Jeff Kidder
Encyclopedia
Jeff Kidder was a little known police officer
in the closing days of the American Old West
. He is profiled in the book "Deadly Dozen", written by author Robert K. DeArment, who indicates that Kidder was one of the twelve most underrated gunmen of the Old West.
, into a prominent family. His grandfather, Jefferson P. Kidder
, had been the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont and later served on the South Dakota Supreme Court
and in the U.S. House of Representatives
. One of the elder Kidder's sons, Lyman S. Kidder, was an officer in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (United States), and served under George Custer. Lyman Kidder was killed when his ten soldier detachment and an Indian Scout were wiped out while carrying dispatches to Custer in July 1867, with Custer and his scout Will Comstock finding the bodies mutilated days later-an event known as the Kidder Massacre
. In 1868, Silas W. Kidder settled in Vermillion.
Jeff Kidder was born there in 1875, and by an early age he'd taken an interest in dime store novels depicting the lives of gunfighters. Kidder began studying and practicing the art of the quick draw early in life, but still attended the University of South Dakota
to receive an education in algebra
, language and composition. Old West legend and lawman Jefferson Davis Milton
disliked Kidder, and would in later years say, "The only trouble with Jeff Kidder was that he wanted to be a bad man and didn't know how." Why Milton disliked Kidder is not known for certain, but it is believed by DeArment that it was due to Milton's belief that Kidder desired fame as a gunman. In reality, Kidder seems to have cared little for fame, but did have a great desire to master the art of gunfighting.
, but he chose to remain in Vermillion. That same year, the Arizona Rangers
were formed, and Kidder ventured southwest to join them. It wouldn't be until 1903 that he was hired, and during this waiting period Kidder took whatever job he could find. That included working as a cowboy
, a miner
, and as a lawman in Nogales, Arizona
. Kidder immediately became known within the Rangers as the second best marksman, second only to Captain
Harry C. Wheeler
.
Two months after his enlistment, Kidder and other Rangers went to Morenci
to quell the mine strikes and riots. Kidder had a reputation as being quiet, having little to say, unless he was drinking. When drunk, he was known to be loud mouthed and quarrelsome. It is believed that this is what led to Jeff Milton's dislike of him, as the two quarreled in a Nogales saloon one night when Kidder was intoxicated. That night, Kidder was loud and argumentative, and when Milton scolded him to quiet down because there were women and children present, Kidder leaped from his seat drawing his pistol. Milton later told his biographer that he could have killed Kidder that night, but instead told him to holster his pistol and meet him outside. Kidder did so, but when outside he elected not to engage Milton in a gunfight, and walked away. At least that was Milton's version.
Border Guard Arcus Reddoch, who witnessed the exchange, told it differently. According to Reddoch, Kidder was being obnoxious and was drunk, however it was Kidder who lamented Milton verbally while Milton held Kidder at gunpoint, with Kidder telling Milton that he should feel lucky he had him held at gunpoint, because in an even gunfight Milton didn't stand a chance. According to Reddoch, it was Milton who walked away, not Kidder. Bill Bower, an old time resident of Nogales who also witnessed the dispute, supported Reddoch's version. Tom Rynning
, an Arizona Ranger Captain, would later claim that he never saw any man faster with a gun on a quick draw than Jeff Kidder.
Kidder began working to control cattle rustling along the United States/Mexico
border near Nogales, often working alone, but sometimes joined by Rangers Fred Rankin, Billy Old, and Bill Sparks. In early 1904, Kidder and Rankin intercepted gunrunners near the border, which resulted in a gunbattle. Kidder shot and killed one of the outlaw
s, with Rankin shooting the horse out from under another. The two Rangers confiscated several weapons and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. Kidder had numerous other clashes with gunrunners on the border, leading to intelligent reports that he was to be targeted by the Mexican Border Police, who were involved in the gunrunning business with the outlaws.
Kidder, Rankin, Sparks and Old had all received commissions from Mexican General Luis E. Torres, commander of the northern district of Sonora
, authorizing them to enter into Mexico if need be in pursuit of outlaws. In the Fall of 1907, Kidder and a Benson, Arizona
Constable
fought and captured one bandit and dispersed several others who were smuggling arms and gunpowder
. By this time, Kidder had a sizable reputation on the border and in Mexico. He was promoted to sergeant
in early 1908.
on April 3, 1908, where due to his authorization he had full arrest powers, and in a small cantina he located his suspects. A gunfight erupted between Kidder and Delores Quias and Tomas Amador, both of whom were Mexican policemen, resulting in both suspects being wounded, with them wounding Kidder. Two Mexican Police, in business with the outlaws, then burst into the cantina firing at Kidder, hitting him in the gut. Kidder, alone and outnumbered, continued the fight, returning fire on the two officers, killing them both. However, Kidder had been badly wounded, the bullet having ripped through his intestines and exiting his back, leaving him laying on the floor.
Kidder, realizing he was in trouble, staggered to his feet and walked into the night and began attempting to reach the US border several hundred yards away. Several Mexican policemen and civilians stood between him and the border by this point and they began firing at Kidder. Ranger Kidder then attempted to return fire, but his gun was empty, so he veered to his right heading for the boundary. Taking cover, he reloaded and shot one of the civilians who came within his range, killing the man. Kidder continued to return fire until his ammunition was expended, at which point he surrendered.
Naco Police Chief Victoriano Amador and several of his policemen immediately jumped on Kidder, beating him senseless. Chief Amador himself had been wounded by Kidder during the last shooting exchange, having been hit slightly in the side. They continued to beat Kidder as they dragged him about fifty yards toward the local jail, then he was beat on the head with the butt of a pistol, cracking his skull. Kidder would remain in jail that night without medical attention. The following day, American officials led by Ranger Captain Wheeler pressured Mexican officials to release Kidder into a private residence for medical care, and pressed for Mexico to allow a Bisbee, Arizona
doctor, Dr. F.E. Shine, to attend him. Mexican officials complied. However by this point there was little hope that Kidder could survive. He was, however, able to speak and to relay the events as they happened in his own version.
Deputy US Marshal John Foster, a friend to Kidder, entered into Naco and visited Kidder during this time, along with several others having authority to do so. Kidder died on April 5, 1908, at 6:30am. At first, local Mexican authorities refused to allow Kidder's body to be removed to American soil, resulting in intense arguments between the American authorities and the Mexicans, with Captain Wheeler stating to the local Mexican authorities that if Kidder's body was not released, one thousand men would come across the border and take it. General Torres intervened and ordered Kidder's body returned to the Americans. His body was sent to his mother in Los Angeles, California
, where he was buried.
No charges were ever filed against those responsible for killing Kidder. This enraged the Arizona Rangers and citizens of Arizona. When the Rangers were disbanded in 1909, Ranger Billy Old, Kidder's closest friend, disappeared into Mexico, where he remained for two years. Years later, former Ranger Captain Tom Rynning revealed that Old had entered Mexico and did not return to the US until he had hunted down and killed all of those responsible for Kidder's death.
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
in the closing days of the American Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
. He is profiled in the book "Deadly Dozen", written by author Robert K. DeArment, who indicates that Kidder was one of the twelve most underrated gunmen of the Old West.
Early life
Kidder was born Jefferson David Kidder, in Vermillion, South DakotaVermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the tenth largest city in the state. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 10,571. Vermillion lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.The area has been home to...
, into a prominent family. His grandfather, Jefferson P. Kidder
Jefferson P. Kidder
Jefferson Parish Kidder was an American lawyer and jurist. He served as the non-voting delegate from the Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives. Kidder was born in Braintree, Orange County, Vermont, and studied law at Montpelier. He was admitted to the bar in 1839 and...
, had been the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont and later served on the South Dakota Supreme Court
South Dakota Supreme Court
The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota. It is composed of a chief justice and four associate justices appointed by governor and selected from five different appointment districts. Justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after appointment...
and in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. One of the elder Kidder's sons, Lyman S. Kidder, was an officer in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (United States), and served under George Custer. Lyman Kidder was killed when his ten soldier detachment and an Indian Scout were wiped out while carrying dispatches to Custer in July 1867, with Custer and his scout Will Comstock finding the bodies mutilated days later-an event known as the Kidder Massacre
Kidder Massacre
The Kidder Massacre of 29 June 1867 refers to a Sioux and Northern Cheyenne war party's killing of United States Second Lieutenant Lyman Kidder, along with an Indian scout and ten enlisted men in Sherman County, Kansas, near Goodland, Kansas.-Background:...
