by Guy Coates

Between 1876 and 1890, Prescott’s first City Marshal earned a reputation as one of the toughest marshals who ever lived in the West. Although James M. Dodson never garnered the fame of such lawmen as Wild Bill Hickok and Wyatt Earp, those who knew him considered him to be just as brave.

James Dodson was born around 1842 on the family farm in Westport, Missouri, the son of Verlina (Pitman) and Greenup Dodson. Genealogical records indicate that he was a great-grandson of American folk hero, Daniel Boone. One account states that Dodson was born and raised in the same area as Frank and Jessie James. Dodson joined Quantrill’s Guerillas in 1862 and remained in that unit until the end of the Civil War.

It is said that, because of Dodson, Prescott never developed into lawless chaos like other mining towns of the time. He handled matters in his own way while carrying a .45 Colt revolver in his belt where it was in easy reach. He was never outdrawn in a gunfight.

Dodson’s prowess with a gun as told by Mark Bradley: "One day I was shooting pool in one of the many pool halls in Prescott, when our marshal came tromping in through the swinging doors. The fellow with whom I was playing pool drew a gun and started to fire at the marshal, but before he could fire, Jim Dodson put a hole through his head."

In October 1877, accompanied by newly deputized Virgil Earp, Sheriff Ed F. Bowers, U.S. Marshal Wiley W. Standifer and Constable Frank Murray, Dodson was involved in one of Prescott’s most violent gun battles with two dangerous cowboys, John Tallos and Wilson, aka "Vaughn." They had been recognized by a local resident; Col. W. H. McCall, as being wanted in Texas for murder. He alerted the lawmen who armed themselves and surrounded the duo on horseback near Granite Creek. Refusing to surrender, the outlaws opened fire on the lawmen and a general shootout occurred. When the smoke cleared, the two outlaws lay dead. The highly publicized incident helped launch the law enforcement career of Virgil Earp who remained Dodson’s life-long friend.

Two years later, in December 1879, Dodson, along with Sheriff Joseph R. Walker, legendary army scout Al Sieber and Thomas Simmons tracked down and cornered two stage robbers who resisted arrest. A shootout erupted which resulted in the death of one of the bandits and successful capture of the other.

In April 1882 while patrolling Whiskey Row, Dodson was approached by Mr. Boyd, owner of the Keg Saloon, who informed him that a "disreputable character" named Joseph Banks was intimidating his customers and had threatened to carve him up as well with his large Bowie knife. Dodson confronted Banks near the saloon and ordered him to surrender. Banks turned, faced the lawman, and told Dodson that neither he nor any other officer could arrest him. He began throwing rocks and calling Dodson "the vilest of names." Dodson ordered him to surrender. Banks drew his knife and advanced. Dodson, whose patience had become exhausted, drew his Colt and ordered him to stop or be killed. Banks continued to advance, forcing Dodson to empty his revolver at him. It was later learned that Banks was wanted for killing a man in Leadville, Colorado and had committed other crimes in Yavapai County. He had made it known that he would kill the first officer who would attempt to arrest him.

In 1894, John Jones, owner of the Little Jessie Mine in Dewey-Humboldt, asked Dodson to ride guard on a wagon transporting a large amount of gold bullion to a bank in Prescott. Always clever and cautious, Dodson learned that the man hired to drive the wagon had recently moved to town from New Mexico and was living with two other suspicious characters. Intuition convinced him that these men were planning a holdup.

Dodson arranged for a deputy to escort him on the wagon and instructed two other deputies to hide at a strategic spot along the route. Prior to departure, Dodson pretended to be too drunk to make the trip. His deputy, acting angrily, threw his rifle onto the floor as he entered the wagon. The deputy and the suspected outlaw then drove off, without Dodson, who quietly mounted his horse and rode off to a predetermined spot.

A short time later, the wagon approached a fork in the road. The deputy drew a pistol from his belt and instructed the driver to take the old road that branched off to the right. With the deputy’s pistol pointed at his head, the driver complied. Fifty yards further, near a brush-rimmed knoll, Dodson met the wagon.

Now, with two guns trained on the driver, they waited until the two outlaw friends of the driver approached the fork in the road and watched as they followed the left fork. Dodson figured they’d double back once they realized that the wagon had taken a different route. By the time the two bandits realized their blunder, the wagon load of gold bullion had already arrived safely in Prescott. A short time later the two New Mexico bandits arrived, handcuffed to their horses, led by the two deputies that Dodson had sent ahead.

James Dodson spent over a decade as Prescott’s City Marshal. At the end of his career, a silver mounted belt was presented to Dodson by the citizens of Prescott in appreciation of his many years of service. The belt had eight notches, representing the number of men he had killed in the performance of his duty. His best friends included Buckey O’Neill as well as Virgil Earp.

After his retirement, Dodson moved to Yuma where he worked as a wall guard at the Arizona State Penitentiary. His skill with a rifle proved invaluable there on at least one occasion when a prisoner attempted an escape.

He spent the last years of his life in Phoenix where he died peacefully on May 10, 1907, at the age of 67, seated in the reading room of the Commercial Hotel which was located on the corner of Central and Jefferson avenues. He is interred in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(po1529p) Reuse only by permission.

This photograph of James M. Dodson, c.1900, was taken in Phoenix after his retirement as Prescott City Marshal. Still packing his gun, you will also note the silver-mounted belt given to him by the citizens of Prescott for a job well done.

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(po1530pb) Reuse only bypermission.

James M. Dodson, c.1880s, Prescott City Marshal, 1876-1890.

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(po1530pa) Reuse only bypermission.

Marshal Dodson seated at right, c. 1880s, with three unidentified men.