Austin Bart Simmons

Austin Bartholomew Simmons was born to Charles & Anna Simmons. Austin has 3 other siblings, Benjamin (Ben) age 27 who became a lawman in the state of Texas, their only sister Jessica (Jessie) age 20, who went away to boarding school, and Charles Jr. (Chuck) is age 15. Charles Sr. age 60 owns a cattle ranch in Kendelton, Texas. Anna was only 40 when she died giving birth to Charles Jr. and his father took on another bride of Mexican dissent over the objection of the girl’s father. Her name is Rosita and she is now 35 years old. Austin and Rosita bonded real well and he learned Spanish from her. Growing up on a cattle farm was challenging for Austin, who never saw eye to eye with his dad. Charles Sr. was bitter towards Charles Jr. and blamed the boy for Anna’s death. Austin took good care of his brothers, as family is important to him.
One night after a drunken rage, Charles was beating Chuck and Austin stepped in to defend his younger brother. Austin was told to leave the ranch by his father Charles, he was only 18 then. He had no place to go and wound up in town after hours in a saloon called The Spit-toon. He observed several men, all wearing a black scarf, gathered at a poker table who had been drinking heavily. One man stood up and accused another man of cheating and an argument ensued. After a spraying of bullets and once the smoke had cleared, the man was dead. The group collected all the money on the table and left before the law arrived, threatening all the people there that the Wildlings will be watching for anyone who turned them in. Austin was intrigued by them and followed them from a distance. He was not quiet enough and was captured by the outlaws. Austin gave them his middle name “Bart”, so to protect the identity of his family. The leader of the group was called Pat “The Cobra” Harvey who liked snakes and kept a rattlesnake pit to dispose of intruders. Pat decided to give Bart the opportunity to join his gang, or be rattlesnake food. The challenge was fighting the biggest man there, Glenn “The Loner” Joseph. It was a great hand to hand fight, but Glenn was bigger and stronger. When Bart couldn’t win with his fists, he pulled his pistol and shot off Glenn’s left ear off. Pat liked the grit and resourcefulness that Bart had, so he offered him a chance to ride with them. Bart accepted and for the next five years began to rob, steal, and kill for the gang.
When Bart became 23, he found out that his brother Ben was searching to have him arrested. Not wanting to kill his brother, or disappoint him, he wanted to change his life. But Bart had become such a great asset to the gang that Pat wanted to keep him. The leader of the gang said to do just one more job for him, and he would consider parting ways. Bart was told to take 5 men and go to El Paso, Texas, to rob the bank, in the process, a woman and her child were murdered in front of him. Something snapped in Austin and he shot all 5 of the men dead. He was wounded by one and escaped before lawmen showed up to arrest them, Ben was among them. While on the trail out of Texas, Austin passed out from loss of blood by a river, getting a drink.
When Austin came to, he was being cared for by a preacher’s daughter named Rebecca (Becki) Johnson. She nursed him to health and her father Tom Johnson taught him about sin, forgiveness, and the Bible. They worked together for 2 years and Austin decided that he was going to become a minister to reach out to as many people as he could with the Bible. Becki knew about Austin’s past, but insisted that anyone can change by the power of God. Austin said, “Change is a difficult thing for a man to do.” He knew that he should leave Becki for her own safety, too many unsavory people might be looking for him and she could get hurt. Early the next day, he left her with a Bible in his hand and headed to Redemption Valley in the Dakota Territories.
A week after Austin left Becki, he found himself in Sioux territory. The Indians did not know what to think of Austin, but he had brought some pelts and beef jerky with him and gave them to the chief Little Crow as a gift. Little Crow let Austin stay in the village for about a month and taught him the ways, and language of the Sioux Indians. After a month, Austin felt the urge to leave and get to Red Gulch. The medicine man, Chaska, the oldest man in the tribe, gave Austin the tribal name of Chatan (Hawk), because they felt that he had keen eyesight. Chaska looked deeply into Austin’s eyes and said, ‘Chatan, you have a restless spirit living in you. Be free from your pain and know that the Great Spirit in the Sky watches over you. Especially at night.” The Chief gave Austin the meat and corn he would need to complete his journey. Bart continues to look over his shoulder.
Always waiting for Satan to finally catch up with him.
But not today.

Born in Kendleton, Texas formerly known as Oak Hill, Texas.
Affiliations: Former rider with The Wildlings Gang, Preacher with Southern Baptist Church
Occupation: Preacher, former Gunslinger

Date of Birth

November 15

Year of Birth

1847 37 Years old

Gender

male

Eyes

Brown

Hair

Brown

Height

5' 7"

Weight

158 lbs.