Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr. – A Bad Texas Hombre
The annals of the American West are replete with figures who walked the line between law and lawlessness, their lives etched in tales of grit, violence, and survival. Among these figures stands Emmanuel "Mannen" Clements, Sr., a man whose name became synonymous with the rugged and often unforgiving landscape of Texas. Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr. was not merely a rancher; he was an outlaw and a gunfighter who commanded a family known for its ruthlessness in McCulloch County, Texas. His story is a compelling glimpse into a bygone era where personal codes of honor often clashed with the established laws, and where the ability to handle a firearm was as essential as knowing how to herd cattle.
Born into a family that would leave its indelible mark on the history of Texas, Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr., along with his brothers John Gibson "Gip," James, and Joseph, spent their formative years on a cattle ranch south of Smiley, in Gonzales County. The hardscrabble life of a Texas rancher in the mid-19th century instilled in them a sense of self-reliance and a deep connection to the land. However, their path soon diverged from the simple life of cattle herding, leading them down a road paved with conflict and violence.
The year 1871 marked a turning point in the lives of the Clements brothers. Their cousin, the infamous John Wesley Hardin, paid a visit to their ranch. Hardin, already a notorious figure in the West, brought with him a certain notoriety that would further shape the Clements’ destiny. During Hardin’s visit, Mannen and James Clements joined him on a cattle drive north to Kansas, a journey fraught with peril and opportunity.
It was during this cattle drive that Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr. first demonstrated the ruthless streak that would define his legacy. As the herd crossed the Red River into Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), a dispute arose with two brothers, Adolph and Joseph Shadden, who questioned Mannen’s authority. In a swift and decisive act of violence, Mannen killed both men, solidifying his reputation as a man not to be trifled with.
The consequences of his actions were immediate. Upon reaching Kansas, Mannen was arrested by none other than Wild Bill Hickok, the legendary lawman of the West. However, fate intervened in the form of John Wesley Hardin, who had struck up a friendship with Hickok. At Hardin’s request, Hickok released Mannen, allowing him to escape the clutches of the law, at least for the time being.
This incident highlights the complex web of relationships and alliances that characterized the Wild West. Even in a world often defined by violence, personal connections and loyalties could outweigh the dictates of justice. The fact that Hardin, a known outlaw, could influence a lawman like Hickok speaks volumes about the fluid nature of power and authority on the frontier.
In October 1872, Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr. once again found himself aiding John Wesley Hardin, this time in a daring escape from a jail in Gonzales County, Texas. Mannen smuggled a file to Hardin, who used it to weaken the bars of his cell. Then, using a lariat, Mannen pulled Hardin through the jagged opening, freeing him from captivity. This act of loyalty further cemented the bond between the two men and solidified Mannen’s reputation as an accomplice to outlaws.
The years that followed saw Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr. and his brothers embroiled in the infamous Taylor-Sutton Feud, a bloody and protracted conflict that plagued Texas for years. The feud pitted the Taylor and Sutton families against each other in a cycle of violence and revenge. The Clements brothers, through their association with John Wesley Hardin, aligned themselves with the Taylor faction, further escalating the bloodshed.
In 1877, Mannen found himself incarcerated in Austin, Texas, alongside Hardin, Bill Taylor, Johnny Ringo, and members of the Sam Bass gang. This unlikely gathering of notorious figures under one roof paints a vivid picture of the lawlessness that pervaded the era. It also underscores the interconnectedness of the outlaw community, where individuals from different gangs and factions often crossed paths and shared common experiences.
Even after John Wesley Hardin was sentenced to prison, Mannen remained a loyal friend, visiting him regularly and providing support to Hardin’s wife, Jane, and their children. This act of kindness reveals a more human side to Mannen, suggesting that beneath the hardened exterior of an outlaw lay a sense of compassion and responsibility.
By 1880, Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr. had established himself as a successful rancher in McCulloch County, accumulating vast herds of horses and cattle. However, his past continued to haunt him, as he was widely suspected of cattle rustling, a common crime on the Texas frontier. The line between legitimate ranching and illegal activities was often blurred, and many ranchers resorted to rustling to supplement their income or gain an advantage over their rivals.
Around 1882, Clements hired none other than "Killin’ Jim" Miller, a notorious gunfighter and hired killer, to work on his ranch. Miller’s presence on the Clements ranch further solidified the family’s reputation for violence and lawlessness. While working for Clements, Miller became close friends with Mannen’s son, Emmanuel "Mannie" Clements, Jr., and Mannen’s daughter, Sallie. This friendship would later have tragic consequences, as Miller and Mannie Clements became entangled in the Frazer-Miller Feud in Pecos, Texas.
Despite his checkered past, Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr. harbored political ambitions. In the early days of 1877, he ran for sheriff of the newly formed Runnels County, engaging in a hotly contested campaign. However, his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, as the voters of Runnels County were unwilling to entrust law enforcement to a man with such a questionable background.
On March 29, 1887, Mannen’s violent life came to an end. He was shot and killed in the Senate Saloon by Ballinger City Marshal Joseph Townsend. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain shrouded in mystery, but it is widely believed that Townsend acted in self-defense.
However, the story did not end there. Not long after Mannen’s death, Townsend was ambushed while riding home one night. A shotgun blast fired from the darkness swept him from his saddle, leaving him severely wounded. The identity of the ambusher was never definitively established, but suspicion immediately fell on Jim Miller, who was known for his ruthless efficiency and his loyalty to the Clements family.
Although Townsend survived the attack, he lost an arm, a permanent reminder of the violence that characterized the era. The fact that Townsend was targeted after killing Mannen Clements underscores the code of vengeance that prevailed in the Old West. In many communities, justice was not left to the courts but was instead meted out through personal acts of retribution.
The life and death of Emmanuel “Mannen” Clements, Sr., encapsulate the complexities and contradictions of the American West. He was a rancher, an outlaw, a gunfighter, and a family man. He was capable of both ruthless violence and acts of kindness. His story serves as a reminder of the challenges and dangers faced by those who sought to make a life on the frontier, and of the enduring legacy of the men and women who shaped the history of Texas. His legacy remains a captivating, if somewhat troubling, chapter in the narrative of the American West.