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John HardeenNotorious Texas marksman and killer.
Date of Birth: 26.05.1853
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of John Hardin
John Wesley Hardin, a famous gunslinger and outlaw of the Wild West, was born on May 26, 1853, in the town of Bonham, Texas, USA. His father, James J. Hardin, was an itinerant preacher and minister of the Methodist Church. His mother, Elizabeth (as described by John Hardin himself), "was a fair-haired, educated woman dedicated to charity." John Hardin grew up as a restless, hot-tempered boy prone to violence.
Troubled Youth
When he was fourteen years old, one of his schoolmates drew a caricature mocking John on a wall. Enraged, John attacked the boy and stabbed him twice. At fifteen, John Hardin challenged a former slave named Mage to a fight and severely beat him, causing him significant facial injuries. Mage declared that "no white man would get away with shedding his blood." The next day, Mage found John and wanted to settle the score, but John Hardin pulled out his gun and shot Mage three times. Mage died three days later. At the time, Texas was under Confederate Army control, and John Hardin decided to flee the law, fearing punishment for killing a black man.
The Rancher and the Mexican Bandits
At the age of seventeen, while working on a cattle ranch, John Hardin noticed a group of Mexicans attempting to steal a herd right before his eyes. Hardin's arguments against them were so compelling and swift that within minutes, six Mexicans were shot dead. The criminal then ran off to Kansas. In 1871, John Hardin returned to his hometown and married his long-time love, Jane Bowen. They had two sons together. Jane knew everything about her husband but remained faithful and loving. After the murder of Sheriff Charles Webb, John Hardin decided to flee Texas with his family. They went into hiding in Florida, but private detectives tracked down John Hardin, captured him, and escorted him to Alabama. John Hardin was tried, convicted, and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. After fifteen years of imprisonment, he applied for parole and was granted amnesty.
Life After Prison
During his time in prison, John Hardin studied law and became highly skilled in the field of advocacy. Later, he worked as a lawyer in El Paso. One day, while defending the widow of a criminal who illegally possessed weapons in court, John Hardin had a dispute with one of the officers, John Selman. A few days later, on August 19, 1895, John Selman saw John Hardin playing dice, approached him from behind, and shot him in the head. Thus, one of the most notorious outlaws of the Wild West met his end in a simple and unceremonious manner.
