, Texas, Temple, Texas and Creede, ColoradoSteve "Big Steve" LongNo image availabled. 1868outlaw and Deputy Marshal, Laramie, Wyoming TerritoryHarry Love1809–1868Captain, California State Rangers (1853–1855)Chris MadsenNo image available1851–1944U.S. Marshal, Oklahoma TerritoryBat Masterson1853–1921Deputy Sheriff/Sheriff Ford County, Kansas; Marshal, Trinidad, Colorado; U. S. Deputy Marshal, Dodge City, Kansas; Peace Commissioner/Deputy U.S. Marshal, Southern District of New YorkEd Masterson1852–1878Marshal, Dodge City, KansasJames Masterson1855–1895Dodge City, Kansas, Ford County, Kansas, Ingalls, Kansas, Deputy U.S. MarshalAndrew "Andy" MatherNo image available1851–1929Texas Ranger, Williamson County, Texas, Co. E, Frontier Battalion, under Captain MaltbyMysterious Dave Mather1851–?1880–1885Assistant Marshal Dodge City Kansas; Town Marshal New Kiowa KansasJoseph McNulty1841–1909Sheriff, Rooks County, KansasTolbert "Tol" Fannin McKinneyNo image available1857–1938Lt. Texas Ranger, Co. D & E.; Frontier Battalion under Captains John R. Hughes & John H Rogers; Deputy Sheriff in Uvalde, Zavala, Bandera, Brewster, and El Paso Counties, TexasLeander H. McNelly1844–1877Texas RangerWilliam H. "High Water Bill" MoorheadNo image available1867–1870First sheriff of Pembina County, Dakota Territory which also made him the first sheriff in what is now the State of North Dakota; also served as Pembina town marshal, and Pembina County deputy sheriff. Nicknamed "High Water Bill" for his predictions on how high the flooding Red River of the North would get each spring, predictions that usually included the exchange of money and property.David NeagleNo image available1847–1926Deputy Sheriff, Cochise County, Arizona Territory; Marshal, Tombstone, Arizona Territory; Detective, US Marshal, San Francisco, CaliforniaEvett Dumas Nix1861–1946US Marshal, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Nasty Nate, KansasRobert Bob Olinger1841–18811878–1881Deputy Sheriff, Lincoln County, New MexicoWilliam Owen "Buckey" O'Neill1860–1898Sheriff, Yavapai County, ArizonaCommodore Perry Owens1852–1919Sheriff, Apache County, ArizonaAllan Pinkerton1819–1884Pinkerton Detective Agency FounderRobert PinkertonNo image available1848–1907Pinkerton DetectiveWilliam A. PinkertonNo image available1846–1923Pinkerton DetectiveHenry Plummer1837–1864Marshal, Nevada City, California; Sheriff Bannack, MontanaRobert Jack PriceNo image available1848–1930ConstableAlexander RamseyNo image available1847–1875Marshall, Hays City, Kansas, later, sheriff, Ellis County, Kansas, shot and captured Henry Born "Dutch Henry", shot and killed nine other outlaws in discharge of his dutiesBass Reeves1832–1910Deputy U.S. Marshal, Indian TerritoryPorter Rockwell1813–1878Utah TerritoryGeorge ScarboroughNo image available1859–1903El Paso, Texas Sheriff, killed John SelmanJohn Selman1839–1896El Paso, Texas Constable, killed John Wesley HardinCharles A. Shibell1841–19081875–1880; 1888Sheriff Pima County ArizonaCharles SimsNo image available1879–1945Town Marshal Rosedale, OklahomaCharlie Siringo1855–1928Pinkerton detectiveSam SixkillerNo image available1842–1886 Captain, U.S. Indian Police, Indian Territory; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Indian TerritoryJohn Slaughter1841–1922Sheriff and Texas Ranger, Cochise County, Arizona, Arizona TerritoryLot Smith1830–1892Sheriff Davis County, Utah; in March 1853, Farmington, then known as Little Cottonwood, was approved by Utah Territorial Legislature as the County seat of Davis County; a year later, Lot Smith, who also served in Mormon Battalion at age 16, was appointed county's first sheriffThomas Smith1830–1870Marshal and Deputy U.S. Marshal, Kit Carson, Colorado and Abilene, KansasCon StapletonNo image available1848–1879Marshal, Deadwood, South DakotaDallas Stoudenmire1845–1882El Paso, Texas Marshal and Texas Ranger; Deputy U.S. MarshalMichael SughrueNo image available1844–1901Sheriff, Clark County, Kansas; Marshal Ashland, Kansas; Deputy Sheriff, Ford County, Kansas; Deputy Marshal, Dodge City, KansasHenry Andrew "Heck" Thomas1850–1912Deputy U.S. Marshal, Oklahoma TerritoryBen Thompson1842–1884Marshal, Austin, TexasBill Tilghman1854–1924Deputy Marshal, Dodge City, Kansas; Deputy U.S. Marshal, Oklahoma Territory; Sheriff, Lincoln County, Oklahoma; Chief of Police, Oklahoma City, OklahomaJames Timberlake1846–1891Deputy Marshal, Liberty, Missouri; County Sheriff, Clay County, Missouri; Constable, Liberty, MissouriPaden Tolbert1863–1904Deputy U.S. Marshal, Indian TerritoryMax VenturaNo image available1866–U.S. Marshal, Indian Affairs Delegate, North Dakota TerritoryJohn Joshua WebbNo image available1847–1882Deputy Marshal, Dodge City, Kansas; Marshal, Las Vegas, New MexicoFranklin Pierce WestNo image available1852–1886Indian Territory Deputy MarshalWilliam Fletcher WheelerNo image available1824–1894Montana Territory U.S. Marshal 1869–1878, Lt Col, 1st MN Vol Inf, 1858–61, Capt, Co F, 4th MN Inf, 1861–64 (WIA at Vicksburg, Mississippi), 3rd U.S. Marshal in the Montana Territory, 1869–78; founder of Montana Historical SocietyFred White1849–1880Marshal Tombstone, Arizona Territory; died in the line of dutyRobert Widdowfield1846–1878Wyoming Deputy sheriff, first Wyoming officer to be killed in the line of dutyRobert WidenmannNo image available1852–1930Deputy U.S. Marshal New Mexico TerritoryCharlie WilsonNo image available1860–1889City Marshal, Oceanside, California 1888–1889Jefferson "Keno" WilsonNo image available1862–1934

See also List of Arizona Rangers List of cowboys and cowgirls