John Chisum: Jinglebob King of the Pecos

Westerns are one of those genres (besides stoner films) that the public seems to describe as dead. Though such a description is false, since there’s still a few Western media that is released from time-to-time, it is a genre that has been revisioned, deconstructed, and just flat out done to death. It also doesn’t help that perception of the Old West has changed over the years — it’s now seen as an era of tragedy and genocide rather than adventure and individualism.

Still, the West has had a colorful history, filled with a lot of colorful individuals. From brave Native American warriors, rugged cowboys, to the cunning outlaws and strict lawmen, the West has its heroes and villains. One of those individuals is John Chisum, and this review is about a famous biography based around him.

Mary Whatley Clarke’s “John Chisum: Jinglebob King of the Pecos” is a great history book that doesn’t exaggerate nor shy away from the man who is its subject. In her book, John Chisum is presented as a man of many characteristics. He was a good father to his family and men, but a merciless foe to those he deemed had wronged him. He was a smart and hardworking frontiersman who build a cattle industry in a barren wasteland, but also a hungry capitalist who annihilated those who competed with him.

The story focused much on the conflicts that Chisum participated in — the Pecos War and the Lincoln County War. In both wars, he fought against those he was forced to share the frontier with: small ranchers, neighboring Native Americans, and competing Eastern businessmen. 

One incident had Chisum ordering the hanging of a rustler who shot and killed one of his ranch hand, and another incident had him personally shooting someone who was branding a cattle he owned. Every enemy he faced were either branded as rustlers or Indian savages. 

Yet at the same time, Chisum was someone who did care for his people and the properties he build. He was a pioneer who struggled and ended creating an industry and a community against all odds. For those who did not cross him, Chisum was a good friend and a responsible father. He died of cancer on December 22, 1884 surrounded by his loyal men.

Such real-life events from real-life people made this book truly one of a kind.