James Masterson
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James “Jim” Masterson was born on September 16, 1855, in Quebec and moved with his family to Wichita, Kansas, in 1871. After hunting buffalo with his brothers, he opened a saloon in Dodge City, Kansas. A year later, his brother Ed, who was serving as the Dodge City Marshal, was killed in duty. Jim became the Assistant Marshal in Dodge City, Kansas, in June 1878. Working for Marshal Charlie Bassett, Masterson also worked with Wyatt Earp, who served as a Deputy Marshal.
On July 26, 1878, assistant marshals Jim Masterson and Wyatt Earp worked together in Dodge City at about 3:30 a.m. when a group of cowboys opened fire as they rode through town. Both Jim Masterson and Wyatt Earp fired at George Hoy, a cowboy who was firing into the air and occupied saloons. Hoy was shot from his saddle and landed in the Boot Hill Cemetery. |
In November 1879, he was promoted to Marshal when Bassett had exceeded the number of terms that he could serve. Jim Masterson would make hundreds of arrests in his years serving as a respected marshal of Dodge City. When a new mayor was elected in Dodge, Jim lost his job. Masterson, then the owner of the Lady Gay saloon, had a fall out with his business partner, A.J. Peacock. The fallout occurred over the hiring of the Peacocks brother-in-law, Al Updegraph as a bartender. During this time, someone wired Bat Masterson in Tombstone that his brother's life was in danger.
Bat arrived in Dodge on April 16 and saw Peacock and Updegraph near the station. Gunfire broke out, with others taking part in the Battle of the Plaza. Updegraph was the only casualty, taking a bullet through the lungs. Bat was fined for discharging a gun within the city limits, and the brothers left Dodge.
Bat arrived in Dodge on April 16 and saw Peacock and Updegraph near the station. Gunfire broke out, with others taking part in the Battle of the Plaza. Updegraph was the only casualty, taking a bullet through the lungs. Bat was fined for discharging a gun within the city limits, and the brothers left Dodge.
Masterson moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where he joined the police force. While in Trinidad, James Masterson arrested John Allen for the shooting death of Frank Loving, in what became known as the Trinidad Gunfight.
Jim Masterson was involved in more gun battles with criminals than his more famous brother Bat. In 1889, James Masterson took an active part in the Gray County War in Kansas. He was one of a group of lawmen who made a raid on the courthouse at Cimarron, which resulted in a famous gunfight known as the Battle of Cimarron.
Jim Masterson was involved in more gun battles with criminals than his more famous brother Bat. In 1889, James Masterson took an active part in the Gray County War in Kansas. He was one of a group of lawmen who made a raid on the courthouse at Cimarron, which resulted in a famous gunfight known as the Battle of Cimarron.
James Masterson later moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma, and then later became a Deputy Sheriff of Logan County, Oklahoma. On September 1, 1893, as a Special Deputy U. S. Marshal, he was involved in the Battle of Ingalls, a gunfight in Ingalls, Oklahoma, against the Doolin-Dalton gang, and was responsible for the capture of gang member "Arkansas Tom" Jones.
Jim Masterson’s life was taken by the same culprit that claimed another Dodge City luminary life, Doc Holliday. In 1895 U. S. Deputy Marshal Jim Masterson died of Tuberculosis.
