Ike Ules to William V. Vice

 

 

Ules, Ike was a deputy marshal remembered by an Indian Pioneer History interview with Thomas D. Bell. 

(Indian Pioneer History - Thomas D. Bell)

 

Underwood, A. A. was commissioned in the Southern District Court of Indian Territory at Paris, Texas, in 1894.

 (U.S. Deputy Marshals I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896)

 

Underwood, Edward was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

 (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Upham of Ryan, killed outlaw “Captain Jack” in the Arbuckle Mountains in March of 1902, when he resisted arrest.  The outlaw’s body was not claimed by his friends or relatives, so it was buried at government expense.  The outlaw was both deaf and dumb. 

(The Woodward Bulletin - March 14, 1902) (The Taloga Advocate - March 13, 1902) The Alva Review - March 13, 1902)

 

Vaile, Jonathan was commissioned on November 17, 1868, in the District Court at Van Buren, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Joseph Rowland.  Deputy Marshal Vaile lived in Ft. Smith, Arkansas when commissioned.

 (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employed Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office)

 

Valle, Joseph W. was commissioned in 1872, serving in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Vancier, Venter was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Vandergriffe, J. S. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.   In June of 1876, he was riding with fellow Deputy Marshal Tucker Twyman when they stopped at Muskogee.  They had three prisoners in their possession, one white and two black.  One of the prisoners was charged with intent to kill and horse stealing.  The other two were charged with killing an old Creek Indian woman about six years ago.  The officers also reported finding a body on Rock Creek, near Governor Harris’s residence, in the Chickasaw Nation.  The body was that of a young man who had red hair and appeared to be white.  The young man had been shot in the back, with the slug passing through his heart.  No wallet or guns were found on his body.  The two deputy marshals took the body to the bank of Rock Creek where they gave it proper burial.  A week later the young man’s identity was found to be Ulysses Mitchell who was half white and half Chickasaw.  Three young Chickasaw boys were suspected of the foul deed. 

(Indian Journal, Muskogee - June 22, 29, 1876) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Vandeventer, Vanderventer, Alexander J. was Chief Deputy Marshal for Marshall John Carroll of the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Heck Thomas) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Vandeventor, James was in the Orlando District on July 15, 1893, under Marshal Evett Nix. 

(West of Hell’s Fringe)

 

Vandiver, William was commissioned on June 28, 1890, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  William was sent to serve warrants of arrest to John Furr, Eli Furr and Wiley Bayard.  The three men committed perjury in the federal court at Muskogee and were taken to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, to stand trial.  In January of 1891, he served a warrant of arrest to Ben Boswell, charged with introducing liquor in the Choctaw Nation. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - January 30, 1891) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Van Hoosier was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Vann, Charles was commissioned on May 1, 1895, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Deputy Marshal Vann lived in Coffeyville, Kansas when he was commissioned.  

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Vann, Eph M. was commissioned on January 12, 1895, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Deputy Marshal Vann lived in Salisaw, Cherokee Nation when commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Vann, William was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

 (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Vannoy, Joseph W. was commissioned on August 7, 1872, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Logan S. Roots.  Deputy Marshal Vannoy lived in Ft. Smith, Arkansas when he was commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Van Sickle

B.

C.

D.U.S. Marshal

Bartlesville

May 1, 1914

 

Van Voorhees, S. K. was commissioned in Oklahoma Territory on December 10, 1894, serving under Marshal Evett Nix.   

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Varnum, John G. tried to arrest a man by the name of Nolan who killed Martin Colbert in Oklahoma City.   The killing was the result of a quarrel over a land claim in 1889. John Varnum was assigned to the Guthrie location in Oklahoma Territory under Marshal Thomas Needles in 1889.  During the Land Rush of 1889, John was one of five deputy marshals that filed an application for a homestead plot and had it rejected.

