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<b>Bonhams:</b> MANDELSHTAM, OSIP. 1891-1938. Autograph Manuscript, 2 pp, [Petersburg,] January 1913, entitled

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A Lynching and More in the Wild West from Gene W. Baade Gene Baade's catalogues ain't fancy, but neither was the Wild West. By Michael Stillman Gene W. Baade is a Washington State bookseller specializing in the American West. Catalogue 205 presents an interesting collection of affordable books, both collectible and informative, for those with an interest in this area, particularly the Old West. Included are old books, more recent reprints of older books, and newer books about life in this territory in the 19th century. This catalogue provides an excellent source for books that are about the Old West as it was, rather than the fictionalized land Hollywood created in the 20th century. Here are a few of the books being offered in the latest Gene Baade catalogue. Back when the Midwest was still wild, John Maxwell moved his young family to Illinois to avoid the post-Civil War feuds of the South. He had two sons, Ed and Alonzo ("Lon"), who grew up unnoticed in the old house they occupied. Neither got into anything more than petty trouble as youths, but Ed was fascinated by the lives of some of the notable criminals of the day, such as Jesse James. He evidently coaxed his somewhat reluctant younger brother to join him, and the Maxwells became noted thieves, particularly horse thieves. They operated in Illinois, Wisconsin, and surrounding states, perhaps as far west as Montana. It is said they became friendly with the James Gang, but were not members, preferring to operate on their own. Both were imprisoned for several years in Illinois for their misdeeds. Lon was released earlier, married and settled down to an ordinary life. However, it was a struggle, and he found himself in debt. When Ed was released, he encouraged Lon to rejoin him, and the younger brother was in need of money. If Lon was initially a reluctant partner, an incident overcame that indisposition. Looking for the brothers, a local under sheriff from Durand, Wisconsin, would search his in-laws nearby residence, looking for them, now known under the alias of the "Williams." Lon's wife would later die in childbirth, a tragedy he would blame on the lawman. The Maxwell/Williams brothers would go out looking for the under sheriff, but would be intercepted by two deputy sheriffs, brothers Charles and Milton Coleman. The outlaws got the better of them. Both Coleman brothers were killed in a shootout. It was the first killing of law officers in the new state of Wisconsin. The Maxwells quickly left town, but now with a $1,700 reward on their heads.
A Lynching and More in the Wild West from Gene W. Baade none The Maxwells were later found in Grand Island, Nebraska. Posing as hunters, local lawmen would gain access to their home. Ed would be over powered, but Lon managed to escape. He was never heard from again, although a skeleton found years later in the area may be his. Meanwhile, Ed was carried back to Durand, where he pleaded not guilty to the shootings before a judge in the Pepin County courthouse. It was the last thing he did. A crowd dragged him from the courthouse, threw a noose around his neck, and hung him from a tree. It is believed to be the last lynching in Wisconsin, and for years it left Durand with an unsavory reputation. The Maxwell/Williams would become "heroes" of various dime novels of the era, much as did the James Brothers. You can read all about them in Twice Outlawed A Personal History of Ed and Lon Maxwell Alias the Williams Brothers... by Adrian Percy. The edition is not stated but is believed to be circa 1890. Item 120. Priced at $50. Here's a newspaper clipping of Custer's death, but it is probably not the Custer you are thinking of. This does not announce George's passing, it notes Elizabeth's. And, the year is not 1876. It is 1933. Elizabeth, or Mrs. George Armstrong Custer, outlived her husband by 57 years. He died when the west was wild, people traveled through the area on horseback, and Indians still defended their territory from invading white men (as George found out the hard way). By the time Mrs. Custer passed away, the land was crisscrossed with highways, people traveled in automobiles, the last Indian battle was over 40 years into the past, and the battlefield where her husband died was well along its way to becoming a monument and stopping point for tourists (she was pushing Congress for a museum on the site when she died at age 90). She not only lived to see the West "won," but beaten into submission. Item 39 is a clipping from an unknown newspaper, but dated April 5, 1933. And if she died with her boots on, they were probably boots from some Italian fashion designer. Libbie Custer died in her Park Avenue apartment in New York City. She had spent the final 57 years of her life defending the honor and reputation of her husband. Item 39 carries the headline, Custer's Widow Dies with Memories of 1876 Massacre. $10. The roster of Civil War leaders runs off the tongue of practically every American with a smattering of knowledge of their history: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, William Sherman, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee... You know what's missing from this list? Women. There aren't many women's names one associates with the Civil War. Frank Moore attempted to fill this missing piece with his book Women of the War; Their Heroism and Self-Sacrifice. This book was published shortly after the War, and includes essays on 57 women who played a role in the conflict. There are also more general essays, such as "Women as soldiers," "Loyal Southern Women," and "What We Did at Gettysburg." It offers a perspective on this war rarely seen today. Item 1074. $125.
A Lynching and More in the Wild West from Gene W. Baade none Here is a great title for anyone interested in ghost towns: Western Ghost Town Series, by Lambert Florin. This is a six-volume set published in Seattle from 1961-1968. Florin devoted his life to photographing and writing about the abandoned towns whose ruins he found in the West. His records will undoubtedly be both interesting and useful for those who still explore ghost towns, as the deterioration which has taken place in the 40 years since his visits has turned many to little more than scattered rubble. Not even ghosts can live there anymore. Item 59. $165. There probably aren't too many Falls County, Texas, collectors out there, but for anyone who is, here is a wonderful addition to your collection. Falls is a mostly rural county in central Texas, with a population of just 18,500. The county seat is Marlin, a community of 6,700, which I doubt even most Texans could locate. At one point, warm springs brought people to the area as a health resort. However, the days have long since passed when hot mineral baths are the preferred cures for illness by most people. A clinic for crippled children that thrived in the first half of the 20th century closed over half a century ago. Some buildings in Marlin use these geothermal waters for heat today, but as anyone from central Texas can tell you, you don't need much heating in this part of the country. There was once a colorfully named community called "Bucksnort" in Falls County, but it closed its doors one and a half centuries ago. In searching the internet for news stories from Falls County, the best I could find was one about an outbreak of anthrax that killed 238 animals in 1974. It was evidently caused by eating contaminated grass during a drought. Central Texas usually has droughts, except when it's having floods. However, for those who love the lifestyle of the smaller town and countryside of Falls County, item 24 is a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is a masters thesis written in 1938 by Walter Brawn. It is called, The History of Falls County (Texas) A Dissertation. It includes details of the county's history along with several pencil drawings. Baade believes this to be the original copy of the dissertation. $450. You may reach Gene W. Baade at 425-271-6481 or by email at bookwest@eskimo.com.

