Who came to Dundy county in the days of the reign of the "Texas Longhorn" practically as a boy in charge of the responsibility put upon him by cattle barons who entrusted many thousands of dollars to his care as general manager and the brains required in driving a bunch of almost wild cattle to the fertile grazing lands of the Republican and Platte river valleys. As a general overseer of such expeditions involving dozens of men, Jeff met his responsibility and after the homesteaders took over, he joined with them in the upbuilding of our county and was equally as enthusiastic and dependable in that as he was to his employees in the days' of the Texas Longhorns. The photograph from which this picture was made was taken with a group of pioneers down in Kansas during the time that Mr. Gallagher was making his Horne with his daughter, Mrs. Harry Walker and family and at the time the picture was taken Mr. Gallagher was in his 87th year.

I wrote Mrs. Harry J. Druliner, Mr. Gallagher's daughter, who now lives at McMinnville, Oregon, for information concerning the early life of her father and she wrote that fire destroyed the Gallagher home in Benkelman many years ago and the family Bible, along with photographs and the family record had been destroyed while she was yet a child and that she didn't know too much about "Daddy Jeff's" earlier life save that he was born in Texas and that he was well up- in his 88'th year when he passed away at the home of her sister, Mrs. Josie Walker in Kansas. And then she continued: "I believe 'Daddy Jeff' and Mom were married in Stratton which was then the Wilson Circle ranch. Mother died while we still lived in Benkelman."

It seems to me that I knew Jeff Gallagher all my life, or as long as I can remember. There were times when he was absent from Dundy county for long periods, at such times being employed as foreman and manager for various large ranches. Later, as I grew older I came to know him better, and to appreciate him too because it seemed to me that he was the most gentlemanly and the most polite person I ever knew, and along with that I might add that he was one of the proudest and most dignified men I had ever met. He was kind and polite to everybody, no matter what their station in life might be, and in the matter of honesty and principle; he was as firm as the rock of ages, and no man in the history of the range country was more courageous. He was neither afraid of anybody nor was he overbearing with anybody, a trait of character that not every person possessed in those days, nor in this day either, for that matter.

He had known the prairies since a lad following the "longhorns" into Dundy county at the close of the Civil war and he was always in a position of responsibility as well as being able to get along with and handle his men. I don't think I want to leave 1885 until I have recorded the. history of a few of the pioneers who pioneered the pioneers in Dundy county and so before moving on, I want to touch on some of them for their names will appear in later installments which will largely be written by others.

Bullies Had No Place In
Jeff's Organization

Before going any further with this story of Jeff Gallagher and his activities in this section of the country, I believe that it would not be out of order to repeat the incident as written some months ago by J. W. Brown, still a resident of Max, and who in the early days was one of the men who worked under Jeff which portrays two things in Jeff's make-up which were outstanding. The first was his tendency to accomplishment without show and the other was in the fact that he had no place in this scheme of things for bullies, whether they be man or beast and bullies were not permitted in his organization. Mr. Brown said that one night he was just completing some chores at the ranch barn and was crossing a corral in which several cattle were enclosed and among the number was a large, vicious bull who objected to his presence and charged him. Mr. Brown ran for the fence but did not quite clear it before the bull caught up with him and with one powerful lunge shoved him under the fence with such force that he had difficulty in getting up but had finally succeeded and was brushing off his clothes and wondering if he could "navigate" under his own power when Jeff returned from some other section of the ranch and put his mount in the barn and then noticing Mr. Brown standing there with dirt all over him and his clothes badly ruffled, he inquired, "What's the matter Billie - what happened?" Mr. Broom explained and without saying a word Jeff proceeded back into the barn, returning with a rope and a dehorning saw and in a very few minutes that bull was a "mooley" with a very sore head and Jeff did it all himself in the matter of only a few minutes.

