As a lawman, business owner, and politician, Seth Bullock tamed the rambunctious town of Deadwood, South Dakota, a formerly lawless place home to the likes of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok.
Public DomainSeth Bullock , the Wild West lawman .
immortalise in HBO ’s 2004 seriesDeadwood , Seth Bullock was a law officer , man of affairs , and — according to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt — a “ unfeigned mountain man . ” During his sentence in Deadwood , Bullock succeeded in civilizing the rambunctious Wild West outpost .
As the sheriff of Lawrence County , Bullock tamed the Wild West camp , transmute it from a seedy excavation outpost into a prosperous place to live . He soon also befriended a fellow lawman : future President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt , who came to regard Bullock as a “ true westerner . ”
Public DomainSeth Bullock, the Wild West lawman.
Today , Deadwood is remembered more for residents like Wild Bill Hickok andCalamity Jane . But Seth Bullock was an invaluable force in transform Deadwood into a civilized Ithiel Town in the American frontier .
Seth Bullock’s Path To Deadwood
Public DomainSeth Bullock as a untested man , in an dateless exposure .
Seth Bullock was born on July 23 , 1849 , in Amherstburg , Ontario , Canada . His father , George Bullock , was a British Army Sergeant Major while his mother , Agnes Findley , was a Scotswoman .
Bullock seemed to have something of an unhappy puerility . accord toSeth Bullock : Black Hills Lawmanby David Wolff , his founding father was “ irascible ” and a “ somewhat peevish , unvoiced - nose disciplinarian ” who clashed with his Word . What ’s more , George all but abandon the family after he was accused of stealing funds during his tenure as County Treasurer in Sandwich , Canada .
Public DomainSeth Bullock as a young man, in an undated photo.
Because Bullock ’s mother died around the same time , Bullock and his seven siblings were left to fend for themselves .
As a final result , Seth Bullock essay to lam away from home several clock time . He finally succeeded at the eld of 18 , though not before striking up a Latinian language with Martha Eccles , whom he ’d later wed .
In 1867 , Bullock propel to Helena , Montana . Between 1871 and 1872 , Bullock serve as a Republican to the Territorial Senate and even helped create Yellowstone National Park .
Public DomainA map of Yellowstone National Park from 1871.
Public DomainA function of Yellowstone National Park from 1871 .
In 1873 , Bullock became sheriff of Lewis and Clark County , Montana . He was not only a lawman , but a enterpriser as well , and soon opened up a computer hardware store with business enterprise partner Sol Star . Then , in 1874 , Bullock married his childhood truelove , Eccles , in Salt Lake City , Utah .
Life was expert for Seth Bullock , but he and Star decide to taste to lucubrate their hardware business . In 1876 , they travel move to Deadwood , South Dakota , a thriving mining Ithiel Town known for its violent resident .
Public DomainSeth Bullock and his business partner, Sol Star.
Seth Bullock Makes A Name For Himself In The Wild West
Public DomainSeth Bullock and his business partner , Sol Star .
Seth Bullock moved to Deadwood , South Dakota on August 1 , 1876 , with Sol Star and his hardware inventory in tow . When the two arrived , they now set up a tent that served as their makeshift hardware store . The business organisation quickly demonstrate successful , but it also did n’t take long for Bullock to realize what kind of Ithiel Town he ’d settled down in .
The twenty-four hour period before he get to Deadwood , one of its most infamous occupier , Wild Bill Hickok , was shoot to last during a poker game at a Deadwood saloon . This , and the fact that Hickok ’s killer initially catch off scotch gratis , convinced many that Deadwood was in desperate need of a law and order .
Public DomainWild Bill Hickok was murdered the day before Seth Bullock arrived in Deadwood.
Public DomainWild Bill Hickok was murdered the day before Seth Bullock arrived in Deadwood .
Bullock was more than happy to provide both . In March 1877 , the governor of Dakota Territory tapped Seth Bullock to be the sheriff of Lawrence County . And as sheriff , Bullock appointed no - nonsense deputy to police the townspeople of Deadwood and combat its criminal elements . shortly , Deadwood ’s crime rate fall , and Bullock ’s report soared .
It was said that Bullock never once used ferocity to keep order in Deadwood and did not obliterate anyone in his quest to bring civilisation to the rambunctious mining town . or else , his steely personality seemed to be enough . Bullock ’s grandson once quipped that Bullock could “ outstare a mad cobra or a rogue elephant , ” according toCBS News .
