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Nov/19/2007 - Recently I received information on Shotgun Collins from Carolyn Buckley of South Carolina. She writes:
"I have a photo and information on my grandmothers first cousin who used the alias Shotgun Collin in Dodge City,
He also went by the name of John Collins and John Graham".
Abraham G. Graham was born November 22, 1851 on Mitchell Swamp, Horry County, SC on his grandparents, (William Bellamy and
Jane Conner Graham's) plantation. His great grandfather, Captain Edward Conner, served in the American Rev. War in the Militia
under several different commands and served under and rode with General Francis Marion in the famous Swamp Fox Band.
As a young boy his parents, Hosea A. and Martha Ann Graham, first cousins, moved the family by covered wagon from Horry County
to Texas.
At a young age he got into trouble with the law for rustling cattle and became a wanted man. He left Texas and move out
to New Mexico. He became a valuable member of Billy the Kid's gang while he was living in White Oaks and surrounding areas
of New Mexico, knew Sheriff Pat and his deputy Poe, met Wyatt Earp working for Wells Fargo and the rest is history.
He changed his name back before he was killed although his reputation as a feared outlaw, a quick draw and the company he
kept followed him into the streets of El Paso Texas. Sometimes he was on the right side of the law and other times he was
an outlaw. It was the way of the Wild, Wild West, live by the gun or die by the gun. John had a humorous personality but
when it was time to take care of business he was as powerful as they come. " Shotgun Collins" died on December 3,
1922 in a shootout on the streets of El Paso, Texas.
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