Larger Than Life: The Exploits of the Miner and Adventurer David E. Buel

As a sheriff he proved himself to be absolutely fearless, and turned one of the most lawless regions in California into one of the safest. A special agent for the federal government who knew him when Buel was in charge of an Indian reservation later said of him, “He was an honest Indian Agent—the rarest work of God that I know of.” He was one of the founding fathers of three towns and one of the main developers of four major mining districts. He made and lost fortunes. David E. Buel epitomized some of the worst and much that was the best of the Old West.