Skip to main content

Full text of "Annals of Wyoming"

See other formats 


M 


LIBRARY 

DF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  WYOMING 

LARAMIE 


G  OVi 


Annals 


75th   ANNIVERSARY 
OF   STATEHOOD 

1890-1965 
44-STAR    FLAG 


April  1965 


WYOMING  STATE  LIBRARY,  ARCHIVES  AND 
HISTORICAL  BOARD 


Judicial 
District 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 
Member  at  Large 
Ex-Officio 


Fred  W.  Marble,  Chairman  Cheyenne 

Vacant 

Mrs.  R.  DwiGHT  Wallace  Evanston 

Vacant 

Richard  I.  Frost  Cody 

Mrs.  William  Miller  Lu.sk 

Mrs.  Frank  C.  Mockler  Lander 

Mrs.  Dl'gley  Hayden  Jackson 

Attorney  General  John  F.  Raper 


WYOMING   STATE  ARCHIVES  AND   HISTORICAL 
DEPARTMENT 

STAFF 

Lola  M.  Homsher  Director 

Henryetta  Berry  Assistant  Director 

Mrs.  Katherine  Halverson  Chief,  Historical  Division 

Mrs.  Bonnie  Forsyth  Chief,  Archives  &  Records  Division 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

The  Annals  of  Wyoming  is  published  semi-annually  in  April  and 
October  and  is  received  by  all  members  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Society.  Copies  of  current  issues  may  be  purchased  for  $1.00  each. 
Available  copies  of  earlier  isues  are  also  for  sale.  A  price  list  may  be 
obtained  by  writing  to  the  Editor. 

Communications  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor.  The  Editor  does 
not  assume  responsibility  for  statements  of  fr.ct  or  of  opinion  made  by 
contributors. 


Copyrii^'ht.   1^65.  hy  the  Wyoniini;  State  Archives  and 
Historical  Department. 


A^mls  of  Wyoming 


Volume  37 


April,  1965 


Number  1 


Lola  M.  Homsher 
Editor 


Katherine  Halverson 
Assistant  Editor 


Published  Biannually  by  the 

WYOMING  STATE  ARCHIVES  AND  HISTORICAL 
DEPARTMENT 


Official  Publication  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society 


Wyoming  Statehood 

By 

T.  A.  Larson* 

A  few  people  in  Wyoming  were  talking  and  writing  about  state- 
hood as  early  as  1868.  They  expected  the  Territory  within  a  few 
years  to  attain  sufficient  population  to  justify  statehood. 

Ever  since  the  Ordinance  of  1787  had  stated  that  parts  of  the 
Northwest  Territory  might  be  considered  for  statehood  when  a 
population  of  60,000  had  been  reached,  that  number  had  been 
regarded  by  many  people  as  sufficient  for  statehood,  and  a  few 
states  had  come  into  the  Union  with  a  smaller  population.  For 
various  reasons,  which  are  discussed  by  John  D.  Hicks  in  his 
Constitutions  of  the  Northwest  States  (Lincoln,  1923),  no  state 
was  admitted  between  1876,  when  Colorado  came  in,  and  Novem- 


*  Professor  T.  A.  Larson  is  Head  of  the  Department  of  History  and 
Director  of  the  School  of  American  Studies  at  the  University  of  Wyoming, 
where  he  has  taught  since  1936.  He  was  president  of  the  Wyoming  State 
Historical  Society,  1957-1958.  The  article  which  is  here  presented  will 
appear,  with  minor  changes,  as  Chapter  9  in  his  18-chapter  History  of 
Wyoming,  which  is  scheduled  for  publication  in  the  autumn  of  1965  by  the 
University  of  Nebraska  Press. 

■'■'(Bottom  row)  Left  to  right:  1.  Louise  S.  Smith,  official  stenog- 
rapher; 2.  Melville  C.  Brown,  President  of  the  Convention;  3.  Mrs.  B. 
Recker,  ass't  sec'y;  4.  Mrs.  Frances  Ollerenshaw,  enrolling  and  engrossing 
clerk;  5.  Frank  M.  Foote 

{Second  row)  6.  Frederick  H.  Harvey;  7.  Mark  Hopkins;  8.  H.  G. 
Nickerson;  9.  Louis  J.  Palmer;  10.  John  M.  McCandlish;  11.  Henry  A. 
Coffeen;  12.  Edward  J.  Morris 

{Third  row)  13.  John  F.  Carroll  (editor  Cheyenne  Leader);  14.  Asbury 
B.  Conaway;  15.  John  A.  Riner;  16.  D.  A.  Preston;  17.  A.  L.  Sutherland; 
18.  Henry  S.  Elliott;  19.  Henry  G.  Hay;  20.  Thomas  R.  Reed 

{Fourth  row)  21.  John  McGill;  22.  George  W.  Fox;  23.  W.  E.  Chaplin; 
24.  E.  S.  N.  Morgan;  25.  J.  A.  Casebeer;  26.  John  L.  Russell;  27.  Mortimer 
N.  Grant;  28.  L  S.  Bartlett  (newspaper  reporter) 

{Fifth  row)  29.  George  W.  Baxter;  30.  C.  P.  Organ;  31.  James  A.  John- 
ston; 32.  John  W.  Hoyt;  33.  J.  C.  Argesheimer  (newspaper  reporter) 

(Sixth  row)  34.  Herman  Glafcke  (ass't  sec'y  of  Convention);  35.  Clar- 
ence D.  Clark;  36.  Stephen  W.  Downey 

{Top  row)  37.  C.  W.  Holden;  38.  O.  P.  Yelton,  (Sergeant-at-Arms); 
39.  In  the  shadow  against  the  door  on  the  left,  Meyer  Frank.  The  children 
in  the  foreground:  On  the  extreme  right,  Fred  Post,  Jr.  and  the  first  boy 
to  the  left  with  his  hat  on,  Corlett  Downey.  These  two  boys  were  the  pages 
in  the  Convention.  The  other  children  were  those  who  came  in  to  have 
their  picture  taken. 


6  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

ber  1889,  when  four  states — North  Dakota,  South  Dakota,  Mon- 
tana and  Washington — were  added. 

In  the  discouraging  1870s  there  was  much  talk  of  partitioning 
Wyoming  Territory  and  giving  the  parts  to  Dakota,  Colorado  and 
Utah,  on  the  assumption  that  statehood  would  never  be  possible. 
The  economy  perked  up  in  the  1880s,  permitting  Governor  Francis 
E.  Warren  to  include  statehood  recommendations  in  both  his  1885 
and  1886  reports  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  Thereafter  the 
possibility  of  statehood  was  often  discussed. 


Wyoftiin;^  Slate  Archives  and  Historical  Department 
JOSEPH  M.  CAREY 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  7 

Until  neighboring  South  Dakota  and  Montana  entered  the  Union 
in  1889  Wyoming  could  hardly  expect  recognition,  since  both  had 
better  claims  with  their  larger  population.  Dakotans  and  Mon- 
tanans  understandably  worked  harder  than  th^  Wyoming  people 
for  statehood  in  the  1880s,  but  their  desires  were  long  frustrated 
because  during  the  years  1883-1889  control  of  the  two  houses  of 
Congress  was  split  between  Republicans  and  Democrats.  The 
Republicans  were  more  sympathetic  to  statehood  pleas  coming 
from  the  Northwest  because  the  people  there  were  either  already 
Republican  or  were  expected  to  become  such.  When  the  Republi- 
cans in  1888  won  control  of  the  presidency  and  both  houses  of 
Congress  they  prepared  to  act  on  their  desire  for  more  Republican 
Senators  and  Congressmen.  The  Democrats  thereupon  capitulat- 
ed, and  agreed  to  the  admission  of  North  Dakota,  South  Dakota, 
Montana  and  Washington,  hoping  to  share  in  the  gratitude  of  the 
new  states. 

Normally  one  might  expect  most  of  the  people  in  a  territory  to 
want  statehood,  since  it  would  open  new  opportunities  to  them. 
Two  Senators  and  one  or  more  Representatives  provide  better 
representation  in  Washington  than  one  delegate  in  the  lower  house, 
and,  unlike  residents  of  a  territory,  people  in  a  state  can  vote  for 
the  President.  In  a  state  there  would  be  less  dictation  from  Wash- 
ington, and  carpetbagger  appointees  in  the  executive  and  judicial 
branches  would  be  replaced  by  officials  elected  from  resident 
candidates.  It  was  usually  thought  also  that  a  state  would  be  more 
attractive  to  prospective  settlers. 

Yet  partisan  considerations  colored  the  thinking  of  Wyoming 
people  on  the  matter  of  statehood  just  as  it  did  that  of  Congress. 
Republicans  led  the  statehood  movement  in  the  late  1880s,  with 
Francis  E.  Warren  and  Joseph  M.  Carey  out  front.  Since  they 
became  the  first  U.  S.  Senators  it  seems  not  unlikely  that  they 
planned  it  that  way.  Certainly  Carey's  leadership  for  statehood 
in  1888  was  attributed  again  and  again  by  Democrats  to  his 
ambition  to  become  U.  S.  Senator. 

Wyoming  Democrats  as  a  rule  were  much  less  enthusiastic  about 
statehood  than  the  Republicans,  but  except  for  a  few  like  Gov- 
ernor Thomas  Moonlight  and  Editor  John  F.  Carroll  of  the  Chey- 
enne Leader  they  were  not  actively  opposed.  The  Territorial 
Legislature  of  January-March,  1888,  with  Democrats  in  control 
of  the  lower  house  and  Republicans  the  upper  house,  sent  to 
Washington  a  petition  for  statehood. 

After  Territorial  Delegate  J.  M.  Carey  presented  the  petition,  a 
bill  for  an  enabling  act  was  introduced  in  each  house  of  Congress, 
to  no  avail.  Tired  of  waiting,  Governor  Warren  and  his  associates 
decided  to  proceed  as  if  an  enabling  act  had  been  passed,  a  tactic 
not  without  precedent.  Under  Governor  Warren's  guidance, 
boards  of  county  commissioners  in  seven  of  the  ten  counties  adopt- 
ed resolutions  for  a  constitutional  convention.     Governor  Warren 


8  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

then  arranged  for  an  election  (July  8,  1889)  of  delegates  to  a 
constitutional  convention  in  September.  The  election  was  on  a 
nonpartisan  basis;  yet  party  affiliation  was  not  ignored  entirely. 
The  Democratic  Laramie  Boomerang  complained  that  working 
men  were  not  taking  much  interest  in  the  approaching  election. 
They  must  turn  out  and  vote,  urged  the  Boomerang,  if  they  did 
not  want  corporations  to  write  the  constitution.  As  it  turned  out, 
of  the  49  men  who  attended  the  convention,  32  were  Republicans 
and  17  Democrats. 

On  the  threshold  of  statehood  Wyoming  appeared  to  be  Republi- 
can, since  Republicans  controlled  the  constitutional  convention, 
and  there  was  a  Republican  Delegate,  although  the  Legislature  was 
split.  What  had  happened  to  the  Democratic  majority  of  earlier 
days?  The  Democrats  had  no  leader  comparable  to  Warren  and 
Carey,  who  stood  head  and  shoulders  above  all  other  Wyoming 
politicians.  Republican  tariff  policies  looked  good  to  a  majority 
of  Wyoming  people.  The  Democratic  Governor  Thomas  Moon- 
light divided  the  Democrats  instead  of  uniting  and  leading  them. 

The  Democratic  party  had  been  hurt  also  by  a  combination  of 
bad  luck  and  poor  organization.  Unable  to  agree  on  a  gubernator- 
ial candidate,  whose  name  they  could  press  upon  President  Grover 
Cleveland  in  1885,  they  had  to  wait  20  months  before  Cleveland 
removed  Warren.  They  were  hurt  again  when  Cleveland  after  45 
days  felt  compelled  to  remove  his  appointee,  George  W.  Baxter, 
for  fencing  government  land. 

Lack  of  leadership  and  poor  organization  cost  the  Democrats 
dearly  in  the  fall  of  1886.  Their  convention  in  Rawlins,  just  a 
month  before  the  election,  tendered  the  nomination  for  Delegate 
to  M.  E.  Post,  who  declined,  whereupon  the  Laramie  bank  presi- 
dent and  stock  grower,  Henry  G.  Balch,  was  nominated.  Not  until 
almost  two  weeks  later,  long  after  the  convention  had  disbanded, 
was  it  learned  that,  like  Post,  Balch  would  not  run.  The  conven- 
tion had  not  obtained  his  prior  consent.  He  was  somewhere  in 
Montana,  and  not  until  October  15  was  it  published  that  he  was 
not  interested.     In  consequence,  Carey  was  virtually  unopposed. 

Two  years  later  the  Democrats  were  able  to  come  up  with  a 
candidate  willing  to  run,  Caleb  Perry  Organ,  Cheyenne  hardware 
merchant  who  had  branch  stores  in  Douglas  and  Buffalo.  He  had 
served  one  term,  January-March,  1888,  in  the  upper  house  of  the 
Legislature.  He  was  not  well  known;  yet  he  appeared  to  have 
qualities  which  should  appeal  to  many  Democrats.  Since  his 
arrival  in  Cheyenne  in  October,  1867,  as  a  poor  mule  skinner,  he 
had  become  general  superintendent  of  Camp  Carlin  and  eventually 
a  prosperous  cattleman  and  merchant.  The  Cheyenne  Leader  ex- 
tolled him  as  a  "man  of  the  common  people." 

"Honest  Perry"  Organ  was  a  poor  public  speaker.  The  Sun- 
dance Farmer  reported  that  he  was  making  a  queer  campaign: 
"He  takes  a  man  along  with  him,  who  makes  the  speeches  and 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  9 

'mc,  Perry  Organ,'  sets  on  the  platform,  looks  wise,  and  intimates 
to  the  boys,  'them's  my  sentiments.'  "  Carey,  on  the  other  hand, 
could  speak  at  great  length,  cogently  and  effectively,  though  mak- 
ing no  attempt  at  flowery  oratory.  The  Cheyenne  Leader  assigned 
him  to  the  "dry-as-dust"  school  of  orators:  "He  revels  in  statistics 
and  frolics  with  the  dry  bones  of  facts  that  havs  long  lost  their 
vitalizing  principles." 

Democratic  assertions  that  Carey  was  "a  kidgloved  representa- 
tive of  Washington  for  cattle  barons  and  dudes,"  and  that  "Carey's 
hands  have  never  been  hardened  by  honest  toil"  failed  to  rally 
workingmen  against  him.  Charges  that  Carey  had  called  Governor 
Moonlight  "a  tramp  from  Kansas"  cost  him  few  if  any  votes. 
Organ  carried  only  Johnson  and  Fremont  Counties  and  lost  to 
Carey  by  a  vote  of  10,451  to  7,557. 

Was  statehood  a  significant  issue  in  the  Carey-Organ  contest? 
It  was  an  issue,  but  probably  not  a  crucial  one.  The  platform  of 
the  Territorial  Democratic  party  in  October,  1888,  said:  "On  the 
question  of  statehood  the  Democrats,  when  the  proper  time  arrives, 
will  be  found  working  enthusiastically  in  the  front  of  the  battle, 
but  we  do  not  believe  in  indulging  in  any  spread  eagle  blather- 
skitism.  ..."  A  few  days  later  the  Territorial  Republicans  stated 
their  position:  "We  now  have  the  taxable  wealth  and  the  popula- 
tion necessary  to  support  a  state  government  and  being  therefore 
entitled  to  admission  into  the  Union  we  earnestly  favor  such  con- 
gressional legislation  as  will  enable  us  to  adopt  a  constitution  and 
secure  the  rights  of  statehood."  In  short,  the  Democrats  preferred 
to  wait,  while  the  Republicans  wanted  statehood  at  once. 

John  F.  Carroll  of  the  Cheyenne  Leader  was  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  platform  committee,  and  Edward  A.  Slack  of  the 
Cheyenne  Sun  served  on  the  Republican  platform  committee. 
Their  editorials  corresponded  to  the  platform  statements.  The 
Leader  wanted  delay  for  as  much  as  five  years;  the  Sun  advocated 
immediate  statehood.  The  Leader  argued  that  statehood  at  once 
"would  prove  little  short  of  genuine  calamity.  .  .  .  This  statehood 
talk  is  too  highly  flavored  with  [Carey's]  senatorial  ambitions." 
The  Leader  contended  that  Wyoming  could  not  afford  statehood, 
which,  it  said,  would  cost  at  least  $95,000  a  year  more  than  Terri- 
torial government.  Accordingly  the  Leader  announced  that  "A 
vote  for  Judge  Carey  is  a  vote  in  favor  of  immediate  statehood  and 
consequently  ruinous  taxation."  The  RepubUcan  Sun  agreed  that 
"A  vote  for  Judge  Carey  is  a  vote  for  statehood." 

After  three  quarters  of  a  century,  when  so  many  circumstances 
have  changed,  one  might  be  tempted  to  think  that  no  one  could 
seriously  object  to  statehood  on  the  grounds  that  it  would  cost 
$95,000  a  year.  This  would  be  mistaken.  Many  of  Wyoming's 
citizens  were  very  poor  in  the  late  1880s,  and  $95,000  looked  like 
a  large  sum  to  them. 

Perry  Organ  did  not  "talk  down"  statehood  directly,  nor  did  he 


10  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

come  out  for  it.  His  campaign  remarks  suggest  that  he  was  accept- 
ing the  Democratic  platform  plank  on  statehood  without  comment. 
Democratic  editors  in  Cheyenne,  Rawlins  and  Saratoga  placed  their 
candidate  squarely  against  immediate  statehood,  whatever  he  pri- 
vately may  have  thought  about  it.  in  Saratoga  George  R.  Cald- 
well put  it  this  way:  "Organ  would  rather  see  Wyoming  fostered 
as  a  territory  than  wrecked  as  a  state.  Carey  would  have  Wyo- 
ming admitted  at  once  to  the  Union  with  all  the  ruinous  burden  of 
taxation." 

During  the  1888  campaign  more  noise  was  made  over  the  state- 
hood issue  than  any  other;  yet  one  senses  a  hollow  ring  in  the 
Democratic  calls  against  statehood.  Most  Wyoming  Democrats 
probably  were  not  really  opposed  to  immediate  statehood.  Rather 
their  opposition  was  to  a  statehood  movement  led  by  Carey  and 
Warren,  who  had  been  champions  of  statehood  since  1885.  With 
them  so  strongly  for  statehood,  and  with  the  national  Republican 
party  for  statehood,  Wyoming  Democrats  were  less  than  eager  to 
climb  on  the  bandwagon.  They  chose  half-hearted  opposition  in- 
stead of  the  available  alternative,  me-tooism.  A  week  after  the 
Carey  victory,  the  Leader  maintained  plausibly  that  the  statehood 
question  had  not  influenced  100  votes  either  way. 

Wyoming  Democrats  could  not  get  very  excited  about  national 
Democratic  pleas  for  tariff  reform.  Nor  could  they  defend  very 
effectively  against  Republican  assaults  on  Cleveland's  land  policies, 
particularly  his  holding  up  of  land  patents,  more  often  for  poor  men 
than  rich.  Carey  had  the  advantage  of  experience  and  the  better 
ability  to  project  his  personality. 

In  analyzing  the  election  returns  the  Cheyenne  Leader  and 
Rawlins  Journal  focused  attention  on  a  major  reason  for  Carey's 
victory — Republican  control  of  the  labor  vote  in  the  mining  coun- 
ties. Carey  won  Uinta  County  by  837  votes,  Carbon  by  769, 
Sweetwater  by  559. 

Beckwith,  Quinn  &  Company  controlled  the  hiring  and  firing  for 
the  Union  Pacific  mines.  In  Uinta  County,  said  the  Leader,  Beck- 
with, Quinn  &  Company,  at  company  expense,  printed  straight 
Democratic  tickets  with  the  single  exception  of  the  Delegate.  The 
Leader  and  Rawlins  Journal  added  details:  Hundreds  of  Finns  in 
Uinta  and  Sweetwater  Counties  voted  as  they  were  told,  taking  the 
ticket  offered  them  and  presenting  it  as  their  ballot.  Carbon  pre- 
cinct in  Carbon  County  cast  909  votes  with  an  average  Republican 
majority  of  400.  Even  the  Republican  editor  J.  H.  Hayford  rec- 
ognized publicly  the  influence  of  Beckwith,  Quinn  &  Company.^ 


1.  While  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  Beckwith,  Quinn  &  Company 
helped  Carey  in  1888.  the  Leader's  assertion  that  the  Company  printed 
straight  Democratic  tickets  except  for  Carey  is  suspect  because  one  Repub- 
lican was  returned  to  the  Legislature  by  Uinta  County  that  year,  along  with 
three  Democrats. 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  /i\0>^         1 1 

No  doubt  certain  reprehensible  practices  were  prevalent  in  Wyo- 
ming and  elsewhere  in  the  days  before  the  Australian  secret  ballot 
was  adopted  in  1890.  The  Cheyenne  Sun  after  the  1882  election 
had  reported  frauds  by  both  parties — emigrants  being  taken  from 
trains  to  vote;  men  voting  more  than  once,  using  assumed  names; 
15 -year-old  girls  voting;  and  men  publicly  buying  votes  at  the  17th 
Street  polling  place. 

Charles  A.  Guernsey,  who  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1884  and 
to  the  Senate  in  1886,  has  published  a  description  of  some  of  the 
unusual  features  of  Wyoming  elections  as  he  observed  them  in 
Laramie  County  before  the  Australian  ballot  brought  changes. - 
After  the  party  conventions,  enterprising  individuals  of  both  parties 
printed  tickets,  selecting  candidates  from  the  major  tickets.  Each 
person,  society,  lodge,  union  or  company  printing  such  a  ticket, 
claimed  to  control  a  certain  number  of  votes.  A  candidate  could 
get  on  such  a  ticket  by  paying  the  ticket  sponsor  so  much  for  each 
vote  the  sponsor  claimed  to  control,  or  in  some  cases  on  merit 
alone  if  the  sponsor  approved  him.  Such  printed  tickets  were 
accepted  at  the  polls.  Guernsey  recalled  that  in  1884,  he  paid  the 
Union  Pacific  master  mechanic  for  the  400  votes  he  claimed  to 
control. 

On  December  11,  1888,  Moonlight  sent  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
Vilas  a  statement  in  which  he  revised  radically  downward  his  pre- 
vious estimates  of  Wyoming's  population.  He  recalled  that  Gov- 
ernor Warren  had  estimated  a  population  of  65,000  in  his  1885 
report  and  75,000  in  his  1886  report;  and  that  he  (Moonlight)  had 
estimated  85,000  in  1887  and  85,000  again  in  his  report  of  Sep- 
tember 19,  1888.  Now,  less  than  three  months  later.  Moonlight 
cut  the  estimate  back  to  55,500.  He  based  the  revision  on  an 
analysis  of  the  November  6  election  in  which  a  full  turnout  cast 
only  18,008  votes  for  Delegate.  Allowing  three  persons  for  each 
voter,  and  guessing  that  perhaps  500  legal  voters  did  not  vote,  he 
arrived  at  the  figure  55,500.  As  later  events  were  to  prove,  this 
was  remarkably  accurate.  Coming  as  it  did,  however,  when  the 
Republicans  were  hot  for  statehood.  Moonlight's  supplementary  re- 
port evoked  partisan  derision.  It  smelled  like  a  sour-grapes  re- 
action to  the  Republican  victory. 

Even  Democrats  thought  the  Governor  looked  foolish.  Hitherto 
his  champion,  the  Cheyenne  Leader  asked  December  22,  1888, 
whether  the  Governor  might  not  have  employed  himself  to  better 
advantage  in  some  other  way.  Placing  his  low  estimate  of  popula- 
tion before  the  whole  country  (it  was  well  publicized),  at  a  time 
when  high  estimates  were  the  rule  for  all  other  territories,  could 
only  serve,  said  the  Leader,  to  retard  immigration.    Editor  Carroll 


2.  Charles  A.  Guernsey,  Wyoming  Cowboy  Days,  pp.  97-102. 


12  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

related  that  for  many  months  he  had  been  shaking  his  head  over 
Moonhght's  pubHc  poHcy  and  general  behavior,  but  had  withheld 
criticism  out  of  party  loyalty,  knowing  that  his  days  were  limited. 
The  supplementary  population  report  was  too  much  even  for  Car- 
roll. He  wished  Wyoming  "no  better  Christmas  gift  than  the 
assurance  of  Governor  Moonlight's  immediate  and  precipitate 
removal."  The  Rock  Springs  Miner  and  the  Rawlins  Journal  seem 
to  have  been  the  only  newspapers  willing  to  say  a  good  word  for 
Moonlight's  gratuitous  supplementary  report. 

The  A^^M'  York  World  in  January,  1889,  published  the  results  of 
interviews  with  prominent  citizens  of  Wyoming  on  the  subject  of 
statehood.  With  the  exception  of  Editor  Carroll,  who  still  main- 
tained that  the  Territory  was  not  yet  ready,  all  others  interviewed 
favored  statehood  as  soon  as  possible.  Soon  thereafter  even  Car- 
roll began  to  look  more  favorably  on  statehood.  The  closing  of  a 
contract  between  the  Cheyenne  City  Council  and  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  in  January,  1889,  calling  for  the  construction  by  the 
Union  Pacific  of  large  shops  and  a  general  supply  depot  at  Chey- 
enne in  return  for  City  promises  of  free  water  and  two  viaducts 
to  be  built  by  the  City,  caused  Carroll  to  revise  upward  his  estimate 
of  the  Territory's  economic  strength.  In  March  he  wrote:  "The 
Leader  has  never  frantically  raved  for  statehood,  but  it  believes  the 
time  is  now  rapidly  approaching  when  the  honor  must  come  to 
Wyoming."    Thereafter  he  did  not  oppose  statehood. 

An  anonymous  attack  on  Governor  Francis  E.  Warren,  sent 
from  Cheyenne  and  published  in  the  New  York  Times  in  April, 
1889,  charging  him  with  being  a  fencer  of  government  land,  and  a 
tool  of  the  Union  Pacific  and  the  cattle  barons,  was  generally  con- 
demned in  Wyoming.  Thousands  turned  out  for  Warren's  inaugu- 
ration on  a  wet,  muddy  day,  April  9.  The  inaugural  address  was 
mainly  a  plea  for  statehood.  Warren  argued  that  increased  ex- 
penses would  be  offset  by  greater  revenues.  "Let  us  have  state- 
hood," he  urged,  promising  rapid  growth  and  development  once 
admission  to  the  Union  had  been  accomplished. 

THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION.^ 

Governor  Warren  arranged  for  a  constitutional  convention  in 
Cheyenne  in  September,  1889.  Fifty-five  delegates  had  been 
elected  July  8,  all  of  them  men.  This  might  seem  rather  odd  in  a 
territory  where  much  was  said  about  equality  of  the  sexes.  Yet  it 
is  consistent  with  the  failure  to  elect  any  woman  to  a  Territorial 
Legislature. 


3.  Major  source  for  the  discussion  which  follows  is  the  Journal  and 
Debates  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  the  State  of  Wyoming  (Chey- 
enne, 1893).  See  the  "Sources"  section  at  the  end  of  this  volume  for  a  dis- 
cussion of  other  materials  used  in  preparing  this  chapter. 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  13 

Of  the  55  delegates  elected  in  July  only  49  put  in  an  appearance 
at  the  convention.  Brief  biographies  of  47  members  of  the  con- 
vention are  available  in  Mrs.  Erwin's  Wyoming  Historical  Blue 
Book.  Among  the  47  there  were  18  lawyers,  13  veterans  of  the 
Union  Army  and  one  veteran  of  the  Confederate  Army  (Caleb 
"Honest  Perry"  Organ).  Only  three  of  the  47  had  been  born  in 
the  South,  eight  in  Ohio,  seven  in  Pennsylvania,  four  in  New  York, 
four  in  Illinois,  six  in  New  England,  and  six  outside  the  United 
States — one  each  in  England,  Scotland,  Wales,  Denmark,  Germany 
and  Canada.  The  origins  of  the  convention  members  correspond 
rather  closely  to  the  origins  of  the  Territory's  population  as  a 
whole.  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Illinois  led  the  states  in 
supplying  Wyoming's  1890  population.  Only  four  per  cent  of 
Wyoming's  1890  population  had  been  born  in  the  South;  only  94 
men  were  Confederate  veterans  as  compared  with  1,171  Union 
veterans. 

Laramie  lawyer  Melville  C.  Brown,*  who  was  elected  president 
of  the  convention,  later  wrote  that  the  "convention  represented  all 
the  business  interests  of  the  State — bankers,  stockgrowers,  mer- 
chants, farmers,  gold  miners,  coal  miners,  railroaders  and  lawyers." 
The  lawyers  should  have  been  at  the  head,  not  bottom,  of  the  list 
for  they  dominated  the  convention.  They  did  most  of  the  talking, 
especially  eight  of  them:  Brown  from  Laramie;  A.  C.  Campbell, 
E.  S.  N.  Morgan,  Charles  N.  Potter,  and  John  A.  Riner  of  Chey- 
enne; Clarence  D.  Clark  of  Evanston;  Charles  Burritt  of  Buffalo; 
and  George  C.  Smith  of  Rawlins. 

Contributing  substantially  to  the  debates  were  these  six  non- 


4.  Melville  C.  Brown  was  born  in  Maine  in  1838,  went  to  California  in 
1856,  and  then  to  Boise,  Idaho,  in  1863.  He  turned  up  in  Cheyenne  and 
began  to  practice  law  in  November,  1867.  From  Cheyenne  he  moved  to 
Laramie  in  May,  1868,  where  he  served  as  first  mayor.  In  1871-1872,  as 
penitentiary  commissioner,  he  was  investigated  on  charges  that  he  had 
rigged  the  contract  letting  for  the  construction  of  the  Territorial  penitentiary. 
The  contract  which  he  had  awarded  to  a  friend  was  cancelled  (Department 
of  the  Interior  Files,  National  Archives,  Wyoming  Territory,  Wyoming 
Penitentiary  1871-72,  "Charges  concerning  Superintendent  of  Construc- 
tion"). In  1884  the  Territorial  supreme  court  suspended  for  a  time  Brown's 
license  to  practice  before  the  court.  After  losing  a  case,  Brown  had  applied 
to  the  court,  it  was  charged,  "vile,  opprobrious,  and  indecent  epithets." 
GOP  bellwether  F.  E.  Warren  disliked  Brown.  He  wrote  to  J.  M.  Carey 
March  13,  1889  (Warren  Letterbooks) :  ".  .  .  Personally,  I  would  rather 
crawl  on  my  hands  and  knees  in  the  gutter  a  block  in  Cheyenne,  than  to  see 
even  the  worst  of  our  three  democratic  judges  replaced  by  either  Brown, 
Morgan  or  Seevers.  .  .  ."  Nevertheless  Warren  in  1900  approved  (but  per- 
haps to  get  him  out  of  Wyoming)  Brown's  appointment  by  President  Mc- 
Kinley  to  a  judgeship  in  Alaska.  In  1905  President  Theodore  Roosevelt 
dismissed  Brown  from  the  judgeship  for  having  engaged  in  a  water  power 
venture.  (C/.  Jeannette  P.  Nichols,  Alaska  [Cleveland,  1924],  p.  237  and 
footnote  443).  After  practicing  law  for  a  few  years  in  Seattle,  Brown 
returned  to  practice  once  again  in  Laramie,  where  he  died  in  1928. 


14  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

lawyers:  George  W.  Baxter,  Cheyenne  cattleman  and  former 
Territorial  Governor;  Henry  A.  Coffeen,  Sheridan  merchant; 
George  W.  Fox,  Laramie  merchant;  Henry  G.  Hay.  Cheyenne 
cattleman  and  banker;  John  W.  Hoyt,  President  of  the  University 
of  Wyoming  and  former  Governor  of  the  Territory;  and  Hubert  E. 
Teschemacher,  Uva  and  Cheyenne  cattleman.  AH  of  these  four- 
teen leaders  of  the  convention  had  been  brought  up  and  trained  in 
the  States  somewhere  east  of  Wyoming.  Nine  of  them  had  enjoyed 
formal  education  beyond  the  high  school.''  There  were  four  Dem- 
ocrats— Campbell,  Burritt,  Baxter  and  Coffeen — and  ten  Republi- 
cans among  the  fourteen  convention  leaders. 

Some  members  of  the  convention  contributed  little  or  nothing. 
A  case  in  point  is  Stephen  W.  Downey,  highly  respected  member 
from  Laramie,  who  would  no  doubt  have  been  a  leader  in  the  con- 
vention had  he  attended  regularly.  It  was  later  said  on  one  hand 
that  the  illness  of  his  father  kept  him  away,  and  on  the  other  that  he 
was  miffed  over  committee  assignments. 

In  the  election  for  president  of  the  convention,  after  C.  D.  Clark 
of  Evanston  declined  to  be  a  candidate,  the  Republicans  divided 
their  votes  between  two  other  lawyers,  A.  B.  Conaway  of  Sweet- 
water County  and  Melville  C.  Brown  of  Albany  County,  permitting 
the  Democrats  to  tip  the  balance  in  favor  of  Brown.  Appropriately 
Brown  presided  without  partisanship. 

Pressure  of  time  was  obvious.  Tempers  were  short  now  and 
then.  On  the  24th  day  the  Cheyenne  lawyer  A.  C.  Campbell 
apologized  for  having  lost  his  temper  eleven  days  before,  and  asked 
that  his  language  be  expunged  from  the  record.  His  apology  was 
accepted  and  the  record  was  changed.  Fifty-one  years  later  the 
Laramie  newspaper  man  W.  E.  Chaplin,  also  a  member  of  the 
convention,  recalled  the  incident  in  a  talk  before  the  Cheyenne 
Rotary  Club.  It  was,  he  said,  "the  only  fireworks  of  a  somewhat 
prosy  convention."  Campbell  had  said  that  he  was  for  woman 
suffrage  but  believed  it  should  be  submitted  to  the  people  separate- 
ly. Henry  A.  Coffeen  of  Sheridan  questioned  Campbell's  motives. 
As  white  as  a  sheet  Campbell  rose  and  shouted:  "Any  man  who 
impugns  my  motives  on  the  floor  of  this  convention  lies,  away 
down  in  the  bottom  of  his  old  throat."  Possibly  Chaplin  had  a 
copy  of  the  original  record;  otherwise  his  memory  of  the  exact 
words  expunged  can  hardly   be   trusted.      Chaplin   recalled   that 


5.  Clark  at  the  University  of  Iowa;  Potter  and  Riner  at  the  University 
of  Michigan;  Burritt  at  Middlebury;  Brown  at  the  Detroit  Law  School; 
Baxter  at  the  University  of  Tennessee  and  West  Point;  Hoyt  at  Ohio  Wes- 
leyan,  Cincinnati  Law  School,  Ohio  Medical  College  and  Eclectic  Medical 
Institute;  Coffeen  at  Abingdon  College  in  Illinois;  Hay  at  Vincennes  Uni- 
versity in  Indiana  and  a  commercial  college;  and  Teschemacher  at  Harvard. 
Campbell.  Morgan  and  Smith  had  learned  their  law  in  offices  of  other 
lawyers. 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  15 

fortunately  Coffeen  was  peace-loving,  and  so  a  personal  encounter 
was  avoided. 

Ironically  this  most  violent  personal  quarrel  of  the  convention 
was  between  two  Democrats.  On  the  day  after  Campbell's  apology 
an  "Address  to  the  People  of  Wyoming"  was  adopted,  which  in- 
cluded the  statement  that  the  convention  was  nonpartisan  in  char- 
acter and  without  division  upon  party  lines.  The  "Address"  said 
further  that  sectional  questions  were  at  no  time  considered,  and  no 
outside  influences  were  permitted  to  affect  action.  Despite  these 
protestations  a  close  reading  of  the  Journals  suggests  that  the  mem- 
bers could  not  divest  themselves  entirely  of  partisanship,  that 
north-versus-south  sectionalism  was  present  in  mild  form,  and  that 
lobbyists  were  on  hand.  Often  overlooked  in  assessing  influences 
from  outside  the  convention  were  Governor  Warren,  Delegate 
Carey,  Willis  Van  Devanter  and  Elwood  Mead,  who  were  often 
consulted  and  whom  convention  member  W.  E.  ChapUn  in  1934 
called  "an  invisible  delegation  of  extraordinary  power." 

PROCEDURE. 

The  convention  early  chose  nineteen  standing  committees  of 
ten,  seven  or  five  members.  Five  ma'or  committees  had  ten  mem- 
bers each,  with,  insofar  as  possible,  one  member  from  each  of  the 
ten  counties.  The  five  major  committees  dealt  with  ( 1 )  legislative 
department,  (2)  judiciary,  (3)  boundaries  and  apportionment, 
(4)  taxation,  revenue  and  public  debt,  and  (5)  railroads  and  tele- 
graphs. 

In  convention  debate  the  Cheyenne  lawyer  John  A.  Riner  once 
complained  that  "members  of  the  committees  take  out  this  and  that 
from  the  different  state  constitutions  without  taking  into  considera- 
tion for  a  moment  whether  they  affect  the  local  conditions  we  have 
or  not."  On  the  other  hand,  former  Governor  George  W.  Baxter 
justified  borrowing  by  arguing  that  the  ablest  men  in  past  ages  had 
formulated  the  fundamental  principles  of  liberty,  justice  and  equal- 
ity in  such  clear  and  concise  language  that  "it  seems  to  me,  there- 
fore, that  so  far  as  nine-tenths  of  our  labor  is  concerned,  we  have 
only  to  exercise  an  intelligent  and  discriminating  judgment  in  our 
study  of  the  work  of  the  constitution  builders  who  have  preceded 
us." 

Baxter's  philosophy  prevailed.  How  else  could  the  constitution 
have  been  produced,  in  25  working  days,  except  by  the  scissor-and- 
paste  method?  Heavy  borrowing  from  earlier  constitutions  has 
been  the  standard  practice  in  state  constitution  making. 

The  Wyoming  Convention  at  the  outset  was  presented  with  a 
model  constitution.  It  has  been  drawn  up  by  former  Territorial 
Chief  Justice  J.  W.  Fisher  and  was  presented  to  the  convention  by 
E.  S.  N.  Morgan,  former  Territorial  Secretary,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  convention.     After  some  debate  the  convention  decided  to 


16 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


distribute  the  model  constitution's  parts  to  the  several  appropriate 
committees.  What,  if  any,  influence  Judge  Fisher  had  on  the  final 
product  cannot  be  determined. 

The  convention  apparently  had  access  in  the  Territorial  Library 
to  the  constitutions  of  all  states  already  in  the  Union.  Five  Terri- 
tories not  yet  admitted  had  recently  held  conventions — North 
Dakota,  South  Dakota,  Montana,  Washington  and  Idaho.  Gov- 
ernor Warren's  correspondence  shows  that  he  wrote  for,  and  ob- 
tained, copies  of  their  constitutions  just  before  the  Cheyenne 
convention. 

The  debates  include  references  to  the  constitutions  of  Colorado, 
Kansas,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Nebraska,  Pennsylvania,  Texas  and 
Washington,  but  the  greatest  obligation  of  the  Wyoming  Consti- 
tution's makers  appears  to  have  been  to  the  constitutions  of  North 
Dakota,  Montana  and  Idaho. 

A  section-by-section  comparison  of  the  Wyoming  Constitution 
with  the  Constitutions  of  North  Dakota,  South  Dakota,  Montana 
and  Idaho  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  Wyoming's  Article  III 
(Legislative  Department)  was  borrowed  for  the  most  part  from 
the  Montana  Constitution;  Wyoming's  Article  V  (Judicial  Depart- 
ment )  appears  to  have  been  borrowed  substantially  from  the 
Constitution  of  North  Dakota;  and  Wyoming's  Article  XIX  (Mis- 
cellaneous), Article  XX  (Amendments)  and  Article  XXI  (Sched- 
ule) resemble  closely  articles  in  the  Idaho  Constitution. 


Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department 
ELWOOD   MEAD  E.  A.  SLACK 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  17 

MAJOR  ISSUES  IN  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

While  the  Wyoming  Constitution  shows  heavy  obligation  to 
several  earlier  constitutions,  decisions  had  to  be  made  as  to  what 
to  borrow  and  what  changes  to  make  in  wording.  The  debates 
show  substantial  differences  of  opinion  on  several  important  issues. 

Some  of  the  members  wanted  to  make  it  easy  to  organize  new 
counties.  They  did  not  want  to  have  to  travel  great  distances  to 
reach  the  county  seat.  On  voice  votes,  attempts  to  raise  the  com- 
mittee's recommendation  of  a  $2,000,000  valuation  for  a  new 
county  to  two  and  a  half  or  three  million  dollars  were  defeated. 
The  go-slow  members  made  it  necessary  for  the  old  county  to  be 
left  with  a  valuation  of  at  least  $3,000,000.  They  also  provided 
that  a  majority  of  the  qualified  electors  of  the  area  to  be  separated 
must  approve  before  the  new  county  could  be  established. 

Another  issue  over  which  there  was  much  argument  was  whether 
there  should  be  a  supreme  court  separate  from  the  district  courts. 
The  Territorial  arrangement  had  been  to  combine  the  two.  The 
Territory  had  three  district  judges  who  now  and  then  sat  together 
as  a  supreme  court.  In  the  first  stage  of  this  dispute  all  of  the 
lawyers  wanted  a  separate  supreme  court.  "I  believe  it  has  been 
said  that  the  lawyers  in  this  convention  have  been  talking  too 
much,"  said  Campbell  of  Cheyenne,  but  he  could  not  resist  talking 
at  length  in  favor  of  a  separate  supreme  court.  Under  the  territor- 
ial system,  he  argued,  an  appeal  is  taken  to  a  court  one-third  of 
whose  members  is  already  against  you.  "What  show  has  the 
defeated  party  got?"  he  asked. 

The  Harvard-trained  cattleman  Teschemacher  asked  if  the  three 
supreme  court  judges  would  not  have  a  "soft  snap"  while  the 
district  judges  were  overworked.  Lawyer  Conaway  conceded  that 
this  might  be  true  at  the  outset,  but  pointed  out  that  as  a  partial 
offset  the  committee  had  planned  to  give  supreme  court  judges 
original  jurisdiction  in  certain  matters. 

Lawyer  Smith  of  Rawlins  asked:  "What  is  the  matter  of  a  few 
thousand  dollars  compared  with  the  rights  of  life  and  liberty?" 
He  conceded,  however,  that  were  it  not  for  the  vast  amount  of 
travel  required  of  the  district  judges  "one  judge  could  do  all  the 
business  and  not  be  constantly  employed."  In  committee  of  the 
whole,  the  lawyers  won  approval  for  a  separate  supreme  court  by 
a  vote  of  13-8. 

When  the  judiciary  department  file  came  up  for  final  reading, 
however,  public  opinion  had  been  brought  to  bear  on  the  conven- 
tion, and  lawyer  Potter  of  Cheyenne  had  changed  his  mind.  His 
amendment,  to  eliminate  the  separate  supreme  court,  lost  narrowly, 
17  to  2L  The  debate  over  what  kind  of  supreme  court  to  have 
showed  clearly  that  many  members  of  the  convention  were  ser- 
iously concerned  about  the  costs  of  statehood.  Economy  was  the 
watchword  in  the  convention,  although  most  of  the  lawyers  be- 


18  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

lieved  so  strongly  in  a  separate  supreme  court  that  they  would  not 
give  it  up. 

Before  the  judicial  section  of  the  Constitution  was  completed, 
two  other  problems  took  time.  How  much  should  the  judges  be 
paid?  The  convention  left  judges'  salaries  to  the  Legislature  after 
debating  whether  the  constitution  should  fix  the  salary  at  $2,500 
or  $3,000.  What  should  the  minimum  age  be?  Some  thought  35, 
but  the  convention  agreed  on  30  for  supreme  court  judges  and  28 
for  district  judges.  A  30-year-old  Lander  lawyer,  Preston,  a 
Democrat,  argued  that  there  weren't  three  Democratic  lawyers  in 
the  state  who  were  35  years  of  age,  and  Democratic  lawyers  would 
soon  be  needed,  he  said,  for  the  supreme  court. 

Lawyer  A.  C.  Campbell  of  Cheyenne  tossed  a  bombshell  into 
the  convention  on  its  1 4th  day  when  he  moved  that  woman  suffrage 
be  offered  to  the  electors  as  a  separate  article.  No  one  of  any 
standing  in  the  Territory  had  found  fault  with  woman  suffrage  since 
the  1  87 1  Legislature.  Yet  a  group  of  Cheyenne  people  had  handed 
Campbell  a  petition  asking  for  a  separate  vote.  In  proposing  a 
separate  vote  Campbell  insisted  that  he  personally  favored  woman 
suffrage.  He  said  that  opponents  of  woman  suffrage  had  often 
told  him  that  the  people  had  never  been  given  an  opportunity  to 
vote  on  the  proposition,  and  that  the  Legislature  had  always  been 
afraid  to  submit  the  question  to  popular  vote.  He  believed  that  the 
people  should  have  a  chance  to  vote  on  the  matter  before  it  became 
the  fundamental  law  of  the  new  state.  He  thought  that  woman 
suffrage  would  be  approved  by  a  two-thirds  vote. 

Campbell's  proposal  called  forth  eloquent  pleas  against  a  sep- 
arate vote  from  Baxter  ("I  yield  to  no  man  in  the  homage  and 
adoration  which  I  feel  and  which  upon  all  proper  occasions  I 
gladly  pay  to  a  pure  and  lovely  woman."),  Coffeen  ('T  am  un- 
willing to  stand  here  and  by  vote  or  word  or  gesture  disfranchise 
one-half  the  people  of  our  territory,  and  that  the  better  half.  .  .  . 
Let  us  catch  inspiration  from  the  glorious  features  of  nature  about 
us,  the  grand  valleys,  the  lifting  mountains,  the  reverberating  hills, 
the  floating  clouds  so  lovely  above  them.  .  .  ."),  Holden  ("I  say 
rather  than  surrender  that  right,  we  would  rather  remain  in  a 
territorial  condition  throughout  the  endless  cycles  of  time."),  M.  C. 
Brown  ("I  would  sooner  think  ...  of  submitting  to  the  people  of 
Wyoming  a  separate  and  distinct  proposition  as  to  whether  a  male 
citizen  of  the  territory  shall  be  entitled  to  vote."),  Hoyt  ("No  man 
has  ever  dared  to  say  in  the  territory  of  Wyoming  that  woman 
suffrage  is  a  failure.  We  stand  today  proud,  proud  of  this  great 
experiment.  .  .  .  Why  then  this  extraordinary  proposition?  ...  I 
know  that  one-half  of  the  members  of  the  congress  of  the  United 
States  are  in  sympathy  with  this  very  principle.  .  .  ."),  and  Burritt 
("If  they  will  not  let  us  in  with  this  plank  in  our  constitution  we 
will  stay  out  forever."). 

Campbell  was  not  completely  alone.      Palmer  of  Sweetwater 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  19 

County  finally  rose  to  support  his  proposition,  stating  that  there 
were  many  voters  in  his  county  who  were  opposed  to  woman  suf- 
frage but  who  would  like  to  have  statehood.  They  would  not  vote 
for  the  constitution  with  woman  suffrage  in  it.  Conaway,  who  was 
also  from  Sweetwater  County,  denied  that  many  of  his  constituents 
desired  a  separate  vote.  On  the  vote  in  the  committee  of  the  whole, 
eight  votes  were  cast  in  support  of  Campbell's  proposition,  20 
against. 

Long-winded  argument  preceded  adoption  of  Teschemacher's 
provision  that  unless  handicapped  by  physical  disability,  one  must 
be  able  to  read  the  Constitution  to  vote.  Teschemacher  explained 
that  four  earlier  constitutions  contained  similar  provisions.  Despite 
spirited  opposition,  the  educational  test  was  included  in  the  Con- 
stitution, with  all  residents  who  had  voted  before  admission  being 
assured  that  they  would  not  be  disfranchised. 

Debate  raged  furiously  over  the  question  of  apportionment  ot 
seats  in  the  Senate.  Without  very  much  difficulty  the  seats  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  were  distributed  according  to  population, 
but  members  of  the  less  populous  counties  fought  for  equality  in 
the  Senate.  They  praised  the  federal  plan  by  which  each  state  of 
the  union  has  equal  representation  in  the  U.  S.  Senate.  They  ar- 
gued that  in  the  past  the  "little"  counties  had  been  "prayed  upon" 
by  the  larger  counties. 

Potter  and  Morgan  of  Laramie  County  led  the  attack  on  the 
federal  plan.  Potter  rejected  the  federal  analogy,  insisting  that  the 
relation  of  a  county  to  a  state  is  not  the  same  as  the  relation  of  a 
state  to  the  U.  S.  government.  A  county,  he  said,  is  "Simply  a 
medium  by  which  a  state  conducts  its  business."  Counties  have  no 
independence  whereas  states  under  the  U.  S.  Constitution  have 
reserved  powers.  True  democracy,  he  maintained,  required  that 
every  man  count  for  as  much  as  any  other  man,  and  that  the  legis- 
lature shall  represent  everyone  equally.  Morgan  argued  along  the 
same  line,  "I  ought  to  have  as  much  right  in  the  .  .  .  enactment  of 
laws  for  the  government  as  the  man  who  lives  in  a  smaller  county." 

Preston  of  Fremont  County  taunted  Potter  and  Morgan,  suggest- 
ing that  they  were  afraid  that  the  capital  would  be  moved  away 
from  Cheyenne. 

Baxter  of  Laramie  County  (with  interests  also  in  Fremont  and 
Johnson  Counties)  rejected  the  one-Senator  idea,  calling  it  as 
extraordinary  as  it  would  be  to  propose  that  each  county  should 
contribute  the  same  amount  to  the  general  fund.  He  asked  what 
justice  there  could  be  in  permitting  a  man  from  the  north  to  have 
five  or  ten  times  as  much  say  as  a  man  in  the  south. 

Palmer  and  Conaway  of  Sweetwater  County,  often  at  odds,  were 
in  agreement  on  this  question,  both  holding  that  it  would  be  unfair 
to  give  Sheridan  County,  with  one-third  the  valuation  and  one-half 
the  population  of  Sweetwater  County,  equal  representation  in  the 
Senate  with  their  county. 


20  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Had  delegates  from  the  five  Union  Pacific  counties  united  on  the 
issue  it  would  have  been  no  contest  since  they  had  more  than  twice 
as  many  delegates  as  the  five  northern  counties.  The  Union  Pacific 
delegations,  however,  did  not  present  a  united  front.  President 
Brown  (Albany  County)  could  see  no  need  for  two  houses  if  the 
principle  of  representation  in  proportion  to  population  were  adopt- 
ed. He  preferred  a  two-house  legislature  with  the  smaller  house  so 
constructed  that  it  would  be  a  check  on  the  will  of  the  popular 
majority  in  the  other  house.  He  considered  the  federal  plan  of 
representation  to  be  "the  happiest  compromise  that  ever  came  to 
man." 

John  W.  Hoyt,  like  Brown,  supported  the  idea  of  one  Senator 
per  county  in  the  belief  that  it  would  best  promote  the  welfare  of 
the  state.  He  thought  it  desirable  to  have  a  differently  constituted 
Senate  so  that  it  could  serve  as  a  check  on  the  House.  Holden  of 
Uinta  County  likened  the  House  of  Representatives  to  a  cup  of  tea 
and  the  Senate  to  a  saucer,  explaining  "You  have  use  for  the  saucer 
for  the  purpose  of  cooling  the  beverage." 

As  the  showdown  vote  approached,  the  presiding  officer  ordered 
lobbyists  to  keep  off  the  floor  of  the  Convention.  Southern  dele- 
gations were  worried  because  some  of  their  members  had  gone 
home.  Enough  southern  members  who  opposed  the  one-Senator 
idea  remained,  however,  on  the  19th  day  to  defeat  it,  17-1 1;  so  16 
senators  were  provided  for  the  ten  counties.  On  the  same  day 
what  was  regarded  by  many  as  a  "sop"  to  Sheridan,  Johnson  and 
Converse  Counties  was  provided  in  the  form  of  one  additional 
House  seat  for  each  of  them.  Thus  the  total  in  the  House  was 
increased  from  30  to  33.  The  ten  counties  therefore  received  rep- 
resentation as  follows:  Laramie  County,  three  Senators  and  six 
Representatives.  Albany  and  Carbon  Counties,  each  two  Senators 
and  five  Representatives.  Sweetwater  and  Uinta  Counties,  each 
two  Senators  and  three  Representatives.  Converse  County,  one 
Senator  and  three  Representatives.  Crook,  Fremont,  Johnson  and 
Sheridan  Counties  each  one  Senator  and  two  Representatives. 

M.  C.  Brown,  president  of  the  convention,  led  a  drive  to  place  a 
tonnage  tax  on  coal  in  the  Constitution.  It  was  generally  supposed 
that  coal  would  be  the  state's  major  source  of  wealth.  Nearly  two- 
thirds  of  current  production,  Brown  estimated,  was  shipped  out  of 
the  Territory.  The  consumers  would  pay  such  a  tax,  argued 
Brown.  He  could  see  no  reason  why  those  who  benefited  from 
Wyoming  coal  should  not  help  support  the  government. 

Brown  stated  that  coal  lands  and  coal  corporations  paid  only  1.5 
per  cent  of  the  property  tax,  even  though  the  coal  business  was  the 
largest  industry  in  the  Territory.  Coal  interests,  he  said,  contrib- 
uted only  $  1 ,250  per  year  toward  the  support  of  the  Territorial 
government,  at  a  time  when  it  cost  the  Territory  more  than  $3,000 
each  year  to  pay  a  coal  inspector  and  coal  engineer.  Brown 
thought  that  a  tax  of  n/2  cents  on  each  ton  (one  cent  to  the  state 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  21 

and  one-half  cent  to  the  county  where  mined)  would  pay  half  the 
expenses  of  the  state  government,  and  would  not  be  unjust. 

Brown's  principal  antagonist  was  C.  D.  Clark  of  Evanston,  who 
had  been  an  attorney  for  the  Union  Pacific,  and  admitted  that  he 
was  part  owner  of  a  coal  mining  enterprise  at  Rock  Springs.  Clark 
expressed  concern  lest  the  state  find  itself  with  a  surplus  every  year: 
"Do  you  want  to  have  a  provision  in  our  constitution  that  may  heap 
up  more  money  than  we  can  honestly  spend  for  a  state  govern- 
ment .  .  .?"  Clark  must  have  been  expecting  a  great  increase  in 
production.  In  the  late  1880s  annual  production  amounted  to 
about  2,000,000  tons.  At  that  rate,  one  cent  per  ton  would  bring 
the  state  only  $20,000  in  a  year,  hardly  a  frightening  amount  of 
revenue. 

Clark  could  see  no  justice  in  placing  a  special  tax  on  coal  that 
did  not  apply  to  other  minerals.  "Why,"  he  asked,  "single  out  this 
infant  industry  .  .  .?"  He  argued  that  coal  would  not  be  raised  in 
price  to  meet  the  tax;  the  burden  would  fall  either  on  the  mining 
company  or  on  the  miner.  Another  coal  mine  owner,  John  G. 
Hay,  Cheyenne  banker,  also  objected  to  making  the  "infant  coal 
industry"  subject  to  a  direct  tax  not  imposed  on  the  output  of  other 
mines. 

Coffeen  of  Sheridan,  like  Brown,  argued  that  coal  lands  were 
not  paying  their  just  share.  He  agreed  that,  generally  speaking, 
there  should  be  no  discrimination,  but  coal  mines  were  already 
developed  while  other  mines  were  not.  Hence  the  tax  should  be 
applied  first  to  coal  mines. 

Baxter  of  Cheyenne  scoffed  at  the  suggestion  that  the  tax  would 
bring  a  great  surplus  to  the  treasury.  He  explained  that  a  coal 
mine  is  different  from  an  acre  of  farm  land  which  with  proper  care 
will  be  worth  as  much  in  50  years  as  it  is  now  while  the  mine  will 
become  worthless  when  the  coal  is  exhausted.  He  thought  a  pro- 
duction tax  justifiable  on  coal,  "as  near  a  proper  basis  for  taxing 
it  as  you  can  reach,"  but  felt  that  it  was  best  to  leave  it  to  the 
Legislature. 

