Life and Adventures of "Billy" Dixon of Adobe Walls, Texas Panhandle.
Barde, Frederick S. [compiler]. Life and Adventures of "Billy" Dixon of Adobe Walls, Texas Panhandle. Guthrie, TX: Published by Co-Operative Printing Co., 1914.
First Edition. Blue cloth, titles stamped in gold gilt on the front cover and spine. 320 pages. Numerous b/w photographs.
Dixon was born in Ohio County, West Virginia on September 25, 1850. He was orphaned when he was 12 years-old and sent to live with uncle in the fall of 1864. He worked as a woodcutter along the Missouri River and later worked as a government contractor in Kansas. He tried a couple other jobs but in the winter of 1868, he "joined a group who were hunting and trapping on the Saline River northwest of Fort Hays, Kansas." For a short time, Billy had a ranch supply store with a partner (manager) who sold the merchandise and departed with the money. Billy returned to hunting buffalo, sometimes having 4-5 hunters/skinners working for him." In 1872 Billy had moved to Dodge City and in the fall and winter in 1872 and 1873 marked the beginning of the "high tide of buffalo hunting and they were killed by the thousands. "Early in the morning of June 27, 1874, a combined force of some 700 Comache, Cheyenne, Koowa, and Arapho warriors, led by Comanch Chief Quanah Parker and Isa-tai, attacked the buffalo camp at Adobe Walls (the second battle of Adobe Walls). It was in this battle that Dixon and 26 addition men and one women were forced into two stores and a saloon to stand off the Indians. It was here that Dixon became a hero when he supposedly knocked an Indian off his horse from nearly a mile away. The battle for Adobe Walls came to an end. A few months later Dixon and a group of six other men were attacked by Indians. Dixon and his men took shelter in a buffalo wallow. For three days they managed to hold off the Indians. One man was killed and the remaining six were wounded before the Indians turned away because of freezing rain. Dixon and the other survivors of "The Buffalo Wallow Fight" were awarded the Medal of Honor. Dixon continued to work with the Army until 1883 when the returned to civilian life. He married Olive King Dixon and they had seven children. On March 9, 1913 he died of pneumonia. His remains are now interred at the Adobe Walls site. Much of the above information was gained from Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated June, 2017, either quoted or paraphrased. She has done a wonderful job summarizing the life of Billy Dixon and deserves credit for it.
This copy is quite clean. The hinges are solid, unbroken. There is some wear from rubbing on the bottom of the spine and the corners. One corner at bottom with small spot worn through; very light rubbing to the top corners and top of the spine. There is also some rubbing along the edge of the spine on the front side. " Near Fine. Item #1547Price: $1,250.00