Picture a Brooklyn-born storyteller who traded gritty city streets for the dusty trails of the Wild West—meet Jonas Ward, the pen name of William Ard, creator of the iconic Tom Buchanan! With a knack for crafting rugged yet lovable heroes, Ard’s Westerns captured the hearts of readers in the 1950s and beyond, blending hardboiled grit with frontier justice.
Under the Jonas Ward pseudonym, Ard introduced Tom Buchanan, a towering West Texan drifter who fought with joy and loved with gusto. His tales of adventure, honor, and quick-draw showdowns made the Buchanan series a staple of Western fiction, proving that even a city slicker could master the art of the cowboy yarn.
The Making of Jonas Ward
Born on July 8, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York, William Ard was a city boy with a restless spirit. After studying at Dartmouth College and serving in the Marines, he dove into writing, inspired by the pulpy detective tales of the era. His early work focused on hardboiled mysteries, featuring private investigator Timothy Dane. But in 1956, Ard turned his pen westward, adopting the Jonas Ward pseudonym to craft Westerns that felt both cinematic and soulful. His move to Clearwater, Florida, in 1953 gave him the space to churn out over 30 novels, with the Buchanan series becoming his crowning achievement.
Jonas Ward’s Unforgettable Stories
The Buchanan series, spanning 23 novels, kicked off with The Name’s Buchanan in 1956. This debut introduced Tom Buchanan, a six-foot-six drifter who stumbles into Agry County and takes on a violent bandit clan to defend a family’s honor. Ard’s hardboiled roots shine through in the sharp dialogue and noir-tinged action, making the story feel like a Western crossed with a detective thriller.
Other standout works include Buchanan Says No (1957), where Buchanan is shanghaied into a cattle drive and battles corrupt forces in the town of Bella, and Buchanan’s War (1974), which sees him as a Texas Ranger trying to stop a deadly feud between two cattle barons. Ard’s style blended vivid settings, larger-than-life characters, and a touch of humor—Buchanan’s easygoing charm and love of peaches set him apart from the stoic cowboys of the era. After Ard’s death in 1960, authors like Robert Silverberg, Brian Garfield, and William R. Cox continued the series, but fans agree Ard’s original six novels capture the character’s heart best.
The series’ sprawling plots and Buchanan’s moral code—helping the underdog while staying true to himself—made it a hit. Ard’s ability to weave historical Western elements with pulp energy kept readers hooked, and his stories inspired the 1958 film Buchanan Rides Alone, starring Randolph Scott.
Why Jonas Ward Matters
Jonas Ward’s legacy lies in Tom Buchanan’s enduring appeal. Unlike the grim, tight-lipped heroes of traditional Westerns, Buchanan laughed, loved, and fought with a contagious zest for life. Ard’s creation bridged the gap between hardboiled fiction and Western adventure, influencing later genre-blending authors. The series’ longevity, running until 1986, speaks to its cultural impact, with Piccadilly Publishing keeping the books alive for new generations.
Though Ard’s life was cut short at 37, his work as Jonas Ward left a lasting mark on Western fiction. Buchanan remains a symbol of justice and resilience, a drifter who reminds us that heroes can be both tough and kind. His stories capture the spirit of the American frontier, where honor and a quick draw could change everything.
- Born: July 8, 1922, Brooklyn, New York
- Key Works: The Name’s Buchanan, Buchanan Says No, Buchanan’s War
- Notable Adaptation: Buchanan Rides Alone (1958 film)
- Pseudonym: Jonas Ward, used by William Ard and later as a house name
Snag The Name’s Buchanan and saddle up for Jonas Ward’s thrilling Western world! Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newbie, Tom Buchanan’s adventures are sure to rope you in.