157:, he met and married Catherine Fowler (1821-1862) in May 1856. Recently widowed, Catherine was the step-daughter of Calvin Musgrave (1820-1885), one of Lewis Musgrave’s cousins. Lewis and Catherine had three children together while living in Hot Springs: Edward, Ellen and Florina. Catherine Fowler Musgrave died in January 1862, less than a year after the birth of their third child. Lewis and Catherine’s children continued to live in Hot Springs with Catherine’s mother, Kitty Musgrave, who was married to Lewis’ cousin Calvin Musgrave.
125:, who stole government livestock throughout Wyoming, Colorado and the surrounding western states and territories. Musgrave was eventually caught and brought to Denver, Colorado, where he was taken by a group of citizens and hung from the Larimer Street Bridge on November 26, 1868. A detailed account of Musgrave’s criminal activities, capture, and hanging appeared in a memoir by the City Marshal of Denver,
226:, a train was attacked by sixteen members of the Musgrove Gang who were disguised as Native Americans. The gang often used this disguise with the intention of passing the blame for their crimes on to Native Americans. The Musgrove Gang stole sixteen mules. During the attack members of the gang killed four men, scalping two of them. However, three of the train men managed to escape.
230:
200 for his release, but Cronin refused. On the train to Fort Steele, Musgrave complained that his legs were bound too tightly. When the bindings on his feet were removed, Musgrave leapt from the slow moving train, only to be recaptured. At the Fort, Musgrave was charged with the death of the four train men and stealing $ 100,000 worth of government livestock.
178:, Wyoming. There he had a confrontation a man of Native American and European heritage who called Musgrave a liar. Musgrave shot the man in the forehead. He was arrested for that murder in Fort Halleck, Wyoming in 1863. He was sent to Denver for trial, where he was released because of a legal technicality.
257:
with the intention of apprehending
Franklin and Duggan. That night Cook and his men found Duggan in a saloon where they exchanged gunfire, but Duggan managed to escape. Next, Cook found Franklin in a hotel room nearby. Despite trying to arrest Franklin, the ensuing gunfight ended in Franklin’s death.
702:
Napa County, California, Marriages 1850-1905. Book A, Pages 1-155. Napa County
Recorders Office. “Groom: Lewis H. Musgrave of Fowlers Ranch, Napa Valley, age 23. Spouse: Mrs. Catherine Harlen of Fowlers Ranch, Napa Valley, age 34. Date of marriage: May 14, 1856. Date recorded: June 7, 1856. Married
594:
These letters quoted in the newspapers help connect the outlaw L. H. Musgrove with the Lewis H. Musgrave who lived in Napa Valley. A descendant of the Napa Valley family, Fowler
Mallett, wrote a family history in which he discussed Musgrave being hung, affirming the connection to the family. Mallett
261:
By noon the next day, the people of Denver began to talk about lynching
Musgrave. In the afternoon outside the jail, a large crowd had gathered, including many prominent citizens. Those gathered were asked if Musgrave should be taken out and hung, to which they generally agreed. Musgrave was subdued
137:
Lewis
Musgrave was born in Illinois in 1832 to Thomas C. Musgrave (1808-1868) and Sarah Elizabeth Maxwell (1812-after 1860). The exact date of his birth is unknown, though records point to some time between June and November 1832. Musgrave grew up in Tennessee, the home state of his father and where
229:
On
October 28, 1868, Lewis Musgrave was arrested near Elk Mountain, Wyoming by a local man named John Cronin. Cronin chased Musgrave for miles and eventually captured him. Cronin bound Musgrave's feet and hands and took him as his prisoner to Fort Steele. According to Cronin, Musgrave offered him $
249:
Still intent on helping
Musgrave escape, his right-hand man, Edward Franklin headed for Denver as well. He was accompanied by Sanford Duggan, another outlaw but not a member of the Musgrove Gang. Both had recently been caught by the law, but had managed to escape. On November 20, 1868, as Franklin
514:
When he had finished writing his letters, Musgrave was bound and taken under the bridge where a noose had been prepared. With the noose around his neck, Musgrave rolled and slowly smoked his final cigarette. As the wagon pulled away, Musgrave jumped into the air to ensure a quick death.
250:
and Duggan made their way to the jail under the cover of night, they took the time to commit three robberies at gunpoint, including holding up a local judge. At the jail, the outlaws met with
Musgrave, who later told the jailers that his escape had been planned and was assured.
