Jeff Kidder Facts for Kids

Jeff Kidder (born November 15, 1875 – died April 5, 1908) was an American lawman who worked in the American Old West during its final years. He was most famous for being part of the Arizona Rangers.

Early Life and Family
Life as a Ranger
Final Gunfight and Death
Related Reading

Early Life and Family

Jefferson David Kidder was born in Vermillion, which was then called Dakota Territory. His father, Silas W. Kidder, moved to South Dakota in 1868. Jeff's grandfather, Jefferson P. Kidder, was an important person. He served as the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont and later worked as a judge on the South Dakota Supreme Court. He was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, which is part of the United States government.

Jeff also had an uncle, Lyman S. Kidder, who was an officer in the army. He served under a famous general named George Custer. Sadly, his uncle and his group were killed in July 1867. This event is known as the Kidder Massacre.

Life as a Ranger

Jeff Kidder went to the University of South Dakota where he studied subjects like algebra and writing. In 1901, his family moved to California. That same year, a new group of lawmen called the Arizona Rangers was created. Kidder decided to go southwest to join them.

Before becoming a Ranger, he worked different jobs. He was a cowboy, a miner, and even a lawman in Nogales, Arizona. In 1903, he was finally hired by the Arizona Rangers. Kidder quickly became known as an excellent shot, almost as good as Captain Harry C. Wheeler. Another Ranger captain, Tom Rynning, later said that he had never seen anyone faster with a gun than Kidder.

In June 1903, Kidder and other Rangers went to Morenci. Their job was to help calm down mine strikes and riots there. After that, Kidder started working to stop cattle rustling (stealing cattle) along the border between the United States and Mexico near Nogales. He often worked by himself, but sometimes other Rangers like Fred Rankin, Billy Old, and Bill Sparks joined him. These Rangers even had special permission from a Mexican General, Luis Emeterio Torres, to go into Mexico if they needed to chase criminals.

In early 1904, Kidder and Ranger Rankin stopped some people who were illegally selling guns near the border. A gunfight started. Kidder shot and killed one of the outlaws, and Rankin shot the horse of another. The Rangers took away many weapons and a lot of ammunition. Kidder had many other fights with gunrunners on the border. Because of this, he became a target for these criminals.

In the fall of 1907, Kidder and a Benson, Arizona Constable (another type of law officer) fought and caught a bandit. They also broke up a group of people who were smuggling weapons and gunpowder. By this time, Kidder was very well-known along the border. He was promoted to sergeant in early 1908.

Final Gunfight and Death

On April 3, 1908, Kidder followed some gunrunners into Naco, Sonora, a town in Mexico. He found the suspects in a cantina, which is like a bar. A gunfight broke out with two local policemen, Delores Quias and Tomas Amador. Kidder was wounded, and so were both Mexican policemen. Two more policemen arrived and shot at Kidder, hitting him in the stomach. Kidder was badly hurt, as the bullet went through his body.

Even though he was alone and outnumbered, Kidder kept shooting back at the two officers. He then tried to get back across the border, which was only a few hundred yards away. Several Mexican policemen and civilians were between him and the border and started shooting. Kidder kept firing until he ran out of bullets. At that point, he gave up.

The Naco Police Chief, Victoriano Amador, who had been wounded by Kidder, jumped on him with several other policemen. Reports say the police beat Kidder and dragged him towards the local jail. He was hit on the head with a pistol, which caused a skull fracture. Kidder was held in jail that night without any medical help.

The next day, American officials, including Ranger Captain Wheeler, convinced the local Mexican officials to let Kidder go to a private house for medical care. A doctor named Francis Eppes Shine came from Bisbee, Arizona to help him. However, there was little hope that Kidder would live, even though he could still speak and tell his story. Other American officials also visited him.

Jeff Kidder died on April 5, 1908. At first, the local Mexican authorities did not want to let Kidder's body be taken back to the United States. To avoid a big problem between the two countries, General Torres ordered that Kidder's body be returned to the Americans. His body was sent to his mother in Los Angeles, California, where he was buried.

Jeff Kidder facts for kids

Contents

Early Life and Family

Life as a Ranger

Final Gunfight and Death

Related Reading