Jeff Was A Real Jurist Too

In touching on Mr. Gallagher, I want to first give you a sample of his ability to think quick when it appeared that trouble was in the making. The incident I have in mind was during the years that he served as sheriff of Dundy county and I was in my early twenties. Like a lot of other young fellows in town, I belonged to the K. of P. lodge and Jeff was a charter member in the first such order chartered in Dundy county and it was located at Max. The lodge was later transferred to Benkelman and one night, when there was a short session, some of the boys started up a few tables of whist in which Jeff took a hand. The games were close and everybody was interested when all of a sudden Jeff jumped up and said, "Boys, you'll have to excuse me--I have to go to the court house and release a prisoner that the marshal put in today." We asked Jeff what he was in for and he said he was a young man who got off a passenger train that afternoon and that he was intoxicated and had gone to sleep under the shade of a friendly tree near a residence and that the woman of the house discovered his presence and had sent for the marshal. Right now the boys got interested and started in to persuade Jeff to let us give him a hearing in "Kangaroo" court. Jeff didn't take to the idea very enthusiastically but we coaxed him like a bunch of kids coaxing their dad until he consented. We organized our court with two defense and two prosecution attorneys, a six-man jury and still had enough left to serve as witnesses. We coaxed Jeff into acting as judge and then sent one of the boys down to the jail to bring the prisoner up to the "bar of justice."

We took that precaution so that he would not see Jeff or know him as other than the trial judge. The prisoner was led into the district-court room of the old court house and the prosecution attorney made a statement of what he expected to prove, and believe you me, it was a plenty. He had a series of charges against him that would have sent him to the pen for life, had he been able to prove them. Then the trial started and witness after witness was called but it took a long time to get thru with even one witness because opposing counsel was always on their feet objecting and Jeff was kept busy wielding his gavel in an effort to maintain order. The situation was growing tense and still more tense and Jeff was threatening to fine about everybody for contempt of court when the young prisoner arose and asked the court if he could make a statement. The court yielded and the prisoner explained that he and his pal were clerks in a law office in New York City—in fact they were assistant attorneys getting practice under the tutelage of one of the main law offices of the city. He said that they had just graduated from Harvard law school a few months before and were taking a trip to California and when they got to McCook they imbibed a little too freely and he didn't know his friend was not on the train when he boarded it and according to a former arrangement it had been agreed between them if in case they should get parted the one ahead was to stop off and await the coming of the next train. He said he had stopped off at Benkelman because it was the first stop out of McCook and when he got here and found the next train would not reach here before midnight, he concluded to seek the shade as it was a very hot and sultry day and that when he got located he fell off to sleep and did not know what had happened until the officer picked him up and took him to jail. And then he asked the court if he would permit him to produce evidence sustaining his statement as to being a law school graduate and of his connection with the large law firm and the Court politely granted the request and then he opened his brief case, which was the only thing he had along in the way of baggage, and procured his law diploma and papers connecting him with the law firm. He was elegantly dressed and up to this time, he had an elegant personal approach too. The "exhibits" were passed from juror to juror as he looked on and then suddenly his eyes began to snap as he stepped in front of the court and started to talk and the longer he talked the faster he talked and the more vehement and cutting his remarks became.

He said he knew that he was in the wild, wild west where civilization had not been far advanced, where there was nothing but cowpunchers and Indians, but he did figure that even at that the laws and those who assumed to administer them had some degree of decency and intelligence but instead that he never in his life had witnessed such a crude approach to judicious procedure or in the matter of professional ethics. And as he talked he waxed warmer and warmer, his black, shining head becoming more ruffled as he ran his lingers thru it, his arms in motion like a windmill and with it all a command of language that not too many of us had heard in any court hearing. His oratory in the beginning was captivating but as he moved on his temper continued to assert itself until he reached a point near to down-right abuse, winding up his tirade by saying that crude as the laws might be in this God-forsaken cow country he was strongly inclined to stay over and see what could be done in the way of collecting damages for the humiliation that had been brought upon him and further than that he would do that very thing save for one reason and that was in looking over this bunch of "yellow hammers," I doubt if there is $25 in real money in the whole caboodle of you cowhands."