Brown  wanted  the  tax  in  the  Constitution  to  remove  it  from  the 
influence  of  lobbyists :  "As  you  have  seen  in  the  past  men  elected 
to  our  legislature  wearing  the  brass  collars  of  the  great  railroad 
corporation,  you  will  see  just  such  men  wear  the  brass  collars  of  the 
great  monied  mining  corporations."  Brown  looked  forward  to 
having  the  coal  industry  produce  $100,000  annually  in  revenue, 
almost  enough  to  pay  expenses  of  the  state  government.  He 
warned  that  without  such  a  tax  little  would  be  collected  from  the 
land  before  its  wealth  was  exhausted  "and  you  have  nothing  left 
but  a  howling  wilderness." 

Palmer  of  Sweetwater  County  warned  that  Uinta,  Sweetwater 
and  Carbon  Counties  would  not  support  the  Constitution  if  a 
tonnage  tax  on  coal  was  included.  The  controversial  production 
tax  on  minerals  was  left  to  the  Legislature.     Many  years  later. 


22  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

speaking  to  a  group  of  Cheyenne  pioneers  on  "Constitution  Mak- 
ing," M.  C.  Brown  declared  that  "the  most  serious  mistake  in  our 
Constitution  was  lack  of  legislation,  failure  to  fix  a  tonnage  tax 
upon  the  output  of  coal  mined  in  our  State  being  perhaps  one  of 
the  gravest  omissions/' 

The  Territorial  Legislature  had  already  located  several  institu- 
tions. Most  of  the  convention  delegates,  however,  were  unwilling 
to  locate  the  institutions  permanently  by  constitutional  provision. 
Although  Evanston  had  one  of  the  institutions,  Clarence  D.  Clark 
of  that  city  opposed  the  permanent  location  of  any  public  building 
or  institution  "in  any  one  place."  Coffeen  of  Sheridan  was  con- 
cerned not  to  locate  the  University  permanently.  Brown  of  Lara- 
mie objected  to  what  he  considered  an  attempt  to  put  "the  Uni- 
versity on  wheels,  to  be  wheeled  around  anywhere  they  may 
please  at  any  time."  He  would  accept  location  of  the  institutions 
for  a  term  of  years,  but  did  not  want  the  Legislature  free  to  relocate 
them  at  any  time,  as  dictated  by  logrolling.  He  offered  the  opinion 
that  "there  has  been  more  corruption  in  legislation,  more  corrupt 
trades,  more  infamous  deals  instituted  in  legislative  bodies  on  the 
location  of  these  public  institutions  than  has  ever  occurred  in  the 
legislature  in  any  other  way."  Preston  of  Lander  thought  it  "a 
good  idea  to  put  these  buildings  on  wheels.  When  we  become  a 
state  we  want  to  wheel  them  up  into  the  central  part  of  the  state." 

Riner  suggested  that  other  constitutions  generally  located  insti- 
tutions for  a  term  of  years,  after  which  they  might  be  changed  by 
vote  of  the  people.  He  doubted  that  the  University  would  ever  be 
moved,  but  he  felt  that  it  would  be  wrong  to  locate  any  public 
institution  except  for  a  term  of  years.  His  views  prevailed,  and  the 
convention  placed  in  the  Constitution  the  provision  that  institutions 
should  be  located  permanently  by  popular  vote  after  ten  years. 

What  little  originality  there  is  in  Wyoming's  Constitution  is 
mainly  concentrated  in  Article  VIII  (Irrigation  and  Water  Rights). 
This  article  comprises  only  five  short  sections: 

SECTION  1 .  The  water  of  all  natural  streams,  springs,  lakes  or 
other  collections  of  still  water,  within  the  boundaries  of  the  State, 
are  hereby  declared  to  be  the  property  of  the  State. 

SECTION  2.  There  shall  be  constituted  a  board  of  control,  to 
be  composed  of  the  State  engineer  and  superintendents  of  the 
water  divisions;  which  shall,  under  such  regulations  as  may  be 
prescribed  by  law,  have  the  supervision  of  the  waters  of  the  State 
and  of  their  appropriation,  distribution  and  diversion,  and  of  the 
various  officers  connected  therewith.  Its  decisions  to  be  subject 
to  review  by  the  Courts  of  the  State. 

SECTION  3.  Priority  of  appropriation  for  beneficial  uses  shall 
give  the  better  right.  No  appropriation  shall  be  denied  except 
when  such  denial  is  demanded  by  the  public  interests. 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  23 

SECTION  4.  The  legislature  shall  by  law  divide  the  State  into 
four  (4)  water  divisions,  and  provide  for  the  appointment  of 
superintendents  thereof. 

SECTION  5.  There  shall  be  a  State  engineer  who  shall  be 
appointed  by  the  governor  of  the  State  and  confirmed  by  the 
senate;  he  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  six  (6)  years,  or 
until  his  successor  shall  have  been  appointed  and  shall  have 
qualified.  He  shall  be  president  of  the  board  of  control,  and 
shall  have  general  supervision  of  the  waters  of  the  State  and  of 
the  officers  connected  with  its  distribution.  No  person  shall  be 
appointed  to  this  position  who  has  not  such  theoretical  knowl- 
edge and  such  practical  experience  and  skill  as  shall  fit  him  for 
the  position. 

Wyoming  did  not  originate  the  idea  of  recognizing  water  rights 
according  to  priority  of  appropriation  for  beneficial  use.  Cali- 
fornia and  Colorado  had  pioneered  in  breaking  with  the  English 
common  law  of  waters,  which  gave  all  who  had  land  along  a  stream 
the  rights  to  a  "full  and  undiminished  flow."  Earlier  still,  appro- 
priations had  been  permitted  under  Mexican  sovereignty.  Wyo- 
ming's major  contribution  lay  in  adopting  a  complete  system  for 
state  control  of  water.  Wyoming's  achievement  was  such  that 
William  E.  Smythe  wrote  in  1900  in  his  Conquest  of  Arid  America: 
"It  [Wyoming]  is  recognized  as  the  law-giver  of  the  arid  region. 
It  is  the  State  which  has  contributed  most  to  the  working  out  of  the 
legal  institutions  on  which  our  great  future  civilization  will  rest 
throughout  western  America.  In  this  respect  its  position  of  lead- 
ership is  alike  unapproached  and  unchallenged." 

Smythe's  high  praise  for  Wyoming's  part  in  water  law  needs 
qualification.  Later  studies  show  that  Wyoming  shares  with 
Colorado  the  leadership  in  working  out  the  procedures  which  have 
been  copied  by  other  Western  states.^ 

Three  men  were  mainly  responsible  for  drawing  up  Article 
VIII — Elwood  Mead,  Territorial  engineer,  and  two  convention 
members,  J.  A.  Johnston,  Laramie  County  farmer,  and  Charles  H. 
Burritt,  Johnson  County  lawyer. 

Mead,  who  had  come  to  Wyoming  in  1888  as  the  first  Territorial 
engineer,  had  learned  quickly  the  deficiencies  of  existing  water 
laws.  By  the  time  of  the  constitutional  convention  he  knew  what 
reforms  he  would  like  to  institute.  Johnston  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  irrigation  and  water  rights.  Burritt  was  an  extra- 
ordinarily effective  spokesman  for  the  committee  in  convention 


6.  Cf.  particularly  Wells  A.  Hutchins,  Selected  Problems  in  the  Law  of 
Water  Rights  in  the  West  (Washington,  1942),  pp.  64-109. 


24  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

debate.  When  their  report  first  reached  the  convention  floor, 
Burritt  made  a  claim,  unique  in  the  debates,  that  the  report  "In 
some  respects  ...  is  radical  and  different  from  anything  that  any 
state  or  territory  in  the  union  now  has." 

Conaway  stated  that  others  must  have  thought  when  he  said, 
apropos  the  claim  that  all  water  belongs  to  the  state:  "We  may  be 
claiming  more  than  we  are  rightly  and  legally  entitled  to."  He 
added:  "I  suppose  it  is  true  .  .  .  that  we  cannot  lose  anything  by 
claiming  too  much." 

Burritt  read  from  a  Mead  report  to  illustrate  some  of  the  evils  of 
the  Territorial  irrigation  system.  The  district  court,  for  example, 
had  allowed  the  Carey  Horse  Creek  ditch  No.  8  to  take  twenty 
cubic  feet  of  water  for  190  acres  when  one  cubic  foot  was  adequate 
for  50  or  60  acres. 

There  was  much  discussion  about  whether  appropriation  meant 
diverting  water  from  a  stream,  the  beginning  of  work  to  divert  the 
water,  or  the  appUcation  of  water  to  land.  President  Brown  in 
support  of  Burritt  argued  that  the  definition  of  appropriation 
should  be  left  to  the  courts. 

President  Brown  thought  the  right  acquired  by  appropriation 
should  be  qualified  or  limited  in  some  way.  Elliott  agreed  and 
moved  an  amendment  that  after  "Priority  of  appropriation  shall 
give  the  better  right,"  should  be  added  "but  shall  not  be  conclusive 
in  determining  the  better  right."  His  amendment  was  lost,  13-19. 
When  a  further  assault  was  made  on  the  right  of  appropriation, 
Burritt  pleaded  eloquently  for  its  retention.  President  Brown,  who 
was  not  convinced,  insisted  that  it  was  contradictory  to  say  first 
that  the  state  owns  the  water  and  then  that  priority  of  appropriation 
shall  give  the  better  right.  Brown  on  the  final  vote  could  get  only 
one  supporter,  Smith  of  Carbon  County. 

On  the  24th  day  John  W.  Hoyt  offered  a  proposition  which 
caused  the  last  significant  split  in  the  convention.  He  moved  that 
"The  legislature  shall  make  such  provision  by  law  as  shall  be  cal- 
culated to  secure  the  best  faithful  service  for  all  minor  places  in  the 
state,  county  and  municipal  government,  regardless  of  considera- 
tions purely  political."  Hoyt  explained  that  he  had  no  connection 
with  the  civil  service  reform  movement  but  was  merely  interested  in 
securing  the  best  public  service  possible.  C.  D.  Clark  rose  to 
describe  civil  service  reform  as  "a  delusion  and  a  snare,  a  lot  of 
political  clap  trap  which  does  not  accomplish  the  end  sought  at  all." 
Burritt  said  "amen."  Sutherland  chimed  in  that  civil  service  was 
"one  of  the  greatest  frauds  that  ever  was."  Even  when  a  pretense 
was  made  of  finding  the  "best"  man,  he  noticed  that  he  "is  always 
the  man  who  had  the  boodle."  "I  am  a  mugwump  and  am  proud 
of  it,"  injected  Teschemacher.  He  alone  supported  Hoyt  in  debate, 
although  when  it  came  to  a  vote  the  proposal  was  defeated  only 
21-11. 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  25 

THE  CONSTITUTION  IS  APPROVED. 

On  the  25th  day  on  a  roll  call  vote  the  Constitution  was  adopted, 
37-0,  and  each  member  present  signed  the  document.^  The  Lara- 
mie County  delegation  that  night  was  host  to  the  other  members  of 
the  convention  at  a  banquet  at  the  Cheyenne  Club,  after  which  the 
members  dispersed  to  their  homes.  Aided  by  an  "Address  to  the 
People,"  which  had  been  prepared  by  a  convention  committee, 
they  undertook  to  win  popular  approval  for  the  Constitution. 

At  a  special  election  on  November  5,  1889,  the  electorate  ap- 
proved the  Constitution  by  a  vote  of  6,272  to  1,923.  It  was  a 
disappointingly  small  turnout  considering  that  at  the  general  elec- 
tion the  year  before  18,008  votes  had  been  cast.  Sheridan  County 
voted  against  the  Constitution,  Johnson  County  favored  it  by  a 
majority  of  only  44  votes,  and  Fremont  County  was  less  than 
enthusiastic,  but  the  other  seven  counties  supported  the  document, 
two-to-one  or  better. 

Following  the  ratification  a  convention  committee  presented  a 
memorial  to  Congress,  "Praying  for  the  Admission  of  Wyoming 
into  the  Union  of  States."  Delegate  Joseph  M.  Carey  then  intro- 
duced a  Wyoming  statehood  bill  in  the  House  of  Representatives, 
and  others  introduced  two  omnibus  bills  including  Wyoming. 

While  they  waited  for  Congress  to  act  on  their  request  for  state- 
hood, the  people  of  Wyoming  watched  their  last  Territorial  Legis- 
lature, which  assembled  in  January,  1890,  engage  in  a  slugfest 
such  as  occurs  occasionally  when  the  Senate  is  at  odds  with  the 
Governor.  The  voters  in  November,  1888,  had  returned  a  Repub- 
lican House  (17-6)  and  a  Democratic  Senate  (7-5).  The  mem- 
bers were  handicapped  by  lack  of  experience.  Territorial  legis- 
lators rarely  sought  re-election,  finding  their  service  poorly  paid 
and  thankless,  and  finding  it  hard  to  spare  the  time  from  their 
occupations.  Only  four  of  the  legislators  who  met  in  January, 
1890,  had  been  members  before:  R.  M.  Galbraith  and  Alexander 
H.  Reel  in  the  Council,  and  Thomas  B.  Adams  and  Stephen  W. 
Downey  in  the  House. 

The  new  wings  on  the  capitol  building  were  ready  for  occupancy, 
so  there  was  no  space  problem.  Governor  Warren's  10,000-word 
message  was  comprehensive  and  discreetly  cautious  in  view  of  the 
Democratic  Council.  The  Leader  described  the  message  as 
"absolutely  colorless"  and  lacking  in  leadership  and  said:  "When 
he  ventures  an  inch  beyond  absolutely  safe  grounds  he  makes  use 
of  recommendations  in  the  reports  of  territorial  officials  ...  or  to 
work  of  the  constitutional  convention." 

As  usual,  livestock  men  were  prominent  in  the  1890  Legislature. 


7.  The  original  copy  of  the  Constitution  is  preserved  in  the  Wyoming 
State  Museum,  Cheyenne. 


26  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

The  Cheyenne  Sun  counted  five  stock  raisers  in  the  Council  and 
nine  in  the  House.  W.  Turrentine  Jackson  has  counted  eight  mem- 
bers of  the  Wyoming  Stock  Growers  Association  among  the  12 
members  of  the  Council  (although  three  of  the  eight  were  not  active 
ranchers).  The  stock  interests  overcame  an  effort  in  the  House 
to  do  away  with  the  Board  of  Live  Stock  Commissioners,  and  were 
able  to  push  through  a  $10,000  appropriation  in  aid  of  the  stock 
commission's  work.  House  member  Thomas  B.  Adams,  secretary 
of  the  Wyoming  Stock  Growers  Association,  represented  the  cattle- 
men effectively. 

"The  watchword  of  the  legislature  should  be  Retrenchment." 
said  the  Leader,  and  it  was.  The  1886  and  1888  Legislatures  had 
spent  so  much  for  institutions  that  the  bonded  debt  was  at  the  limit 
of  $320,000,  and  the  property  tax  had  been  pushed  up  to  six  mills. 
Economic  conditions  were  not  good,  and  few  people  would  approve 
a  higher  mill  levy.  The  Legislature  did  no  more  than  the  absolute 
minimum  for  the  institutions.  To  complete  the  $100,000  peni- 
tentiary buildings  at  Rawlins,  $70,000  was  required,  but  nothing 
was  appropriated  (the  federal  penitentiary  at  Laramie  was  still 
adequate).  Small  wonder  that  Johnson  County's  request  for  a 
college  of  agriculture,  Crook  County's  request  for  a  normal  school, 
and  Sweetwater's  request  for  a  hospital  were  all  turned  down. 

The  Democratic  majority  in  the  Council  treated  Governor  War- 
ren much  as  the  Republican  majority  in  the  Council  had  treated 
Governor  Moonlight  two  years  earlier.  The  Council  refused  to 
approve  several  of  Warren's  appointments.  It  was  contended  that 
the  incumbent  Democratic  auditor  and  treasurer  should  be  reap- 
pointed since  it  seemed  unwise  to  replace  them  with  inexperienced 
men  for  only  a  few  months  of  service,  statehood  being  expected 
very  soon.  To  climax  their  battle  with  the  Governor,  the  Demo- 
crats in  the  Council  balked  at  a  $1,200  contingent  fund  item  for 
the  Governor  and  a  $600  item  for  the  Secretary  of  the  Territory. 
Reconciliation  was  impossible — the  two  houses  could  not  get 
together — and  the  Legislature  adjourned  without  approving  the 
$49,939.20  general  appropriation  bill. 

One  noteworthy  piece  of  legislation  came  out  of  the  session — the 
Australian  ballot  was  adopted.  There  had  been  so  much  discus- 
sion of  voting  abuses  in  the  past  year,  in  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion and  elsewhere,  that  the  secret  ballot,  which  had  been  gaining 
favor  in  the  East,  was  instituted. 

Within  two  weeks  after  the  Legislature  adjourned  Delegate 
Joseph  M.  Carey  began  his  battle  for  statehood  on  the  floor  of  the 
U.  S.  House  of  Representatives.  On  March  26,  1890,  he  talked  at 
great  length  in  support  of  his  bill.'^    He  declared  that  Wyoming  had 


8.  This  speech  is  quoted  in  full  in  Marie  H.  Erwin,  Wyoming  Historical 
Blue  Book,  pp.  663-703. 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  27 

10,000,000-12,000,000  acres  of  "irrigable  land"  and  was  "rich 
in  agricultural  possibilities."  With  respect  to  minerals  he  asserted 
that  Wyoming  was  "unsurpassed"  and  was  "one  of  nature's  great 
storehouses."  He  dwelt  at  length  on  grazing  development,  forest 
resources,  educational  leadership,  splendid  institutions,  significant 
postal  statistics,  widespread  railway  construction,  the  "model" 
Constitution  and  the  unique  place  of  women. 

As  expected,  there  was  skepticism  about  th^  Territory's  popula- 
tion. Governor  Moonlight  in  December,  1888,  had  estimated  the 
population  to  be  only  55,500,  and  Governors'  estimates  were  usual- 
ly optimistic.  In  answer  to  a  direct  question  on  the  subject  Carey 
placed  the  population  between  110,000  and  125,000,  twice  as 
great  as  the  federal  Census  a  few  months  later  would  find  it  to  be. 
The  small  vote  in  ratification  of  the  Constitution,  he  explained  by 
saying  that  no  effort  was  made  to  get  out  the  vote,  and  that  "The 
universal  exclamation  in  Wyoming  was  that  day,  'Everybody  favors 
the  constitution,  and  what  is  the  use  of  voting.'  " 

The  House  of  Representatives  was  the  major  hurdle.  Member 
after  member  rose  to  complain  that  the  proceedings  leading  to  the 
constitutional  convention  had  been  irregular,  the  population  was 
too  small,  the  educational  qualification  for  voting  was  improper 
and  woman  suffrage  should  not  be  permitted.  The  Democrats  who 
raised  most  of  the  objections  probably  were  more  distressed  at  the 
prospect  of  another  Republican  state  than  they  were  about  woman 
suffrage,  but  with  Republicans  in  control  of  both  Houses  of  Con- 
gress it  would  hardly  do  to  argue  pubhcly  against  adding  a  Repub- 
lican state.  So  they  talked  unconvincingly  about  the  evils  of 
woman  suffrage. 

When  Wyoming  statehood  passed  the  House  on  March  26, 
1890,  by  a  vote  of  139-127,  victory  was  virtually  assured.  News 
of  the  House  action  reached  Wyoming  the  next  day  and  brought 
a  great  outburst  of  cheering  in  Wyoming  towns.  Church  bells, 
train  whistles,  firebells,  cowbells  and  trumpets  sounded  in  Chey- 
enne. All  the  bunting  in  town  was  displayed.  A  spontaneous 
parade  of  men  and  women  marched  to  Governor  Warren's  place  of 
business  and  obtained  comments  from  him.  He  congratulated  the 
people,  especially  the  ladies.  That  evening  a  huge  bonfire  of  pack- 
ing boxes  blazed  at  the  comer  of  17th  and  Ferguson  (Carey),  after 
which  a  crowd  filled  the  opera  house  to  hear  speeches.  George  W. 
Baxter  explained:  "It  means  the  dawning  of  a  brighter  day,  the 
beginning  of  an  era  of  unparalleled  prosperity.  ...  A  tide  of  immi- 
gration will  set  in.  Capital  will  come.  .  .  ."  Governor  Warren 
assured  Wyoming  citizens  that  the  U.  S.  Senate  would  act  within 
ten  days.  Three  months  later  on  June  27  the  Senate  voted  for 
statehood,  29-18,  after  listening  to  objections  from  several  Demo- 
crats who  gave  special  attention  to  the  population  question  and 


28  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

woman  suffrage.    Again  there  was  an  impromptu  parade  in  Chey- 
enne, with  "Clanging  Bells,  Shrieking  Whistles,  Incessant  Yelling." 

President  Benjamin  Harrison  signed  the  statehood  bill  on  July 
10,  1890,  thus  setting  off  a  third  celebration  the  following  day.  A 
drizzle  dampened  spirits  in  Cheyenne  but  there  were  the  usual 
bells  and  whistles,  accompanied  this  time  by  firecrackers  and 
bombs,  "and  the  yelling  was  ear  splitting  and  incessant."  A  44-gun 
salute  was  fired  in  Laramie,  cannon  boomed  in  Rock  Springs, 
Douglas  celebrated  "Louder  than  ever."  A  dispatch  from  Rawlins 
announced  that  "Rawlins  Town  is  wild,"  and  another  from  Buffalo 
said  that  "the  great  north  is  delighted." 

The  fourth  and  official  celebration  of  statehood  occurred  in 
Cheyenne  on  July  23.  Committees,  with  state-wide  representa- 
tion, had  begun  preparations  in  March  for  a  formal  observance  as 
soon  as  possible  after  the  President's  signature.  The  formal 
observance,  though  attended  by  upwards  of  5,000  people,  lacked 
the  spontaneity  and  wild  shrieking  of  the  first  three  celebrations. 
There  was  a  two-mile  parade  featuring  troops  and  two  bands  (Fort 
Russell  and  Union  Pacific).  There  were  many  carriages  and 
floats.  On  one  large  float  rode  42  young  women  representing  the 
older  states.  This  float  was  followed  closely  by  a  small  carriage  in 
which  rode  three  little  girls  representing  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  the 
state  of  Idaho  (admitted  July  3  )  and  the  state  of  Wyoming.  A  fat 
boy  in  a  buggy  advertised  that  he  ate  ice  cream,  fruit  and  candy  at 
Mrs.  Robinson's  parlors.  A  "generous  looking  cow"  represented 
the  dairy  where  she  worked,  and  a  fat  steer,  properly  placarded, 
represented  a  livestock  commission  house.  The  parade  led  to  the 
capitol  in  front  of  which  a  large  throng  had  gathered  for  the  prin- 
cipal program  of  the  day. 

Mrs.  Theresa  A.  Jenkins  offered  the  first  speech,  a  review  of  the 
struggle  for  woman  suffrage.  The  Leader  avowed  the  next  day 
that  her  address  was  the  most  forceful  and  eloquent  of  the  day, 
although  conceding  that  at  one  point  she  was  carried  away  by  a 
"fairest  and  rarest  flight  of  oratory."  Fifty  years  later  Mrs.  Jen- 
kins' daughter  recalled  for  the  Wyoming  State  Tribune  that  her 
mother  had  been  heard  by  everyone  in  the  audience,  which  extend- 
ed to  a  point  four  blocks  away,  because  she  had  practiced  on  the 
open  prairie,  with  her  husband  in  a  buggy  riding  off  to  greater  and 
greater  distances  and  shouting  back  at  intervals  "Louder." 

After  Mrs.  Jenkins'  address,  Mrs.  Esther  Morris  presented  to 
Governor  Warren  a  44-star  silk  flag  purchased  by  women  of  the 
state.  Mrs.  Morris  made  no  attempt  at  an  address,  speaking  only 
two  sentences.  Then,  after  a  44-gun  salute,  Mrs.  I.  S.  Bartlett 
read  an  original  poem,  "The  True  Republic,"  the  last  four  lines  of 
which  ran  as  follows: 


WYOMING  STATEHOOD  29 

Let  the  bells  ring  out  more  loudly  and  the  deep-toned  cannon 

roar 
Giving  voice  to  our  thanksgiving,  such  as  never  rose  before. 
For  we  tread  enchanted  ground  today,  we're  glorious,  proud 

and  great; 
Our  independence  day  has  come — Wyoming  is  a  State! 

After  these  stirring  sentiments  Melville  C.  Brown,  president  of 
the  constitutional  convention,  presented  Mrs.  Amelia  B.  Post, 
"representative  woman  of  Wyoming,"  with  a  copy  of  the  State 
Constitution. 

The  afternoon  program  ended  with  the  oration  of  the  day  by 
Clarence  D.  Clark,  Evanston  attorney,  who  had  been  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  constitutional  convention,  and  who  later  would  serve 
as  United  States  Senator.  Clark  seems  to  have  been  a  substitute 
for  Joseph  M.  Carey  who  could  not  be  present.  That  evening  there 
was  a  fireworks  display  and  a  grand  ball  in  the  capitol  building. 

What  may  be  regarded  as  a  fifth  celebration  of  statehood  took 
place  three  days  later  when  Joseph  M.  Carey  and  his  family  arrived 
from  Washington.  Again  there  was  a  parade,  music  and  a  speech, 
followed,  said  the  Leader,  by  a  Republican  caucus  in  Hoffman 
Brothers'  saloon.  No  doubt  Republican  politicians  assembled  in 
some  convenient  meeting  place,  for  they  needed  to  complete  their 
plans  for  the  state's  first  election,  which  was  little  more  than  six 
weeks  away.^ 


9.  One  prominent  Republican,  W.  W.  Corlett,  could  take  no  part  in  the 
Republican  caucus  for  he  had  died  at  the  age  of  48  on  July  22,  1890.  Since 
his  arrival  in  Cheyenne  in  1867,  he  had  become  one  of  the  Territory's  out- 
standing lawyers,  being  referred  to  on  occasion  as  "the  ablest  lawyer  in  all 
the  west,"  and  the  "dean  of  the  Wyoming  bar."  He  was  elected  Delegate  to 
Congress  (Republican)  in  1876.  After  serving  one  term  he  dechned  to  be  a 
candidate  for  re-election  in  1878,  and  also  turned  down  an  offer  of  appoint- 
ment as  chief  justice  of  the  Territory  in  1879. 

Along  with  a  good  many  other  Republicans  in  other  parts  of  the  country 
he  could  not  stand  the  Republican  Presidential  candidate  in  1884 — the  cor- 
rupt James  G.  Blaine.  He  turned  Mugwump  and  made  a  few  speeches  in 
support  of  Blaine's  opponent.  Democratic  Grover  Cleveland.  Later,  in  1889 
when  President  Benjamin  Harrison,  at  the  instigation  of  Joseph  M.  Carey, 
was  about  to  appoint  Corlett  chief  justice  of  the  Territory,  W.  W.  Peck 
settled  an  old  score  by  directing  Harrison's  attention  to  Corlett's  behavior  in 
1884.  This  made  Corlett  unacceptable  to  Harrison,  who  gave  the  judgeship 
to  Carey's  second  choice,  Willis  Van  Devanter. 

The  premature  passing  of  Corlett  cost  Wyoming  the  services  of  an  out- 
standing leader.  Upon  his  death  it  was  said  that  he  had  been  too  honest  and 
independent  for  the  requirements  of  politics. 


Qirl  MUitla  of  Wyoming 


This  photograph  of  Company  "H"  of  the  Wyoming  State  Guard 
was  taken  on  the  steps  of  the  State  Capitol  Building  on  July  23, 
1890. 

Company  "H"  of  the  Girl  Militia  was  actually  mustered  into  the 
United  States  Army  for  the  Wyoming  Statehood  celebration: 
they  were  disbanded  after  the  celebration  was  over.  They  were 
drilled  for  two  months,  their  drill  masters  being  Lieutenants  Walker 
and  Ruhlen  of  Fort  D.  A.  Russell,  now  Francis  E.  Warren  Air 
Force  Base. 

Company  "H",  Girl  Guards,  were  the  Guard  of  Honor  of  the 
State  car,  a  magnificent  float  carrying  young  girls  dressed  in  red, 
white  and  blue  representing  the  States  in  the  Union,  except  Wyo- 
ming and  Idaho,  which  were  just  being  admitted  as  states. 

The  members  of  Company  "H"  had  an  entertainment  and  dance 
to  raise  funds  for  their  uniforms  which  were  of  black  broadcloth 
with  gold  cord  draped  in  front.  The  cap  was  the  regulation 
fatigue  cap;  they  wore  white  gloves. 

Members  of  Company  "H"  appearing  in  the  picture  were:  ( 1 ) 
Hattie  Argesheimer,  Captain;  (2)  Emma  Schilling,  1st  Sergeant; 
(3)  Minnie  Gape;  (4)  Gertrude  Douglas;  (5)  Jennie  Tupper; 
(6)  Mamie  Thompson;  (7)  Mabel  Tupper;  (8)  Levina  Granger; 
(9)  Bertha  Wedemeyer;  (10)  Mattie  Thompson;  (11)  Mamie  L. 
Layden;  (12)  Gretchen  Hermann;  (13)  Marcelline  Rouleau;  (14) 
May  Oakley;  (15)  Minnie  Thompson;  (16)  Maude  Post;  (17) 
Adah  Haygood,  2nd  Sergeant;  (18)  Maria  Wedemeyer;  (19)  Hel- 
en Fumess,  Lieutenant.    Not  pictured  was  Kittie  Gordon. 

The  original  picture  is  in  the  files  of  the  Wyoming  State  Archives 
and  Historical  Department,  Cheyenne.  No  photograph  of  Com- 
pany "K"  has  been  located  to  date. 

According  to  the  program  of  the  Statehood  Celebration  two 
companies  of  Girl  Guards,  "H"  and  "K"  took  part.  In  the  parade 
Company  "K"  marched  as  Guard  of  Honor  to  the  State  Flag. 
Members  were:  Emma  O'Brien,  Captain;  Gertrude  Morgan,  1st 
Lieutenant;  Kate  Kelly,  2nd  Lieutenant;  Bertha  Spoor,  Margaret 
Cahill,  Alwenie  Gloye,  lona  Davis,  Eva  Smalley,  Jessie  Recker, 
Belle  Smalley,  Sadie  Bristol,  Ada  Johnston,  Margaret  Moore, 
Carrie  Ingraham,  Edna  Wilseck,  Clara  Newman,  Bessie  Vreeland, 
Jessie  Lee,  Mamie  Goetz,  Mina  McGregor,  Isabelle  Montgomery, 
Ora  Cowhick,  Vilette  Houghton,  Josie  Newman,  Leah  Ringolsky, 
Florence  Bradley  and  Effie  Vreeland. 


Sfccerpts  from 
Zhe  Cheyenm  Daily  Sun 

The  five  separate  celebrations  of  Wyoming  statehood,  mentioned  in  the 
preceding  article  by  Dr.  T.  A.  Larson,  were  given  full  and  enthusiastic 
coverage  by  the  press,  and  The  Cheyenne  Daily  Sun,  edited  by  E.  A.  Slack, 
was  representative  of  the  newspapers  of  the  state.  Selected  excerpts  from 
the  issues  of  March  28,  June  28,  July  11,  July  24  and  July  27  are  reprinted 
verbatim  on  the  following  pages. 

Although  Wyoming  became  the  forty-fourth  state,  the  reader  will  note 
references  to  the  "forty-third  state"  and  a  forty-three  gun  salute  in  the  stories 
written  in  March  and  June.  This  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  Territory 
of  Idaho  was  being  considered  for  statehood  at  the  same  time,  and  Wyo- 
mingites  anticipated  that  when  the  U.  S.  Congress  approved  Wyoming's 
statehood,  it  would  be  the  forty-third  state.  However,  Idaho  was  granted 
statehood  on  July  3,  1890,  becoming  the  forty-third  state  in  the  Union,  and 
statehood  for  Wyoming  was  granted  on  July  10. 

THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Friday,  March  28,  1890 

WYOMING 


Now  Certain  to  Be  Admitted  as  a 
State. 


"Westward  the  Star  of  the  Empire 
Wends  its  Way. 


How  the  News  was  Received  by 
Cheyenne  People. 


EVERYBODY  WILD  WITH  DELIGHT 


A  Grand  Jollification  Held  to  Cele- 
brate the  Event. 


The  Booming  of  Cannon  and  Re- 
ports of  Guns 


Start  the  People  in  Their  Patriotic 
Fun. 


"The  Sun,"  as  Usual,  has  a  Scoop  on 
the  News. 


34  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Hark!    What  the  sounds  that  shake  old  mother  earth? 
Lo,  'tis  the  people's  patriotic  mirth! 
Another  child  of  freedom  has  had  birth. 

Another  star  the  light  of  life  doth  fling; 
Another  feather  plumes  the  eagle's  wing! 
It  is  the  new  state  of  Wyoming. 

To  liberty  another  portal  opes, 

Woman  no  more  in  semi  bondage  gropes; 

She  rises  now  to  realize  her  hopes. 

See!    Uncle  Sam  is  boyish  in  his  pride; 
His  head  is  higher,  longer  is  his  stride 
For  he  has  won  to-day  a  blooming  bride. 

J.  G.  B. 

Cheyenne  Wyo.,  March  27,  1890 

Wyoming's  admittance  to  the  sisterhood  of  states  is  now  an  as- 
sured fact.  This  information  was  given  to  the  people  of  Cheyenne 
yesterday  afternoon  exclusively  by  THE  SUN.  The  appearance 
on  the  streets  of  THE  SUN  EXTRA  a  few  minutes  after  the  bill 
was  passed  in  Washington  showed  a  spirit  of  enterprise  on  the  part 
of  THE  SUN  that  was  in  keeping  with  its  usual  course.  When 
news  of  this  character  is  generally  announced  verbally  there  is  a 
feeling  of  distrust  as  to  its  genuineness,  but  there  was  never  a 
question  asked  as  to  the  facts  when  they  appeared  in  the  manner 
they  did.  Early  in  the  morning  some  persons  started  the  false 
report  that  thirty  republicans  had  voted  against  the  bill  and 
defeated  it.  This  report  did  not  find  many  believers  but  still  it 
made  people  cautious.  This  caution  was  like  confining  constantly 
generating  steam  in  a  boiler  and  when  THE  SUN  EXTRA  ap- 
peared the  fun  began. 

When  the  glorious  news  was  exclusively  received  by  the  editor 
of  THE  SUN  he  immediately  rushed  out  a  "SUN  EXTRA"  giving 
the  full  text  of  the  telegram.  This  fell  upon  the  city  like  a  match 
in  a  keg  of  powder.  People  began  rushing  around  the  streets 
shouting  the  glad  tidings  and  congratulating  every  person  within 
reach.  The  remark  had  frequently  been  made  that  there  was  a 
luke-warm  feeling  in  regard  to  statehood  among  our  citizens,  but 
the  scenes  on  Cheyenne's  streets  yesterday  were  enough  to  convince 
even  McAdoo,  of  New  Jersey,  that  Cheyenne  people  did  not  lack  in 
patriotism. 

In  th  vicinity  of  Mayor  Riner's  office  the  crowds  seemed  to 
concentrate  and  with  one  impulse  started  out  to  make  a  grand 
demonstration  and  give  vent  to  their  feelings. 

The  new  Union  Pacific  band  was  sent  for  to  appear  in  full 
uniform  and  a  raid  was  inaugurated  on  the  stores  where  flags  were 
on  sale.     The  stocks  of  these  goods  were  soon  exhausted  and  a 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         35 

general  hunt  was  instituted  for  flags  and  everything  else  patriotic. 
From  every  housetop  and  every  flagstaff  the  emblems  of  freedom 
vv'ere  profusely  displayed,  the  majority  having  forty-three  stars,  the 
extra  one  being  the  largest  and  brightest. 

Business  had  been  pretty  generally  suspended  and  everybody 
turned  out  on  the  streets  with  a  No.  43  smile  and  looking  for  some 
means  to  make  a  louder  noise  than  his  neighbor. 

Everything  was  decorated,  even  the  dogs.  Pete  Bergersen's  dog 
"Gunner"  came  walking  down  the  street  armed  with  a  large  flag. 
B.  B.  David's  dog  was  decorated  with  red  shields  and  large  stars. 
The  engines  which  pulled  out  the  west  bound  train  were  covered 
with  flags. 

In  the  meantime  the  bell  on  the  First  Presbyterian  church  had 
been  ringing  and  was  followed  by  the  fire  alarm  and  all  the  steam 
whistles  around  the  railroad.  The  sound  at  this  time  was  further 
increased  by  the  explosion  of  pack  after  pack  of  firecrackers  and 
the  sharp  reports  of  shotguns  and  rifles.  Some  of  the  militia  boys 
got  out  their  rifles  and  began  using  up  blank  cartridges.  Captain 
Nick  O'Brien,  who  fired  a  salute  when  Wyoming  was  admitted  as  a 
territory,  sent  out  to  Camp  Carlin  for  two  cannon  with  forty-three 
rounds  of  amunition.  These  quickly  arrived  and  were  mounted  in 
the  vacant  lot  opposite  Library  hall.  Then  the  heavy  artillery 
opened  its  part  in  the  engagement  and  sent  roar  after  roar  to  the 
skies. 

When  the  band  was  finally  secured  a  line  of  march  was  formed, 
headed  by  A.  R.  Whiteley  and  H.  S.  Rush,  carrying  a  large  stuffed 
eagle  bearing  the  legends,  "Uncle  Sam's  New  Daughter"  and 
"Wyoming,  the  forty-third  state  of  the  union."  Then  came  an 
immense  flag  in  charge  of  Messrs.  Birmingham,  Kepler  and  Buck- 
waiter  of  THE  SUN.  Under  the  flag  were  hundreds  of  small  boys 
with  tin  horns  and  other  instruments  capable  of  generating  a  large 
amount  of  noise.  Then  came  the  band  headed  by  Gus.  Jenkins. 
A  number  of  the  ladies  prominent  in  the  suffrage  movement  fol- 
lowed the  band.  They  in  turn  were  followed  by  the  Cheyenne  gun 
club  in  full  uniform,  who  kept  up  a  continuous  fusillade.  After  the 
gun  club  came  a  long  string  of  citizens  carrying  flags,  brooms,  etc. 

The  hne  of  March  was  taken  up  to  the  residence  of  Hon.  J.  M. 
Carey,  where  Postmaster  Masi  made  a  short  speech  apolizing  for 
the  absence  of  Mr.  Carey.  Hon.  T.  B.  Adams  was  loudly  called  for 
but  was  unable  to  respond,  owing  to  the  condition  of  his  voice, 
caused  by  celebrating. 

After  three  cheers  for  Mr.  Carey,  the  line  of  march  was  then 
taken  up  toward  Governor  Warren's  office.  Here  a  halt  was  made 
and  Mr.  Warren  loudly  called  for.  A  loud  shout  and  a  deafening 
volley  from  the  gun  club  greeted  his  appearance.  Governor  War- 
ren was  introduced  to  the  audience  as  "governor  of  the  state  of 
Wyoming"  and  in  very  few  words  expressed  his  joy  at  being  able 


36  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

to  address  his  hearers  on  the  present  subject,  He  said  the  battle 
was  a  hard  one  but  was  won.  In  referring  to  the  suffrage  clause 
Governor  Warren  remarked  that  the  faces  of  the  ladies  had  been 
greatly  enlarged  since  the  receipt  of  the  good  news.  Governor 
Warren's  remarks  received  frequent  applause  and  upon  their  con- 
clusion he  was  roundly  cheered. 

Mr.  Masi  then  announced  that  a  meeting  would  be  held  in  the 
evening  and  the  crowds  dispersed. 

EVENING  FESTIVITIES. 

The  base  of  operations  for  the  evening's  campaign  was  at  Seven- 
teenth and  Ferguson  streets,  where  a  big  bonfire  was  started. 
Stretched  across  the  street  was  a  large  canvas  bearing  the  the  in- 
scription: "What's  the  matter  with  Carey?  The  state  of  Wyo- 
ming." The  crowds  began  to  assemble  early  in  the  evening  and 
toward  8  o'clock  there  was  such  a  dense  jam  of  people  there  that 
persons  could  move  only  with  difficulty.  A  few  minutes  after  8 
the  line  was  again  formed  and  was  headed  by  the  band,  followed  by 
Colonel  Stitzer  and  his  company  of  militia  who  carried  blank  cart- 
ridges. Then  came  a  delegation  of  citizens  wearing  silk  hats,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Cheyenne  gun  club  with  double-barreled  shot  guns 
and  blank  shells  loaded  by  Mr.  Bergason  [sic]  with  the  powder 
guaranteed  to  make  all  possible  noise.  After  them  came  the  main 
body  of  citizens. 

The  first  stop  was  made  in  front  of  the  Inter  Ocean  where  several 
volleys  were  fired  and  lots  of  cheering  indulged  in.  Then  a  move 
was  made  to  the  opera  house  corner  where  a  stand  was  made  and 
several  more  volleys  fired. 

The  opera  house  was  thrown  open  and  the  crowd  filed  in,  com- 
pletely filling  the  hall.  After  everybody  was  in  the  hall  who  could 
get  in,  the  band  rendered  a  selection.  Mr.  George  W.  Hoyt  was 
chosen  chairman  of  the  meeting  and  announced  the  name  of  Judge 
Van  Devanter  as  the  first  speaker.  The  judge  had  not  yet  reached 
the  hall  so  ex-Governor  Baxter  was  called  upon. 

Mr.  Baxter  said  he  could  see  good  humor  and  a  spirit  of  jollifi- 
cation on  the  faces  of  everybody  present  and  thought  this  a  most 
proper  occasion  for  jollification  and  earnestly  hoped  that  before  a 
month  all  the  formalities  necessary  to  admit  Wyoming  to  the  sister- 
hood of  states  would  be  complied  with  and  the  forty-third  star  be 
put  in  its  place  to  remain  forever.  The  admission  of  Wyoming,  he 
said,  meant  that  a  bright  day  had  dawned  for  Wyoming  and  also 
meant  that  all  the  latent  elements  of  wealth  in  this  territory  would 
be  developed  and  flourishing  towns  and  cities  would  be  established 
on  the  arid  plains. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  remarks  by  each  speaker,  the  band 
rendered  a  musical  selection.    Chairman  Hoyt  next  announced  the 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         37 

name  of  Attorney  General  Donzelman.  Mr.  Donzelman  in  open- 
ing his  remarks  said  that  this  was  an  eve  that  may  well  be  remem- 
bered by  the  people  of  the  territory  for  all  future  to  come,  in  view 
of  the  news  flashed  over  the  wires  that  the  house  had  passed  the 
bill  for  the  admission  of  Wyoming  by  a  partisan  vote.  We  may  all 
feel  very  proud  of  that  house.  By  the  law  of  congress,  after  the  bill 
passes  the  senate,  we  will  come  into  the  sisterhood  of  states  and 
enjoy  with  them  the  privileges  of  a  free  people  and  have  a  voice 
in  the  selection  of  a  president.  It  would  also  be  the  only  state  that 
had  received  recognition  from  congress  that  had  a  constitution 
under  which  the  female  residents  would  be  allowed  to  exercise 
the  rights  of  suffrage  as  well  as  the  men.  He  said  the  female  por- 
tion of  the  residents  of  Wyoming,  when  they  came  to  cast  their 
ballots,  should  not  forget  to  whom  they  owed  their  rights  and 
privileges.  He  hoped  that  the  good  work  of  Hon.  J.  M.  Carey 
would  go  on  and  receive  the  endorsement  of  the  senate. 

Gibson  Clark  was  proud  to  join  in  the  jollification,  for  a  day  of 
deliverance  had  come,  and  said  that  this  day  could  be  looked  upon 
in  the  future  by  the  people  of  Wyoming  as  the  day  of  independence. 
After  the  formal  admission  they  will  take  their  stand  among  the 
sovereign  people  of  the  earth  with  the  full  power  to  work  out  their 
own  destinies.  There  was  cause  for  congratulation  in  the  fact  that 
Wyoming  goes  into  the  union  of  states  with  a  constitution  formed 
by  her  own  people  and  which  could  only  be  changed  by  a  vote  of 
her  own  people.  He  was  proud  of  the  fact  that  the  suffrage  clause 
stamped  Wyoming  as  the  land  of  equality  and  there  was  no  dis- 
tinction made  in  the  exercise  of  any  civil  or  political  rights  between 
the  male  and  female  residents,  a  fact  which  could  not  be  said  of 
any  other  country  or  state  on  earth. 

General  J.  C.  Thompson  said  statehood  was  assured,  and  that 
the  vote  of  the  senate  would  be  practically  unanimous.  There  was, 
he  said,  magic  in  a  name.  The  name  of  the  State  of  Wyoming 
would  announce  to  the  world  the  existence  of  a  land  of  perfect 
equality  with  its  citizens  untrammelled  by  any  laws  in  the  exercise 
of  their  rights  as  free  Americans.  The  meeting,  he  said,  was 
entirely  non-partisan  and  it  was  a  matter  of  no  importance  how 
partisan  the  vote  was  which  admitted  Wyoming  to  the  galaxy  of 
states.  He  related  an  anecdote  to  explain  his  meaning  which  drew 
forth  considerable  applause.  The  speaker  then  tried  to  explain 
how  and  why  the  democrats  in  congress  had  fought  the  bill  and 
said  they  could  not  feel  as  we  did  our  rights  and  interests  and  did 
not  represent  the  feeling  of  the  democrats  of  the  territory.  He 
cautioned  his  hearers  to  remember  the  responsibilities  that  would 
rest  upon  them  upon  the  formal  admission  of  Wyoming  and  said 
that  in  the  hands  of  the  ladies  rested  the  great  responsibility  of 
seeing  that  we  have  pure  elections. 

Hon.  T.  B.  Adams  was  the  next  speaker.    He  said  he  had  been 


38  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

out  celebrating  with  the  boys  and  could  not  do  more  than  make  a 
few  brief  remarks.  He  thought  that  though  the  democrats  in  the 
house  had  vigorously  opposed  the  bill  they  would  come  to  their 
senses  before  the  bill  reached  the  senate.  He  said  he  was  not  afraid 
to  meet  the  democrats  in  a  fair  and  square  manner  and  hoped  that 
nothing  would  prevent  anybody  from  having  a  free  use  of  their 
ballot. 

Governor  Warren,  when  he  appeared  was  greeted  with  hearty 
applause.  He  said  he  desired  to  offer  his  congratulations  to  those 
who  attended  this  impromptu  meeting,  on  the  passage  of  the  bill 
through  the  house. 

He  said  it  was  very  seldom  that  a  man  had  the  privilege  of 
attending  his  own  funeral  but  the  territorial  officials  would  have 
to  step  down  and  yield  to  some  one  chosen  by  the  people.  Not- 
withstanding that  he  may  be  required  to  go  back  into  private  life, 
no  event  had  happened  that  gave  him  more  pleasure  than  knowing 
that  the  bill  for  the  admission  of  Wyoming  had  been  passed  by  the 
popular  house  of  the  government.  The  matter  meant  a  great  ad- 
vantage in  dollars  and  cents  to  every  individual  in  the  territory. 
To  the  ladies  it  already  proclaimed  for  the  first  time  in  the  history 
of  the  world  that  women  shall  have  exactly  the  same  rights  as  arc 
enjoyed  by  their  masculine  relatives,  man.  It  also  meant  to  every- 
body in  the  territory  who  had  a  roof  to  go  under,  that  it  is  worth 
more  in  dollars  and  cents  when  they  go  under  it  to-night  than  it 
was  this  morning.  He  said  the  party  of  which  he  was  a  member 
had  nothing  to  apologize  for  in  regard  to  the  admission  of  Wyoming 
as  a  state.  The  democrats  in  congress,  however,  did  not  represent 
in  any  way  the  party  in  Wyoming.  We  have  scored  the  first  victory 
and  in  ten  days  will  have  from  the  senate  and  the  president  a  more 
decided  endorsement  and  will  then  throw  off  the  vassalage  and  step 
forth  into  the  union  not  the  least  but  fully  equal  to  many.  He 
advised  everybody  to  carefully  look  over  the  situation  and  carefully 
build  the  new  state,  brick  by  brick.  He  said  that  the  constitution 
provided  that  he  should  issue  a  proclamation  for  the  election  of 
state,  county  and  precinct  officers.  He  advised  all  to  see  that  no 
man  was  nominated  on  either  side  who  will  misrepresent  Wyoming. 
When  the  new  star  is  added  to  the  galaxy  of  states  there  shall  not  be 
one  blot  on  the  fair  name  of  the  glorious  state  of  Wyoming  and 
asked  all  to  see  that  Wyoming  can  always  look  at  and  see  no  eclipse 
or  spot  upon  it. 

Governor  Warren  was  heartily  applauded  upon  the  conclusion  of 
his  remarks  and  the  meeting  dispersed. 

Chairman  Hoyt  announced  before  Governor  Warren's  address 
that  there  would  be  a  meeting  to-day  at  the  city  hall  to  form  plans 
for  a  proper  observance  of  the  admittance  of  Wyoming. 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         39 

THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Saturday,  June  28,  1 890 

WYOMING  ADMITTED! 


Senate  Passes  Wyoming's  Bill  by  a 
Strict  Party  Vote. 


The  "Sun's"  Special  Report  of  the 
Proceedings 


Will  be  Found  Very  Interesting 
Reading. 


Yellowstone  Park  Amendment  Is 
Attached, 


And  the  House  Will  Concur  on 
July  2nd. 


WASHINGTON,  June  27. 
Special  dispatch  to  The  Sun. 

THE  AMENDMENT 

to  the  house  admission  bill  which  passed  the  senate  is  a  proviso  at 
the  end  of  section  2,  which  says:  The  Yellowstone  park  shall  be 
under  the  exclusive  control  and  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States, 
but  the  state  shall  have  the  right  to  serve  civil  and  criminal  pro- 
cesses therein. 

THE  DISCUSSION 

in  the  senate,  except  an  hour  and  a  half  speech  by  Morgan  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  bill,  was  a  running  debate  participated  in  by  Senators 
Piatt,  Gray,  Cullom,  Teller,  Spooner  and  Paine.  It  was  good 
natured  and  often  amusing,  as  Messrs.  Morgan  and  Paine  pictured 
in  a  ludicrous  way  the  female  senators  being  led  by  Piatt  to  the 
bar  of  the  senate  to  be  sworn  in. 

To  Senator  Piatt  the  people  of  Wyoming  owe  a  great  debt  of 
gratitude.  His  visit  to  Wyoming  last  fall  made  him  an  earnest 
champion.  He  answered  every  objection  by  citing  precedents  and 
facts  and  was  cool  and  deliberate  throughout  the  debate.  He  re- 
torted to  the  thrusts  made  at  the  constitution,  woman  suffrage,  the 
smallness  of  the  adoption  rate  and  kept  his  forces  well  together. 
There  were  three  yes  and  no  votes,  two  on  the  substitutes  offered 


40  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

by  Jones  of  Arkansas  and  one  on  the  final  passage.  The  senate 
divided  on  strict  party  lines  on  each  vote.  All  that  were  not  paired 
with  absent  senators  voted.     There  was  no  dodging. 

IN  FIFTEEN  MINUTES 

after  the  passage  of  the  act  Clerk  McCook  of  the  senate  appeared 
at  the  house  and  made  the  formal  announcement  that  the  senate 
had  passed  the  house  bill  for  the  admission  of  Wyoming  with  an 
amendment  thereto  and  requested  of  the  house  a  concurrence. 

The  house  is  now  under  a  special  order  considering  the  federal 
election  bill  which  will  last  until  July  2.  The  amendment  cannot 
be  considered  until  after  that  time.  In  a  conference  with  the 
speaker  to-night  he  said  that  nothing  else  can  be  done  but  wait 
until  after  that  date.  The  matter  will  be  privileged  when  it  can  be 
laid  before  the  house. 

Wyoming  is  out  of  the  woods.  In  a  few  days  the  world  will  see 
the  new  American  star. 


J.  M.  Carey. 
By  Associated  Press. 

WASHINGTON,  June  27.— The  consideration  of  the  bill  for 
the  admission  of  Wyoming  was  resumed  and  Morgan  addressed 
the  senate  in  opposition  thereto. 

Payne  and  Gray  argued  against  the  bill  and  Piatt  replied  to  them. 

The  question  was  taken  on  Jones'  substitute,  (the  enabling  act 
for  Wyoming,  Idaho,  Arizona  and  New  Mexico),  and  it  was 
rejected  by  a  strict  party  vote:  yeas  18,  nays  29. 

Jones  of  Arkansas  then  moved  as  a  substitute  the  enabling  act 
for  Wyoming  alone  and  it  was  rejected  by  exactly  the  same  vote. 

The  bill  was  then  passed  by  a  strict  party  vote;  yeas  29,  nays  18. 

The  first  section  of  the  bill  is  as  follows:  Wyoming  is  hereby 
declared  to  be  a  state  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  is  hereby 
admitted  into  the  Union  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  original  states 
in  all  respects  whatever  and  that  the  constitution  which  the  people 
of  Wyoming  have  formed  for  themselves  be  and  the  same  is  hereby 
accepted,  ratified  and  confirmed. 

The  second  section  gives  the  boundaries. 

The  third  declares  the  state  entitled  to  one  representative  in  the 
fifty  first  congress. 

Other  sections  refer  to  public  lands  and  provisions  for  schools, 
an  agricultural  college,  penitentiary,  insane  asylum,  etc.  Also  the 
circuit  and  district  courts  of  the  United  States.  A  conference  was 
asked  on  the  amendments  made  to  the  house  bill. 

The  bill  for  the  admission  of  Idaho  was  taken  up  and  went  over 
as  "unfinished  business"  until  Monday  next. 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         41 

THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Saturday,  June  28,  1890 

THE  STAR  OF  THE  WEST 


Wyoming  Adds  Another  Constella- 
tion to  Liberty's  Escutcheon. 


Cheyenne  Celebrates  the  Event 
With  Joy  and  Enthusiasm. 


In  Spite  of  Determined  Opposition 
Wyoming  Gains  Statehood. 


Flags  and  Festoons  Decorate  the 
Public  Thoroughfares. 


Church  Bells  and  Factory  Whistles 
Announce  the  Glad  Tidings. 


In  spite  of  determined  opposition  by  the  democratic  members  of 
the  senate  Wyoming  has  finally  gained  the  acme  of  her  ambition. 

For  the  past  week  the  most  sanguine  began  to  have  doubts  of 
the  passage  of  the  bill  and  anxiously  call  at  The  Sun  office  every 
evening  for  information  regarding  its  progress. 

Thursday  brought  the  joyful  news  that  the  bill  was  to  be  put  to 
a  vote  at  4  p.  m.  yesterday.  Everyone  was  on  the  tiptoe  of  ex- 
pectancy for  the  result. 

About  2  o'clock  the  rain  poured  down  on  the  streets  of  Chey- 
enne, making  the  superstitious  think  it  was  an  omen  of  disappoint- 
ment. The  bad  weather  had  drove  [sic]  everyone  from  the  streets 
and  by  2:30  there  was  no  indication  of  the  demonstrations  of  joy 
that  took  place  after  3  o'clock. 

At  exactly  3:30  p.  m.,  the  dark  clouds  rolled  away  from  the 
heavens  and  the  sun  shone  brightly  on  the  city  as  the  news  flashed 
over  the  wires  from  Washington  that  Wyoming  had  become  a  state. 
This  was  the  telegram: 

"WASHINGTON,  June  27. — Senate  passed  bill  for  admission 
Wyoming  as  state.    Yeas  29,  nays  18.    Strict  party  vote." 

Runners  were  dispatched  immediately  with  the  important  news 
to  different  parts  of  the  city  who  posted  copies  of  the  telegram  on 
store  windows  and  bulletin  boards. 

Then  pandemonium  seemed  let  loose.  Hundreds  of  men  and 
boys  could  be  seen  running  in  every  direction  shouting  and  ges- 
ticulating as  though  a  cyclone  had  just  struck  the  city,  but  their 
smiling  faces  soon  dispelled  any  idea  of  a  calamity. 


42  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Business  men  ran  to  their  doors  and  inquired  of  the  hurrying 
pedestrians  what  was  the  matter  and  were  informed  that  "Wyoming 
had  become  a  state." 