 (Chronicles Of Oklahoma - Volume 35, 1957) (Heck Thomas)

 

Vaughan, A. J. was commissioned on June 28, 1889, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Jacob Yoes. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Vaughan, Benjamin was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Vennoy was commissioned in the Van Buren court before the western District court at Ft. Smith, Arkansas was established.  Vennoy verbally reprimanded Cherokee John Childer for a minor offense which was not welcomed and led to an altercation.  During the fist fight Childer came up on the losing end and when he found out Vennoy was from Kansas he bragged he would someday kill someone from there.   On October 14, 1870, a Kansas peddler named Wedding was working in the Cherokee Nation selling his wares to the Indian people when he met John Childer.  Childer passed by Wedding and his eye caught his horse which was pulling his wagon.  After traveling a short distance he turned around and to get a better look at the horse, trying not to appear to be overly interested.  His attention was placed on the supplies in the peddler’s wagon but eventually he shifted his focus to the horse.  Wedding was not interested in trading horses so Childer tried to intimidate him by offering him a small amount of money for the horse.  The peddler realized he was in a bad situation so he decided to travel on, hoping Childer would leave him alone but after moving a short distance the unwelcome visitor climbed in the back of his wagon and soon took a seat next to him.  He saw he was no match for Childer and told him to take the horse but Childer had already made up his mind to kill the man from Kansas.  He gave up his life offering no resistance when Childer cut his throat with his long knife and dumped his body into a creek.  Deputy Vennoy was summoned to serve the warrant of arrest to Childers.  Childers was arrested in Klo Kotcha, Creek Nation, which is now known as Broken Bow.  He was taken to the Van Buren jail where he awaited trial in the federal court.  The Van Buren jail did not hold Childers.  Vennoy and Deputy Marshal Joe Peevy were summoned to recapture Childers.  The two deputy marshals captured the fugitive in Indian Territory and took him back to Van Buren.  He was found guilty of the murder charge and was hung from the gallows on August 15, 1873.  

(Hell on the Border) (Hell on the Border-Harman) (Iron Men)

 