The thing was beginning to take on a serious aspect but Jeff Gallagher had seen people go into a tantrum before and he decided to call the turn. He started out by bringing his gavel down on the bench with terrific force and then ordered the young man to be seated-that it was the court's time to talk, and then in clear cut words and a show of judicious demeanor and dignity, the like of which I had seldom before seen executed by any jurist, Jeff told our "defendant" that he was glad to know that he had availed himself of such thorough educational advantages and hoped he would make a success of life. "But," he said, "Young man with all your legal learning I doubt if such things as getting drunk and going to sleep in people's yards and scaring women and children was any part of your legal education and I think if I were you, I would settle down, get myself together and take things a little easier, leaving out the urge to abuse people into whose presence you came unknown and uninvited. It makes no difference to me if you are in a position to boast of higher mental development than some of these people to whom you have been talking in such unpalatable language, nor does it make any difference to me where you work and where you are from. My job is to maintain peace and order and preserve the laws of this fair state of ours and I have taken an oath to do this. Even if you were the attorney general of the great state of New York and had drifted into our town intoxicated as you must admit you were, he too would be in the very spot you are. So, young fellow, in the future, where-ever you go, so conduct yourself in a way that your people can be proud of you and your state can be proud of you and your profession can be proud of you, and never while in the position that you alone have placed yourself, talk to people in the manner that you have talked to this court and the gentlemen connected with it tonight."

The lad was wilted. All of his sarcasm, his insinuations and his great show of self pride had vanished. He sat drooped in his chair. Then Jeff continued, "Now young man, I was just in the act of taking your case out of the hands of the jury when you broke out in that tirade, because I do not believe the offense justified the charges that have been made against you, and I think I will do that yet. You have twenty minutes left to catch the train and if you will make sure of catching it and troubling us no further by your presence in our fair city, I will dismiss the case and release you." The young man jumped to his feet, grabbing his hat and brief case, started for the door and just before he reached it

said, "Thanks your honor, and goodnight."

It had been more of a show than we had bargained for and we were looking from one to the other wondering what each would have to say when Jeff looked us over for a second and then said, "See what you boogers got me into-now you 'yellow hammers' beat it straight for bed and if I see a single one of you on the streets tonight, I will throw you in. And don't ever try to get me in a mess like this again." And so we took Jeff at his word and did exactly what he said. It had been quite an exciting evening and we needed rest.

When Reason. Courtesy and Persuasion Failed. Jeff Still Had
Another Trump Card Up
His Sleeve

Another amusing incident during Jeff's administration as sheriff was when he was called to Denver to return a prisoner. He was out in the country when the call came and he barely had time to make the train which in those days came shortly after noon and upon getting aboard he made direct for the diner. He was dressed much as he always dressed which was very suggestive of the west, particularly as it applied to cowboy boots and ten-gallon hat with an occasional highly colored silk handkerchief around his neck for good measure. He had just gotten nicely seated and was awaiting the delivery of his order when two honeymooning couples from the deep east who were sitting close by observed his western dress costume and began making remarks about him, none of which were too palatable for Jeff since he was highly sensitive. They talked in tones loud enough that he would be sure to hear and as they continued, their remarks became more and more offensive to Jeff and after listening to it as long as he could stand, he proceeded to lecture the young hopefuls in his usual courteous and convincing manner, telling them that his costume and habits were of the West and that they were much older than they were. He explained to them that no western lady or gentleman would make derogatory remarks about the people of the East, South or North, and that no true lady or gentleman would do so in the West, advising them further that since they were young and without too much experience along any line that it would he well for them to learn that "When they were in Rome they should do as the Romans do." Jeff thought his lecture was sufficient unto the day and started to eat his dinner when the young folks started all over again, more violent and insulting in their remarks than before.

