Anti-Horse Thief badge

[nmjames]

In Morrison's book he has two pictures stating that they are Brushy's Anti-Horse Thief badge.

I looked up the Anti-Horse Thief Pin and found a few pictures of
the pin. They look nothing like the badge found in Morrison's book.

The official pin of the A.H.T.A was a horseshoe across which were the letters A.H.T.A. and a horse symbol insert in the horseshoe. Later an arrow was subsituted for the horse.

Can anyone show me where the one's in Morrison's book are in
fact from the A.H.T.A.?

[Wayne Land]

James,

I haven't found anything that matches the photo in Morrison's book. Obviously the item pictured is not an AHTA "badge" as is described. Both sides are shown and there is no pin or anything to attach it to clothing. It looks more like a pendant to be worn on a chain. The thing that connects it to the AHTA is the letter C engraved below the mane of the horse, which reflects the branding of AHTA horses. Morrison probably made the mistake of calling it a badge when it might have been some other type of commemorative item given to Brushy by the AHTA. Could be. On the other hand, it could be an item he bought in a souvenir shop somewhere? Doesn't really prove anything one way or the other in my estimation.

Thanks for sharing.

[nmjames]

Thanks Wayne,

Can you show me where to find anything about the letter C engraved below the mane of the horse. I have not found that anywhere that I have looked.

I would also like to take time to wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year.

nmjames

[Wayne Land]

This article refers to the branding underneath the mane but does not mention what the brand looked like.

clarioncounty.info/about-clarion-county-mainmenu-32/34-organizational-histories/156-anti-horse-thief-association

The following is from a AHTA newsletter:

"Our lodge is talking of having two branding irons made for the members of the order and a motion was carried at our last meeting to have the two branding irons made and to be reported to the A. H. T. A. News. Branding irons are to be made in the shape of a horse shoe with the toe up, and horses are to be branded on the left shoulder. Our order also voted to have a reward of one hundred dollars for the capture and conviction of any horse thief stealing horses from any of its members.
J. M. Tucker,
No. 304, Turley, I. T.
"
And this quote is also from a newsletter:

"The brothers in our lodge have been discussing the branding question pretty freely and all seem to fall in with the horseshoe with the No. of the sub-order in center--A E. Stevens, No, 109, Sycamore, Kansas."


It occurs to me that the shape of a horseshoe is very similar to the letter "C". Quite possibly Brushy's pendant bears the brand "C" because it was to represent the horseshoe brand used by the AHTA. I'll continue to search for clues on this. It would be nice to find something conclusive on it.

Here's the link to the site that contains the newspaper articles:

www.okolha.net/anti_horsetheif_news.htm

[Wayne Land]

Here's another site that refers to the brand as a semi circle.

"The brand – All horses and mules belonging to members of the society branded with a semi-circle,
if sold it was to be branded again forming a circle."

Find this at:
oldcottonmill.com/Research/history_of_kearney/part_9_law_enforcement/5_anti-horse_thief_society.pdf

This information dates to 1897 whereas the articles about the horseshoe brand are from 1902.

[Wayne Land]

And this one from:
www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nebuffal/horsethief/journal.htm

"12th. - The brand of this society shall be a semi-circle, the counter-brand, a circle."

[nmjames]

Thanks for all the info. Wayne.

I had looked on a few of the sites and didn't find anything on the brand.

I will read up on it.

Again, Thanks.

[nmjames]

Wayne,

On just doing a quick read, I see that the articles are from Nebraska. I was looking for Oklahoma. Do you think all the Anti Horse Thief brands were the same? When looking up
the badge, I found that was said to have been from IT in the 1800s and it was the horse
shoe type. (Badge, not brand, I haven't found anything on the brand but will keep looking.)

[Deleted]

Different chapters, in different regions, I am sure had their own special symbol or take on the badges.

Like motorcycle gangs and affiliates today, they all have their own take on official symbols.

However I did do some cross-referencing and found out (at least in recent years) that ANYONE can become a lifetime member of the AHTA by simply donating $1 to one of the various charters across America. That doesn't mean Brushy did this, but it does show anyone in recent times could become one.

I might add, though, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society page on the AHTA by 1905 (or so) there were FORTY THOUSAND MEMBERS.