Jim Courtright (gunman)
| Timothy Isaiah "Jim" Courtright | |
|---|---|
Jim Courtright
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| Born | 1848 Sangamon County, Illinois, USA |
| Died | February 8, 1887 (aged 39) Fort Worth, Texas |
| Cause of death | Gunshot |
| Resting place | Oakwood Cemetery, Ft. Worth, Texas |
| Occupation | Lawman, businessman, jailer, city marshal, deputy sheriff, deputy U.S. Marshal, private detective, Gambler, and Gunfighter |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Weeks |
Jim Courtright (born Timothy Isaiah Courtright, also known as "Longhair Jim" or "Big Jim" Courtright) (1848 – February 8, 1887), was a Sheriff in Ft. Worth, Texas from 1876-1879. In 1887, he was killed in a shootout with gambler and gunfighter Luke Short. Before his death, people feared Courtright's reputation as a gunman, and he successfully reduced Ft. Worth's murder rate by more than half, while reportedly extracting protection money from town business owners.
Courtright was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, which includes the capital city of Springfield, in the spring of 1848, the son of Daniel Courtright. He had four older sisters and one younger brother. He was also reported to have practiced shooting frequently. He lied about his age and enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He served under General John A. Logan for whom he once took a bullet and therefore earned Logan's admiration. He was rootless, and traveled around often until he finally settled in Fort Worth in north Texas. While in Fort Worth, Courtright was at various times a jailer, city marshal, deputy sheriff, deputy U.S. Marshal, hired killer, private detective, and racketeer. During his travels, Courtright had developed a reputation as being fast with a gun.
He married Sarah Weeks and taught her how to shoot. They held shooting exhibitions for which they charged admission, and later performed as part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
Courtright and his wife arrived in Ft. Worth in 1876. He ran for office as the first elected city marshal against four other men, and won by three votes. He liked to wear his hair long and wore two revolvers with their butts facing forward, showman style. He became known for his long hair and his reputation for using his badge as a matter of convenience.
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