Dr. History's Tales of the Old West

Both were successful Missouri Riverboat Captains, fighting Indians, ever-changing river conditions. The river was different going upstream compared with downstream. Marsh captained the Far West to the Little Bighorn river to rescue survivors of the Custer Battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1819 the Independence was the first of hundreds of steamers on the Missouri River. Three hundred steamers were destroyed by snags, fire, crushed by ice, violent winds or boiler explosions. The Saluda was the worst disaster on the Missouri, the boiler exploded killing 200 crew and passengers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Young Baylis Fletcher hired on to drive cattle from Texas to Wyoming. He faced a stampede, quicksand in the Red River, hail storms, Indians and endless miles of brown grass prairies. The boy Fletcher passed the test, he became a cowboy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh the good ole days when I rode the range with my trusty Mattel “Peacemaker” six shooter. Cap guns first appeared in the 1860's. Movies and TV from the forties through the sixties was the age of cap guns. We all wanted to be like Roy Rogers, Annie Oakley, Gene Autry. The Lone Ranger, Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy were our heroes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He started by stealing geese, but quickly moved on to house breaking, robbing saloons and stores, ending up in prison. He added murder to his list while escaping prison. He continued a life of crime until caught by a posse while hiding in a wheat field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kidnapped by the Shawnee with her two sons. She escaped, traveled 500 to 600 miles, crossed 145 creeks and rivers, nearly froze, survived living on black walnuts, wild grapes, sassafras leaves, blackberries, even dead animals. After traveling 42 days she was reunited with her husband. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite the wind, droughts, flash floods, blizzards or fires the people found time for fun. Dances, sleigh rides, lectures, horse and foot races, but baseball was the favorite. Independence Day was a favorite, lots of food, fun and patriotic programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early towns were in need of skilled cabinet makers, tailors, saddlers, shoemakers, doctors and teachers. They didn’t always get the best, but the good ones helped build the towns and the old west. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gold may have been discovered in Idaho as early as 1853. Legend is a Nez Perce Indian woman led white men to the first discovery of gold that became the Oro Fino mines in North Idaho. More lesser known mines were found throughout Idaho. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Judges could be threatened, intimidated, even killed. Court could be held in a saloon, pool halls or a tent. Some had limited knowledge of law and could be bribed or pocket fines. There were probably more honest judges than dishonest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vigilantes took care of lawbreakers until town Marshalls and county Sheriffs were hired. Desperate towns would even hire bad men. Duties could include health and fire inspector, bill collector, tax collector, street cleaner, even shooting unlicensed dogs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A favorite pastime, poker, dice, keno, faro, roulette, chuck-a-luck, dog and cock fights, horse racing and boxing. There were as many ways to gamble as there were to cheat and take a man's hard earned money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He cut off his own leg after being shot, carved his own wooden leg and established Fort Smith. He sold goods to travelers, was a rugged, whiskey-drinking, storytelling, horse thieving rascal, but a famous man who helped establish the west. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former trappers became scouts for the explorers, missionaries, surveyors, the army and wagon trains. Many were pathfinders who opened up the West, men like Jim Beckworth, Jim Baker, Jim Bridger, Tom Tobin and Kit Carson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Francis Scott Key witnessed the British bomb Fort McHenry. Despite direct hits, the huge torn and battered American flag survived, inspiring him to pen our National Anthem. Captain William Driver was the first to proclaim our flag as “Old Glory." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henry and Eliza opened the Lapwai Mission among the Nez Perce. They were welcomed, opened a school and provided medical treatment. Henry clashed with the Shamans, the Mountain men and the Nez Perce men as he tried to force them to work. They eventually moved to Oregon City, Oregon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Whitmans and Spaldings wanted to convert the Indians. The influx of settlers and infectious diseases caused large numbers of Indians, especially children to die. Indians blamed the Whitmans resulting in the ambush and death of settlers including the Whitmans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A veteran trapper guide was a great help. He knew where there was grass, water, wood, where to cross rivers and avoid hostiles. Fort Hall on the East was considered the most important post on the Snake River. Fort Boise on the West provided safety, grass, water and wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Spauldings and Whitmans showed that a wheeled wagon could cross the country. Crossing the Snake River Plain was dry, dusty, with little food, grass was scarce, sharp rocks slashed the feet of the animals. Indians were friendly at first until they saw the destruction of the thousands of travelers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a blinding blizzard Ashton Teeples stumbled onto a lake. In three days he panned $225,000 in gold nuggets. He survived attacks by two different outlaw bands, shot six times, rescued by Mexican sheepherders, his life was saved. He enjoyed his fortune, but the golden lake was never found again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1856 six year old Minnie and her mother Mary with her husband Captain Sam Lawrence boarded the whaling ship Addison. They spent the next four years in the Alaskan waters returning to Massachusetts with a full load of oil and baleen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mossy horn steers were wild and dangerous. The cowboys wore heavy leather chaps, gauntlets and jackets to protect themselves as they crashed through mesquite trees, prickly pears, and other thorny shrubs chasing these wild cattle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oliver Loving and his partner Charles Goodnight pioneered cattle drives. Loving and Bill Wilson escaped an Indian attack by swimming the Pecos River. Loving was wounded but made it to Fort Sumner where he died. Goodnight carried his body back to Texas for burial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Which gun won the West? The Hawken, Samuel Colt's pistols, the Springfield "needle gun," Winchester, Smith and Wesson, Sharps? All played their role in taming the west. The double barrel shotgun was versatile, economical, good for hunting, defense, the true workhorse of the Old West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marshall Alvord and his gang successfully robbed a train, his next train robbery failed landing him in jail. He escaped and headed to Mexico. He helped capture outlaw Augustine Chacon. Jailed after another robbery, he spent two years in prison. He died from yellow fever in Barbados. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Partners Arnold and Slack showed investors a sack of diamonds they "claimed" they found. They led a group to Wyoming where they had "salted" a small area with uncut diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Geologist Clarence King, a government surveyor exposed the hoax as "utterly valueless" and "unparalleled fraud." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For twenty years he skied 90 miles over 50 foot snowdrifts through blizzards to haul the mail over the Sierras. He saved the lives of miners, hauled clothing, books, emergency supplies, tools, pots and pans never thinking of himself. He helped anyone in need and left his mark in California's history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Stetson created the "Boss of the Plains." It kept the sun off your eyes and neck, could be a bucket, was customized by the owner and may cost two months wages. The "coonskin cap" was never worn by Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett or Lewis and Clark except on TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women proved to be the best teachers as new towns sprang up in the west. Despite limited supplies, school houses and poor pay, they helped with the westward expansion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sacred rituals before during and after childbirth was essential for the family. Some foods were taboo, they used herbs and teas to relieve pain and had their own version of disposable diapers. At least half their babies didn’t survive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pocahontas of Georgia, she helped General Oglethorpe establish the Colony of Georgia. As an interpreter she helped prevent war, supplied meat, bread and food for the colonists. Considered the most important figure in Georgia's colonial history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She saved her Coeur d'Alene tribe from attacking enemies. Called "the spiritual directress, guardian angel of her tribe." She helped convert many of her tribe to Christianity and helped build the Citaldo Mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He invented the technique of bulldogging a steer by biting it's lip. He got the idea by watching bulldogs bite the lips of steers. He traveled the world with the 101 Ranch Wild West Show and amazed thousands. Will Rogers said, "Bill Pickett never had an enemy, even the steers wouldn’t hurt old Bill." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1872 thousands of shooters killed thousands of buffalo. Shooters could be killed by range fires, gored or trampled by the buffalo, even freezing to death. By 1872 the vast herds were reduced to a few thousand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They used buffalo jumps, fire, deep snow and frozen rivers. With horses they were able to ride into the herd. Buffalo meant meat, robes, clothes, furniture, jewelry, artwork, cookware and bedding, nothing was wasted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Buffalo hunters killed for their hides, but thousands died from lightening strikes, wild fires, disease and tornados. They got mired in mud bogs, quick sand, river bottoms and tar pits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sitting Bull and the Ghost Dance gave hope for a return to the old ways and eliminating the white man. Warriors and cavalry from the Little Big Horn were to meet again with tragic consequences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 1863 gold rush brought thousands to Virginia City, Montana. Winter of 1865, food was scarce, early snow blocked supplies. Flour went from $25 to $100 a sack. Mobs of hungry miners stormed the stores searching for flour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After riding "Glass Eye" he became famous. He invented "hoolihanding" and could ride a bucking bronco facing backwards while carrying a suitcase. An exceptional athlete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He confronted Pancho Villa and Geronimo, rustlers and outlaws and only killed when necessary. He was a lawman, cattleman, gambler, gunman, businessman and empire builder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bear fighter, settler, miner, freighter, stage coach owner and successful businessman. Known for surviving a savage bear attack that took part of his skull, he wore a hat to try to hide the scars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Abraham to the Maccabees to Herod the Great the stage was set for the birth of Jesus Christ. What a pioneer Christmas was like. A World War II story of German and American soldiers on Christmas. Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Virginia City had several fires, but the 1875 fire was the largest. Over 2,000 buildings destroyed, 300 people left homeless and damages at one million dollars. Mines reopened the next day, the townspeople considered this a minor setback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cole Younger was a tough outlaw, shot eleven times after failing to rob the bank at Northfield, he was captured and sent to prison with his brothers. Brother Bob died in prison, Jim committed suicide, Cole toured in a wild west show and died at age 71. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson promoted boxing matches in Alaska, Mexico and the U.S. Tex Rickard was the main force in million dollar world tile boxing matches, including Gentleman Jim Corbett, John L. Sullivan and Jack Dempsey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Dastardly Deed of Demons" read the headlines as Cherokee Bill and the Cook Gang robbed the bank. He was caught and executed but not before leaving a trail of robberies and dead people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi. One of Judge Isaac Parker’s most valued deputies, He arrested over 3,000 felons including his own son. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Born in 1867, her books have been translated into 40 languages. "Little House on the Prairie" was made into a popular TV show. She had her struggles and rejections but became popular among all ages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mormon migration in 1847 established Salt Lake as the crossroads of the West where thousands replenished their supplies and animals on their way to the gold fields in California. The real money was made by those who, "mined the miners", selling goods and providing transportation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

William Ashley in 1827 took the first wheeled wagon west of the Missouri. William Sublette in 1829, Reverends Whitman and Spaulding in 1836. In 1843 the Stephens-Murphy party were the first to make it all the way to California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices