Joseph Franklin Dye
Encyclopedia
Joseph Franklin Dye teamster, alleged member of the Mason Henry Gang
, lawman, rancher and oilman.
, Kentucky
in 1831 as one of 16 children in a family that later settled in Texas
. In 1849, he and two of his brothers came west in the California Gold Rush
but returned the next year. In 1853 following his fathers death, Joe Dye left the family farm and worked for several years as a miner and mule team driver various places in the Southwest. In that first year, he shot a man while in Santa Fe
, wounding him in the neck during a fight over a card game. On January 27, 1864, he was with a party of settlers and Maricopa
Indians under King Woolsey
in Arizona Territory
, chasing a band of Tonto Apache horse thieves when he was involved in the incident known as the Massacre at Bloody Tanks near Miami, Arizona
, along with his friend John Rogers. This gang of bushwackers formed in 1864, soon turned outlaw, with two murders committed at Elkhorn Station earning them a price on their heads. Chased out of central California under preasure from the Union Army
and Sheriff John Hicks Adams
of San Jose
, they moved into Southern California
and split up after the end of he Civil War in April 1865, James Henry
with part of the gang moved into the eastern San Gabriel Mountains
at San Sevaine Flats from which they began rustling, committing robbery and murder as they did. In September of that year, he and his associates were camped out south of San Bernardino and sent John Rogers to the town to obtain provisions. While there, Rogers visited Whiskey Point, became drunk and started boasting about his outlaw connections. Locals of Union sympathies took note and sent for San Bernardino County Sheriff George T. Fulgham
. Rogers soon found himself in the company of the Sheriff and his posse, leading them to the outlaw camp in Santa Jacinto Canyon
. There James Henry died alone in a fusillade of bullets. However Joe Dye was not there, perhaps like many others having given up the lost cause or leaving the gang for its behavior or merely being away at the time.
of former Governor John G. Downey
. Dye pursued the two, who had an eight day lead, across the Mojave Desert
toward Salt Lake City. Getting fresh horses and a guide from Camp Cady, he succeaded in capturing them before they left California, gaining a reward from Downey, and a reputation. In 1867, Los Angeles City Marshal William C. Warren, impressed with Dye's tracking and shooting skills, hired Dye to patrol the gambling halls, saloons and bordellos of the city's Chinatown
. Successful in this assignment Dye was appointed a Special Police Officer December 21, 1868. On December 9, 1869 he was appointed as one of Warren's six Police Officers for the City of Los Angeles. However a fatal dispute arose in 1870:
) and got into the oil business that was beginning in the Sespe oil field
. He took on a nephew, Mason Bradfield as a partner. After they fell out over an oil claim, Dye conducted a campaign of death threats and intimidation against Bradfield and his partners.
Mason Henry Gang
Mason Henry Gang 1864-1865, a bandit gang that posed as Confederate partisan rangers but acted as outlaws, committing robberies, thefts and murders in the southern San Joaquin Valley, Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, Santa Clara County, and in counties of Southern California.- Mason and Henry as...
, lawman, rancher and oilman.
Early life
Joseph Franklin Dye was born in Union CountyUnion County, Kentucky
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1811. As of 2010, the population was 15,007. Its county seat is Morganfield.-Geography:Union County is part of the Western Coal Fields region of Kentucky...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1831 as one of 16 children in a family that later settled in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 1849, he and two of his brothers came west in the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
but returned the next year. In 1853 following his fathers death, Joe Dye left the family farm and worked for several years as a miner and mule team driver various places in the Southwest. In that first year, he shot a man while in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, wounding him in the neck during a fight over a card game. On January 27, 1864, he was with a party of settlers and Maricopa
Maricopa
The Maricopa or Piipaash, are a Native American tribe, who live in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Gila River Indian Community along with the Pima, a tribe with whom the Maricopa have long held a positive relationship...
Indians under King Woolsey
King Woolsey
King S. Woolsey was an American pioneer rancher, Indian-fighter, prospector and politician in 19th century Arizona. Woolsey Peak and other features of Arizona geography have been named after him, but he has also been criticized by historians for brutality in his battles with Apache native...
in Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
, chasing a band of Tonto Apache horse thieves when he was involved in the incident known as the Massacre at Bloody Tanks near Miami, Arizona
Miami, Arizona
Miami is a town in Gila County, Arizona, United States. Miami is a classic Western copper boomtown, though the copper mines are largely dormant now...
Bushwacker or Outlaw
Toward the end of the Civil War, Joe Dye was in California and as a dedicated secessionist, was reputed to have joined the Mason Henry GangMason Henry Gang
Mason Henry Gang 1864-1865, a bandit gang that posed as Confederate partisan rangers but acted as outlaws, committing robberies, thefts and murders in the southern San Joaquin Valley, Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, Santa Clara County, and in counties of Southern California.- Mason and Henry as...