507:
The first letter was addressed to
Musgrave’s older brother, William Musgrave, who lived in or near Como Depot in Panola County, Mississippi. The children he referred to in his note were from his marriage to his first wife, Catherine Fowler Musgrave and lived in Napa Valley.
185:, “the Musgrove gang ... was possibly the largest and most desperate lot of men that was ever joined together in the west for unlawful purposes. The members of the band were to be found in every state and territory—with the exception of three—west of the Mississippi river.”
165:
In the Napa Valley, some time in the early 1860s, Lewis
Musgrave had an argument with a man over their respective Civil War loyalties. Musgrave shot the man and was run out of the area. He reportedly moved to the
237:
near Fort Steele, Wyoming. One train worker was killed. The gang may have caused the train wreck to prevent authorities from moving Musgrave to Denver, or it might have been a plot to help Musgrave escape.
712:
Daughters of the American Revolution. Records of the Families of California Pioneers. 1934. Vol. 4, Page 197, "Family of George Harlan." California State Library. (accessed February 10, 2020).
192:. They returned to the fort the next month and stole the cavalry horses. None of the animals were recovered, and there was suspicion the gang received help from within the ranks of the Fort.
181:
By 1864, Lewis Musgrave had become the leader of a group of outlaws who stole government livestock, often using violence and murder. The group was known as the Musgrove Gang. According to
576:
In US Census records, both Lewis and his parents cite Illinois as the state where he was born, though other less reliable reports say he was from Mississippi where he lived after age 8.
138:
his younger brothers were born. The Musgrave family moved to northern Mississippi when Lewis was about 8 years old. In 1850 Lewis Musgrave, age 18, was still living with his family in
595:
doubted the characterization of Musgrave as an outlaw, taking the letters at face value. Perhaps Mallett did not want to cast a shadow on the family. The history is: Mallett, Fowler.
664:
U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865. Napa County. Northern California. Volume 3, Number 7. Dec. 1863 & Jan 1864. Louis H Musgrave. Age on 1st July, 1863: 29.
241:
Securely bound with shackles and handcuffs, Musgrave was escorted by forty soldiers from Fort Steele to Denver, Colorado to await trial at the Arapahoe County Jail.
1143:
195:
There were many newspaper accounts of the Musgrove Gang stealing government livestock between 1865 and 1868. In 1867, Musgrave killed a man and stole a horse in
265:
Musgrave asked his captures to allow him to write to his family. He was given a pencil and paper on which he wrote notes to his brother and his wife:
958:"Vigilantes in Denver, Musgrove Hung, Franklin, a Garroter, Shot by Officers in Golden City". Cheyenne Leader. November 24, 1868. p. 1.
189:
1148:
511:
The second letter was to his wife, Mary. She was from Missouri, but was living in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territories when Lewis was hanged.
262:
by members of the public and removed from the jail. He was taken by the crowd to the nearby Larimer Street Bridge on Cherry Creek.
638:
1850 US Census. District 13, Panola County, Mississippi. Page 89, Line 6. Lewis Musgraves. Age: 18 (in November). Birthplace: Ill.
233:
On October 31, 1868, members of the Musgrove Gang, again disguised as Native Americans, were responsible for a train wreck on the
1138:
652:
1860 US Census. Hot Springs, Napa County, California. Page 1, Line 32. Lewis Musgrave. Age: 27 (in June). Birthplace: Ill.
519:
153:
in Northern California, where three of his cousins and an uncle were living. In the town of Hot Springs, later called
1030:
1870 US Census. Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming Territory. Page 22, Line 33. Mary Musgrove. Age: 22. Birthplace: Missouri.
599:. Berkeley, CA. Unpublished Manuscript. 1953. Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library (accessed July 17, 2019).
139:
1133:
150:
625:"Capture of Musgrove the Renegade White-Indian". Laramie, WY: Frontier Index. November 17, 1868. p. 1.
539:
534:
234:
211:
175:
223:
154:
1128:
1123:
146:
860:"The Tribune gives the following version". Central City, CO: Daily Register Call. November 5, 1868.
849:"More Horse Thieves and More Shooting". No. 9. Cheyenne Leader. September 29, 1868. p. 4.
548:
204:
786:
732:
210:
On September 29, 1868, Edward Franklin and one other man from the Musgrove Gang stole mules from
544:
200:
118:
1095:
543:, featured a fictitious detective who each week captured a different notorious outlaw of the
254:
167:
551:, in a story loosely based on the actual events of Lewis Musgrave, including his hanging.