A Lynching and More in the Wild West from Gene W. Baade

Gene Baade's catalogues ain't fancy, but neither was the Wild West.

By Michael Stillman

Gene W. Baade is a Washington State bookseller specializing in the American West. Catalogue 205 presents an interesting collection of affordable books, both collectible and informative, for those with an interest in this area, particularly the Old West. Included are old books, more recent reprints of older books, and newer books about life in this territory in the 19th century. This catalogue provides an excellent source for books that are about the Old West as it was, rather than the fictionalized land Hollywood created in the 20th century. Here are a few of the books being offered in the latest Gene Baade catalogue.

Back when the Midwest was still wild, John Maxwell moved his young family to Illinois to avoid the post-Civil War feuds of the South. He had two sons, Ed and Alonzo ("Lon"), who grew up unnoticed in the old house they occupied. Neither got into anything more than petty trouble as youths, but Ed was fascinated by the lives of some of the notable criminals of the day, such as Jesse James. He evidently coaxed his somewhat reluctant younger brother to join him, and the Maxwells became noted thieves, particularly horse thieves. They operated in Illinois, Wisconsin, and surrounding states, perhaps as far west as Montana. It is said they became friendly with the James Gang, but were not members, preferring to operate on their own.

Both were imprisoned for several years in Illinois for their misdeeds. Lon was released earlier, married and settled down to an ordinary life. However, it was a struggle, and he found himself in debt. When Ed was released, he encouraged Lon to rejoin him, and the younger brother was in need of money. If Lon was initially a reluctant partner, an incident overcame that indisposition. Looking for the brothers, a local under sheriff from Durand, Wisconsin, would search his in-laws nearby residence, looking for them, now known under the alias of the "Williams." Lon's wife would later die in childbirth, a tragedy he would blame on the lawman. The Maxwell/Williams brothers would go out looking for the under sheriff, but would be intercepted by two deputy sheriffs, brothers Charles and Milton Coleman. The outlaws got the better of them. Both Coleman brothers were killed in a shootout. It was the first killing of law officers in the new state of Wisconsin. The Maxwells quickly left town, but now with a $1,700 reward on their heads.

