Tilghman, William Matthew, 1854-1924
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1854-07-04 - 1924-11-01
biographical statement
Bill Tilghman was a career lawman during the Wild West days of Kansas and Oklahoma. He was the city marshal in Dodge City, participated in the Kansas County Seat Wars and the Oklahoma land rushes, and served as a Deputy U.S. Marshal in Oklahoma. With fellow marshals Heck Thomas and Chris Madsen, known as Oklahoma’s Three Guardsmen, he is credited with bringing order to the Territory. He documented his life in The passing of the Oklahoma outlaws, a film that he directed and starred in as himself. In 1924, at age 70, he became city marshal of Cromwell, Oklahoma and was shot and killed after arresting a corrupt federal prohibition agent for public intoxication.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Zoe A. Tilghman collection, 1907-1966
Collection
Identifier: 1972-002
Scope and Contents
The collection is arranged into 5 series:Series 1: Zoe Tilghman: correspondence, drafts of her writings (Bill Tilghman: Fifty Years a Peace Officer and Outlaw Gangs of Oklahoma), short stories and poems.Series 2: William M. "Bill" Tilghman: correspondence, draft of his writings ("Outlaw History"), court documents relating to the trial of Wiley Lynn (man who allegedly killed Tilghman).Series 3: Tilghman children and their spouses: correspondence and...
Dates:
1907 - 1966