NovelPermanent catalogue Work
A Gent from Bear Creek
8textual states126Characters
Introduction
The novel A Gent from Bear Creek was assembled from revised Breckinridge Elkins stories together with new linking and original material. Kline received the manuscript on August 31, 1935, and submitted it to several publishers during 1935–36. The surviving chapter sequence includes both revised earlier stories and new chapters such as Striped Shirts and Busted Hearts, Meet Cap’n Kidd, Educate or Bust, and When Bear Creek Came to Chawed Ear.
Textual states
Shown in a practical developmental order where possible: synopsis/outline, numbered drafts, submission states, then published or posthumous states. This display order does not itself assert exact chronology or textual authority.
NotesA Gent from Bear Creek
Draft 1A Gent from Bear Creek
Draft 1 — page 203 variantA Gent from Bear Creek — Draft 1 — page 203 variant
Draft 1 — page 204 false startA Gent from Bear Creek — Draft 1 — page 204 false start
Draft 2A Gent from Bear Creek
Draft 3A Gent from Bear Creek
Draft 4A Gent from Bear Creek — Draft 4
Primary textA Gent from Bear Creek (novel)
Characters in this Work
Counts are across exact Textual Versions currently represented. Additional textual research may add further appearances.
Al JacksonBill Ormond's deputy in Wampum; called only Jackson in Draft 1-21 textual stateAlexanderBreckinridge Elkins's mule1 textual stateAlexanderUncle Jeppard's child; human, not Breckinridge's mule Alexander #91 textual stateAunt Rachelwoman in Joab's Wampum household; exact kinship not stated1 textual stateBadger Chisomred-whiskered bank/train robber whom Breckinridge mistakes for Uncle Esau1 textual stateBat O'Toolvisiting boxer from New York1 textual stateBearfield GordonBreckinridge's uncle; one of the Four Patriarchs of Bear Creek2 textual statesBill BucknerBreckinridge's uncle; one of the Four Patriarchs of Bear Creek2 textual statesBill ElkinsBreckinridge's brother; not his father Roarin' Bill Elkins1 textual stateBill Elstonintended recipient of the post-office letter1 textual stateBill GlantonTexas gunman guiding Professor Van Brock in the Haunted Mountains4 textual statesBill JacksonGrizzly Claw counterfeiter who swindled Jeppard Grimes; not Al Jackson or the other Jackson1 textual stateBill KirbyBear Creek relative whose cabin houses Margaret Ashley; not identified with another Bill by name alone1 textual stateBill McGrawone of Glory McGraw's brothers; son of Old Man McGraw1 textual stateBill Ormondostensible sheriff of Wampum; identified as outlaw by Joab's group1 textual stateBill Polkold hunter/trapper camped at the edge of War Paint in Draft 31 textual stateBill Reynoldsmember of Badger Chisom's robbery gang; stage passenger at War Paint1 textual stateBill Rogerslocal acquaintance who relays the post-office message1 textual stateBill WarrenElizerbeth Warren's brother1 textual stateBlink WiltshawWar Paint acquaintance of Breckinridge; miner hiding his gold in Teton Gulch1 textual stateBraxtonTomahawk storekeeper/postmaster1 textual stateBraxtonolder Braxton at the Braxton cabin near Bear Creek; not automatically the Tomahawk postmaster Braxton (#11)1 textual stateBrazoria ElkinsBreckinridge's sister in the complete novel Draft 41 textual stateBreckinridge Elkins7 textual statesBruiser McGoortyboxer from San Francisco1 textual stateBuckone-name member of Wild Bill Donovan's men in A Gent from Bear Creek2 textual statesBuck Grimesone of Jeppard Grimes's sons1 textual stateBuckner ElkinsBreckinridge's brother named Buckner in Draft 21 textual stateCap’n KiddBreckinridge Elkins's horse4 textual statesCap'n Kiddhistorical pirate mentioned as the stallion's namesake1 textual stateComanche Santryoutlaw gang leader1 textual stateDaniel Boonehistorical frontier figure invoked in a comparison1 textual stateDick Hopkinsactual sheriff of Grizzly Run in Guns of the Mountains1 textual stateDick JacksonChawed Ear suitor of Ellen Elkins; Jake Barlow’s nephew; not another Howard Jackson by name alone1 textual stateDick LynchChawed Ear man encountered in the novel's Educate or Bust material2 textual statesDoc Richardsdoctor in/near Wampum1 textual stateDolly Rixbywoman from War Paint courted by Breckinridge and married by Blink Wiltshaw2 textual statesElinor ElkinsBreckinridge's sister in the complete novel Draft 41 textual stateElisha Warrenone of the Mezquital Warren brothers1 textual stateElizabethRoarin' Bill Elkins's sister in Arizona; correspondent