Frank M. Canton---Large Format Photograph

Photographs] [Oklahoma

Publication: ND, NP

6.5" x 8.675," mount 10" x 11.875." A striking photograph of "Brig. Gen. Frank M. Canton OK. N.G." mounted and in full uniform, taken in 1910 in Oklahoma, when Canton was Adjutant General and in command of the Oklahoma National Guard. A clean, clear image, which is one of the few photographs chosen for Canton's autobiography. An _additional photograph_ 6.875" x 4.875" described on verso, "Frank Canton in later years." A clean, clear image of a distinguished-looking Canton in coat & hat. Born Joseph Horner near Richmond, Virginia in 1849. He lived in Missouri when the Civil War broke out. After his father was killed in the Civil War, Joe moved to Texas with his mother in 1866. Joe became a cowboy, hiring out to Burk Burnett in 1869 to help drive a herd of 1500 cattle to Abilene, continuing on to North Platte, Nebraska before returning to Texas. In 1870 Joe moved to Jack & Young counties in Texas and served as Deputy to Sheriff Lee Crutchfield, acting as a guard for Kiowa Indians Satank, Satanta, & Big Tree during their famous trial for the Warren Wagon Train massacre. Afterward he returned to cowboying and was suspected of rustling, as well as reported to have killed 2 men. In October 1874 Horner was engaged in a saloon fight with black soldiers in Jacksboro in which he shot 2 soldiers, one of whom died, and then fighting his way out of town with much difficulty. Afterward, reported to be wanted for bank robbery, rustling, assault with intent to kill, and other crimes, Horner was arrested in May, 1877 by Texas Ranger Lee Hall, but somehow was freed. In 1878, assuming the alias of Frank M. Canton, he accompanied a trail drive to Ogallala, Nebraska. He then drifted into Wyoming, becoming a range detective for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. Elected Sheriff in 1882, Canton became involved in the Johnson County War, siding with the big cattlemen. He is suspected of being one of 4 men who tried to kill Nate Champion in 1891, as well as a suspect in the killing of Orley E. Jones & John Tisdale. Canton fled Johnson County with Fred Hesse, and returned with a large group of Texas gunmen hired by the big ranchers to wipe-out the small ranchers/rustlers. Canton took part in the siege of the KC Ranch and murders of Nick Ray & Nate Champion, of which he & others were never convicted. He left Wyoming and in 1894 moved to Pawnee, Oklahoma where he resumed law enforcement, later appointed Deputy U.S. Marshal by E.D. Nix. In 1897, he went to Alaska during the Gold Rush, becoming Deputy U.S. Marshal for Yukon District & the Interior of Alaska. Returning to Pawnee, Oklahoma in 1900, Canton resumed law enforcement activity. In 1907, when Oklahoma became a state, Canton was appointed as the first Adjutant General of the state and Commander of the Oklahoma National Guard, retiring in 1916. An amazing, and often mysterious career, Joe Horner, alias Frank M. Canton died in Edmond, Oklahoma in 1927. Two great photographs of a legendary character of the Old West.

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