Ventioner, John “Joe” was commissioned in the spring of 1895, in Oklahoma Territory assigned to “G” county by Marshal Evett Nix.  He continued to work the Taloga District in February 1896, when Marshal Patrick S. Nagle replaced Marshal Evett Nix.  Ventioner lived in Lenora, Cheyenne-Arapaho reservation within three miles of the Dalton and Doolin gang hide-out.  He should be remembered as one of the strongest forces to drive out the Bill Doolin gang from the Taloga-Lenora area and the killing of George Weightman alias “Red Buck”. Known for his ruthlessness and being cold-blooded no other outlaw in Oklahoma Territory or Indian Territory was more feared than Red Buck.  He enjoyed killing and took great pride in bragging of his bad deeds.  The title, “Killer for hire” also fit his calling card, all a person had to do was give him $50, point out the victim and consider the evil deed done.  By April of 1895 Red Buck was known by every marshal in the territory but few felt the reward was worth the chance of taking him in.  During that month, the Bill Doolin gang robbed a train near Dover, O. T. and sent an open challenge to the marshal’s force to try to arrest them.  During their ride to freedom the gang stopped at Baptist pastor Godfrey’s home along the Cimarron River, west of Lacey to eat a meal and steal his horses.  The objecting preacher was shown very little respect when he received a bullet from Red Buck, sending him to his grave, leaving a wife and family to mourn his death.  The act was so violent and disrespectful, Bill Doolin excluded him from his gang and went into hiding to try to ward off any retaliation that was surely would happen.  Red Buck continued on with his murderous ways taking blood-money to kill prominent rancher, Perry Parish, in Greer County.  The job was blotched when Parish learned of the attempt on his life.  Then in September of 1895, he traveled to Woods County, near present day Baddo with Charlie Smith, perhaps a brother to his young girl friend, Laura Smith who lived southeast of Taloga, O. T. to rob rancher Gus Holland, a cousin of Charlie Smith.  Not giving into the demands of the two outlaws, Holland was ambushed as he drove eighty-one head of cattle to his homestead.  A large search party found the bullet torn and mutilated body in a shallow grave in the Cheyenne Valley.   The cattle appeared in nearby Cleo Springs where the two killers tried to sell them to another rancher, but the deal was rejected because the potential buyer knew where the cattle had come from.  After leaving the rancher’s home the two outlaws returned that same evening to eliminate him, to keep him from turning evidence against them.  He survived the attack but understood he could not to become involved in pursuing his offenders because death would be certain and notifying the authorities would not provide him any protection.  Red Buck enlisted several known outlaws mostly from Texas to come to the Taloga area in old “D” county where robbery and fear of being murdered was rapidly becoming a way of life.  Here the outlaws could live like any of the residents, being accepted within the community with little fear of being arrested.  In January of 1895, he had teamed up with a young outlaw named Alfred Son to ambush “D” County Treasurer Fred Hoffman who was working with the Well Fargo Express Agency to uncover a ring of bandits living and working in the area.  The young man and father of a thirteen month old child was found in a sand hole in the South Canadian River bed several days later.  A bullet from Red Buck’s rifle struck Hoffman point blank in the heart and within seconds his pistol was forced into his mouth, shooting out his brains.  Blood money, power and a defense team headed by Temple Houston protected the conspiracy, enabling all of those involved in the killing to go free.  Ventioner’s skills with a pistol and rifle were uncanny, causing the outlaws that lived around him to want him to join their ranks.  Seeing how corrupt the community had become and sensing how the element was growing, they now had enough power to allow them to disregard the law.  At one time he was a friend to the outlaws who were his neighbors and admirers but things changed after Hoffman’s death.  Within a mile from his home lived the young widow and her child, a place that he had to pass every time he went to Taloga.  The time had come for him to either join or fight the bad faction which led him to El Reno where Chief Deputy Marshal Chris Madsen commissioned him U.S. deputy marshal.  For added numbers, two other fearless neighbors, Billy Quillen, and William Holcomb were commissioned at the same. Realizing how dangerous Ventioner and his comrades were, the outlaw gang led by Red Buck made several attempts on their lives laying in wait for them when rode to their homesteads.  The outlaws had an un-sworn allegiance, not to kill or rob any of the stores in the area and in return protection would be given.  Red Buck broke the treaty when he killed Fred Hoffman and would soon rob the general store in Taloga.  Several gunmen from Texas joined Red Buck and Joe Beckman, a one time sheriff from Motley, Texas who had left the state when he evaded the Texas Rangers who wanted him on murder and extortion charges.  