. In 1868, Silas W. Kidder settled in Vermillion.
Jeff Kidder was born there in 1875, and by an early age he'd taken an interest in dime store novels depicting the lives of gunfighters. Kidder began studying and practicing the art of the quick draw early in life, but still attended the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
to receive an education in algebra
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
, language and composition. Old West legend and lawman Jefferson Davis Milton
Jeff Milton
Jeff Milton , born Jeff Davis Milton, was an Old West lawman, and the son of Confederate Florida governor John Milton.-Early life:...
disliked Kidder, and would in later years say, "The only trouble with Jeff Kidder was that he wanted to be a bad man and didn't know how." Why Milton disliked Kidder is not known for certain, but it is believed by DeArment that it was due to Milton's belief that Kidder desired fame as a gunman. In reality, Kidder seems to have cared little for fame, but did have a great desire to master the art of gunfighting.
Life in the west
In 1901, Kidder's family moved to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but he chose to remain in Vermillion. That same year, the Arizona Rangers
Arizona Rangers
The Arizona Rangers is an Arizona law enforcement agency modeled on the Texas Rangers. The Arizona Rangers were created by the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1901, disbanded in 1909, and subsequently reformed in 1957. They were created to deal with the infestations of outlaws in the sparsely...
were formed, and Kidder ventured southwest to join them. It wouldn't be until 1903 that he was hired, and during this waiting period Kidder took whatever job he could find. That included working as a cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
, a miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
, and as a lawman in Nogales, Arizona
Nogales, Arizona
Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 21,017 at the 2010 census. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,833. The city is the county seat of Santa Cruz County....
. Kidder immediately became known within the Rangers as the second best marksman, second only to Captain
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
Harry C. Wheeler
Harry C. Wheeler
Harry Cornwall Wheeler was an Arizona lawman who was the third and final captain of the Arizona Rangers and was elected sheriff of Cochise County.-Early life:...
.
Two months after his enlistment, Kidder and other Rangers went to Morenci
Morenci, Arizona
Morenci is a census-designated place in Greenlee County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,879 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area...
to quell the mine strikes and riots. Kidder had a reputation as being quiet, having little to say, unless he was drinking. When drunk, he was known to be loud mouthed and quarrelsome. It is believed that this is what led to Jeff Milton's dislike of him, as the two quarreled in a Nogales saloon one night when Kidder was intoxicated. That night, Kidder was loud and argumentative, and when Milton scolded him to quiet down because there were women and children present, Kidder leaped from his seat drawing his pistol. Milton later told his biographer that he could have killed Kidder that night, but instead told him to holster his pistol and meet him outside. Kidder did so, but when outside he elected not to engage Milton in a gunfight, and walked away. At least that was Milton's version.
Border Guard Arcus Reddoch, who witnessed the exchange, told it differently. According to Reddoch, Kidder was being obnoxious and was drunk, however it was Kidder who lamented Milton verbally while Milton held Kidder at gunpoint, with Kidder telling Milton that he should feel lucky he had him held at gunpoint, because in an even gunfight Milton didn't stand a chance. According to Reddoch, it was Milton who walked away, not Kidder. Bill Bower, an old time resident of Nogales who also witnessed the dispute, supported Reddoch's version. Tom Rynning
Thomas H. Rynning
Thomas H. Rynning was an American law enforcement officer, warden of Yuma Territorial Prison and a captain in the Arizona Rangers, serving as head of the organization from 1902 to 1907.-Biography:...
, an Arizona Ranger Captain, would later claim that he never saw any man faster with a gun on a quick draw than Jeff Kidder.
