Pat Garrett

Pat Garrett lived in the Old West.

He was a lawman. He worked as a sheriff. He also worked in Texas.

Pat was famous for a big job. He found a man named Billy the Kid. He caught him in the dark.

Pat wrote a book about his life.

Many people still tell his stories. He is a part of history.

Pat Garrett was a famous lawman in the Old West.

He was born in Alabama in 1850. His family lost their money during the Civil War. After his parents died, Pat moved west. He worked as a bartender and a cowboy in New Mexico.

In 1881, Pat became the sheriff of Lincoln County. He was famous for his hunt for Billy the Kid. One night in July 1881, Pat found the Kid in a house. Pat shot and killed him. Pat later wrote a book about this life.

Pat had many other jobs. He tried to start water companies for farms. He also worked as a sheriff in Doña Ana County. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt gave him a job in El Paso. This job was called collector of customs. People in El Paso did not like his work. Pat died in 1908. He is still remembered today as a part of Western history.

Pat Garrett was a well-known lawman during the American Old West.

He was born on June 5, 1850, in Alabama. His family had English roots from many different counties. His life changed when the Civil War hurt his family's money. His mother died in 1867 when he was only 16. His father died the next year. This left the children with a large debt. Because of this, Pat moved west in 1869 to find a new life.

In New Mexico, Pat worked many different jobs. He worked as a bartender and a cowboy for Pete Maxwell. He also spent time in Texas hunting buffalo. During this time, he was involved in a shooting with another hunter named Joe Briscoe. He eventually moved to Fort Sumner to live. He married his first wife, Juanita Martinez, in 1879. Sadly, she died only 15 days after their wedding. Pat later married Apolinaria Gutierrez in 1880. They had eight children together, including sons named Patrick and Jarvis.

Pat became a famous sheriff in Lincoln County. He won the election in 1880 against George Kimball. He also had a job as a deputy U.S. marshal. This allowed him to follow people across state lines. Pat is most famous for his hunt for Billy the Kid. In July 1881, Pat went to the home of Pete Maxwell. He waited in the dark shadows of a bedroom. When Billy the Kid entered the room, Pat shot him twice.

Pat later wrote a book about this event with Ash Upson.

Later in life, Pat tried to work with water for farms. He started several irrigation companies in the Pecos Valley. Most of these business plans did not work out. He also served as the sheriff of Doña Ana County. In 1898, he tried to arrest men named Oliver Lee and James Gililland. A deputy named Kearney was hurt during this time. Pat also killed a man named Norman Newman in 1899. These events showed how difficult his job as a lawman could be.

In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt gave Pat a new job. He became a collector of customs in El Paso, Texas. This was a very important government position. Some people in El Paso did not like his work. They even complained to the government about him. However, President Roosevelt continued to support Pat. Pat died in 1908. Today, people still study his life to learn about the Old West.

Pat Garrett was a significant lawman of the American Old West. He served in several legal roles in New Mexico and Texas. He is most famous for his pursuit of the outlaw Billy the Kid. Garrett's life involved many different jobs, from hunting buffalo to managing water for farms. His story helps us understand the complicated nature of law and order in the late 1800s.

Garrett was born on June 5, 1850, in Chambers County, Alabama. His family had English ancestry from several different counties. His childhood was marked by significant financial loss during the Civil War. His mother died in 1867 when he was 16 years old. His father died just one year later. This left the five children with a plantation that had over $30,000 in debt. Because of these hardships, Garrett left Louisiana for the West in 1869.

Before becoming a sheriff, Garrett held several different positions. In 1876, he worked as a buffalo hunter in Texas. During this time, he killed a fellow hunter named Joe Briscoe. He later moved to the New Mexico Territory. In Fort Sumner, he worked as a bartender and a cowboy for Pete Maxwell. He also married twice. His first wife, Juanita Martinez, died only 15 days after their 1879 wedding. In 1880, he married Apolinaria Gutierrez, with whom he had eight children.

Garrett's career as a lawman began in earnest in 1880. He was elected sheriff of Lincoln County by defeating George Kimball. The vote was 320 to 179. He also held a commission as a deputy U.S. marshal. This specific title allowed him to pursue criminals across state lines. His most famous mission was the pursuit of William Henry Bonney, known as Billy the Kid. This hunt involved several tense encounters and many different locations.

On July 14, 1881, the pursuit reached a conclusion in Fort Sumner. Garrett waited in the shadows of Pete Maxwell's house at midnight. Billy the Kid entered the bedroom and did not see Garrett in the dark. The Kid asked "¿Quién es?" which means "Who is it?" in Spanish. Garrett responded by firing two shots. The first shot hit the Kid in the chest above the heart. Garrett later coauthored a book about this event titled *The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid*.

After his time as sheriff, Garrett attempted several business ventures. He tried to organize irrigation companies in the Pecos Valley. He worked with the Pecos Valley Irrigation and Investment Company in 1885. He also held an interest in the Texas Irrigation Ditch Company in 1887. However, these attempts at managing water for agriculture were not successful. He later served as the sheriff of Doña Ana County in New Mexico. During this time, he attempted to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Albert Jennings Fountain.

In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt nominated Garrett for a federal position. He became the collector of customs in El Paso, Texas. This was a high-level post that faced much public criticism. Despite complaints about his competence, Roosevelt remained a supporter. The President even invited Garrett to a Rough Riders reunion in 1905. This invitation was seen as a way to show support against Garrett's enemies.

Pat Garrett's life reflects the many layers of the American frontier. He was a man of law, but his path was often filled with conflict. His actions helped shape the legends of the Old West. We see him as a soldier, a businessman, and a government official. His legacy remains a subject of study for historians today.