Deputy Sheriff Andrew W. Balfour: A Kansas Legend
Okay, picture this: the Wild West, the 1890s. Cowboys, outlaws, and the brave men and women trying to keep the peace. One of those peacekeepers was a guy named Andrew "Andy" W. Balfour. He was a Deputy Sheriff in Kiowa County, Kansas, and let me tell you, his story is one for the books.
Andy wasn’t originally from Kansas. He was born way back in 1851 in Quincy, Illinois. He grew up, found love with a woman named Perina Price (also from Illinois), and they started a family. They had six kids together! At some point, they decided to pack up and head west to Kansas. And that’s where Andy traded in his regular life for a badge and a gun.
Now, being a lawman in the Wild West wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. These guys faced some seriously tough characters. And one of the toughest was a real bad dude named Zip Wyatt. This guy was trouble with a capital "T."
Back in June 1891, Zip Wyatt shot up the town of Mulhall, Oklahoma, like it was a scene straight out of a movie. He wounded a couple of people and then hightailed it out of there, heading north into the Cherokee Outlet and eventually making his way into Kansas.
Of course, the law was on his tail. There was a warrant out for Zip’s arrest, and he knew he had to keep moving. He ended up in Kiowa County, Kansas, where he decided to help himself to some new riding gear in Greensburg. Classic outlaw move, right?
Well, word got back to Deputy Balfour that Zip Wyatt was planning to attend a Fourth of July picnic at Pryor’s Grove, just north of Greensburg. Can you imagine? Celebrating Independence Day with a wanted man in the crowd?
Andy knew he had to act fast. So, on July 4th, he made his way to the picnic. He spotted Zip Wyatt, walked up to him, and they chatted for a few minutes. Maybe Andy was trying to size him up, or maybe he was just being friendly. Whatever the reason, he eventually told Zip about the warrant and that he needed to come with him.
But here’s where things went south, real fast. As Andy was talking to Zip, another guy showed up, distracting him for just a moment. And that’s all Zip needed. In the blink of an eye, he pulled out a gun and shot Andy right in the gut. The bullet hit his spine, and Andy went down.
Now, even though he was seriously wounded, Andy wasn’t about to give up. He drew his own gun and fired back, hitting Zip in the hand. Talk about a tough guy! But sadly, it wasn’t enough. Andy died at the scene about 30 minutes later. He was only 41 years old, leaving behind his wife and those six kids. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Greensburg, Kansas.
Meanwhile, Zip Wyatt managed to escape. With another warrant out for his arrest and a $1,000 reward on his head, he ran back to his home state of Indiana, hoping to lay low with some relatives.
But the law doesn’t forget, and a few months later, they caught up with him. After a long legal battle, Zip was sent back to Guthrie, Oklahoma, to face the music for his crimes in Mulhall. But this guy was like a slippery eel. He escaped again in December 1892 and teamed up with another outlaw named Ike Black.
Together, they formed a gang and went on a crime spree, robbing and murdering their way across the territory. It got so bad that they were blamed for just about every crime that happened. The reward for Zip’s capture was raised to a whopping $5,000!
The law finally caught up with Ike Black during a shootout on August 1, 1895. Ike was killed, but Zip, even though he was wounded, managed to get away once again. But his luck was running out.
Three days later, a posse cornered him at Skeleton Creek. Both sides opened fire, and Zip went down with a serious gut-shot and a shattered pelvis. He was finally captured and taken to jail in Enid, Oklahoma. But his wounds were too severe, and he died in jail on September 7th. He was only 32 years old. He was buried in a pauper’s grave south of Enid, Oklahoma. A sad end for a violent outlaw.
So, there you have it. The story of Deputy Sheriff Andrew W. Balfour, a brave lawman who gave his life trying to bring a dangerous outlaw to justice. He may not be a household name, but he’s a true legend of the American West. A reminder of the sacrifices made by those who tried to bring law and order to a wild and untamed land.