Beckman came to the county in 1892, filed a claim west of Taloga and married one of the settler’s daughters who bore him a daughter.  The only reason that can be explained why the ex-sheriff joined the gang was possibly because Red Buck led him to believe that Joe Ventioner and his deputies would soon be after him.  Within two month Red Buck, Hils Loftis, Elmer “Kid” Lewis and Beckman robbed a store in Arapaho, O. T. thirty miles south of Taloga. Ventioner and his posse found the outlaws south of Taloga where they were reported in a remote hideout that was frequently used by numerous outlaws.  The gang hoping for better days rode to the southern regions.  Since the outlaws were now out of the marshal’s jurisdiction the Texas Rangers were summoned to confront them and not allow them to ride back and forth from Texas to Oklahoma Territory.  During several skirmishes with the rangers, Joe Beckman was killed, Red Buck was seriously wounded while “Kid” Lewis, and Hills Loftis rode to parts unknown.  “Kid Lewis” met his fate in Wichita Falls at the hands of an angry lynch mob.  It is not known where Loftis ended his days but a lone grave in Oakland, O. T. bears the name of Eliza, wife of H. L. Loftis, 1858 - 1900.  It was believed that Red Buck returned to an area southeast of Taloga where friends would nurse him back to health.  The home of his girl friend would be a good place for him to weather out the storm.  The family added a wall to one of the inner rooms which left a blank space that he occasionally used to hide from the lawmen when he was visiting.  After a short period of healing he joined forces with another Texas bad man, George Miller who was also on the lam finding haven with several questionable settlers around the Arapaho and Canute areas.  One of these questionable settlers was W.W. Glover who lived in a dugout west of Arapaho.  Several days later, Glover used bad judgment when he chose to go to town to pick-up supplies, mainly whiskey and ammunition.  Ulterior motives placed him at the Indian police office where a plan was concocted to capture or kill the two waiting outlaws to collect the large reward on their heads.  Upon return to the dugout, Glover fired a single shot to give an all clear signal. The posse was aware of the signal and was expected not to fire on the dugout until Glover was in the clear.  Thinking everything was clear Red Buck and Miller left their cover and was immediately fired on.  Within seconds Glover became Red Buck’s next victim while he and Miller made their escape through a hail of bullets.  Receiving a report that Red Buck was back in the area, Ventioner, Holcomb and Quillen began to trail the outlaws again.  Unable to pickup a trail they rode south into Custer County where they received a tip that Red Buck and Miller had joined forces and were holed up with a farmer named Dolph Pickelseimer who had a history of befriending known outlaws.  On a cold misty night on March 3, 1896, the officers surrounded the home and waited, watching for them to leave the dugout.  At mornings light, George Miller and Pickelseimer left the dugout, walking to a small shed where they fed their horses.  Inside of the shed stood two of the marshals waiting for them with their guns leveled.  A warning to give it up was responded to with a fast retreat back to the dugout while shouting they were under attack.  Appearing at the doorway, Red Buck tried to help to his friends but his life was quickly taken when Joe Ventioner fired one mortal shot that killed him instantly.  An immediate response from the gun of George Miller dropped Ventioner in his tracks with his bullet striking him in the abdomen and exiting out of his hip.  Following closely behind Miller, Holcomb fired at close range, sending a slug which apparently struck Miller’s cartridge belt causing several rounds to detonate, blowing off his right hand at the wrist and the three middle fingers, leaving only the thumb and little finger on the left hand.  Lunging back into the protection of the dugout, Miller sought help from Pickelseimer to care for his wounds.  Bleeding profusely, hot ashes and soot were used to sear the wounds which eventually saved Miller’s life.  Pickelseimer, himself a known outlaw, was arrested and charged with harboring fugitives, while George Miller was taken to prison in Texas where he served a short sentence.  After several years of continuing to lead a life of crime and killing another man, Miller finally converted becoming a U.S. deputy marshal.  Maybe Miller paid for his evil deeds when he was killed while serving a warrant of arrest.   Ventioner overcame the effects of his wounds after several weeks of recovery in the Arapaho hospital and continued his duties as deputy marshal.  Many officers and historians have argued who fired the shot that killed Red Buck but the records show that Deputy Marshals Quillen and Ventioner were paid $50 reward by Woods county authorities for killing George Weightman alias “Red Buck” who had been charged for the murder of rancher, Gus Holland.  Joe Ventioners final resting place is at the Raymond Cemetery, south of Lenora, Oklahoma, born April 21, 1852 near Ft. Worth, Texas and died August 11, 1941. 

