In early-nineteenth-century Missouri, the duel was a rite of passage for many young gentlemen seeking prestige and power. In time, however, social groups outside the ruling class engaged in a variety of violent acts and symbolic challenges under the rubric of the code duello. In Duels and the Roots of Violence in Missouri, Dick Steward takes an in-depth look at the evolution of dueling, tracing the origins, course, consequences, and ultimate demise of one of the most deadly art forms in Missouri history. By focusing on the history of dueling in Missouri, Steward details an important part of our culture and the long-reaching impact this form of violence has played in our society.
Few frontiersmen in the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century epitomized the reckless energies of the West and the lust for adventure as did John Smith T pioneer, gunfighter, entrepreneur, militia colonel, miner, judge, and folk hero. In this fascinating biography, Dick Steward traces the colorful Smith T's life from his early days in Virginia through his young adulthood. He then describes Smith T's remarkable career in the wilds of Missouri and his armed raids to gain land from Indians, Spaniards, and others. Born into the fifth generation of Virginia gentry, young Smith first made his name on the Tennessee frontier. It was there that he added the "T" to his name to distinguish his land titles and other enterprises from those of the hosts of other John Smiths. By the late 1790s he owned or laid claim to more than a quarter million acres in Tennessee and northern Alabama. In 1797, Smith T moved to Missouri, then a Spanish territory, and sought to gain control of its lead-mining district by displacing the most powerful American in the region, Moses Austin. He acquired such public positions as judge of the court of common pleas, commissioner of weights and levies, and lieutenant colonel of the militia, which enabled him to mount a spirited assault on Austin's virtual monopoly of the lead mines. Although neither side emerged a winner from that ten-year-old conflict, it was during this period that Smith T's fame as a gunfighter and duelist spread across the West. Known as the most dangerous man in Missouri, he was said to have killed fourteen men in duels. Smith T was also recognized by many for his good works. He donated land for churches and schools and was generous to the poor and downtrodden. He epitomized the opening of the West, helping to build towns, roads, and canals and organizing trading expeditions. Even though Smith T was one of the most notorious characters in Missouri history, by the late nineteenth century he had all but disappeared from the annals of western history. Frontier Swashbuckler seeks to rescue both the man and the legend from historical obscurity. At the same time, it provides valuable insights into the economic, political, and social dynamics of early Missouri frontier history.
The Shark Tank is the third book of the trilogy of Dick C and his life. During this period of time I develop a thriving company. This business leads me to develop a software process that will be sought after by many in the federal arena. It also takes me into exposure and rubbing shoulders with some of the most connected and powerful individuals in the country. What follows in this book is the most challenging time of Dick C and his life. It will include a rise to success and then being unknowingly manipulated in an attempt to steal the software process, the company and all that follows. What happens to Dick C during this period and time is beyond belief. Read the entire Trilogy; Headlong Through Life, Book 1 of a Trilogy Return To Sanity, Book 2 of a Trilogy The Shark Tank, Book 3 of a Trilogy
I can remember the day I was born." And thus begins the life story of Jim Dick. A storyteller like his father and immigrant grandmother, this ninety-three-year-old retired North Dakota farmer has put pen to paper to preserve a lifetime of memories from the Great Depression to today. Insatiably curious and always driven to make the most of his life, Jim has been a progressive farmer and steward of the land, a community builder, and a gentleman. As he enters the last chapter of his life, Jim's book is a guide for embracing life, appreciating the past, and reflecting on what is to come.
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