From Outlaw to Lawman: The Shocking Transformation of Frank Canton

Frank Canton was not born; he was created. The mental fabrication of a notorious outlaw and escaped convict by the name of Joe Horner. After possibly killing his first man at the tender age of 15, Horner would spend the next several years as a cowboy and ranch hand before forming the infamous Horner gang, that would terrorize north Texas during the mid-1870s. After a full-on gun battle with the United States military in broad daylight, Horner is arrested but escapes. And, following the successful robbery of at least one bank, Horner was once more apprehended and jailed - this time in San Antonio - and once more escaped. Arrested again after yet another gunfight, Horner would be tried, found guilty, and sentenced to 15 years hard labor in Huntsville State Penitentiary. He would only do two of these years, escaping once more - this time never to be seen again. At least not as Josiah Horner. The escaped convict would travel north, to Wyoming, and reinvent himself. Becoming Frank Canton, the epitome of law and order and a relentless pursuer of evil-doers. First as an inspector and detective for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and then as Sheriff of Johnson County, before being a key player in the Johnson County War. Canton would then mosey on down to Indian Territory, and once again pin on a badge, first as a sheriff and then as a deputy U.S. Marshal, chasing bad guys Rooster Cogburn style. This was at a time when the Territory was nearly overrun with outlaws and the area Canton was initially stationed in was so bad the county commissioners were asking for martial law. Turns out all they needed was Frank Canton. But then a new frontier beckoned. What some were taking to calling the last Frontier. Alaska. There was gold up there in the great white north and with gold comes crime. More than enough to keep a man such as Canton busy. But what about Frank’s past as an outlaw? The former life of Josiah Horner, the escaped convict? Would this ever catch up with him? And was he really Mr. Law and Order, humble public servant or was this just a façade? A way of him ensuring that he was always aligned with the powerful and influential. Believe me when I say, this story has it all. Cowboys, outlaws, moral quandaries, Buffalo soldiers, female rustlers, questionable morals, cattle drives, stampedes, a damn range war, a mercenary army, assassinations, murder, a whole lot of hangings, Tom Horn, the Pinkertons, Teddy Roosevelt, hell - even vampires! Yes, vampires. #wildwest #history #cowboy
Frank Canton Part 2 - • From Hero to Villain: ...
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[@earlclue]

thanks chanelling to my dad, he was born in 1937, he was old west freak, 1960's we watched alot on TV, he sooo would love ur pod, excellent, he passed in 04, but is hearing it through me...thanks

[@CmdrMoosicvsLounge]

I admire your ability to take fairly obscure historical figures and make them quite interesting and relevant. You just may of missed your calling as a history teacher. Keep up the great work!👍✌😎

[@tooslow4065]

good job again, josh. its interesting that when these criminals become lawmen, they tend to actually enforce the law, instead of letting bad guys go because they relate to them.

[@JoeSmith-sl9bq]

That’s just them being cutthroats

[@blueliesmatter2]

Things have not changed. It is about the personality required to use force on others. A person who has no issue robbing someone will have no issues with using "the law" to rob them of life liberty or property in the name of the state.

[@asimnicholsmusic]

My favorite channel. You are funny as hell and appear to be honest in relaying these great stories. Thank you.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thank you

[@DeepOwl1073]

They just keep getting better! Great episode, Josh.

[@S.L.O.P.]

I've been watching this series about Canton. You've won my vote. One of the best on this platform. Thank you, Josh!

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thank YOU!!!

[@tomjones9935]

Having grown up in western Nebraska and spending many years working energy in Gillette, Wyoming, I am very familiar with the Johnson County War and Frank Canton’s history. I am amazed by the fact that it’s not well known that he had such a broad criminal history before ever coming to Wyoming. Great story! Thanks for filling it out so well! You could easily do a couple episodes on Nate Champion as well-

[@iainmelville9411]

Once again thank you for an entertaining yarn. Bravo !

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thanks for listening

[@johnnieplageman9145]

Excellent episode as always sir! I am always amazed at how easy it was for people to just disappear back then. Not to mention the boldness of these criminals that later wore the badge.

[@tomdetroit01]

Long time coming for this one. Great episode

[@snapdragon6601]

Good video. It's gotta be harder to make videos interesting when discussing a time in history before motion picture but you do a great job.👍

[@davidruppel1216]

Great story again Josh! You have a talent for finding, researching, and telling the history of the Wild West ! Thank you!

[@Jacob488.4]

Definitely recommend watching

[@nobrakes425]

love the videos i fell off for a few months so im going back and catching up on what ive missed.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Welcome back!

[@Sandbarfight]

Great job as always.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thank you!

[@Sandbarfight]

@@WildWestExtravaganza o yeah partner!!