886:"The Attack on the Railroad". No. 38. Cheyenne Leader. November 2, 1868. p. 4.
547:. The series ran in 1954 and 1955. In the final episode, L. H. Musgrove is portrayed by
199:. In the spring of 1868, Musgrave ran off livestock in Colorado near Poudre Canyon near
1064:
1117:
196:
126:
214:. When local lawmen pursued them, both men were wounded by gunfire and apprehended.
1097:
Hands Up: or Thirty-Five Years of Detective Life in the Mountains and on the Plains
171:
897:"But for the thoroughness of Fitzgerald". Rocky Mountain News. November 16, 1868.
1012:
1870 U.S. Census Township 6, Range 7, Panola County, Mississippi. Dwelling 11.
322:
Napa valley Cal — will you go and get them & take care of them for me god
991:
969:
774:"An Old-Time Desperado". Leadville Daily Herald. April 14, 1885. p. 4:3.
838:"Lieutenant Abeil". Rocky Mountain News Weekly. April 22, 1868. p. 3:2.
813:"The Road Agents Doubled the Terror". Fort Collins Courier. March 1, 1883.
442:
what they are agoing to hang me for unless it is because I am acquainted
326:
me. Brother good by forEver—take care of my pore little children I remain
947:"The Hanging of Musgrove". Cheyenne Leader. November 25, 1868. p. 1.
444:
with Ed Franklin—godd will protect you I hope good bye for ever as ever
440:
I am as you know innocent of the charges made against me. I do not know
827:"The Capture of Musgrove". Colorado Weekly Chieftain. November 5, 1868.
525:
With the deaths of Musgrave and Franklin, the Musgrove Gang dissolved.
100:
Murder of four men and stealing $ 100,000 worth of government livestock
324:
Knows that I am innocent pray for me—but I was here when the mob took
188:
In September 1864, the Musgrove Gang stole fifty head of cattle from
721:
1870 US Census. Hot Springs, Napa, California. Page 38, Lines 19-33.
1021:
1880 U.S. Census Longtown, Panola County, Mississippi. Dwelling 19.
791:. Fort Collins, CO: The Courier Printing & Pub. Co. p. 104
737:. Fort Collins, CO: The Courier Printing & Pub. Co. p. 105
567:
Musgrave seems to have been born between June and November of 1832.
320:
I am to bee hung to-day on false charges by a mob my children is in
1100:. Denver, Colorado: W. F. Robinson Printing Co. pp. 92–124
585:
Denver’s Arapahoe County Jail was at 14th and Larimer Streets.
438:
MY DEAR WIFE: Before this reaches you I will be no more, Mary
88:
Stealing government livestock and his public hanging in Denver
674:
672:
670:
386:
The above was directed to W. C. Musgrove, Como Depot, Miss.
942:
940:
253:
Two days later, based on a tip, City Marshal Cook went to
170:
where he killed two men. Heading east, Musgrave became an
869:
867:
754:
752:
501:
This was directed to Mrs M. E. Musgrove, Cheyenne, W. T.
522:
and was included in City Marshal David Cook’s memoirs.
994:. Calistoga, CA: The Weekly Calistogian. May 24, 1876
972:. Rocky Mountain News. November 23, 1868. p. 1:2
113:(1832 – November 23, 1868), known later in life as
96:
84:
76:
68:
60:
52:
40:
28:
21:
648:
646:
644:
203:. Later he had a run in with the soldiers near
8:
769:
767:
634:
632:
518:The hanging was depicted in an engraving by
822:
820:
703:by: James H. McCord, Justice of the Peace”
620:
618:
616:
18:
808:
806:
1051:
1039:
931:
919:
907:
873:
758:
690:
678:
660:
658:
612:
560:
1144:People from Panola County, Mississippi
1094:Cook, David J.; Cook, John W. (1897).
145:In the early 1850s, shortly after the
7:
788:History of Larimer County, Colorado
734:History of Larimer County, Colorado
446:yours sell what I have and keep it.
14:
597:Genealogical Notes and Anecdotes
121:. Beginning in 1864, he led the
1:
992:"Town & County Notices"
520:Alexander Phimister Proctor
1165:
1149:Criminals from Mississippi
140:Panola County, Mississippi
56:Hanging by vigilante group
44:November 23, 1868 (age 36)
222:On October 25, 1868 near
104:
92:
328:your unfortunate Brother
149:, Musgrave moved to the
1139:Criminals from Illinois
785:Watrous, Ansel (1911).
731:Watrous, Ansel (1911).
