Texas Historical Marker

John Wesley Hardin

El Paso · El Paso County · placed 1997

Outlaws & Lawmen

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El Paso County, Texas

The story

(May 26, 1853 - August 19, 1895) Born in Bonham, Texas, John Wesley Hardin was named for the founder of Methodism. "Wes" Hardin grew into a family man, cowboy, and outlaw who claimed to have killed more than 30 men. An unusual sort of gunslinger, Hardin considered himself a pillar of society who killed to save his own life. Hardin served 15 years in state prison for murder, was pardoned, then opened a law office in El Paso in May 1895.

He was killed 3 months later by John Selman, an El Paso city constable. (1998)

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