From Railroad Laborer to City Father: The Enduring Legacy of John T. Riney, Dodge City Pioneer

By Michael King

​The name Dodge City evokes a vivid and lasting image in the American imagination: a crucible of the Wild West, where dusty streets echo with the footsteps of legendary lawmen and the sounds of gunfire. The town is defined in popular culture by figures like Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and Doc Holliday, men whose often tumultuous and violent lives have been immortalized in dime novels and films. This version of Dodge City, dubbed the "Wickedest Little City in America," is characterized by saloons, gambling halls, and dramatic gunfights, such as the one that sparked the Dodge City War of 1883. 

However, beneath this sensationalized surface lies a deeper and more authentic story—the tale of the town's builders. These were not the gamblers and gunslingers who brought fame to the city but rather the laborers, freighters, merchants, and farmers who established its permanence. Among these foundational figures is John T. Riney, an Irish immigrant whose life story reflects the evolution of Dodge City itself. His journey from a rough frontier outpost to a settled agricultural community mirrors the town's transformation. Riney was neither a lawman nor an outlaw; he was a railroad worker who connected the town to the nation, a freighter who supported its growth, a tollkeeper who guarded its southern gateway, and a farmer who cultivated the prairie that would become its future.

His legacy is deeply intertwined with the city's identity, so much so that he is frequently associated with its most esteemed group of founders. The user's inquiry identifies him as one of the "Seven Old Timers of Dodge City," a title that presents an intriguing historical puzzle. Who, exactly, were these seven men, and what is John Riney's true standing among them? The answer sheds light on the nature of historical memory and the distinction between formal records and community recognition. This is the biography of a man whose contributions were not highlighted in headlines but were etched into the very land he helped to shape—a testament to the quiet, enduring strength of the true American pioneer.

John T. Riney Photo Provided by Boot Hill Museum

**DODGE CITY, Kan.** – The legends of Dodge City are often dominated by the fleeting notoriety of gunfighters like Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. However, the true foundations of the city were built by individuals whose contributions were characterized by hard work rather than gunfire. Among these essential pioneers is John T. Riney, an Irish immigrant whose life story parallels the evolution of Dodge City itself—from a rough frontier outpost to a settled agricultural community.
Riney's journey to the American West began in County Kerry, Ireland, a nation grappling with the aftermath of the Great Famine. He arrived in the United States as a young man, married Mary McCarty in New Hampshire, and eventually moved west to Kit Carson, Colorado. 

In August 1872, Riney and his family arrived in the developing settlement of Dodge City as part of a crew building the grade for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. His arrival predated the official completion of the tracks in September, making him one of the town's very first residents. His labor was foundational, helping to transform a chaotic collection of tents into the "Queen of the Cowtowns."
With the railroad established, Riney transitioned to one of the frontier's most vital—and dangerous—professions: freighting. He transported wagonloads of supplies from the Dodge City railhead to remote military outposts and buffalo hunter camps, including Camp Supply. This work was perilous; during one harsh winter trip, he suffered severe frostbite, which led to the amputation of several toes. This injury served as a stark reminder of the physical toll of frontier life and ultimately contributed to his death nearly 50 years later.

In the early 1880s, Riney took on a new role as the first tollkeeper for the Arkansas River bridge, a critical piece of infrastructure hailed as the "Gateway to the Southwest." While Riney was the official keeper, his wife, Mary, managed the daily operations from the small toll house, collecting fees from passing wagons while raising their young sons. When the bridge was eventually dismantled, Riney moved the toll house to his farm, attaching the sturdy one-room structure to his home, where it served as a bedroom for his daughters, Maude and Blanche.
As the era of the great cattle drives ended in the mid-1880s, Riney once again adapted to the shifting landscape, mirroring Dodge City's transition to a more stable, agriculture-based economy. In 1885, he moved his family to a farm west of the city, securing his first tract of land through the Homestead Act. He became known as a "progressive and successful farmer" and stockman and established a dairy that served the local community.
John and Mary Riney raised ten children, establishing a large, respected family in Ford County. When he died on August 20, 1921, at the age of 79, he was mourned as one of the community's most "widely known citizens," described as a "good citizen, a true friend, and a loyal father."
Today, while tales of gunfights may capture the imagination, John T. Riney's legacy endures in the tangible fabric of the city he helped build. The modern Second Street bridge, named the John T. Riney Bridge in his honor, stands as a lasting tribute to the quiet, constructive work of a true pioneer who laid the groundwork for Dodge City's enduring prosperity.