117:, was an outlaw in the
540:Stories of the Century
505:
235:Union Pacific Railroad
183:Leadville Daily Herald
910:, p. 97-99, 112.
292:DENVER, Nov. 23d, 68.
267:
224:Elk Mountain, Wyoming
1052:Cook & Cook 1897
1040:Cook & Cook 1897
932:Cook & Cook 1897
920:Cook & Cook 1897
908:Cook & Cook 1897
874:Cook & Cook 1897
759:Cook & Cook 1897
691:Cook & Cook 1897
679:Cook & Cook 1897
147:California Gold Rush
537:Western TV series,
53:Cause of death
1042:, p. 117-118.
934:, p. 114-117.
922:, p. 100-109.
681:, p. 112-114.
535:Emmy award-winning
529:In popular culture
207:, east of Denver.
693:, p. 92-124.
119:American Old West
111:Lewis H. Musgrave
108:
107:
69:Years active
23:Lewis H. Musgrave
1156:
1134:American outlaws
1109:
1107:
1105:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1061:
1055:
1049:
1043:
1037:
1031:
1028:
1022:
1019:
1013:
1010:
1004:
1003:
1001:
999:
988:
982:
981:
979:
977:
966:
960:
959:
955:
949:
948:
944:
935:
929:
923:
917:
911:
905:
899:
898:
894:
888:
887:
883:
877:
871:
862:
861:
857:
851:
850:
846:
840:
839:
835:
829:
828:
824:
815:
814:
810:
801:
800:
798:
796:
782:
776:
775:
771:
762:
756:
747:
746:
744:
742:
728:
722:
719:
713:
710:
704:
700:
694:
688:
682:
676:
665:
662:
653:
650:
639:
636:
627:
626:
622:
600:
592:
586:
583:
577:
574:
568:
565:
318:MY DEAR BROTHER:
255:Golden, Colorado
168:Nevada Territory
61:Other names
47:Denver, Colorado
19:
1164:
1163:
1159:
1158:
1157:
1155:
1154:
1153:
1114:
1113:
1112:
1103:
1101:
1093:
1089:
1084:
1083:
1073:
1071:
1065:"L.H. Musgrove"
1063:
1062:
1058:
1050:
1046:
1038:
1034:
1029:
1025:
1020:
1016:
1011:
1007:
997:
995:
990:
989:
985:
975:
973:
970:"The Garroters"
968:
967:
963:
957:
956:
952:
946:
945:
938:
930:
926:
918:
914:
906:
902:
896:
895:
891:
885:
884:
880:
872:
865:
859:
858:
854:
848:
847:
843:
837:
836:
832:
826:
825:
818:
812:
811:
804:
794:
792:
784:
783:
779:
773:
772:
765:
757:
750:
740:
738:
730:
729:
725:
720:
716:
711:
707:
701:
697:
689:
685:
677:
668:
663:
656:
651:
642:
637:
630:
624:
623:
614:
609:
604:
603:
593:
589:
584:
580:
575:
571:
566:
562:
557:
531:
473:L. H. MUSGROVE.
447:
445:
443:
441:
439:
329:
327:
325:
323:
321:
319:
247:
220:
163:
135:
97:Criminal charge
48:
45:
36:
33:
24:
17:
16:American outlaw
12:
11:
5:
1162:
1160:
1152:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1116:
1115:
1111:
1110:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1082:
1081:
1056:
1054:, p. 116.
1044:
1032:
1023:
1014:
1005:
983:
961:
950:
936:
924:
912:
900:
889:
878:
863:
852:
841:
830:
816:
802:
777:
763:
748:
723:
714:
705:
695:
683:
666:
654:
640:
628:
611:
610:
608:
605:
602:
601:
587:
578:
569:
559:
558:
556:
553:
530:
527:
499:
498:
497:
496:
495:
494:
493:
492:
491:
490:
489:
488:
487:
486:
485:
484:
483:
482:
481:
480:
479:
478:
477:
476:
436:
435:
434:
433:
432:
431:
430:
429:
428:
427:
426:
425:
424:
423:
422:
421:
420:
419:
418:
417:
416:
415:
414:
413:
384:
383:
382:
381:
380:
379:
378:
377:
376:
375:
374:
373:
372:
371:
370:
369:
368:
367:
366:
365:
364:
363:
362:
361:
356:
316:
315:
314:
313:
312:
311:
310:
309:
308:
307:
306:
305:
304:
303:
302:
301:
300:
299:
298:
297:
296:
295:
294:
293:
246:
243:
219:
216:
162:
159:
134:
131:
115:L. H. Musgrove
106:
105:
102:
101:
98:
94:
93:
90:
89:
86:
85:Known for
82:
81:
78:
74:
73:
70:
66:
65:
64:L. H. Musgrove
62:
58:
57:
54:
50:
49:
46:
42:
38:
37:
34:
30:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1161:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1121:
1119:
1099:
1098:
1092:
1091:
1086:
1070:
1066:
1060:
1057:
1053:
1048:
1045:
1041:
1036:
1033:
1027:
1024:
1018:
1015:
1009:
1006:
993:
987:
984:
971:
965:
962:
954:
951:
943:
941:
937:
933:
928:
925:
921:
916:
913:
909:
904:
901:
893:
890:
882:
879:
876:, p. 95.