PubUc  offices,  banks  and  numbers  of  business  houses  closed 
their  doors,  and  officials,  proprietors  and  clerks  ran  eagerly  to  the 
nearest  place  to  read  the  bulletins.  In  less  than  five  minutes  the 
streets  were  thronged  with  people,  shaking  hands  with  acquaint- 
ances and  offering  congratulations. 

As  the  minutes  passed  hundreds  of  people  began  to  congregate 
on  the  sidewalks,  while  the  church  bells,  school  bells  and  fire  bells 
pealed  forth  the  glad  tidings.  All  the  locomotives  in  the  yards 
and  every  factory  whistle  in  the  city  took  up  the  joyful  strain. 

Boys  and  men  blew  bazoos  and  amid  the  din  of  revelry  hundreds 
were  hurrying  in  different  directions  with  bundles  of  bunting,  flags 
and  fireworks.  Others,  with  more  foresight,  had  already  made 
preparations  for  the  occasion  and  soon  the  business  portion  of  the 
city  was  a  flowing  mass  of  looped  streamers  and  flags,  and  fire- 
works exploded  in  the  streets  with  repeated  concussion. 

Vehicles  of  all  kinds  kept  arriving  from  the  suburbs  of  the  city 
and  stopping  at  the  different  stores  to  purchase  bunting  and  fire- 
works, and  soon  the  greater  part  of  the  residence  portion  of  the 
city  showed  gala  signs  of  approval  and  joy. 

The  ornamentations  were  not  of  the  petty  kind  often  displayed 
on  the  Fourth  of  July,  but  enormous  flags  fit  to  adorn  the  capitol 
at  Washington.  The  business  men  were  lavish  in  their  expenditure 
covering  their  awnings  and  looping  the  fronts  of  their  buildings 
from  the  roof  to  the  ground  with  continuous  lengths  of  red,  white 
and  blue  muslin  covered  with  stars. 

The  starry  banner  gracefully  waved  in  the  breeze  from  school 
house,  court  house,  city  hall,  hose  houses  and  capitol,  as  well  as 
from  numerous  flagstaffs  about  the  city. 

Children  seized  the  contagious  enthusiasm  and  waved  their  flags 
as  they  gleefully  marched  along.  Others  were  on  horseback  carry 
[sic]  sleigh  bells  that  jingled  their  merry  tones  beneath  the  large 
flags  that  were  converted  into  saddle  cloths. 

The  male  portion  of  the  citizens  decorated  themselves  in  differ- 
ent and  tasty  manners,  wearing  long  streamers  of  red,  white  and 
blue  ribbon  attached  to  the  lapels  of  their  coats,  flags  wound 
around  their  hats,  or  cards  stuck  in  the  band  of  the  hat  on  which 
was  inscribed  'The  State  of  Wyoming,"  or  "Wyoming,  No.  43." 
Some  had  the  cabalistic  figures  "29-18"  chalked  on  their  clothes, 
while  others  wore  little  flags  in  their  buttonholes  on  which  was 
stamped  "43." 

Hundreds  of  ladies  and  children  added  to  their  attractiveness  by 
wearing  tri-color  sashes  gracefully  draped  about  their  person. 
These  were  not  pretty  strips  but  regular  bunting  a  yard  wide.  A 
number  of  ladies  looked  very  pretty  by  arranging  the  parallel  lines 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         43 

of  red,  white  and  blue  in  the  form  of  a  fichu  on  the  bosom  of  their 
breasts  and  wearing  miniature  flags  in  their  cuffs. 

The  Cheyenne  Ramblers  made  a  beautiful  and  unique  parade  by 
entwining  the  wheels  of  their  machines  with  the  national  colors, 
eliciting  universal  admiration.  Each  member  of  the  club  carried  a 
rifle  from  which  they  would  continually  fire  blank  cartridges  like 
a  feu-de-joie  as  they  rode  around  the  business  streets  in  single  file. 
A  great  number  of  young  men  also  kept  up  a  continual  rattle  of 
musketry  from  the  sidewalks  and  the  windows  and  roofs  of  houses. 

Four-in-hands  drove  through  the  streets  each  horse  and  the 
sides  of  the  carriage  being  covered  with  large  flags,  the  drivers 
wearing  flags  around  their  hats  and  sashes  over  their  shoulders. 
Other  single  and  double  teams  attracted  attention,  being  decorated 
in  the  same  manner,  with  the  spokes  of  the  wheels  being  covered 
entirely  with  tri-color  muslin,  forming  a  charming  kaleidescope  as 
the  wheels  rapidly  revolved. 

There  was  no  limit  to  the  enthusiastic  display  of  loyalty  for 
Wyoming,  even  dogs  having  sleigh  bells  tied  to  them  and  in  some 
cases  their  hair  was  dyed  with  a  succession  of  red,  white  and  blue 
circles.  One  man  carried  an  umbrella  from  the  top  of  which  pro- 
truded a  large  flag,  while  attached  to  each  rib  on  the  edge  of  the 
covering  were  smaller  flags. 

Street  cars  and  every  kind  of  business  vehicle  were  covered  with 
flags.  Ornamented  carriages,  containing  enthusiasts  over  the  vic- 
tory, were  driven  through  the  main  thoroughfares  by  horses  cov- 
ered with  sleigh  bells. 

The  telephone  was  in  continual  use  throughout  the  city  for 
communication  between  those  unable  to  leave  their  homes  or  place 
of  business,  but  still  eager  to  learn  the  news. 

The  telegraph  office  was  besieged  through  the  day  by  persons 
wishing  to  send  messages.  Delegate  Carey  kept  sending  messages 
every  few  minutes  to  The  Sun  which  were  again  forwarded  to  the 
country  press  of  Wyoming. 

Cowboys  who  happened  to  be  in  town  when  the  welcome  news 
was  received,  galloped  back  to  their  ranches  with  the  welcome 
information. 

State,  district  and  county  offices  suspended  business  to  join  in 
the  exultant  throng  in  celebrating  Wyoming's  admission  to  state- 
hood. 

About  4  o'clock  the  greater  part  of  the  assembled  multitude  on 
the  streets  formed  a  procession  headed  by  the  Union  Pacific  band, 
a  noticeable  feature  being  an  immense  stuffed  eagle  that  was  car- 
ried by  the  Swedish  society.    Other  eagles  were  also  carried  along. 

At  4:40  the  artillery  from  Fort  Russell  galloped  up  to  the  state 
capitol  under  the  command  of  General  Mizner  and  Lieutenant 
Durfee  and  quickly  unhmbered  near  the  south  entrance.     Forty- 


44  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

three  rounds  were  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  city  to  represent  the 
number  of  states  in  the  Union. 

All  this  time  there  was  no  cessation  of  the  volley  firing,  cheering 
and  excitement  that  had  been  kept  up  without  intermission  all  the 
afternoon. 

A  number  of  the  store  windows  were  appropriately  decorated. 
A  large  photograph  in  Rhodes  &  Troxell's  window  attracted  a  great 
deal  of  attention.  It  represented  an  eagle  with  its  wings  spread, 
on  which  was  inscribed,  "Wyoming,  No.  43,  you  bet,  she's  a  bird." 

Young  and  middle  aged  persons,  in  their  light-hearted  exuber- 
ance, played  leap  frog  on  Ferguson  street. 

The  excitement,  music  and  cheering  kept  up  until  6  p.  m.,  when 
the  people  commenced  to  go  home  for  their  suppers,  but  about 
7  o'clock  the  demonstrations  were  continued  with  greater  energy 
and  enthusiasm,  fireworks  exploding  in  every  portion  of  the  city, 
residences  and  places  of  business  being  illuminated  with  red  fire. 

Buggies  and  carriages  were  drove  [sic]  about  the  streets,  the 
occupants  lustily  cheering  and  burning  torches  of  red  fire  or  firing 
off  blank  cartridges  from  revolvers  and  shotguns. 

As  the  evening  progressed  a  large  number  of  gentlemen  kept 
visiting  the  Sun  office  to  offer  their  congratulations  and  regards 
for  its  fight  for  statehood  and  the  enterprise  shown  in  receiving 
special  telegrams  from  Washington. 

About  8:30  a  large  bonfire  was  lighted  at  the  intersection  of 
Ferguson  and  Seventeenth  streets  which  was  frequently  replenished 
by  old  boxes  and  barrels  brought  in  wagons.  Close  by  stood  the 
Union  Pacific  band  and  the  Cheyenne  Gun  club,  who  were  sur- 
rounded by  thousands  of  persons  standing  in  the  road  or  on  the 
sidewalks. 

Above  this  vast  concourse,  on  the  balcony  over  T.  A.  Kent's 
bank,  stood  Judge  Van  Devanter,  who  introduced  the  following 
gentlemen  as  speakers: 

Hon.  J.  C.  Baird,  Judge  Conaway,  Judge  Brown  of  Laramie,  C. 
N.  Potter  and  Colonel  Luke  Murrin.  Judge  Van  Devanter  also 
spoke,  but  it  was  impossible  to  distinctly  understand  what  the 
speakers  said  on  account  of  the  noise. 

In  an  interval  of  the  speeches  Mr.  Madison  and  five  or  six  other 
colored  men  came  on  the  platform  and  sang  an  impromptu  song 
concerning  Wyoming's  statehood  and  the  passage  of  the  bill  to  the 
tune  of  "Marching  Through  Georgia." 

At  the  end  of  each  short  speech  the  band  played  a  patriotic  air 
and  the  gun  club  fired  a  volley,  and  rockets  ascended  to  the  sky. 
At  the  end  of  the  speech  making  the  majority  of  the  people  dis- 
persed to  their  homes,  but  a  large  number  remained  on  the  streets 
continuing  to  celebrate  the  greatest  political  demonstration  ever 
held  in  the  west. 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         45 

The  27th  of  June  will  be  a  day  embalmed  in  the  memory  of 
every  loyal  citizen  of  Wyoming  to  be  referred  to  in  years  to  come 
with  respect  and  pride  for  those  who  participated  in  the  glories  of 
Wyoming's  admission  to  statehood. 

THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Saturday,  June  28,  1890 

MESSAGE  FROM  CAREY 


Statehood  Bill  Passed  by  a  Strict 
Party  Vote. 


The  Yellowstone  Park  Amend- 
ment Adopted. 


The  following  telegram  was  received  at  six  o'clock  last  evening 
from  Delegate  Carey: 

E.  A.  Slack,  Cheyenne,  Wyo. 

WASHINGTON,  June  27.  —  The  Wyoming  admission  bill 
passed  the  senate  this  afternoon  by  eleven  majority  on  a  straight 
party  vote.     The  Yellowstone  Park  amendment  adopted. 

Joseph  M.  Carey. 

THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Saturday,  June  28,  1890 

GREAT  DAY  FOR  WYOMING 


How  the  News  Was  Received  at 
Other  Places. 


The  People  Tumultuous  With  Joy 
Over  Statehood. 


Laramie,  Rawlins,  Evanston  and 
Douglas  Celebrate. 


Laramie  Very  Happy. 

The  following  telegram  was  received  from  Laramie  City  last 
evening: 
To  the  Cheyenne  Sun: 

Laramie,  Wyo.,  June  27. — Everybody  is  wild  with  joy.  Bon- 
fires blazing,  balloons  going  up,  guns  booming  and  a  solid  mile  of 
streets  filled  with  men,  women,  babies  and  carriages.    Shake! 

Hayford. 


46  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

THE  RAWLINS  JUBILEE 


Four  Guns  Were  Fired,  One  for 
Idaho. 


The  City  Takes  on  a  HolHday  Ap- 
pearance. 


Special  dispatch  to  The  Sun. 

RAWLINS,  Wyo.,  June  27. — The  news  which  flashed  across  the 
wires  this  afternoon  was  received  with  joy  by  every  citizen  of 
Rawlins.  At  first  some  were  inclined  to  doubt  it  as  no  official 
report  had  been  received,  but  this  vanished  upon  the  appearance  of 
the  Republican  extras.  Flags  were  immediately  run  up  all  over  the 
city  and  people  gethered  in  crowds  on  the  streets  to  congratulate 
one  another  and  talk  about  the  good  news  they  had  long  been 
looking  for.  Forty-four  guns  were  fired,  the  forty-fourth  one  being 
for  our  sister  territory  on  the  west,  Idaho. 

This  evening  the  band  is  out  serenading.  The  city  bears  the 
appearance  of  a  regular  holiday  and  everybody  is  rejoicing.  Long 
live  the  state  of  Wyoming! 

H.  B.  Fetz. 


EVANSTON  ENTHUSED 


Over  the  Passage  of  the  State 
Bill. 


The  following  dispatch  was  received  last  night  from  Evanston: 

Special  Dispatch  to  The  Sun. 

EVANSTON,  June  27. — The  news  of  the  passage  of  the  Wyo- 
ming admission  bill  was  received  here  with  much  enthusiasm.  The 
city  is  gaily  decorated  and  bonfires,  processions  and  impromptu 
speeches  were  the  order  of  the  evening.  Fully  two  thousand  per- 
sons participated  in  the  glorification,  the  citizens  having  turned  out 
en  masse  to  assist  in  the  celebration. 


DOUGLAS  REJOICES. 


An  Impromptu  Celebration  of  the 
Good  News. 


Special  Dispatch  to  the  Sun. 

DOUGLAS,  Wyo.,  June  27. — Flags  are  flying,  steam  whistles 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         47 

blowing,  and  the  roar  of  guns,  anvils  and  dynamite  greets  the  birth 
of  the  state  of  Wyoming.  The  buildings  are  decorated  and  every- 
thing will  be  illuminated  here  to-night.  The  Budget's  flag  bears  a 
gigantic  star  and  the  inscription,  "A  vote  for  Carey  is  a  vote  for 
statehood." 

Bill  Barlow. 


IDAHO  CONGRATULATES  US. 


A  Telegram  From  Governor  Geo. 
L.  Shoup. 


The  following  dispatch  from  Governor  Shoup  of  Idaho  expresses 
the  sentiment  of  the  citizens  of  that  soon  to  be  state : 
E.  A.  Slack,  Cheyenne,  Wyo. 

BOISE  CITY,  Idaho,  June  27. — Have  just  received  advice  of 
Wyoming's  admission.    Accept  our  sincere  congratulations. 

Geo.  L.  Shoup. 


THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Saturday,  June  28,  1890 
Editorial 

"OUT  OF  THE  WOODS." 

In  the  language  of  Delegate  Carey,  "Wyoming  is  now  out  of  the 
woods."  The  passage  of  the  admission  bill  yesterday  by  the  senate 
is  a  successful  conclusion  of  nearly  two  years'  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence and  statehood.  As  we  look  backward  over  that  period 
and  recall  the  gallant  fight  that  has  been  made  we  are  pleased  to 
know  that  THE  DAILY  SUN  has  been  foremost  in  the  contest 
and  that  the  favorable  comment  of  the  press  of  the  country  was 
largely  due  to  the  thorough  manner  in  which  this  paper  has  pre- 
sented the  claims  of  the  territory  to  statehood.  But  nothing  could 
have  been  achieved  had  not  the  southern  democracy  been  defeated 
in  the  presidential  campaign  and  the  house  and  snate  also  secured 
by  the  republican  party.  It  was  the  defeat  of  Cleveland  which 
gave  our  people  hope  of  success  and  encouraged  them  to  make 
the  struggle  for  statehood.  Had  the  result  of  the  election  of  1888 
been  different  Wyoming  would  have  continued  in  territorial  vassal- 
age indefinitely. 

As  it  was,  without  the  least  hope  of  defeating  our  progress  the 
democratic  party  presented  a  solid  front  against  Wyoming.  Not  a 
democratic  vote  was  given  for  the  bill  either  in  the  house  or  senate. 
The  most  frivolous  objections  were  put  forward  as  pretexts  for 
opposition,  but  the  real  ground  was  this  that  the  republicans  were 
favorable  to  Wyoming's  admission  and  whatever  republicans  ap- 


48  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

prove  should,  according  to  democratic  policy,  be  attacked  by  their 
party. 

But  leaving  this  phase  of  the  question,  let  us  turn  to  the  happy 
prospects  which  now  rise  up  before  Wyoming.  We  venture  to  pre- 
dict that  its  progress  will  exceed  even  that  of  Colorado  and  Ne- 
braska upon  their  advent  in  the  union  of  states.  With  its  vast 
resources  in  coal,  iron,  oil  and  soda,  its  great  cattle  and  horse 
ranches,  and  its  irrigation  projects  there  will  also  be  important 
railroad  extensions  and  such  introduction  of  capital  and  labor  as 
will  make  Wyoming  one  of  the  richest  states  in  the  union.  We 
need  not  dwell  upon  this  theme  as  the  wealth  of  our  resources  is 
universally  conceded. 

But  in  conclusion  let  us  in  behalf  of  the  people  of  Wyoming 
tender  their  earnest  thanks  to  Hon.  Charles  S.  Baker  of  New  York, 
who  made  a  gallant  fight  for  us  in  the  house  and  to  Orville  H. 
Piatt,  who  has  so  well  managed  our  case  in  the  senate.  These  two 
gentlemen  have  endeared  their  names  to  every  household  in  the 
new  state  and  we  venture  to  say  that  they  will  be  commemorated  in 
Wyoming. 

PROUD  WYOMING. 

This  is  the  time, 

With  thoughts  sublime, 
Man  takes  to  rhyme. 

With  love,  not  hate, 
And  heart's  elate, 
Proud  of  our  state 
Knowing  her  fate. 

With  one  acclaim 
We  shout  her  name. 
Go  forth  to  fame! 

Wyoming! 

Oh!  brilliant  star, 
If  distance  far. 

No  clouds  shall  bar 
Nor  malice  mar 

Thy  brightness. 

Let  all  rejoice 

And  with  one  voice 
Proclaim  our  choice. 

A  Wyoming-ite 
For  her  we'll  fight 
Both  day  and  night 
In  gloom,  in  light. 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         49 

In  truth,  in  right, 
We'll  prove  our  might. 

The  women,  too. 
So  brave  and  true. 
Not  lost  to  view, 
Have  not  to  sue 
Nor  purr,  nor  mew 
For  what's  their  due 
A  departure  new. 

Then  this  our  toast. 
Uncle  Sam  our  host. 
Humbly  we  boast. 

"Wyoming  state, 
At  present  small. 
Her  future:  Great." 

THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Friday,  July  11,  1890 

WYOMING  IS  A  STATE 


And  Her  People  Are  Exceeding 
Glad. 


The  President  Signed  the  Bill  Yes- 
terday Afternoon. 


Telegrams  Received  From  Our 
Popular  Delegate. 


Special  dispatch  to  The  Sun. 

WASHINGTON,  July  10.— The  new  star  has  arisen.  Wyo- 
ming, a  new  state,  was  born  to-day  at  5:30.  "The  Sun"  urged  the 
first  advance,  kept  up  the  fight  and  with  victory  will  shine  brighter 
than  ever  before. 

JOSEPH  M.  CAREY. 


Acting  Governor  Meldrum  received  the  following  dispatch  from 
Delegate  Carey: 

WASHINGTON,  July  10,  1890. 
Hon.  John  W.  Meldrum,  Governor: 

Proclaim  to  the  people  that  Wyoming  is  a  member  of  the  inde- 
structible union  of  American  states.  To  them  extend  hearty  con- 
gratulations. The  president  signed  the  bill  at  5:30,  Washington 
time. 

J.  M.  CAREY. 


50  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Illustrated  Edition 
Thursday,  July  24,  1890 

WYOMING'S  DAY. 

It  was  a  grand  day  for  Wyoming.  This  will  be  the  verdict  of  all 
who  witnessed  the  imposing  ceremonies  of  yesterday.  The  Sun 
despairs  of  doing  anything  like  justice  to  the  celebration,  and  this 
morning's  issue  must  be  regarded  only  as  a  hasty  and  imperfect 
tribute  to  the  occasion.  The  fact  is  that  the  preparations  and 
consumation  has  surpassed  the  expectations  of  those  who  were 
most  concerned  about  the  success  of  the  celebration.  Many  hands 
and  many  minds  were  at  work  and  all  have  done  their  part  so 
handsomely  that  we  have  no  space  for  special  mention,  and  must 
be  content  with  giving  a  brief  description  of  what  transpired. 

The  visitors  to  Cheyenne  have  one  and  all  been  inspired  with  the 
zeal  and  patriotism  shown  in  yesterday's  demonstration,  and  their 
compliments  are  frequent  and  emphatic.  On  the  other  hand  our 
citizens  deeply  appreciate  the  generous  manner  in  which  their 
neighbors  came  to  the  front  on  this  occasion  and  most  cheerfully 
acknowledge  that  their  attendance  contributed  greatly  to  the  en- 
thusiasm of  the  day. 

The  ladies,  God  bless  them,  were  out  in  all  their  beauty  and 
glory,  contributing  by  their  bright  smiles  and  gay  colors,  very 
largely  to  the  life  and  eclat  of  the  demonstration.  They  seemed  to 
realize  that  the  celebration  was  equally  theirs  and  it  was  generally 
remarked  that  the  portion  of  the  exercises  assigned  to  them  was 
carried  out  in  a  manner  that  did  honor  to  the  occasion.  Conspic- 
uously so  was  the  able  and  eloquent  address  of  Mrs.  J.  F.  Jenkins 
which  was  delivered  in  the  open  air,  upon  the  steps  of  the  capitol 
to  an  assembly  of  over  six  thousand  people,  all  of  whom  could 
distinctly  hear  every  word  that  she  uttered.  Her  remarks  were 
sensible  and  to  the  point,  and  applause  was  frequently  elicited  by 
her  noble  sentiments  and  well  rounded  periods. 

Hon.  M.  C.  Brown  delivered  a  neat  and  appropriate  speech  in 
connection  with  the  presentation  of  a  handsomely  bound  copy  of 
the  constitution  to  the  ladies  of  Wyoming  through  their  representa- 
tive Mrs.  M.  E.  Post,  who  made  an  eloquent  response. 

Mrs.  Esther  Morris  presented  on  behalf  of  the  ladies  of  Wyo- 
ming, the  beautiful  silk  flag,  with  considerate  remarks,  and  the 
response  by  Governor  Warren,  on  the  part  of  the  territory,  was 
fully  up  the  occasion,  eliciting  hearty  applause  both  from  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen. 

Later  on  came  the  oration  of  the  day,  and  earnest,  eloquent 
tribute  to  Wyoming  and  her  future,  by  the  gifted  and  brilliant 
orator  of  western  Wyoming,  Hon.  C.  D.  Clark.  Commencing  in  a 
modest,  quiet  manner  it,  soon  became  evident  by  the  noble  senti- 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,  1890         51 

ments  that  he  expressed  and  his  masterly  delivery,  that  the  com- 
mittee of  arrangements  had  made  no  mistake  in  their  choice  of 
speakers. 

The  poem  by  Mrs.  I.  S.  Bartlett  is  a  gem  and  we  publish  it 
entire.  We  also  wish  it  were  possible  to  reproduce  the  grand 
chorus,  which  under  the  management  of  Prof.  Pasmore  was  vouch- 
safed a  delighted  audience. 

All  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  hear  those  soul  stirring  strains 
will  treasure  the  great  musical  event  in  their  memories. 

We  have  only  hurriedly  touched  upon  the  more  important  exer- 
cises of  the  day,  but  elsewhere  will  be  found  as  full  a  report  as  we 
are  able  to  present.  As  stated  in  the  outset  of  this  article,  we  only 
hope  to  give  the  readers  of  The  Sun  who  were  not  present  an 
approximate  idea  of  the  grand  celebration  of  Wyoming's  advent  to 
statehood. 

CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Illustrated  Edition 
Thursday,  July  24,  1890 

A  GREAT  DAY 

Wyoming  Celebrates  Her  Ad- 
mission Into  the  Union 


With  All  the  Pomp  and  Cere- 
mony of  a  Mighty  State. 


A  Grand  Parade. 
Eloquent  Addresses! 
Firing  of  Cannon! 
Elaborate  Fireworks! 
Reception  and  Ball! 


Hundreds  of  Visitors  Flock  in 
From  All  Directions. 


Everybody  Enthusiastic  and  All 

Declare  the  Celebration 

A  Grand  Success. 


The  Ladies  Contribute  Largely  to  the 
Brilliancy  of  the  Occasion. 


Reports  of  the  Addresses  and  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Day. 


The  statehood  celebration  yesterday  was  a  magnificent  success. 


52  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

The  elements  were  propitious.  The  day  was  bright  with  sunshine, 
tempered  with  a  Hght  breeze  and  softened  by  the  shadows  of 
occasional  clouds.  At  an  early  hour  people  began  decorating  their 
dwellings  as  well  as  the  mercantile  houses,  offices  and  banks  in 
the  business  portion  of  the  city  which  presented  an  almost  con- 
tinuous array  of  decorations  in  red,  white  and  blue,  while  the 
national  colors  were  displayed  everywhere.  At  the  capitol  build- 
ing a  grand  stand  was  erected  fronting  the  main  flight  of  steps. 
The  stars  and  stripes  waved  from  the  top  of  the  building  at  each 
wing  and  the  interior  was  tastefully  adorned,  the  vestibule  hails 
and  pillars  being  one  mass  of  brilliant  color,  which  showed  under 
the  electric  lights  of  the  evening  with  fine  effect. 

The  parade  being  formed  at  2  o'clock  moved  on  the  route 
arranged  by  the  marshall  of  the  day,  marching  through  the  prin- 
cipal streets  of  the  city  and  ending  at  the  capitol  building.  When 
it  reached  that  point  a  crowd  of  mammoth  proportions  had  already 
assembled  filling  the  streets,  overflowing  in  the  park,  and  crowding 
the  steps,  balcony  and  window  openings  of  the  entire  building. 

THE  PARADE. 

The  column  of  march  was  formed  with  the  superb  1 7th  Infantry 
band  and  regiment  at  the  head,  under  the  command  of  General 
Mizner,  whose  public  spirit  and  generous  assistance  on  these  occa- 
sions is  highly  appreciated  by  our  citizens.  The  regiment  marched 
with  its  usual  splendid  precision  and  soldiery  [sic]  bearing.  Fol- 
lowing it  came  a  line  of  carriages  bearing  the  state  officials,  dis- 
tinguished guests,  the  orators,  poets,  committees,  and  the  repre- 
sentative women  and  men  of  the  state.  In  this  portion  of  the 
parade  there  were  ten  carriages.  The  second  carriage  bore  the 
flag  and  its  standard-bearer,  and  was  flanked  on  either  side  by  its 
guard  of  honor  and  escort.  Company  K.,  girl  guards,  and  was  one 
of  the  great  features  of  the  parade. 

THE  STATE  CAR. 

Following  the  line  of  carriages  came  the  second  company  of 
girl  guards.  Company  H.  presented  a  very  fine  appearance  in 
their  elegant  new  uniforms.  They  were  the  guard  of  honor  to  the 
statehood  car,  a  magnificent  float  carrying  a  bevy  of  beautiful  girls 
representing  the  states  of  the  Union  (excepting  Wyoming  and 
Idaho).  The  girls  were  dressed  in  white,  with  red,  white  and  blue 
trimmings,  with  wreaths  of  flowers  and  shields  bearing  the  names 
of  the  states.  The  whole  effect  was  lovely  and  gay,  and  excited 
the  admiration  of  all  beholders. 

WYOMING  AND  IDAHO. 

Behind  the  statehood  car  was  a  diminutive  pony  carriage  driven 
by  two  handsome  little  Shetland  ponies.  In  this  vehicle  were  three 
little  girls,  Grace  Cowhick,  Frankie  Warren  and  Miss  Elliot.    Miss 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         53 

Cowhick  represented  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  Miss  Warren  the 
state  of  Wyoming,  and  Miss  EUiot  the  state  of  Idaho. 

MILITIA  AND  VETERANS. 

The  next  division  was  headed  by  the  Union  Pacific  band  with 
twenty-four  pieces,  the  pride  of  the  west.  Company  B,  Wyoming 
National  Guards,  followed,  and  as  usual  they  were  the  observed  of 
all  observers.  The  veterans  of  Reynolds  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  was  in  line  here  stepping  with  the  pride  and  joy  which 
filled  their  hearts  in  Wyoming's  new  victory  in  the  battle  for  state- 
hood. The  Afro-American  club  followed — our  colored  brothers 
feeling  a  warm  and  patriotic  devotion  to  the  state  in  which  all  men 
and  women  are  free  and  equal  by  the  terms  of  its  magna  charta. 

THE  TRADES  PROCESSION. 

The  trades  display  was  a  triumph.  A  long  line  of  floats,  barges 
and  buildings  on  wheels  represented  nearly  every  branch  of  busi- 
ness and  manufactures.  Want  of  space  prevents  us  giving  this 
fine  display  proper  mention. 

Sloan  &  Shaver,  the  popular  milk  men,  had  two  noble  specimens 
of  the  bovine  race — the  prides  of  the  dairy — blanketed  with  appro- 
priate mottos. 

The  Cheyenne  Commercial  company  had  a  grand  exhibit  with 
seven  wagons  representing  the  different  branches  of  their  trade 
which  is  more  fully  described  in  another  column. 

Messrs.  Zehner,  Beuchner  &  Co.  came  out  as  usual  with  a  rare 
exhibit. 

Next  followed  M.  P.  Keefe's  great  display  in  three  wagons,  one 
representing  brick  making,  another  general  building  and  construc- 
tion work.  In  addition  Mr.  Keefe  in  his  private  carriage  gave  a 
unique  exhibition  of  what  he  called  the  "products  of  Wyoming." 
He  had  in  the  carriage  five  children  of  which  he  claims  to  be  the 
father.  Around  the  buggy  were  hung  festoons  of  native  flowers 
and  vegetables,  beets,  turnips,  onions,  etc.,  but  that  little  device 
deceived  nobody. 

Arp  &  Hammond,  the  hardware  merchants,  followed  with 
several  wagons,  agricultursl  machinery,  etc. 

Tuttle,  the  painter,  had  a  pyramid  wagon  handsomely  decorated 
with  the  evidences  of  his  fine  workmanship. 

Mrs.  Robinson  in  a  jaunty  rig  showed  what  she  is  doing  in  the 
ice  cream,  fruit  and  vegetable  line.  She  had  a  fat  boy  dressed  up 
gaily,  with  a  placard  on  the  wagon,  saying:  "I  eat  Mrs.  Robinson's 
ice  cream."  The  buggy  was  handsomely  decorated,  as  only  Mrs. 
Robinson,  who  is  an  adept  in  artistic  work,  could  do  it. 

The  Bon  Ton  stables  had  a  handsome  turn-out  in  the  procession. 

Frank  Wilson,  contractor  and  builder,  was  represented  by  a 
large  wagon  loaded  with  the  implements  and  materials  of  his 
profession. 


54  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Following  his  float  was  a  unique  wagon,  which  was  a  combina- 
tion cook  house.  It  was  an  I.  X.  L.  wagon  and  carried  a  whole 
cuisine  department,  adapted  for  excursions,  freighting,  cattle  driv- 
ers or  any  business  on  the  great  plains  and  mountains;  made  to 
cook  in,  live  in,  eat  in  and  making  a  luxurious  home  for  the  traveler 
far  away  from  the  haunts  of  civilization. 

Charles  McGarvey,  contractor,  made  a  very  extensive  and 
creditable  display.  In  addition  to  his  main  wagon  he  had  12  teams 
of  scrapers  in  the  line,  showing  in  a  practical  way  that  he  was  pre- 
pared for  extensive  business. 

A  novel  feature  followed  these,  being  no  less  a  freak  than  the 
Arkansas  Traveller.  He  was  scraping  his  fiddle,  had  a  coon  skin 
banner  and  a  large  family  of  emigrants  huddled  around  him. 

Following  the  trades  display  was  a  general  concourse  of  citizens 
in  carriages,  on  horseback  and  on  foot. 

AT  THE  CAPITOL. 

When  the  procession  reached  the  capitol  the  troops  were  drawn 
up  in  line,  the  artillery  with  a  detachment  of  20  men  was  brought 
from  the  park  and  placed  in  position  at  the  west  wing  of  the 
building.  The  governor,  guests  and  those  who  were  to  take  part 
in  the  exercises  took  possession  of  the  grand  stand.  Meantime  the 
crowds  swelled  and  surged  around  the  building  and  its  surrounding 
streets  were  but  a  "sea  of  human  faces."  Governor  Warren  pre- 
sided and  the  programme  was  promptly  opened  by  the  invocation 
by  Rev.  J.  Y.  Cowhick.  At  its  close  the  Union  Pacific  band  struck 
up  "Yankee  Doodle''  in  the  most  spirited  measure. 

MRS.  JENKINS'  ORATION. 

Mrs.  Theresa  A.  Jenkins  was  then  introduced  to  the  immense 
audience.  Proceeding  to  the  front  of  the  platform,  the  lady  in 
clear,  forceful  tones  which  penetrated  to  the  very  outskirts  of  the 
crowd,  began  and  delivered  without  notes  or  manuscript  an  address 
which  in  ability,  logic  and  eloquence  has  rarely  if  ever  been 
equalled  by  any  woman  of  the  Land.  She  was  grandly  equal  to  the 
occasion.    She  said: 

Mrs.  President,  Governor  Warren  and  gentlemen  of  the  State  of 
Wyoming: 

In  behalf  of  the  ladies  present  and  in  the  name  of  many  who  are 
not  with  us  to-day,  I  am  requested  to  make  this  expression  of  our 
appreciation  of  the  great  benefit  conferred  upon  us  at  your  hands, 
and  confirmed  by  the  congress  of  these  United  States.  Happy  are 
our  hearts  to-day,  and  our  lips  but  sound  a  faint  echo  of  the 
gratitude  within  our  bosoms.  While  we  rejoice  with  you  that  our 
young  commonwealth  has  been  permitted  to  place  upon  this 
beautiful  banner  her  bright  prophetic  star,  how  much  more  reason 
have  we  for  enthusiastic  demonstration. 

The  republican  spirit  of  1 890,  with  a  generosity  unrivaled  in  all 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         55 

the  annals  of  political  economy,  has  admitted  into  the  national 
jurisprudence  the  voice  of  woman.  We  have  been  placed  upon  the 
very  summit  of  freedom  and  the  broad  plain  of  universal  equality. 
Think  ye  that  our  tongues  are  silent  or  that  we  have  no  need  to  sing 
our  anthems  of  praise?  History  chronicles  no  such  an  event  on  all 
its  pages,  and  the  bells  of  the  past  ring  out  no  such  victory. 

^       ^       ^ 

We  have  never  been  compelled  to  petition  or  protest;  we  have 
ever  been  treated  with  a  patient  hearing  and  our  practical  sugges- 
tions have  been  most  courteously  received  and  in  the  future  we  but 
desire  a  continuance  of  these  favors.  We  ask  of  our  law  makers 
just  laws  for  the  enlargement  and  perpetuity  of  our  educational 
facilities;  we  ask  of  our  legislators  wise  and  magnanimous  measures 
for  the  erection  and  maintainance  of  our  benevolent  institutions; 
we  ask  of  you,  laws  for  the  better  protection  of  the  moral  as  well 
as  the  physical  natures  of  our  boys  and  our  girls,  even  though  the 
maverick  be  neglected  and  taxpayers  and  burden  bearers  as  we 
are,  may  we  not  expect  the  proper  enforcement  of  these  laws  as 
well  as  the  framing  of  them. 

Bartholdi's  statue  of  liberty  enlightening  the  world  is  fashioned 
in  the  form  of  a  woman  and  placed  upon  a  pedestal  carved  from 
the  everlasting  granite  of  the  New  England  hills,  but  the  women  of 
Wyoming  have  been  placed  upon  a  firmer  foundation  and  hold  a 
more  brilliant  torch. 

*  *   * 

In  the  days  of  the  past  there  came  to  this  region  a  woman  who 
had  been  reared  among  the  hardy  minds  of  the  east.  She  brought 
with  her,  her  family,  her  garden  seeds,  her  doctrine  of  woman's 
equahty  before  the  law.  Her  sons  live  to  do  her  honor,  her  garden 
seeds  have  been  planted  and  she  has  proven  to  the  world  that  this 
desolate  plain  can  be  made  to  blossom  as  the  rose,  and  to-day  she 
sits  with  us  at  the  age  of  77  a  free  citizen  equal  with  her  sons. 
Esther  Morris,  like  Queen  Esther  of  old,  has  dared  to  brave  the 
anger  of  man  rather  than  her  own  people  should  perish. 

*  *   * 

We  ask  no  trophies  at  our  feet,  no  laurel  on  our  brows,  but  we 
do  ask  for  these  two,  Mrs.  Morris  and  Mrs.  Post,  a  wreath  of 
immortelles  fashioned  in  the  motto  of  "Faithfulness,"  and  hung  on 
the  walls  of  "Endurance,"  and  this  young  girl  guard  of  honor, 
picked  from  the  flowers  of  the  state,  who  to-day  have  walked 
through  the  dusty  streets  that  they  might  be  beside  this  beloved 
flag,  may  well  emulate  these  examples,  preferring  ever  to  sacrifice 
personal  comfort  to  duty  and  pride  to  patriotism. 

These  words  of  thankfulness  would  be  incomplete  were  we  to 
neglect  to  utter  the  sentiments  of  all  our  hearts  in  enumerating 


56  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

among  our  noble  friends  the  names  of  the  framers  of  our  constitu- 
tion. In  the  Hst,  cherished  in  the  hearts  of  us  all,  stands  out  that 
of  M.C.  Brown,  president  of  the  convention;  George  W.  Baxter, 
who  introduced  our  clause  in  the  constitution;  J.K.  Jeffrey,  chair- 
man of  the  committee,  and  J.W.  Hoyt;  who  without  malice,  trickery 
or  subterfuge  granted  us  our  wishes,  and  we  claim  the  right  to-day 
to  do  these  heroes  reverence,  and  in  this  galaxy  of  stars  which 
every  woman  wears  to-day  a  diadem  of  gems  shines  out,  the  fairest 
and  rarest  of  them  all,  F.E.  Warren  and  J.M.  Carey,  and  ye  who 
applaud  say  never  again  a  prophet  has  honor  save  in  his  own 

country. 

*   *   * 

And  as  the  star  of  Bethlehem  shed  its  soft,  effulgent  rays  over 
an  inland  plain  where  lay  cradled  a  new  deliverance,  so  to-day  this 
forty-fourth  star,  eight  pointed  as  we  would  have  it,  casts  its 
illumination  from  the  icy  regions  of  the  north  to  the  magical  blos- 
soms which  ripen  into  tropical  fruit  beneath  the  radiant  sunshine 
of  our  southern  skies,  from  our  lofty  mountain  ranges  with  snow- 
capped peaks  towering  through  the  clouds  to  the  very  door  step  of 
heaven,  east  and  west  to  the  sea-kissed  shores  of  our  continent. 

May  these  salty  surges  carry  this  reflection  on  their  swelling  tide 
even  to  the  mines  of  Siberia,  where  exiled  woman,  groaning  in 
degredation  and  slavery,  may  catch  some  glimmer  of  hope,  and, 
listening,  hear  some  note  of  a  glad  hosanna  that  rings  out  to-night 
from  this,  our  inland  plain,  not,  perhaps,  from  the  lips  of  angels, 
but  from  the  hearts  of  women  as  we  proclaim  aloud  our  glad 
tidings  of  great  joy,  the  political  redemption  of  our  sex. 

And  may  that  beautiful  bow  of  color  which  spanned  our  eastern 
boundary  at  the  golden  sunset  hour  of  July  10,  1890,  be  but  a 
faint  promise  of  the  prosperity,  the  stability,  the  harmony  of  our 
magnificent  domain,  guided  (not  governed)  by  the  hand  of  man 
clasped  in  the  hand  of  woman. 

At  the  conclusion  of  her  address  Mrs.  Jenkins  received  an 
ovation  of  applause  and  was  the  recipient  of  a  magnificent  basket 
of  flowers. 

PRESENTATION  OF  THE  FLAG. 

The  great  incident  of  the  celebration,  the  presentation  of  the  flag, 
next  followed.  Mrs.  Esther  Morris,  one  of  Wyoming's  historical 
characters,  who  is  regarded  as  the  "mother"  of  the  woman  suffrage 
movement  in  this  state,  and  who  is  otherwise  honored  and  respect- 
ed for  her  great  ability  and  heroic  womanhood,  was  by  general  con- 
sent accorded  the  post  of  honor,  and  made  the  presentation  to 
Governor  Warren  on  behalf  of  the  women  of  Wyoming.  Gathering 
the  folds  of  the  beautiful  flag  about  her,  she  said: 

"On  behalf  of  the  women  of  Wyoming,  and  in  grateful  recog- 
nition of  the  high  privilege  of  citizenship  that  has  been  conferred 
upon  us,  I  have  the  honor  to  present  to  the  state  of  Wyoming  this 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,  1890         57 

beautiful  flag.    May  it  always  remain  the  emblem  of  our  liberties, 
'and  the  flag  of  the  union  forever.'  " 

GOVERNOR  WARREN'S  ADDRESS. 

The  governor  on  receiving  the  flag  from  Mrs.  Morris,  grasping 
its  staff,  responded  as  follows: 

GOVERNOR  WARREN'S  RESPONSE. 

It  is  with  feelings  of  profound  gratitude  that  I  receive  for  the 
State  of  Wyoming  this  beautiful  flag. 

It  is  seldom  permitted  man  to  stand  a  representative  for  his 
commonwealth  at  the  time  of  its  organization  and  during  the  period 
of  its  transition  from  a  condition  of  territorial  dependence  to  one 
of  state  independence.  And  it  has  never  before,  I  believe,  been 
vouchsafed  man  to  represent  a  state  as  its  executive  officer  on  so 
auspicious  an  occasion  as  this. 

Here,  in  the  open  air,  near  the  crest  of  the  continent,  Wyoming, 
forming  the  keystone  of  the  arch  of  states  extending  from  ocean  to 
ocean,  celebrates  an  event  significant  in  the  extreme,  new  in  the 
history  of  our  country,  and  without  precedent  in  the  world;  that 
is  to  say,  a  state,  in  adopting  its  constitution,  extends  free  and 
equal  suffrage  to  its  citizens  regardless  of  sex. 

Wyoming,  in  her  progress,  has  not  forgotten  the  hands  and 
hearts  that  have  helped  advance  her  to  her  high  position;  and,  in 
the  adoption  of  her  constitution,  equal  suffrage  is  intrenched  so 
securely  that,  it  is  believed,  it  will  stand  forever. 

In  this  regard  Wyoming  is  not  less  elevated  in  her  high  and 
proud  geographical  position,  than  in  her  example  to  her  surround- 
ing sister  states. 

The  figures  -  44  -  representing  the  number  of  our  star  on  the 
dear  old  flag,  the  handsomest  and  best-beloved  national  emblem 
in  the  civilized  world  -  will  always  stand  with  us  for  justice  and 
equal  right. 

Women  of  Wyoming,  you  have  builded  well  in  your  past  efforts 
and  conduct;  and  the  men  of  Wyoming  extend  heartiest  greetings 
at  this  time.  They  congratulate  you  upon  your  achievements,  and 
ask  you  to  join  them  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  in  securing  good 
government  for  our  commonwealth.  Your  influence  has  always 
tended  towards  higher  development  and  culture.  And  now,  in  the 
near  future,  when  called  upon  to  exercise  your  rights  and  your 
privileges  in  the  selection  of  your  officers,  who  must  be  both  your 
rulers  and  your  servants,  we  have  confidence  that  you  will  sub- 
scribe to  everything  that  is  elevating  and  enterprising  -  a  pure 
ballot  -  the  highest  moral  standing  and  the  strictest  personal  re- 
sponsibility in  public  officers  -  liberal  educational  facilities,  and 
with  all  an  economical  and  wise  financial  policy  and  management. 

Ladies,  for  and  on  the  part  of  the  great  State  of  Wyoming,  I 
thank  you  most  sincerely  for  this  beautiful  stand  of  colors.     And 


58  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

I  beg  to  assure  you  it  shall  be  cherished  and  protected  as  a  souvenir 
of  priceless  value. 

A  musical  feature  followed  the  governor's  response,  in  which, 
with  Miss  Nellie  Dwyer  as  vocalist,  the  "Star  Spangled  Banner" 
was  executed  by  the  band  and  a  chorus  of  voices. 

At  this  point  in  the  proceedings  heavy  clouds  arose,  the  rain 
began  to  fall,  and  while  the  artillery  were  firing  the  forty -four  guns 
in  salute  of  the  new  state  flag,  the  audience  was  invited  to  the 
interior  of  the  building  to  listen  to  the  remainder  of  the  programme. 
The  representative  hall  was  utilized  for  the  purpose,  and  it  was 
rapidly  filled,  as  well  as  its  galleries  and  surrounding  rooms. 

A  TRUE  REPUBLIC. 

Judge  M.C.  Brown  in  a  felicitous  introduction  presented  Mrs. 
I.S.  Bartlett,  the  poet  of  the  day,  to  the  audience.  Mrs.  Bartlett 
then  gave  the  following  poem,  entitled  "A  True  Republic."  The 
production  was  well  delivered  and  was  received  with  genuine 
applause. 

THE  TRUE  REPUBLIC. 

The  first  republic  of  the  world 
Now  greets  the  day,  its  flag  unfurled 

To  the  pure  mountain  air. 
On  plains,  in  canon,  shop  and  mine, 
The  star  of  equal  rights  shall  shine. 
From  its  blue  folds,  with  light  divine- 

A  symbol  bright  and  fair. 
The  flashing  presence  of  to-day 
Startles  our  ancient  dreams  away. 

Wrapped  in  her  shadows  dim 
Old  memory  flees,  with  vivid  glance 
To-day  uplift  her  shining  lance. 
Her  arm  is  might,  her  brow  is  light. 

Her  voice  a  thrilling  hymn. 
Shine  on,  oh  star!     No  flag  of  old. 
No  standard  raised  by  warrior  bold 

In  all  the  days  of  yore. 
For  chivalrie  or  knightly  claim 
For  honor  bright  or  woman's  name 
Has  ever  shone  with  brighter  flame. 

Than  peerless  forty-four. 
Fair  state  of  honor,  freedom's  pride. 
There's  none  in  all  the  world  beside 

That  wears  so  rich  a  gem. 
A  commonwealth  where  all  are  free 
Where  all  find  true  equality 
First  in  the  world,  the  world  shall  see 

'Tis  freedom's  diadem. 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         59 

The  battle's  fought,  the  battle's  won, 
With  thankful  hearts  we  say,  "Well  done" 

To  all  our  champions  brave. 
No  carnage  marked  the  earnest  fight. 
But  souls  aflame  and  nerved  with  right 
Urged  on  the  conflict  day  and  night 
Our  statehood  cause  to  save. 
God  bless  our  state! 
Nature  rejoices  too;  our  mountains  high 
Above  the  clouds  are  touched  with  brighter 
light. 
A  new  charm  fills  the  overarching  sky 
And  thrills  earth's  denizens  with  visions 
bright. 

God  bless  our  state! 
The  geysers  throw  their  splendid  watery 
plumes 
Still  higher  in  their  ancient  wonderland. 
The  restless  mountain  torrent  frets  and 
fumes 
More  loudly  on  its  journey  to  the  strand. 

God  bless  our  state! 
The  very  air  with  new  fresh  life  is  stirred. 

The  free  exultant  birds  more  sweetly  sing. 
And  nature's  changing  voices  ever  heard 

Unto  our  souls  new  happiness  shall  bring. 

God  bless  our  State! 
Wher'er  her  mighty  rivers  swiftly  run, 
Wher'er  her  mountain  peaks  shall  pierce 
the  sky, 
Where'e  her  plains  sweep  to  the  rising  sun. 
And  peaceful  valleys  in  the  shadows  lie. 

God  bless  our  State! 
Its  new  career  begun,  let  all  rejoice, 
And  man  and  woman,  hand  in  hand,  as 
one. 
With  energies  of  body,  heart  and  voice 
Make  it  a  happy  land  where  aU  may  come, 

If  we  look  within  the  future,  our  prophetic 

eyes  can  see 
Glorious  views  unfold  before  us,  of  joy, 
wealth,  prosperity. 

We  can  see  the  sons  of  Science,  Music,  Poetry 
and  Art, 


60  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Coming  to  our  grand  dominion,  in  our 

growth  to  take  a  part. 
We  can  see  the  iron  monster  rushing  fiercely 

to  and  fro. 
We  can  see  the  sky  o'erspread  with  smoke 

from  furnaces  below. 

We  can  see  Wyoming's  mountains  giving  up 

their  hidden  stores, 
Tons  on  tons,  by  miUions  pouring,  of  the 
base  and  precious  ores. 

See  her  towns  and  cities  rising,  where  the 

bison  used  to  roam. 
And  along  her  streams  and  valleys  many  a 
farmer's  peaceful  home. 

We  can  see  great  halls  of  learning  well  en- 
dowed and  nobly  planned, 

Monuments  of  taste  and  culture,  for  the 
children  of  our  land. 

We  can  see  the  spires  of  churches  pointing 

upward  to  our  gaze; 
Chiming  bells,  harmonious  sounding,  call- 
ing us  to  prayer  and  praise. 

See  the  plains,  now  dry  and  barren,  where 

the  sage  and  cactus  grow, 
Desert  plains,  no  longer  barren,  then  shall 

"blossom  like  the  rose." 

Thirsty  lands,  no  longer  thirsty,  filled  with 
moisture  wisely  stored, 

Bounteous  to  the  happy  farmer,  noble  har- 
vests will  afford. 

Happy  are  Wyoming's  people,  happier  will 

our  future  be; 
So  we  sing  to-day  with  gladness,  and  we 
shout  for  victory. 

Let  the  bells  ring  out  more  loudly,  and  the 

deep-toned  cannon  roar. 
Giving  voice  to  our  thanksgiving  such  as 

never  rose  before. 

For  we  tread  enchanted  ground  to-day,  we're 

glorious,  proud  and  great. 
Our  independence  day  has  come  -  Wyoming 

is  a  State! 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,  1890         61 

THE  CONSTITUTION  PRESENTED. 

To  Judge  M.C.  Brown,  the  able  president  of  the  constitutional 
convention  was  assigned  the  duty  of  presenting  the  result  of  its 
labors.  The  judge's  address  which  follows  is  a  thoughtful  and 
eloquent  production.    He  said: 

JUDGE  BROWN'S  SPEECH. 

We  stand  to-day  on  one  of  the  mountain  tops  of  human  progress. 
Looking  backward  along  the  line  of  man's  endeavor  we  behold  no 
smooth  or  easy  pathway,  but  here  and  there  along  the  otherwise 
undulating  plain  arise  the  lofty  summits  of  human  achievement. 
As  descendents  of  the  Anglo  Saxon  we  view  again  with  proud 
delight  the  field  of  Runnymede,  and  the  Enghsh  barons  wringing 
from  the  grasp  of  a  reluctant  king  the  magna  charta  of  human 
rights.  Here  at  the  dawn  of  civil  liberty  it  was  first  established 
that  men  were  not  created  for  government,  but  governments  or- 
dained for  men;  that  the  right  of  the  individual  should  stand  above 
the  right  of  government;  that  governments  might  protect  and 
cherish  but  never  destroy  liberty.  And  this  heritage  of  individual 
liberty  decended  to  us  as  a  natural  birthright.  Look  again  along 
the  line  of  progress.  In  a  new  land  we  see  scattered  along  the 
Atlantic  coast  a  few  hundreds  of  thousands  of  people  oppressed 
by  unjust  taxes,  denied  civil  and  political  rights,  and  threatened 
with  bloody  devasting  war.  Amid  the  clash  of  arms  and  reverber- 
ating thunders  of  cannon,  the  cry  rings  forth  in  tones  that  startle 
the  civilized  world,  "All  men  are  created  equal."  The  Declaration 
of  Independence  is  an  accomplished  fact.  From  the  smoke  and 
dust  of  battle,  and  the  ashes  of  destroyed  homes  arises  the  young 
giant  of  America,  and  wrestling  the  sceptre  of  government  from  the 
grasp  of  the  tyrannical  King  George,  plants  it  on  the  shores  of 
Columbia — liberty  lives,  tyranny  is  overthrown,  and  a  new  nation 
is  born  to  the  world. 

Look  again.  A  dark  cloud  rests  above  our  fair  land.  Never 
funeral  dirge  more  solemn  than  the  thought  of  our  people.  The  air 
is  hushed  as  of  a  coming  tempest.  On  this  unnatural  stillness 
breaks  the  boom,  boom  of  cannon  and  the  old  flag,  emblem  of 
freedom  and  liberty,  goes  down  from  the  walls  of  Sumpter.  [sic] 

Now  we  hear  the  fife  and  drum  and  the  tramp  of  gathering  hosts; 
and  continent  trembles  beneath  the  tread  of  contending  armies;  but 
above  the  clash  of  arms  comes  the  words  from  the  grandest  of  rul- 
ers of  men:  "Thou  art  free,"  and  the  shouts  of  four  million  slaves 
join  in  happy  refrain,  and  with  joyous  shouts  exclaim:  "We  are 
free;  we  are  free"  Victory  henceforth  perches  upon  the  Union 
banner,  and  Liberty  sings  his  anthem  of  triumph.  Again  from  the 
din  of  war  come  the  words  of  hero  captain  and  president  as  if  in 
benediction:     "Let  us  have  peace,"  and  the  angel  of  peace,  with 


62  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

her  loving  smile,  settles  down  upon  a  united  country  -  happy  land  - 
grand  achievement. 

Look  again.  Far  out  across  the  Great  American  desert,  and 
beneath  the  shade  of  the  grand  old  Rockies,  there  springs  into 
existence  a  new  state,  and  the  watchwork  of  its  people  are,  "Justice, 
Equality"  to  this  new  state.  Under  the  guidance  of  the  Great 
Jehovah  it  is  permitted  to  achieve  the  highest  excellence  in  govern- 
ment yet  attained  by  man.  Here,  unmoved  by  selfishness,  the 
dangers  of  war  or  the  appeals  of  non-resident  reformers,  but  moved 
alone  by  the  spirit  of  divine  justice,  it  was  ordained  by  the  people 
of  Wyoming  that  each  citizen  of  the  state  should  enjoy  the  same 
right  guaranteed  to  every  other  citizen,  whether  high  or  low,  black 
or  white,  male  or  female. 

And  now,  Mrs.  Post,  I  have  the  distinguished  honor  to  place  in 
your  hands,  and  you,  as  a  representative  woman  of  Wyoming,  the 
grand  privilege  of  receiving,  this  broadest  guarantee  of  civil  liberty 
ever  established  by  the  genius  of  man  -  the  Magna  Charta  of  our 
liberties  -  the  constitution  of  the  state  of  Wyoming. 

From  this  Nebo  of  history  we  look  forward  to  the  promised  land. 
Whether  it  shall  flow  with  the  milk  and  honey  of  prosperity  and 
happiness  for  woman  depends  solely  upon  herself. 

With  these  new  privileges  come  new  duties  and  responsibilities. 
"Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies."  Your  past  furnishes 
the  highest  guarantee  for  the  future.  If  you  live  up  to  the  full 
measure  of  your  high  privileges,  you  will  not  only  bring  happiness 
to  the  new  state,  but  joy  to  the  hearts  of  the  noble  women  of  other 
states  who  are  struggling  for  the  repeal  of  unequal  and  unjust  laws. 
Not  only  this,  but  your  example  and  success  will  bring  emancipa- 
tion to  the  women  of  the  world. 

Mrs.  Amelia  B.  Post  responded  to  Judge  Brown's  presentation 
in  the  following  admirable  address: 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Wyoming  Constitutional  Con- 
vention. 

In  the  name  of  the  women  of  Wyoming,  I  thank  you  for  this  copy 
of  our  state  constitution,  and  in  their  name  also  do  I  especially 
thank  you  for  that  clause  in  this  constitution  which  guarantees  their 
enfranchisement.  In  the  history  of  the  world  it  has  seldom  been 
the  good  fortune  of  a  body  of  lawmakers  to  be  able  to  inaugurate  at 
one  stroke  a  movement  in  the  interest  of  human  rights  and  human 
liberties  as  important,  as  far  reaching,  as  grand  as  this.  And  in  the 
name  of  the  women  of  the  civilized  world  I  am  here  to  congratulate 
you  upon  the  able,  fearless  and  disinterested  manner  in  which  you 
have  discharged  your  duties  as  a  constitutional  convention. 

