United States Marshal Service

US Marshal Service

Evett Dumas Nix, U.S. marshal, was born September 19, 1861, in Kentucky, a turbulent border state during the Civil War. With an uncle serving as county sheriff and father as deputy sheriff, it seemed natural that Nix would become a peace officer. However, young Nix worked in his father's factory and operated a grocery, hardware, and furniture business in Coldwater, Kentucky. Moving to Paducah, Kentucky, Nix became a traveling sales representative and in 1885 married his childhood friend, Ellen Felts.

Nix moved to Oklahoma Territory in October 1889, after the Land Run of April 22, 1889. Settling in Guthrie, he became a prosperous businessman. Forming friendships with Guthrie's leading citizens, including rancher Oscar Halsell, Nix was considered a bright, ambitious, young man. At thirty-two he was appointed as U.S. marshal of Oklahoma Territory, the youngest man assigned to such a position.

Recognizing a tough job ahead, Nix appointed a formidable force of deputies, including Henry Andrew "Heck" Thomas, William Matthew "Bill" Tilghman, Chris Madsen, Frank M. Canton, Charles Colcord, John Hixon, and others, most of whom were already veteran peace officers. Headquartered at Guthrie, the territorial capital, Nix was in office during the turbulent 1890s when many desperate outlaws were brought to justice. However, Nix did not serve without controversy. Critics charged that he mismanaged public funds, and an audit resulted in his dismissal from office January 24, 1896. Many historians believe that Nix was a victim of the fee system used at that time for payment of U.S. Marshals Service officers.

Nix preserved his story in his autobiography, Oklahombres: Particularly the Wilder Ones (1929). While some scholars have questioned the accuracy of his account, it remains an interesting look at Nix's career during Oklahoma's territorial period. Nix died on February 4, 1946, in Riverside, California, and was buried in Paducah, Kentucky.

(Oklahoma's Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma's History and Culture )

March 16, 1948

The special deputation for overseeing federal elections brought its own "badge." The ribbon for these events gave the wearer special status for the event. Some were not professional law enforcement personnel, but private citizens deputized for the purpose. There were strict guidelines for the appointees.

John M. Crenshaw

US Deputy Marshal John Crenshaw US Deputy Marshal Wilson McKinney
Circa 1907

John Moman Crenshaw

John Moman Crenshaw was born in Quincy, Mississippi on April 16, 1877. Soon after, the family moved to Hartford, Arkansas and finally settled in Howe, Latimer County, Oklahoma around 1880. John Crenshaw was 23 years old at the time.

The first record of Crenshaw being a law enforcement officer was on November 22, 1906. The Muskogee Daily Phoenix reported Marshal Crenshaw arrested Phelan Collins near Howe. Phelan Collins and his brother Buck were intoxicated and scuffling over a .44 Winchester. During the tussle, Phelan pulled the trigger and shot Buck in the chest, killing him. Crenshaw arrested Phelan and the owner of the gun, Dan Perry and took them to Poteau.

John Crenshaw was later appointed and commissioned as a Field Deputy United States Marshal on July 01, 1907, by George Prichard, United States Marshal for the Central District of Indian Territory. Deputy Crenshaw was assigned to work out of Poteau alongside Office Deputy R. E. Patrick. Crenshaw was appointed to replace Deputy Wilson McKinney who had been removed from office by Marshal Prichard for allowing a prison to escape his custody.

Ex-Deputy Wilson McKinney returned to Poteau on August 28 from Colorado, where he had been living since losing his job as Deputy Marshal. McKinney was intoxicated and carrying a gun when he stepped off the train in Poteau. Newspaper reports said that McKinney went about the town telling he had returned to kill Deputy R. E. Patrick, who he blamed for his termination.

City Marshal Jap Lyle and Deputy Patrick confronted McKinney in the street and told him to drop his gun. McKinney replied, “thrown down you own guns” and began firing at Lyle and Patrick. City Marshal Lyle was shot three times. Patrick escaped uninjured. Wilson McKinney fled the scene and eluded a posse of armed towns people and blood hounds.

A warrant was issued for Wilson McKinney for assault with intent to kill. On September 06, McKinney returned to Poteau and gave himself up to Deputy Crenshaw and Patrick. Deputies Crenshaw and Patrick later transported McKinney to McAlester to be arraigned on the charge.

Records show that John Crenshaw was working as a reporter for the Heavener Ledger in 1909. In the 1910 US Census, he was working as a hotel keeper in Wilburton, Oklahoma. Crenshaw’s father owned and operated a hotel at that time. It was unclear exactly when Crenshaw stopped working as a Deputy US Marshal.

Crenshaw documented the remainder of his law enforcement career, that lasted until 1943, in daily logs, notes and letters. Several Oklahoma newspapers also reported on his many activities as a law enforcement officer with the Degnan & McConnell Coal Company, Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company, the Missouri Kansas & Texas Railroad, El Reno Police Department, Canadian County Sheriff’s Office and the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office.

