A Johnson County Picture Show

The Rustlers vs Invaders

The Johnson County Invaders - all 52 of ‘em, including our very own Frank Canton. This photo was taken after their failed invasion when they were in military custody/protection. Notice there’s no Tom Horn in this picture.

Here’s another pretty cool pic. Jack Flagg - the “King of the Rustlers” that became what I described on my most recent episode as a Johnson County Paul Revere is squatting on the bottom right. Nat Champion is standing nearby, 2nd from the right. The men here were gathered for a round up before things went totally off the rails.

And then finally we have the heavily armed Mike Shonsey. If you listened to my most recent episode on Frank Canton & the Johnson County War you may remember that it was Shonsey who was suspected of having shed his fair share of blood for the WSGA. He was there with Frank during the invasion, he was the one who slipped out to send for help, and he was taken into custody by the military toward the end of hostiities.

It was Shonsey who killed Nat Champion’s brother, Dudley, and Mike would be the last surviving member of the Johnson County War, dying in 1954 at the age of 87.

Hope you’re all doing well and I can’t wait to share the next chapter of Frank Canton’s life with you this coming Wednesday. Frank will end up drifting down to Oklahoma and finally come face to face with his fugitive past. He’ll also find himself much MUCH farther north - Alaska.