This  grand  result  of  your  labors  -  woman's  magna  charta  -  has 
now  been  before  the  civilized  world  about  eight  months.  It  has 
attracted  wide  attention  and  has  been  subjected  to  the  keenest 
possible  criticism.    By  narrow-minded  people,  cranks  and  bigots  it 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         63 

has  been  universally  condemned.  By  intelligent,  broad-minded 
people,  by  the  friends  of  human  progress,  by  the  advocates  of 
universal  liberty,  it  has  been  universally  commended.  As  a  means 
of  assisting  Wyoming  to  become  one  of  the  stars  in  the  grand  galaxy 
of  liberty  it  has  been  a  most  helpful  document. 

On  some  of  the  important  questions  of  policy  that  came  before 
your  honorable  body  during  the  progress  of  your  deliberations, 
there  were  honest  differences  of  opinion  among  you,  but  when  it 
came  to  the  most  important  question  of  all  -  the  enfranchisement 
of  women,  there  were  no  differences  of  opinion,  there  was  no 
dissenting  voice.  You  have  shown  the  world  that  as  representative 
men  of  Wyoming  you  have  the  courage  of  your  convictions,  and 
that  you  are  neither  afraid  nor  ashamed  to  allow  women  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  unrestricted  of  American  citizens. 

An  ancient  philosopher  of  the  orient  has  said:  "The  veiled 
slaves  of  the  harem  can  never  become  the  mothers  of  a  great  race 
of  men,  but  if  you  would  produce  a  race  of  great  men  you  must 
first  have  a  race  of  great  women,  both  as  to  body  and  mind." 

This  is  the  true  doctrine.  The  history  of  the  world  has  demon- 
strated its  truthfulness  in  scores  of  instances.  Elevate  the  standard 
of  womanhood!  For  there  is  no  surer  way  by  which  to  elevate  the 
standard  of  manhood.  This  is  to-day  the  most  important  question 
involved  in  the  future  attainment  of  the  highest  plane  of  human 
civilization. 

In  framing  this  constitution,  gentlemen  of  the  convention,  you 
have  taken  a  most  important  step,  looking  to  the  elevation  of  the 
human  race.  And  may  each  and  aU  of  you  live  long  to  enjoy  the 
honorable  distinction  this  shall  surely  bring  you. 

And  now,  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen  of  the  convention,  in 
closing  this  brief,  disjointed  and  very  inadequate  acknowledgement, 
allow  me  in  the  name  of  the  women  of  Wyoming  -  in  the  name  of 
the  women  of  the  civilized  world  -  in  the  name  of  human  prog- 
ress -  in  the  name  of  Christian  civilization  -  in  the  name  of  that 
grand  advancing  column,  the  cohorts  of  universal  liberty,  again  to 
thank  you  for  this  most  precious  memorial. 

ANVIL  CHORUS. 

The  great  musical  feature  of  the  celebration  was  now  given  - 
anvil  chorus.  Under  the  leadership  of  Professor  Pasmore,  this 
famous  musical  piece  was  produced  by  a  combined  chorus  of 
trained  voices,  together  with  the  Union  Pacific  band  and  anvil 
accompaniment.  It  was  received  with  demonstrations  of  applause 
and  delight  by  the  audience  and  a  repetition  demanded.  The 
encore  was  respected  and  the  piece  repeated. 

The  benediction  was  then  pronounced  by  Rev.  Dr.  Rafter.  This 
part  of  the  programme  was  assigned  to  Father  Nugent,  but  he  sent 


64  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

word  that  he  was  called  away  by  pressing  duties  and  would  be 
unable  to  be  present. 

HON.  C.   D.  CLARK'S  ORATION 

The  oration  of  Hon.  C.  D.  Clark  of  Evanston  was  a  masterpiece 
of  eloquence  and  proved  that  although  he  had  but  a  brief  time 
to  prepare  his  address  he  was  equal  to  the  occasion  and  that  the 
committee  who  secured  him  put  the  right  man  in  the  right  place. 
He  charmed  the  great  audience  with  his  strong  reasoning,  rich 
descriptive  passages  and  happy  oratorical  climaxes.  His  practical 
and  statesmanlike  views  of  what  Wyoming  has  already  achieved 
and  what  it  may  hope  to  achieve  in  the  future,  from  its  present 
glorious  position,  were  powerfully  and  cogently  expressed.  His 
tribute  to  woman,  to  her  patriotism,  devotion  to  duty,  capacity  for 
affairs  and  her  equality  in  this  state  not  obtained  as  a  "boon,"  but 
as  an  unalienable  right,  was  one  of  the  most  eloquent  gems  of  the 
address.  He  also  gave  deserved  praise  to  the  state  constitution 
and  the  noble  body  of  men  who  framed  it. 

In  opening  his  address,  he  said: 

It  shall  be  no  part  of  my  duty  to-day  to  attempt  in  any  measure 
to  fill  the  part  of  that  eminent  gentleman  from  our  sister  state  who 
was  to  have  addresed  you  and  whose  absence  is  most  deplored  by 
those  who  at  other  times  have  been  almost  entranced  at  the  magic 
of  his  work.  Such  an  attempt  on  my  part  would  be  not  only  the 
height  of  presumption,  but  could  only  result  in  chagrin  to  the 
speaker  and  disappointment  to  the  hearer.  In  his  absence,  how- 
ever, I  am  deeply  sensible  of  the  honor  conferred,  knowing  that  it 
came,  not  because  of  any  personal  fitness,  but  bestowed  perhaps 
as  upon  one  who  might  be  a  representative  however  unworthy  of 
that  outlying  portion  of  our  state,  that  district  whose  strength  does 
and  shall  consist,  not  in  the  production  of  orators  and  carpet 
knights,  but  in  that  union  of  muscle,  energy  and  honest  sense  that 
shall  contribute  in  the  highest  degree  to  the  future  prosperity, 
happiness  and  stability  of  that  commonwealth  whose  establishment 
we  celebrate  to-day. 

*  *  * 

He  said  this  was  a  day  whose  setting  sun  threw  its  cheering  and 
beautiful  colors  over  a  people  secure  in  their  future  and  filled  with 
honest  pride  at  being  not  only  citizens  of  the  freest  and  best  govern- 
ment on  the  face  of  the  earth,  but  citizens  as  well  of  a  state  whose 
fundamental  law  shows  it  to  be  the  state  granting  the  largest 
privilege  to  its  people  and  having  the  greatest  confidence  in  the 
integrity  and  intelligence  of  its  citizens. 

*  *  * 

The  privileges  and  rights  that  we  have  gained  are  those  to  the 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         65 

accomplishment  of  which  the  American  patriots  of  a  hundred 
years  ago  pledged  their  lives,  their  fortunes  and  their  sacred  honor. 
Politically  and  in  a  truer  sense  than  ever  we  are  become  a  com- 
ponent part  of  that  nation  which  in  peace  and  war  has  shown  to 
the  world  the  true  merit  and  stability  of  a  government  based  alone 
on  the  will  and  consent  of  the  governed.  The  people  of  Wyoming 
with  no  uncertain  voice  have  gone  further  in  the  theory  of  equality 
in  all  political  matters  than  has  been  before  attempted;  they  have 
gone  into  this  union  of  states  with  a  full  determination  to  make 
practical  test  of  the  theory  that  all  are  created  equal.  They  have 
made  essentially  a  new  departure  and  have  made  worth  alone  and 
neither  sex  nor  other  condition  the  test  of  citizenship.  Since  the 
earliest  poet  woman  has  been  the  theme  of  minstrelsy  and  her 
perfections  have  been  sung  under  every  sky  and  in  every  tongue, 
but,  wonderful  to  us,  our  infant  state,  the  only  true  republic  has 
been  the  first  to  say  that  citizenship  shall  mean  the  practical  recog- 
nition of  her  intelligence  and  that  our  mothers,  wives  and  sweet- 
hearts shall  share  with  us  in  equal  part  the  benefits  to  be  derived 
from  citizenship. 


Every  step  taken  in  the  direction  of  personal  and  national  honor 
and  integrity  is  a  step  toward  the  perpetuity  of  our  institutions,  and 
just  as  true  is  it  that  every  relaxation  from  the  strict  code  of  per- 
sonal and  national  morality  is  a  step  in  the  direction  of  the  ultimate 
failure  of  our  republic.  As  Americans  indeed  we  have  reason  to 
congratulate  ourselves  and  our  country  on  past  success,  but  let  us 
not  shut  our  eyes  to  the  fact  that  in  our  greatest  security  may  lie 
our  greatest  danger.  It  has  often  been  said  that  fancied  security 
has  always  within  it  the  seeds  of  dissolution;  that  we  must  not  be 
over-confident.  A  hundred  years  is  but  the  measure  of  the  infancy 
of  a  nation  and  our  republic  is  as  yet  but  little  more  than  an 
experiment.  There  is  no  danger  from  external  violence,  but  I 
firmly  believe  that  there  is  danger  from  internal  dissensions,  from  a 
lax  code  of  morals,  both  public  and  private. 


The  duty  we  owe  to  our  new  state  then  is  plain,  we  must  make 
good  citizens  of  ourselves  and  above  all  look  to  the  education  of 
those  who  are  to  follow  after  us.  We  can  hear  the  sound  of  the 
coming  feet,  the  hundreds  of  thousands  who  are  to  be  the  directing 
power  of  this  great  commonwealth  must  be  given  the  means  of 
becoming  thoroughly  impressed  with  the  beneficence  of  our  state 
government,  and  with  that  patriotism  so  essential  to  the  maintain- 
ence  of  free  republican  institutions.  There  may  be  a  tendency  to 
consider  patriotism  a  mere  sentiment  and  something  intangible 
that  must  not  interferere  with  the  reality  of  our  active  business 


66  •  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

life,  but  if  it  be  a  sentiment  it  is  one  that  has  controlled  men  from 
the  foundation  of  our  government,  it  is  a  sentiment  that  has  found 
its  reality  in  half  a  million  patriot  graves  and  in  the  bleeding  hearts 
and  desolated  homes  of  a  whole  nation,  a  sentiment  for  which  no 
sacrifice  has  been  to  great  and  no  privation  to  dear. 

Let  our  children  then  be  impressed  and  inspired  with  the  love 
of  state  and  love  of  country;  let  them  feel  that  they  are  parts  of  this 
great  nation  and  sovereigns  therein;  may  they  feel  that  they  stand 
in  the  light  of  her  great  names  and  that  the  lustre  is  reflected  upon 
them;  that  the  future  of  this  land  depends  in  part  upon  their 
integrity  and  virtue,  and  with  these  teachings  broadened  and  deep- 
ened year  by  year  there  will  be  no  danger  from  the  future,  and  thus 
shall  survive  and  be  perpetuated  the  state  and  the  nation.  "Strong 
in  the  hearts  and  love  of  its  people,  with  its  foundations  laid  broad 
and  deep  in  the  principles  of  eternal  justice  and  equal  rights,  it 
shall  survive  all  the  storms  of  the  years,  and  rising  in  strength  and 
beauty  and  hope  prove  to  the  world  the  durability  of  institutions 
growing  out  of  the  reason  and  affection  of  the  people." 

THE  FIREWORKS,   ETC. 

The  balloon  ascension  which  was  to  have  come  off  at  7  o'clock 
was  a  failure  on  account  of  a  defect  in  the  apparatus.  The  balloon 
was  filled  all  right,  but  on  starting  one  of  the  ropes  caught  by  a 
knot,  holding  the  balloon  by  the  top  while  the  lower  part  rose  and 
exhausted  its  hot  air.  There  not  being  sufficient  time  to  refill  it, 
the  exhibition  was  given  up. 

The  next  thing  on  the  day's  entertainment  was  the  display  of 
fireworks  and  by  general  consent  it  was  admitted  to  be  the  finest 
ever  seen  in  the  territory.  Thousands  of  people  gathered  in  the 
park  and  around  the  capitol  to  witness  the  display  and  no  one  was 
disappointed.  Cheers  of  delight  arose  on  every  hand  as  the  beau- 
tiful pyrotechnics  were  shown  with  all  their  brilliant  effects  upon 
the  night. 

THE  BALL. 

After  the  fireworks  the  ball.  The  capitol  was  brilliantly  illumi- 
nated, three  bands  were  in  attendance,  and  every  one  was  welcome 
to  engage  in  the  festivities  of  the  occasion  as  spectators,  promenad- 
ers  or  dancers.  The  dancers  were  in  full  dress.  The  vast  crowd 
assembled  enjoyed  themselves  to  the  utmost,  and  nothing  occurred 
to  mar  the  pleasures  of  the  evening  which  were  kept  up  until  mid- 
night. 

The  committee  in  charge  of  arrangements,  the  marshal  of  the 
day  and  his  efficient  aids,  and  all  who  have  given  their  efforts  in 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         67 

behalf  of  the  great  celebration,  deserve  and  have  won  the  gratitude 
of  our  people  for  the  admirable  success  achieved. 

THE  TRADES  DISPLAY. 

The  committee  on  trades  display  in  the  celebration  were  untiring 
in  their  efforts,  the  chairman,  Mr.  Wasserman,  giving  the  larger 
portion  of  his  time  to  its  successful  arrangement,  and  the  public 
were  more  than  pleased  with  its  success.  About  thirty  wagons  and 
floats,  handsomely  decorated  in  the  national  colors,  drawn  by 
horses,  whose  harness  carried  every  conceivable  device  of  orna- 
ment in  red,  white  and  blue,  and  some  splendid  dairy  cattle  from 
Messrs.  Sloan  and  Shafer's  dairy  ranch  composed  the  fourth 
division. 

THE  C.  C.  C.  DISPLAY. 

Most  prominent  in  the  trades  procession  and  indeed  surprising 
in  the  excellence  of  the  display  were  the  wagons  and  floats  of  the 
Cheyenne  Commercial  Company.  This  enterprising  institution 
with  its  customary  energy  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  celebration 
in  a  manner  that  might  well  have  been  emulated  with  profit  by 
older  estabhshed  houses.  Followed  by  their  six  wagons  Messrs. 
R.  N.  Heath  and  Albert  Clark,  the  active  managers  of  the  company, 
led  the  display.  After  them  came  their  south  side  store  wagons 
filled  to  overflowing  with  teas,  coffees  and  the  smaller  goods  of 
the  retail  groceryman.  This  wagon  carried  a  banner  containing 
the  words,  South  side  store  for  south  side  trade.    C.  C.  C. 

The  third  wagon,  which  carried  on  its  banner  the  admonition, 
"For  prompt  and  careful  delivery  patronize  the  C.  C.  C,"  was  the 
handsome  red  market  wagon  that  was  recently  placed  on  the  streets 
by  the  company.  Probably  nothing  in  the  parade  was  so  enticing 
to  the  multitudes  of  little  ones  along  the  line  as  this  company's  fruit 
wagon,  laden  down  with  luscious  fruits  from  all  climes.  It  was 
drawn  by  two  horses  and  bore  the  legend  "The  only  wholesale 
fruit  house  in  the  state.    C.  C.  C."' 

Then  came  the  wholesale  department  float,  filled  with  boxes  of 
tobacco,  canned  goods,  etc.  It  seemed  to  convey  an  impression  of 
the  growth  of  the  business  of  the  C.  C.  C,  which  during  the  past 
few  months  has  more  than  doubled.  Two  banners  formed  part  of 
this  display.  One.  "Patronize  the  C.  C.  C,"  the  other,  "We 
lead  them  all." 

"This  speaks  for  itself,"  was  the  device  that  an  open  meat  market 
on  wheels  carried  under  the  C.  C.  C.  banner.  The  float  contained 
a  meat  block,  counter,  scales,  etc.,  and  displayed  on  all  sides  were 
quarters  of  beef,  mutton  and  pork  ready  for  the  block,  and  the 
smaller  meats  that  usually  fill  up  the  racks  of  a  meat  market.  This 
float  was  a  miniature  market,  complete  in  every  detail,  not  omitting 
the  National  cash  register. 


68  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Twenty  men  and  sixteen  horses  were  required  in  this  company's 
mammoth  exhibit.  Certainly  a  more  fitting  or  appropriate  testi- 
monial of  the  young  company's  rapid  advancement  into  the  front 
rank  of  wholesale  and  retail  grocers  could  not  have  been  shown 
than  passed  before  the  thousands  of  spectators  yesterday.  The 
same  public  spirit  and  enterprise  that  brought  these  gentlemen  out 
yesterday  has  gained  them  their  mercantile  position,  an  enviable 
one  indeed. 

A  SILVER  SERVICE. 

In  anything  of  a  public  nature,  and  especially  when  the  repre- 
sentative firms  of  Cheyenne  have  been  called  upon  to  do  their  part 
toward  the  success  of  a  holiday  demonstration,  Messrs.  Zehner, 
Buechner  &  Co.  have  been  among  the  foremost  to  comply.  Their 
float  in  yesterday's  parade  was  a  handsome  exhibition  of  the 
jewelers'  wares  and  manufactures'  art.  On  the  front  of  the  float 
were  placed  two  handsome  show  cases  filled  with  silverware  and 
jewelry.  Behind  these,  working  at  the  manufacturer's  and  silver- 
smith's bench,  were  Messrs.  Buechner  and  Booker,  while  standing 
over  the  forge  and  heating  furnace  was  Mr.  Hilyer.  The  float  was 
handsomely  decorated  with  bunting  and  the  stars  and  stripes. 
Along  the  route  it  attracted  a  great  deal  of  attention,  but  owing  to 
the  value  of  their  wares,  these  leading  jewelers  of  the  new  state 
could  not  make  as  full  a  display  as  they  would  liked  to  have  done. 
A  visit  to  their  store  will  show  the  beauties  and  ornaments  and 
novelties  that  they  carry. 

TAXIDERMY. 

Probably  the  most  unique  float  that  appeared  in  the  trades  pro- 
cession was  Prof.  E.  Clarke's  display  of  taxidermy  in  elk,  buffalo, 
the  many  variety  of  deer  and  antelope,  birds,  etc.  Mr.  Clarke's 
float  was  tastefully  designed,  the  mountings  and  furs  being  ar- 
ranged in  pyramid  style  and  showed  nearly  every  kind  of  fur,  skin 
or  mounting  that  is  peculiar  to  the  state,  together  with  many  species 
that  are  not  found  in  Wyoming.  Among  the  mountings  that  were 
especially  admired  were  those  of  a  white  tail  and  a  black  tail  fawn 
and  a  remarkably  handsome  buffalo  head. 

MUSIC  IN  THE  AIR. 

Along  the  entire  route  of  the  parade  the  spectators  were  enter- 
tained by  the  "delights  of  music"  that  poured  forth  from  the  float 
representing  Prof.  George  F.  Inman's  music  store.  This  float, 
which  was  elaborately  decorated,  was  filled  with  musical  instru- 
ments of  all  kinds,  some  one  of  which  the  professor  performed 
upon  along  the  route  of  procession.  The  sewing  machine  depart- 
ment of  the  professor's  store  was  also  represented  on  this  float. 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         69 

This  establishment  deserves  great  credit  for  its  novel  and  enter- 
taining exhibit  and  showed  the  enterprise  of  its  proprietor. 

THE  BUILDER'S  BARGES. 

Two  floats,  the  first  representing  a  carpenter  and  builder's  shop 
and  the  second  brick  making  yards,  were  a  novelty  that  were  fully 
appreciated.  They  were  placed  in  the  parade  by  Mr.  M.  P.  Keefe, 
contractor  and  builder.  The  carpenter  shop  was  a  faithful  repre- 
sentation of  the  carpenter's  kit  and  bench  and  an  industrious 
shover  of  the  plane  worked  steadily  on  the  northwest  corner  of  a 
prospective  palace  as  the  big  team  drew  the  float  along.  The  brick 
making  establishment  on  the  second  float  exposed  to  the  astonished 
gaze  of  the  multitude  the  intricacies  of  putting  clay  into  brick  form. 
The  brick  yards  of  Mr.  Keefe  have  recently  been  established  and 
the  progress  that  he  is  making  in  turning  out  excellent  brick  is  best 
witnessed  in  the  number  of  houses  he  has  built  this  summer.  The 
display  was  a  most  creditable  one  to  our  popular  townsman. 

WALKER'S  DRY  GOODS  REPRESENTATION. 

Mrs.  E.  Walker's  dry  goods  store  float  was  well  filled  with  dry 
goods  boxes  which  were  covered  with  bunting  of  red,  white  and 
blue  dotted  with  stars.  The  same  material  was  used  freely  in 
decorating  the  front  and  sides  of  the  wagon. 

Mr.  J.  A.  England  proprietor  of  the  steam  laundry,  as  usual  was 
not  behind  the  procession,  but  had  his  laundry  wagon  gaily  decor- 
ated and  covered  with  signs  showing  why  a  steam  laundry  should 
be  patronized  in  preference  to  the  pig  tail  ornamented  celestials. 
From  Mr.  England's  wagon  dodgers  containing  a  further  treatise 
on  the  advantages  of  patronizing  good  American  institutions  were 
liberally  distributed. 

Messrs.  Lohlien  &  Sigwart,  successors  to  J.  S.  Collins  &  Co., 
were  well  represented  by  a  float  festooned  and  furnished  with 
saddlery  and  harness  works. 

Messrs.  Arp  &  Hammond  displayed  a  string  of  wagons  that 
seemed  a  sufficient  display  for  the  Studebakers. 

Among  the  many  others  represented  was  a  gaily  decorated 
wagon  bearing  sign  work  by  J.  E.  Tuttle. 

The  large  two-horse  float  of  Messrs.  A.  Underwood  &  Bro.,  with 
its  canvas  on  one  side  portraying  the  fat  individual  who  gained  the 
excessive  aviordupois  by  purchasing  at  their  store,  and  a  melan- 
choly looking  individual  who  said  he  had  not.  On  the  opposite 
side  a  representation  was  given  of  Cheyenne,  which  under  the 
advantages  of  statehood  had  grown  to  a  large  manufacturing  city. 

The  Cheyenne  carriage  works  were  well  represented  by  a  display 
of  several  carriages  and  buggies  of  their  own  manufacture. 


70 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN 

Sunday,  July  27,  1890 

WELCOMED  HOME 


Enthusiastic,  Popular  Reception  of 
Joseph  M.  Carey. 


Immense  Crowds  Assemble  at  the 
Union  Pacific  Depot 


And  Welcome  Him  with  Cheers. 
Music  and  Hearty  Greetings 


And  Escort  Him  to  His  Home-His 
Speech  of  Thanks,  Etc. 


The  news  that  Judge  Carey,  Wyoming's  last  delegate  to  congress, 
was  to  arrive  home  yesterday  noon,  created  a  spontaneous  feeling 
of  enthusiasm  throughout  the  city  and  by  one  universal  and  com- 
mon impulse,  citizens  of  every  class  and  degree  turned  out  to  meet 
him  and  give  him  a  right  royal  welcome.  Before  the  train  arrived 
the  immense  platform  of  the  Union  Pacific  station  was  a  surging 
mass.     Mechanics,  artisans,  business  men  and  professional  men 


WyomiiJi^'  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department 

HOME  OF  JOSEPH  M.  CAREY 

(Built  in  1884) 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,   1890         71 

left  their  avocations  and  rushed  to  the  depot.  The  Union  Pacific 
band  marched  down  the  street  playing  their  most  inspiriting  [sic] 
music,  and  entertained  the  waiting  multitude.  The  train  arrived  on 
time  and  as  Judge  Carey  stepped  from  the  cars  a  grand  rush  was 
made  by  the  enthusiastic  crowd,  all  eager  to  grasp  the  hand  of  the 
man  whose  untiring  labors,  earnest  faith  and  devotion  had  done  so 
much  to  place  the  new  star  of  statehood  upon  our  country's  flag. 
While  the  hearty  handshaking  was  going  on  the  band  played  wel- 
coming airs  and  round  upon  round  of  cheers  rent  the  air.  Silken 
badges  were  worn  by  hundreds,  some  inscribed  "Welcome  Joseph 
M.  Carey,  July  26,  1890,"  and  others  "State  of  Wyoming-44." 
Everyone  seemed  thrilled  with  enthusiastic  delight.  As  soon  as  the 
numerous  personal  greetings  were  over  Judge  Carey  was  conducted 
to  a  carriage,  the  band  was  called  and  placed  in  front  and  the 
crowd  insisted  on  falling  into  line  and  escorting  the  gentleman  to 
his  residence.  The  line  of  march  was  then  taken  up,  the  band 
struck  up  "Marching  Through  Georgia"  and  the  grand  army  moved 
up  Capitol  avenue,  along  Sixteenth  street  to  Ferguson  and  up 
Ferguson  to  Judge  Carey's  residence.  All  along  the  line  of  march 
there  was  cheering,  singing  and  jolly  remarks  interchanged  with  by 
slanders.    Everybody  was  happy. 

On  arriving  at  Judge  Carey's  residence  the  line  divided  in  two 
ranks,  through  which  the  judge  was  escorted  to  the  house.  On  his 
reaching  the  portico,  three  times  three  rousing  cheers  filled  the 
air,  the  band  struck  up  anew  and  the  judge  with  evident  surprise 
stood  gazing  upon  the  audience  around  him.  It  was  a  demonstra- 
tion of  which  any  man  might  feel  proud  and  grateful.  As  soon  as 
quiet  could  be  restored,  the  judge  with  difficulty  mastering  his 
emotions,  addressed  the  audience  as  follows: 

JUDGE  CAREY'S  REMARKS. 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN:  I  cannot  find  words  to  express 
my  feelings  at  the  warm,  hearty  and  generous  welcome  which  you 
have  given  me  to-day,  and  as  I  once  more  step  into  my  own  home  I 
can  truly  say  I  am  glad  to  meet  you.  I  am  glad  to  be  home  again 
among  my  friends  and  neighbors,  and  I  am  profoundly  grateful  that 
I  can  greet  you  in  the  new  state  of  Wyoming!  [Applause.]  When 
I  left  you  a  few  short  months  ago  I  left  behind  me  a  territory,  a 
dependency,  a  province.  I  now  return  and  plant  my  feet  upon  the 
solid  foundations  of  a  state — a  state  invested  with  all  the  powers, 
prerogatives  and  privileges  of  the  oldest  states  of  the  Union,  the 
equal  and  the  peer  of  any.  I  greet  you  as  the  free  men  and  women 
of  an  independent,  sovereign  state.  I  am  happy  that  the  auspicious 
day  has  come  when  I  can  rejoice  with  you,  and  we  can  rejoice 
together  over  what  has  been  accomplished — the  realization  of  our 
most  daring  hopes  and  proudest  anticipations. 

Statehood  has  been  achieved  only  by  our  strong,  earnest  and 


72  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

untiring  efforts  against  powerful  opposing  forces.  The  young 
bark,  Wyoming,  was  launched  upon  the  troubled  seas.  It  encoun- 
tered storms,  it  was  rocked  amid  fierce  waves,  it  ran  upon  sand 
bars  and  rocks  of  congressional  ob'ections,  but  in  defiance  of 
winds  and  waves  the  good  ship  sailed  safely  into  harbor,  unfurled 
its  flag  and  displayed  its  glorious  banner  with  a  new  star  upon  it — 
the  bright  particular  star  "44."  [Great  applause.]  The  achieve- 
ment is  yours.  Your  faith  and  your  labors  have  upheld  the  hands 
that  took  the  helm,  and  held  the  brave  ship  steadily  through  its 
tempestuous  career  until  it  bounded  into  the  clear  and  peaceful 
waters  of  success.  And  I  may  say  to  you  my  friends,  that  the 
managers  of  that  craft,  in  all  its  stormy  vicissitudes  never  ran  up 
the  signal  of  despair.  [Cheers]  Your  sturdy  hands,  your  intrepid 
courage  and  your  cheerful  voices  sustained  them. 

What  of  the  future?  Statehood  is  now  a  living  reality.  What 
will  we  do  with  our  advantages  and  environment?  Congress  has 
paid  us  a  high  compliment  in  placing  us  upon  an  absolute  equality 
with  the  old  states.  It  has  said  to  us,  we  have  confidence  in  your 
manhood,  virtue  and  intelligence,  in  your  ability  to  properly  direct 
your  own  affairs.  My  friends,  we  have  a  bright  future  before  us. 
We  have  but  to  look  around  and  see  what  our  neighboring  states 
have  done  to  gather  inspiration.  We  have  seen  a  state  lying  upon 
our  eastern  borders  rise  from  a  desert  plain  to  possess  a  population 
of  1,250,000  people.  We  have  seen  a  state  situated  upon  our 
southern  borders  grow  from  its  pioneer  settlement  to  a  powerful 
and  rich  state  with  over  400,000  souls  within  its  domain.  There 
is  as  much  and  even  more  in  store  for  us,  if  we  rightly  use  and 
appreciate  our  advantages.  We  have  only  to  go  forward  and  pos- 
sess what  is  our  own.  We  will  move  forward  and  make  this  young 
and  vigorous  state  a  great  and  powerful  factor  in  the  American 
union.     [Applause.] 

I  thank  my  friends  most  cordially  for  your  very  kind  and  hearty 
welcome.  I  am  with  you  to-day  to  take  you  by  the  hand  as  a 
citizen,  a  neighbor  and  as  one  of  the  people,  to  help  uphold  the 
destinies  of  our  state  and  to  labor  for  its  welfare  with  you,  until  it 
shall  be  one  of  the  best,  proudest  and  greatest  states  of  our  common 
country. 

When  Judge  Carey  had  finished  his  remarks  cheers  again  filled 
the  air,  the  crowd  returned  to  their  business,  many  marching  back 
with  the  band,  and  the  impromptu  reception  was  over  for  the 
afternoon. 

In  the  evening,  however,  the  judge  and  Mrs.  Carey  were  the 
recipients  of  a  fine  serenade  from  the  Union  Pacific  band  and  were 
visited  by  hundreds  of  their  neighbors  and  friends  who  assembled 
to  pay  their  respects  and  extend  their  congratulations.  The  band 
played  many  beautiful  airs  and  were  deservedly  complimented  for 
their  efforts. 


EXCERPTS  FROM  THE  CHEYENNE  DAILY  SUN,  1890         73 

TO  JOSEPH  M.  CAREY. 

The  battle's  fought,  the  battle's  won, 
With  thankful  hearts  we  say  well  done! 

To  all  our  champions  brave. 
No  carnage  marked  the  earnest  fight, 
But  souls  aflame  and  nerved  with  right 
Urged  on  the  conflict  day  and  night 

Our  statehood's  cause  to  save. 

Then  welcome  Carey,  brave  and  true, 
Wyoming's  people  welcome  you, 

Our  leader  strong  and  great. 
The  struggle's  o'er,  the  storm  is  passed: 
The  glorious  day  has  come  at  last. 
With  heroes  shall  thy  name  be  classed. 

Wyoming  is  a  state! 


Wyoming's  44th  Star 


What  was  the  arrangement  of  the  stars  in  the  United  States  flag 
after  Wyoming  became  the  44th  state?  This  question  is  being 
asked  by  many  people,  and  on  the  basis  of  research,  no  positive 
answer  can  be  made. 

A  letter  from  U.  S.  Senator  Lester  C.  Hunt  to  the  Wyoming  State 
Archives  and  Historical  Department  written  in  April,  1951,  stated: 

"Under  the  provisions  of  a  law  passed  in  1818  which  states  that 
a  new  star  shall  be  added  to  the  blue  field  of  the  Flag  on  the  4th  of 
July  of  the  year  following  admission  of  a  new  State  into  the  Union, 
two  stars  were  added  on  July  4,  1 89 1 ,  thereby  making  provision 
for  the  entry  of  Idaho  and  Wyoming  in  1 890.  There  is  no  statutory 
provision,  however,  how  the  stars  shall  be  arranged  and,  strangely 
enough,  there  are  practically  no  pictures  in  existence  today  of  the 
Flag  at  that  time." 

Regarding  a  drawing  enclosed  with  his  letter.  Senator  Hunt 
wrote,  "The  drawing  is  a  reproduction  of  a  picture  of  the  Flag  as  it 
was  when  flown  during  the  Chicago  Columbian  Exposition  during 
the  time  when  there  were  44  states."  (Idaho  became  the  43rd 
state  on  July  3,  1890.)  That  drawing  showed  eight  stars  in  the 
first  and  sixth  rows,  and  seven  stars  in  the  second,  third,  fourth  and 
fifth  rows  with  the  seven  star  rows  staggered  inward. 

Forty-four  star  flags  in  the  Wyoming  State  Museum  show  the 
same  number  of  stars  in  each  row  as  described  above,  but  the 
arrangement  of  the  stars  differs  in  each  one.  The  accompanying 
photographs  of  two  of  these  flags  show  the  most  common  arrange- 
ments of  stars  in  the  field. 


¥¥¥4¥¥¥      i,>^^i,n.i,^.i, 
if.  jf  if  jf  jf  jf  if    i(^if^i(^i( 

^   "   ^  "         3fik-ifikifik^ 

if  if  if  if  if  jf  if  t^if^if^if^ 

jf  j^  if  if  Af  if  Af  -^\ik^3fik^^ik^ifi^^' 


Chcyenm-'Deadwood  Zmil  Zrek 

Trek  No.  15  of  the  Emigrant  Trail  Treks 

Sponsored  by 

WYOMING  STATE  ARCHIVES  AND  HISTORICAL 

DEPARTMENT 

WYOMING  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

Laramie   County   Historical   Society,    Goshen   County   Historical 

Society  and  Platte  County  Historical  Society 

under  the  direction  of 

Albert  Bartlett,  Lyle  Hildebrand,  Paul  Henderson,  Dick  Eklund 

and  Maurine  Carley 

Compiled  by 

Maurine  Carley  -  Trek  Historian 

June  20-21,  1964 

Caravan — 40  cars 125  participants 

OFFICERS 

Captain: William  R.  Bradley,  Director,  Wyoming  State 

Highway  Patrol 

Wagon  Boss:..-. Lyle  Hildebrand 

Announcers:.- Verne  Mokler,  Bill  Dubois 

Guides: Albert  Bartlett,  Russell  Thorp,  George  Grant, 

Oscar  Yoder,  Bill  McConnell,  Dick  Eklund, 
H.  E.  Guard 

Historian : Maurine  Carley 

Topographer : Paul  Henderson 

Photographers: ..Helen  Henderson,  Marguerite  Martin,  Pete  La 

Bonte 

Press: Jim  Griffith,  Paula  Dumford 

Registrars: Meda  Walker,  Jane  Huston 

Cooks:. Elizabeth  Hildebrand,  Fran  Boan,  and  volun- 
teers 

NOTE:  The  stages  started  at  the  Inter  Ocean  Hotel  on  16th  and 
Capitol  in  Cheyenne.  However,  we  shall  begin  our  mile- 
age at  the  entrance  to  Warren  Air  Force  Base.     (3  M) 

After  gold  was  discovered  in  the  Black  Hills  by  General  Custer's 
men  in  1874  it  was  difficult  to  stop  white  men  from  entering  Indian 
lands,  although  the  land  had  been  set  aside  for  the  Indians  in  the 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  77 

1868  treaty.  Under  pressure  Congress  finally  forced  the  Sioux  to 
relinquish  the  Hills  and  go  to  their  reservations  which  left  the 
country  legally  open  to  prospectors. 

As  a  result  of  the  gold  rush  which  followed,  the  Cheyenne  and 
Black  Hills  Stage  and  Express  Line  was  established.  Change 
stations  were  built  at  fifteen  mile  intervals  and  fine  Concord 
coaches,  drawn  by  four  or  six  sturdy  horses,  were  provided.  The 
stages  left  Cheyenne  and  Deadwood  on  a  daily  schedule  carrying 
mail,  express,  gold  bullion  (more  than  a  half  million  dollars  worth 
of  Black  Hills  gold  reached  Cheyenne  during  the  summer  of  1 876 ) , 
and  passengers.  The  journey  was  continuous  with  stops  only  for 
meals  and  a  change  of  horses.  The  trip  took  three  days  and  nights 
covering  a  distance  of  300  miles. 

The  only  worry  was  with  hostile  Indians  or  road  agents,  but  the 
competent  drivers  and  their  shot  gun  companions  kept  the  coaches 
rolling  until  1887  when  the  train  took  the  place  of  the  stages,  j 

Saturday  -  June  20,  1964 

Guides  -  Albert  Bartlett,  Oscar  Yoder,  George  Grant 

8:00  A.M.  The  caravan  assembled  in  Cheyenne  at  the  entrance 
to  Lions  Park  near  the  Community  building  on  a  beautiful  sunny 
morning.  After  registration  and  introductions,  friends  greeted 
each  other  and  new  members  were  welcomed  to  the  trek. 

CHEYENNE  DURING  STAGE  COACH  DAYS 
By  William  Dubois 

The  city  of  Cheyenne  had  its  beginning  when  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  gangs  came  into  Wyoming  territory  in  1867.  By  the  end 
of  a  decade  the  town  had  lost  much  of  its  rowdy  reputation  and  had 
become  one  of  culture  and  refinement.  The  Inter  Ocean  Hotel 
had  its  grand  opening  on  September  15,  1875,  and  boasted  the 
most  elegant  furnishings  and  finest  Brussels  carpets  to  be  found 
anywhere.  From  its  menu  one  could  order  anything  from  Rich- 
elieu Ragout  to  Whipped  Syllabub  or  from  Blanquette  of  Fowls 
with  Queen  olives  a  la  Concle  to  Larded  Tendons  of  Veal  a  la 
Jackmiere.  There  were  five  churches,  two  schools,  two  hardware 
stores,  three  large  groceries,  bake  shops,  a  jewelry  store,  a  confec- 
tionery store,  tailor  shops,  barber  shops,  blacksmith  shops,  board- 
ing houses,  two  other  hotels,  and  of  course  numerous  saloons  and 
amusement  houses. 

By  1875  the  news  of  gold  in  the  Black  Hills  created  excitement 
and  unrest  in  Cheyenne  which  thought  of  itself  as  the  gateway  to 
the  Hills.  A  freight  line  from  Fort  Russell  to  Fort  Laramie  had 
been  in  existence  since  1867  so  the  ambitious  Cheyenne  citizens 
dreamed  of  a  stage  line  continuing  on  to  the  gold  fields  near  Dead- 
wood.  Constant  attempts  were  made  to  keep  Cheyenne  in  the 
limelight.    Repeated  advertisements  appeared  throughout  the  East 


or  A  9  lyo 


|A1^>**.     Kswl»*d 


J^i  M.   F  e  It  T    i>IRAMlir. 


■y^ 


Ai.  Cki/4yi«r4<«.r.    CPfif-itr^s  t 


atK.  Korxe    Cv««.f(lt.   CA'*f*»%>. 


9-n-  cttarfHttt 


Courtesy  of  M.  Helen  Henderson 
MAP  OF  THE  CHEYENNE  AND  DEADWOOD  ROAD,  1876-1887 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  79 

extolling  the  availability  of  Cheyenne  to  the  Hills.  In  March  of 
1875  an  estimated  distance  table  from  Cheyenne  to  Custer  ap- 
peared in  the  Cheyenne  Leader.  At  the  same  time  Sidney,  Ne- 
braska, also  ambitious,  proclaimed  that  it  was  the  nearest  point  to 
the  Hills.  The  two  jealous  towns  were  extremely  nasty  to  each 
other  through  their  newspapers. 

Cheyenne  swarmed  with  disgruntled  gold  seekers,  weary  report- 
ers and  impatient  men  of  all  types  waiting  for  the  government  to 
open  the  Hills  for  prospecting.  Before  the  wheels  on  the  trail 
could  turn,  the  Indians  had  to  be  persuaded  to  give  up  their  claim 
to  the  Hills.  Brilliant  receptions  were  given  for  Indian  Chiefs  in 
the  East,  and  they  were  entertained  royally  at  the  McDaniels 
Theatre  in  Cheyenne.  Five  dollar  certificates  were  handed  out  by 
the  theatre,  and  the  government  gave  each  chief  a  $100  outfit 
which  included  a  horse,  bridle,  saddle,  blanket  and  lariat,  but  still 
they  refused  to  relinquish  their  land. 

There  were  constant  tales  of  gold  in  the  Black  Hills  during  this 
time,  and  the  government  had  a  difficult  time  trying  to  stop  the 
clamor.  Military  orders  only  made  the  people  more  anxious  to  go 
after  the  gold. 

Finally  Judge  WiUiam  Kuykendall  on  November  11,  1875,  pre- 
sented a  bill  in  the  state  legislature  to  locate  and  establish  a  terri- 
torial wagon  road  from  Cheyenne  to  the  Black  HiUs.  This  became 
a  law  on  December  1,  and  George  Homan  was  given  the  contract 
for  a  daily  stage  Mne  which  he  wished  to  call  the  Centennial  Line 
in  honor  of  the  100th  anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. However  he  was  not  sure  that  his  stage  stations  would  be 
adequately  protected,  and  he  feared  he  might  not  get  the  mail 
contract  which  would  not  be  given  by  the  government  until  the 
Sioux  problem  could  be  solved,  so  he  sold  his  business  to  F.  D. 
Yates  and  Company. 

Fortunately  the  Indians  were  ordered  to  report  to  their  agencies 
by  January  31,  1876,  so  the  "first  coach  of  the  Cheyenne  and 
Black  Hills  Stage,  Mail  and  Express  line  stopped  in  front  of  the 
Inter  Ocean  hotel  at  7  A.M.  to  pick  up  passengers."  Doc  Howard 
was  holding  the  lines  for  the  stage  which  held  7  passengers.  It  was 
from  this  same  hotel  eleven  years  later  and  also  in  the  month  of 
February,  that  the  last  stagecoach  left  Cheyenne.  This  time 
George  Lathrop  was  on  the  box. 

On  February  12  the  line  was  sold  to  Gilmore,  Salisbury  and 
Patrick,  and  Luke  Voorhees  became  the  capable  superintendent. 
Thirty  Concord  coaches,  built  for  hard  service  and  bad  climate 
were  shipped  to  Cheyenne  and  600  horses  were  bought.  By  1877 
$200,000  was  invested  in  the  Company  and  the  monthly  payroll 
for  80  men  amounted  to  $7,000. 

Cheyenne  boasted  of  supreme  protection,  but  Indian  attacks 
and  later  the  road  agents  were  to  cause  slack  periods  in  the  passen- 


80  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

ger  transportation.  Late  in  1878  a  treasure  coach  was  reinforced 
with  iron  by  A.  D.  Butler  of  Cheyenne  to  make  it  bullet  proof,  and 
was  named  the  Monitor.  It  might  have  been  bullet  proof  but 
nevertheless  it  was  robbed  and  the  treasure  taken.  The  robbery  of 
this  great  coach  caused  a  great  flurry  of  posses  who  went  out  to 
capture  the  agents.  ^ 

In  1883  Russell  Thorp,  Sr.,  purchased  the  line.  No  better 
qualified  man  could  have  been  found.  He  had  come  to  Cheyenne 
in  1875  and  operated  a  livery  stable  on  16th  street.  In  1877  he 
had  set  up  a  hack  and  bus  line  from  the  railroad  to  the  Inter  Ocean 
Hotel,  and  the  following  year  he  organized  the  stockyards  at  the 
Union  Pacific  for  all  the  stock  in  transit.  In  1880  he  became  the 
superintendent  for  the  stage  line  from  Tie  Siding  to  North  Park, 
Colorado,  and  shortly  thereafter  he  began  his  investments  in  sev- 
eral Black  Hills  mines.  After  he  bought  the  Raw  Hide  Buttes 
Ranch  it  became  the  home  station  for  the  stages.  Through  many 
misfortunes  including  floods,  fires  and  blizzards,  Mr.  Thorp  kept 
the  stages  running  and  he  took  everything  in  good  stride. 

The  year  1878  was  the  beginning  of  Cheyenne's  great  gilded 
era — the  period  of  the  reign  of  the  cattle  men  who  invested  heavily 
in  the  lands  of  Laramie  County,  and  who  brought  to  Cheyenne 
their  impeccable  social  amenities  and  desires  for  the  finer  things  in 
life.  By  1884  the  cattle  era  was  at  its  peak,  creating  a  most 
sophisticated  culture  and  society  in  Cheyenne.  The  world  famous 
Cheyenne  Club  was  in  full  swing,  wining  and  dining  the  wealthy 
in  the  atmosphere  of  an  elegant  English  club.  It  was  said  that 
more  high-priced  liquor  was  bought  by  this  club  than  by  any  other 
in  the  United  States.  The  severe  blizzard  of  1886-1887  was  to 
bring  this  period  of  glamor  to  an  end.  The  cattlemen  were  forced 
to  return  to  their  homes  in  the  East  or  Europe  after  the  northerly 
blasts  swept  away  their  fortunes. 

(  It  was  on  February  19,  1 887,  that  the  last  stage  coach  rolled  out 
from  Cheyenne  to  the  Hills.  The  Cheyenne  and  Northern  Railroad 
had  been  built  so  the  stages  were  no  longer  necessary  or  practical. 
It  is  indeed  a  strange  coincidence  that  these  two  fascinating  chap- 
ters of  Cheyenne's  history  were  concluded  at  the  same  time. 

9:00  A.M.  The  trip  through  the  former  Fort  D.  A.  Russell, 
now  Warren  Air  Force  Base,  was  made  possible  by  Major  Huley 
Bray,  who  arranged  for  the  Commanding  Officer,  Colonel  W.  W. 
Brier  Jr.,  to  meet  us  at  the  site  of  the  original  entrance  of  Fort 
Russell.  The  site  is  now  marked  by  two  trees  and  a  stone  marker 
which  reads  as  follows: 

These  two  cottonwood  trees  mark  the  entrance  to  FORT  D.  A. 
RUSSELL  as  it  existed  in  1885.  To  the  memory  of  the  men  of  the 
Ninth  Infantry  Regiment,  U.  S.  Army,  who  formed  the  garrison  at 
that  time.  This  marker  is  respectfully  dedicated.  U.  S.  Air  Force 
1957 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  81 

After  leaving  the  Fort  we  turned  east  to  pass  Round  Top  Res- 
ervoir where  we  could  see  the  trail  (5.4M).  At6.6Mwe  crossed 
the  Organ  ditch  which  first  brought  Crow  Creek's  water  to  Chey- 
enne. 

As  we  crossed  Dry  Ravine  (9  M)  we  could  see  on  our  left  the 
site  of  a  road  ranch  called  Nine  Mile  which  was  not  a  regular  stage 
stop  but  accommodated  freighters. 

9:30  A.M.  After  crossing  several  gentle  rolling  hills  we 
dropped  down  to  Lodge  Pole  Creek  (18.3  M)  and  stopped  at  a 
monument  on  which  was  inscribed  the  following: 

POLE  CREEK  RANCH  was   1st  regular  stop  of  the  Cheyenne  & 
Black  Hills  Stage  18  miles  from  Cheyenne.    A  hotel  was  built  in  1876. 

THE  SCHWARTZE  RANCH  OR  POLE  CREEK  RANCH 
By  Ted  Bohlen 

After  leaving  Cheyenne  and  passing  through  a  series  of  gently 
rolling  hills,  the  Cheyenne  -  Deadwood  road  dropped  down  a  steep 
slope  into  a  valley  to  the  crossing  of  Lodge  Pole  Creek,  18  miles 
from  Cheyenne.  There,  Pole  Creek  Ranch  was  the  first  regular 
stop  on  the  Cheyenne  and  Black  Hills  Stage.  Fred  W.  Schwartze, 
the  owner,  had  ranched  here  since  1871.  He  owned  several  hun- 
dred head  of  cattle  and  horses,  and  had  an  excellent  meadow  from 
which  he  annually  cut  over  a  hundred  tons  of  hay.  He  also  raised 
fine  vegetables,  including  everything  from  potatoes  to  artichokes. 

There  was  a  large,  round,  frame  barn  close  to  the  house,  and 
cowsheds  and  corrals  were  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road.  Vis- 
itors were  often  taken  to  a  platform  at  the  top  of  the  large  wind- 
mill. From  here  they  had  a  fine  view  of  Pole  Creek  Valley,  includ- 
ing Post's  P.  O.  Ranch,  four  miles  down  the  creek,  and  Tim  Dyer's 
sheep  ranch,  an  equal  distance  upstream. 

The  Pole  Creek  Ranch  was  a  favorite  stopping  place  for  the 
Black  Hillers.  In  May  of  1876  Schwartze  constructed  a  fine  two- 
story-  hotel,  in  which  he  furnished  meals  at  all  hours  to  the  weary 
travelers,  and  room  accomodations.  He  advertised  that  his  terms 
were  "reasonable."  He  could  stable  50  head  of  stock,  and  the 
horses  of  the  stage  line  were  changed  here. 

From  this  little,  wind-swept  Wyoming  ranch  came  one  of  the 
handsomest  chorus  girls  in  the  original  company  which  played  the 
"Prince  of  Pilsen."  Her  name  was  Minna  Schwartze.  A  rising 
young  reporter,  who  first  saw  the  show  in  Chicago,  became  enam- 
ored of  the  striking  young  actress  and  married  her.  He  was  Frank- 
lin P.  Adams,  and  he  later  became  a  famous  newspaper  columnist 
and  a  well-known  and  respected  radio  performer.  Some  years 
later  they  were  divorced  and  Minna  went  to  live  in  Paris.  A 
Wyoming  friend  remarked,  "A  long  trail  from  Pole  Creek  to 
Paris." 


82  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Minna  Adams  recalled  a  fracas  which  occurred  at  the  ranch 
when  she  was  very  small.  It  seems  that  a  storm  was  brewing  that 
day  in  late  autumn  and  everyone  from  the  ranch,  including  the 
bartender,  was  helping  with  the  haying.  Mrs.  Isaac  Bard,  a 
neighbor,  arrived  with  some  friends  for  a  visit  with  Mrs.  Schwartze. 
As  Mrs.  Schwartze  was  preparing  coffee  for  her  guests,  she  heard 
shooting  in  the  bar  which  adjoined  the  large  dining  room.  The 
guests  and  two  Swedish  hired  girls  lost  no  time  in  dashing  out  of 
the  house,  fleeing  along  the  porch  in  the  general  area  toward  the 
creek.  Mrs.  Schwartze,  being  in  what  was  then  known  as  a 
"delicate  condition,"  lifted  Minna  to  her  shoulder  and  started  to 
follow  those  who  had  already  departed.  As  she  was  about  to 
leave,  a  shot  came  through  the  door  and  hit  a  china  door  knob, 
deflecting  across  the  room.  At  the  same  time,  a  large  man, 
obviously  in  a  drunken  stupor,  lurched  through  the  door,  cocked 
pistol  in  hand,  and  asked  where  the  whiskey  was. 

Minna  recalled  that  she  remembered  her  mother  grabbing  the 
big  fellow  by  the  collar,  and  in  a  most  reckless  manner  marching 
him  through  the  door  to  the  bar.  All  the  while  the  six-shooter  was 
being  waved  about  in  a  manner  which,  to  put  mildly,  was  far  from 
comforting.  Mrs.  Schwartze  and  Minna  joined  the  others  by  the 
creek  and  did  not  return  to  the  house  until  the  stage  arrived.  That 
same  night  Mrs.  Schwartze's  child  was  born  dead. 

Efforts  to  track  down  the  drunken  celebrants  were  not  success- 
ful. A  rather  detailed  account  of  the  affair  appeared  in  the  1882 
Police  Gazette  which  no  doubt  left  its  readers  wondering  about 
the  "Great  Wild  West." 

10:00  A.  M.  Departed.  The  country  continued  to  be  rolling. 
At  25.1  M  the  old  trail  could  be  seen  100  feet  to  the  left  around  the 
foot  of  a  hill. 

10:15  A.M.  The  second  scheduled  stop  for  the  north-bound 
stages  was  the  Horse  Creek  Station  (28.  M)  where  no  evidence 
remains  of  the  former  buildings.  The  Pagan  Ranch  location  was 
pointed  out  on  a  meadow  about  1 50  yards  north  of  the  creek. 

PAGAN  RANCH  OR  HORSE  CREEK  STATION 

By  Mary  Elizabeth  Carpender 

It  might  be  interesting  to  note  at  this  time  the  type  of  vehicle 
used  for  the  Cheyenne-Deadwood  run.  The  stage  coaches  were 
made  in  Concord,  New  Hampshire.  They  were  huge  affairs  with 
no  springs  but  were  cradled  on  two  strips  of  leather  which  extended 
from  jacks  in  front  of  the  front  axle  to  jacks  in  back  of  the  rear 
axle.  This  design  was  known  as  a  thorough  brace.  The  body 
rocked  on  these  braces  and  nothing  has  ever  been  built  to  compare 
with  the  easy  riding  thorough-brace  coach. 

Pour  or  six  horses  were  used  to  pull  these  stages,  depending  on 
the  size  of  the  coach,  the  cargo  and  number  of  passengers.     The 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  83 

driver,  skillful  in  handling  the  reins,  rode  in  the  driver's  seat.  Be- 
hind him  was  the  Dicky  seat;  also  on  top  as  was  the  China  seat 
which  faced  the  rear.  A  shotgun  messenger,  a  man  with  a  gun, 
was  seated  beside  the  driver,  and  when  necessary  for  extra  pro- 
tection, a  couple  more  shotgun  messengers  were  mounted  and  rode 
at  the  side  and  rear  of  the  coach.  The  passengers  rode  inside  or 
on  top  and  the  luggage,  mail  and  express  were  stored  in  two  com- 
partments, or  boots,  located  at  the  front  and  back  of  the  coach. 
The  treasure  box  was  under  the  inside  front  seat  or  sometimes  in 
the  front  boot. 

First  class  tickets,  Cheyenne  to  Custer  City,  were  $20,  second 
class  tickets  were  $15  and  the  third  class  cost  $10.  Rates  applied 
only  to  through  tickets.  Some  people  who  paid  only  $5  had  to 
walk  behind  the  coaches  on  the  hard  pulls  up  steep  hills. 

The  stage  route  was  divided  into  eight  divisions  from  40  to  60 
miles  in  length,  depending  upon  the  water  situation.  Within  these 
divisions  were  stage  stations  or  eating  stations.  We  are  visiting 
stage  stations  on  this  trek.  The  stations,  where  a  change  of  horses 
was  made  and  meals  were  provided  for  the  passengers,  were  about 
16  miles  apart.  The  average  speed  of  the  stage  was  about  eight 
miles  per  hour.  The  drivers  drove  day  and  night.  It  took  48  to 
56  hours  including  stops,  to  make  the  run  from  Cheyenne  to  the 
Black  Hills,  a  distance  of  300  miles.  Weather  conditions  were 
often  the  determining  factor  of  the  length  of  time. 

An  eating  station  was  set  up  here  at  Pagan's,  about  28  miles 
from  Cheyeime.  It  was  usually  referred  to  as  Pagan's  Ranch. 
Here  Michael  Pagan  in  the  spring  of  1876  completed  a  very  large, 
solid  structure  containing  nine  rooms  and  a  "ladies'  parlor."  Pa- 
gan furnished  meals  at  50^  each  and  he  had  stabling  quarters  for 
75  head  of  stock.  He  owned  about  150  head  of  cattle  and  prided 
himself  on  raising  fine  watermelons,  tomatoes  and  cabbage.  Dur- 
ing two  days  of  the  big  snow  storm  of  1876,  approximately  250 
travelers  slept  in  the  Pagan  kitchen,  stables  and  outbuildings  in 
addition  to  the  regular  rooms. 

Ill  health  forced  Pagan  to  sell  early  in  1877  to  Mr.  Moore. 
Three  years  later  O.  P.  Goodwin,  married  to  a  Sioux  Indian,  pur- 
chased the  station.  The  ranch  was  treeless.  The  buildings  listed 
were  the  house,  saloon  and  station  stable. 

Some  stage  stations  were  not  as  commodious  as  others,  which 
can  be  seen  from  a  notation  in  Ayer's  diary:  "In  the  morning  the 
wind  died  down  and  it  stopped  snowing  (March  8,  1876)  but 
continued  cold.  We  left  Pole  Creek  at  8:30  A.M.  and  arrived  at 
Horse  Creek  about  noon.  Here  we  found  no  wood,  but  stopped  to 
feed  and  rest  the  horses,  and  we  ate  a  cold  lunch.  At  Bear  Springs 
we  paid  a  dollar  each,  for  the  priviledge  of  spreading  our  blankets 
on  a  dirt  floor  and  sleeping  in  a  log  house."  This  incident  was 
apparently  before  Michael  Pagan  established  his  ranch. 

In  the  Isaac  Bard  diary  we  find  a  couple  of  references  to  Pagan's 


84  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

ranch.  "Mon.  Jan.  1,  1875.  Had  a  rather  poor  breakfast  at 
Pagan's." 

