Nat Love
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Nat Love (1854 - 1921) was an African American cowboy during the time of the Wild West. He claimed to be a character made famous by dime novels; he may have the strongest historical claim to that moniker. In 1907, Love wrote his autobiography, "Life and Adventures of Nat Love."
Love was born a slave in Davidson County, Tennessee, in 1854. He later went west to Dodge City, Kansas, and became a cowboy. He claimed that he entered a rodeo at Deadwood City in the Dakota Territory in 1876 and that's where he earned the nickname "Deadwood Dick."
In October 1877, he was captured by a band of Akimel O'odham (Pima) while rounding up stray cattle near the Gila River in Arizona. Love reported that his life was spared because the Indians respected his fighting ability. Thirty days after being captured, Love stole a pony and managed to escape into West Texas.
Love spent the latter part of his life working as a Pullman porter. He died in Los Angeles at age 67 in 1921.