, along with his friend John Rogers. This gang of bushwackers formed in 1864, soon turned outlaw, with two murders committed at Elkhorn Station earning them a price on their heads. Chased out of central California under preasure from the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and Sheriff John Hicks Adams
John Hicks Adams
John Hicks Adams , Soldier, 49er, Santa Clara County Sheriff, , Deputy United States Marshal for the Arizona Territory 1878.- Early life :...
of San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, they moved into Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and split up after the end of he Civil War in April 1865, James Henry
Tom McCauley
Tom McCauley, better known by his alias as James Henry or Jim Henry , was one of the many California Gold Rush criminals in Tuolumne County convicted of murder with his brother in 1857 and imprisoned for ten years...
with part of the gang moved into the eastern San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
at San Sevaine Flats from which they began rustling, committing robbery and murder as they did. In September of that year, he and his associates were camped out south of San Bernardino and sent John Rogers to the town to obtain provisions. While there, Rogers visited Whiskey Point, became drunk and started boasting about his outlaw connections. Locals of Union sympathies took note and sent for San Bernardino County Sheriff George T. Fulgham
George T. Fulgham
George T. Fulgham, Sheriff of San Bernardino County, California from 1864-1866. Led the posse that killed Jim Henry of the Mason Henry Gang in San Jacinto Canyon on September 14, 1865.-References:...
. Rogers soon found himself in the company of the Sheriff and his posse, leading them to the outlaw camp in Santa Jacinto Canyon
Railroad Canyon
Railroad Canyon, also known as San Jacinto Canyon, Cottonwood Canyon, and Annie Orton Canyon, lies along the course of the San Jacinto River at the point where the river passes south through the hills from Perris, California, through Canyon Lake, California, then west to Lake Elsinore, California...
. There James Henry died alone in a fusillade of bullets. However Joe Dye was not there, perhaps like many others having given up the lost cause or leaving the gang for its behavior or merely being away at the time.
Lawman
After the war in 1866, William Rubottom a Deputy Los Angeles County Sheriff for El Monte, hired his friend Joe Dye as a special deputy to track down two thieves who had taken horses and a wagon from the Rancho Santa GertrudesRancho Santa Gertrudes
Rancho Santa Gertrudes was a 1834 Mexican land grant, in present day Los Angeles County, California resulting from a partition of Rancho Los Nietos...
of former Governor John G. Downey
John G. Downey
John Gately Downey was an Irish-American politician and the seventh Governor of California from January 14, 1860 to January 10, 1862. Until the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003, Downey was California's only foreign-born governor...
. Dye pursued the two, who had an eight day lead, across the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
toward Salt Lake City. Getting fresh horses and a guide from Camp Cady, he succeaded in capturing them before they left California, gaining a reward from Downey, and a reputation. In 1867, Los Angeles City Marshal William C. Warren, impressed with Dye's tracking and shooting skills, hired Dye to patrol the gambling halls, saloons and bordellos of the city's Chinatown
Chinatown, Los Angeles
Chinatown in Los Angeles, California is located in the city's downtown area. Built in 1938, it is the second Chinatown to be constructed in Los Angeles. The original historic Chinatown was founded in the late 19th century, but was demolished to make room for Union Station, the city's major rail...
. Successful in this assignment Dye was appointed a Special Police Officer December 21, 1868. On December 9, 1869 he was appointed as one of Warren's six Police Officers for the City of Los Angeles. However a fatal dispute arose in 1870:
- "During the second marshalship of William C. Warren, when Joe Dye was one of his deputy officers, there was great traffic in Chinese women, one of whom was kidnapped and carried off to San Diego. A reward of a hundred dollars was offered for her return, and she was brought back on a charge of theft and tried in the Court of Justice Trafford, on Temple Street near Spring. During the trial, on October 31, 1870, Warren and Dye fell into a dispute as to the reward; and the quarrel was renewed outside the courtroom. At a spot near the corner of Spring and Temple streets Dye shot and killed Warren; and in the scrimmage several other persons standing near were wounded. Dye was tried, but acquitted."
Later life
Losing his job as Deputy Marshal and in fear of vigilante justice, Dye moved to a ranch in eastern Santa Barbara County (now Ventura CountyVentura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
) and got into the oil business that was beginning in the Sespe oil field
Sespe Formation
The Sespe Formation is a widespread fossiliferous sedimentary geologic unit in southern and south central California in the United States. It is of nonmarine origin, consisting predominantly of sandstones and conglomerates laid down in a riverine, shoreline, and floodplain environment between the...
. He took on a nephew, Mason Bradfield as a partner. After they fell out over an oil claim, Dye conducted a campaign of death threats and intimidation against Bradfield and his partners.
- "Later, however, he himself was killed by ..., Mason Bradfield, whose life he had frequently threatened and who fired the deadly bullet from a window of the New Arlington Hotel, formerly the White House, at the southeast comer of Commercial and Los Angeles streets."