TEXAS RANGERS-AN ONGOING DISCUSSION

[williamlayton]

This will not be of interest to many/any outside of TEXAS, by GOD but if you want to learn something of this legendary force of peace officers, I guess a ? should be added depending on your bend, we may be able to provide such here.
Now many will not come to terms with this discussion as it is not politically correct and the Rangers were not either. They have their black spots, or not, depending upon the issue and the way you look at the world.
How did this come up, and why do I care, you may ask. It came up, briefly, over at Pistolsmith on Wild Bill Caldwells litlle spot, concerning guns and lore. I have put it here because this little town is a place that I reside most of the time and is MY personal favorite. We also have some very knowledgeable folks here, on this and other subjects of history, well Hamp is not one, unless you want tall tales  .

The Texas Rangers are lengedary, some would say infamous, in western history. A lot we know is lore (saga and wild tales, undocumented), and some is pure history, with sides taken.
The Rangers history is, for me, broken down into at least four parts and at least three time periods.
There is the old Frontier Ranger, the original. the ones created to protect settlers from indians, primarily the commanche. The lawman Ranger. The Ranger Captains. The modern (1960's too present). The Border Ranger.
I am particularily intested in the Border Ranger, though the cast of characters involved are all of them.
The Rangers times, for me, are from before the revolution, The Texas Revolution-for those who are without a clue, til the civil war (1860) 1865-1900, 1900-1935,1935-1960.
The Border Ranger is my cup of tea, the group/area/history which holds the most interest and, undoubtably, the most contorversy.
The Border Ranger is the saga on which all Ranger tales are spun, both on the silver screen and the new Plasma TV'S.
When this nation began-TEXAS, by GOD-Indians and the Neuces Strip were problems. Local sheriff's could handle the mundain problems in civilized areas, where townfolk lived. They were not able to handle the areas we are discussing, and in the case of the Neueces Strip, were one of the problems.
After the Civil War the Strip was assigned to a group named the Special forces or special rangers. these were led by a Captain McNelly and had no Company designation. they were not permanent Rangers. They were Special for a special purpose and they used special tactics, whether good or bad is your call.
Later in the period from 1900-1930, this group of Rangers were the reason for Texas disbanding them. Political correctness was not their calling card, and though many would call them names,I would stand by them.
Further discussion and post later, but some of you boys can start off this ongoing rampage of a discussion--if'n you want.
Blessings     
   

[williamlayton]

Well it looks as though I will be preaching to the choir. Huuummph, just looked around and there aint no choir.
I will go on with this little thing however; well until the good Dr. orders me to cease and desist.
Get a map--it will be needed. I would think that everyone should have a map of TEXAS, by GOD-- at any rate I will not insist that it be pinned to the wall--though it should be.
I will be back in a couple of days, Lord willing.
We will center our discussion on the Neueces Strip.
Blessings

[rex6666]

Ihave been waiting on the preacher.
The Rangers as i understand it were told to clean things up, and that they did.
I for one can see that 1/2 rangers working together and seeing no one else for weeks at a time
unless it is some one with killing them on their mind or robbing and stealing from some one else.
would lead to maybe some questionable law enforcement. I think the state appointed/hired
men that KNEW how to handle the theives and killers of that time, when looking for this type ranger
I for one would not go to the church and ask if some of these people could do the job. The
state of Texas did not go to the nearest church, they put out the word that they needed special men
to handle a special job and low and behold they found them and made them SPECIAL RANGERS
JUST GET THE JOB DONE, MAKE THE PLACE SAFE.

[Mohawk]

  The Texas Rangers are still special men. My partner was the driver of the car when the Ranger in Horseshoe Bay Tx got his head blown apart with a point blank .44 Magnum while in a kidnapping rescue several years ago. Fellow Rangers smoked the gunman and the girl was rescued. Rangers are the best trained, and most specially appointed law enforcement officers around.

[Texgun]

Anyone here heard of a Texas Ranger named Mingus form Fredricksburg? I recently spoke with an elderly lady in Catron County, NM who said her grandfather was this man.

