(1810 – 1868) Lawman, Texas Ranger, California Ranger and California Curiosity (my designation!).

166 years ago today – on July 25, 1853 – Captain Harry Love allegedly killed the infamous California bandit Joaquin Murrieta and his ruthless accomplice: Three-Fingered Jack.

Side note: the murky blend of fact and fiction of Joaquin Murrieta and The Five Joaquins Gang, the mystery and myth, are quite complex and deserving of its own post so I’ll focus on Love here.

In May of 1853 Love was selected to be the head of the newly created California Rangers, the first state-wide law enforcement organization. His mission was to stop the murderous crime spree of the Joaquin Gang. He and his rangers allegedly succeeded and brought in the head of one “Joaquin” and the hand of Three-Fingered Jack as proof (though some had their doubts as to the origin of said body parts).

After his law enforcement days were passed, Love settled in Boulder Creek (where there is a “Love Creek”) and Santa Clara. Harry Love survived the rough and tumble American West frontier, the Mexican-American War and supposed run-ins with the baddest California outlaws but was ironically brought down in a domestic squabble. Love died of his wounds following a gunfight with the bodyguard of his then-estranged wife Mary Bennett.

Harry Love is buried at Mission City Memorial Park in Santa Clara, CA. Today I went to see the headstone for myself, which was placed there by E Clampus Vitus in 2003.