Library of CongressTheodore Roosevelt in 1884.
And before long , Seth Bullock would meet a lawman with a kindred emotional state — Theodore Roosevelt .
Seth Bullock’s Lifelong Friendship With Theodore Roosevelt
Library of CongressTheodore Roosevelt in 1884 .
After “ subdue ” Deadwood , Seth Bullock ’s animation became much more peaceable . He and his married woman settled into their new home , and raised three children together . However , a run - in with a next U.S. president would soon transubstantiate Bullock ’s life story .
While bring a sawhorse thief back to Deadwood for trial in 1884 , Bullock run into Theodore Roosevelt , then the Deputy Sheriff of Medora , North Dakota .
Public DomainA letter to Seth Bullock from Theodore Roosevelt.
“ When Roosevelt and his companions cross the Belle Fourche River , they meet a cautious Bullock , ” Wolff wrote inSeth Bullock : Black Hills Lawman . “ As Roosevelt admit , his party looked out of place , ‘ exactly like an getup of tinhorn gamblers . ’ Once they exchanged introductions Bullock became much more cordial , and … this simple meeting initiate what would become a womb-to-tomb friendship between Roosevelt and Bullock . ”
Indeed , the two soon became fast protagonist .
Public DomainA letter to Seth Bullock from Theodore Roosevelt .
Public DomainSeth Bullock (left of the man in a gray suit) with the rest of Roosevelt’s Tennis Cabinet in 1909.
In 1898 , when the Spanish - American war break-dance out , Bullock wrote to Roosevelt asking to serve as one of his Rough Riders . Roosevelt accepted , make Bullock captain of Troop A in Grigsby ’s Cowboy Regiment . While the regiment never see combat and spent the state of war at a training cantonment in Louisiana , Bullock was grateful for the chance .
He shortly seek to reward Roosevelt ’s favor . In 1905 , Bullock organized cowboys to sit in the President of the United States ’s maiden parade . He also later became part of Roosevelt ’s “ Tennis Cabinet , ” a group of friends who often bring together the chairman in group sports and other outdoor activities .
For his friendly relationship , loyalty , and experience as a lawman , Roosevelt then appointed Bullock as United States Marshal for South Dakota .
Public DomainSeth Bullock at the monument for Teddy Roosevelt in Deadwood.
Public DomainSeth Bullock ( left of the man in a grey-headed suit ) with the balance of Roosevelt ’s Tennis Cabinet in 1909 .
WhenTheodore Roosevelt diedin 1919 , Bullock worked with the Society of Black Hills Pioneers to construct a monument to the former President of the United States on Sheep Mountain , afterwards rename Mount Roosevelt , in Deadwood .
It was dedicated on July 4 , 1919 , and is guess to be the first monument to Theodore Roosevelt in the United States .
Joel Wintermantle / Alamy Stock PhotoSeth Bullock’s grave at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood.
The Death Of A Lawman And A Wild West Legend
Public DomainSeth Bullock at the monument for Teddy Roosevelt in Deadwood .
Outside of fray shoulders with President Roosevelt , Seth Bullock worked heavily to encourage exploitation in his state of South Dakota .
In the late eighties , Bullock successfully attract for the Fremont , Elkhorn , and Missouri Valley Railroad to build up through his spread in Deadwood . Later , he would establish the urban center of Belle Fourche , which became the largest livestock merchant vessels gunpoint in the United States .
Through his successful venture , Bullock also fund the construction of the Bullock Hotel in Deadwood follow a devastating flaming that demolish his hardware business . The three - story , 64 - way hotel open in 1896 with modern features like steam heat , and still operate to this day .
But at long last , Seth Bullock did not live long after the decease of his beloved friend Roosevelt . Only eight months after the president died , Bullock knuckle under to colon Cancer the Crab on September 23 , 1919 , at the age of 70 .
Joel Wintermantle / Alamy Stock PhotoSeth Bullock ’s grave accent at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood .
Alongside Wild Bill Hickok and other notable Deadwood personalities , Bullock is sink at Mount Moriah Cemetery , a website that faces Mount Roosevelt . He may not be the most famous of Deadwood ’s residents , but Seth Bullock can certainly be credited for turn the underworld - raising Wild West coterie into a golden township on the American frontier .
After read about Seth Bullock , discover the true tale of theGunfight at the O.K. Corral . Or , read about some of theWild West ’s most infamous felon , from Billy the Kid to Johnny Ringo .
