Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

John Wesley Hardin

By Sandra Hughes, November 29, 2015

1. John Wesley Hardin Marker

Inscription.

John Wesley Hardin. . Texas fugitive, John Wesley Hardin (1853-1895) was captured here on August 23, 1877. Hardin was wanted and dangerous, and his capture became national news that brought notoriety to Pensacola. Hardin had reportedly killed 27 men. He bragged he had killed 40 men "all in self-defense," including one for snoring too loud. Texas Rangers Lt. John B. Armstrong and Jack R. Duncan along with the Sheriff of Escambia County, William H. Hutchinson, and nine deputies apprehended Hardin and his associates at the L&N Freight Depot as they boarded a train bound for Pollard, Alabama. When approached by Sheriff Hutchinson, Hardin tried to draw a revolver but was overpowered. Deputy Martin Sullivan shot and killed one of Hardin's accomplices as he tried to escape. Hardin was returned to Texas and found guilty of killing Comanche County Deputy Charles Webb. He was sentenced to 25 years in the Texas State Penitentiary, but was pardoned after serving 17 years by Governor James Stephen Hogg and thereafter practiced law in El Paso, Texas. On August 9, 1895 Hardin was shot and killed while playing dice in El Paso. . . Reverse: Those who participated in the capture of . John Wesley Hardin . August 23, 1877 . . Texas Rangers . Lieutenant John Barclay Armstrong . John Riley Duncan . . Escambia County Sheriff's Office . Sheriff William H. Hutchinson . Deputy Martin Sullivan . Deputy A.J. "Ace" Perdue . Deputy E.R. Payne . Deputy John Bard . Deputy William McKinney . Deputy M.L. Davis . Deputy Richard L. Campbell . Deputy Joseph Commyns . Deputy John E. Callaghan . . The Superintendent of the Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad, William D. Chipley, provided special rail transport to the Rangers and valuable intelligence on the location of Hardin. Chipley later became a Pensacola mayor and state senator. . . A Florida Heritage Site . Sponsored by Escambia County Sheriff's Office . Sheriff David Morgan, UWF Historic Trust, Mr. Joe Ulery. . This historical marker was erected in 2014 by The Florida Department of State. It is in Pensacola in Escambia County Florida

Texas fugitive, John Wesley Hardin (1853-1895) was captured here on August 23, 1877. Hardin was wanted and dangerous, and his capture became national news that brought notoriety to Pensacola. Hardin had reportedly killed 27 men. He bragged he had killed 40 men "all in self-defense," including one for snoring too loud. Texas Rangers Lt. John B. Armstrong and Jack R. Duncan along with the Sheriff of Escambia County, William H. Hutchinson, and nine deputies apprehended Hardin and his associates at the L&N Freight Depot as they boarded a train bound for Pollard, Alabama. When approached by Sheriff Hutchinson, Hardin tried to draw a revolver but was overpowered. Deputy Martin Sullivan shot and killed one of Hardin's accomplices as he tried to escape. Hardin was returned to Texas and found guilty of killing Comanche County Deputy Charles Webb. He was sentenced to 25 years in the Texas State Penitentiary, but was pardoned after serving 17 years by Governor James Stephen Hogg and thereafter practiced law in El Paso, Texas. On August 9, 1895 Hardin was shot and killed while playing dice in El Paso.

Reverse: Those who participated

John Wesley Hardin Marker reverse image. Click for full size.

By Sandra Hughes, November 29, 2015

2. John Wesley Hardin Marker reverse

in the capture of
John Wesley Hardin
August 23, 1877

Texas Rangers
Lieutenant John Barclay Armstrong
John Riley Duncan

Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff William H. Hutchinson
Deputy Martin Sullivan • Deputy A.J. "Ace" Perdue
Deputy E.R. Payne • Deputy John Bard
Deputy William McKinney • Deputy M.L. Davis
Deputy Richard L. Campbell • Deputy Joseph Commyns
Deputy John E. Callaghan

The Superintendent of the Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad, William D. Chipley, provided special rail transport to the Rangers and valuable intelligence on the location of Hardin. Chipley later became a Pensacola mayor and state senator.

A Florida Heritage Site
Sponsored by Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff David Morgan, UWF Historic Trust, Mr. Joe Ulery

Erected 2014 by The Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-818.)

Location. 30° 24.531′ N, 87° 12.711′ W. Marker is in Pensacola, Florida, in Escambia County. Marker is on South Tarragona Street south of Church Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pensacola FL 32502, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Commanding Officer's Compound (within shouting distance of

By Sandra Hughes, November 29, 2015

3. John Wesley Hardin Marker

this marker); The End of the Colonial Era in Florida (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Life and Legacy of T. T. Wentworth, Jr. (about 500 feet away); Gateway to Florida’s History (about 500 feet away); Christ Church (about 500 feet away); Colonial Pensacola - Archaeology Brings History to Life (about 500 feet away); Site of Pensacola Opera House (about 600 feet away); Defending a Coastal Colony (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola.

Additional keywords. Outlaws

Categories. • Law Enforcement •

John Wesley Hardin image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

4. John Wesley Hardin

This photo of John Wesley Hardin by N. H. Rose was published c. 1940.

View of the Marker looking South on Tarragona Street. image. Click for full size.

By Mark Hilton, March 6, 2019

5. View of the Marker looking South on Tarragona Street.

Located next to Discovery Square, an Early Learning Playground, part of the T. T. Wentworth Museum Plaza.

More. Search the internet for John Wesley Hardin.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2019. This page originally submitted on November 30, 2015, by Sandra Hughes of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 415 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 30, 2015, by Sandra Hughes of Killen, Alabama, USA. 4. submitted on March 8, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on March 6, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.