The Incredible Life Of One America's Greatest Lawmen
Texas Hill Country where Frank Hamen's father moved the family in 1890 and which became Frank's domain and training grounds .
Well the post title's an awful big statement right there. There's several who would be in the running for that title. I'll let ya'll decide after I finish tellin this tale.
Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas!
I'm finally gettin around to tellin the story of Frank Hamer's life.(that's pronounced Haymer, by the way). He's our most accomplished Texas Ranger..the man who tracked down and killed the murderous heathens Bonnie and Clyde.
Frank Hamer flew WAY under the radar
But that was AFTER he already had a spectacular(and totally under-rated and under reported) career with the Rangers. Which is exactly the way he wanted it.
He was a quiet man..but oh so strong.
He never boasted about his exploits, didn't do interviews, and never kept a diary or journal or any records of his work. That's why almost no one knows his name or what he accomplished. But at least some Steemians will know now.
The early years
In order to get an understanding of his character I think it's important to go back and take a look at how he was raised and what his father and grandfather were like. Let's start with his grandfather, L.J. Francis Hamer.
L.J. had a big, long, jagged scar down the side of his face and would regale young Frank with stories of fighting the Indians in West Texas in the 1840's. How he got his scar was when he was with a caravan going from Texas to Northern Mexico.
They were attacked by Indians and 7 of the party were killed and young L.J. was shot in the head with an arrow, captured, and almost killed but was able to escape.
The Faith influence
Later in life he became a Presbyterian minister and that's what influenced young Frank to follow in his footsteps as far as ministry. That's right, his goal was to become a preacher.
Unfortunately we don't have any photos of the grandfather but his strength, integrity, honor, and faith had a profound influence on Frank.
The father, Franklin
Franklin lived in Ohio and Pennsylvania but wanted adventure so he joined the army in 1874 and was sent out West to Fort Clark, Texas.
This was the home of the Fourth U.S. Calvary who's job was to stop the raids of the Comanche, Apache, and Kickapoo coming out of Northern Mexico.
This is already starting to get long and I want to tell the story of how Franklin escaped certain death when he found himself surrounded by a Comanche War Party but I'll wait for tomorrow's post to tell that.
The story of Frank's early life continues in the next post.
Thanks for reading folks, God bless you all. -jonboy Texas