A Lynching and More in the Wild West from Gene W. Baade

none

The Maxwells were later found in Grand Island, Nebraska. Posing as hunters, local lawmen would gain access to their home. Ed would be over powered, but Lon managed to escape. He was never heard from again, although a skeleton found years later in the area may be his. Meanwhile, Ed was carried back to Durand, where he pleaded not guilty to the shootings before a judge in the Pepin County courthouse. It was the last thing he did. A crowd dragged him from the courthouse, threw a noose around his neck, and hung him from a tree. It is believed to be the last lynching in Wisconsin, and for years it left Durand with an unsavory reputation. The Maxwell/Williams would become "heroes" of various dime novels of the era, much as did the James Brothers. You can read all about them in Twice Outlawed A Personal History of Ed and Lon Maxwell Alias the Williams Brothers... by Adrian Percy. The edition is not stated but is believed to be circa 1890. Item 120. Priced at $50.

Here's a newspaper clipping of Custer's death, but it is probably not the Custer you are thinking of. This does not announce George's passing, it notes Elizabeth's. And, the year is not 1876. It is 1933. Elizabeth, or Mrs. George Armstrong Custer, outlived her husband by 57 years. He died when the west was wild, people traveled through the area on horseback, and Indians still defended their territory from invading white men (as George found out the hard way). By the time Mrs. Custer passed away, the land was crisscrossed with highways, people traveled in automobiles, the last Indian battle was over 40 years into the past, and the battlefield where her husband died was well along its way to becoming a monument and stopping point for tourists (she was pushing Congress for a museum on the site when she died at age 90). She not only lived to see the West "won," but beaten into submission. Item 39 is a clipping from an unknown newspaper, but dated April 5, 1933. And if she died with her boots on, they were probably boots from some Italian fashion designer. Libbie Custer died in her Park Avenue apartment in New York City. She had spent the final 57 years of her life defending the honor and reputation of her husband. Item 39 carries the headline, Custer's Widow Dies with Memories of 1876 Massacre. $10.

The roster of Civil War leaders runs off the tongue of practically every American with a smattering of knowledge of their history: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, William Sherman, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee... You know what's missing from this list? Women. There aren't many women's names one associates with the Civil War. Frank Moore attempted to fill this missing piece with his book Women of the War; Their Heroism and Self-Sacrifice. This book was published shortly after the War, and includes essays on 57 women who played a role in the conflict. There are also more general essays, such as "Women as soldiers," "Loyal Southern Women," and "What We Did at Gettysburg." It offers a perspective on this war rarely seen today. Item 1074. $125.

A Lynching and More in the Wild West from Gene W. Baade

none

Here is a great title for anyone interested in ghost towns: Western Ghost Town Series, by Lambert Florin. This is a six-volume set published in Seattle from 1961-1968. Florin devoted his life to photographing and writing about the abandoned towns whose ruins he found in the West. His records will undoubtedly be both interesting and useful for those who still explore ghost towns, as the deterioration which has taken place in the 40 years since his visits has turned many to little more than scattered rubble. Not even ghosts can live there anymore. Item 59. $165.

There probably aren't too many Falls County, Texas, collectors out there, but for anyone who is, here is a wonderful addition to your collection. Falls is a mostly rural county in central Texas, with a population of just 18,500. The county seat is Marlin, a community of 6,700, which I doubt even most Texans could locate. At one point, warm springs brought people to the area as a health resort. However, the days have long since passed when hot mineral baths are the preferred cures for illness by most people. A clinic for crippled children that thrived in the first half of the 20th century closed over half a century ago. Some buildings in Marlin use these geothermal waters for heat today, but as anyone from central Texas can tell you, you don't need much heating in this part of the country. There was once a colorfully named community called "Bucksnort" in Falls County, but it closed its doors one and a half centuries ago. In searching the internet for news stories from Falls County, the best I could find was one about an outbreak of anthrax that killed 238 animals in 1974. It was evidently caused by eating contaminated grass during a drought. Central Texas usually has droughts, except when it's having floods. However, for those who love the lifestyle of the smaller town and countryside of Falls County, item 24 is a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is a masters thesis written in 1938 by Walter Brawn. It is called, The History of Falls County (Texas) A Dissertation. It includes details of the county's history along with several pencil drawings. Baade believes this to be the original copy of the dissertation. $450.

You may reach Gene W. Baade at 425-271-6481 or by email at bookwest@eskimo.com.