History has a funny way of remembering the cowards but forgetting the men who actually pulled the trigger on them. Everyone knows the story of how the "dirty little coward" Robert Ford stepped up on a chair to dust a picture frame and shot Jesse James in the back of the head. It’s the stuff of folk songs. But honestly, have you ever stopped to wonder who killed Bob Ford?
He didn't exactly ride off into a peaceful sunset.
Ten years after he became the most hated man in America, Bob Ford found himself in a dusty silver mining camp in Creede, Colorado. He was trying to run a tent saloon. He was broke, mostly miserable, and constantly looking over his shoulder. He knew people wanted him dead. He just didn't know it would be a man named Edward Capehart O'Kelley who would finally settle the score.
The Man Behind the Shotgun: Edward O'Kelley
Edward O'Kelley wasn't a lawman in the traditional sense, though he had served as a deputy marshal at one point. He was more of a drifter with a short fuse. On June 8, 1892, O'Kelley walked into Ford’s makeshift saloon with a cut-off double-barreled shotgun.
He didn't sneak up. He didn't wait for Ford to turn his back.
O'Kelley reportedly called out, "Hello, Bob," and as Ford turned around to see who was speaking, O'Kelley emptied both barrels into Ford's throat. Ford died instantly. He was 30 years old. It’s a bit ironic, isn’t it? The man who was famously branded a coward for killing a man from behind was himself killed face-to-face, though he never stood a chance against a shotgun at point-blank range.
People in Creede didn't exactly mourn. In fact, the general sentiment in the Old West was that Ford had it coming. He had spent a decade trying to profit off the murder of Jesse James, reenacting the killing on stage and charging people for photos. It was a tacky way to make a living, and it earned him zero friends.
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Why Did O'Kelley Do It?
This is where things get a bit murky. If you're looking for a simple "he was Jesse James's secret best friend" narrative, you might be disappointed. History doesn't always offer clean motivations.
Some historians, like those who have studied the papers of the Pinkerton Agency or local Colorado archives, suggest O'Kelley was seeking "the man who killed the man." Basically, killing Bob Ford was a shortcut to legendary status. If you kill the most famous assassin in the country, you become a hero to the outlaws and a curiosity to the public.
There’s also the "blood feud" theory. Some accounts claim O'Kelley had ties to the Younger brothers or other members of the James-Younger gang. Others say it was a personal spat over a stolen diamond necktie pin or a dispute in the saloon. Honestly, in a place like Creede in the 1890s, men were killed for much less than a diamond pin.
The Trial and the Surprising Public Reaction
O'Kelley was arrested immediately. You’d think the law would throw the book at him, right? Well, sort of. He was initially sentenced to life in prison. But here’s the kicker: a massive petition circulated to get him released.
People actually liked that he killed Bob Ford.
The governor of Colorado eventually commuted his sentence because of "medical reasons" and the overwhelming public pressure. O'Kelley served about nine years before being released. He didn't have a happy ending either, though. He was eventually killed in 1904 during a fight with a policeman in Oklahoma City. It seems that in the 19th-century West, violence was a revolving door that rarely stayed shut for long.
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The Legacy of the Killing
When we talk about who killed Bob Ford, we aren't just talking about a name on a death certificate. We’re talking about the end of an era. Ford’s death marked the literal burial of the Jesse James saga.
For years, Ford had lived in a state of perpetual fear. He moved from town to town, opening saloons that usually burned down or failed. He was a man without a country. Even the governor of Missouri, Thomas T. Crittenden, who had secretly promised Ford a pardon and a reward for killing James, found himself politically ruined by the association.
The public didn't want Jesse James dead; they wanted the myth of Jesse James to live forever. By killing him, Ford became the villain of a story he thought he was the hero of. O'Kelley, by proxy, became the man who delivered "justice," however crooked that justice might have been.
Digging Deeper into the Creede Incident
If you visit Creede today, it’s a stunning mountain town. But back then, it was a chaotic mess of silver miners and gamblers. Ford’s saloon was a "tent" structure because a fire had recently gutted the town.
When O'Kelley walked in, the room went quiet. Witnesses said O'Kelley was calm. He didn't run away. He waited for the authorities. This suggests he knew exactly what he was doing and felt he was in the right.
- Weapon of Choice: A 10-gauge Stevens shotgun.
- The Crowd: There were dozens of people nearby, but nobody moved to help Ford.
- The Burial: Ford was originally buried in Creede, but his body was later moved to Richmond, Missouri.
It's fascinating to look at the newspaper clippings from 1892. The headlines weren't "Tragedy in Creede." They were more along the lines of "The Slayer Slain." There was a sense of cosmic balance being restored.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Event
A lot of folks think O'Kelley was a hitman. There is zero evidence for that. He was a volatile man with a badge and a gun who likely saw an opportunity to get rid of a man the world despised.
Another misconception? That Ford was a wealthy man. He wasn't. He blew through the reward money almost instantly. By the time he reached Colorado, he was desperate. He was trying to reinvent himself as a "legitimate" businessman, but the ghost of Jesse James followed him into every bar he owned.
If you're researching the Old West, you've got to look at the primary sources. Books like The Life, Times and Treacherous Death of Jesse James by Frank Triplett (published shortly after James's death) show just how quickly the public turned on Ford. By the time O'Kelley showed up, Ford was already a dead man walking in the eyes of the public.
How to Trace This History Yourself
If you're a history buff or just someone who fell down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, there are ways to see this history for yourself.
- Visit Creede, Colorado: They have a local museum that details the mining boom and the Ford shooting. It’s one of the few places where you can stand near the actual site.
- Check the Archives: The Colorado State Archives hold records regarding O'Kelley's trial and his eventual pardon.
- Read Contemporary Newspapers: Use databases like Chronicling America to read the actual 1892 reports. The language is flowery, biased, and incredibly revealing about the social morals of the time.
Bob Ford lived his life in the shadow of a giant. He thought killing Jesse James would make him a legend. It did—but as a cautionary tale about the price of betrayal. And Edward O'Kelley? He’s the footnote that everyone forgets, the man who ended the life of the man who ended an era.
To really understand the Old West, you have to look past the primary stars. The "background characters" like O'Kelley often tell a more honest story about the violence and the strange code of honor that governed the frontier. Ford died because he broke that code. O'Kelley lived (for a while) because he enforced it with a shotgun.
Next Steps for History Enthusiasts
- Examine the Trial Records: Look into the petition for O'Kelley’s release. It contains hundreds of signatures from citizens who believed Ford’s death was a "service" to the state.
- Map the Movement: Trace the path of the Ford brothers from Missouri to Colorado to see how they tried to outrun their reputation.
- Analyze the Folk Music: Listen to the various versions of "The Ballad of Jesse James." Notice how the lyrics regarding Bob Ford changed after O'Kelley killed him.