Sheriff Chalkey Beeson

As a Kansas sheriff, Chalkey Beeson was one of the two lawmen who gunned down Oliver Yantis near Orlando, Oklahoma in Nov 1892.

Chalkley McArtor "Chalk" Beeson (April 24, 1848-August 8, 1912), was a well known businessman, lawman, cattleman, saloon owner, manager and keeper of the Old West, best known as being one of the many owners of the famous Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas.

Originally from Salem, Ohio, Beeson was the seventh born child of Samuel and Martha Beeson. The family moved to Iowa, and at 19 Beeson left home, moving to Denver, Colorado. He worked, for a time, as a guide to buffalo hunters, with his clients including Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia, Phil Sheridan, and George Custer.

By the mid-1870s he was living in Dodge City, Kansas, becoming involved in many citizen organizations, and becoming wealthy in the cattle business. He married Ida Gause on July 17, 1876. He later, in 1878, became an owner of the Long Branch Saloon with partner William Harris, which led to his becoming associated with noted lawmen, outlaws, and gunmen of the time, to include Luke Short, Wyatt Earp, Bat, Jim and Ed Masterson, Charlie Bassett and others. During this period he once helped to defuse a confrontation by convincing a group of cowboys led by noted gunman Clay Allison to leave town to prevent trouble. That incident was witnessed by well known Pinkerton Detective Charlie Siringo, who at the time was a young cowboy. Siringo later wrote an account of the event, discounting Wyatt Earp's claim, made years after Allison's death, that he had "backed Allison down".

Beeson served for two terms as the Ford County sheriff, serving from 1892 to 1896. His most notable accomplishment while serving as sheriff was when he and Deputy US Marshal, Tom Hueston, killed Doolin Dalton gang member Oliver "Ol" Yantis, on November 30, 1892. Deputy Marshal Hueston was later killed during the Battle of Ingalls, a shootout between US Marshals and other members of the gang. Beeson was later twice elected to the State Legislature. He has been said to have been one of the most respected members of Dodge City during its wildest times. Beeson died on August 12, 1912. His wife, Ida, lived until June 15, 1928.

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If your interested in Sheriffs of Kansas, or had a family story that said one of your ancestors was a sheriff in Kansas and you would like to see if its true, then follow this link, it’s one page out of many from my web ( Kansas And Its Surnames.. )
http://kansasoakland.blogspot.com/2010/03/kansas-sheriffs.html

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