Dan Tucker (lawman) facts for kids

Dan Tucker, also known as "Dangerous Dan" Tucker, (born 1849 – disappeared after 1892), was a lesser-known lawman and gunfighter from the Old West. He was known for being very effective at keeping the peace.

Dan Tucker's Early Life and Work

Arriving in New Mexico

Dan Tucker first came to New Mexico Territory in the early 1870s. He was born in Canada. People said he was quiet and didn't talk much, and his slight accent sometimes made people think he was from the southern United States.

Harvey Whitehill, a famous sheriff in New Mexico, met Tucker in 1875. Tucker had arrived in Silver City, New Mexico, after working at a place where stagecoaches stopped near Fort Selden. Even though some people were unsure about Tucker, Sheriff Whitehill liked him. He hired Tucker to be a deputy sheriff.

By 1878, Tucker was well-known in the area and had earned the nickname "Dangerous Dan."

Becoming a Town Marshal

In 1878, while still a deputy sheriff, Tucker also became the first Marshal of Silver City. He held this important job for several terms. People later said that Tucker quickly made the town much safer. He was respected because he acted quickly when he needed to solve problems and keep order.

In 1881, Tucker helped Sheriff Whitehill with official duties related to justice. He had also carried out other official duties for Grant County, New Mexico, before this. Later, he became the Marshal for Shakespeare, New Mexico.

Bringing Order to Deming

On November 27, 1881, Tucker was sent to Deming, New Mexico. There were many troublemakers causing problems and taking over the town. Tucker started patrolling the streets with a special shotgun. Within just three days, he quickly brought order to the town, dealing with the troublemakers effectively.

In 1882, James H. Cook, who managed the "WS Ranch," later said that Tucker was involved in several situations where he had to use his skills as a shotgun rider while working for Wells Fargo.

Later Years and Disappearance

Working for the Railroad

On December 14, 1882, Tucker was surprised and shot in the shoulder by a man. After he got better, he found that riding in a bumpy stagecoach was too hard for him. So, he got a job as a Special Officer for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

For a while after this, Tucker ran a saloon in Deming. But in 1885, he was appointed as a Deputy US Marshal for that area. In November 1885, he and his friend William Graham were in a gun battle with Apache warriors about 11 miles west of Deming. They were able to make the warriors leave.

Moving On

Tucker left his job by 1888 and moved to California. The last time anyone who knew him saw him was in 1892. He made his last known visit to Grant County then. No one knows where he went after that, or when or where he passed away. A newspaper article from 1931 claimed he died in a hospital in San Bernardino, California. However, recent studies haven't found proof of this.

Dan Tucker's Legacy

Even though not many people know about him today, some historians believe Dan Tucker was one of the most effective and underestimated lawmen in the history of the Old West.

Author Bob Alexander wrote a biography about him called Dangerous Dan" Tucker, New Mexico's Deadly Lawman. Alexander said that Tucker was even more effective than more famous lawmen like Wild Bill Hickok and Wyatt Earp. Historian Leon C. Metz agreed with this idea. Tucker was also featured in the book Deadly Dozen by Robert K. DeArment. This book included Tucker as one of the twelve most underrated gunmen of the Old West.