Tom Pickett (outlaw) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Pickett
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| Born | 1858 Clarksville, Red River, Texas, US
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| Died | May 14, 1934 (aged 75–76) Winslow, Arizona, US
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Cowboy, cattle rustler, professional gambler, lawman, bartender, prospector, cowhand, stage driver |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Kelly |
Tom Pickett (1858 – May 14, 1934) was an American cowboy and professional gambler from the 1800s. He was known for being both a lawman (someone who enforces laws) and an outlaw (someone who breaks laws) at different times in his life. He was also connected to famous figures like Dave Rudabaugh and Billy the Kid.
Tom Pickett's Early Life
Tom Pickett was born in Clarksville, Texas. As a teenager growing up in Decatur, Texas, he started stealing cattle. When he was 17, he was arrested for this crime. His father, who was a state politician at the time, had to mortgage (put up as collateral for a loan) their family home to pay Tom's fine.
Life on the Frontier
Later, in Kansas City, Tom met an outlaw named Dave Rudabaugh. They traveled together to the New Mexico Territory around 1879. Tom worked as a peace officer in Las Vegas, New Mexico, for a group known as the Dodge City Gang. However, he and Rudabaugh were forced to leave town after a serious incident involving Rudabaugh.
Tom then had a short job as the town marshal (a type of law enforcement officer) in Golden, New Mexico. But in 1882, he was forced to leave that town by angry citizens. He lived in Mexico for a while. He was accused of being involved in some serious events in New Mexico in 1884, but he was never arrested for them.
Later Years and New Beginnings
Tom Pickett eventually settled in Holbrook, Arizona. In 1888, he married Catherine Kelly. Sadly, his wife and baby passed away the next year during childbirth. After this tragedy, Tom went back to traveling and working different jobs.
He worked as a bartender, a prospector (someone who searches for valuable minerals), and a cowhand. For several years, he also drove a stagecoach on the Fort Apache–Holbrook route. Between 1912 and 1914, he served as a deputy U.S. Marshal, which is a federal law enforcement officer.
Final Years
Later in his life, Tom had to have his right leg removed. He returned to northern Arizona to live out his final years. He was again appointed a deputy U.S. Marshal, but he resigned from this role on May 16, 1922. Tom Pickett passed away on May 14, 1934, in Winslow, Arizona, at the age of 76, due to a kidney illness called nephritis.