[@montana663]

Perfect as usual

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thank you

[@Riqueee24]

Shout out to u my guy love the work👌🏽🫡

[@bruiserflemings1054]

Man you got to do a show on my family.... The pound gap massacre its not the west but right time frame and a very interesting and not very well known story

[@michaelleblanc7283]

Interesting j suggestion. Just did a quick wiki-check. and caught a glimpse of what you mean.

[@bruiserflemings1054]

@@michaelleblanc7283 very interesting story especially when you get into the story from both sides and the events that occurred after

[@ArizonaGhostriders]

Frank was an interesting feller!

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Yes sir

[@generationomega9342]

"Sorry... That doesn't usually happen." 😳 🤣

[@beau4129]

Great work

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thank you

[@TsmithJustin]

Fuck yes. Love watcha do Josh.

[@LauseMarkA]

Cold-blooded . . . even for outdoors in Wyoming. Just cold.

[@kennedyrowland3272]

“If any of you here listening have an adderal prescription, please email me a translation”🤣🤣🤣

[@ronthompson2421]

Neck yoke was used with Oxen if I've heard right?

[@JoeSmith-sl9bq]

I love these Yee haw shenanigans.

[@timlarson7200]

You mentioned Burk Burnett,an extremely wealthy Texas cattleman. He apparently was also tighter than Dick's hatband. A story; true, who knows,this is Texas! Seems that he and several other geezers were sitting around the train station watching a train arrive. A salesman (a dandy) stepped off the train with a shipload of baggage. "Would any of you gentlemen care to carry my luggage to the hotel for me for a dime?" No response. Then one agreed. On the trip to the hotel the salesman asked "Who owns that big house on the hill" "I do" was the reply. "Where did you get that kind of money?" "Well, I sure didn't get it by giving some S.O.B. a dime to carry my luggage!:

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Ha! That's a pretty good story

[@dannysimmons3167]

A word from this episode sponsor, that’s funny

[@chucklehead2000]

I once rustled a life size cutout of Kylie Ireland from a Saloon in San Diego.

[@kneeinyourface]

And yet another outstanding episode! ❤

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thanks man

[@bruiserflemings1054]

Im at 23mins into the video and iv only hear frank Canton mentioned 1 time ????????

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

(Frank Canton's real name is Joe Horner...)

[@bruiserflemings1054]

Yea i went and looked it up my apologies

[@cjalger616]

Great stuff big pimpin let your freak flag fly man digging it yeehaww cowboy up

[@williamminamoto.7535]

It would be interesting to review Controuve A. Ralph Epperson 4 part series on Jess James.. the real knights of the golden circle.. established 1837 by city of London bankers gold to civil war 1861.. then work for the second civil war.. The Missourian from the show me state

[@rustleshackleford1553]

Not pressing charges on ANYONE throwing lead at soldiers (regardless of their race), is crazy to me .🤨

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

That's the wild west for ya

[@Ftj92]

The reason the aggregated assault is so “convoluted” is the author is proving that the accused met the legal “elements” of the crime he’s accused of committing

[@landofwaterfalls]

Do a segment on Pretty Boy Floyd please

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

A little out of the old west era but I agree he was very interesting

[@landofwaterfalls]

@@WildWestExtravaganza My Great Grandmother went to his Funeral and told the story of 5000 to 10000 people there and being somewhat of a robinhood too . He's from that area of Ok that so many Indians and outlaws came from as well.

[@PNWCagey-Dub]

Sounds like Joe had Porphyria. I have something like it. I can’t eat garlic, can’t be in any UV (sun or any lightbulbs that emit UV, which is All fucking stores and hospitals, basically everywhere) I’m up all night, sleep during the day and had ro move to a place with mild weather and low UV. Summertime is hell for me. I don’t know why breaking the mirrors was done but I don’t have any in my house except in the bathrooms vanities. Maybe the light reflection. Couldn’t get away from the UV? Even my car has special tinting on all windows and my house has blackout blinds and curtains. Then the light actually hurts my eyes/brain. It’s a crazy illness. Mine causes organ damage or shutdown from too much UV exposure. I wonder what other symptoms he had.

[@justinsane7128]

Gosh Josh here you have stories of outlaws turning into lawmen, yet not a single story in the old west of a man turning into a woman, or a woman turning into a man, yet there's one on every street corner nowadays, what's up with that Josh?

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Oh but I do! Older episode on Patreon we talk about a Lakota "two spirit"

[@Bill_tyler]

Where’s part two of this?

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

If you go to videos and scroll down it's the one right above this one titled "Frank Canton Sheriff"

[@Bill_tyler]

@@WildWestExtravaganza apologies for the laziness , thanks for the spoon feeding 🤣 just starting part 3, thanks

[@ALRIGHTYTHEN.]

