Certainly, in the nineteenth century, the Western frontier was not for the faint of heart.

The Bad Old Days series celebrates each region's glorious and rowdy past. These pages recount the tales of people who came west seeking if not their fortune, at least opportunity. It is no secret that the West was settled by the adventurous willing to brave the harsh conditions and to prevail. Whether on the right or the wrong side of the law, all settlers and pioneers made unique contributions to the state's complex culture.