In the April, 2011 edition of True West magazine I read two great articles.

The first is "The Truth behind True Grit" By Jennifer Boulden with timeline by Alan Huffines.
Phots: the Federal courthouse, Two deputies standing guard over a group of Indian prisoners sitting one steps in front of Federal jail, one of Former slave George Winston who became a Baififf. There are 8 or 9 additional photos and some great stories about how the book tied in with true history. Very interesting.

The second article "The Real Rooster Cogburn" by Brett Cogburn is also a good story. Brett claims there was a John Franklin Cogburn and a one-eyed deputy marshal named Cal Whitson.

Brett Cogburn is the grandson of John Cogburn and a horse trainer in Southeastern Oklahoma. The story of his grandfather has inspired him to write his novel "Pandhandle" due out from Kensington Press in April, 2012, according to True West staff.

Will "Pandhandle" give us a new exciting story of the old west? Maybe so!