There used to be a time when you could just watch a video without getting into a social argument you're not a party to.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

What's the social argument?

[@ALRIGHTYTHEN.]

@@WildWestExtravaganza Apparently the mistreatment of people today by people today.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

@@ALRIGHTYTHEN. I'll be honest with you, I don't remember what part you're referring to. I recorded this a while back.

[@dwightcurrie8316]

Wooden Neck Yokes were & are used on Oxen, because Oxen were Driven, using long poles, Whips, or verbal Commands and the Driver almost always walked alongside the team of Oxen and guide them, using whips, poles, Prods and a whole lot of Cussing. Oxen are also Very Slow and making long distances in a day was a Chore & hard on the Ox Team, add to that, the fact that a Cow will eat and drink around Twice as much as a Horse, making Over Exertion Costly and a good way to end up on foot, leaving the wagon and contents behind, leaving with nothing but what they could carry, or somebody had to walk to find a replacement Team, if the travelers didn't drive spare Teams along with the wagon.....and those who could foot the bill for extra Oxen, almost always did....Just Plain Good Sense to carry all sorts of "Spares" for those traveling across the Continent Horses and Mules were not "Yoked" together by a Big Honking Wooden Yokes. Horses were Harnessed driven from behind, in a Leather Harness, with them "Pulling" against a Soft Leather covered "Horse Collar" & the use of long Reins, or Lines to guide them. Cattle or Oxen have an almost Even Profile, meaning that in most Cattle, their heads are close to the same level as their tails, meaning that a much less Flexible Wooden Yoke across their Shoulders would allow them to Pull Heavy Loads with relative ease. The Yoke setup for a Mule Or Horse, simply wouldn't work effectively and would likely injure the equine via rubbing of the horses hair, but the Hide would go with the hair, and Horse Hide heals Slowly. It wasn't worth the trouble to try and have Horse pull load using a Yoke, even if it were possible to form one to fit and make Pulling possible, which I seriously doubt that being possible

[@jlthearcher]

He didn't pistolwhip the guy. He pointed a gun at him and of course did many other wrongs.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Then and there

[@danielwebster5748]

That was not all that uncommon back in for a man to be both sometimes at the same time. Wyatt Earp was a lawbreaker and lawman at different times. Wild Bill Hickok same thing, John selman really there's multiple ones you could name as as a matter of fact most of all men were also outlaws. Nearly every Marshall had a checkered past or dark places on the trail when they didn't know what he was doing.

[@adastraperaspera7098]

ROFL. throws loaded gun at suspect. wow

[@mrbill_oh_no]

Horner gang! I think I’ve scene that movie.

[@willard1697]

Well Josh+ B he him it whatever, get woke go broke. ...... Fuge ..... I was enjoying your dry sarcasm, but I can find the same content elsewhere. Don't bother replying I'm gone.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Oh no! Please don't go! How will I pay my bills, Willard????

[@dannysimmons3167]

Everything but the kitchen sink

[@KSFWG]

Only 2 things missing: Andrew Lincoln and Zombies. Just sayin'...

[@jeffcool9769]

You are true blue, a real great story teller, a real fartknocker, like me, and that other fartknocker Stevie (nix) King. And funny, like me, not him.

[@justinsane7128]

Whoop ahhh

[@williamemerson1799]

His mom was Mary Jane!! No wonder he coulda been a little off.🥴

[@briankelso5174]

The arrest record lol old English ways

[@justinakers3196]

A la Raylan Givens

[@moondancer4660]

Hahaha 😂❤

[@missouribackwoodsadventures]

Ain’t nothing worse than a yankee teamster

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Words to live by

[@michaelleblanc7283]

How about two of 'em ? : )

[@lesterandrews1894]

woke Bs.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Lol

[@kenthatfield4287]

I find your language utterly offensive and also the filthiness of your conversation adding things to the story that you shouldn't.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I find your offense utterly offensive, the absolute gall and arrogance you must possess to assume I created this for your fragile sensibilities. In what world do you think that I care about your opinion, Kent?

[@johnnieplageman9145]

Keep doing what your doing sir, we like things just the way they are!!

[@blueliesmatter2]

@@WildWestExtravaganza I find your use of language utterly titatious. Pun intended. My appreciation of your filthiness in conversation is probably only due to my prior traumatic brain injury. I sir will be conducting an experiment to determine if your podcast is still as entertaining after consuming copious amounts of whiskey. While I appreciate your advertisement of the outlaw saloon in San Antonio, I regret to inform you that they no longer allow me to listen to your podcast in the location. It may or may not have anything to do with hideous laughter, spitting my whiskey out or it could be they just banned me for fornication with livestock in the parking lot.