John Riley Banister

John Riley Banister (1854 – 1918) was a law officer, cowboy and Texas Ranger. John Banister was born in Banister, Missouri, United States, on May 24, 1854, to William Lawrence and Mary (Buchanan) Banister.

Special assignment, field-inspection, sherrif

Between 1889 and 1892, Banister accepted special assignments as a detective for the Santa Fe and other railroads. In 1892 he became a treasury agent assigned to help police the U.S.-Mexico border against cattle smugglers. After six years he resigned and became inspector for the Texas Cattle Raisers Association (now the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association). He originated the field-inspection service for the association and was its first chief. Banister investigated cattle rustling for the association in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma until 1914, when he became sheriff of Coleman County.

Related Topics:
1889 - 1892 - Detective - Santa Fe - Railroads - Treasury - U.S.-Mexico border - Cattle smugglers - Texas - New Mexico - Oklahoma - 1914 - Sheriff - Coleman County

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Banister's career is documented by a collection of his papers in the Southwest Collection of Texas Tech University. Documents detailing his investigations of cattle theft are particularly valuable in detailing the longtime efforts of the cattlemen's association in protecting livestock. Banister died of a stroke on August 1, 1918, in Coleman, and was buried in Santa Anna. His wife then took over his job and in so doing became the first female sheriff in the United States.

Related Topics:
Texas Tech University - Livestock - Stroke - August 1 - 1918 - Santa Anna - United States

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See also: Ellis Lawson Banister, nephew

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