Ira Aten - Last of the Old Texas Rangers - Personalized Limited Edition

Ira Aten left this world in 1953, aged ninety years. In that time he had been a sheriff, range detective, ranch manager (of the XIT), and political leader. He even spent some time picking cotton.

But from the time he took the Ranger oath, before his twenty-first birthday, it was as a Texas Ranger that Ira Aten saw himself, and it was as a Ranger that Texas saw Ira.

Ira Aten was a private man, and a modest one. He had stated that a man's memoirs should only be published after his death. He politely turned away writers who wanted to tell his story.

So you can imagine the the surprise of Harold Preece when, after writing a story of some of Ira's exploits for a national magazine, received a warm letter from the man himself. "You must be from Texas, too,"  wrote Ira.

Indeed he was. Harold Preece had grownup around Roundrock, just like Ira. Three members of his family had been Texas Rangers, including his grandfather.

Needless to say, Harold Preece and Ira Aten hit it off and for the final years of the old Ranger's life, corresponded often and at length.

Ira Aten passed in 1953, leaving Harold with one less friend and pile of letters filled with historical details no one else knew.

"Of all the letters I have from pioneers in my files, I value his the most. Of all the Rangers I have written about, I rate him highest."

Harold knew those letters would be the basis of a book about Ira's life and adventures.

In addition he would interview old-timers who knew Ira in those days, and do a writers due diligence in substantiating the old Ranger's recollections.

His goal was for the book to have, "a complete and scrupulous authenticity."

Authenticity. That's the key word. Those times and places come alive.

Here's a listing of the chapters: 

1 - BOOTS DOWN FOR SAM BASS

 “If there was mercy for a thief who died on the cross, there might be some for a thief found dying in a cow pasture.”

2 - RANGER ROOKIE

 “I was always expecting the impossible, such as attempting to rescue some pretty girl from the bandits
infesting the border along the Rio Grande.”

3 - TEXAS ALSACE

 “Maybe I’d picked the wrong time to be a Ranger...”

4 - DEATH ON A HILLTOP

 “By God—let’s go get ‘em.”

5 - PISTOL SIGHTS & MAVERICK BRANDS

 “Many rustlers lost a whole winter’s work and whined mightily.”

6 - MAKING HELL PAY TAXES

 “I’d just as soon dig gold out of the mountains as try collecting it from those fellows.”

7 - THE MEANEST THING I EVER DID

 “I began to think, maybe, I was too zealous in hunting down criminals.”

8 - THE WORST OUTLAW SINCE SAM BASS

 “Rube might have made a wonderful Ranger.”

9 - PRAYER ON DEVIL’S RIVER

 “If he should be an outlaw, direct him by Thy mercy into paths that are good.”

10 - BEAT TO THE DRAW

 “The only prisoner I ever let get away.”

11 - BORN TO BUST BARB

 “One bale of barb spelled more trouble in Texas than any ten outfits of bad hombres.”

12 - BUTCH CASSIDY’S RIGHT BOWER

 “Bring those murderers in dead or alive. Dead would suit me best.”

13 - TWO ON A TRAIL

 “I’m a Texas Ranger. I’m looking for an outlaw named Judd Roberts.”

14 - BARBS SPROUTED BOMBS

  “I knew a little about handling dynamite and its dangers.”

15 - VOTING AT HELL’S BORDER

 “Mexicans signed a peace treaty with Texas Rangers where they never signed one with Sam Houston.”

16 - ROCK & A ROPE

 “I made up my mind to hang that saddle tramp.”

17 - WAR ON THE SALT GRASS

 “You had to be quick on the draw and ready to kill your own brother if you ran for office in Fort Bend County.”

18 - COURTHOUSE KILLING

 “Vol Gibson is here with a gun and ought to be disarmed.”

19 - DUEL AT DIMMITT

 “You called me a liar not long ago. Do you still say it?”

20 - RUSTLER ROUNDUP

 “I know that breaking my pledge will break your heart. But I feel it is my duty to help these people.”

21 - ARSON ON THE RANGE

 “Don’t ever leave this camp at night, unless I tell you to.”

22 - RANGER FOREVER

 “A lawman til I die...”

It is our privilege to bring Ira Aten - Last of the Old Texas Rangers back to life for today's Texans.

This limited edition is just 254 copies, one for each county in Texas, and the jacket is personalized with your name or that of anyone you'd like to give it to.