whose letter prompts the trip1 textual stateElizerbeth WarrenWarren woman who brings Breckinridge to the family cabin1 textual stateEllenteenage niece of Joab in the Wampum episode; called Joan in Draft 1-21 textual stateEllen Reynoldswoman courted by Breckinridge and Jim Braxton in Guns of the Mountains2 textual statesErath ElkinsBear Creek relative; Joel Gordon's brother-in-law1 textual stateEsau BarlowChawed Ear citizen in the novel's Educate or Bust material2 textual statesEsau Gordonone of Bill Gordon’s boys; distinct from Esau Grimes1 textual stateEsau Grimesolder Arizona relative whom Breckinridge is sent to fetch; not Badger Chisom2 textual statesEsau Grimesone of Jeppard Grimes's sons in War on Bear Creek; not permanent Esau Grimes #491 textual stateEzra Warrenone of the Mezquital Warren brothers1 textual stateGarfield ElkinsBreckinridge's Uncle Garfield from Texas2 textual statesGarfield ElkinsBreckinridge's brother named Garfield in Draft 2; not Uncle Garfield Elkins #191 textual stateGeorge Warrenone of the Mezquital Warren brothers; not Illinois emigrant #1551 textual stateGeronimohistorical Apache leader invoked in a comparison1 textual stateGlory McGrawBear Creek woman loved by Breckinridge; daughter of Old Man McGraw3 textual statesGrizzly Hawkinslarge black-whiskered outlaw at the cabin; drafts 1–31 textual stateHorace Van BrockNew York professor searching for a supposed wild man in the Haunted Mountains1 textual stateHurleyone of Donovan's fake stage passengers/accomplices3 textual statesJ. Pembroke PembertonEnglish sportsman/tenderfoot visiting Bear Creek2 textual statesJack GordonJoel Gordon's youngest brother and fast gun-slinger1 textual stateJack GrimesJeppard Grimes's son; not Jack Gordon #341 textual stateJacob GrimesBreckinridge's prospecting uncle; husband of Lavaca Grimes2 textual statesJake BarlowBarlow relative whose cabin is the feud rendezvous; uncle of Dick Jackson; not Navajo Barlow #611 textual stateJake Romanyellow-whiskered gunman in Rattlesnake Harrison's gang1 textual stateJaphet JalatinDonovan accomplice in the novel; Draft 1 also calls him Japhet Rickby/Hickby4 textual statesJeppard GrimesBreckinridge's Uncle Jeppard; owner of the missing gold2 textual statesJimyoung ally of Joab's household in the Wampum episode; not Jim Elkins or Jim Braxton1 textual stateJimGrizzly Claw counterfeiter and Bill Jackson’s partner; not the Wampum ally Jim #411 textual stateJim BraxtonBreckinridge's rival for Ellen Reynolds in Guns of the Mountains2 textual statesJim ElkinsBreckinridge's undersized-by-Elkins-standards brother; not Jim Braxton and not the Wampum ally Jim1 textual stateJim GarfieldBear Creek associate who warns Breckinridge that Joel Braxton has drawn a knife1 textual stateJim GordonBear Creek relative; brother of Joel Gordon; not Jim Elkins or other Jim characters1 textual stateJim Harriganolder stage passenger/victim shot in Donovan's frame-up4 textual statesJim Hopkinsmember of Badger Chisom's robbery gang; stage passenger at War Paint1 textual stateJoabJoan/Ellen's uncle; anti-Ormond figure in Wampum1 textual stateJoash Grimesone of Jeppard Grimes's sons1 textual stateJoeone-name member of Wild Bill Donovan's men in A Gent from Bear Creek2 textual statesJoe Hopkinsweekly traveler through Haunted Mountain Gap who carries Breckinridge's note to Aunt Lavaca1 textual stateJoe McGrawone of Glory McGraw's brothers; son of Old Man McGraw1 textual stateJoe Partlanddeputy in Sheriff Dick Hopkins’s posse1 textual stateJoel BraxtonBear Creek man whose knife fight with Breckinridge opens both surviving drafts1 textual stateJoel Cairnlarge outlaw encountered by Breckinridge after the Bixby episode1 textual stateJoel GordonErath Elkins's brother-in-law; Bear Creek relative1 textual stateJoel GrimesBear Creek relative named among Margaret Devon's suitors in Draft 41 textual stateJohn ElkinsBreckinridge's brother1 textual stateJohn GarfieldBreckinridge's uncle; one of the Four Patriarchs of Bear Creek2 textual statesJohn McGrawone of Glory McGraw's brothers; son of Old Man McGraw1 textual stateJonathan Polkolder Bear Creek relative caught in the family melee1 textual stateJoshua Braxtonolder hermit hiding in the Haunted Mountains to avoid an unwanted marriage4 textual statesJoshua Warrenone of the Mezquital Warren brothers1 textual stateJudah Jacksonone of Donovan's fake stage passengers/accomplices; initials J.J.3 textual statesJugbelly Judkinsdrinking-match trickster and Donovan