"Mon.  Mar.  13.  Started  early  for  Chug  and  had  a  pleasant  Day 
stopped  at  Poll  Creek  and  had  a  glass  of  beer  with  Schwartze  then 
drove  over  to  Horse  Creek  and  put  up  with  Pagan  for  the  night. 
They  had  a  little  dance  during  the  evening  Pulled  out  before  Mrs. 
Pagan  got  breakfast." 

10:30  A.  M.  Very  shortly  we  came  to  Highway  87  on  which  we 
traveled  to  the  Bard  Ranch  (28  M)  where  we  stopped  at  the 
marker  which  reads: 

Cheyenne,  Ft.  Laramie,  Deadwood  Trail,  1876  -  1887.  Started 
from  Camp  Carlin  and  Ft.  D.  A.  Russell  on  the  west  edge  of  Chey- 
enne. This  road  first  ran  to  Ft.  Laramie  and  in  1876  was  extended  to 
Deadwood,  Dakota  Territory  and  the  Black  Hills  Gold  fields.  It  also 
joined  the  Bozeman  Road  and  Montana.  Little  Bear  Stage  Station, 
150  yards  east,  was  opened  as  a  road  ranch  by  Isaac  Bard,  May  4, 
1875.     It  became  a  Stage  Station  in  1877. 

Verne  Mokler  told  that  he  and  his  parents  passed  near  Bard's 
Ranch  on  Arizona  Crossing  when  it  took  two  days  to  make  the  trip 
from  Casper  to  Cheyenne  by  car  in  the  early  1900's. 

ISAAC  BARD  STAGE  STATION— LITTLE  BEAR, 
WYOMING 

With  notes  from  his  diaries 

1874—1875—1876 

By  Grace  Logan  Schaedel 

Isaac  Bard  might  not  have  been  a  lettered  man.  His  spelling  was 
often  completely  original.  Yet,  Isaac  Bard  left  a  substantial  heri- 
tage of  Wyoming  history.  Like  John  Hunton,  he  v/rote  a  day-by- 
day  diary  through  some  of  the  most  dramatic  years  of  the  last 
century.  He  filled  it  with  laconic  comments  on  the  tragedy,  hard- 
ships and  trivia  of  raw  frontier  life.  And  he  had  a  gift  for  detail 
that  made  his  account  come  alive  for  the  reader. 

Mark  Chapman  once  owned  the  Bard  diaries — and  would  have 
given  them  to  the  Wyoming  Historical  Department  in  the  1930's, 
but  at  that  time  they  were  not  interested.*  About  1942,  he  lent 
them  to  the  writer  briefly  to  read,  granting  permission  to  use  notes 
on  the  material,  covering  1874-'75-'76,  the  years  of  the  inception 
of  the  Cheyenne-Black  Hills  Stage  Line. 


*  Editor's  Note:  The  original  Bard  Diaries  were  purchased  by  W.  R. 
Coe  and  are  located  in  the  Collection  of  Western  Americana  at  Yale  Uni- 
versity Library.  Microfilm  copies  of  the  diaries  were  secured  by  the  Wyo- 
ming State  Archives  and  Historical  Department  from  Yale  University  in 
1954  for  research  use  in  the  Historical  Division. 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  85 

Born  in  New  York  state  in  1841,  Isaac  Bard  came  to  Cheyenne 
in  1867  with  a  Union  Pacific  construction  crew  and  when  the  rail- 
road moved  on  west,  he  stayed  and  freighted  out  of  Cheyenne.  He 
located  a  preemption  claim  on  Crow  Creek,  now  partly  within  the 
Cheyenne  city  limits,  where  he  lived  and  one  summer  grew  vege- 
tables to  sell. 

In  1 876,  Bard  filed  on  a  soldier's  homestead  here  on  Little  Bear, 
about  3 1  miles  by  stage  road  north  of  Cheyenne,  and  here  he  lived 
with  his  wife  Rose,  once  a  New  York  state  school  teacher,  and  his 
mother.  Here  he  established  a  stage  station  and  public  house  for 
Pilgrims — or  Black  Hillers,  as  he  called  them. 

Clyde  Snow,  reared  at  Bear  Springs,  says  Bard  was  almost  six 
feet  tall,  a  thin  black-haired  man. 

But  to  Bard's  diaries.  In  Cheyenne  in  1874  he  wrote:  "The 
wind  blew  the  roof  off  the  Cheyenne  Methodist  Church.  Feb.  18, 
1874.  The  military  act  like  they  meant  business.  Seen  18-yoak 
teams  start  for  Ft.  Laramie  from  Carlin,  escorted  by  one  company 
of  cavalry.    Rose  making  her  a  redingote. 

"Ja.  8,  1875.  Fearful  cold.  Froze  one  ear  going  to  P  O  and 
back.  Rose  had  her  house  plants  all  frozen  last  night.  Buckets 
froze  fast  in  well.  Apples  froze  hard  in  cellar.  Our  pet  robin 
frozen  stiff  last  night." 

The  following  entry  is  of  personal  interest  to  the  writer.  "Helped 
Hawle  one  barrel  of  water  up  to  Mr.  Logan's  House  on  the  Hill 
East  of  Town.  Reed  one  Dollar  for  it."  Mr.  Logan  was  Hill 
Logan,  father  of  Ernest  Logan  and  grandfather  of  the  writer,  who 
homesteaded  in  1875  on  what  is  now  Alta  Vista,  with  his  house 
on  the  hill  west  of  Alta  Vista  school.  He  drowned  in  Lake  Minne- 
haha in  1878. 

"Oct.  2,  1875.  Seen  President  Grant  at  Inter  Ocean  Hotel. 
Oct.  12.  Major  Glafcke's  stable  is  burning.  Oct.  13.  The  water 
boiled  from  the  potatoes  much  sooner  than  usual.  Good  indication 
of  rain.  [And  rain  it  did.]  Dec.  11,  1875.  Arrived  at  Chug 
station  in  time  for  dinner.  Portugee  Phillips  building  a  stable  to 
hold  24  horses.  Dec.  12,  1875.  Phillips  killed  a  white  spotted 
cow  about  4  years  old  with  a  calf  in  her.  A  sin  to  kill  her.  Dec. 
24,  1875.  Cheyenne.  Bought  for  mother  a  syrcle  cohmb  and  a 
large  pare  of  shears.  Will  put  them  in  her  stocking  this  eve.  Took 
3  ounces  of  gold  dust  to  apply  on  acct." 

And  then  to  1876  on  the  ranch.  "Two  bright  sundogs.  indica- 
tion of  continued  cold.  The  wind  blows  from  every  point  of  the 
compass.  Mother  received  a  nice  alpaca  dress  from  daughter 
Mattie. 

"Jan.  26,  1876.  Put  up  a  sign  board  for  Mr.  Phillips:  'Chug- 
water  Ranch  by  John  Phillips.  Hay,  Grain  and  Stabling.  52 
miles  to  Cheyenne,  24  to  Laramie'    I  think  it  will  draw  Pilgrims. 

"Jan.  27,  1876.  At  Chug.  Mr.  Brown  came  alone  stoped  for 
dinner.    First  trip  of  the  Black  Hills  stage  line  .  .  .  down  mail  came 


86  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

along  but  did  not  stop.  Feb.  7.  Mother  on  the  war  path.  Every- 
thing going  as  smoothly  as  pulHng  a  cat  by  the  tail."  (NOTE: 
Mrs.  George  Snow  of  Bear  Springs  once  told  the  writer  that  Bard's 
mother  in  her  later  years  was  half  crazy.  Mrs.  McCarty  and  baby 
Ed  spent  the  night  there  and  old  Mrs.  Bard  said,  "1  just  love  babies. 
I  kill  'em  and  drink  their  blood.") 

"Feb.  29,  1876.  Oure  Black  Hills  crowd  all  pulled  out  after 
laying  over  one  day.  I  am  very  glad  of  it.  They  neaded  watching 
all  the  time.  1  missed  Saw,  Hammer  and  hand  Axe — gone  to  the 
Black  Hills,  I  believe. 

"Feb.  22,  1  876.  Very  pleasant  all  day.  There  is  6  or  8  b  Hills 
teams  here.  Calamity  Jane  is  hear  going  up  with  the  troops.  I 
think  there  is  trouble  ahead  with  the  Indians.  Everything  is  crowd- 
ed hear,    there  is  7  companies  on  the  road. 

"Feb.  23,  1876.  Ranger  Johns  is  here  with  horces  he  recovered 
from  the  Indians.    They  are  rading  on  the  Laramie  again. 

"March  1,  1876.  Blustery.  Worked  on  the  new  bar  room  all 
day  for  John  Phillips  at  Chug.  March  2.  The  Black  Hillers  are 
bothering  me  a  good  Eale  of  late.  Can't  leave  a  thing  lying  around, 
for  it  will  get  the  BH  fever  and  start  immediately  for  the  Hills.  A 
rough  bunch.  Mostly  miners.  Friday,  March  3,  1876.  The  re- 
port is  that  Dick  Latham  and  Daugherty  is  killed  by  Indians. 
Nothing  shure.  As  the  Indians  say,  we  are  having  a  heap  of  wind 
of  late. 

"April  3,  1876.  Now  that  the  roads  are  all  right,  all  of  Crook's 
command  are  on  the  road,  headed  for  Cheyenne.  The  Indians 
got  the  better  of  them.  April  23.  Found  the  bones  of  a  man  in 
the  brush,  then  went  prospecting  for  rabbits.  April  25.  Mr. 
Graves  passed  up  today  with  a  coffin  for  the  body  of  Mr.  Brown, 
stage  driver.  The  Indians  are  having  there  own  way.  I  hope  it 
will  not  last  always.  It  looks  like  oure  government  is  of  no  ac- 
count, it  does  not  protect  the  lives  of  its  sitizens.  April  26,  1876. 
Stuttering  Brown's  body  passed  down  today.  Heck  Reels  bull 
teams  came  in  and  camped  down  the  crick. 

"April  28,  1876.  I  will  now  try  keeping  a  public  house  if  the 
Lord  is  willing  and  the  Indians  will  let  me  alone.  Tues.,  May  2. 
1876.  MacFarland  and  Charles  Clay  stayed  here  all  night,  m\ 
first  customers.  Ed  Carrington  went  in  town  to  marry  Mrs.  Math- 
ers, but  J.  Owns  got  ahead  of  him  and  got  away  with  her.  Edward 
says  that  is  the  way  they  serve  a  man  that  hasn't  any  money  .  .  . 
The  ranch  pretty  well  perfumed  by  a  polecat  and  whiskey." 

Meantime,  the  Indian  scare  along  the  Black  Hills  Road  sent 
would-be  miners  back  in  droves;  most  who  failed  to  find  gold  were 
indulging  in  sour  grapes. 

"May  3,  1876.  Lots  of  Black  Hillers  passed,  bound  for  Chey- 
enne. In  a  terrible  hurry  to  give  a  bad  report  of  the  Hills.  They 
got  all  they  want  of  it.  May  5.  Men  coming  out  of  the  Hills  very 
fast.    Some  waggons  show  marks  of  Indian  Bulletts.     Indian  news 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  87 

is  looking  bloody  again.    Shot  at  a  wolf  with  a  needle  gun. 

"May  8,  1876.  Found  my  stear  on  Horse  Creek.  He  broke 
for  the  brush.  My  horse  throughed  me.  Seen  a  polecat.  My  old 
black  cow  had  two  white  calves.  One  come  dead,  the  other  doing 
well.    Rose  beats  the  devil  on  promises. 

"May  17,  1876.  Seen  General  Crook  today.  He  looks  like 
some  old  farmer,  is  very  sociable.  They  are  camped  down  the 
crick.  May  19.  Took  in  $25  on  my  ranch  today.  It  is  the  best 
sale  yet. 

"July  18,  1876.  Clear  but  windy.  The  noted  Chief  Spotted 
Taile  called  on  his  way  to  the  Agency.  I  drank  a  glass  of  beare 
with  him.  He  is  a  fine  large  well-built  man.  has  been  on  a  visit 
to  the  whites  in  Cheyenne." 

And  then  our  notes  skip  to  Dec.  10,  1876:  "was  accidentley 
shot  in  the  leg  this  evening  in  taking  down  a  Revolver,  it  slipped 
out  of  Scabbard  and  struck  floor  on  hammer  whitch  rested  on  cart- 
ridge and  exploded,  the  Ball  entering  the  Inside  of  Small  part  of 
leg  and  ranging  up,  making  a  6-inch  wound.  I  suffered  teribaley 
for  about  3  Days,  but  it  is  now  mutch  easier." 

Isaac  Bard  himself  once  walked  to  the  Black  Hills,  and  that 
diary  was  the  most  amusing  of  all,  Mark  Chapman  said.  Unfor- 
tunately I  never  read  that  one.  Bard  lived  on  at  Little  Bear,  and 
then  a  ranch  he  bought  a  few  miles  farther  west,  until  1914  when 
he  moved  to  Cheyenne.  He  kept  up  the  diaries  a  few  months,  but 
found  little  of  interest  to  enter.  The  1915  edition  had  more  and 
more  blank  pages  until  he  gave  up  entirely.    He  died  in  1919. 

Bard  may  have  minimized  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  ranch 
life  after  he  got  away  from  them,  and  remembered  only  the  excite- 
ment. Possibly  he  then  felt  as  Billie  Lannen  did  when  he  moved  to 
town  from  his  ranch  at  Cheyenne  Pass.  Said  Lannen  wistfully, 
"Ah,  yes.    The  ranch  was  always  a  little  bit  of  heaven  to  me." 

10:55  A.M.  We  departed  north  on  the  highway  for  a  couple  of 
miles  then  turned  east  to  pass  the  old  Bear  Springs  Stage  Station 
(38  M)  named  for  the  springs  which  once  gushed  up  through  the 
sandy  bed  of  Bear  Springs  Creek.  There,  in  1875,  Jose  Armijo 
built  his  ranch  and  advertised  it  as  a  "first  class  ranch,  plenty  of 
stable  room,  hay  and  grain.  The  bar  supplied  with  the  best  of 
liquors,  meals  at  all  hours." 

He  later  sold  the  ranch  to  his  brother,  Miguel,  who  was  slow  in 
making  payments.  On  February  13,  1877,  Jose  rode  to  the  ranch 
to  collect  his  money  but  didn't  get  it  as  Miguel  shot  him  to  death 
during  a  quarrel. 

The  road  continued  over  plains  and  hills  to  the  well-timbered, 
picturesque  Chugwater  Valley  with  its  perpendicular  bluffs  on  both 
sides  of  the  valley.  In  Chugwater  (52  M)  we  paused  to  read  a 
marker  placed  by  the  former  Historical  Landmark  Commission  in 
commemoration  of  its  importance  as  a  division  point  on  the  stage 
line.    The  monument  reads: 


88  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

CHUGWATER.  Division  Stage  Station  Cheyenne  -  Black  Hills 
Trail  Established  March  18,  1876  Abandoned  September  1887  Russell 
Thorp,  Owner 

12:00  P.M.  We  turned  on  the  first  road  in  town  to  tiie  right 
and  crossed  the  railroad  tracks  to  the  Swan  Company  buildings 
where  lunches  were  eaten  on  the  lawn  of  the  old  hotel,  now  the 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  Templin.  Mrs.  Templin  graciously 
permitted  the  trekkers  to  wander  through  the  house  where  all 
admired  the  furnishings  and  room  arrangement. 

In  1964  the  Swan  Land  and  Catde  Co.  was  given  National 
Registered  Historic  Landmark  status,  chosen  because  it  is  an 
"excellent  example  of  the  early  cattle  empires  that  made  such  an 
outstanding  contribution  to  the  early  development  of  the  West." 

CHUGWATER  STAGE  STATION  AND  DIVISION  POINT 
By  Russell  Staats,  Mayor  of  Chugwater 

One  hundred  years  ago  there  were  no  trees  or  buildings  on  this 
spot.  Then  came  Portugee  Phillips,  Hi  Kelly  and  Thomas  Max- 
well, thrifty  ranchmen,  to  locate  on  these  broad  meadows  and  make 
their  homes.  Phillips  and  Kelly  were  quick  to  see  the  importance 
of  the  stage  line  which  passed  through  here  so  they  built  hotels 
and  helped  Chugwater  to  become  the  first  division  point  on  the 
trail. 

Phillips  kept  a  well-stocked  bar,  served  good  meals  and  had 
stalls  for  fifty  head  of  stock.  [At  this  point  Mr.  Staats  displayed 
patents  for  Mr.  Phillips'  land  signed  by  President  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
and  Rutherford  B.  Hayes] .  Phillips  sold  his  holdings  for  $16,000. 
His  hotel  was  torn  down  years  ago. 

The  building  which  stands  here  was  the  stage  station  and  hotel 
run  by  Hi  Kelly  who  came  in  the  early  70's.  His  was  not  the 
ordinary  stage  station  on  the  plains,  but  had  the  appearance  of  the 
home  of  a  wealthy  farmer.  You  can  see  that  the  exterior  was 
attractive  and  it  was  as  well  furnished  as  some  of  the  best  homes  in 
Cheyenne.  The  stable  across  the  road  from  the  hotel  was  large 
enough  to  hold  30  horses.  In  spite  of  constant  vigilance  Indians 
occasionally  went  into  the  barn  and  stole  the  horses. 

Tom  Duffy,  an  expert  reinsman  and  a  driver  with  style,  drove 
between  Chugwater  and  Ft.  Laramie  in  the  1880's.  When  Mr. 
Thorp,  Sr.  gave  one  of  the  Black  Hills  iron  clad  coaches  to 
Buffalo  Bill  for  his  Wild  West  Show  in  Europe,  Duffy  went  along 
as  driver.  Later  he  drove  a  coach  in  Yellowstone  and  finally  as  a 
very  old  man,  he  drove  a  little  buckboard  on  a  rural  free  delivery 
route. 

1 :30  P.M.  Although  the  trail  followed  down  the  valley  it  has 
long  been  washed  away  so  we  departed  on  Highway  87  to  the  Bor- 
deaux turnoff.  Many  times  the  stage  had  to  take  to  higher  ground 
when  the  valley  was  flooded. 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  89 

2:00  P.M.  We  stopped  near  the  spot  where  the  John  Hunton 
Hotel  once  stood  (66  M)  near  Chugwater  Creek  which  was  14 
miles  from  Chugwater  Station  by  the  trail. 

BORDEAUX 
By  Virginia  Trenholm 

One  of  the  most  historic  sites  in  Platte  County  is  Old  Bordeaux, 
or  Hunton's,  as  it  was  known  during  the  '70's  when  the  station 
was  owned  and  operated  by  John  Hunton,  one  of  Wyoming's  lead- 
ing historians.  Although  Bordeaux  predates  Hunton  at  this  place, 
both  names  are  reminiscent  of  days  gone  by. 

James  Bordeaux  was  a  shrewd  business  man.  An  evidence  of 
this  is  to  be  found  in  Francis  Parkman's  Oregon  Trail,  which  tells 
that  through  his  persuasive  argument  he  was  able  to  talk  Whirl- 
wind, the  Sioux  war  chief,  out  of  going  on  the  warpath.  Under  his 
influence,  the  Indian  "became  tired  like  a  child  of  his  favorite 
plan."  Bordeaux  then  exultantly  predicted  that  there  would  be  no 
war.    Business  could  be  conducted  as  usual. 

The  blustery  Frenchman,  known  to  his  wife's  people  as  "Mato" 
(Bear),  was  the  son-in-law  of  Swift  Bear,  a  Brule  Sioux  chief.  His 
story,  recorded  by  his  daughter  Susan  Bordeaux  Bettleyoun  and 
found  in  manuscript  form  in  the  Nebraska  State  Library,  makes 
interesting  reading. 

We  know  that  he  was  in  charge  at  Fort  Laramie  during  Fre- 
mont's visit  in  1 842  and  Parkman's  in  1 846,  as  both  mention  him 
in  their  journals.  Although  he  had  several  road  ranches,  he  made 
his  headquarters  at  the  one  at  Bordeaux  Bend,  nine  miles  down  the 
North  Platte  from  Fort  Laramie.  It  was  there  that  the  Grattan 
Massacre  took  place. 

In  1867,  Bordeaux  found  out  that  the  War  Department  had 
decided  to  construct  a  fort  to  the  south.  Through  Antoine  Ladeau, 
a  guide  at  Fort  Laramie,  he  learned:  (1)  where  Fort  D.  A.  Rus- 
sell was  to  be  located,  (2)  where  the  road,  as  well  as  the  telegraph 
line,  connecting  it  with  Fort  Laramie  was  to  be  constructed,  and 
( 3 )  where  the  road  would  branch  to  the  left,  going  north  from  Fort 
Russell  to  Fort  Fetterman,  the  supply  depot  for  Forts  Reno,  Phil 
Kearny,  and  C.  F.  Smith. 

The  branch  road,  difficult  to  follow  today  since  much  of  the 
ground  has  been  tilled,  was  known  variously  as  the  Sweitzer — the 
Fetterman — the  Bordeaux  Cutoff.  From  Bordeaux  it  went  to 
Billy  Bacon's  on  the  Laramie,  to  Tobe  Miller's  on  Cottonwood, 
to  the  White  Bridge  on  Horseshoe  and  on  northward  to  Fetterman. 
The  enterprising  Bordeaux  chose  to  establish  his  road  ranch  at  the 
strategic  place  where  the  road  branched.  There  he  built  a  three- 
room  log  structure,  and  with  supplies  he  had  brought  from  Bor- 
deaux Bend,  set  up  his  store  on  Chugwater.     After  placing  Hugh 


90  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Whitesides  in  charge,  he  returned  to  his  headquarters  at  Bordeaux 
Bend. 

According  to  John  Hunton,  Whitesides  was  killed  behind  his 
counter  the  following  year  by  an  outlaw,  known  as  Franklin,  "a 
professional  desperado  and  horse-thief/'  His  subsequent  hanging, 
it  seems,  had  nothing  to  do  with  his  killing  Whitesides.  The  next 
managers  were  Cy  Williams  and  a  man  named  SwoUey,  who 
employed  a  young  half-breed  Indian  boy,  Baptiste  Ladeau,  pre- 
sumably the  son  of  Antoine. 

One  morning  in  March,  1868,  the  boy  quit  his  job  and  started 
to  Fort  Laramie.  On  the  way,  he,  his  horse,  and  his  dog  were 
overtaken  by  the  unscrupulous  Williams  and  Swolley  and  killed. 
Six  weeks  later  the  bodies  were  found  by  soldiers.  In  the  mean- 
time, Williams  had  been  slain  by  half-breeds  at  the  Cuny  and 
Ecoffey  ranch  near  Fort  Laramie  and  Swolley  had  quit  the  country. 
Bordeaux  was  then  operated  by  Ed  Fouchs,  an  old  bullwhacker, 
for  a  couple  of  years.  In  the  summer  of  1  870,  Fouchs  sold  it  to 
John  Barrett,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  John  Hunton,  October  28, 
1870. 

The  first  mention  of  excitement  in  the  Black  Hills  is  found  in 
John  Hunton's  Diary,  under  date  of  March  23,  1874.  An  expedi- 
tion was  being  sent  to  the  Black  Hills  to  bring  the  miners  out.  The 
"considerable  excitement,"  to  which  Hunton  casually  refers  was 
the  discovery  of  gold  that  was  to  cause  frenzied  prospectors  to 
rush  by  the  thousands  to  "the  Hills."  No  thought  was  given  by 
the  white  man  to  the  treaty  rights  of  the  Indians. 

Under  date  of  April  21,  Numpa,  a  Sioux,  came  to  Bordeaux 
with  the  information  that  the  Indians  were  divided  on  the  sale  of 
the  Black  Hills.  Unless  satisfactory  arrangements  could  be  made, 
the  Indians  would  fight.  A  month  later,  a  delegation  of  eighty 
tribal  leaders  under  Red  Cloud  passed  through  Bordeaux  on  their 
way  to  Washington.  Louis  Bordeaux,  the  half-breed  son  of  James, 
served  as  interpreter  on  the  fruitless  journey  to  settle  the  issue 
with  the  Great  White  Father.  The  Sioux  returned,  more  deter- 
mined than  ever  not  to  sell  but  to  defend  by  war,  if  necessary, 
their  rights  to  the  Black  Hills. 

In  July,  1875,  General  Crook  and  his  command  passed  through 
Bordeaux  going  north.  In  November,  a  Cheyenne  paper  pre- 
dicted that  by  May  next  the  Black  Hills  would  be  in  the  possession 
of  5,000  miners.  Stage  companies  were  quickly  organized,  and 
coaches,  carrying  gold  seekers  in  ever-increasing  numbers,  passed 
through  Bordeaux,  while  Indian  resentment  mounted.  Sitting  Bull, 
in  January,  1876,  was  the  first  to  go  on  the  warpath,  and  Crook 
made  ready  his  expedition  at  Fort  Fetterman.  The  cavalry,  mov- 
ing north,  soon  exhausted  the  supply  of  hay  at  Bordeaux. 

In  spite  of  war  clouds,  business  was  booming  at  Bordeaux  as 
well  as  at  Cheyenne.  In  April  a  new  dirt  roof  was  put  on  the  old 
roadhouse,  and  in  May,  Jim  Hunton — the  youngest  of  the  three 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  91 

Hunton  brothers — was  killed  by  a  raiding  party.  Except  for  fur- 
nishing hay  and  beef — it  took  six  days  to  drive  cattle  from  Bor- 
deaux to  Fetterman — this  station  was  not  directly  involved  in  the 
Indian  wars  of  '76.  There  were,  however,  scares  and  skirmishes 
throughout  the  area.  In  October,  the  Indians,  who  had  driven 
away  all  of  Hunton's  horses  and  mules  at  the  time  they  killed  young 
Hunton,  returned  to  kill  a  soldier,  wound  two  others,  and  steal 
four  horses. 

Crook  again  passed  through  Bordeaux,  this  time  in  January, 
1877,  on  his  way  south  after  his  major  expedition  against  the 
Sioux.  The  pack  trains  camped  on  the  creek  just  below  the  ranch 
buildings. 

Throughout  the  '70's,  Bordeaux  served  as  a  mail  distribution 
center  for  nearly  all  of  the  ranches  to  the  west  and  north,  as  far 
away  as  La  Bonte,  Horseshoe,  Cottonwood,  North  Laramie  and 
Sybille.  Except  for  a  brief  time  in  1874-75,  the  Bordeaux  road 
ranch  sold  whiskey  and  furnished  meals  and  lodging  until  the 
railroad  reached  there  in  1887.  In  1881  the  concrete  ranch  house 
was  built  for  Blanche,  John  Hunton's  Virginia  bride.  In  1887 
the  hotel,  the  large  barn,  and  the  office  building  were  constructed. 
They  were  located  half  a  mile  north  and  west  of  the  original  road 
ranch,  which  was  about  250  feet  west  of  where  the  LD  ranch  house 
now  stands.  The  Bordeaux  ranch  comprised  6,000  acres  of 
patented  land.  Hunton,  who  went  to  Fort  Laramie  in  1888  to 
make  his  home,  gave  up  managing  control  in  October,  1889,  with 
Teschmacher  and  de  Billier  succeeding  him.  This  location  was 
favored  by  the  latter,  while  his  partner  preferred  their  ranch  hold- 
ings on  Uva  and  Cottonwood,  commonly  known  as  the  Duck  Bar 
ranches. 

Over  the  years,  all  record  has  been  lost  of  the  people  who  lie 
buried  in  the  unmarked  graves  to  the  north  of  the  ranch  house. 
And  yet  in  reading  the  Hunton  diaries  we  have  a  lively  glimpse  of 
happenings  at  Bordeaux  during  the  '70's.  Two  characters,  who 
stand  out  from  among  the  rest,  were  "Little  Bat"  Garnier  and  his 
sister  Lallee.  Their  father  was  a  French  trader  and  their  mother  a 
Sioux.  Little  Bat  held  the  respect  of  John  Hunton  until  he  met 
his  untimely  death.  Lallee  found  herself  in  the  unhappy  position 
of  being  a  discarded  Indian  wife  like  many  others  who  were  sent  to 
the  reservation  when  white  women  were  coming  West  to  take  their 
places  in  the  newly  settled  country.  Although  you  may  have 
noticed  that  Mr.  Hunton,  like  others  of  the  time,  referred  to  her  in 
his  diary  by  the  unflattering  term  "squaw,"  he  lived  to  regret  it. 

Sometime  before  his  death  in  1928,  he  visited  the  State  Library 
where  he  called  for  a  government  report  which  told  how  "Hunton's 
squaw"  had  saved  the  lives  of  eight  soldiers  at  Bordeaux  by  warn- 
ing them  that  the  Sioux  were  planning  an  attack.  John  Hunton, 
after  verifying  the  report,  said  to  the  librarian,  "Don't  ever  call  an 
Indian  woman  a  squaw.    Those  women  were  just  as  loyal  to  their 


TREKKERS  GATHERED  AT  LIONS   PARK,  CHEYENNE, 
STARTING  TREK 


CHUG  SPRINGS,  ALSO  KNOW  AS  PATTON'S 


SITE  OF  EAGLE'S  NEST  STAGE  STATION  ON  CHEYENNE- 
DEADWOOD  TRAIL 

Courtesy  of  Pierre  La  Bonte 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  93 

husbands  as  any  white  woman  could  possibly  be!"  Although  he 
followed  the  pattern  of  the  time  by  sending  Lallee  to  the  reserva- 
tion, she  had  earned  a  lasting  place  in  his  affections,  and  he 
respected  her  in  his  memory. 

2:30  P.M.  For  the  next  four  miles  we  traveled  the  old  trail  to 
Chug  Springs  (70  M),  a  stage  station  and  a  favorite  spot  of  the 
Indians. 

CHUG  SPRINGS 

By  Hazelle  Ferguson 

Chug  Springs,  located  in  a  pleasant  valley  four  or  five  miles 
northeast  of  Bordeaux,  was  used  by  travelers  as  early  as  1830. 
The  first  reference  I  found  to  Chug  Springs  was  made  by  John 
Hunton  who  stated  that  Robert  Campbell  spent  the  winter  of 
1834  here  when  he  was  on  his  way  from  St.  Louis  to  the  rendez- 
vous at  Green  River  with  four  cows  and  two  bulls. 

The  abundance  of  native  meadow  grass  provided  grazing  for 
the  horses  and  the  springs  furnished  plenty  of  good  water  for  man 
and  beast.  The  sandrock  bluffs  to  the  north  and  east  sheltered 
the  place  from  cold  winter  winds,  and  wood  was  available  from  the 
willow  and  boxelder  trees  along  the  stream. 

Hunton  also  related  that  long  prior  to  1867  there  was  a  trail 
running  southwest  from  old  Fort  Laramie  via  Chug  Springs  to 
Chugwater  Creek.  Although  this  trail  was  used  chiefly  by  Indians, 
some  white  men's  wagons  also  traveled  it. 

In  1871  a  man  named  Patton  built  a  small  log  house  at  Chug 
Springs,  which  became  a  road  station  from  that  time  until  about 
1880,  when  John  Hunton's  brother,  Thomas,  placed  a  homestead 
filing  on  it.  The  Black  Hills  Stage  Company  kept  a  station  here 
part  of  the  time  from  1879  to  1882. 

The  name  of  Chugwater  is  one  to  conjure  with,  and  many  un- 
doubtedly wonder  how  the  name  originated.  It  has  been  estab- 
lished that  Chug  Springs  has  been  spoken  of  as  such  long  before 
Chugwater  Creek  or  the  town  of  Chugwater  were  heard  of.  Old 
timers  of  the  region  state  that  the  name  was  attached  to  the  creek 
by  the  Indians.  They  claim  that  "chug"  was  an  Indian  name  for 
"beef."  The  story  goes  that  it  was  the  habit  of  the  Indians  to  drive 
the  buffalo  and  antelope  over  these  cliffs  along  the  stream,  and  in 
this  way,  slaughter  them  for  beef.  The  white  man's  interpretation 
is  that  as  the  animals  hit  the  stream,  the  waters  went  "ker-chug." 
Hence  Chugwater  was  named. 

Some  highly  imaginative  stories  are  told  about  the  happenings 
at  these  Springs  during  those  early  years.  Gold  taken  from  stage 
robberies  is  supposed  to  be  hidden  in  the  cliffs  to  the  north.  It 
has  never  been  found.  One  man,  so  the  story  goes,  was  a  good 
gambler  and  won  Chug  Springs  in  a  poker  game. 

A  grave  near  the  bluffs  proves  one  true  story.     A  young  half- 


94  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

blood  Sioux  Indian  named  Baptiste  Ladeau  told  his  employers, 
Cy  Williams  and  Swolley,  that  he  was  going  to  quit  and  go  to  Fort 
Laramie.  He  saddled  his  pony  and  started  with  his  dog  following 
him.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Chug  Springs  he  was  overtaken  by 
Williams.  Swolley  and  another  man  chased  him  up  the  rocky 
bluffs  where  they  killed  him,  his  horse  and  dog.  The  remains  were 
discovered  by  a  detachment  of  the  Fourth  Infantry  who  were  en- 
camped for  the  night  at  Chug  Springs  while  enroute  from  Fort 
D.  A.  Russell  to  Fort  Laramie  about  six  weeks  after  the  killing. 
The  grave  can  be  seen  to  this  day. 

The  historic,  once-bustling  Chug  Springs  lies  sleeping  in  the  sun. 
Only  an  occasional  visitor  now  and  then  stops  to  try  and  recapture 
the  atmosphere  of  an  almost  forgotten  era.  The  spot  is  lovely  and 
inviting  and  the  bitter-sweet  pungency  of  the  sagebrush  still  floats 
on  the  soft  breeze.  Today  the  silence  is  broken  only  by  the  song 
of  a  meadow  lark. 

3:00  P.  M.  After  leaving  the  Springs  we  passed  through  Ante- 
lope Gap,  used  by  the  animals  as  they  came  to  the  creek  from  the 
plains  now  known  as  Slater  Flats,  fine  wheat  country. 

3:30  P.M.  We  stopped  below  high,  perpendicular,  sandstone 
cliffs  where  eagles  once  nested.  Remains  of  the  old  Eagle's  Nest 
Stage  Station  (77  M)  can  still  be  found  at  the  base  of  the  cliffs. 

EAGLE'S  NEST  STAGE  STATION 
By  Mr!  and  Mrs.  Elvin  Hudson 

When  the  Cheyenne  and  Black  Hills  Stage  Line  ran  north  in  the 
late  1 870's  a  stage  station  was  established  here  at  Eagle's  Nest 
Gap.  This  road  was  used  by  the  Cheyenne  to  Deadwood  stage 
line,  also  by  government  freight  wagons  hauling  freight  between 
Cheyenne  and  Fort  Laramie.  Eagle's  Nest  was  a  regular  stop  for 
bull  teams  as  well  as  for  the  stages. 

In  the  late  1 860's  a  branch  line  of  the  Oregon  Trail  was  estab- 
lished. This  trail  branched  off  the  Cheyenne  to  Deadwood  trail 
at  Eagle's  Nest,  going  through  this  gap  and  winding  Northwest.  It 
crossed  the  Laramie  River  near  Uva,  and  joined  the  old  Oregon 
Trail  near  Fort  Fetterman.  This  route  became  known  as  the  Fet- 
terman  cut-off,  since  it  connected  Ft.  Fetterman  with  Ft.  Laramie. 
Why  they  called  it  a  cutoff,  1  don't  know  since  it  was  a  longer  route 
than  the  one  down  the  North  Platte.  However,  it  avoided  the 
difficult  drive  through  North  Platte  canyon. 

The  cliffs  are  soft  and  porous,  and  as  you  see,  many  emigrants 
paused  to  carve  their  names.  One  date  carved  here  is  1842,  which 
if  not  faked,  must  have  been  left  by  a  solitary  trapper,  as  there  is 
no  record  of  wagons  using  the  trail  that  early. 

These  high  cliffs  and  the  narrow  pass  made  this  an  ideal  spot  for 
road  agents  who  harassed  the  line  for  the  treasures  that  came  out 
of  the  Deadwood  mines.    When  the  stage  passengers  and  freighters 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  95 

traveling  south  were  safely  past  Eagle's  Nest,  they  heaved  a  sigh 
of  relief,  thinking  they  had  it  made.  While  attention  was  being 
concentrated  on  the  breaking  up  of  gangs  or  road  agents  operating 
North  of  Hat  Creek,  the  stage  was  stopped  in  this  new  locality.  On 
October  3,  1878,  two  men  held  up  the  stage  near  Eagle's  Nest. 
Upon  command,  the  sleeping  passengers  roused  and  climbed  out 
of  the  coach  to  line  up  with  their  hands  above  their  heads.  By  the 
light  of  matches,  one  robber  searched  the  passengers  while  the 
other  stood  guard.  A  Mrs.  King  had  hidden  a  roll  of  bills  in  her 
hair.  She  was  searched  twice.  The  second  time  she  was  com- 
pelled to  take  down  her  hair  from  which  the  men  took  $240.  The 
wooden  treasure-box  was  broken  open  and  searched  but  no  trea- 
sure was  found.    Some  valuable  papers  were  left  undisturbed. 

Not  all  cargo  on  these  stage  and  freight  lines  pertained  to  the 
military,  or  to  gold  mining.  At  the  ninth  annual  meeting  of  the 
Cheyenne  Bible  Society  in  the  autumn  of  1876,  $60  was  collected 
and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  distribute  Bibles  in  the  Black 
Hills  mining  towns.  Soon  afterwards  Reverend  J.  W.  Cowhick, 
with  the  Bibles,  was  hsted  as  a  passenger  on  the  stage. 

Eagle's  Nest  Stage  Station  was  kept  by  Remeyer,  George  Hawk 
and  others.  George  Hawk  was  agent  from  1881  to  1883.  In  the 
early  days  the  Eagle's  Nest  Post  Office  was  run  by  Mrs.  McFar- 
land,  a  widow  and  mother  of  John  and  Dave  McFarland.  Both 
these  men  lived  many  years  in  this  area  and  hauled  freight  over 
this  route. 

Mention  is  made  of  Eagle's  Nest  several  times  in  John  Hunton's 
diary  of  1881 :  August  30,  ".  .  .  sent  two  loads  of  hay  to  Eagle's 
Nest." 

Since  there  was  no  water  at  the  Eagle's  Nest  station,  and  it  was 
2Vi  miles  down  the  sand  draw  to  the  spring,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  get  water  here  at  the  gap.  A  deep  hole  was  dug  by  hand,  but. 
sohd  rock  was  struck  and  they  found  no  water,  so  it  was  necessary 
to  haul  water  for  the  station,  and  to  drive  the  livestock  down  to  the 
spring,  or  let  them  go  without  water  until  Six  Mile  or  Chug  Springs 
was  reached,  depending  on  which  direction  they  were  headed. 

The  area  west  of  Eagle's  Nest,  along  Chug  Creek,  was  home- 
steaded  and  settled  at  an  early  date,  but  a  vast  area  east  of  Eagle's 
Nest  and  Chug  Springs,  known  as  Goshen  Hole,  was  wide-open 
range  for  many  years.  The  land  near  water  was  grazed  by  cattle, 
but  a  large  portion  of  it,  including  this  Eagle's  Nest  divide,  being 
far  from  water,  was  grazed  almost  entirely  by  horses  and  antelope. 
Hundreds  of  fine  horses,  owned  by  various  ranchers,  ranged  here 
where  there  was  no  loco  weed,  and  the  grass  was  abundant  the 
year  round.  Tom  Hunton  ran  from  four  to  five  hundred  head  of 
horses  here  from  the  time  he  lived  at  Bordeaux  until  about  1918, 
when  all  the  range  was  homesteaded.  At  the  time  of  World  War  I, 
Hunton  and  others  sold  many  cavalry  and  artillery  horses  to  the 
Army. 


96  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Years  after  the  stage  station  and  postoffice  were  abandoned,  the 
Eagle's  Nest  Gap  was  still  well  known  for  the  annual  horse  round- 
up. All  the  horses  were  brought  to  the  Mike  Loomis  corrals  where 
they  were  sorted  and  branded. 

In  conclusion,  and  speaking  of  stage  stations,  you  may  have 
heard  the  story  of  the  stage  passenger  who  watched  a  freight 
wagon  being  unloaded.  The  load  consisted  of  20  barrels  of 
whiskey  and  one  barrel  of  flour.  The  man  was  heard  to  ask, 
"What  do  they  want  with  all  that  flour?" 

3:55  P.M.  Unfortunately  from  here  a  few  cars  temporarily 
separated  from  the  caravan  so  all  did  not  stop  at  Six  Mile  Ranch 
(87  M).  The  caravan  reassembled  at  Ft.  Laramie  National  His- 
toric Site  (93  M),  where  John  McDermott  presented  his  papers. 

SIX  MILE  RANCH 
By  John  D.  McDermott 

In  June,  1876,  the  Cheyenne  and  Black  Hills  Stage  Company 
established  a  relay  station  at  Six  Mile  Ranch,  one  of  the  most 
infamous  road  houses  ever  operated  in  what  is  now  Goshen  Coun- 
ty. During  the  preceding  decade.  Six  Mile  had  been  the  home  of 
whisky  peddlers,  thieves,  and  murderers,  and  a  continual  source 
of  annoyance  to  the  Commanding  Officer  of  Fort  Laramie. 

The  exact  date  of  the  establishment  of  Six  Mile  Ranch  is  not 
known;  however,  the  first  reference  to  it  in  the  Fort  Laramie  post 
records  occurs  in  February,  1867.  An  army  messenger  found  a 
mail  escort  party,  supposedly  headed  for  Fort  Phil  Kearny,  at  Six 
Mile  imbibing  freely  of  the  proprietor's  liquid  wares.  Two  soldiers 
lay  drunk  by  the  door,  and  the  messenger  reported  the  rest  of  the 
party  huddled  inside  in  a  similar  condition. 

Repeat  performances  by  Fort  Laramie  soldiers  brought  a  ruling 
from  the  Commanding  Officer  in  November.  The  owner  of  Six 
Mile,  John  Hunter,  received  an  order  to  discontinue  the  sale  of 
liquor  to  soldiers  or  lose  his  trader's  license.  In  December,  he  was 
told  to  destroy  all  alcoholic  beverages  in  his  possession.  Hunter 
ceased  to  be  a  problem  shortly  thereafter  as  Bud  Thompson  re- 
moved him  permanently  from  the  scene  with  the  aid  of  a  revolver. 

Soldiers  continued  to  frequent  Six  Mile  much  to  the  disgust  of 
the  Commanding  Officer.  In  1876,  female  inhabitants  of  Six  Mile 
commonly  wore  military  shirts  and  pants,  a  fact  that  attested  to 
the  visits  of  lonely  enlisted  men. 

During  the  period  1869-1877,  six  other  men  besides  Hunter 
met  their  deaths  at  Six  Mile,  including  John  Lowry,  James  Mc- 
Closky,  Perry  Arber,  and  Adolph  Cuny. 

George  Hawk  was  the  first  stage  company  employee  here.  In 
1877,  Jack  Bowman  succeeded  him,  and  sometime  later  Curely 
Coleman  managed  the  relay  station. 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  97 

THREE  MILE  RANCH 
By  John  D.  McDermott 

Early  in  1872,  Adolph  Cuny  and  Jules  Ecoffey  constructed  a 
number  of  buildings  just  beyond  the  borders  of  the  military  reser- 
vation on  the  bank  of  the  Laramie  River.  In  the  beginning,  the 
proprietors  apparently  planned  a  simple  facility  for  travelers,  but 
in  a  few  years  they  decided  to  add  some  feminine  attractions. 
Importing  women  from  Omaha  and  Kansas  City,  Cuny  and  Ecof- 
fey catered  to  soldiers  from  Fort  Laramie  who  sought  companion- 
ship and  escape  from  the  doldrums  of  garrison  life.  Soon  the 
Three  Mile  Ranch  received  the  opprobrious  title  of  "Hog  Ranch." 
Harry  Young,  a  teamster  and  frequent  visitor,  speculated  on  the 
origin  of  the  term  in  his  book  Hard  Knocks: 

Why  [it  was]  so  called,  I  could  not  say,  as  I  never  saw  any  hogs 
around  ....  but  think  perhaps  it  had  reference  to  the  girls  as  they 
were  a  very  low,  tough  set. 

According  to  John  Hunton,  in  its  heyday  the  Hog  Ranch  con- 
sisted of  a  concrete  dwelling,  storehouse,  bunk  house,  ice  house, 
six  cottages  of  tv/o  rooms  each,  and  a  sod  corral  one  hundred  feet 
square  and  twelve  feet  high.  In  1876,  Cuny  and  Ecoffey  adver- 
tised their  establishment  in  the  Cheyenne  Daily  Leader  and  report- 
ed an  outfitting  store,  billiard  hall,  blacksmith  shop,  and  a  good 
corral.  The  owners  ended  their  advertisement  with  the  modest 
statement,  "We  Don't  Blow." 

Lt.  John  G.  Bourke  visited  the  Hog  Ranch  in  January,  1877, 
and  didn't  think  much  of  its  inhabitants: 

Three  miles  [from  Fort  Laramie]  and  there  was  a  nest  of  ranches, 
Cuny  and  Ecoffey's  and  Wright's,  tenanted  by  as  hardened  and  de- 
praved a  set  of  witches  as  could  be  found  on  the  face  of  the  globe. 
Each  of  these  establishments  was  equipped  with  a  rum-mill  of  the 
worst  kind  and  each  contained  from  three  to  half  a  dozen  Cyprians, 
virgins  whose  lamps  were  always  burning  brightly  in  expectancy  of 
the  coming  of  the  bridegroom,  and  who  lured  to  destruction  the  sol- 
diers of  the  garrison.  In  all  my  experience  I  have  never  seen  a  lower, 
more  beastly  set  of  people  of  both  sexes. 

According  to  one  author,  however,  the  meals  were  good  and  could 
be  purchased  for  fifty  cents. 

Both  Cuny  and  Ecoffey  met  violent  deaths.  Ecoffey  died  on 
November  26,  1876,  as  the  result  of  a  beating,  and  Cuny  died  on 
July  22,  1877,  as  the  result  of  a  gunshot  wound  inflicted  by  the 
road  agent  Clark  Pelton.  Later  owners  of  the  Hog  Ranch  were 
Andy  Ryan,  Bob  Osborne,  Johnny  Owens,  and  Henry  Riterling. 


98  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

THE  CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  STAGE  LINE  AT  FORT 

LARAMIE 

By  John  D.  McDermott 

Fort  Laramie  was  the  protector  of  the  Cheyenne  to  Deadwood 
Stage  Coach  Trail.  On  occasion  it  provided  mihtary  escorts  for 
the  stages,  it  patrolled  the  road,  and  it  sent  out  armed  parties  to 
track  down  highwaymen.  Its  very  presence  served  as  a  stabilizing 
influence;  bandits  and  renegade  Indians  thought  twice  before  raid- 
ing stage  stations  or  holding  up  coaches  in  the  Fort  Laramie  region, 
because  they  knew  that  soldiers  would  soon  be  hot  on  their  trails. 

At  Fort  Laramie  coach  passengers  found  some  of  the  best 
accommodations  along  the  road.  In  the  Cheyenne  Daily  Leader 
of  March  24,  1876,  the  following  news  item  appeared: 

Mr.  J.  S.  Collins  has  just  opened  to  the  public,  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  J.  H.  C.  Brown,  the  "Rustic  Hotel,"  at  Fort  Laramie. 
The  house  is  entirely  newly  constructed,  and  furnished  from  cellar  to 
garret  new  throughout.  The  manager  will  accommodate  all  with 
clean  beds  and  first-class  meals.  A  large  corral  and  ample  stabling 
room  are  attached  to  the  Hotel.    Corn,  oats,  and  hay  for  sale. 

The  "Rustic"  is  the  headquarters  of  the  GREAT  BLACK  HILLS 
STAGE  LINE.  Red  Cloud,  Camp  Robinson  and  Spotted  Tail  mail 
stages  also  leave  this  point,  crossing  the  Platte  river  over  the  new  iron 
bridge  built  by  the  government.  The  well-sustained  reputation  of  Mr. 
Collins  for  enterprise  and  thoroughness  in  all  he  undertakes,  and  the 
popularity  of  the  manager,  Mr.  Brown,  are  a  guarantee  to  all  travelers 
who  will  patronize  the  "Rustic"  that  they  will  meet  with  the  best  treat- 
ment in  the  new  hotel. 

John  Collins  was  the  sutler  at  Fort  Laramie  and  had  been  so 
since  1872.  The  hotel  complemented  his  store  which  featured  a 
wide  variety  of  groceries,  clothing,  and  hardware.  Restored  and 
refurnished  to  the  period  1876-1883  when  coach  passengers  were 
a  significant  part  of  the  clientele,  the  Sutler's  Store  is  open  to 
visitors  throughout  the  summer. 

Just  west  of  the  Rustic  were  the  stage  barns  and  corrals.  J.  M. 
Ford  was  the  first  agent  for  the  stage  company.  John  Morrison, 
Jim  Hogle,  George  Hawk,  and  Tom  Hawk  ran  the  Rustic  at 
various  times. 

Not  all  travelers,  however,  appreciated  the  accommodations 
provided  by  the  Rustic.  In  1883  an  Englishwoman,  Rose  Pender, 
stopped  at  Fort  Laramie  on  her  way  to  the  Black  Hills  and  found 
lodging  in  the  hotel.  Upon  getting  ready  to  retire,  Mrs.  Pender 
found  that  the  sheets  provided  for  her  were  so  dirty  that  she  was 
afraid  to  use  them.  She  lay  down  on  the  bedspread,  covering 
herself  with  her  fur  coat  and  after  a  time  drifting  off  to  sleep. 
Awakened  by  a  disagreeable  sensation,  she  lit  a  candle  and  found 
that  the  room  was  swarming  with  "horrid  little  bugs."  She  spent 
the  rest  of  the  night  outside.     In  April,    1890,  shortly  after  the 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  99 

army  abandoned  Fort  Laramie,  the  Rustic  caught  fire  and  burned 
to  the  ground. 

5:20  P.  M.  The  Goshen  County  Historical  Society  graciously 
planned  a  get-to-gether  in  the  basement  of  the  Community  Church 
in  Ft.  Laramie  so  everyone  hurried  over  to  enjoy  their  hospitality, 
refreshing  cold  drinks  and  cookies. 

Campers  soon  had  tents  up  and  fires  going  in  the  park  on  the 
south  edge  of  the  town  of  Ft.  Laramie.  Non-campers  left  for 
motels  in  nearby  towns. 

Sunday  -  June  21 

Guides  -  Dick  Eklund,  Oscar  Yoder,  Paul  Henderson 

7:00  to  8:00  A.  M.  A  real  western  breakfast  of  flap-jacks,  eggs 
and  boiled  coffee  was  served  in  the  camp  ground  by  capable  ex- 
perienced volunteer  cooks.  This  is  an  annual  courtesy  extended 
by  Mr.  Albert  Sims,  one  of  the  original  organizers  of  the  treks. 
This  breakfast  is  considered  as  the  Piece  de  Resistance  of  the 
treks  and  exemplifies  Wyoming  friendliness  and  hospitality. 

8:45  A.M.  We  departed  promptly  from  Fort  Laramie  (93  M) 
west  on  Highway  26  because  the  old  trail  in  the  valley  of  Cotton- 
wood Draw  had  been  washed  away.  Masses  of  fallen  trees  and 
debris  testify  to  the  occurrence  of  heavy  flash  floods.  Consequent- 
ly we  missed  the  Ten  Mile  Station.  (103  M) 

After  traveling  11  miles  on  26  we  traveled  north  on  1607  for 
2^/2  miles  then  took  a  dirt  road  to  the  right  which  wound  through 
pine-covered  hills.  On  the  left  we  passed  the  deserted  Good  For- 
tune mine  from  which  Wyoming's  first  shipment  of  iron  ore  was 
made  by  L  S.  Bartlett  in  the  1890's.  The  road  then  passed  the 
Frederick  ranch  where  one  branch  of  the  Cheyenne-Dead  wood 
trail  once  ran.  About  two  miles  north  of  the  ranch  Indians  held 
up  one  of  the  coaches,  and  nine  of  the  Indians  were  killed.  A 
couple  of  the  graves  can  still  be  seen,  but  the  road  covers  the  rest 
of  them.  The  road  also  passed  through  Hell's  Gap  where  daring 
robbers  held  up  the  stage,  and  where  Harvard  archaeologists  are 
now  digging  for  artifacts  and  relics  of  early  man  in  association 
with  the  University  of  Wyoming  under  funds  granted  by  the 
National  Geographic  Society. 

9:45  A.M.  After  a  circuitous  route  due  to  fences  we  traveled 
through  Crescent  Basin,  natural  meadows  and  wheatfields,  to 
arrive  at  the  ruins  of  Government  Farm  Stage  Station  (107  M). 

GOVERNMENT  FARM 
By  Ruth  Frederick 

The  building  of  stage  stations  north  of  Fort  Laramie  was  a  bold 
stroke  as  the  proposed  stage  route  lay  in  the  path  of  the  Indians' 


100  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

hunting  trails.  The  first  road  ranch  was  built  about  15  miles  north 
of  Fort  Laramie  on  the  site  called  Government  Farm.  Here  log 
buildings  were  erected  near  a  beautiful  spring  and  sheltered  by  a 
rocky  ledge.  By  1  879  the  station  consisted  of  a  grout  house  of 
five  rooms,  a  good  corral  and  a  barn  for  30  or  40  horses.  It  had 
200  acres  of  fenced  land  which  were  planted  and  cultivated  by 
soldiers  from  the  Fort. 

Some  interesting  tales  are  told  about  this  old  station.  A  sheep- 
herder  by  the  name  of  Updike  froze  his  feet  one  winter  and  died 
while  working  for  Mr.  Hamilton  who  lived  nearby.  His  ghost  was 
supposed  to  haunt  the  Farm.  A  skeptical  neighbor,  Mr.  William 
Lank,  who  did  not  believe  in  ghosts,  was  induced  to  stay  here 
overnight.  After  carefully  locking  all  the  doors  he  went  to  bed. 
About  midnight  he  heard  a  clomp,  clomp,  clomp  so  went  to  see 
what  was  the  matter  and  found  all  the  doors  wide  open.  That  was 
his  last  visit  to  the  Farm. 

A  true  story  was  related  by  Mr.  Veihee,  who,  with  3  other  men, 
was  captured  by  Indians  in  this  house  and  held  for  several  days. 
The  Indians  hoped  to  starve  them  out  and  would  have,  but  the 
men  were  able  to  dig  a  well  under  the  house  and  so  had  water. 
Evidently  the  Indians  relaxed  their  vigil  as  one  of  the  men  made  his 
escape  from  the  Farm,  walked  15  miles  to  Fort  Laramie  and  re- 
turned with  soldiers  who  chased  the  Indians  away  and  rescued  the 
other  men. 

A  rather  gruesome  story  concerned  John  Church  (Ruth  Fred- 
erick's uncle)  and  his  friend  who  were  scouts  for  the  stage  line. 
About  two  miles  north  of  the  Farm,  Indians  overtook  them  and 
killed  their  horses.  The  men  quickly  gutted  the  horses  and 
crawled  inside.     When  it  became  dark  they  made  their  escape. 

After  a  short  time  the  stage  station  was  moved  three  miles 
farther  north  on  the  flats  to  equalize  the  distance  between  stations. 
It  was  named  Hoyt  Station  for  a  stock  tender  and  old  stage  driver 
from  New  England,  who  always  carried  a  stage  whip  wherever  he 
went.  Like  many  drivers  he  also  took  his  ivory  rings  from  the 
harness  with  him  when  he  changed  stations  or  jobs. 

10:20  A.M.  As  we  left  Government  Farm  we  traveled  through 
excellent  grass  land.  It  was  very  green  and  luxuriant  with  occa- 
sional out-croppings  of  striking  rock  formations  of  white  sandstone. 
At  119  M  we  came  to  Raw  Hide  Buttes  station,  located  on  Raw 
Hide  Creek  and  sheltered  by  pine-covered  buttes. 

RAW  HIDE  BUTTES  STAGE  STATION 
By  Russell  Thorp,  Jr. 

