Driving across Texas, you’ll find the names and legacies of prominent figures stand the test of time in the form of street names, buildings and even historic markers or statues. Often, they served as an instrumental figure in the community or Texas’ legacy, akin to the likes of Sam Houston or Stephen F. Austin.
But, what about an outlaw — specifically, a Texas gang leader culpable of one of the largest train robberies in American history? That’s the case for one historic figure whose name lingers in a North Austin suburb.
Round Rock serves as the resting site for Sam Bass, an outlaw who, in his 27 years, ventured from his home state of Indiana down to Mississippi and then Texas, where he landed in Denton. It was there that Bass worked for Sheriff William F. Egan, tending to livestock and working as a freighter between Dallas and Sherman, according to Texas State Historical Association archives.
From there, Bass’ interest shifted to horse racing, leaving Egan’s employment to pursue the sport. After winning several races in North Texas, he and his horse headed down toward San Antonio, where he later acquired a herd of longhorn cattle alongside Joel Collins. The two trailed the cattle up north and earned $8,000, foregoing a return to Texas and wasted the money gambling in Ogallala, Nebraska and Deadwood, South Dakota, the latter of which was experiencing a surge in gold mining…