Moses Embree Milner (May 8, 1829 – October 29, 1876), also known as "California Joe", was an American miner and frontier scout.
"California Joe" Milner in 1870
Biographyedit
Moses Embree Milner was born in Stanford, Kentucky on May 8, 1829. At age 14 he moved west to St. Louis, Missouri for a short time and then on to Fort Laramie where he became a fur trapper.[1]
In 1846, during the Mexican–American War, Milner began working as a scout for General Stephen W. Kearny and Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan. Following the war he married Nancy Watts and moved to California, where he became a gold prospector and was then known as "California Joe". In 1853, he left California and built a cattle ranch in near Corvallis, Oregon.[1]
Milner returned to prospecting and ranching in 1870 near Picoche, Nevada. In 1875, he scouted for the Newton–Jenney geological expedition and remained in the Black Hills to prospect.[3]
On an undisclosed winter night in late 1875, Milner and a man named Tom Newcomb stopped by the camp John Richard and his nephew, Alfred Pallardie, near the headwaters of the Running Water. Richard and Pallardie had been trading with the Sioux between Fort Laramie and Fort Robinson. What happened next is unknown, but Newcomb arrived at Fort Robinson the next day claiming that Milner had murdered both Richard and Pallardie at their camp. Milner was soon apprehended at Fort Robinson, but he was eventually released due to a lack of evidence. While in custody, Milner blamed the murders on Newcomb. Eventually, the blame was placed on the Cheyenne Indians.[4]
The fact that blame for the murders of Richard and Pallardie had been placed on Natives did not settle the matter. According to a witness named Frank Salaway, Milner continued accusing Newcomb for the killings. In turn, Newcomb declared that he would kill Milner on sight for the perceived slander. Matters came to a head in October 1876 at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, when Milner was shot by Newcomb. Milner was buried at Fort Robinson and now is at Fort McPherson National Cemetery.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abWeiser-Alexander, Kathy. "Moses Embree "California Joe" Milner – Scouting the West". Legends of America. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
^Milner, Joe E.; Forrest, Earle R. (1935). California Joe. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd.
^ ab"California Joe". National Park Service. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
^Glass, Jefferson (2014). Reshaw: The Life and Times of John Baptiste Richard. Wyoming: High Plains Press. pp. 225–227, 243–247. ISBN9781937147044.
External linksedit
Media related to California Joe Milner at Wikimedia Commons
california, milner, moses, embree, milner, 1829, october, 1876, also, known, california, american, miner, frontier, scout, california, milner, 1870biography, editmoses, embree, milner, born, stanford, kentucky, 1829, moved, west, louis, missouri, short, time, . Moses Embree Milner May 8 1829 October 29 1876 also known as California Joe was an American miner and frontier scout California Joe Milner in 1870Biography editMoses Embree Milner was born in Stanford Kentucky on May 8 1829 At age 14 he moved west to St Louis Missouri for a short time and then on to Fort Laramie where he became a fur trapper 1 In 1846 during the Mexican American War Milner began working as a scout for General Stephen W Kearny and Colonel Alexander W Doniphan Following the war he married Nancy Watts and moved to California where he became a gold prospector and was then known as California Joe In 1853 he left California and built a cattle ranch in near Corvallis Oregon 1 In 1866 Milner was a scout based in Kansas at Fort Riley and later out of Fort Harker where he became acquainted with Wild Bill Hickok and Texas Jack Omohundro Then in 1868 Milner was named Chief of Scouts for George Armstrong Custer in Fort Hays but Custer soon found him drunk and immediately demoted him 2 Milner returned to prospecting and ranching in 1870 near Picoche Nevada In 1875 he scouted for the Newton Jenney geological expedition and remained in the Black Hills to prospect 3 On an undisclosed winter night in late 1875 Milner and a man named Tom Newcomb stopped by the camp John Richard and his nephew Alfred Pallardie near the headwaters of the Running Water Richard and Pallardie had been trading with the Sioux between Fort Laramie and Fort Robinson What happened next is unknown but Newcomb arrived at Fort Robinson the next day claiming that Milner had murdered both Richard and Pallardie at their camp Milner was soon apprehended at Fort Robinson but he was eventually released due to a lack of evidence While in custody Milner blamed the murders on Newcomb Eventually the blame was placed on the Cheyenne Indians 4 The fact that blame for the murders of Richard and Pallardie had been placed on Natives did not settle the matter According to a witness named Frank Salaway Milner continued accusing Newcomb for the killings In turn Newcomb declared that he would kill Milner on sight for the perceived slander Matters came to a head in October 1876 at Fort Robinson Nebraska when Milner was shot by Newcomb Milner was buried at Fort Robinson and now is at Fort McPherson National Cemetery 3 References edit a b Weiser Alexander Kathy Moses Embree California Joe Milner Scouting the West Legends of America Retrieved 29 November 2017 Milner Joe E Forrest Earle R 1935 California Joe Caldwell Idaho Caxton Printers Ltd a b California Joe National Park Service Retrieved 29 November 2017 Glass Jefferson 2014 Reshaw The Life and Times of John Baptiste Richard Wyoming High Plains Press pp 225 227 243 247 ISBN 9781937147044 External links edit nbsp Media related to California Joe Milner at Wikimedia Commons California Joe Milner at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title California Joe Milner amp oldid 1204338544, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
