LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Signature Texana Auction #661  / 

56440

Texas Ranger Badge Presented to Edwin Dunlap

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Cultures & Ethnicities Start Price:5,750.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Texas Ranger Badge Presented to Edwin Dunlap
<B>Texas Ranger Badge Presented to Edwin Dunlap Aten</B></I> The Texas Ranger Badge offered here was presented to Edwin Dunlap Aten (1870-1953) upon joining the Texas Ranger in 1892 and is cut from a circulated Mexican 8 Reale dated 1890. It was struck at the mint in Hermosillo Mexico. The overall condition of the badge would be considered excellent with normal wear. There are several areas of the enamel missing in the letters and a small cut to the top point in the star. In addition the back pin is missing. This is a fantastic opportunity to obtain a true historical piece of Texas history. <BR><BR>Edwin Dunlap Aten was born in 1870 in Abingdo, Illinois and after developing a mean streak his parents sent him away to be watched over by his brother, Ira down in the Texas Panhandle. Ira, a former Texas Ranger (Texas Ranger Hall of Famer) was the foreman of the Escarbada Division of the XIT Ranch. Edwin was employed as a cowhand at the XIT Ranch, where after a short while he soon got into trouble over cards in various saloons, climaxing with him shooting a man in a quarrel. Ira wrote to his former commander, Frank Jones, hoping to have Edwin enlist in his old company of the Frontier Battalion. Edwin was not thrilled about joining, but on September 16, 1892 his service with his brother's old company began. His first assignment had him stationed in Alpine, Texas. After an uneventful year with the Rangers he was part of a four-man posse that went with Captain Jones seeking out outlaws near San Elizario. In the resulting gunfight on June 30 at Pirates' Island Captain Jones was killed. Jones was replaced by Captain John R. Hughes and Edwin served under him in Company D. Afterwards he married Elena Benavidez, who came from a prominent family from Ysleta but the marriage ended in a divorce after the death of his daughter.<BR><BR>Edwin served in several towns over the next couple of years including, Marathon, Alpine and Pecos. During 1894 he helped settle the railroad strike in Temple and did guard service on the Southern Pacific line between El Paso and Del Rio due to the amount of train robberies. In 1896, citing poor health, he submitted his resignation on July 6th with the rank of sergeant. He continued periodic undercover work in Texas and Mexico for the Rangers.<BR>After leaving the Rangers, he ran a saloon and gambling hall in El Paso. He then moved on to Shafter, where he ran a faro game and tended the bar at Ike Herrin's saloon, he later purchased the saloon. During 1906 he went back to El Paso to work for Southern Pacific Railroad as a special officer. After nine years with the railroad he met and married Gertrude Bacus Aiello a widow from Las Cruces, New Mexico. Ed Aten stayed with the railroad until 1947 and was, like his brother Ira, a well respected member of the Texas Rangers. Edwin Dunlap Aten passed away on January 31, 1953 is buried in Rest Lawn Cemetery, El Paso Texas.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Miscellaneous Collectibles, Smal (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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