[rockbilly]

I took part in laying a "Big Ranger" to rest this past week end.  Lodge Brother and long time friend Sid Merchant passed away Easter Sunday in Guthrie, OK.  I would bet that there were at least 100 curent and retired Rangers at the funeral.  I have never seen so many law enforcement officers in one group in my life, local pokice, sheriffs, DPS and lots of federal officersm were there to see him off. He retired in 1998 after 33 years of service to Texas, 27 as a Texas Ranger.  Sid and his wife moved to OK after his retirement, he once told me that the only thing that would make him give up his Texas Drivers License and move to OK was grandchildren.  Both daughters, their husbands and the grand kids all lived there so that is where they ended up.  I knew Sid fairly well, but in the past few years got to know him much better as we talked on the phone at least twice a month.

Not only did we suffer the loss of Sid, we also lost two other brothers last week, George Gilbreath, the former Post Master of Merkle, Tx he was quite a guy, and Brother Fred Paulsen, a 23 year retired Marine veteran and survivor of 40 months and 10 days in a Jap POW camp.

It is amazing that we have friends, know them quite well and at their death we find out we really didn't know them at all.  This was the case with Brother Gilbreth and Paulsen.  I knew a lot about them, but had never sat across the table and shared stories over a cup of joe.  Most of us don't really make or have that many close friends during our lives, I think it is important that when we do,  we shpuld get to know them like a blood brother, it will surely enhance the freindship.

[mechanic]

William,

I am related to "3 legged Willy Williamson' ...(Wm'sn County Texas), and have a biography of him.  The rangers got there start with the fight for Texas independence and with protection from the indians thereabouts.  Quite an interesting subject, even for someone not from Tx.  If things keep progressing as they are, I might just move there though.  Like that governor you got.

[williamlayton]

Hummmm, I guess I need to chime in here. I had stopped the post because it seemed there was little interest and since I have studied this, too some degree, I didn't need to say it to myownself.
This little wedge between Mexico and the Neueces River, commonly called the Strip, was hard fought over.
Mexico had widely setteled this area and most of the larger ranches were originally Mexican land grants. texas refused to recognize these grant and thus the war. Most of the population was Mexican and most were loyal too Mexico, not wishing to loose their land.
The Rangers ruled with a heavy hand and found little compassion from the locals, well, except for the Anglo ranchers.
Funny little stories from those days---those days? These stories range from those days til the 60's---give some insight.
Two Rangers went into a small local cafe, somewhere in the valley, and sat down at the counter for some coffee.
They were ignored. Now being ignored is not a bad thing and can be plesant in many cases. In this case, however, it was coffee that was needed, and these were rangers and they understood why they were being---whats a good word---segregated.
Not being real tolerant of thr treatment, one of the Rangers Pulled his .45, shot a hole in the metal coffee urn, stepped behind the counter and filled two coffee cups, returned to his partner---and---they finished their coffee.
There was little love between the Rangers and those folks.
Blessings     

[williamlayton]

RB
I knew of Sid Merchant.
My condolences.
Blessings

[RebelCause]

... one of the Rangers Pulled his .45, shot a hole in the metal coffee urn, stepped behind the counter and filled two coffee cups, ....
Blessings     

Aw yes! Those were the days.

Don't you just luv the smell and taste of fresh fired BlackPowder with and in your coffee?

[Duke0313]

I have been an admirer of the Rangers since I was just a kid with my cap pistol on my hip! I have visited the Ranger museum in Waco many times. My father's friend (Rick Darby) was a Ranger for several years. He's now a Kaufman County Sheriff's Deputy. I would love to again hear the stories of "Bigfoot" Wallace, "Jack" Hayes, Bill McDonald, Leander MacNelly and all the Ranger heroes of my youth!!! I look forward to reading ANYTHING you'd like to post here.

[Duke0313]

William,

 The rangers got there start with the fight for Texas independence and with protection from the indians thereabouts. 

The first Rangers were actually appointed by Stephen F. Austin around 1823, 12-13 years before the start of the Texas Revolution...if I remember correctly.

[Texgun]

I just wanted to through this in; I met Juaquin Jackson at a gun show in Dallas. He was the subject of the book "One Ranger" and worked in far south Texas. He is one big, mean looking dude but very friendly and pleasant to talk to.

[Duke0313]

Jackson is a P.I. now, isn't he?

[Texgun]

 Yes, he is owner-operator of Ranger Investigations. Not a real original name for his business but I wouldn't tell him that. I mean, it may hurt his feelings or something............