The American West is filled with tales of legendary cowboys, outlaws, and Indigenous warriors, but few figures capture the true essence of the frontier spirit quite like Nat Love.
Known as “Deadwood Dick,” Nat Love looms large as a legend in cowboy lore. But he was indeed a real person, whose adventurous life took him from slavery to the open range, where he became one of the most skilled and respected cowboys of his time. His autobiography, The Life and Adventures of Nat Love (1907), provides a firsthand account of the dangers, excitement, and opportunities the West provided, particularly for freed slaves seeking freedom and prosperity after the Civil War.
Escape From Slavery
Love was born into slavery on a plantation in Davidson County, Tennessee, in 1854. Following the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, Love’s family faced economic hardship. At a young age, he took various jobs to support his family, but he longed for adventure and greater opportunities.
At 16, Love left Tennessee and headed west, determined to build a new life for himself. His journey led him to Dodge City, Kansas, where he found his first work as a cowboy. Despite the racial prejudices of the time, Love quickly proved himself on the open range. His hard work and skill — including a natural ability with horses and firearms, along with his fearless attitude — made him a top-tier cowboy and earned him the respect of ranchers and his fellow cowboys.
Life On The Frontier
Love’s skills with a lasso and his talent for breaking wild horses soon landed him a job with the Duval Ranch in Texas. He became an expert cattle driver, leading herds across the treacherous trails in Texas and Kansas. It was during one of these drives that Love first visited the town of Deadwood, South Dakota. There he would earn the nickname “Deadwood Dick” after winning a rodeo competition featuring roping, shooting, and riding contests. His victory against some of the best cowboys of the era cemented his reputation as a top hand.
Love’s adventures on the range were filled with danger, too. He frequently faced hostile Indigenous tribes, cattle rustlers, and unpredictable weather. In his autobiography, he recounted a harrowing experience where he was captured by a band of Pima Indians.
"But finally my ammunition gave out, and the Indians were quick to find this out, and they at once closed in on me, but I was by no means subdued, wounded as I was and almost out of my head, and I fought with my empty gun until finally overpowered. When I came to my senses I was in the Indians' camp… What caused them to spare my life I cannot tell, but it was I think partly because I had proved, myself a brave man, and all savages admire a brave man and when they captured a man whose fighting powers were out of the ordinary they generally kept him if possible as he was needed in the tribe.”
According to Love, he managed to escape and make his way back to his cowboy crew — a feat that added to his legend.
Later Life And Autobiography
By the late 1880s, as the age of the great cattle drives began to decline, Love decided to transition to a more stable profession. He moved to Denver, where he worked as a Pullman porter for the railroads. Though this was a significant shift from his days on horseback, it provided him with steady work and allowed him to travel across the country.
In 1907, Love published his autobiography, The Life and Adventures of Nat Love, which chronicled his years as a cowboy and the broader experiences of a Black man in the West. Though some of his tales were likely exaggerated, his book remains an invaluable historical document that sheds light on the contributions of Black cowboys — figures who have often been overlooked in popular portrayals of the Old West.
Love later settled in Los Angeles, where he worked as a security guard before passing away in 1921. Though his days on the range had long passed, his legacy endured, inspiring generations with his accounts of resilience, skill, and adventure.
PHOTOGRAPHY: From The Life and Adventures of Nat Love (1907). Public domain.