875:
870:
868:
864:
856:
853:
845:
842:
834:
831:
823:
821:
817:
809:
807:
803:
790:
789:
781:
778:
770:
768:
764:
761:, p. 94.
760:
755:
753:
749:
736:
735:
727:
724:
718:
715:
709:
706:
699:
696:
692:
687:
684:
680:
675:
673:
671:
667:
661:
659:
655:
649:
647:
645:
641:
635:
633:
629:
621:
619:
617:
613:
606:
598:
591:
588:
582:
579:
573:
570:
564:
561:
554:
552:
550:
546:
542:
541:
536:
528:
526:
523:
521:
516:
512:
509:
504:
502:
475:
472:
471:
470:
469:
468:
467:
466:
465:
464:
463:
462:
461:
460:
459:
458:
457:
456:
455:
454:
453:
452:
451:
450:
449:
448:
412:DENVER C. T.,
411:
410:
409:
408:
407:
406:
405:
404:
403:
402:
401:
400:
399:
398:
397:
396:
395:
394:
393:
392:
391:
390:
389:
388:
387:
360:
358:L H MUSGROVE
357:
354:
353:
352:
351:
350:
349:
348:
347:
346:
345:
344:
343:
342:
341:
340:
339:
338:
337:
336:
335:
334:
333:
332:
331:
330:
291:
290:
289:
288:
287:
286:
285:
284:
283:
282:
281:
280:
279:
278:
277:
276:
275:
274:
273:
272:
271:
270:
269:
268:
266:
263:
259:
256:
251:
244:
242:
239:
236:
231:
227:
225:
217:
215:
213:
208:
206:
202:
198:
197:Poudre Canyon
193:
191:
186:
184:
179:
177:
173:
172:Indian trader
169:
160:
158:
156:
152:
148:
143:
141:
132:
130:
128:
127:David J. Cook
124:
123:Musgrove Gang
120:
116:
112:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
83:
80:Musgrove Gang
79:
75:
71:
67:
63:
59:
55:
51:
43:
39:
31:
27:
20:
1102:. Retrieved
1096:
1074:November 18,
1072:. Retrieved
1068:
1059:
1047:
1035:
1026:
1017:
1008:
996:. Retrieved
986:
974:. Retrieved
964:
953:
927:
915:
903:
892:
881:
855:
844:
833:
795:November 18,
793:. Retrieved
787:
780:
741:November 18,
739:. Retrieved
733:
726:
717:
708:
698:
686:
596:
590:
581:
572:
563:
538:
532:
524:
517:
513:
510:
506:
503:
500:
474:
437:
385:
359:
317:
264:
260:
252:
248:
240:
232:
228:
221:
212:Fort Sanders
209:
194:
187:
182:
180:
176:Fort Halleck
164:
144:
136:
122:
114:
110:
109:
77:Organization
1129:1868 deaths
1124:1832 births
1104:November 2,
998:October 18,
549:John Archer
205:Cedar Point
190:Fort Steele
151:Napa Valley
1118:Categories
607:References
133:Early life
545:Wild West
155:Calistoga
72:1863-1868
1069:imdb.com
976:June 13,
355:good bie
35:Illinois
1087:Sources
245:Hanging
218:Capture
201:Laporte
161:Outlaw
555:Notes
174:near
1106:2020
1076:2020
1000:2019
978:2020
797:2020
743:2020
533:The
41:Died
32:1832
29:Born
1120::
1067:.
939:^
866:^
819:^
805:^
766:^
751:^
669:^
657:^
643:^
631:^
615:^
142:.
129:.
1108:.
1078:.
1002:.
980:.
799:.
745:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.