The Merchant Prince of Dodge City: The Life and Times of Robert M. Wright [Hardcover]

C. Robert Haywood (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A founder of Dodge City, Robert M. Wright rose from bullwhacker (freight wagon driver) to owner of the largest commercial empire in the area, making and losing a fortune on the cattle trade over the Santa Fe trail. A major force in the development of western Kansas, he held several political offices and was an associate of Bat Masterson and the Republican gang that ran Dodge City for many years. Kansas historian Haywood is the author of a number of well-received books on Kansas history, including Victorian West (Univ. Pr. of Kansas, 1995) and Tough Daisies (Univ. Pr. of Kansas, 1991). Although his new book is filled with well-researched details about frontier life, it suffers from a choppy narrative style and awkward organization. An interesting contribution that will probably not have wide appeal. For subject and regional collections.?Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press; 1St Edition edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806130733
• ISBN-13: 978-0806130736
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,428,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on a founder of Dodge City, Kansas, March 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Merchant Prince of Dodge City: The Life and Times of Robert M. Wright (Hardcover)

C. Robert Haywood has written a wonderful book on one of the founders (of perhaps two or three men) of Dodge City, Kansas. Wright made millions from cattle and spent it all. Four wives, and 45 years later he died in Dodge City, broke and not famous. He was one of the men who hired Wyatt Earp and was a backer of Mat Basterson, among many other more famous (infamous) Western hero. As President of the Ford County (ie, Dodge City) historical Society, I assure the reader that no better history of that period has yet been written, except perhaps Robert Wright's book on Dodge City itself. (out of print). Wright is an amazing man, from a family which included a grandfather who was Clerk of the US Supreme Court and a greatgrandfather that was president of the US during the period before the constitution. Great book. (little known fact: Wright still has in 1999 a greatgrandson age 80 and a grandson, age 49, still living. that doesn't happen very often, but with forty years or so between wife number 1 and wife number 4, etc.) George Laughead Jr.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on a founder of Dodge City, Kansas, March 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Merchant Prince of Dodge City: The Life and Times of Robert M. Wright (Hardcover)

C. Robert Haywood has written a wonderful book on one of the founders (of perhaps two or three men) of Dodge City, Kansas. Wright made millions from cattle and spent it all. Four wives, and 45 years later he died in Dodge City, broke and not famous. He was one of the men who hired Wyatt Earp and was a backer of Bat Masterson, among many other more famous (infamous) Western heros. As President of the Ford County (ie, Dodge City) Historical Society, I assure the reader that no better history of that period has yet been written, except perhaps Robert Wright's own 1913 book on Dodge City. (out of print). Wright is an amazing man, from a family which included a grandfather who was Clerk of the US Supreme Court and a greatgrandfather that was president of the US during the period before the constitution. Great book. (Little known fact: Wright has, in 1999, a greatgrandson, age 80 and a grandson, age 49, still living. That doesn't happen often, but with forty years or so between wife number 1 and wife number 4....) George Laughead Jr.