Kidder began working to control cattle rustling along the United States/Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border near Nogales, often working alone, but sometimes joined by Rangers Fred Rankin, Billy Old, and Bill Sparks. In early 1904, Kidder and Rankin intercepted gunrunners near the border, which resulted in a gunbattle. Kidder shot and killed one of the outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
s, with Rankin shooting the horse out from under another. The two Rangers confiscated several weapons and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. Kidder had numerous other clashes with gunrunners on the border, leading to intelligent reports that he was to be targeted by the Mexican Border Police, who were involved in the gunrunning business with the outlaws.
Kidder, Rankin, Sparks and Old had all received commissions from Mexican General Luis E. Torres, commander of the northern district of Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, authorizing them to enter into Mexico if need be in pursuit of outlaws. In the Fall of 1907, Kidder and a Benson, Arizona
Benson, Arizona
-Transportation:Benson Airport is located 3 miles north west of the city.Benson is served by Interstate 10 to the north, which travels directly to downtown Tucson....
Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
fought and captured one bandit and dispersed several others who were smuggling arms and gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
. By this time, Kidder had a sizable reputation on the border and in Mexico. He was promoted to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in early 1908.
Gunfight and death
In late March, 1908, Kidder was in pursuit of gunrunners into Mexico. He entered Naco, SonoraNaco, Sonora
Naco is a Mexican town and municipality located in the northeast part of Sonora state on the border with the United States. It is directly across from the unincorporated town of Naco, Arizona. The name Naco comes from the Opata language and means nopal cactus. The town saw fighting during the...
on April 3, 1908, where due to his authorization he had full arrest powers, and in a small cantina he located his suspects. A gunfight erupted between Kidder and Delores Quias and Tomas Amador, both of whom were Mexican policemen, resulting in both suspects being wounded, with them wounding Kidder. Two Mexican Police, in business with the outlaws, then burst into the cantina firing at Kidder, hitting him in the gut. Kidder, alone and outnumbered, continued the fight, returning fire on the two officers, killing them both. However, Kidder had been badly wounded, the bullet having ripped through his intestines and exiting his back, leaving him laying on the floor.
Kidder, realizing he was in trouble, staggered to his feet and walked into the night and began attempting to reach the US border several hundred yards away. Several Mexican policemen and civilians stood between him and the border by this point and they began firing at Kidder. Ranger Kidder then attempted to return fire, but his gun was empty, so he veered to his right heading for the boundary. Taking cover, he reloaded and shot one of the civilians who came within his range, killing the man. Kidder continued to return fire until his ammunition was expended, at which point he surrendered.
Naco Police Chief Victoriano Amador and several of his policemen immediately jumped on Kidder, beating him senseless. Chief Amador himself had been wounded by Kidder during the last shooting exchange, having been hit slightly in the side. They continued to beat Kidder as they dragged him about fifty yards toward the local jail, then he was beat on the head with the butt of a pistol, cracking his skull. Kidder would remain in jail that night without medical attention. The following day, American officials led by Ranger Captain Wheeler pressured Mexican officials to release Kidder into a private residence for medical care, and pressed for Mexico to allow a Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, 82 miles southeast of Tucson. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 6,177...
doctor, Dr. F.E. Shine, to attend him. Mexican officials complied. However by this point there was little hope that Kidder could survive. He was, however, able to speak and to relay the events as they happened in his own version.
Deputy US Marshal John Foster, a friend to Kidder, entered into Naco and visited Kidder during this time, along with several others having authority to do so. Kidder died on April 5, 1908, at 6:30am. At first, local Mexican authorities refused to allow Kidder's body to be removed to American soil, resulting in intense arguments between the American authorities and the Mexicans, with Captain Wheeler stating to the local Mexican authorities that if Kidder's body was not released, one thousand men would come across the border and take it. General Torres intervened and ordered Kidder's body returned to the Americans. His body was sent to his mother in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where he was buried.
No charges were ever filed against those responsible for killing Kidder. This enraged the Arizona Rangers and citizens of Arizona. When the Rangers were disbanded in 1909, Ranger Billy Old, Kidder's closest friend, disappeared into Mexico, where he remained for two years. Years later, former Ranger Captain Tom Rynning revealed that Old had entered Mexico and did not return to the US until he had hunted down and killed all of those responsible for Kidder's death.