(Western Oklahoman - March 23, April 3, May 29, June 5, August 28, 1896) (The Dewey County Record - July 29, & August 5, 1999) (Clinton Daily News, Gerald Green - April 16, 1998) (West of Hell’s Fringe) (Shoot from the Lip) (Picture - Spanning the River) (Picture - Till The Drums Beat Again) Member of Cherokee Strip Cow Punchers' Association

 

Ventioner

John

Joe

D.U.S. Marshal

Taloga

March 11, 1905

 

Vickers, E.  P. was commissioned on June 4, 1889, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  In July of 1889, Deputy Marshal Vickers brought Ed and Thomas Goodland to the Ft. Smith jail to face robbery charges.  

(Ft. Smith Elevator - July 26, 1889) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Vickers

Lillian

D.U.S. Marshal

Guthrie

December 11, 1908

 

Victor, Grant U. S. Marshal

 

Injury Fatal To Early Day Marshal

 

February 6, 1934--Miami, OK--S. Grant Victor, former United States marshal and northeastern Oklahoma political figure, died here Monday from complications arising from an automobile accident in January near Quapaw.

          Victor served as marshal under the first Roosevelt and was a deputy marshal at Tulsa under President Hoover.  He was chairman of the Republican territorial committee before statehood. He is survived by two sons and two daughters.

 

Victor

Samuel

G.

U. S. Marshal

Muskogee

March 31, 1908

 

Vier, John Henry was commissioned in the Northern District of Kansas, Indian Territory.  He was killed when he tried to arrest the Wickliffe gang on February 20, 1905.  The Wickliffe brothers, Charley, Tom and John, started their life of crime when Charley was charged with horse rustling.   Deputy Marshal Vier and Deputy Thomas Dial arrested one of the Wickliffe boys near Oaks, Indian Territory, and was getting ready to transport him to jail.  Deputy Dial was inside of a house guarding the prisoner when Vier stepped out into the yard.  The Wickliffe gang surrounded the house and was waiting for an opportunity to free the brothers. Vier was killed by gunfire coming from heavy brush near the house.  Dial recognized the Wickliffe gang as they moved from the underbrush.  A running gun fight occurred as Dial gave pursuit to the gang, firing about fifteen shots.  The gang, acquainted with the terrain, made an easy escape.  The Wickliffe gang was made up of Cherokee Indians that lived in the Spavinaw Hills along the Little Saline Creek, twenty five miles southeast of Vinita.    Tall trees, heavy brush, mountainous terrain, and rock boulders provided cover and hiding for the gang.  Indian spotters placed themselves in the top of trees giving warning to the Wickliffe brothers when the deputy marshals came.  The gang was able to avoid direct contact with the deputy marshals until March 12, 1906, when Deputy Marshals Gilstrap, Otis Tittle, Dick Terry and Than Wooford journeyed into the outlaw’s lair.  The deputy marshals followed the gang into an ambush where approximately eleven Cherokee Indians lay in wait behind large boulders.  When the lawmen were within a few feet of the gang they opened fire with their Winchester rifles.  Gilstrap was killed.  Tittle and Carey were critically wounded as Than Wooford retreated in a hail of heavy gunfire.  A posse of one hundred deputy marshals was called to the scene of the murder which included all of the Northern District at Muskogee.  Marshal Darroughs lost two deputy marshals to the gang and wanted the outlaws brought in “Dead or Alive.”  The reward was increased to one thousand dollars for each outlaw.  The gang remained untouched by the law for a number of years.  The Wickliffe boys’ influence with the Cherokee Nation along with being protected by influential friends and family allowed them to remain free.  For more information about the manhunt and arrest of the Wickliffe gang see Deputy Marshals Pleas Thompson, and Ike Gilstrap.

(The Antlers News - May 18, 1906)  (Marietta  (The Durant Weekly News - March 16, 1906) (The Bennington Tribune - March 2, 1905; June 7, 1906) (Vinita I. T.  - February 25, 1905) (Muskogee Weekly Phoenix - March 9, 1905) (Indian Pioneer History - Nate Dickerson) (Indian Pioneer History - Mr. Lee Miller) (Oklahombres) (File #10, Indian Library, Oklahoma Historical Library)

 

Vincent, Charles T. was commissioned in the Southern District Court of Indian Territory at Paris, Texas in 1894. 

(U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896)

 

Vise, William G. was commissioned on July 10, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Deputy Marshal Vise lived in Waldron, Arkansas when commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)