Crenshaw was working for the Wilburton Police Department as the Night Policeman in 1911. The Wilburton News reported that on July 19, 1911, Night Marshal Bash Beard and Moman Crenshaw arrested Hope Mullins on a warrant for the assault and battery of Charley Clayton. In the November 11 edition, Crenshaw was identified as Night Policeman with a salary of $65.00.

In a handwritten resume, written on the back of an envelope postmarked August 31, 1929, Crenshaw wrote he was an officer for the Degnan & McConnell Coal Company from 1911 to November 1915. The Wilburton Gazette reported on October 12, 1913, Night watchman Crenshaw arrested James Fluckus who lived at the Degnan & McConnell mine #19. Fluckus and Lee Cauthern were intoxicated and got into a fight. Fluckus shot Cauthern in the left side of the head and neck with a charge of #7 squirrel shot. Crenshaw took Fluckus to the Wilburton jail.

John Crenshaw resigned from the coal company and began work for the Rock Island Railroad company on November 15, 1915 and continued through January 1922. Crenshaw’s starting pay with the Rock Island Railroad was $55.00 per month. Crenshaw worked the rails from Arkansas to Oklahoma and Missouri to Texas. Crenshaw carried several titles while employed with the railroad. Crenshaw was identified as a Patrolman, Special Officer, Special Agent and Detective during his employment.

Crenshaw wrote his daily activities in small logbooks that he kept. The logs identified inspections of rail cars, repairs made to rail cars, reports taken, and arrests made while on duty.

From his 1916 work logbook, while working out of Oklahoma City, Crenshaw made the following entry:

1-7-16

Arrested. E. Chapell age 38 and Bety Jones 28

For theft of coal

For stealing coal from train 1-97

Done out about 1130 pm

Witness J.M. Crenshaw

I & Reach Reasch

Mike Coner Policeman

Minervia Debs of 728 - E 1st

Bitty. Jones. of. 728 E 1st

Trial of. E. Chapell

E Chapell was tried before L. J. Miller Police Judge on Jan 11-16 and was fined $40 and cost for the theft of coal from C.R.I.&P. train 1/97 on night of Jan 7-16

J M Crenshaw

Crenshaw left the Rock Island Railroad and went to work for the Missouri Kansas and Texas Railroad. When Crenshaw left the Rock Island, he was making $160.00 per month. It is unclear how long Crenshaw worked for MK&T.

Records show that Crenshaw was living in Wilburton and was commissioned as a Deputy Sheriff with the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office in 1922. In November 1922, Crenshaw applied for a position with the Frisco Lines, but he received a letter from Special Agent A. E. Jacks informing him that a position was not available.

On January 01, 1923, Crenshaw accepted a position with the El Reno Police Department. Crenshaw also carried a Special Deputy Sheriff Commission with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office at the same time he was employed with the El Reno Police Department.

El Reno City Manager E. W. Fassett resigned from his position on October 10, 1929, after a city commissioners meeting discussion of Crenshaw arose. Fassett had been terminated Crenshaw in September, but a petition had been circulated around the community and submitted to the city commission for Crenshaw’s reinstatement. No mention as to the reason for Crenshaw’s termination was identified.

Crenshaw’s handwritten resume identified the reason he was terminated from the El Reno Police Department in 1929. Crenshaw wrote, “I left on account of being fired for taking drink (sic) of whiskey while on duty”. Crenshaw was being paid $125.00 per month when fired.

After being terminated from the El Reno Police Department, Crenshaw was living in Alva, Oklahoma. In June 1930, Crenshaw received a letter from Jack Smith. In the letter, it appeared Crenshaw and Smith were good friends. Smith wrote he had just been hired as the Chief of Police for the Guthrie Police Department. Smith had six officers under him and wanted to hire two more but wrote he did not think the city would allow him to hire the two. Smith went on to write, he wanted to hire Crenshaw but did not want to make any changes until he had got acquainted with the city. Smith finished by writing, “let me here (sic) from you along for I might make a place here for you”.

Press C. Canon won the 1930 election for the Sheriff of Canadian County. On December 29, 1930, Sheriff-elect Canon announced his staff. John Crenshaw was selected to be Canon’s Undersheriff when Canon assumed office on January 05, 1931.

Crenshaw served under Sheriff Canon until Canon was defeated by John Harrison in November 1932. When Sheriff Harrison took office in January 1933, Harrison replaced Canon’s staff with his own. In January 1943, old friend and former Guthrie Chief of Police, Sheriff Jacks Smith commissioned Crenshaw as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff under his term as Sheriff of Canadian County.

John Moman Crenshaw passed away on July 21, 1957, in El Reno, Oklahoma. Crenshaw was buried in Wilburton, Latimer County, Oklahoma.