Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
John Wesley Hardin |
Collection |
Hardin, John Wesley |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Catalog Number |
1PHA.30 |
Description |
John Wesley Hardin was born in Bonham on May 23rd 1853. His father was a Methodist Minister and a circuit rider who named him for the founder of the Methodist Church. The second surviving son of 10 children, Hardin was a direct descendant of Colonel Joseph Hardin, a legislator from North Carolina. In 1871 he married his hometown sweetheart Jane Bowen.They had 2 children, John Wesley Hardin Jr. born in 1876 and Jennie Hardin in 1877. After killing Deputy Sheriff Charles Webb (his 40th victim in Comanche TX, he and his family fled to Florida. He changed their names to Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Swain. After appr. 2 years the Pinkerton detectives caught up to them. He was tried in Austin and sentenced to 25 years in prison. His wife died in 1892 while he was still incarcerated. John Wesley Hardin was pardoned after 15 years by Texas Gov. Jim Hogg and released from prison on Feb.17, 1894. He immediately returned to Gonzales, TX. Having studied law in prison, he then moved to El Paso where he opened a law practice. On January 9 1895 he married 15 year- old Carolyn Jane Lewis; the marriage only lasted a short time and they separated. When his friend Mrs. McRose, widow of another outlaw, was arrested for illegally carrying a pistol, Hardin made threats against the arresting officer, John Selman. Several days later on Aug.19 1895 Selman observed Hardin playing dice in the Acme Saloon. Selman walked up behind Hardin and shot him in the back of the head, killing him instantly. Hardin was 42 years old. |
Date |
Various |
Place |
Various |
Number of images |
5 |
Year Range from |
1875 |