Edgar Beecher Bronson (1856-1917) was a Nebraska rancher, a West Texas cattleman, an African big-game hunter, a serious photographer and starting late in life, an author of fiction and personal memoirs.Bronson was a nephew of famed abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher. Formerly a reporter for the New York Tribune, Bronson headed west in 1877 to learn the cattle business under the directive of Clarence King — first director of the United States Geological Survey and owner of large mining and cattle operations in the American West. Bronson worked for one season in Wyoming before starting his own ranch with 716 cows with calves. Bronson chose Sioux County, Nebraska for the site of his first ranch.*....summary from Wikipedia"With notes by Clark B. Stocking, who for 50 years fought on the forefront of the firing line." Basically the life and adventures of Clark B. Stocking, "Old Guard" during his time in the West. Laid-in are four holograph letters written by Stocking. There is a four-page letter written to William Nicholas Beach in 1920, telling him how the book came into being. Stocking was asked by Edgar Beecher Bronson to write his life story and send it to him. As Stocking says, "I didn't need to write my life history, but I sure needed the $1,000.00, Bronson was offering to pay me for it." The other letters also have great content pointing out that Stocking knew Kit Carson and worked under him for a while, and he was acquainted with Jim Bridger as well. There are two other letters all with good western content, plus a full-length poem written to Bronson. Six Guns 285 says, "He tells of the hanging of Lame Johnny and gives information on the Apache Kid." --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.