(1834-1859)
Born in Quebec, Canada, Barter migrated to California during its gold rush days, but failing to find gold the legitimate way, he turned to rustling horses.
Not known to have ever killed anyone, he nonetheless terrorized the Sierra foothills for over three years from 1856 to 1859. He soon hooked up with brothers, George and Cy Skinner and they started relieving muleskinners of their loads of gold coming from Nevada City.
On July 11, 1859, Barter and Cy Skinner were trapped in a mountain pass near Auyburn, California by Sheriff J. Boggs. In the gunfight that followed, Rattlesnake Dick was killed and a wounded Skinner was taken into custody and given a long prison sentence.