Because  of  the  natural  shelter  offered  by  the  buttes,  this  spot  was 
a  favorite  camping  place  for  both  Indians  and  trappers.  It  was 
here  the  white  men  bargained  for  beaver  pelts  and  buffalo  hides. 
After  being  pressed,  the  hides  were  salted  preparatory  to  shipment, 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  101 

then  loaded  on  travois  or  pack  horses  and  taken  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Raw  Hide  where  it  empties  into  the  Platte  River.  There  they 
were  loaded  on  boats  and  floated  down  the  Platte  and  Missouri 
Rivers  to  be  disposed  of  in  St.  Joseph  or  St.  Louis.  It  was  from 
this  activity  that  Raw  Hide  Buttes  received  its  name. 

I  can  recall,  as  a  child,  seeing  the  fur  presses  which  were  located 
at  the  foot  of  the  buttes  across  Raw  Hide  Creek.  Those  relics  of 
the  past  were  still  there  as  late  as  1883. 

J.  W.  Dear,  a  trader  at  Red  Cloud  Agency,  built  the  first  build- 
ings in  1876.    He  advertised  them  on  May  30  as  follows: 

WANTED  TO  RENT  OR  SELL 
A  ranche  at  Raw  Hide  Butte,  on  the  road  to  the  Black  Hills.  .  .  .  The 
house  contains  4  rooms-  kitchen,  dining  room,  sleeping  room,  and 
sitting  room.  In  the  sitting  room  there  is  a  large  and  comfortable  fire 
place.  The  remainder  of  the  rooms  will  need  stoves.  In  connection 
with  the  house  there  is  a  panneled  corral,  8  feet  high  and  about  100 
feet  square.  The  ranche  has  a  good  location  and  plenty  of  wood  sur- 
rounding it,  and  plenty  of  good  water,  with  good  grazing  grounds  and 
fine  farm  lands,  etc. 

However,  a  week  later  the  Sioux  burned  the  ranch  house  so  it 
was  not  until  August,  1877,  that  the  stage  station  was  opened. 

The  surrounding  country  was  all  open  range,  stocked  with  cattle 
as  early  as  1876.  Nigger  Baby  Spring,  1 V2  miles  to  the  south,  was 
an  important  roundup  camping  spot.  Prospectors  came  into  the 
country  and  discovered  copper  ore.  My  father  and  associates 
located  the  Deadwood  mine  to  the  north.  To  the  west  copper  was 
discovered  in  Muskrat  canyon.  Almost  immediately  a  lively 
camp  opened  and  development  of  the  Michigan  Mine  was  started. 
However,  in  a  very  short  time  the  copper  ore  pockets  played  out. 
That  ended  mining  in  the  Raw  Hide  Buttes  area. 

In  1882  my  father  purchased  the  Raw  Hide  Butte  ranch  for 
$3,500.  It  was  made  up  of  the  ranch  buildings,  a  blacksmith  shop 
where  horses  were  shod  at  $2  each,  a  well-stocked  grocery  and 
dry  goods  store,  a  stage  station,  post  office  and  a  telegraph  office. 
As  soon  as  the  house  was  more  liveable  my  mother  and  I  moved 
to  the  ranch  where  I  spent  my  childhood.  We  entertained  friends 
and  travelers  in  true  western  style  and  the  meals  prepared  by 
Friday,  our  Chinese  cook,  were  the  talk  of  the  countryside  for  miles 
around. 

On  May  15,  1883,  my  father  bought  the  Cheyenne  and  Black 
Hills  Stage  line  and  made  Raw  Hide  Buttes  the  Home  Station. 
Those  were  interesting  and  busy  days  as  the  stages  came  and  went 
on  their  way  I  learned  all  phases  of  stage  business  from  making 
whips  to  shoeing  horses  as  I  listened  to  the  exciting  tales  of  road 
agents  and  outlaws. 

To  me  the  stage  driver  was  the  most  important  man  in  the 
country.  He  was  a  fine  reinsman  and  took  great  pride  in  his  pro- 
fession.    He  was  a  quiet-spoken  individual  who  wore  gauntlet 


102  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

gloves,  handmade  boots,  a  silk  handkerchief  tightly  tied  around 
his  neck.  His  shirt  was  buttoned  up  as  there  was  no  telhng  when 
flying  ants  would  hit  him  in  the  neck.  What  could  he  do  if  those 
flying  creatures  crawled  down  his  shirt  and  his  hands  were  full  of 
reins?  What  wonderful  yarns  those  drivers  told  of  their  days  on 
the  trail! 

1  1 :00  A.  M.  With  one  eye  on  the  black  sky  to  the  west  and 
one  on  the  road  we  followed  the  old  trail  north  through  the  Buttes. 
By  the  time  we  reached  a  steep  hill  the  sky  opened  up  and  a  flash 
cloudburst  descended  upon  us.  We  slid  and  slithered  to  the  top 
where  we  sat  until  the  storm  abated,  then  turned  about  and  re- 
grouped at  Raw  Hide  station  while  Paul  Henderson  counted  the 
cars.  It  seemed  expedient  to  finish  the  trip  to  Lusk  on  the  pave- 
ment so  we  missed  the  most  beautiful  section  of  the  trail. 

Our  thoughtful  Niobrara  County  friends,  by  patrol  radio,  ar- 
ranged for  us  to  gather  in  a  large  pavilion  at  the  Fair  Grounds  in 
Lusk  (142  M).  Lunches  were  quickly  brought  out  and  the  crowd 
relaxed  and  Hstened  to  the  three  final  papers  as  the  rain  pattered 
on  the  roof. 

If  weather  had  not  prevented  the  continuation  of  the  trek  on  the  old 
stage  route,  the  following  papers  would  have  been  given  at  the  sites  of  the 
Old  Mother  Featherlegs  grave,  near  the  Rawhide  Stage  Station,  between 
the  old  Ord  ranch  and  Silver  Springs;  the  George  Lathrop  monument,  about 
two  miles  west  of  Lusk;  and  the  Running  Water  Station,  approximately  a 
mile  west  of  Lusk.     (Ed.) 

OLD  MOTHER  "FEATHERLEGS  '  SHEPHARD 

By  Bob  Darrow 

Old  Mother  "Featherlegs"  Shephard  is  buried  here  on  the  south 
slope  of  what  is  known  as  the  Divide  Hill  on  the  Ord  Ranch. 
"Featherlegs"  was  so  called  by  the  cowboys  because  the  long  red 
pantalettes  that  she  wore  tied  about  her  ankles  fluttered  briskly  in 
the  breeze  when  she  dashed  on  horseback  across  the  flats.  Accord- 
ing to  one  of  her  visitors:  "Them  drawers  looked  exactly  like  a 
feather-legged  chicken  in  a  high  wind." 

The  woman  was  a  go-between  for  road  agents  and  other  des- 
peradoes and  it  was  claimed  she  kept  much  stolen  jewelry  and 
money  around  her  place.  She  had  come  to  the  Raw  Hide  country 
in  1876  and  had  opened  a  place  of  "entertainment"  for  travelers 
in  her  dugout,  which  was  located  about  one  hundred  yards  west 
of  her  grave.  A  couple  of  tinhorn  gamblers  and  "rot  gut"  whiskey 
were  part  of  her  equipment.  No  one  at  the  time  knew  who  she 
was  or  where  she  came  from. 

About  a  year  after  "Featherlegs"  opened  up  her  establishment, 
a  man  named  Dick  Davis,  called  "Dangerous  Dick  the  Terrapin" 
because  of  a  certain  hangdog  and  evil  look  on  his  countenance, 
came  to  live  at  the  place.     Ostensibly  he  followed  hunting  and 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  103 

trapping  for  a  living,  but  most  of  his  time  was  spent  loafing  in  the 
woman's  shack.  The  two  seemed  well  acquainted  and  to  have 
known  each  other  in  the  past. 

One  day  in  1879,  Mrs.  O.  J.  Demmon,  wife  of  a  rancher  who 
lived  at  Silver  Springs  on  the  stage  road,  decided  to  visit  "Feather- 
legs,"  since  she  was  the  only  other  woman  living  in  the  vicinity. 

Upon  her  arrival  at  the  dugout,  Mrs.  Demmon  was  horrified  to 
find  that  "Featherlegs"  had  been  murdered.  She  evidently  had 
been  shot  while  filling  a  bucket  of  water  at  the  spring.  In  the  soft 
soil  about  the  spring  were  many  tracks  made  by  moccasins,  the 
kind  of  footgear  always  worn  by  "Dangerous  Dick."  The  mur- 
derer had  fled,  taking  with  him  the  fifteen  hundred  dollars  that 
"Featherlegs"  was  known  to  have  had. 

It  was  later  learned  that  "Featherlegs"  was  "Ma'am",  the 
mother  of  Tom  and  Bill  Shephard,  members  of  a  gang  of  outlaws 
and  cutthroats  who  lurked  in  the  Tensas  swamps  in  northern 
Louisiana,  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War. 

With  the  return  of  the  paroled  Confederate  soldiers,  the  doom 
of  the  band  was  sealed  and  its  members  were  hunted  like  the  wild 
beasts  they  were.  Both  the  Shephard  boys  died  by  the  swift  judg- 
ment of  the  lynching  rope.  The  gang  was  wiped  out  with  the 
exception  of  "Ma'am"  and  a  fellow  named  "The  Terrapin."  These 
two  succeeded  in  making  their  escape,  to  appear  years  afterward 
on  the  Raw  Hide. 

After  murdering  "Featherlegs,"  Davis,  "The  Terrapin,"  went 
back  with  the  plunder  to  his  old  haunts  in  the  swamps.  But  there, 
after  engaging  in  his  old  practices  of  murder  and  robbery,  he  was 
lynched  within  sight  of  where  the  Shephard  boys  had  met  their  fate. 
Before  he  died,  "Dangerous  Dick"  made  a  full  confession  and  thus 
cleared  the  identity  of  the  "Old  Woman  of  the  Raw  Hide,  Mother 
'Featherlegs'." 

In  the  summer  of  1893  Russell  Thorp,  Jr.  and  J.  Guy  Bradley 
spent  a  vacation  in  and  around  Raw  Hide  and  Muskrat  Canyon 
and  decided  to  dig  up  the  remains  of  Mother  "Featherlegs."  In 
Russell  Thorp's  account  of  this  venture  he  said,  "We  camped 
nearby  and  proceeded  to  do  this  job  at  night.  It  was  a  beautiful 
night.  This  was,  as  I  recall,  about  the  summer  of  1893 — fourteen 
years  after  her  death.  When  we  removed  the  lid  of  this  homemade 
pine  coffin,  her  features  were  clearly  recognizable,  with  a  great 
mass  of  red  hair.  We  hastily  nailed  the  lid  back  down.  After  all 
those  years  the  body  had  more  the  appearance  of  being  slightly 
mummified,  and  the  coffin  was  not  rotted.     We  filled  the  grave." 

George  McFadden  and  "Cousin  Ike"  Diapert  are  buried  on 
either  side  of  "Featherlegs'  "  grave.  George  McFadden  was  killed 
by  Frank  Ketchum  near  a  dugout  on  Igoe  Creek,  not  far  east  of 
the  Ord  Ranch  house.  Ketchum  was  a  telegraph  operator  orig- 
inally stationed  at  Rawhide  Buttes.     Later  he  was  the  first  tele- 


104  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

graph  operator  at  Silver  Cliff,  where  the  first  town  was  started 
before  Lusk  was  platted. 

"Cousin  Ike"  Diapert  was  a  roundup  cook  and  was  jealous  of 
some  of  the  miners,  who  came  down  from  Muskrat  Canyon  to 
call  on  Mrs.  Stiffler,  who  located  the  ranch  which  was  later  owned 
by  John  Bare.  Ike  had  two  small  bottles,  one  containing  flour  and 
the  other  strychnine.  It  was  thought  by  some  that  he  was  making 
a  bluff  and  made  a  mistake  and  took  the  strychnine  instead  of  the 
flour. 

McFadden  and  Diapert  were  bitter  enemies  so  it  was  thought 
entirely  proper  that  they  should  be  buried  with  "Featherlegs" 
between  them. 

The  two-ton  Rawhide  Buttes  granite  monument  at  the  head  of 
Mother  "Featherlegs"  Shephard's  grave  along  with  the  stones  for 
George  McFadden  and  Ike  Diapert  were  dedicated  on  Sunday, 
May  17,  1964.  The  principal  address  at  the  dedication  was  given 
by  Lewis  E.  Bates.  The  monument  was  unveiled  by  Russell 
Thorp.  The  erection  and  dedication  of  these  markers  was  under- 
taken by  Jim  Griffith  and  Bob  Darrow. 

GEORGE  LATHROP  MONUMENT 
By  James  B.  Griffith,  Jr. 

As  far  as  we  are  able  to  ascertain  no  incident  of  historical  im- 
portance took  place  at  this  exact  location.  It  is  doubtful  if  any 
driver  ever  reined  up  his  team  at  this  particular  spot.  No  robber- 
ies, no  Indian  difficulties.  Yet,  this  could  be  the  most  significant 
stop  on  this  two-day  historical  trek.  For  it  is  here  that  we  pause 
to  reflect  as  to  the  heart  and  soul  of  the  Cheyenne-Black  Hills 
Stage  Line.  Here,  at  the  grave  of  one  Marvin  M.  Lathrop,  it  is  all 
together  fitting  and  proper  that  we  should  put  the  components  of 
the  Line  in  their  proper  perspective.  For  a  moment  let  us  realize 
that  men,  not  coaches,  not  horses,  not  trails,  but  men  were  the 
main  stem  of  the  Line. 

It  was  men,  made  of  flesh  and  blood  with  an  extra  amount  of 
sinew  and  a  generous  amount  of  cold  nerve,  that  made  the  Line 
click.  If  George  Lathrop  had  known  about  this  event  today,  1 
feel  certain  that  he  would  have  remarked  that  he  was  only  one  of 
the  drivers  and  would  have  thought  it  appropriate  that  this  stop 
be  dedicated  to  all  the  men  of  the  Line,  men  like  Luke  Voorhees, 
Russell  Thorp,  Sr.,  Tom  Black,  Sid  Brace,  "Owl-Eyed"  Tom 
Cooper,  Fred  Sullivan,  Frank  Watt  and  the  many,  many  others 
who  played  a  roll  in  the  operation  of  the  Line.  These  men  were 
the  astronauts  of  the  1870's  and  80's.  I  feel  that  George  Lathrop 
would  have  wanted  it  this  way  for  those  who  remember  him  will 
tell  you  he  was  far  from  a  glory  seeker.  His  all-too-brief  auto- 
biography reveals  a  modest  man. 

However,  in  order  that  we  not  doodle  in  generalities  let  us  take 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  105 

a  sharp  focus  on  George  Lathrop,  the  man  who  has  often  been 
referred  to  as  "one  of  the  best  drivers  on  the  Line." 

In  his  autobiography  "Memoirs  of  a  Pioneer,"  George  Lathrop 
states  that  he  was  born  Marvin  M.  Lathrop  on  December  24,  1830, 
in  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania.  This  date  of  birth  is  also  inscribed  on 
this  monument  and  listed  as  such  on  every  other  source.  While 
this  evidence  would  most  likely  be  accepted  at  face  value  I  contend 
that  it  is  possible  that  the  1830  is  in  error.  My  contention  is  based 
on  the  fact  that  George  Lathrop  states  in  his  memoirs  that  he  ran 
away  from  home  on  July  3,  1853  and  ensuing  dates  then  fall  in 
place.  In  the  memoirs  he  also  describes  himself  "as  a  boy"  when 
he  left  his  home.  I  do  not  believe  that  he  would  have  called  himself 
"a  boy"  had  he  in  fact  been  22 V^  years  old.  However,  it  matters 
little  now  whether  George  Lathrop  was  born  1 34  years  ago  or  only 
124  years  ago.    The  important  thing  is  the  man. 

The  where,  when  and  why  of  the  substitution  of  the  name 
George  for  Marvin  has  been  lost  in  the  veil  of  time. 

Of  his  youth  he  says  simply  "my  troubles  were  plenty  but  they 
were  my  own."  From  those  nine  words  we  are  able  to  garner 
something  of  his  character.  Self  reliance  must  have  been  his. 
How  different  we  often  find  it  today  when  a  person's  difficulties 
are  not  his  own  but  rather  society's. 

Even  as  a  boy  he  demonstrated  that  he  was  no  quitter.  The  fact 
that  he  had  never  known  want  before  his  desertion  of  the  family 
home,  but  did  afterwards,  and  nonetheless  stuck  it  out  reveals  a 
person  of  determination.  It  must  have  been  this  attribute  of 
determination  that  enabled  him  to  bring  his  coaches  through 
adverse  weather  conditions  and  the  other  perils  that  are  known  to 
have  plagued  the  line. 

Not  all  of  George  Lathrop's  colorful  life  took  place  on  the 
Cheyenne-Black  Hills  Stage  Line.  Soon  after  running  away  from 
home  he  met  Asa  Fairchild  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  with  the  Fairchild 
family  went  to  the  territory  of  Kansas.  It  was  in  Kansas  that  he 
witnessed  a  preview  to  the  Civil  War  and  saw  Bleeding  Kansas 
develop.  He  became  acquainted  with  such  free-statesmen  as  John 
Brown. 

Asa  Fairchild  was  stricken  with  gold  fever  in  1859  and  George 
went  to  Colorado  with  the  Fairchilds.  No  gold,  but  George  didn't 
do  so  badly  earning  $2.50  a  day  in  Denver.  The  Fairchild  family 
went  back  to  Kansas  but  George  continued  to  wander,  going  to 
Old  Mexico  and  most  of  western  America. 

George  had  a  hatred  of  the  Indians  which  stemmed  from  the 
time  he  escaped  a  massacre  by  hiding  in  a  thicket  of  plum  bushes 
while  his  companions  were  killed  and  mutilated.  In  his  autobiog- 
raphy George  says,  "Now  some  people  think  it  strange  that  my  hair 
is  not  greyer  than  it  is  at  my  age,  but  I  do  not  think  so  because  I 
think  it  died  right  then." 


106  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

George  never  married.  This  is  posterity's  loss  for  there  ever 
has  been  and  ever  will  be  a  need  for  men  of  his  mettle.  Although 
his  adventures  took  him  throughout  the  west  the  first  mention  he 
makes  of  Wyoming  is  when  he  got  to  Fort  Laramie  April  2,  1865. 

In  1 879  he  delivered  a  herd  of  cattle  to  Luke  Voorhees  at  Raw 
Hide  Buttes  (sic).  As  he  had  a  good  deal  of  experience  in  stage 
driving  he  found  a  ready  opening  on  the  Cheyenne-Black  Hills 
Stage  Line. 

He  loved  the  espirit-de-corp  which  he  found  among  the  men.  It 
was  with  pride  he  described  his  six  horse  teams  and  how  each  horse 
had  his  own  harness  that  was  never  used  on  any  other  horse.  The 
favorite  seat  on  the  coaches  was  always  that  by  the  driver. 

For  a  time  after  the  railroad  was  built  and  the  stage  line  dis- 
continued, he  drove  a  coach  from  Wendover  to  Lusk  across  coun- 
try by  Rawhide  Buttes.  This  coach  may  now  be  seen  in  the  Lusk 
Museum. 

George  Lathrop  has  been  described  as  honorable,  faithful,  fear- 
less and  reliable  but  little  given  to  talk.  These  adjectives  paint  a 
descriptive  portrait  of  a  man  who  was  also  called  "a  man  among 
men."  He  spent  his  last  years  at  Tom  Black's  ranch  at  Willow  a 
few  miles  west  and  south  of  here  and  died  there  Dec.  24,  1915. 
In  1930  his  remains  were  moved  to  this  location  and  this  monu- 
ment was  dedicated  on  a  cold  and  wet  Memorial  Day,  1930.  Al 
Rundquist  was  the  designer  of  this  unique  and  impressive  monu- 
ment and  I  am  pleased  to  note  that  he  is  here  today. 

I  am  not  certain  that  when  the  selection  of  this  site  was  made 
it  was  realized  what  an  appropriate  location  it  is.  Here  behind 
this  marker  we  have  the  grave  of  one  of  the  West's  fine  examples 
of  a  unique  breed  of  men.  Immediately  to  the  west,  in  the  de- 
pression which  you  can  see,  is  what  remains  of  a  buffalo  wallow. 
That  too  may  also  be  considered  a  grave  inasmuch  as  the  last 
buffalo  in  this  area  was  shot  and  killed  right  there.  Certainly  this 
is  an  appropriate  analogy.  Here  we  have  the  glory  of  the  old 
West  in  a  nut  shell — a  man  and  a  beast.  Each  magnificent  in  his 
own  right. 

RUNNING  WATER  STAGE  STATION 
By  Mrs.  Helen  Willson 

After  leaving  Raw  Hide  Buttes,  the  trail  passed  Silver  Springs 
ranch  owned  by  O.  J.  Demmon  who  raised  horses,  and  Raw  Hide 
Springs,  a  favorite  camping  spot  for  freighters,  about  10  miles 
farther  north.  The  next  stage  station  (139  M),  really  "just  a 
solitary,  rudely  constructed  ranch,"  was  called  Running  Water 
(L'Eau-Oui-Court )  or  Niobrara  River.  J.  W.  Dear  built  a  station 
here  in  the  spring  of  1  876,  but  the  Indians  soon  burned  it.  The 
next  building  was  a  large  stone  barn,  24  by  48  feet  with  eight-foot 
walls  and  covered  with  a  pole  and  dirt  roof  built  by  Jack  Madden. 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK  107 

The  road  coming  in  from  the  south  that  runs  into  Highway  20 
near  the  Lathrop  monument  is  approximately  the  same  road  the 
stage  hne  used.  It  swings  along  just  east  of  the  Country  Club 
land  with  here  and  there  the  old  ruts  visible,  but  it  is  blocked  by 
fences  and  the  railroad  track  now.  The  stone  barn  that  housed 
the  horses  and  the  paraphemaha  was  almost  directly  north  of  the 
big  mill  put  up  by  the  Great  Western  Mining  and  Milling  Company. 
The  mill  was  on  the  west  end  of  the  north  face  of  Silver  Cliff  hill. 

The  land  where  the  barn  stood  later  belonged  to  my  father.  As 
it  was  no  longer  in  use  and  a  fine  colt  had  died  there  when  it  got 
on  its  back  in  one  of  the  mangers,  he  tore  it  down.  The  rocks 
stood  as  a  pile  of  rubble  for  quite  some  time,  but  were  eventually 
used  in  the  foundation  of  a  new  house  my  father  built  in  Lusk. 

In  1880  the  country  from  Fort  Laramie  north  to  the  Running 
Water  began  to  swarm  with  prospectors.  There  were  many  out- 
croppings  of  copper,  iron  and  silver-bearing  ledges  all  the  way 
from  Raw  Hide  Buttes  region  to  the  Running  Water.  Fred 
Schwartze,  stage  station  owner  on  Pole  Creek,  was  one  of  the  most 
enthusiastic  promoters  of  the  Running  Water  area. 

Two  freighters.  Woods  and  Thompson,  arrived  at  Running  Wa- 
ter in  March,  1884,  with  machinery  for  the  Great  Western  Mining 
and  Milling  Company  at  Silver  Cliff  near  the  Running  Water  Stage 
Station.  By  March  20  the  mining  camp  bustled  with  activity.  A 
large  boarding  house,  a  billiard  hall  and  a  store  had  been  built. 
The  Old  Iron  Clad  store  with  galvanized  metal  on  its  sides  and  a 
tent  with  wooden  side  walls  were  the  most  substantial  buildings  in 
Silver  Cliff.  The  store  was  owned  and  operated  by  Ellis  Johnson 
who  moved  the  building  to  Lusk  in  1886.  It  is  still  standing  and 
is  the  one  on  Main  Street  that  houses  the  Episcopal  Guild  Shop. 

The  stage  station  and  the  post  office  were  called  Running  Water 
and  the  mine  and  the  mining  camp  were  called  Silver  Cliff.  How- 
ever, a  letter  addressed  to  either  place  always  seemed  to  be  deliv- 
ered without  difficulty. 

Silver  and  copper  were  found  in  the  Silver  Cliff  mines,  but  not 
in  paying  quantities  so  the  mines  were  abandoned.  The  buildings 
were  torn  down  in  January,  1898,  and  the  machinery  was  shipped 
to  New  Mexico.  In  the  intervening  years  from  the  time  of  the 
abandonment  of  the  mines  until  the  time  the  buildings  were  torn 
down,  it  was  a  favorite  haunt  for  the  young  folks  of  Lusk.  Many 
Sundays  someone  would  say,  "Let's  go  up  to  the  old  mill." 

Since  we  had  not  traveled  the  trail  from  Raw  Hide  Buttes  to 
Running  Water  our  hosts.  Bob  Darrow  and  Jim  Griffith,  Jr. 
brought  colored  slides  of  that  section  for  us  to  enjoy. 

Mae  Urbanek,  historian  and  author,  who  was  to  tell  us  about 
Hat  Creek  graciously  agreed  to  postpone  her  paper  until  next 
summer  so  that  we  might  end  our  trek  in  Lusk  because  of  the  rain. 

Tentative  plans  to  complete  the  Cheyenne-Deadwood  Stage  trail 


108 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


in  1965  are  already  underway.  The  trek  will  probably  start  at  the 
Lathrop  Monument,  west  of  Lusk,  continuing  on  to  the  state  line 
where  the  South  Dakota  Historical  Society  will  lead  us  to  Dead- 
wood.     It  should  be  a  most  interesting  trek. 


TREKKERS   ON   THE   CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD   TRAIL   -    1964 


BURNS 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  A.  Fletcher 
CASPER 

Richard   Eklund 

J.  H.  Simpson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Verne  Mokler 

Mrs.  Mary  L.  Corbett 

Mrs.  Guy  Shuffle 

CHEYENNE 

Col.  and  Mrs.  W.  R.  Bradley 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  L.  Lowrey 

Mrs.  L.  C.  Bishop 

Jay  Bishop 

Mrs.  B.  W.  Taliaferro 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Mclnerney 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  Carlile 

Rosalind  Bealey 

Jane  Houston 

Mrs.  Paul  Schwaiger 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Boan  &  Kelly 

James  Finnerty 

Robert  Larson 

Maurine  Carley 

Meda  Carley  Walker 

Louise  Stimson  Hallowell 

Marguerite  Martin 

William  Dubois 

Paula  Durnford 

Winifred  Bergren 

Louis  K.  Demand 

Grace  Logan  Schaedel 

Dorothy  Riner  Prosser 

Ted  Bohlen 

John  D.  Corkill 

Mrs.  Charles  Ritter 

Mrs.  A.  M.  Ries 

Katherine  Townsend 

Mrs.  Alice  Erickson 

Anna  Jensen 

Myrna  Agee 

Russell  Thorp 

CHUGWATER 

Mr.  Francis  Gard 

Mrs.  Robert  Wallenbarn 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ervin  McConnell  and 

Bill 
Mr.  Robert  Pearson 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Carroll 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  Staats 
Mrs.  Curtis  Templin 

DOUGLAS 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyie  Hildebrand 
J.  M.  and  A.  M.  Stevens 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Carson 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  Carson 

EVANSTON 

Mr.  Charles  Guild 

FORT  LARAMIE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernest  Stout 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  J.  Rymill 
Mr.  Arthur  Darnall 
Mrs.  Chet  Hazelwood  and  Nancy 
Mrs.  Damrow 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Sharp  and 
children 

GUERNSEY 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Berry 

HELL  GAP  ARCHAEOLOGICAL 
EXPEDITION 

Richard  Mead 
Karen  Lindsay 
M.  D.  Perkins,  Jr. 
Saralee  True 
Henry  Larson 
John  Saul 
Sarah  Keller 
Kay  Irwin 
Bobbie  Bauer 

HILLSDALE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  C.  Towns 

LUSK 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jim  Griffith,  Jr.,  and 

children 
M.  C.  Koan 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  D.  Miller 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glen  Willson 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jerry  Urbanek 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ed  Cook 

LAGRANGE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar  Yoder 


CHEYENNE-DEADWOOD  TRAIL  TREK 


109 


LINGLE 

Mrs.  Myrtle  Ransom 

MERIDEN 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dan  Kirkbride 

MIDWEST 
Rim  Wilson 

MILLS 

Mrs.  Helen  Sherard 

RAWHIDE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bob  Darrow 

TORRINGTON 

Mr.  Floyd  Pease 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larry  Sandburg 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  Keenan  and 

Ronald  Bodin 

Debbie  Young 

Mrs.  Henry  Bigner 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  Russell 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bob  Bragill 

Jack  McDermott 

WHEATLAND 

Mrs.  Marion  Clack 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duncan  Grant 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  J.  Stafford 

Mrs.  Hazelle  Ferguson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bob  Trenholm 


Merle  and  Elvin  Hudson 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Grant 
Mrs.  John  Johnson 
Pete,  Gary  and  Mildred  Johnson 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lester  Cobb 
Lee  and  Linda  Johnson 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vincent  Utter 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  E.  Windom  and 
children 

PINE  BLUFFS 

Mildred  McFaren 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Schacher 
Mrs.  Philip  Reed 

OUT  OF  STATE 

John  Waitman  -  Bridgeport,  Nebr. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  Henderson  - 
„    ,         Bridgeport,  Nebr. 
Kathyj^^    and  Mrs.  George  Ellis  -  Bridge- 
port, Nebr. 

Mr.  Anthony  Terpak  -  Taunton, 
Mass. 

Mr.  Pierre  LaBonte  -  Buzzards  Bay, 
Mass. 

Steve  and  Mary  Summers  -  Omaha, 
Nebr. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Bartlett  -  Santa 
Fe,  N.  M. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Simis  -  Denver, 
Colo. 

Mr.  John  Mador  -  Crawford,  Nebr. 

Mr.  H.  H.  Dodd  -  Crawford,  Nebr. 


Wyoming  State  Mis  tori  cat  Society 

PRESIDENTS  MESSAGE 

By 

Neal  E.  Miller 

In  this,  Wyoming's  seventy-fifth  year,  we  in  the  State  Historical 
Society  have  a  wonderful  opportunity  and  a  deep  obligation.  An 
opportunity  to  develop  a  more  widespread  appreciation  of  the 
State's  historical  heritage — an  obligation  to  see  that  our  historical 
material  is  complete  and  accurate  and  properly  presented. 

This  anniversary  is  an  opportunity  for  every  County  Chapter  ol 
the  Society  to  work  to  the  fullest  extent  with  all  others  who  are 
promoting  their  county  and  the  State  as  a  whole.  Every  document, 
ledger,  map,  book  and  historical  article  should  be  brought  out  for 
display  and  preservation.  It  is  an  opportunity  to  review  the  need 
for  more  county  museums,  to  review  the  methods  of  preserving  and 
protecting  materials,  to  impress  upon  everyone  the  need  for  a 
larger  and  better  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department  and 
State  Museum. 

Our  obligation  is  to  our  children  and  the  entire  State  of  Wyo- 
ming. The  Society  is  pledged  to  do  all  that  is  possible  to  aid 
Chapters  and  individuals  in  identifying,  preserving  and  protecting 
their  historic  materials;  to  welcome  and  assist  the  Chapters  nov/ 
forming  over  the  State. 

Never  underestimate  the  value  of  your  materials  or  the  sources 
in  which  they  may  be  found.  You  may  be  the  lucky  one  to  find 
the  missing  materials  needed  to  complete  a  chapter  in  Wyoming 
history! 

May  this  be  a  successful  year  in  all  the  endeavors  of  the  Chap- 
ters— in  membership,  activities,  and  all  else  connected  with  the 
great  work  yet  to  be  done. 

ELEVENTH  ANNUAL  MEETING 
Rawlins,  Wyoming  September  12-13,  1964 

As  the  members  gathered  in  Jeffrey  Center  on  September  12, 
they  enjoyed  the  display  of  antiques.  Several  members  entered  the 
"What  is  It?"  contest  presided  over  by  Mrs.  Lovina  Pierson,  presi- 
dent of  the  Carbon  County  Chapter,  by  attempting  to  identify 
many  unusual  objects  used  by  the  pioneers  which  were  on  display. 

After  the  president,  Mr.  Neal  Miller,  welcomed  the  members, 
he  announced  that  three  workshops  would  be  conducted.  He 
introduced  Mrs.  Alice  Messick,  to  lead  the  first  workshop.     She 


WYOMING  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  111 

is  chairman  of  the  75th  Anniversary  Commission,  which  is  plan- 
ning the  Diamond  Jubilee  celebration  for  Wyoming's  75  years  of 
statehood  in  1965. 

Mrs.  Messick  announced  the  Commission  had  adopted  the 
theme  "Historical  Wyoming,"  and  the  slogan,  "Go  West,  Go 
Wyoming,"  and  asked  that  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society 
assist  in  the  celebration.  She  showed  a  drawing  of  the  Wyoming 
float  which  will  appear  in  the  Rose  Parade  in  Pasadena,  January  1 , 
and  asked  that  each  county  prepare  an  eight-minute  skit  to  be 
presented  at  the  1965  State  Fair.  She  is  especially  anxious  to  find 
someone  born  in  Wyoming  on  July  10,  1890,  the  date  on  which 
Wyoming  became  a  state,  so  that  they  might  receive  special  recog- 
nition at  that  time. 

The  second  workshop,  on  local  museums,  was  conducted  by 
Miss  Lola  Homsher,  Director,  Wyoming  State  Archives  and  His- 
torical Department,  and  Miss  Virginia  Schwartz,  Assistant  Curator, 
State  Museum.  Miss  Homsher  gave  an  informative  talk  on  the  30 
museums  in  Wyoming,  stressing  the  importance  of  fireproof  build- 
ings and  a  coordinated  statewide  museum  program.  Since  there 
is  much  interest  in  preserving  historic  items,  a  pamphlet  on  Small 
History  Museums  had  been  prepared  by  Miss  Schwartz,  and  Miss 
Homsher,  and  copies  were  handed  out.  Miss  Schwartz  then  read 
portions  of  the  pamphlet.  Suggestions  offered  to  the  members 
were:  not  to  let  museums  become  "county  attics,"  that  items 
brought  in  by  children  be  accepted  only  when  they  are  accompa- 
nied by  their  parents  and  to  keep  thorough  and  accurate  records 
of  all  items  donated  or  loaned  for  display. 

The  final  workshop,  on  the  State  Society  and  Chapter  handbook, 
now  in  preparation,  was  led  by  Mr.  Miller.  He  explained  that  such 
a  handbook  would  outline  relationships  of  the  state  society  and  the 
county  chapters,  duties  and  responsibilities,  outline  procedures, 
and  in  general  answer  numerous  questions  which  arise,  and  be  an 
aid  in  program  guidance.  The  handbooks  would  be  handed  to 
succeeding  officers. 

Mr.  Miller  asked  that  members  divide  into  four  groups,  to  dis- 
cuss ways  and  means  to  improve  the  society.  Some  of  the  sug- 
gestions that  came  from  the  groups  and  were  discussed  were : 

1.  If  the  deadline  for  awards  nominations  were  set  at  July  15,  it 
would  be  possible  to  make  decisions  and  notify  recipients  so  that 
they  might  be  present  at  the  Annual  Meeting. 

2.  Junior  Historical  Societies  are  important,  and  local  chapters 
should  encourage  their  formation.  It  was  noted  that  an  amend- 
ment regarding  Junior  Societies  would  be  introduced  in  the  busi- 
ness session. 

3.  Projects  of  chapters  should  be  carefully  determined  and 
brought  to  completion.  This  encourages  better  and  steadier  mem- 
bership. 

4.  bivitations  to  state  officers  to  visit  chapters  should  be  made 


112  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

well  in  advance  so  the  officers  can  arrange  their  personal  schedules 
to  attend  as  many  chapter  meetings  as  possible. 

5.  Too  many  persons  do  not  realize  that  membership  in  the 
Wyoming  State  Historical  Society  is  open  to  all  who  are  interested, 
and  this  should  be  more  clearly  explained  to  the  public. 

6.  Since  so  many  members  are  of  the  older  age  group,  concern 
was  expressed  that  not  enough  members  of  the  30-40  years  age 
group  had  been  attracted,  and  chapters  were  urged  to  concentrate 
on  getting  more  younger  members. 

7.  It  was  pointed  out  good  programs  attract  membership  and 
treks  have  proved  to  be  especially  good  for  stimulating  interest. 

8.  The  fiscal  year  of  the  Society  begins  January  1,  and  there  was 
some  discussion  on  the  possibility  of  prorating  late  dues.  How- 
ever, it  was  pointed  out  that  this  would  create  many  problems  in 
keeping  dues  and  membership  records. 

9.  Many  chapters  are  gathering  tape-recorded  interviews  with 
old-timers,  and  it  was  brought  out  that  pre-interview  planning  was 
important  to  prevent  rambling  and  bring  out  points  of  history 
which  are  most  important  and  significant. 

The  president  appointed  to  the  auditing  committee  Mr.  William 
Dubois  of  Cheyenne,  Chairman,  and  Mrs.  P.  E.  Daley,  Rawlins, 
and  Mrs.  Elsa  Spear  Byron,  Sheridan. 

Excellent  reports  were  given  by  13  county  chapters.  These  arc 
filed  with  the  Executive  Secretary  at  the  Wyoming  State  Archives 
and  Historical  Department.  Only  a  few  highlights  of  unusual 
activities  are  reported  here. 

Albany  County  Chapter  has  enjoyed  the  reading  of  old  letters 
dated  in  the  1860's  and  old  diaries  of  pioneers. 

Carbon  County  Chapter  has  marked  all  Overland  State  Stations 
in  that  county  using  steel  pipes  painted  bright  yellow  so  locations 
will  not  be  lost. 

Johnson  County  Chapter  had  a  joint  picnic  with  the  Sheridan 
County  Chapter.  They  have  made  many  permanent  tape  record- 
ings, and  are  adding  new  members  to  their  roll. 

Laramie  County  Chapter  has  had  a  second  edition  of  their  Earlv 
Cheyenne  Homes  booklet  published.  They  have  dedicated  two 
historical  markers  and  are  still  trying  to  find  a  location  in  Cheyenne 
for  the  old  Happy  Jack  Schoolhouse  building. 

Natrona  County  Chapter  members  have  worked  with  the  city 
officials  and  committees  for  the  celebration  of  the  Casper  Diamond 
Jubilee,  observed  from  June  20  through  August  1. 

Park  County  Chapter  has  enjoyed  programs  based  on  the  area's 
rich  local  history.  Fine  programs  have  been  given  on  exciting 
discoveries  in  Mummy  Cave  on  the  Shoshone  River  near  Cody,  on 
William  F.  Cody  and  the  Whitney  Gallery  of  Western  Art.  Their 
report  included  a  tentative  invitation  for  the  Annual  Meetine;  in 
1965. 

Fremont  County  Chapter  sent  in  an  interesting  statistical  report 


WYOMING  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  113 

of  their  meetings.  They  feel  they  are  fortunate  to  be  located  near 
the  Wind  River  Indian  Reservation  and  several  programs  were 
centered  around  the  Indians. 

Platte  County  Chapter  was  entertained  at  one  meeting  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Paul  Henderson,  of  Bridgeport,  Nebraska,  who  gave  an 
illustrated  talk  on  the  Bozeman  Trail  Trek  in  1963.  The  chapter 
holds  frequent  writing  sessions  for  all  of  their  members.  They 
also  had  a  very  successful  trek  in  August  which  included  a  visit 
to  the  Spanish  Diggings. 

Sheridan  County  Chapter  has  placed  low-cost,  temporary  mark- 
ers at  several  historic  spots.  They  have  had  old  journals  and 
diaries  read  at  meetings  and  have  showed  slides  of  local  interest. 

Sweetwater  County  Chapter  has  enjoyed  browsing  through  old 
county  clerk's  records,  and  one  of  their  most  interesting  programs 
was  one  given  by  the  fourth-grade  students  who  are  studying 
Wyoming  history. 

Uinta  County  Chapter  held  a  no-host  dinner  in  March,  at  which 
time  Miss  Homsher  spoke  on  the  building  of  the  Union  Pacific 
through  southwestern  Wyoming.  The  Chapter  is  cooperating  with 
the  Utah  Historical  Society  in  compiling  the  history  of  sawmills 
on  the  Bear  River. 

Weston  County  Chapter  is  developing  a  museum  located  in  a 
Newcastle  school  building.  They  have  remodeled  cases  and  col- 
lected many  items  for  display. 

Washakie  County  Chapter's  principal  efforts  have  been  toward 
the  establishment  of  a  county  museum.  The  Worland  Woman's 
Club  and  the  county  commissioners  are  cooperating  with  them. 

The  meeting  was  recessed  from  12  to  1  o'clock. 

After  roll  call  of  state  officers  the  president  asked  the  members 
to  stand  in  silence  as  a  tribute  to  the  members  of  the  Wyoming 
State  Historical  Society  who  had  passed  away  during  the  past  year. 
Mrs.  Hord  then  read  the  Necrology  Report  which  included  the 
following  names:  Mr.  Archie  Allison,  Mr.  L.  H.  Barlow,  Mrs. 
Cyrus  Beard,  Senator  Earl  T.  Bower,  Mrs.  William  F.  (Mary) 
Bragg,  Sr.,  Miss  Marie  M.  Crisler,  Mr.  Frank  M.  Elbrader,  Mr. 
E.  E.  Fitch,  Mr.  L.  G.  (Pat)  Flannery,  Mrs.  Jim  Gatchell,  Mr. 
Alex  Gordon,  Mr.  Robert  T.  Helvey,  Dr.  Clarence  D.  Jayne,  Mr. 
Henry  Jones,  Mr.  Charles  Elmer  Lane,  Mrs.  Matilda  Lannen,  Mr. 
Hans  Larsen,  Judge  Percy  W.  Metz,  Mrs.  Joseph  C.  O'Mahoney, 
Mr.  C.  C.  Rawlings,  Mr.  Charles  Ritter,  Mr.  Bert  WalHs,  Mr. 
James  H.  Walton,  Mrs.  Faye  Yonick  and  Mr.  W.  E.  (Ned)  Dover. 

It  was  moved,  and  the  motion  was  seconded  and  carried,  to 
dispense  with  the  reading  of  the  minutes  of  the  Tenth  Annual 
Meeting  since  they  were  printed  in  the  Annals  of  Wyoming.  How- 
ever, portions  of  the  minutes  of  three  Executive  Committee  meet- 
ings were  read  and  approved.  These  had  previously  been  sent  to 
all  county  chapters. 

The  Treasurer  gave  the  following  report: 


114  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

TREASURER'S    REPORT 

September  7,  1963-September  12,  1964 

Cash  and  investments  on  hand  September  7,  1963  $14,096.11 

Receipts 

Dues  $3,569.00 

Himton  Diaries  390.50 

Colter's  Hell  1.00 

Interest  594.23  4,554.73 


$4,554.73 

•isbursements 

Annals  of  Wyoming 

$1,807.00 

Hunton  Diaries 

180.00 

Tenth  Annual  Meeting 

235.81 

Officers'  Expenses 

178.28 

Committees,  Grant-in-Aid 

395.00 

Office,  postage,  trek,  memorial 

114.33 

$18,650.84 


2,910.42 

$2,910.42  $15,740.42 

ASSETS 

September  12,  1964 

First  National  Bank  and  Trust  Company,  Cheyenne  $  2,004.86 

Federal  Building  and  Loan  Association,  Cheyenne  9,000.00 

Cheyenne  Federal  Savings  and  Loan  1.169.09 

Federal  Building  and  Loan,  Life  Memberships  3,274.29 

Federal  Building  and  Loan,  Bishop  Memorial  Fund  292.18 


$15,740.42 


Mr.  Miller  made  the  following  president's  report: 

REPORT  OF  PRESIDENT 

By 

Neal  E.  Miller 

As  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society  president  I  made  five 
visits  to  chapters  which  had  invited  me.  They  were  Sweetwater 
County,  Albany  County,  Laramie  County,  Campbell  County  and 
Carbon  County.  I  was  not  able  to  meet  with  two  chapters  at  the 
times  I  was  invited.  I  also  represented  the  Society  at  the  formal 
opening  of  Old  Bedlam  at  Fort  Laramie  National  Historic  Site  on 
August  16. 

Four  Executive  Committee  meetings  were  held  during  the  year 
to  consider  the  Society's  business  and  activities.  In  addition  to 
the  usual  committee  appointments,  correspondence,  financial  trans- 
actions of  an  organization  of  this  size  and  scope,  we  have  taken 
other  action  on  the  following  items:  wrote  and  published  the 
Awards  Handbook;  made  revisions  in  the  banking  and  bookkeep- 
ing procedures  and  established  a  budget;  revised  and  stocked  a 
new  and  more  appropriate  and  attractive  awards  certificate;  issued 
a  grant  in  aid  on  an  important  segment  of  Wyoming  history  under 


WYOMING  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  115 

the  new  Grant  in  Aid  program  approved  by  the  membership  pres- 
ent at  the  Tenth  Annual  Meeting;  received,  reviewed  and  rated 
about  20  junior  historian  papers  under  the  new  Junior  Historian 
writing  program;  received  and  considered  nominations  for  the 
Wyoming  History  Teacher  award  under  the  new  program;  insti- 
tuted a  statewide  competition  for  a  seal  design  for  the  Society; 
continued  the  former  awards  program;  co-sponsored  a  field  trip. 

REPORT   OF   FIRST   VICE   PRESIDENT 

Mrs.  Charles  Hord,  first  vice  president,  asked  that  chapters 
report  to  her  historic  sites  which  should  be  preserved.  She  sug- 
gested that  markers  be  placed  at  Mary  Kelley's  grave,  at  Boysen 
Dam  and  at  the  spot  on  the  Bozeman  Trail  where  the  Townsend 
train  was  attacked  by  Indians  on  July  9,  1864.  Her  committee  is 
still  interested  in  preserving  Tea  Pot  Rock. 

REPORT  OF  SECOND  VICE  PRESIDENT 

Mr.  Glenn  Sweem,  second  vice  president,  suggested  that  the 
Awards  Committee  be  appointed  from  one  area  in  the  state  as  it  is 
difficult  to  get  committee  members  together  when  they  are  scat- 
tered over  the  state. 

REPORT  OF  SECRETARY-TREASURER 

Secretary-Treasurer  Miss  Maurine  Carley  reported  that  in  addi- 
tion to  her  regular  secretarial  duties  she  had  filed  federal  income 
tax  forms  and  the  annual  corporation  report  with  the  Secretary  of 
State  and  kept  a  record  of  the  sales  of  Hunton  Diaries.  She  also 
thanked  the  Laramie  County,  Goshen  County  and  Platte  County 
Chapters  for  their  assistance  in  making  the  Cheyenne-Deadwood 
Trail  Trek  so  successful  this  summer. 

REPORT  OF  EXECUTIVE  SECRETARY 

By 

Lola  M.  Homsher 

Through  the  office  of  the  Executive  Secretary,  the  State  Archives 
and  Historical  Department  continues  to  furnish  innumerable  ser- 
vices to  the  Society.  As  you  will  recall,  the  Executive  Secretary  of 
the  Society  and  the  Director  of  the  Department  are  the  same  person 
under  the  constitution  of  the  State  Society. 

Memberships  received  through  August  13,  1964  totalled  1,111 
compared  with  1,064  a  year  ago,  or  an  increase  of  45.  Today 
membership  is  1,122.  Money  turned  over  to  the  secretary-trea- 
surer for  1964  was  an  increase  of  $331.00  over  that  of  1963. 

The  membership  for  this  year  included  2  new  life  members.  To 
date  there  is  a  total  life  membership  of  35  single  and  9  joint,  or  a 
total  of  53  life  members. 

Out-of-state  membership  for  1964  is  approximately  200.    Coun- 


116  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

ties  having  no  county  chapter  number  7,  and  state  membership 
from  the  seven  counties  totals  45.  The  out-of-state  and  7  county 
memberships  are  handled  directly  by  the  Department,  and  we  con- 
tinue to  try  to  increase  such  memberships  by  direct  contact  and 
through  correspondence.  Of  the  16  county  chapters,  the  five  with 
the  largest  membership  this  year  are: 

Laramie  135 

Carbon  104 

Goshen 88 

Sheridan     78 

Platte 60 

The  Department  published  two  issues  of  the  Annals  of  Wyo- 
ming  and  six  issues  of  "History  News"  during  the  past  year.  These 
official  publications  of  the  Society  were  received  by  all  members. 

In  addition  to  these  mailings  the  Department  addressed  all  dues 
cards  to  all  members,  and  made  out  all  receipts  for  dues  for  state 
memberships.  The  addressed  dues  cards  and  receipts  for  county 
chapters  were  handled  through  the  secretaries  and  treasurers  where 
there  are  county  chapters,  and  out-of-state  memberships  and  those 
in  the  7  counties  without  chapters  were  handled  directly  by  the 
Department.  Total  postage  costs  for  the  Department  for  the  year 
for  Society  mailings,  totaled  approximately  $450.00,  an  amount 
not  reimbursed  to  the  Department. 

The  State  Historical  Society  and  the  Archives  and  Historical 
Department  again  sponsored  an  annual  historic  trek.  Directors  of 
the  Cheyenne-Deadwood  Trail  Trek  were  Miss  Maurine  Carley, 
Paul  Henderson  and  Albert  Bartlett.  Paul  Henderson  and  Albert 
Bartlett  logged  the  trip  and  Miss  Carley  arranged  for  the  talks  to 
be  given  at  each  historic  site  on  the  trail.  The  Department  paid 
the  expenses  of  the  leaders  of  the  trek  with  the  exception  this  year 
of  Mr.  Henderson  who  is  on  the  staff  of  the  Wyoming  Parks  Com- 
mission and  did  not  charge  for  his  expenses. 

Your  Executive  Secretary  participated  with  the  other  officers  in 
the  judging  of  the  historical  essays  submitted  in  the  Junior  His- 
torian contest  for  Junior  and  Senior  High  students. 

In  cooperation  with  Mr.  Miller,  President,  the  office  of  the 
Executive  Secretary  had  the  awards  program  brochure  published. 
These  were  mailed  from  the  Department  to  all  chapters  and  all 
schools  in  Wyoming. 

I  served  on  the  Grant  in  Aid  Committee  during  the  past  year. 
Mr.  Robert  Murray,  Museum  Curator  at  Fort  Laramie  National 
Historic  Site,  who  submitted  an  excellent  summary  of  his  proposed 
study  on  Military  Posts  in  the  Powder  River  Country  of  Wyoming, 
1865-1894,  was  given  the  first  Grant  in  Aid.  His  project  is  to  be 
completed  within  a  two-year  period. 

As  Executive  Secretary  1  attended  four  executive  meetings  held 


WYOMING  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  117 

during  the  past  year,  on  November  16,  1963,  and  January  12, 
April  12,  and  July  12,  1964.  Following  each  of  the  meetings 
minutes  were  mimeographed  for  the  Secretary  to  send  out  to 
officers. 

During  the  past  year  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  five 
chapters:  Albany,  Campbell,  Sweetwater,  Uinta  and  a  joint 
meeting  of  the  Johnson-Sheridan  chapters.  Because  of  the  pres- 
sure of  work  in  the  Department  and  conflicting  dates  it  was  not 
possible  to  make  other  visits  this  past  year. 

Full  reports  for  the  above  officers  are  on  file  at  the  Wyoming 
State  Archives  and  Historical  Department. 

GENERAL  BUSINESS  MEETING 

Following  the  reading  of  her  report,  Miss  Homsher  introduced 
Dr.  Robert  H.  Burns,  of  Laramie,  who  has  been  appointed  by 
Governor  Clifford  P.  Hansen  to  complete  the  unexpired  term  on 
the  Wyoming  State  Library,  Archives  and  Historical  Board  of  Mr. 
Henry  Jones,  who  passed  away  on  July  8. 

She  showed  the  architect's  drawings  for  a  proposed  new  build- 
ing for  the  Archives  and  Historical  Department  and  the  State 
Museum,  and  explained  the  need  for  more  room  and  adequate 
facilities  to  carry  out  the  Department's  expanding  program  and  to 
properly  preserve  and  interpret  the  history  of  our  state.  Edness 
Kimball  Wilkins  suggested  each  member  of  the  Society  should 
contact  his  legislators  and  emphasize  the  need  for  such  a  building. 

The  president  displayed  the  new,  attractive  Awards  certificate 
which  he  had  designed,  and  which  will  be  used  in  the  future  for  all 
awards. 

In  response  to  a  question  from  the  floor,  the  president  stated 
that  only  paid-up  members  in  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Society  have  the  privilege  of  voting. 

The  following  highlights  from  standing  committee  reports  are 
given  here.  The  full  reports  are  on  file  at  the  Archives  and  His- 
torical Department. 

Projects  Committee.  Mrs.  Hord  reported  for  this  committee  in 
her  report  as  first  vice  president.  Mrs.  Irene  Patterson  suggested 
that,  if  necessary,  the  State  Society  and  county  chapters  could 
match  funds  to  complete  a  project.  Time  and  effort  could  also  be 
matched.  Mr.  Sweem  warned  that  Wyoming  is  passing  up  con- 
siderable highway  salvage  money.  Miss  Homsher  suggested  that  a 
plan  should  be  set  forth  so  that  counties  know  what  to  apply  for 
and  how  to  obtain  assistance,  and  that  details  of  this  can  be  worked 
out  this  fall  and  mailed  out  to  chapters. 

Archaeological  Committee.  Mr.  Grant  Willson  sent  a  written 
report  which  was  read  by  the  secretary.  He  reported  that  the 
Castle  Gardens  area  is  being  considered  for  designation  as  a 
National  Monument,  and  that  more  than  fifty  acres  of  the  Kem- 
merer  Fossil  Fish  beds  are  also  being  so  considered.    He  reported 


118  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

that  a  resolution  recommending  the  appointment  of  a  State  Ar- 
chaeologist on  the  staff  of  the  University  of  Wyoming  has  been  sent 
to  Governor  Hansen  by  the  Wyoming  Archaeological  Society. 
After  considerable  discussion,  Miss  Eunice  Hutton  moved  that  the 
Wyoming  State  Historical  Society  recommend  the  appointment  of  a 
State  Archaeologist  not  connected  with  the  University.  The  mo- 
tion was  seconded  and  carried. 

Mr.  Charles  Guild,  of  Evanston,  chairman  of  the  nominating 
committee,  assisted  by  Miss  Kathleen  Hemry  and  Mrs.  Elsa  Spear 
Byron  counted  the  ballots. 

Mrs.  Katherine  Halverson,  Chief  of  the  Historical  Division, 
Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department  gave  a  report 
on  historical  markers  in  the  state  which  have  been  furnished  by  the 
Department  since  it  assumed  the  program  in  1959. 

REPORT  ON  HISTORICAL  MARKERS 

Forty-three  historical  markers  have  been  placed  throughout  the 
state  by  the  Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department 
since  July,  1959,  when  the  marker  program  for  the  state  became 
the  responsibility  of  the  Department. 

The  Department  has  worked  directly  with  the  county  chapters 
of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society  in  planning  the  markers. 
Two  markers  have  been  allowed  to  each  county,  and  in  eighteen 
counties  two  markers  have  been  chosen  and  completed.  Four 
counties  have  received  one  marker,  and  only  one  county  has 
received  none.     Three  additional  markers  have  also  been  placed. 

Results  have  been  best  in  counties  where  a  Society  chapter  is 
organized,  as,  where  a  chapter  does  not  exist,  it  is  difficult  to  find 
other  local  groups  interested  in  working  with  the  Department  to 
mark  historic  sites. 

In  some  instances  it  is  not  possible  to  place  markers  desired  by 
county  groups  because  of  highway  construction  now  in  progress  or 
planned  for  the  future. 

Of  the  total  number  of  markers,  three  are  of  cast  aluminum, 
rather  than  wood,  used  for  the  majority  of  the  signs.  They  are 
more  expensive  to  purchase,  but  are  more  attractive,  allow  more 
flexibility  as  to  inscription  and  design,  and  require  less  care  and 
expense  for  upkeep. 

The  aluminum  markers  have  been  placed  in  Laramie,  Albany 
and  Sheridan  counties.  Counties  who  may  desire  additional  mark- 
ers, although  they  may  already  have  received  two,  are  invited  to 
let  the  Department  know,  submit  a  legend  to  us  and  we  will  con- 
sider all  that  we  can  within  the  allocated  funds.  However,  we  will 
have  to  have  these  requests  by  early  in  1965,  so  that  all  the  signs 
can  be  completed  before  the  end  of  June,  1965.  After  that  time 
the  program  will  come  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Wyoming  Parks 
Commission. 