accomplice in the novel3 textual statesKirbyspecial law officer from Tomahawk; described as “Yaller Whiskers” in the drafts1 textual stateLavaca GrimesBreckinridge's Aunt Lavaca; wife of Jacob Grimes1 textual stateMcVeySheriff in the Tomahawk / Bear Creek stories1 textual stateMedina KirbyBill Kirby's daughter1 textual stateMiss Devonyoung schoolteacher intended for Chawed Ear; elopes with Jack Sprague2 textual statesMiss Starkformer Chawed Ear schoolteacher mentioned in Draft 4 Chapter 111 textual stateMiz McGrawwoman of the McGraw household heard in the kitchen; exact relationship is not explicitly stated in these witnesses1 textual stateMrs. KirbyBill Kirby's wife; called Miz Kirby1 textual stateNed AshleyChawed Ear merchant and stage passenger who helps identify the supposed robber3 textual statesOld Man McGrawGlory McGraw's father and head of the McGraw household1 textual stateOld Man Warrenolder Warren patriarch addressed by Elizerbeth as pap1 textual stateOuachita ElkinsBreckinridge's sister1 textual stateOzark GrimesBear Creek figure named only through his pitchfork in the Draft 4 family melee1 textual statePecos BucknerBreckinridge’s cousin who joins the lynching party1 textual statePolk County Grimesone of Jeppard Grimes's sons; not Polk County Elkins #271 textual statePresident PolkJeppard Grimes's prize razorback boar1 textual stateRattlesnake Harrisonoutlaw chief operating around Teton Gulch1 textual stateRedlarge red-headed member of Wild Bill Donovan's party1 textual stateRembrandt Brocktoncircuit-riding preacher and uncle of Blink Wiltshaw's intended bride1 textual stateRoarin' Bill ElkinsBreckinridge's father5 textual statesSaul GarfieldBreckinridge Elkins’s uncle whose honor prompts the Mexico trip1 textual stateShadrach PolkBreckinridge’s Uncle Shadrach; husband of Tascosa Polk1 textual stateSitting Bullhistorical Lakota leader invoked in a comparison; observed form 'Sittin Bull'1 textual stateSladeone of Donovan's fake stage passengers/accomplices3 textual statesSmokymember of Wild Bill Donovan's party who deals the rigged card game1 textual stateSnake River WilkinsonWild River cowpuncher and Glory McGraw's would-be suitor; called Mr. Richardson in Draft 11 textual stateSteve PolkBear Creek relative hit by stray bird-shot in Draft 21 textual stateTarantula Bixbyoutlaw leader who impersonates Sheriff Dick Hopkins in Guns of the Mountains1 textual stateTomone-name member of Wild Bill Donovan's men in A Gent from Bear Creek2 textual statesTunk Willoughbymessenger/acquaintance beaten in Grizzly Claw2 textual statesWild Bill Donovancowpuncher/outlaw-like leader pursuing Cap'n Kidd with five men4 textual statesWolf AshleyBill Ormond's deputy; the man Breckinridge has pursued as Black Whiskers1 textual stateYeller EagleComanche war-chief whose scalp Jeppard Grimes kept as a souvenir1 textual stateYucca Blaineboxing referee1 textual stateZavalla GarfieldSaul Garfield's wife; Breckinridge's Aunt Zavalla1 textual state
Publication appearances
A Gent from Bear Creek (1937)Herbert Jenkins1937↗
A Gent from Bear Creek (1965)Donald M. Grant1965↗
A Gent from Bear Creek (1975)Donald M. Grant1975↗
A Gent from Bear Creek (1975)ZebraSeptember 1975↗
Heroes of Bear CreekAceNovember 1983↗
Джентльмен с Медвежьей речки (Dzhentl-men s Medvezh-ei rechki) (Gentleman from Bear River) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Янус (Janus)1992↗
A Gent from Bear Creek and other tales (2005)Wildside Press2005↗
A Gent from Bear Creek (2009)Dennis McHaney2009 (hardcover) 2010 (trade paperback)↗
A Gent from Bear Creek and Other WesternsHalcyon Press, Ltd.January 2010↗
The Robert E. Howard Omnibus: 99 Collected StoriesHalcyon Press, Ltd.May 2010↗
Collected Western Stories of Robert E. HowardHalcyon Press, Ltd.October 2010↗
Robert E. Howard's Collected WorksJame-BooksFebruary 2013↗
A Gent From Bear CreekeStar BooksSeptember 2014↗
The Adventures of Breckinridge Elkins Volume 2REH Foundation PressMarch 2017↗
A Gent from Bear CreekRaging Bull Publishing & Audible AudioApril 2017 (Kindle) June 2017 (Audible Audio)↗
Un Gentleman di Bear CreekIndependently PublishedApril 2021↗
Breckinridge Elkins - First Cuts: The Drafts and Fragments - Rough Trails 4REH Foundation PressMarch 2026 (Collector's Boxed Set)↗
First Cuts: The Drafts and Fragments Breckinridge Elkins: Rough Trails Volumes 1-4 4 Volume Collector's Box SetREH Foundation PressMarch 2026↗
The Adventures of Breckinridge Elkins Volume 2 UEREH Foundation PressMarch 2026↗