In celebration of Veterans Day, the Frontier Times Museum will host historian and author James McCrae for a presentation on the life and legacy of Texas Ranger Jim Gillett.
McCrae, who recently published Concho Plains Battle: Texas Ranger Company Versus Mescalero Apache, will share his insights on Gillett’s role in Texas history on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m.
James Buchanan Gillett, born in Austin on Nov. 4, 1856, joined the Texas Rangers in 1875.
Over his six-year career, Gillett served in multiple Texas counties, addressing challenges from cattle thieves, outlaws, and conflicts with Native American tribes, including the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache.
In January 1881, Gillett participated in what is recognized as the final battle between the Texas Rangers and Native Americans, where his company pursued an Apache group following a stagecoach attack, resulting in a confrontation that scattered the group and marked the close of a turbulent era.
After leaving the Rangers in 1881, Gillett took on the role of assistant city marshal of El Paso, later becoming city marshal.
Known for his bravery, he left law enforcement in 1885 to pursue ranching in west Texas and New Mexico. Gillett retired in 1923, settling in Marfa, where he contributed to the formation of the West Texas Historical Association.
In 1921, he published his memoir, Six Years with the Texas Rangers, a work that remains in print and was widely used as a school textbook.
McCrae, a former director of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation and now CEO of the LoneStar Heritage Foundation, has extensively researched Gillett’s contributions to Texas history. McCrae’s talk is presented by the foundation, which supports Texas heritage organizations and museums in promoting the state’s rich history.
The presentation is included with museum admission, and refreshments will be provided. The Frontier Times Museum is located at 510 13th St., Bandera, Texas.
For more information, contact the museum or visit their website.