The  president  read  and  explained  the  proposed  constitutional 


WYOMING  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  119 

changes.  To  effect  the  desired  changes,  the  following  deletions 
and  additions  are  necessary: 

In  Article  V,  Section  1 :  Delete  the  words  "and  one  delegate 
from  each  duly  chartered  county  chapter  of  the  Society" 

In  Article  V,  Section  1 :  The  addition  of  a  second  paragraph : 
"A  Special  Executive  Committee  shall  be  composed  of  the  fore- 
going elected  officers,  the  Executive  Secretary,  and  one  delegate 
from  each  duly  chartered  county  chapter  of  the  Society." 

In  Article  V,  Section  2:  The  addition  of  a  line  to  state  when 
the  Special  Executive  Committee  shall  meet:  "A  meeting  of  the 
Special  Executive  Committee  shall  be  held  at  least  once  a  year  to 
consider  problems  and  plans  of  the  Society." 

Mr.  William  Mclnerney  moved  adoption  of  the  changes.  The 
motion  was  seconded  and  carried. 

The  president  read  the  proposed  changes  in  the  by-laws,  which 
would  provide  for  Junior  Historical  Societies.  Mr.  Gene  Brown, 
Laramie,  explained  that  the  Albany  County  Chapter  helped  draw 
up  a  Junior  Historical  Society  constitution  and  sponsored  the 
Junior  Society  in  Laramie.  After  discussion  about  the  number  of 
students  necessary  to  form  a  junior  group,  Mrs.  Paul  Durnford 
moved  that  the  provision  for  a  specific  number  be  deleted  and  the 
remainder  of  the  report  be  accepted.  The  motion  was  seconded 
and  carried.  The  changes  in  the  by-laws,  as  accepted,  are  as 
follows : 

A  new  section  (No.  3)  to  Article  III  (which  pertains  to  the 
chartering  of  County  Chapters  of  the  Society ) . 

Section  3.  The  Society  will  charter,  assist  in  organization,  and 
support  in  endeavor  of  a  historical  nature,  those  junior  and/or 
senior  high  school  students  who  wish  to  organize  junior  historical 
societies  in  The  State  of  Wyoming. 

Prior  to  charter,  the  group  must  draft  and  adopt  a  constitution 
and  by-laws  which  do  not  conflict  with  the  Articles  or  By  Laws 
of  the  State  Society  or  the  County  Society  where  the  group  is  to  be 
chartered. 

Prior  to  charter,  the  group  must  establish  dues  or  membership 
fees  in  their  junior  society  and  make  adequate  provision  for  the 
receipt,  banking,  and  withdrawal  of  their  own  funds. 

A  letter  request  for  charter  should  be  directed  to  the  Executive 
Secretary  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society  and  should  be 
signed  by  the  officers  of  the  new  junior  historical  group,  accom- 
panied by  a  copy  of  their  regularly  adopted  constitution  and  by- 
laws. 

The  junior  historian  group  must  purchase  in  the  name  of  their 
society  no  less  than  one  membership  in  the  County  Chapter  of  this 
society  and  the  State  Society,  and  fee  for  this  membership  shall 
accompany  the  letter  request  for  charter. 

Annually,  prior  to  the  spring  dismissal  of  school,  the  junior 
group  must,  elect  one  delegate  to  the  annual  meeting  of  the  State 


120  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Society  who  will  represent  their  one  or  more  group  memberships 
in  the  State  Society.  This  shall  not  limit  the  attendance  at  the 
annual  meeting  by  those  individuals  who  hold  memberships  in  the 
State  Society. 

Mrs.  Wilkins  moved  that  the  secretary  be  instructed  to  buy  the 
same  number  of  Volume  5  of  the  Hunton  Diaries  as  have  been  pur- 
chased of  previous  volumes  in  the  past,  for  resale  to  members. 
The  motion  was  seconded  and  carried. 

Mr.  Dubois,  chairman  of  the  auditing  committee,  reported  that 
the  treasurer's  book  had  been  audited  and  found  correct,  and 
moved  that  since  $2,000  was  in  the  checking  account,  $1,000  be 
placed  in  the  savings  account.  The  motion  was  seconded  and 
carried. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Norman  R.  Dickinson, 
Riverton,  Mr.  Burton  Hill,  of  Buffalo,  presented  the  report  of  the 
Resolutions  Committee  as  follows: 

REPORT  OF  RESOLUTIONS  COMMITTEE 

WHEREAS  the  Eleventh  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Society  has  been  outstanding  and  remunerative  in  both  mind  and  spirit,  and 

WHEREAS  we  owe  tribute  to  General  John  A.  Rawlins  for  his  endeavors  of 
some  97  years  ago  which  same  instituted  the  city  of  Rawlins,  and 

WHEREAS  ninety  years  ago  John  C.  Friend  shipped  a  carload  of  "Rawlins 
Red"  pigment  for  use  on  the  Brooklyn  bridge,  and 

WHEREAS  the  early  citizens  of  Rawlins  preserved  the  integrity  of  the  city 
by  disposing  of  "Big  Nose"  George  Parrot  and,  "Dutch"  Charlie  Burris,  and 

WHEREAS  the  local  membership  has  been  such  a  gracious  and  hard-work- 
ing host,  providing  for  our  every  need  and  furnishing  entertainment  and 
colorful  decorations, 

THEREFORE  BE  IT  RESOLVED  that  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  So- 
ciety is  unanimous  in  its  praise  and  thanks  to  the  Carbon  County  Chapter. 

Mr.  Hill  also  read  a  resolution  approved  at  the  1963  Annual 
Meeting,  in  which  it  was  resolved  that  the  legislature  be  petitioned 
to  provide  an  adequate  and  functional  building  for  museum,  ar- 
chives and  history,  with  bombproof  vault  for  security  storage,  to 
be  built  to  properly  preserve  and  further  develop  our  Wyoming 
heritage.     The  membership  voted  to  reaffirm  this  resolution. 

The  meeting  was  adjourned  at  4:15  p.m. 

BANQUET 

At  seven  o'clock  on  Saturday  evening  a  smorgasbord  was  en- 
joyed in  Jeffrey  Center.  After  introduction  of  officers  and  guests 
at  the  head  table,  a  trio  composed  of  Harriet  Carlson,  Betty  Paul 
and  Mona  Chandler,  of  Rawlins,  entertained  with  songs  appro- 
priate to  the  history  of  Wyoming. 

Mr.  Miller  read  the  name  of  those  receiving  Junior  Historical 
Awards.    They  were: 


WYOMING  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  121 

Senior  High  School:  First  Award,  $25,  Anita  Bartholdi,  Rock 
Springs;  Second  Award,  $10,  Terri  Agnes  Burgess,  Rawlins. 
Junior  High  School:  First  Award,  $25,  won  jointly  by  Betty  Jean 
Murdock  and  Gary  Glen  Brost,  Owl  Creek  Route,  Thermopolis; 
Second  Award,  $10,  Robin  Elaine  Rider,  Cheyenne;  Third  Award, 
book.  Soldier  and  Brave,  Marianne  Harris,  Evanston. 

Mr.  Miller  presented  the  award  to  Miss  Burgess,  who  was  able 
to  attend  the  banquet  as  a  guest.  He  also  presented  the  first  Wyo- 
ming Teacher  Award  given  by  the  Society  to  Mr.  Gene  Brown  for 
his  organization  of  a  successful  Junior  Historical  Society  in  Lar- 
amie. 

Mr.  Sweem,  second  vice  president,  and  chairman  of  the  Awards 
Committee,  presented  the  following  awards: 

Leora  Peters,  Wheatland.  For  historical  articles  on  Wyoming 
history  published  in  newspapers  over  the  state. 

Dr.  Harold  McCraken,  Cody.  For  his  contribution  to  Archaeol- 
ogy for  promotion  and  supervision  of  the  exploration,  excavation 
and  preservation  of  information  and  artifact  materials  from  Mum- 
my Cave  near  Cody. 

Bradford  Brinton  Museum,  Big  Horn.  For  conducting  guided 
educational  tours  through  the  museum. 

Wyoming  Tradesman,  newspaper,  Casper.  For  publication  of  a 
series  of  articles  on  Wyoming  history. 

Whitney  Art  Gallery,  Cody.  For  collecting  and  exhibiting 
Western  Art  for  the  benefit  of  people  of  Wyoming  and  from  all 
parts  of  the  world. 

Gladys  Housman,  Guernsey.  For  composing  the  music  and 
writing  the  words  of  the  song  "In  Wyoming." 

Francis  Seely  Webb,  Casper.  For  her  published  writing  of 
people,  places  and  events  in  Wyoming's  past. 

Mabel  Brown,  Newcastle.  For  her  outstanding  series  of  articles 
on  history  of  Wyoming  published  in  magazines  and  newspapers  of 
nation-wide  circulation. 

Mrs.  May  Dow,  Newcastle.  For  her  life-long  work  in  promoting 
and  preserving  Wyoming  history  through  research,  writing  and 
teaching. 

Charles  B.  Erlanson,  Sheridan.  For  writing  the  book.  Battle 
of  the  Butte,  a  story  of  General  Nelson  Miles'  battle  on  Tongue 
River,  Montana. 

Frank  Bowron,  Casper.  Honorable  Mention  for  publication  of 
Casper's  Diamond  Jubilee  booklet,  for  which  he  wrote  the  legends, 
collected  the  photographs  and  sold  the  advertising. 

Sublette  County  Artists'  Guild.  For  publishing  the  book  Tales 
of  the  Seeds-ke-dee. 

Casper  Zonta  Club.  For  compiUng  and  publishing  the  book 
Casper  Chronicles,  a  collection  of  historical  events. 

Mr.  Charles  Rawlings,  Ranchester.    Posthumous.    For  his  life- 


Gene  Brown  of  Laramie  Receiving  Wyoming  Teacher  Award  from  Neal 
Miller,  President,  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society 


Terri  Agnes  Burgess,  Rawlins,  Receiving  check  as  second  place  winner, 
Senior  High  School  Division,  Junior  Historian  Award 


WYOMING  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  123 

long  contributions  to  history  through  research,  writing,  exploration 
and  collecting. 

Mr.  Miller  announced  that  Mr.  Orman  Pratt  of  Sheridan,  was 
winner  of  the  contest  to  design  a  seal  for  the  Wyoming  State 
Historical  Society.  Many  entries  had  been  submitted  in  the  com- 
petition and  it  was  difficult  to  make  a  decision. 

Mr.  Charles  Guild,  Chairman  of  the  Nominating  Committee, 
announced  that  the  following  officers  had  been  re-elected  for  the 
coming  year: 

President Mr.  Neal  Miller 

First  Vice  President Mrs.  Charles  Hord 

Second  Vice  President Mr.  Glenn  Sweem 

Secretary-Treasurer Miss  Maurine  Carley 

Mrs.  Lovina  Pierson  announced  the  winners  in  the  "What  is  It?" 
contest.  Out  of  the  25  items  Mr.  Walter  Lambertsen  named  21 
correctly  and  Mr.  Glenn  Sweem  recognized  20.  Mr.  Lambertsen's 
prize  was  a  large  thermos  jug  and  Mr.  Sweem  received  a  year's 
membership  in  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society. 

The  Bank  Notes,  barbershop  quartet,  royally  entertained  the 
gathering  with  both  harmony  and  humor. 

The  speaker  of  the  evening,  Mr.  Nelson  Olmsted,  of  Los  An- 
geles, gave  a  very  entertaining  and  informative  talk  about  his  work 
with  the  Pacific  Power  and  Light  Company.  He  has  narrated  five- 
minute  authentic  historical  sketches  on  radio  for  many  years.  He 
delighted  his  Rawlins  audience  by  giving  a  preview  of  the  Decem- 
ber 7  program  which  appropriately  will  be  on  the  life  of  General 
John  A.  Rawlings,  for  whom  the  town  was  named  in  1868.  For 
the  series  of  historical  programs  the  Pacific  Power  and  Light  Com- 
pany received  awards  last  year  from  both  the  Wyoming  State 
Historical  Society  and  the  American  Association  for  State  and 
Local  History. 

SUNDAY  -  SEPTEMBER  13 

Promptly  at  7:45  a.m.  a  caravan  of  twenty  cars  left  Rawlins  for 
Fort  Steele  where  a  hearty  western  breakfast  of  hot  cakes  and 
antelope  sausage  was  served  at  the  river  by  the  Carbon  County 
Chapter.  Following  breakfast,  the  group  returned  to  Fort  Steele, 
where  Mr.  Charles  Vivion  gave  a  short  history  of  the  old  fort  and 
the  sheep  industry  of  later  years,  and  the  persons  who  acquired  the 
Fort  property. 

After  the  talk  the  caravan  folowed  a  well-marked  route  for  20 
miles  to  the  Platte  River  Crossing  on  the  Overland  Stage  Trail, 
where  Mr.  Edward  McAuslan  presented  a  paper  on  that  historic 
spot.    Graves  and  names  cut  in  the  cliff  were  inspected  before  a 


124  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

lunch  was  served  by  the  competent  men  who  had  moved  their 
cooking  and  serving  equipment  from  Fort  Steele. 

Everyone  declared  this  one  of  the  best  Annual  Meetings,  and 
they  sincerely  thank  the  Carbon  County  Chapter  for  two  fine  days. 

Maurine  Carley 
Secretary 


Designed  by  Orman  H.  Pratt 

The  official  seal  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society,  adopt- 
ed on  September  12,  1964,  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society 
held  at  Rawlins,  is  reproduced  here.  It  was  the  winning  design  in 
the  competition  for  a  seal  sponsored  by  the  Society,  and  Mr.  Pratt 
received  a  certificate  of  recognition  at  the  meeting.  The  design 
contains  an  Indian,  a  pioneer,  a  covered  wagon,  a  book  and  quUl 
pen.  Mr.  Pratt  explained  the  seal  was  so  designed  to  depict  the 
Indian  and  pioneer  past  of  the  state.  The  book  represents  the 
written  record  of  the  past,  and  the  quill  pen  and  wagon  represent 
the  tools  which  were  important  to  the  progress  of  the  west.  The 
seal  will  be  used  on  letterheads  and  other  documents  of  the  Society. 


^00 k  Keviews 


The  Shoshonis.  Sentinels  of  the  Rockies.  By  Virginia  Cole  Tren- 
holm  and  Maurine  Carley.  (Norman:  University  of  Okla- 
homa Press,  1964.     Illus.,  index.     320  pp.     $5.95.) 

Until  recently  no  really  complete  account  of  the  Shoshoni  tribe 
has  appeared  although  occasionally  one  might  run  across  a  fine 
article  here,  a  revealing  anecdote  there.  Yet  the  Bureau  of  Ethnol- 
ogy's Handbook  of  American  Indians  North  of  Mexico  (edited  by 
Frederick  Webb  Hodge  in  1912)  referred  to  the  Shoshonis  as  the 
strongest  and  most  prominent  tribe  on  the  upper  Plateau. 

It  remained  for  Virginia  Cole  Trenholm  of  Wheatland,  Wyo- 
ming, and  Maurine  Carley,  of  Cheyenne,  to  compile  the  first  Sho- 
shoni chronicle  which  is  broad  in  scope,  pertinent  and  penetrating 
in  treatment. 

This  treatise  is  not  related  simply  to  the  Wyoming  Shoshonis  as 
we  know  them,  although  Chief  Washakie's  colorful  picture  on  the 
dust  jacket  might  lead  one  to  expect  that.  Rather,  it  covers  the 
broad  sweep  of  land  inhabited  over  the  decades  by  that  whole 
tribal  group — from  the  desert  region  of  Cahfornia,  eastward  across 
Nevada,  Utah  and  Idaho,  as  well  as  western  Wyoming. 

Here  is  no  "arm-chair"  narrative,  hastily  written  by  persons 
whose  knowledge  of  the  subject  is  scanty  and  purely  vicarious. 
The  Shoshonis  has  been  many  years  in  the  making.  Rest  assured, 
Carley  and  Trenholm  spent  countless  hours  among  dusty  book- 
shelves, doing  documentary  research.  They  carried  on  voluminous 
correspondence  with  noted  authorities  in  the  field.  They  made 
several  visits  to  the  Wind  River  Reservation.  There  they  asked 
Shoshoni  tribal  leaders  about  the  legends  and  the  folklore  of  their 
forefathers;  they  sought  information  about  the  Shoshoni  approach 
to  modern  living.  As  evidence,  witness  the  generous  footnotes 
scattered  throughout  the  book,  together  with  a  well-classified,  27- 
page  bibliography  at  the  end. 

Nor  is  this  just  a  chronicle  of  the  Shoshonis  alone!  The  ap- 
proach is  ethnological,  not  simply  historical,  in  nature.  Compara- 
tive cultures  of  neighboring  tribes,  whose  lives  were  too  interwoven 
for  separation,  are  closely  examined.  Tribes  such  as  the  Crow, 
the  Sioux,  the  Cheyenne,  the  Paiute,  the  Blackfoot  and  the  Ban- 
nock. 

Considerable  space  is  granted  to  the  impact  of  the  white  man's 
influence  on  Indian  ways  of  living.  Several  chapters  are  devoted 
to  the  mountain  men,  the  missionaries  and  the  emigrants. 

This  is  a  book  which  will  attract  persons  of  varied  tastes.  When 
Mrs.  Trenholm  finally  sat  down  to  write  it,  she  consistently  kept 


126  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

in  mind  two  groups  of  readers — those  trained  in  the  use  of  source 
materials;  those  interested  chiefly  in  anecdotes  and  legends.  Her 
style  throughout  is  direct,  terse  and  readable. 

An  overwhelming  curiosity  impelled  this  reviewer  to  dip  first 
into  the  Trenholm  treatment  of  two  commonly  controversial  sub- 
jects before  settling  down  to  a  full  cover-to-cover  reading  of  the 
book. 

First,  she  asked  herself,  are  the  claims  to  fame  made  by  Nevada's 
Sarah  Winnemucca  accepted  wholeheartedly  here,  or  are  they 
challenged? 

Second,  is  greater  credence  given  to  the  Wyoming,  or  to  the 
South  Dakota,  version  of  how  and  where  the  Bird  Woman,  Saca- 
jawea,  spent  her  declining  years? 

Results?  A  concise  footnote  (pp.  83-84)  seems  to  cover  the 
Winnemucca  challenge  quite  satisfactorily. 

On  the  other  hand,  one  could  wish  for  a  more  detailed  treatment 
of  the  Sacajawea  story  (pp.  219-20).  Only  one  reference  (Lut- 
tig's  Journal)  is  cited  in  support  of  the  South  Dakota  theory;  even 
that  is  brushed  aside  as  inconclusive.  A  few  other  South  Dakota 
references  might  bear  close  reading.  Too  bad  they  were  over- 
looked! 

Two  fine  contributions  made  by  the  Shoshoni  book,  however, 
should  improve  our  knowledge  of  Chief  Washakie. 

The  authors  make  no  attempt  to  paint  as  glamorous  a  picture  of 
this  man  as  did  several  of  their  predecessors — Hebard,  Vaughn  and 
Reynolds,  for  example  (p.  252).  But  Washakie  emerges  an  even 
finer  figure  of  a  man  because  The  Shoshonis  claims  his  close 
friendship  with  the  white  man  was  due  less  to  blind  personal  devo- 
tion; was  due  more  to  his  principle  of  adhering  to  his  word,  once 
given. 

Refutation  is  given  also  to  the  oft-repeated  statement  that  the 
chief  was  present  at  the  "Battle  of  the  Rosebud"  (p.  247).  And 
this  too  is  done  quite  convincingly! 

Use  of  the  word  "Shoshonis"  may  bother  some  Wyoming  read- 
ers, accustomed  as  we  are  to  "Shoshones."  Please  don't  let  it! 
Remember  that,  within  the  boundaries  of  this  state,  we  have  a 
town  named  "Shoshoni"  as  well  as  a  "Shoshone"  National  Forest. 
Hodge's  Handbook  (previously  cited)  enumerates  (p.  558)  a 
number  of  varied  spellings  for  this  tribal  name.  They  include 
"Shoshon,"  "Shoshonay,"  "Shoshones,"  "Shoshonee,"  "Shosho- 
nis," "Shossoonies"  and  even  "Shothones."  Take  your  pick! 
Modern  writers,  backed  no  doubt  by  the  Bureau  of  Ethnology, 
seem  to  prefer  "Shoshonis." 

As  an  eminent  authority  in  the  Indian  field  recently  remarked 
of  the  Trenholm-Carley  treatise,  "I  don't  care  how  they  spell  the 
word!    It's  an  excellent  book,  any  way  you  look  at  it!" 

Laramie  Clarice  Whittenburg 


BOOK  REVIEWS  127 

The  Beaver  Men.    By  Mari  Sandoz.     (New  York,  Hastings  House 
Publishers,  1964.    335  pp.    $5.95) 

This  new  volume  from  the  prolific  pen  of  Mari  Sandoz,  written 
and  published  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  her  distinguished  career,  was 
planned  several  years  ago  to  be  the  first  volume  of  her  series  of 
major  historical  works  dealing  with  the  Great  Plains.  The  first 
volume  written  was  Old  Jules  in  1935,  though  it  is,  if  I  have  listed 
them  correctly,  sixth  in  the  series.  The  others,  written  at  varying 
points  in  the  years  between  Old  Jules  and  The  Beaver  Men,  and 
listed  in,  I  hope,  the  correct  order  are,  after  The  Beaver  Men, 
Crazy  Horse  (1942),  Cheyenne  Autumn  (1953),  The  Buffalo 
Hunters  (1954),  The  Cattlemen  (1958),  Old  Jules,  and  the  last 
volume  yet  to  be  pubhshed  which  will  deal  with  our  own  era. 
These  five  previous  volumes  are  a  most  valuable  and  significant 
contribution  to  our  understanding  of  the  development  of  the  Great 
Plains  and  the  West,  and  The  Beaver  Men  makes  a  sixth  worthy  to 
stand  with  them. 

The  era  it  covers  (the  early  1600's  to  the  early  1800's),  and  the 
fur  trade  (which  was  the  beginning  of  the  opening  up  of  the  Great 
Plains  and  the  West)  are  familiar  to  most  readers  from  the  many 
books  preceding  The  Beaver  Men  (an  excellent  bibhography  of 
which  Miss  Sandoz  includes  at  the  end  of  her  volume),  but  The 
Beaver  Men  is  a  re-telling  which  seems  new  because  it  is  filled  with 
life,  colored  by  her  particular  insight,  told  in  her  inimitable  and 
beautiful  prose,  and  permeated  everywhere  by  her  broad  human 
sympathies  and  her  scorn  for  the  ruthless  element  behind  any  Great 
Plains  enterprise  in  the  treatment  of  the  Indians  and  in  this  book 
also  of  the  coureurs  de  bois  (to  whom  the  book  is  dedicated).  It 
is  a  very  readable  book,  clear,  concise,  controlled,  with  the  proper 
highlights,  and  all  of  it  carefully  researched. 

The  several  sections  devoted  to  the  nature  of  the  beaver  and  his 
history  are  fascinating  and  enlightening.  This  "orderly,  inoffensive 
creature,"  as  Miss  Sandoz  calls  him,  was  nearly  exterminated  to 
satisfy  the  white  man's  greed,  but  fortunately  fashions  shifted  and 
he  was  spared  to  remain  one  of  the  most  interesting  animals  in 
nature.  Before  this,  however,  the  fabulously  successful  quest  for 
this  orderly  and  inoffensive  animal,  the  quest  for  beaver  gold,  she 
writes,  "fired  the  appetite  for  empire  in  the  great  courts  of  Europe 
and  dictated  their  foreign  policy  over  much  of  America  and  Europe 
too,  so  long  as  the  beaver  lasted."  This,  of  course,  she  finds  to  be 
the  pattern  in  the  settlement  of  the  Great  Plains,  materialistic  im- 
pulses which  have  brought  about  endless  destruction  yet  have 
resulted  also  in  the  development  of  the  area  until  the  pattern  is 
finally  changed — a  matter  which  she  will  take  up  in  the  last  book 
of  the  series,  "the  one,"  she  says  in  the  brief  and  significant  "Fore- 
word," "that  is  to  illustrate  the  rise  of  Plains-rooted  power  that 


128  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

grasps  for  wealth  anywhere  in  the  world  and  often  molds  the 
nation's  foreign  policy  .  .  ."" 

Thus  the  series  of  books,  of  which  this  is  the  first,  will  end,  and 
anyone  who  goes  through  them  can  expect  what  Miss  Sandoz  her- 
self expects — "to  understand  something  of  the  white  man's  incum- 
bency on  the  Great  Plains  from  Stone  Age  Indian  to  the  present,  to 
understand  something  of  what  modern  man  does  to  su::h  a  region, 
and  what  it  does  to  him." 

University  of  Wyoming  Richard  Mahan 


Standing  Up  Country.  The  Canyon  Lands  of  Utah  and  Arizona. 
By  C.  Gregory  Crampton.  (New  York:  Alfred  A.  Knopf 
and  University  of  Utah  Press  in  association  with  the  Amon 
Carter  Museum  of  Western  Art.  Illus.  bibl.  index.  191  + 
vpp.     1964.     $15.00.) 

If  one  is  interested  in  that  area  of  beauty  and  mystery  which 
includes  southwestern  Utah  and  extends  eastward  to  the  four- 
corners  area  of  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Utah  and  Arizona,  this  is  a 
book  which  is  a  must  for  one's  library.  This  is  sandstone  country 
of  mesas,  buttes,  canyons  and  plateaus  sculptured  by  nature  into 
fantastic  shapes  of  erosion.  Because  of  its  great  expanse,  and  the 
danger  of  attempting  to  enter  it  without  proper  knowledge  and 
preparation,  only  segments  of  it  are  generally  familiar  to  the  public, 
such  as  Bryce  Canyon,  Zion  National  Park  and  the  Grand  Canyon 
of  the  Colorado. 

C.  Gregory  Crampton,  professor  of  history  at  the  University  of 
Utah  and  author  of  the  book,  relates  how  the  book  and  the  country 
received  its  name:  "The  intricately  sculptured  country  looks  like 
a  tableland,  but  unless  you  know  your  way,  don't  try  to  cross  it  .  .  . 
Move  toward  the  center  of  the  canyon  country  from  any  direction. 
Soon  you  may  find  yourself  standing  on  top  of  a  wall,  that  is,  the 
edge  of  a  mesa  or  the  rim  of  a  canyon  which  is  dropping  away 
below  you  a  hundred  feet,  a  thousand  feet,  or  more.  You  can  go 
no  further;  you  have  been  'rim-rocked'  to  use  a  good  canyon- 
country  verb.  You  are  on  the  edge  of  the  world  and  you  probably 
have  spread  out  before  you  a  natural  spectacle  of  surpassing  mag- 
nificence. As  someone  expressed  it  years  ago:  There  is  as  much 
country  standing  up  as  there  is  lying  down.'  " 

This  reviewer  has  found  the  spectacle  awe  inspiring  when  flying 
over  a  few  portions  of  this  area.  It  takes  a  hardy  explorer  and  time 
to  enter  the  vast  area  for  a  closer  look.  Next  best  is  to  sit  down 
with  this  book,  read  the  excellent  text  full  of  the  fascinating  history 
of  the  area  and  enjoy  the  126  beautiful  photographs  which  illustrate 
it,  16  of  which  are  in  full  color  of  rare  beauty.  The  author's  notes 
and  a  fine  bibliography  accompany  the  text. 

Cheyenne  Lola  M.  Homsher 


BOOK  REVIEWS  129 

Old  Forts  of  the  Southwest.  By  Herbert  M.  Hart.  (Seattle: 
Superior  Publishing  Company,  1964.  Illus.,  index.  192  pp. 
$12.50.) 

This  is  the  second  volume  of  Herbert  M.  Hart's  "Forts  of  the 
Old  West"  series. 

He  visited  the  sites  of  sixty-two  frontier  Army  posts  scattered 
through  present-day  Colorado,  Kansas,  Oklahoma,  Texas,  New 
Mexico,  Arizona  and  California  in  assembUng  material  for  this 
book.  Early-day  drawings,  photographs  and  plats  of  each  post  in 
the  period  of  its  garrisoning  as  well  as  present-day  photos  of  eacli 
site  and  its  location  accompany  the  narrative. 

In  the  early  and  middle  1800's  explorers,  trail  blazers,  gold 
seekers,  settlers  and  soldiers  vied  with  each  other  in  their  enthusi- 
asm to  cut  new  ways  across  the  southwestern  plains,  particularly 
after  the  end  of  the  Mexican  War.  The  Indian  tribes  of  the  South- 
west, Apache,  Navajo,  Kiowa,  Comanche  and  Cheyenne,  bitterly 
opposed  every  incursion  into  their  traditional  hunting  grounds,  and 
it  was  not  until  1 900  the  Army  could  close  its  records  on  the  Indian 
Wars.  During  this  period  the  United  States  established  a  line  of 
forts  stretching  between  1,300  and  2,500  miles  and  ranging  from 
30  to  300  miles  apart.  Oftentimes  they  were  hastily  and  poorly 
constructed,  isolated,  undermanned.  Scourges  of  fevers,  cholera, 
scurvy  and  dysentery  made  dreadful  inroads  on  many  garrisons. 
Drunkenness  and  desertion  posed  two  problems  always  present  in 
the  frontier  Army.  During  the  Civil  War  several  of  the  Southwest 
Forts  were  manned  by  both  Union  and  Confederate  forces. 

In  his  detailed  research  the  author  came  across  many  interesting 
facts  and  anecdotes  which  he  includes  in  the  narrative  dealing  with 
each  Army  post. 

General  Robert  E.  Lee,  who  was  stationed  at  several  posts  in 
Texas  immediately  following  the  Mexican  War  and  from  1855  to 
1857,  would  never  bring  his  family  to  the  frontier,  and  he  once 
wrote  to  his  wife  back  in  Virginia,  "If  officers  of  the  Army  will  get 
married,  I  think  they  should  insist  that  their  wives  have  no  children. 
This  will  help  the  matter  much." 

Fort  Fillmore  (New  Mexico)  was  at  one  time  unofficially  com- 
manded by  the  wife  of  an  officer,  Mrs.  Lydia  Spencer  Lane.  All 
of  the  garrison  was  ordered  on  a  patrol,  including  prisoners  in  the 
guardhouse,  and  Mrs.  Lane,  with  a  sergeant  and  ten  men,  was  left 
in  command. 

Jefferson  Davis  was  stationed  at  Fort  Gibson  (Oklahoma),  and 
it  was  there  that  he  was  court-martialed  in  1834  and  left  the  Army. 
A  lieutenant  at  the  time,  he  was  accused  by  the  Dragoon  com- 
mander of  faihng  to  attend  the  reveille  formation.  When  pressed 
for  a  reason  for  his  failure,  the  official  court-martial  record  charged 
that  "the  said  Lt.  Davis  did  in  highly  disrespectful,  insubordinate 


130  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

and  contemptuous  manner,  abruptly  turn  upon  his  heel  and  walk 
off  saying  at  the  same  time,  'Hum!'  "  Davis  was  found  not  guilty 
of  the  charge. 

A  corrupt  Indian  agent  at  Fort  Tejon  (California)  did  not 
bother  to  issue  trousers  to  his  charges.  He  suggested  instead  that 
the  Indians  paint  green  or  red  pantaloons  on  their  legs,  mainly  out 
of  respect  for  the  sensibilities  of  settlers  who  passed  by.  One 
government  inspector  angrily  but  facetiously  suggested  that  striped 
blue  shirts  painted  on  the  Indians'  upper  bodies  might  be  cool, 
economical,  and  picturesque. 

In  1855  came  the  famous  camel  experiment;  Secretary  of  War 
Jefferson  Davis  was  the  man  behind  this  scheme.  Hart  explains, 
"Tales  are  told  that  the  camel  business  failed  because  the  soft  pads 
on  their  feet  could  not  take  the  rough  rocks  and  foliage  of  the 
American  West.  Not  so.  They  could  march  cross-country  with 
the  best  the  Army  had  to  offer,  and  leave  them  behind.  They  could 
go  days  without  water  and  tote  a  load  that  would  have  foundered  a 
mule.  Their  swaying  gait  presented  a  smoother  platform  than  a 
horse's  from  which  to  fire  a  rifle.  And  in  every  impartial  test 
patrol  they  made,  they  passed  with  flying  colors — and  usually,  a 
few  riders.  But  it  all  came  to  naught.  Jeff  Davis  was  the  man 
behind  the  scheme,  and  in  post-Civil  War  America  anything  with 
his  tag  was  hopeless.  The  camels  were  sold  or  permitted  to 
'escape.'  Some  wound  up  in  circuses,  some  in  ill-fated  private 
transportation  schemes." 

Such  well-known  names  as  Christopher  ( Kit )  Carson,  Philip  H. 
Sheridan,  George  Armstrong  Custer,  Elizabeth  B.  Custer,  Albert 
Sidney  Johnston,  Wesley  Merritt  and  Ranald  S.  Mackenzie  appear 
from  time  to  time  in  this  book,  along  with  many  Army  men  and 
women,  settlers,  Indians,  preachers,  teachers,  prostitutes,  pimps, 
gamblers  and  thieves.  It  was  of  course  through  the  combination  of 
these  diverse  elements  that  the  West  was  explored,  won,  and 
settled. 

The  author  generously  acknowledges  the  cooperation  and  assist- 
ance of  many  members  of  staffs  of  libraries,  historical  societies, 
museums  and  other  individuals  in  assembling  and  editing  the  ma- 
terial for  "Old  Forts  of  the  Southwest."  He  cautions,  "If  the  read- 
er is  tempted  to  visit  any  of  these  sites,  a  few  words  of  caution  may 
be  in  order.  Many  are  privately  owned.  Permission  should  be 
requested  from  the  owner  before  investigating,  and  the  courtesies 
of  the  west  always  should  be  observed.  This  means,  leave  things 
as  they  are  found,  close  all  gates,  do  not  frighten  the  livestock,  and 
do  not  carry  off  any  souvenirs.  In  rattlesnake  country,  take 
appropriate  precautions  ...  In  desert  country,  take  along  a  shovel, 
some  boards,  some  gunnysacks  and  chains.  And  do  not  try  to 
navigate  the  back  roads  in  the  family  car;  a  jeep,  pickup  truck,  or 
foot  travel  is  recommended." 

Herbert  M.  Hart  is  a  Major  in  the  Marine  Corps,  a  graduate  of 


BOOK  REVIEWS  131 

Northwestern  University's  Medill  School  of  Journahsm,  and  is 
currently  serving  as  an  intelligence  officer  with  the  Navy's  Atlantic 
Fleet.  To  assemble  the  material  for  this  book  he  and  his  wife, 
Teresa,  covered  fifteen  thousand  miles  in  1963  in  a  camper  accom- 
panied by  their  three  children,  Bridget,  Erin  and  Bret,  all  under 
four  years  of  age,  without  whom,  Hart  says,  the  book  would  have 
been  finished  in  half  the  time. 

"Old  Forts  of  the  Southwest"  is  a  volume  to  read  and  re-read, 
to  enjoy  and  to  cherish. 

Cheyenne  Robert  R.  Larson 


Western  Ghost  Town  Shadows.  By  Lambert  Florin.  (Seattle: 
Superior  Publishing  Company.  1964.  Illus.,  index.  189 
pp.    $12.50.) 

This  fourth  book  of  Lambert  Florin's  Western  Ghost  Town  ser- 
ies has  not  lost  any  of  the  freshness  of  his  first  book,  and  the  author 
apparently  has  lost  none  of  his  enthusiasm  for  hunting  out  old 
towns  and  sharing  them  with  his  readers. 

The  subject  of  ghost  towns  is  ideally  suited  to  the  increasingly 
popular  pictorial  treatment  of  history.  Most  of  the  dozens  of 
superb  illustrations  are  the  author's  own  photographs,  although 
he  utilizes  a  good  many  historic  ones  where  they  best  serve  his 
purpose.  A  professional  photographer  and  florist  when  he  is  not 
searching  out  ghost  towns,  Florin  produces  pictures  of  truly 
artistic  composition  which  unfailingly  capture  the  mood  and  atmos- 
phere of  the  solitary,  decaying  old  towns  and  settlements. 

The  brief  historical  sketches  tell  a  great  deal  in  relatively  few 
well-chosen  words.  The  humor  in  many  of  the  terse  statements 
is  refreshing  and  adds  much  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  book.  Cut- 
lines  for  an  old  photograph,  "Belle  of  the  Yukon — 1898,"  a  rather 
Junoesque  young  woman,  which  reportedly  hung  in  every  saloon 
in  Dawson  City,  Yukon  Territory,  conclude  with  this  comment  by 
the  author:  "Subject  seems  to  show  effects  of  long  winter  diet  of 
salt  pork,  beans  and  flapjacks." 

Along  with  good  sound  history,  Florin  interjects  many  amus- 
ing anecdotes  and  incidents  typical  of  the  new,  unrestrained  west. 
One  story  begins:  "Divorce  lawyers  were  not  as  greedy  in  the 
80's  as  they  are  today.  You  could  even  get  unhitched  by  slot 
machine.  The  ad  in  the  Corinne,  Utah,  Reporter  said  so.  'Di- 
vorce Secured — Presence  Unnecessary — Fee  $2.50.'  Above  the 
legal  firm  name  of  Johnson  and  Underdunk  was  the  message 
that  any  disenchanted  mate  was  invited  to  use  the  elaborate  and 
complicated  machine  in  the  offices  of  the  firm.  The  suing  party 
simply  inserted  a  $2.50  gold  piece  in  the  maw  of  the  contraption, 
gave  the  crank  a  turn  and  presto,  in  hand  was  a  beautifully  pre- 


132  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

pared  divorce  decree  signed  by  the  Corinne  City  Judge.  When  the 
names  of  both  parties  were  filled  in  the  blank  spaces  the  document 
was  legal." 

This  is  a  delightful  book,  with  enjoyment  to  be  derived  equally 
from  the  pictures  and  from  the  text. 

Cheyenne  Katherine  Halverson 


Picture  Gallery  Pioneers.     By  Ralph  W.  Andrews.     (Seattle,  Su- 
perior Publishing  Company,  1964.   Index.    192  pp.   $12.50.) 

This  book  is  a  pictorial  study  into  the  history  of  early  day  pho- 
tography, and  perhaps  more  important,  the  early  day  photographer. 
The  book  is  divided  into  six  parts  and  covers  the  illustrious  careers 
of  at  least  twenty-nine  enterprising  photographers  who  did  their 
work  in  the  West  between  1850  and  1875. 

The  author  gives  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of  each  photog- 
rapher and  shows  the  high  quality  photographs  produced  by  each 
under  the  most  difficult  conditions. 

For  instance,  the  first  portion  of  the  book  dwells  on  the  photog- 
raphers who  accompanied  government  survey  expeditions  from 
1867  to  1873.  Such  photographers  as  T.  H.  O'Sullivan  and  Wil- 
liam Henry  Jackson  accompanied  expeditions  into  the  remote  and 
relatively  unexplored  regions  of  the  West,  took  pictures  and 
developed  them  in  dark  rooms  made  of  tents.  They  transported 
their  equipment,  including  cameras,  developing  chemicals,  and 
glass  plates  down  rivers,  over  mountains  and  through  canyons. 
Many  of  these  pictures  taken  under  these  conditions  are  equal  to 
pictures  taken  with  modern  equipment. 

Other  portions  of  the  book  dwell  on  the  portrait  and  studio 
photographers  such  as  C.  E.  Watkins  of  California,  Peter  Britt  of 
Oregon  and  William  G.  Chamberlain  of  Colorado.  Mr.  Watkins, 
along  with  William  H.  Jackson  and  A.  A.  Hart,  a  noted  photog- 
rapher of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  did  a  large  portion  of  their 
work  in  stereographs  which  were  so  popular  in  early  homes. 

In  this  book  can  be  seen  high  quality  pictures  of  early  gold- 
mining  activities  in  California,  Colorado,  Montana,  and  Oregon; 
scenes  of  frontier  cities  and  towns;  many  beautiful  views  of  moun- 
tains, rivers,  canyons  and  other  landscape  views;  and  pictures  of 
such  events  as  the  Cherry  Creek  Flood  in  Denver  in  1864  which 
was  photographed  by  George  D.  Wakely  who  had  a  studio  in 
Denver  for  a  time  in  the  60's. 

In  writing  this  book,  Mr.  Andrews  intended  to  bring  to  light  the 
fact  that  photography  and  photographers  are  not  recent  products 
but  have  been  around  for  quite  some  time,  longer  then  most  real- 
ize.   The  author  also  wanted  the  reader  to  realize  how  courageous 


BOOK  REVIEWS  133 

and  undaunted  these  early  technicians  were  to  brave  the  perils  of  a 
yet  unsettled  country  and  still  be  able  to  produce  high  quality 
pictures. 

Cheyenne  Virginia  Schwartz  Wilcox 


The  Custer  Album.    A  Pictorial  Biography  of  General  George  A. 
Custer.    By  Lawrence  A.  Frost.     (Seattle:     Superior  Publishing 
Company.     1964.     Illus.,  index.     192  pp.     $12.50) 

This  book  is  a  continuation  of  a  series  by  Superior  Publishing 
Company,  bringing  the  old  West  to  life  through  period  photog- 
raphy. Many  of  the  pictures  in  this  volume  will  be  familiar,  having 
received  wide  publication  over  the  past  few  years.  Some  are  sel- 
dom seen,  but  the  high  point  is  in  the  rare,  first  publication  photo- 
graphs from  the  Battlefield,  the  Custer  Room  of  the  Monroe 
County,  Michigan,  Museum,  and  the  author's  collection.  There 
are  about  250  photographs  supported  by  some  70  paintings  and 
sketches.  Of  the  total,  81  are  concerned  with  the  Little  Horn 
operation. 

The  book  is  prefaced  by  fifteen  black  and  white  reproductions  of 
"Last  Stand"  paintings,  including  three  by  J.  K.  Ralston.  If  this 
section  could  only  have  been  printed  in  color! 

The  author.  Dr.  Frost,  a  foot  specialist,  chose  as  his  subject  a 
cavalryman  "through  the  fate"  as  he  calls  it,  of  living  in  Custer's 
home  town.  Considering  this  and  his  avocation  as  the  Curator  of 
a  large  portion  of  the  existing  material  on  his  subject  (the  Custer 
Room),  he  may  be  excused  for  his  exceedingly  uncritical  approach 
in  the  narrative  portion.  To  stay  in  proper  perspective,  it  would 
be  well  to  compare,  as  an  example,  his  very  subjective  treatment  in 
Chapter  9,  "Kansas  and  Court  Martial,"  with  Robert  Murray's 
objective  account  of  "The  Custer  Court  Martial"  in  the  October, 
1964,  Annals  of  Wyoming. 

The  bibliography  is  considerable  (257  items)  but  not  compre- 
hensive since  it  should  not  be  very  difficult  to  find  nearly  a  thou- 
sand. The  photographs  are  not  the  complete  Custer  either,  as  the 
Battlefield  still  has  a  number  yet  unpublished,  which  probably  per- 
tains also  to  the  Monroe  Museum  and  others.  A  remark  in  the 
preface  by  the  author  was  interesting.  "Many  wonder  why  I 
bother  to  study  the  life  of  a  soldier  when  there  is  so  much  material 
available  about  statesmen  like  Lincoln." 

The  wealth  of  illustrative  material  that  it  does  have,  however, 
makes  it  a  worthwhile  book.  From  birthplace  to  West  Point,  from 
the  Civil  War  to  Texas,  to  the  plains,  to  the  Black  Hills,  (with  the 
everpresent  and  very  charming  Libbie)  and  finally  to  the  sage- 
covered  slopes  of  Montana,  the  pictures,  and  contemporary  sketch- 


134  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

es  and  paintings,  transmit  an  awareness  of  the  time  and  of  the  man 
unavailable  through  any  other  media, 

Sheridan  Alan  W.  Bourne 


The  Custer  Battle  Book.  By  Herbert  A.  Coffeen.  Edited  by  Don- 
ald and  Grace  Coffeen.  (New  York:  Carlton  Press.  1964. 
65  pp.    $2.00. ) 

This  little  book  is  a  welcome  addition  to  the  libraries  of  the 
many  who  are  interested  in  the  Battle  of  the  Little  Big  Horn, 
wherein  the  Sioux  and  Cheyenne  Indians  soundly  trounced  the  7th 
Cavalry,  under  Lt.  Col.  George  A.  Custer  on  June  25,  1876. 

The  book,  an  anthology,  contains  eye-witness  accounts  of  the 
battle,  is  the  work  of  the  late  Herbert  A.  Coffeen,  and  is  edited  by 
his  son,  Donald  H.  Coffeen,  and  his  wife.  The  articles  in  the 
book  are  reprints  of  those  which  appeared  in  a  monthly  magazine, 
published  by  Herbert  Coffeen,  called  the  "Teepee  Book.'"  The 
magazine  is  now  out  of  print,  and  there  have  been  so  many  inquiries 
for  numbers  of  the  publication  that  his  son  decided  to  publish  the 
stories  which  appeared  in  the  commemorative  issue  of  June,  1916. 

Herbert  A.  Coffeen,  a  real  pioneer  of  Wyoming,  came  to  the 
state  at  the  age  of  15,  and  settled  with  his  parents  in  Big  Horn, 
where  they  operated  a  ranch  and  store.  Later,  he  opened  a  store 
in  Sheridan,  where  he  became  acquainted  with  many  of  the  par- 
ticipants in  early-day  Wyoming  history.  In  1915  he  started  the 
"Teepee  Book,"  in  which  he  published  actual  stories  obtained  by 
personal  interviews,  and  reproduced  already-published  rare  ac- 
counts of  Indians,  army  officers  and  other  pioneers,  from  whom  he 
received  permission  to  reprint  the  articles. 

The  present  book  contains  stories  by  such  well-known  partici- 
pants in  the  Custer  scrap  as  Captain  Edward  S.  Godfrey,  a  7th 
Cavalry  officer  who  served  under  Benteen  and  who  fought  with 
Reno,  the  Crow  scouts,  and  officers  who  viewed  the  site  shortly 
after  the  fight.  One  of  the  interesting  stories,  which  appeared  in 
The  Outlook,  October,  1906,  issue,  was  authored  by  Dr.  Charles 
Eastman  (Ohiyesa),  a  full-blooded,  well-educated,  Sioux,  and 
relates  the  story  of  Rain-in-the-face,  a  Sioux  warrior  who  was 
ungroundedly  charged  with  the  death  of  Captain  Tom  Custer.  In 
his  narrative  the  old  warrior  again  denied  the  charge. 

The  book  gives  the  stories  of  Curley,  White  Man  Runs  Him, 
Hairy  Moccasin,  Goes  Ahead  and  the  narrative  of  Red  Horse,  a 
Sioux  participant  in  the  fight.  Also  included  are  the  statements 
of  Reno  soldiers  who  were  interviewed  at  the  National  Soldiers 
Home  in  Washington,  D.  C.  The  story  authored  by  John  A. 
Cockerill  glorifies  the  Custer  troops  and  states  that  Custer's  body 


BOOK  REVIEWS  135 

was  not  mutilated,  but  every  other  body  on  the  field  "was  hacked 
and  mutilated."  This  is,  of  course,  incorrect,  as  there  were  many 
bodies  found  on  the  field  which  had  not  been  subjected  to 
mutilation. 

It  would  be  untimely  to  deal  with  the  different  accounts  of 
those  whose  comments  are  contained  in  the  work.  The  only  fault 
which  can  be  now  found  in  the  book  is  the  lack  of  identification  of 
those  whose  experiences  are  related.  The  readers  who  are  familiar 
with  the  details  of  the  battle  would  not  need  to  have  the  narrators 
identified.  Those  who  are  not  too  familiar  with  the  fracas  might 
not  know  who  the  various  commentators  were  or  what  constituted 
them  as  authentic. 

Although  Mr.  Coffeen,  as  he  informed  this  reviewer,  sent  to  the 
pubUsher  a  large  number  of  the  rare  photographs  which  he  has,  the 
publisher  did  not  use  them.  These  photographs  would  have 
dressed  up  the  volume  considerably,  and  would  have  been  of 
genuine  interest  to  all  readers. 

However,  the  work  is  of  value  as  an  addition  to  libraries  of  all 
Wyoming  and  Montana  historical  fans.  The  typography  is  excel- 
lent and  the  contents  surely  exceptional.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coffeen, 
who  are  members  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society,  are  to 
be  complimented  for  making  these  stories  available  to  interested 
readers  at  a  very  modest  sum.  Captain  Godfrey's  account  is  more 
than  worth  the  price  of  the  book. 

Sheridan  F.  H.  Sinclair 


Smoke  Across  the  Prairie.  By  James  L.  Ehemberger  and  Francis 
G.  Gschwind.  (Golden,  Colorado:  Intermountain  Chapter, 
National  Railway  Historical  Society,  1964.     Illus.     $4.95.) 

The  story  of  the  steam  locomotives  of  the  Union  Pacific's  Ne- 
braska Division  is  told  in  Ehernberger  and  Gschwind's  excellent 
book,  "Smoke  Across  the  Prairie."  This  division  of  the  UP 
extends  westward  from  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  to  Cheyenne,  South 
Torrington,  and  La  Salle,  with  a  number  of  branch  lines  in  the 
state  of  Nebraska.  It  was  the  home  of  the  famous  9000  series 
"Union  Pacific  Type"  4-12-2  three-cylinder  locomotive,  an  experi- 
mental design  no  other  railroad  in  the  country  could  afford  to 
operate.  Unsuited  for  the  curves  and  hills  west  of  Cheyenne,  over 
a  hundred  of  these  monsters  were  assigned  in  their  later  years  to 
fast  freight  service  on  the  prairies  of  Nebraska  and  eastern  Kansas, 
operating  as  far  west  as  Cheyenne  and  Denver. 

The  authors  are  well  qualified  to  present  the  Nebraska  Division 
in  book  form  to  the  public.  Francis  Gschwind  is  a  resident  of 
Callaway,  Nebraska,  and  an  authority  on  Union  Pacific  branch 


136  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

line  operation  in  that  state.  Jim  Ehemberger,  a  former  resident  of 
Cheyenne,  was  an  employee  of  the  UPRR  at  that  point  during  the 
later  days  of  steam  locomotives.  Both  are  railroad  photographers 
of  note. 

Beginning  with  a  historical  sketch,  maps,  and  description  of  the 
various  component  lines  of  the  Nebraska  Division,  this  volume 
becomes  a  photograph  album  of  steam  power  in  action  on  the 
UPRR  east  of  Cheyenne.  These  excellent  views  rival  those  in 
other  albums  of  trains  on  famous  Sherman  Hill.  A  black  and 
white  reproduction  of  Otto  Kuhler's  oil  painting  of  Union  Pacific 
locomotives  entitled  "Harvest  Haulers'"  is  included  along  with  two 
detailed  drawings  of  modern  steam  power  by  Joe  Barros. 

For  those  desiring  the  still-type  photographs  of  steam  locomo- 
tives, a  section  entitled  "Steam  Motive  Power  on  the  Nebraska 
Division"  has  been  included.  Detailed  descriptions  of  the  various 
engines  and  their  services  precede  the  locomotive  portraits,  and  we 
find  that  nearly  every  type  of  locomotive  the  road  ever  owned 
eventually  found  its  way  to  the  Nebraska  Division.  Included  were 
displaced  engines  from  the  Oregon  Short  Line,  Salt  Lake  Line, 
and  the  OWR&N.  Even  the  famous  "Big  Boys"  (4000  series 
articulated  type)  turned  to  Nebraska  during  a  coal  strike. 

In  order  to  complete  the  steam  story  of  this  section  of  the  rail- 
road, an  excellent  chart  of  locomotive  tonnage  ratings  for  trains  is 
furnished  along  with  a  main  line  profile  chart  showing  important 
ruling  grades  and  elevations. 

The  authors  set  out  with  a  purpose  and  have  certainly  convinced 
this  reader  that  the  Nebraska  Division  of  the  Union  Pacific  was  a 
mighty  rival  of  Sherman  Hill  and  the  Wyoming  division  when  it 
came  to  railroading  with  steam.  This  work  is  well  done,  contains  a 
wealth  of  accurate  material,  and  fortunately  furnishes  no  mislead- 
ing information  nor  gross  exaggerations  found  in  many  other  rail- 
road books  published  today. 

Smoke  Across  the  Prairie  is  recommended  for  anyone  interested 
in  steam  locomotives  and  especially  for  all  students  of  Union 
Pacific  history. 

Green  River  Richard  E.  Prince 


Cowboy.     By  Ross  Santee.     (New  York:     Hastings  House  Inc., 
1964.    Illus.    257  pp.    $4.95.) 

Cowboy  is  one  of  the  classics  of  Western  Americana.  First 
published  in  1928,  the  critical  reception  was  immediately  favor- 
able. The  New  York  Herald  Tribune  wrote  "From  beginning  to 
end  the  reader  is  made  at  home  in  a  world  of  unique  standards, 
customs  and  preoccupations  as  interpreted  by  a  boy  who  absorbs 


BOOK  REVIEWS  137 

them  with  a  quick  keen  ardor."  The  Saturday  Review  called  it 
"Wild  West  narrative  that  is  literature."  Cowboy  remains  one  of 
the  two  best  books  on  the  life  of  the  cowboy  at  work  in  the  Amer- 
ican West.  The  text  in  the  new  edition  is  identical  with  the  1928 
edition.  Illustrations  have  been  added  by  Ross  Santee  which  catch 
the  spirit  of  the  West  in  the  same  manner  as  do  the  words.  Any 
collection  of  Western  Americana  which  does  not  include  the  earlier 
edition  will  want  to  add  this  volume.  However,  $4.95  is  a  high 
price  to  pay  for  the  illustrations  if  the  earlier  volume  is  available. 

Cheyenne  John  Andrew^  Fisher 


The  Gathering  of  Zion.  By  Wallace  Stegner.  (New  York:  Mc- 
Graw-Hill Book  Company,  1964.  lUus.,  index.  331  pp. 
$6.95.) 

It  is  difficult  to  appraise  a  book  with  the  scope  of  an  historical 
sequence  such  as  this,  especially  when  one  begins  the  reading  of  it 
with  two  things  in  mind:  one,  that  it  is  apparently  the  author's 
intention  to  present  an  historical  treatise  of  the  westward  trek  of 
the  Mormon  people,  and  two,  by  acknowledgment  in  the  introduc- 
tion his  emphasis  is  to  be  "not  primarily  the  route,  but  the  people 
who  travelled  it,  and  how  and  why." 

From  the  outset  the  problems  involved  are  the  limitations  im- 
posed on  a  writer  who  does  not  actually  or  imaginatively  accept 
the  frame  of  values  of  the  society  he  is  dealing  with,  consequently 
he  must  needs  be  strictly  historical.  To  be  historical,  one  must  be 
a  chronicler  and  objective.  Our  author  dealt  with  a  group  of 
people — how  and  why  they  could  make  such  almost  super-human 
sacrifices  to  find  a  promised  land,  and  so  of  necessity  he  was  forced 
to  deal  with  motives  and  at  least  an  implied  evaluation  of  those 
motives.  The  minute  thoughts  and  motives  are  put  into  the  mind 
of  any  ciiaracter,  regardless  of  how  solidly  historical  the  character 
might  be,  he  becomes  for  that  moment  at  least,  a  character  in 
fiction.  And  so  very  soon  the  reader  becomes  aware  and  readjusts 
his  approach  to  the  book,  accepting  it  for  what  it  is — fictionalized 
history. 

We  become  involved  in  the  struggle  of  a  people  facing  danger 
and  death  at  every  turn  and  sense  the  sympathy  and  even  great 
admiration  of  the  author  for  these  displaced,  driven  persons,  and 
yet  somehow  Stegner  repeatedly  negates  his  work  by  reducing,  who, 
to  the  Mormon  people,  was  their  inspired  prophet  and  leader  of 
the  trek,  Brigham  Young.  One  of  his  techniques  is  by  making 
asides,  and  of  course  no  historian  who  is  mature  and  responsible 
would  do  this. 


138  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

One  aspect  of  his  purpose  the  author  dramatically  and  effectively 
conveyed,  the  "how"  they  made  the  trek — with  faith,  sweat  and 
tears.  His  chapter  on  "Ordeal  by  Handcart"  was  descriptive  and 
moving. 

