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Birth: Nov. 4, 1856, Austin, Travis County, Texas.
Death: Jun. 11, 1937, Temple, Bell County, Texas.
James B. Gillett was born in Austin to James Shackelford Gillett and Elizabeth Harper Gillett. He was reared in Lampasas. After a stint working as a cowboy, Gillett joined Company D, Frontier Batallion, of the Texas Rangers in 1875. As a Ranger, Gillett gained fame as an Indian fighter and as a man who could round up cattle thieves and outlaws.
In December of 1881, Gillett resigned from the Texas Rangers and was appointed assistant city marshal of El Paso; in June 1882, he was appointed marshal. El Paso was a tough border town and Gillett was known as a man without fear, despite his age. Arrow straight, he neither cursed nor drank and he claimed that "no man will ever kill me drunk". On April 1, 1885, he left law enforcement and became a cattle manager for the Estado Land and Cattle Company. Six years later, he successfully branched out on his own as a cattleman.
He chronicled his years with the Texas Rangers in his book Six Years with the Texas Rangers*--. He died of heart failure in Temple, Texas.
Wife: Mary Lou Chastain Gillett (1864 - ____).
Children: Beulah Gillett Gillett Evans (1890 - 1988).
Burial: Marfa Cemetery, Marfa, Presidio County, Texas.
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