His southern blood then began to boil and this time he really did tell them off and they resented what he said and complained to the dining car steward who immediately approached Jeff and asked him to leave the diner-that he and his talk were objectionable to other dining car guests. Jeff told him in plain words that he was not leaving and that he was listening to no more insulting remarks, either from him or anybody else and suggested that if he felt it his duty to reprimand anybody, his job was to talk to the young folks who started all the controversy. The steward became indignant at once and told him that if he didn't leave the dining car peacefully that he would have him forcibly ejected. That man did not know Jeff Gallagher, the kind, courteous and considerate man he was nor of his years on the range and the problems he had faced and met in a sense that "like begets like" and when he threatened to have him ejected by force, his blood really boiled and the presence of three colored waiters, along with a couple of porters became apparent with the announcement of their determination that they were going to remove him, with or without pain at his digression, according to the instructions of their superior.

Great beads of sweat gathered on Jeff's brow, the blood veins in his forehead became extended. His Southern blood had now risen to fever heat. The spirit of the old West and the law of the range was again in the saddle as he whipped out a six-shooter and told the dark complexioned gentry that he was from the South where colored people knew their place and kept it and at the same time ordered all of them to crawl under the tables and then just to prove to them that he was really in earnest and that he could likewise hit the bull's eye with a pistol, he shot out a couple of lights in the diner, and then when he turned back to them, they had vanished like a dream of youth. And so had everybody else. Even the dining car steward was noticeable by his absence and so Jeff leisurely completed his meal and then enjoyed private car luxuries all the rest of the way to Denver. No one showed up to question his authority.

But word was sent to Denver that a passenger who got on at Benkelman had taken over the dining car and was in complete possession and asked that a detail of officers meet the train and take over the "bad man." When the train pulled into Denver the detail of police was on hand and asked Jeff to accompany them to police headquarters and he informed them in his usual, pleasant way that he would be glad to. Upon reaching headquarters, the Chief of Police interrogated Jeff to just what had happened and how come that he had cleared the dining car. Jeff explained it all just as it happened and how the "black" invasion was assigned to drag him out and how he wasn't used to having colored people tell him what to do—on the either hand he was used to telling the darkeys what to do. and when they showed up and told him that they were going to eject him, it infuriated him to the point where he completely lost his temper.

It so happened that the police chief was from the South too and after Jeff had given him the full story, he lost his temper almost to the same extent that Jeff had lost his and his voice rang out—"you did right--case dismissed."

When rumors of Jeff’s dining car escapade got in the papers everybody thought Jeff would be doomed at the next election—that he couldn't live that one down, but the people who knew and lived with Jeff Gallagher over no many years elected him for his second term with a larger majority than he received upon his first election..

A later typewritten page ....

Jeff Gallagher

That story in Pat Ketler’s Chronicle about the time Jeff drank a bit too much and got to feeling so high he shot out the lights in the railroad dining car is all melarkey, so Jeff’s deputy told me.

They had been working the sandhill country for three days in an effort to find the rustlers who were raiding, the trail led well into Colorado. They received a two day old telegram that the Denver police had picked up a suspect, but having no evidence to hold, would release the prisoner. Jeff rawhided it to Akron. Not having time to return home or change clothes or clean up, other than douse their heads in the horse watering troughs before the train arrived.

The men were hungry, dirty and boots smelling of old corrals. They hurried to the dining car for a late dinner and seated themselves under the cold stare of the colored who seemed reluctant to serve. Jeff was a bit rilled, having been raised a southerner and rapped the table for attention. In due time the meal was served. Across the aisle were two couples of blue-nosed Easterners who began to ridicule the cowboys and complained to the waiters that their odor was unbearable and making them sick. The waiters asked Jeff to leave, which Jeff ignored, then they called for the steward and the three approached Jeff as though to force him out. Jeff exploded, saying what he thought of niggers, his rights to eat and when one took his arm, Jeff went into action with his gun, shooting through the window. But that put the niggers under the tables and cleared the car of blue-noses.

On arrival in Denver Jeff and his deputy were arrested as they detrained. He was an old friend of the Chief of Police, who thought the story so hilarious, charges dismissed without record, and all retired to the Manhattan restaurant for drinks and supper. Jeff got his prisoner, paid the railroad for the damaged window and politely refused to apologise, demanding an apology from the waiters, and got it in writing.