Finally  there  is  left  the  last  facet  Stegner  has  wished  to  empha- 
size— the  "why".  Sadly  enough  the  reader  closes  the  book  with 
this  very  frustration — why  did  they  sacrifice  so  much?  Our  author 
has  too  often  said  both  implicitly  and  explicitly  through  innuendo 
that  the  followers  of  Brigham  Young  were  sincere,  but  the  more 
sincere  the  more  duped.  The  trek  then,  really  was  catastrophic, 
not  the  triumphal  moral  victory  which  would  have  given  the  book 
a  great  theme.  We  are  left  believing  that  at  best  the  migration 
was  a  spectacular  feat,  a  physical  accomplishment  of  gigantic 
material  proportions.  The  suffering  of  the  courageous  Mormon 
women  whom  he  admires  right  to  the  last  sentence  of  the  book 
becomes  pathetic  instead  of  tragic.  How  ironical  that  these  admi- 
rable women  are,  by  the  circumstances  of  implied  illusion,  denied 
any  kind  of  real  triumph.  It  would  have  helped  if  this  fictionalized 
history  could  have  gone  all  the  way  and  left  us  at  least  with  tragic 
heroines,  if  not  tragic  heroes. 

Cheyenne  Johnnie  Belle  Williams 


Legends  and  Lore  of  Southern  Illinois.  By  John  W.  Allen.  (Car- 
bondale:  Southern  Illinois  University,  1963.  lUus.,  index. 
404  pp.) 

Legends  and  Lore  of  Southern  Illinois  is  a  collection  of  folklore, 
historical  fact,  biographical  sketches,  cultural  and  economic  his- 
tory, detailed  information  on  pioneering,  and  stories  both  factual 
and  legendary — all  focused  on  the  past  of  one  portion  of  Illinois. 
The  book's  author,  John  W.  Allen,  is  a  native  of  the  region,  born 
in  a  log  cabin  around  1887  and  raised  in  a  background  of  frontier 
settlement.  This  fact,  combined  with  the  author's  varied  careers  as 
farmer,  logger,  teacher,  construction  superintendent,  World  War  I 
marine  in  France,  sociology  student  at  the  University  of  London, 
faculty  member  at  Southern  Illinois  University,  and  regional  col- 
umnist, suggests  that  Mr.  Allen  is  a  man  who  possesses  a  unique 
mixture  of  experiences,  interests,  and  talents.  The  result  is  an 
unusual  volume  of  what  the  author  calls  "lore,  legends,  sometimes 
strange  beliefs,  and  bits  of  .  .  .  history."  His  stated  purpose  in 
preparing  the  book  is  twofold:  "to  have  those  living  in  the  region 
made  more  conscious  of  the  heritage  it  offers  and  to  see  it  as  an 
essential  part  of  the  mosaic  that  is  America"  and  "to  have  those 
living  outside  the  region  come  to  know  it  better." 


BOOK  REVIEWS  139 

Actually  Mr.  Allen's  book  often  goes  beyond  the  southern 
Illinois  area,  for  the  frontier  was  a  society  of  movement  and 
change,  with  people  coming  and  going  within  a  given  region,  fam- 
ilies drifting  farther  west,  and  events  and  customs  linking  up  from 
place  to  place.  And  although  southern  Illinois'  past  was  unusually 
rich  and  varied — involving  the  early  French  settlements,  various 
Indian  tribes,  riverboats  and  boatmen  such  as  Mike  Fink,  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  the  slavery  issue,  wars  and  the  farming  frontier — the 
histories  of  many  western  regions  were,  to  a  degree,  similar.  This 
makes  Legends  and  Lore  of  Southern  Illinois  of  more  widespread 
interest  than  its  title  suggests.  A  reader  intrigued  with  early  times 
and  ways,  and  the  development  of  a  society  from  wilderness  to 
relative  civilization,  will  find  Mr.  Allen's  book  quite  worthwhile. 

The  type  of  book  written  by  John  W.  Allen  should  be  compiled 
on  Wyoming  and  other  western  areas.  Wyoming  folklore,  for 
example,  has  not  received  much  serious  attention,  though  it  is  a 
part  of  various  publications  and  the  collection  edited  by  B.  A. 
Botkin,  A  Treasury  of  Western  Folklore.  Many  books  touch  on 
legends  and  lore  related  to  the  West  in  general,  but  a  minimum  of 
attention  has  been  given  to  specific  areas  such  as  Wyoming.  And 
a  large  proportion  of  the  fiction  and  non-fiction  treating  the  state 
deals  with  a  few  sensational  or  seemingly  romantic  aspects — the 
fur  trappers,  the  Sioux  Indians,  the  cowboys,  and  the  Johnson 
County  War.  Neglected  are  many  significant,  revealing  threads 
in  the  rough  fabric  of  the  state  and  its  past — schools,  business 
enterprises,  place-names,  religious  movements,  logging,  oil  devel- 
opments, sheepmen  past  and  present,  dude  ranching,  Indian  poli- 
cies, courts  and  concepts  of  justice,  communities,  rivers,  and 
landmarks.  .  .  . 

Mr.  Allen's  approach  in  Legends  and  Lore  of  Southern  Illinois 
is  comprehensive  and  shows  one  way  in  which  important  aspects 
of  a  region  can  be  put  before  the  public  in  readable  form.  Perhaps 
other  writers  would  limit  their  focus  in  dealing  with  a  particular 
area  of  the  West,  as  has  been  done  in  many  fine  regional  works 
such  as  Struthers  Burt's  Powder  River,  in  the  excellent  Rivers  of 
America  series,  Ghost  Towns  of  Wyoming  by  Homsher  and  Pence, 
and  John  Burroughs'  Where  the  Old  West  Stayed  Young.  In  any 
case,  despite  the  amount  of  Western  Americana  being  published, 
the  stories  of  Wyoming  and  other  western  states  have  only  been 
partially  told  in  fiction,  non-fiction,  and  poetry.  Much  more  will 
be  done,  but  in  the  case  of  folklore,  legend,  and  fact,  the  time  is 
quickly  passing  when  individuals  with  first-hand  knowledge  of 
frontier  times  are  alive  to  record  their  stories,  songs,  and  im- 
pressions. 

Legends  and  Lore  of  Southern  Illinois  is  quite  readable  and 
wide  ranging  in  its  gathering  of  source  material;  of  necessity  some- 
what superficial  in  treating  some  materials,  loosely  organized,  and 


140  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

choppy;  often  colorful  in  its  storytelling;  and  almost  always  in- 
triguing and  entertaining  in  its  presentation  of  a  region's  imag- 
inative and  factual  past. 

University  of  Wyoming  Robert  A.  Roripaugh 


UNIVERSITY  PRESS  REPRINTS 

The  following  reprints  in  paperback  editions  are  now  off  the 
press  and  may  be  obtained  through  bookstores. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  NEBRASKA  PRESS 

Bison  Books 

The  Cheyenne  and  Black  Hills  Stage  and  Express  Routes.  By  Ag- 
nes Wright  Spring.  (First  published  in  1948.)  418  pp. 
Illus.,  index.    $1.50. 

High  Country  Empire.  The  High  Plains  and  Rockies.  By  Robert 
G.  Athearn.  (First  published  by  McGraw-Hill  Book  Com- 
pany, Inc.    358  pp.    Illus.,  index.     $1.50. 

Vanguards  of  the  Frontier.  By  Everett  Dick.  (First  published  by 
D.  Appleton-Century  Company,  1941.)  Illus.,  index.  $1.85. 
574  pp. 

Land  of  the  Dacotahs.  By  Bruce  Nelson.  (First  published  by 
University  of  Minnesota  Press,  1946.)  354  pp.  Illus., 
index.    $1.60. 

Last  of  the  Great  Scouts.  The  Life  Story  of  Colonel  William  F. 
Cody.  By  Helen  Cody  Wetmore.  (First  published  Duluth 
Press  Publishing  Company  1899.)     296  pp.     Illus.     $1.50. 

California  Gold.  The  Beginning  of  Mining  in  the  Far  West.  By 
Rodman  W.  Paul.  (First  published  in  1947.)  380  pp. 
Illus.,  Index.    $1.60. 

The  Gila.  River  of  the  Southwest.  By  Edwin  Corle.  (First  pub- 
lished by  Holt,  Rinehart  and  Winstron,  Inc.,  1951.)  402 
pp.    Illus.,  index.    $1.60. 


CoHtributors 


T.  A.  Larson,  associated  with  the  University  of  Wyoming  since 
1936,  is  Professor  of  History,  Head  of  the  Department  of  History 
and  Director  of  the  School  of  American  Studies. 

His  writings,  in  addition  to  his  forthcoming  history  of  Wyoming, 
include  the  book,  Wyoming's  War  Years,  1941-1945,  and  articles 
in  various  professional  journals. 

A  native  of  Nebraska,  Dr.  Larson  attended  schools  in  that  state, 
and  also  attended  the  University  of  Colorado,  the  University  of 
Chicago,  the  University  of  Illinois,  where  he  earned  his  Ph.  D., 
and  took  post-doctoral  work  at  the  University  of  London,  England. 

A  member  of  numerous  honorary  and  professional  organiza- 
tions, he  has  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Pacific 
Coast  Branch  of  the  American  Historical  Association,  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  Mississippi  Valley  Historical  Associa- 
tion, and  is  a  past  president  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Society. 

Dr.  Larson  and  his  wife  and  daughter  make  their  home  in 
Laramie. 


m 


FL  ^  LAK  Tf£ 

"E 


G  Ol/li 


D-X 

CY 
W 


M- 


Uul 


Annals 
of  Wyoming 


Kirkland  Photograph 
Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department 

CORNERSTONE  LAYING  CEREMONIES.  WYOMING   STATE 
CAPITOL,  MAY  18,  1887 


^:'^',^i^l;  Oaokr  ms 


'"  18  W5 


n 


'  L^, 


WYOMING   STATE   LIBRARY,   ARCHIVES   AND 
HISTORICAL  BOARD 


Judicial 
District 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 
Member  at  Large 
Ex-Officio 


Fred  W.  Marble,  Chairman  Cheyenne 

Mrs.  Leonard  Stensaas  Rock  Springs 

Mrs.  R.  Dwight  Wallace  Evanston 

Mrs.  Cecil  Lucas  Gillette 

Richard  I.  Frost  Cody 

Mrs.  Virgil  Thorpe  Newcastle 

Mrs.  Frank  Mockler  Lander 

Mrs.  Dudley  Hayden  Jackson 
Attorney  General  John  F.  Raper 


WYOMING  STATE  ARCHIVES  AND  HISTORICAL 
DEPARTMENT 

STAFF 

Lola  M.  Homsher  Director 

Henryetta  Berry  Assistant  Director 

Mrs.  Katherine  Halverson  Chief.  Historical  Division 

Mrs.  Bonnie  Forsyth  Chief,  Archives  &  Records  Division 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

The  Annals  of  Wyoming  is  published  semi-annually  in  April  and 
October  and  is  received  by  all  members  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical 
Society.  Copies  of  current  issues  may  be  purchased  for  $1.00  each. 
Available  copies  of  earlier  issues  are  also  for  sale.  A  price  list  may  be 
obtained  by  writing  to  the  Editor. 

Communications  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor.  The  Editor  does 
not  assume  responsibility  for  statements  of  fact  or  of  opinion  made  by 
contributors. 


Copyright,  1965,  by  the  Wyoming  State  Archives  and 
Historical  Department. 


A^mls  of  Wyoming 


Volume  37 


October,  1965 


Number  2 


Lola  M.  Homsher 
Editor 


Katherine  Halverson 
Assistant  Editor 


Published  Biannually  by  the 

WYOMING  STATE  ARCHIVES  AND  HISTORICAL 
DEPARTMENT 


Official  Publication  of  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society 


m% 


U 


—  X 


A  Qirl  Called  J^ettie 

By 
Burton  S.  Hill 

The  story  of  Nettie  Wright  was  suggested  to  me  by  my  long-time  friend 
Fred.  W.  Hesse,  soon  to  be  79  years  old,  who  is  a  pioneer  resident  of  Buffalo 
and  Johnson  County.  While  most  of  the  details  were  gained  by  my  study  of 
the  records  in  the  Johnson  County  Court  House,  Mr.  Hesse  was  able  to  fur- 
nish much  additional  help.  His  recollection  of  stories  about  Nettie  from 
early  residents  of  Buffalo  during  the  period  of  1880-1885  was  invaluable. 
Not  even  the  oldest  present-day  residents  of  Buffalo,  or  Johnson  County, 
could  have  known  Nettie  personally,  since  her  era  was  too  long  ago  and 
they  would  have  been  too  young.  I  want  to  take  this  opportunity  to  thank 
Mr.  Hesse  for  his  generosity  in  allowing  me  to  use  the  information  he  had 
assembled  over  the  years,  and  for  his  willing  help  in  the  writing  of  this 
article. 

I  also  would  like  to  give  credit  to  Shirley  Brock,  a  talented  artist,  for  her 
sketch  of  Conrad's  Store  in  1884,  and  also  to  Rev.  Stewart  D.  Frazier  for 
his  indispensable  assistance  in  preparing  photographic  material  for  this  and 
previous  articles. 


Since  Johnson  is  one  of  the  oldest  counties  of  Wyoming,  its 
first  officially  recorded  land  transfer  can  well  arouse  more  than 
ordinary  interest,  as  most  ancient  firsts  usually  do.  In  this  case  it 
was  a  quit  claim  deed  from  Nettie  Wright  to  Charles  McLead, 
dated  April  21,  and  recorded  May  21,  both  in  1881.  It  conveyed 
a  one-half  interest  in  a  piece  of  residence  property  of  Buffalo,  the 
new  county  seat,  just  south  of  Clear  Creek,  known  as  McLead's 
Saloon.  The  description  given  is  not  explicit,  which  may  give  rise 
to  some  speculation,  but  later  transfers  show  it  to  have  been  a  large 
one-story  structure  facing  Laurel  Street,  now  Angus,  forty-five  feet 
west  of  its  intersection  with  Main  Street.  At  the  present  time  this 
property  is  owned  by  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  and  its  station 
stands  squarely  on  the  spot  where  Nettie  Wright's  residence  former- 
ly stood. 

As  for  Nettie  herself,  no  resident  of  Johnson  County,  nor  of 
Buffalo,  had  ever  heard  of  her  until  one  day  in  the  fall  of  1880. 
She  had  pushed  her  way  up  the  Bozeman  Trail,  and  on  that  day 
climbed  down  from  a  wagon  in  front  of  Trabing's  store,  just  across 
the  street  from  the  place  she  afterwards  owned.  Buffalo  was  then  a 
rough  log  town  where  Main  Street  was  either  a  morass  of  mud  or 
a  choking  lane  of  dust  between  two  rows  of  saloons,  stores  and 
palaces  of  pleasure.  Yet,  on  the  day  of  her  arrival,  even  after  her 
long  journey,  Nettie  was  unwearied  and  neatly  clad.  She  had  a 
winsome  smile  for  the  unkempt  and  unshaven  mule  skinners  and 
bull  whackers  who  had  been  loitering  about  the  store  front,  but 


148 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


now  suddenly  alive  with  courteous  and  genteel  efforts  to  help  the 
comely  new  arrival.  Then  at  thirty-five  Nettie  was  still  pretty. 
Slight  of  build,  and  scarcely  over  five  feet  in  height,  with  open  blue 
eyes  and  neatly  braided  hair  the  color  of  taffy,  she  would  have  been 
attractive  any  place.  Added  to  this  there  was  a  slight  but  per- 
ceptible Scandinavian  accent  which  was  both  soft  and  pleasing. 

Nettie  had  immigrated  to  the  United  States  from  her  native 
Norway  either  in  1864  or  1865,  and  within  a  few  months  after  her 
coming  married  a  man  named  Stewart,  and  lived  at  or  near  Des 
Moines,  Iowa.  Nothing  is  known  of  Stewart,  except  that  he  was 
killed  some  ten  years  after  his  marriage  to  Nettie.  In  the  meantime 
they  had  lived  a  quiet  farm  life,  raising  two  sons,  and  doing  well 
enough;  but,  as  a  widow,  Nettie  had  her  problems.  Trying  to  rear 
two  small  sons  and  make  ends  meet  finally  brought  her  to  her  wit's 
end.  Since  something  had  to  be  done,  she  purchased  a  little  farm 
with  the  last  of  her  savings  and  gave  it  to  a  couple  who  agreed  to 
take  it  and  raise  the  boys.  In  1877,  or  the  following  year,  she  left 
Des  Moines  for  the  big  city.  Where  she  went  or  what  she  did  is  not 
recorded,  but  it  appears  certain  that  she  did  not  return  to  Des 
Moines,  and  never  saw  her  sons  again. 

After  leaving  Des  Moines  and  before  arriving  at  Buffalo,  it  is 
very  probable  that  she  married  a  Charles  Wright,  but  that  part  of 
her  life  is  obscure.  At  all  events,  she  came  as  Nettie  Wright,  and 
on  November  12,  1880,  placed  a  note  of  Charles  Wright  in  the 
hands  of  Attorney  N.  L.  Andrews  with  orders  to  collect  it.  The 
note  was  for  $250  and  Andrews,  who  was  Buffalo's  first  lawyer, 
charged  her  five  percent  for  securing  the  money.  It  is  probable 
that  she  used  it  for  the  purchase  of  the  Laurel  Street  property. 
Since  this  transfer  came  before  Johnson  County  was  organized, 
there  is  no  record  of  the  transaction  or  from  whom  she  bought  it. 
However,  the  price  she  had  to  pay  would  not  have  been  great. 
Charles  Wright  never  showed  up  in  Buffalo  so  far  as  known,  and 


Court  CSV  Burton  S.  Hill 


CONRAD'S  IN   1884 
Sketch  by  Shirley  Brock 


A  GIRL  CALLED  NETTIE  149 

Nettie  never  said  anything  about  him.  She  continued  to  be  known 
as  Nettie  Wright,  although  on  some  occasions  she  was  called  Nettie 
Stewart. 

Just  why  Nettie  chose  Buffalo  as  the  next  stop  on  her  hegira 
has  never  been  told.  At  the  time  of  her  arrival  there  were  less  than 
700  people  in  all  of  Johnson  County;  and  the  ways  and  customs 
of  the  country  would  hardly  be  considered  conducive  to  the  well- 
being  of  an  unattached  female  coming  without  friends  or  security. 
In  1880  there  were  some  very  superior  pioneer  women  in  Buffalo, 
but  they  were  the  wives  of  the  frontier  settlers,  or  otherwise 
attached  and  protected.  Even  so,  there  were  three  men  to  every 
woman.  It  was  probably  on  this  account  that  Nettie  selected 
Buffalo,  and  also  because  of  Fort  McKinney  three  miles  to  the 
west  on  the  mesa.  She  knew  there  would  be  pay  days  there,  and 
an  opportunity  to  entertain  soldiers  with  money.  Nettie  knew 
about  these  things.  She  never  gained  the  reputation  of  being 
among  the  really  first  people  of  Johnson  County,  but  she  never 
made  any  such  claim.  She  was  not  the  kind  of  woman  to  have 
been  invited  to  join  the  newly  organized  reading  and  social  club 
formed  by  the  ladies  of  Buffalo  and  Fort  McKinney.  For  one 
thing,  Nettie  could  neither  read  nor  write,  but  she  would  not  have 
been  invited  anyway.  She  did  not  belong  to  that  kind  of  society, 
and  no  one  knew  it  better  than  Nettie  herself.  Yet,  her  shortcom- 
ings in  education  and  social  culture  had  nothing  to  do  with  her 
native  intelligence  and  resourcefulness.  She  knew  she  would  be  a 
success  at  the  entertainment  of  those  ready  to  enjoy  the  night  life 
of  Buffalo,  of  which  there  was  plenty. 

It  is  not  known  what  kind  of  an  arrangement  she  had  with 
McLead  who  had  a  saloon  in  the  building  she  owned  at  the  time 
she  sold  him  a  one-half  interest.  After  this  transaction  the  place 
continued  to  be  known  as  McLead's  Saloon,  but  Nettie  was  an 
equal  partner.  During  those  days  she  did  not  appear  to  be  greatly 
in  prominence,  but  all  this  changed  on  and  after  December  21, 
1881.  Early  that  morning  Bill  Heaton,  one  of  the  partnership's 
bartenders,  kicked  open  the  door  to  a  room  where  Charley  McLead 
and  Nettie  were  visiting,  and  during  the  ensuing  loud  and  name- 
calling  quarrel,  shot  Charley  dead.  Nettie,  who  was  a  witness  to 
the  brawl,  apparently  did  nothing  to  stop  it,  or  to  immediately 
report  the  shooting,  which  gave  Heaton  a  chance  to  escape.  All 
this  gave  rise  to  some  questions.  And  then,  there  was  evidence 
from  the  coroner's  inquest  that  Heaton  killed  McLead  in  a  burst 
of  jealousy  involving  Nettie's  affections.  After  the  shooting  he 
rode  to  Fort  McKinney  and  requested  the  sentry  at  the  gate  to  give 
him  asylum  in  the  post  guard  house,  all  of  which  the  lady  in  the 
case  may  have  known  about. 

Nothing  more  happened  until  July  10,  1882,  when  the  untutored 
and  guileless  Nettie  found  herself  confronted  with  three  separate 
indictments.     The  most  serious  charged  her  with  being  an  acces- 


150 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


sory  to  the  murder  of  McLead,  and  the  second  with  the  grand 
larceny  of  his  gold  ring  and  other  effects.  The  third  was  against 
her  jointly  with  Jud  Braziel  on  a  moral  charge.  Since  they  had 
practically  been  living  together  they  pleaded  guilty  to  the  charges 
and  each  paid  a  fine  of  $25.  Jud  was  the  one  Nettie  really  cared 
about.  With  the  two  more  serious  charges  it  was  not  quite  so 
simple  as  the  payment  of  a  small  fine,  but  without  delay  James  M. 
Lobban  and  Harvey  A.  Bennett  came  to  her  rescue.  These  gentle- 
men went  Nettie's  bond  on  both  informations  set  at  $200  each, 
and  the  much  gratified  lady  went  free. 

It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  her  benefactors  were  two  of  the  most 
highly  respected  and  influential  citizens  of  Buffalo.  James  M. 
Lobban  became  probate  judge  in  1882,  and  was  associated  with 
the  firm  of  John  H.  Conrad  &  Company  who  bought  out  Trabing 
Brothers  on  March  8th  of  that  year.  While  with  the  Conrad  firm 
Judge  Lobban  ably  supervised  the  banking  house  of  Stebbins  & 
Conrad,  and  in  1884  helped  organize  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Buffalo,  going  on  to  be  one  of  its  early  presidents.  On  April  6, 
1886,  he  married  the  popular  and  beauteous  twenty-three  year  old 
Fannie  M.  Green,  who  had  been  fastidiously  raised  and  educated 
in  Georgia.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Judge  Lobban  was  thirty- 
four  and  in  very  comfortable  circumstances. 

While  not  as  prominent  as  Judge  Lobban,  Harvey  A.  Bennett 
was  a  highly  successful  and  respected  merchant  of  Buffalo,  and  also 
an  associate  in  some  of  the  Lobban  enterprises.    In  1884,  upon  the 


Courtesy  Fred  W.  Hesse 
COWBOY  SALOON,  BUFFALO,   1880 
None  of  the  men  in  the  picture  can  be  identified 


A  GIRL  CALLED  NETTIE  151 

incorporation  of  Buffalo  as  a  city,  Bennett  became  its  first  mayor. 

Nettie  was  not  found  guilty  of  being  accessory  to  McLead's 
murder,  nor  of  the  theft  of  his  gold  ring  and  other  effects;  and  the 
murder  charges  were  never  pressed  against  Heaton.  But  when  it 
was  all  over  Nettie  ended  up  owning  McLead's  half  interest  in  the 
property  he  had  purchased  from  her.  She  bought  it  back  from  his 
administrator,  being  very  careful  that  the  whole  transaction  was 
legally  done.  In  spite  of  her  experience  at  the  law  with  Jud  Braziel 
as  one  of  the  principals,  he  went  on  to  become  her  business  repre- 
sentative and  confidant.  He  was  part  owner  of  the  very  famous 
and  popular  Cowboy  Saloon  and  Billiard  Hall,  and  just  the  kind  of 
a  man  Nettie  needed  for  special  advice  and  counsel.  The  record 
shows  that  he  did  his  part. 

At  last  being  clear  of  all  entanglements,  and  the  sole  owner  of 
the  Laurel  Street  property,  Nettie  proceeded  to  go  in  business 
for  herself  in  a  first  class  manner.  To  enlarge  her  house  and  make 
it  more  attractive,  she  added  a  second  story  and  had  the  building 
painted.  It  is  not  known  what  the  building  project  came  to,  but 
the  paint  job  cost  her  $50,  which  was  a  goodly  amount  for  such 
services  in  the  1880's.  The  downstairs  portion  of  her  place  was 
fashioned  into  a  large  dance  hall  with  an  ample  bar  at  the  southern 
end  away  from  the  entrance.  The  upstairs  became  Nettie's  living 
quarters  where  she  lived  comfortably  and  in  some  degree  of  ele- 
gance. There  a  maid  served  her  breakfast  in  the  morning,  put  her 
apartment  in  order,  arranged  her  hair  in  the  afternoon,  and  looked 
after  her  expanded  wardrobe.  The  maid  also  took  care  of  her 
personal  laundry,  but  the  washing  was  done  by  Buffalo's  pioneer 
launderer,  Sam  Lung. 

To  serve  her  more  discriminating  friends,  Nettie  bought  a  full 
set  of  Dresden  china  from  the  sutler  at  Fort  McKinney,  for  which 
she  paid  $100.  Although  she  did  not  operate  a  restaurant,  these 
guests  she  entertained  in  her  apartment;  and  for  her  very  special 
friends  she  brought  forth  her  sterling  silver  and  hnen  table  cloths. 
Her  windows  draped  with  lace  curtains,  and  her  carpeted  rooms 
furnished  with  horsehair  chairs  and  sofa  lent  an  atmosphere  of 
considerable  elegance  and  even  refinement.  It  was  during  this 
period  that  her  acquaintance,  Frank  M.  Canton,  distinguished 
sheriff  of  Johnson  County,  assisted  in  keeping  undesirables  from 
her  front  door.  With  prosperity  on  her  side,  Nettie  had  become 
somewhat  choosy.  And  when  Charles  H.  Burritt  came  to  Buffalo 
in  1883  to  become  its  best  lawyer,  and  one  of  its  very  prominent 
and  able  citizens,  she  frequently  called  upon  him  for  counsel  and 
advice.  She  had  learned  that  it  stood  her  in  a  more  favorable  light 
to  be  on  good  terms  with  the  gentry,  even  though  this  class  did  not 
always  frequent  her  establishment. 

Nettie  was  proud  that  her  place  was  in  a  good  neighborhood, 
and  to  her  credit  it  can  be  said  that  she  used  every  influence  to 
keep  it  respectable  and  in  good  standing.     Just  across  Laurel 


152 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


^,^Jp    Wlr9^^ 


Courtesy  Jim  Gatchell 
Memorial  Museum 

CHARLES  H.  BURRITT 


Courtesy  Jim  Gatchell 
Memorial  Museum 

N.  L.  ANDREWS 


Courtesy  of  First 
National  Bank.  Buffalo 

JAMES  M.  LOBBAN 


Courtesy  of  B.  H.  Turk 
FRANK  M.  CANTON 


A  GIRL  CALLED  NETTIE  153 

Street,  facing  Main,  was  the  Senate  Saloon  and  Billiard  Hall, 
owned  and  operated  by  Nat  James,  first  sheriff  of  Johnson  County, 
very  popular,  decorous  and  genial.  Directly  north  was  Stumbo's 
Restaurant,  well  conducted  and  clean.  The  dental  office  of  Dr.  R. 
E.  Holbrook  was  next  door.  For  his  period  he  was  very  good;  at 
least  very  busy.  Directly  across  Main  Street,  facing  west,  was 
C.  P.  Organ  &  Company,  hardware  dealers,  always  reputable  and 
helpful.  Just  next  door  south  came  George  L.  Holt's  drug  store, 
upon  which  the  entire  county  depended  in  time  of  need.  Next  was 
John  H.  Conrad  &  Company,  famed  for  courteous  treatment  and 
fair  dealing.  Both  James  M.  Lobban  and  Harvey  A.  Bennett  had 
interests  there.  Not  in  the  immediate  area,  but  on  the  west  side 
of  Main  Street  a  short  distance  south  of  Clear  Creek,  stood  the 
always  popular  and  well  conducted  Cowboy  Saloon  and  Bilhard 
Hall,  with  Jud  Braziel  and  O.  J.  Smythe  the  proprietors.  Next 
door  south  the  Buffalo  Echo  edited  and  distributed  Buffalo's  pio- 
neer newspaper.  J.  D.  Hinkle,  still  mentioned  as  one  of  the  best 
pioneers  of  frontier  Buffalo,  was  the  enterprising  editor. 

While  Nettie  lived  somewhat  lavishly  in  her  frontier  habitat,  it 
does  not  mean  that  she  lived  lazily.  Even  with  the  help  of  Jud 
Braziel,  who  assisted  in  the  management  of  her  affairs,  she  usually 
found  most  of  her  time  devoted  to  the  management  of  her  dance 
hall,  parlor  house  and  saloon.  This  required  both  a  discerning  eye 
and  a  careful  regard  for  her  military  as  well  as  her  civilian  cus- 
tomers. To  keep  her  bar  well  stocked  she  called  upon  Jones  & 
Harrington,  Buffalo's  pioneer  liquor  dealers,  for  supplies  and  re- 
placements. She  bought  whiskey  at  $3  a  gallon,  blackberry  wine 
at  $2.50  a  gallon,  imported  champagne  at  $18  a  dozen  bottles, 
and  cigars  at  $2  a  box,  or  $6.50  for  100  long,  black  stogies.  For 
the  more  plebian  tastes  Nettie  bought  beer  in  quart  bottles  at 
32  cents  each.  She  got  them  by  the  dozen,  but  served  no  barrel 
beer  as  did  the  other  bars.  Yet,  with  all  this  outlay,  there  is  no 
evidence  that  Nettie  did  any  drinking  herself.  At  least,  she  could 
not  have  done  very  much. 

With  her  three  entertainers,  Mattie  Kellogg,  Kitty  Murphy  and 
Essie  Woods,  this  tiny  proprietress  kept  too  busily  engaged  to 
indulge  in  much  merriment.  Each  evening,  Nettie  and  these  three 
young  women,  gracefully  gowned  in  the  height  of  fashion,  appeared 
on  the  dance  floor  to  insure  an  agreeable  time  for  those  present. 
With  the  closing  of  Ed  O'Malley's  Lone  Star  dance  hall  to  give 
ground  for  the  new  Johnson  County  court  house,  Nettie's  establish- 
ment became  the  best  attended.  At  the  same  time,  her  place  did 
not  appeal  to  the  rowdy,  or  any  who  engaged  in  rowdyism.  While 
the  guests  were  encouraged  to  enjoy  themselves,  she  tolerated  no 
drunkeimess  or  disorder.  This  made  her  place  more  inviting  than 
some  of  the  others. 

Kitty  Murphy  proved  to  be  money  wise  and  took  charge  of  the 
receipts  and  banking.    While  she  was  as  untutored  as  Nettie  her- 


154  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

self,  she  did  know  money.  She  was  both  saving  and  frugal  on  her 
own  account,  and  at  times  made  loans  to  her  employer.  Essie 
Woods  was  more  literate,  and  accompanied  Nettie  when  there  was 
legal  business  and  papers  to  sign.  She  could  read  and  explain  them 
in  such  a  way  that  Nettie  felt  justified  in  making  her  mark,  or  not 
doing  so  as  the  occasion  demanded.  To  some  of  these  documents 
Essie  signed  as  a  witness.  Mattie  Kellogg,  never  strong  and  in 
really  good  health,  died  in  Buffalo  while  yet  a  young  woman.  For 
her  funeral  Nettie  bought  slippers,  lace  and  ribbon  from  Has- 
brouck's  store.  It  may  have  been  that  no  one  else  would  have 
taken  that  much  interest.  In  the  summer  of  1884  Mollie  Bigham 
became  Nettie's  personal  maid  and  housekeeper.  In  that  capacity 
she  did  much  of  the  purchasing  and  shopping.  Like  Essie  Woods, 
she  could  read  and  write,  and  could  be  depended  upon. 

On  occasions  Nettie  would  hire  a  team  and  rig  from  Jim  Con- 
very's  livery  stable  and  ride  out.  It  is  not  recorded  where  she  went 
at  these  times,  but  more  than  likely  she  found  her  way  to  Fort 
McKinney  where  she  had  many  friends,  or  it  may  have  been  that 
she  wanted  to  do  some  shopping  at  the  sutler's  store.  Since  she 
was  not  given  to  fresh  air  outings,  or  anything  of  the  sort,  it  can 
hardly  be  concluded  that  she  was  simply  enjoying  a  ride  in  the 
Wyoming  sunshine.  There  is  little  evidence  that  Nettie  ever 
engaged  in  many  pastimes  or  sought  outside  social  enjoyment.  She 
kept  very  much  to  herself  and  minded  her  own  business,  but  in  so 
doing  had  many  admirers.  She  had  a  pleasing  smile  for  everyone, 
and  when  the  occasion  demanded  she  put  herself  out  to  do  a  good 
turn  or  to  lend  a  helping  hand.  It  appears  that  Nettie  retained 
her  more  delectable  feminine  qualities,  and  never  became  coarse 
and  brash  as  many  did  who  followed  her  line  of  endeavor. 

Early  in  February  of  1885  Nettie  added  to  her  dance  hall  what 
may  have  been  Wyoming's  first  roller  skating  rink.  Jud  Braziel 
ordered  for  her  forty-five  pair  of  good  roller  skates  at  $1  a  set, 
which  were  freighted  from  Kansas  City.  There  is  no  record  of 
the  manner  in  which  the  rink  was  received,  but  it  is  a  safe  assump- 
tion that  the  enterprise  was  a  successful  one. 

To  finance  her  expansion  Nettie  was  obliged  to  put  a  mortgage 
on  her  property.  For  this  purpose  she  sought  her  benefactor 
Harvey  A.  Bennett,  and  on  January  24,  1885,  had  no  trouble  in 
negotiating  a  loan  of  $400  from  H.  A.  Bennett  &  Company,  a 
co-partnership  composed  of  Bennett  himself,  James  M.  Lobban, 
C.  W.  Hines  and  J.  A.  Jones.  The  latter  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Jones  &  Harrington  firm  from  whom  she  purchased  most  of  her  bar 
supplies.  She  had  good  credit  there,  as  well  as  at  the  Conrad  store, 
and  at  the  Mitchell  coal  mine  from  which  substantial  quantities  of 
fuel  had  been  furnished  her  during  Buffalo's  rigorous  winters.  In 
December,  1884,  alone  4,500  pounds  had  been  delivered  to  her 
property  at  a  cost  of  $9. 

While  Nettie  had  been  a  wiry,  tireless  sort  of  woman,  the  work 


A  GIRL  CALLED  NETTIE  155 

load  she  was  carrying,  together  with  her  late  hours  and  the  lack  of 
fresh  air  and  sunshine,  began  to  tell  on  her.  Late  in  1884  her 
health  began  to  fail,  and  as  the  days  passed  along  she  did  not 
improve  as  she  hoped  she  might.  She  finally  sought  the  advice  of 
Dr.  John  C.  Watkins,  Buffalo's  pioneer  doctor  and  surgeon,  who  is 
still  remembered  and  even  today  often  spoken  of.  It  did  not  take 
him  long  to  discover  that  Nettie's  life  was  being  threatened  by  what 
was  then  known  as  galloping  consumption.  Today  we  call  it 
tuberculosis,  which  can  be  arrested.  At  the  present  time  we  hardly 
every  hear  of  the  galloping  variety,  but  that  was  not  so  in  the 
1880's,  or  even  much  later. 

Nettie's  condition  worsened  rapidly  with  no  hope  of  recovery 
even  for  a  short  time.  This  continued  until  March  25,  1885,  when 
she  quietly  died  at  the  age  of  forty.  The  following  day  in  Buffalo 
the  pioneer  furniture  firm  of  Daly  &  Smock  furnished  her  burial 
casket,  gloves,  rosettes  and  cape,  and  Nettie  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
orginial  cemetery  on  the  hill  a  short  distance  east  of  town.  But 
burials  there  were  discontinued  long  ago,  and  the  remains  of  those 
who  had  gone  before  were  removed  to  Willow  Grove. 

Nettie's  funeral  was  large,  and  attended  by  folks  from  all  seg- 
ments of  Johnson  County's  citizenry.  Dr.  Watkins,  who  was  in 
charge  of  the  arrangements,  found  it  necessary  to  engage  special 
conveyances  from  Convery's  stable  to  carry  those  to  the  graveside 
who  were  without  transportation.  It  is  not  recorded  who  con- 
ducted the  funeral  services  or  who  the  pallbearers  were,  but  Dr. 
Watkins  was  adamant  in  his  efforts  to  lay  Nettie  away  in  dignity 
and  serenity.  All  of  this  was  done  for  a  dance  hall  operator  who 
never  even  learned  to  write  her  own  name  but  made  a  simple  mark 
instead.  In  spite  of  all  her  shortcomings  Nettie  always  had  lasting 
friends  in  all  walks  of  Ufe,  who  remembered  her  kindness  and 
generosity.  Her  brushes  with  the  law  had  been  forgotten,  and  no 
one  took  any  note  of  the  fact  that  she  had  never  been  to  school. 
They  remembered  only  a  diminutive,  fair-haired  Norwegian  woman 
with  a  noticable  accent,  a  winsome  smile  for  everybody,  and  whose 
good  points  far  outnumbered  anything  unfavorable  in  her  character 
or  way  of  life. 

Dr.  Watkins  became  the  administrator  of  Nettie's  tangled  estate, 
and  sold  her  property  to  pay  the  debts  she  had  left.  Considerable 
of  her  belongings  went  to  Jud  Braziel,  to  whom  she  owed  a  sub- 
stantial amount,  and  O.  J.  Smythe,  Braziel's  partner,  bought  her 
Dresden  china.  Her  hobby  was  clothes,  and  she  had  many  of 
them.  In  her  wardrobe  trunks,  there  were  colored  waists  of  wool 
and  in  materials  with  polka  dots.  She  had  black  wool  skirts,  and 
two  of  black  and  red  cashmere.  There  were  also  skirts  of  linen, 
both  for  summer  and  winter,  and  of  different  coloring  and  tailoring. 
All  of  these  were  sold,  along  with  her  beloved  sterling  set.  Every- 
thing went,  but  when  it  was  all  over  there  remained  forty-five  pair 
of  roller  skates  which  could  not  be  sold  at  any  price.    Dr.  Watkins 


156  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

had  them  on  his  hands,  but  what  he  did  with  them  has  never  been 
told. 

Through  a  missing  persons  finding  organization  in  Des  Moines, 
a  determined  effort  was  made  to  locate  Nettie's  children,  but  noth- 
ing could  ever  be  learned  about  them,  or  the  people  who  had  taken 
them  to  raise.  If  their  mother  had  known  anything  about  them 
she  never  mentioned  it.  Nettie  has  been  criticized  for  what  appears 
to  be  a  neglect,  but  that  may  not  have  been.  The  full  story  will 
never  be  known.  Little  could  ever  be  learned  about  her  life  prior 
to  that  fall  day  in  1 880  when  she  first  stepped  foot  in  Buffalo.  She 
never  mentioned  Stewart,  her  first  husband,  or  Wright,  who  may 
have  been  her  second.  She  was  careful  never  to  give  any  of  the 
details  and  no  one  ever  knew. 

After  Nettie's  funeral  Dr.  Watkins  had  a  little  fence  built  around 
her  grave  and  provided  a  head  stone  properly  inscribed.  This 
monument  was  placed  with  great  care  so  that  its  permanency 
would  be  assured.  It  may  have  stood  a  few  years,  but  when  the 
cemetery  was  removed  to  Willow  Grove  in  1893  or  1894,  Nettie's 
new  grave  was  not  marked.  Before  that  time  Dr.  Watkins  himself 
had  died,  and  most  of  her  other  friends  had  either  died  or  gone 
from  Buffalo.  There  was  no  one  left  to  take  much  interest,  and 
as  it  often  happened  with  other  forgotten  remains  removed  from 
the  old  cemetery,  she  was  buried  in  an  unmarked  grave. 

Long  years  ago  Nettie  was  forgotten,  and  today  no  one  knows 
much  about  her  life  in  Buffalo,  and  much  less  before  her  arrival. 
But  she  was  one  of  Buffalo's  first  feminine  personalities,  and  from 
1881  to  1885  the  undisputed  queen  of  its  night  life.  The  story  of 
Nettie  is  just  a  vignette  of  old  Buffalo,  and  about  a  girl  who  was 
not  all  good  and  not  all  bad,  but  quite  different.  After  all  this  time 
there  is  little  that  can  be  said  about  her,  and  all  that  remains  are 
the  records  in  the  Johnson  County  court  house.  Vox  emissa  volat; 
lit  era  scrip  ta  manet. 


Ifosepk  M^  Cdrcy 
and  Wyoming  Statehood 

By 
Lewis  L.  Gould 

The  passage  of  the  act  admitting  Wyoming  as  a  state  in  1890 
was  the  single  most  important  achievement  of  Joseph  M.  Carey's 
Congressional  career.^  Yet,  this  accomplishment  has  never  been 
placed  in  the  context  of  Wyoming  or  national  politics,  so  that 
Carey's  feat  has  been  given  less  attention  by  historians  than  the 
debates  of  the  Wyoming  Constitutional  Convention.  Whatever 
the  virtues  of  that  conclave,  its  deliberations  would  have  been 
meaningless  if  Delegate  Carey  had  not,  almost  single-handed, 
managed  to  guide  the  Wyoming  statehood  bill  through  Congress  in 
the  winter  of  1889-90.- 

A  lack  of  contemporary  source  material  has  been  the  most  diffi- 
cult obstacle  to  an  appreciation  of  Carey's  work.  This  problem  has 
been  solved,  to  some  extent,  by  the  discovery  of  letters  written  by 
Judge  Carey  in  the  period  in  which  the  statehood  bill  traveled 
through  the  Congress.  Sent  to  the  Chief  Justice  of  Wyoming  Terri- 
tory, Willis  Van  Devanter,'^  these  letters  provide  a  first-hand  pic- 


1.  Born  in  Delaware,  Carey  had  come  to  Wyoming  as  a  United  States 
Attorney  for  the  Territory  in  1869.  Representing  the  classic  merger  of 
business  and  politics  in  the  west,  Carey  invested  in  cattle,  irrigation  projects, 
and  banks.  Elected  delegate  for  the  first  time  in  1884,  Carey  served  through 
the  remainder  of  the  territorial  period,  becoming  Wyoming's  first  Senator  in 
1890.  Defeated  in  1895  for  re-election,  Carey  did  not  make  a  political 
comeback  until  his  election  as  governor  in  1910.  Heavyset,  bearded,  and 
balding,  Carey  looked  the  very  picture  of  a  frontier  statesman,  though  some 
of  his  constituents  found  him  a  trifle  aloof.  The  need  for  an  adequate 
biography  of  Joseph  M.  Carey  has  not  been  met  by  George  W.  Paulson, 
"The  Congressional  Career  of  Joseph  Maull  Carey,"  Annals  of  Wyoming, 
35(April,  1963),  21-81. 

2.  Henry  J.  Peterson,  "Statehood  for  Wyoming,"  Annals  of  Wyoming, 
13(July,  1941),  195-201,  covers  only  the  period  up  to  the  Constitutional 
Convention,  while  I.  S.  Bartlett,  ed..  History  of  Wyoming,  I  (Chicago,  1918), 
208,  has  only  one  sentence  on  Carey's  work  for  statehood  in  Congress.  The 
best  general  account  of  the  campaign  for  Wyoming  admission  is  Carey's 
own,  "State  of  Wyoming,"  in  W.  A.  Goodspeed,  ed..  The  Province  and  the 
States,  VCMadison,  1904),  369-380. 

3.  Willis  Van  Devanter  had  come  to  Wyoming  in  1884  and,  through 
Carey's  influence,  had  become  Chief  Justice  of  Wyoming  Territory  in  Sep- 
tember, 1889.  Van  Devanter's  later  rise  to  the  Supreme  Court  in  1910  was 
the  result  of  his  allegiance  to  Senator  Warren  and  his  own  ability,  but,  in 
1890,  he  still  held  a  portion  of  Carey's  confidence. 


158 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department 
JOSEPH  M.  CAREY 


JOSEPH  M.  CAREY  AND  WYOMING  STATEHOOD  159 

ture  of  the  legislative  and  political  problems  which  Carey  faced.^ 

Statehood  agitation  in  Wyoming  had  begun  as  a  partisan  issue  in 
the  territorial  election  of  1888.  Conscious  of  the  electorate's  dis- 
gust with  Grover  Cleveland's  western  policies  and  the  administra- 
tion of  the  territorial  governor,  Thomas  Moonlight,  the  Republi- 
cans pledged  themselves  to  work  for  home  rule  if  Benjamin  Harri- 
son gained  the  Presidency.  The  voters  in  Wyoming  obliged  by 
returning  Carey  as  delegate,  while  Harrison  won  a  narrow  victory 
in  the  presidential  election.^ 

The  first  fruit  of  Republican  triumph  was  the  appointment  of 
Francis  E.  Warren  as  governor  in  March,  1889,  but  Carey's  central 
problem  remained  the  effort  to  bring  Wyoming  in  as  a  state. ^ 
Unfortunately,  the  action  of  the  Democrats  in  Congress  frustrated 
that  hope  in  1889.  Aware  that  the  Republicans  would  control 
both  houses  of  Congress  in  the  Fifty-First  Congress,  the  Democrats 
introduced  an  omnibus  statehood  bill  in  December,  1888,  by  which 
they  hoped  to  trade  three  Republican  states  for  the  admission  of 
New  Mexico.  A  separate  bill  to  admit  Wyoming  was  also  sub- 
mitted.' 

By  the  time  the  omnibus  bill  passed  in  February,  1889,  Repub- 
licans had  eliminated  New  Mexico,  and  the  measure  admitted  the 
solidly  Republican  territories  of  Washington,  Montana,  and  the 
Dakotas.  The  Wyoming  bill  never  reached  the  floor.  Naturally 
disappointed,  Carey  would  have  to  wait  until  Congress  reconvened 
in  December,  1889,  but  meanwhile  Wyoming  could  act  to  promote 
its  statehood  fortunes.  Under  the  provisions  of  the  unsuccessful 
statehood  bill,  Wyoming,  like  the  Omnibus  States,  would  have  to 
hold  a  constitutional  convention  to  qualify  for  admission.  Senate 
Republican  leaders  assured  Carey  that,  if  Wyoming  fulfilled  the 
provisions  of  the  defeated  measure,  the  territory's  chances  for 
admission  in  the  Fifty-First  Congress  would  be  enhanced.^ 

Returning  to  Wyoming,  Carey  persuaded  the  various  county 
commissioners  to  ask  Governor  Warren  to  apportion  the  territory 
and  call  an  election  to  choose  delegates  to  the  convention.     This 


4.  The  letters  on  which  this  article  is  based  are  contained  in  the  Willis 
Van  Devanter  Papers,  currently  on  deposit  in  the  Library  of  Congress  with 
the  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  Devise.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Winslow  B.  Van 
Devanter  for  access  to  his  father's  papers. 

5.  See,  for  instance,  the  Cheyenne  Daily  Sun,  October  20,  1888,  and 
Francis  E.  Warren  to  Thomas  Sturgis,  November  8,  1888,  Francis  E.  Warren 
Papers,  Western  History  Research  Center,  University  of  Wyoming. 

6.  William  T.  Jackson,  "The  Governorship  of  Wyoming.  1885-1889:  A 
Study  in  Territorial  Politics,"  Pacific  Historical  Review,  13 (March,  1944), 
1-11,  and  Warren  to  Carey,  December  12,  1889,  Warren  Papers. 

7.  Frederic  L.  Paxson,  "The  Admission  of  the  'Omnibus'  States,  1889- 
90,"  Proceedings  of  the  State  Historical  Society  of  Wisconsin,  1911,  (Mad- 
ison, 1912),  77-96. 

8.  Ibid. 


160  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

was  done  in  July,  1 889,  and  the  convention  met  in  September. 
The  deUberations  were  completed  by  October,  and  Carey  prepared 
to  return  to  Washington  to  begin  his  task  of  vote-gathering,  per- 
suasion, and  bill-managing.'-' 

Historians  of  Wyoming,  like  their  counterparts  in  most  western 
states,  have  portrayed  the  statehood  process  as  a  deep  popular 
movement.  This,  as  Carey's  letters  make  clear,  involves  serious 
distortions.  First,  there  were  partisan  political  overtones  which 
could  not  be  ignored.  Wyoming  Democrats  recognized  that  their 
original  opposition  to  statehood  had  cost  them  dearly,  and  they 
further  knew  that  if  Wyoming  won  admission,  the  Republicans 
would  claim  the  credit.  This  would  probably  mean  a  Republican 
victory  in  the  first  state  election,  so  in  order  to  counteract  this 
disadvantage,  the  Democrats  did  as  little  as  possible  for  statehood 
and  prepared  diligently  for  the  election. 

Republicans,  in  turn,  had  their  own  reasons  for  inaction.  Since 
the  movement  for  the  constitutional  convention  had  been,  osten- 
sibly, non-partisan,  the  GOP  did  not  want  to  engage  in  any  overt 
political  activity  which  might  give  the  Democrats  ammunition. 
More  important,  the  Republicans  had  everything  to  gain  if  Carey 
succeeded  by  himself,  and  there  was  little  incentive  to  allow  the 
Democrats  to  participate,  if  it  meant  sharing  the  political  glory. 
As  Governor  Warren  put  it,  "if  the  republicans  could  get  more 
credit  and  the  democrats  less  at  the  end  of  this  bill,  we  shall  be  in 
much  better  condition  here  to  go  into  the  statehood  fight. "^'^ 

The  general  apathy  of  the  Wyoming  populace  to  the  prospect  of 
statehood  complicated  the  problem.  Regarded  as  a  poUtician's 
movement,  the  effort  for  the  admission  of  Wyoming  aroused  little 
enthusiasm  until  it  was  on  the  brink  of  success.  While  this  attitude 
drove  Carey  and  Warren  to  distraction,  it  was  characteristic  of 
much  political  activity  in  the  west.  Politics  operated  in  a  vacuum 
for  most  citizens  and  they  watched  with  detached  amusement  the 
antics  of  their  representatives. 

When  Carey  arrived  in  Washington  in  December,  1889,  the  four 
Omnibus  States  had  completed  their  constitutions  and  had  been 
admitted  to  the  Union.  Eager  to  follow,  Wyoming,  Idaho,  New 
Mexico,  and  Arizona,  presented  themselves  to  the  Fifty-First  Con- 
gress for  action.^' 


9.  Henry  J.  Peterson,  "The  Constitutional  Convention  of  Wyoming," 
University  of  Wyoming  Publications.  7(May  1,  1940),  101-130. 

10.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  Joseph  M.  Carey,  February  26,  1890,  Warren 
Papers. 

11.  All  of  Senator  Carey's  letters,  excerpts  from  which  form  the  basis  of 
this  article,  can  be  found  in  the  box  marked  "Miscellaneous  Correspond- 
ence" in  the  Van  Devanter  Papers.  There  are  ten  letters  in  all,  covering  the 
period  August,  1889-June,  1890. 


JOSEPH  M.  CAREY  AND  WYOMING  STATEHOOD  161 

Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  December  5,  1889 

There  is  no  news  here.  Surface  indications  look  well  for  State 
government.    Senate  and  House  have  adjourned  until  Monday. 

Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  December  20,  1889 

I  feel  that  I  have  made  a  good  head  way  in  the  State  matter,  and 
so  far  as  the  Republicans  are  concerned  the  way  will  be  compara- 
tively smooth.  If  the  prominent  Democrats  of  the  Territory  do 
their  duty,  we  will  get  into  the  Union. 

I  am  satisfied  that  Harrison's  administration  is  growing  in 
strength  here  every  day.  Less  growling,  and  the  Republicans  real- 
ize that  they  must  pull  together  or  they  will  loose  [sic]  the  elections 
next  fall. 


Carey  had  introduced  the  Wyoming  bill  in  the  House  on  Decem- 
ber 18,  1889,  and  it  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the  Terri- 
tories. While  it  was  being  considered  there,  Carey  sought  the 
assistance  of  Wyoming's  territorial  officials  for  his  campaign.^- 


Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  January  24,  1 890 

The  State  matter  is  moving  along.  I  think  I  am  making  a  point 
every  day  and  from  the  present  outlook  the  bill  will  go  through  the 
Senate  very  soon  with  little  or  no  opposition.  There  may  be, 
however,  a  fire  smouldering  that  will  burst  out  when  the  attempt  is 
made  to  push  the  bill  through  the  Senate. 

I  have  sent  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  Gov.  Warren  which  I  have  re- 
quested him  to  show  to  you  alone.  I  notice  that  the  Republicans 
have  honored  Pickett^"  with  the  position  of  Speaker  pro  tem,  of  the 
House  of  Representatives.  I  want  sent  here  immediately  a  short 
Memorial  with  conclusions  of  facts  only,  (avoid  all  argument  and 
platitudes)  praying  for  the  admission  of  Wyoming  under  the  Con- 
stitution adopted.  The  Memorial  may  set  forth  that  the  people  are 
satisfied  with  the  Constitution,  and  in  short  sentences  the  strong 
points  of  the  Constitution. 


12.  Congressional  Record.  Fifty-First  Congress,  1st  Session  (December 
18,  1889),  261-262. 

13.  W.  D.  Pickett,  a  Democrat,  represented  Fremont  County  in  the  last 
territorial  legislature  and  the  second  state  legislature,  serving  on  both  occa- 
sions in  the  House.  His  election  to  the  state  senate  in  1897  from  Big  Horn 
County  was  successfully  contested  by  A.  L.  Coleman. 


162  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

I  need  not  state  to  you  the  necessity  of  this  after  you  have  read 
the  copy  of  the  letter  that  I  have  sent  to  Gov.  Warren.  I  feel  that 
I  am  receiving  but  Httle  assistance  from  the  people  of  Wyoming 
in  this  fight.  This  city  has  been  full  of  Idaho  people  since  the 
opening  of  Congress.  Gov.  Shupe  [sic],'^^  the  present  Governor, 
Gov.  Stevenson  the  last  Democratic  Governor,^"'  Mr.  Ainsley  [sic], 
the  last  Democratic  Delegate;^''  the  Editor  of  the  chief  Republican 
newspaper,  head  the  Idaho  column  and  are  here  to  stay  until  some- 
thing is  done.  There  is  a  crowd  from  Arizona,  among  them  the 
Governor,^'  Charlie  Wright;^^  Christ(y),^''  a  member  of  the  Nation- 
al Committee,  and  several  others.  The  men  from  New  Mexico  are 
coming  in  force.  I  understand  the  differences  as  to  the  line  of 
conduct  between  the  Delegates  of  that  Territory  and  the  Territorial 
representatives  of  New  Mexico  have  been  settled;  that  the  Repub- 
licans will  abandon  their  Constitution  and  will  ask  for  an  Enabling 
Act.  Now  I  do  not  care  whether  a  man  comes  here  from  Wyoming 
Territory,  but  I  am  entitled  to  the  assistance  of  the  press  and  of  the 
Wyoming  Legislature  in  this  fight.  I  am  far  ahead  of  the  others 
in  the  fight,  though  I  have  had  to  go  it  single  handed. 

The  bill  will  pass  the  Senate  I  believe  with  little  friction.  And  I 
believe  if  it  is  necessary  I  can  pass  the  bill  through  the  House  with 
the  Republican  vote  that  is  in  the  House,  as  soon  as  some  additions 
have  been  made  by  reason  of  decisions  in  contested  cases.  You 
and  Gov.  Warren  can  fix  memorial. 


On  February  15,  1890,  the  House  Committee  on  the  Territories 
reported  the  Wyoming  statehood  bill  favorably.  With  this  hurdle 
cleared,  Carey  had  to  arrange  matters  in  the  House  so  that  the 
Wyoming  measure  might  be  considered.  Here  he  faced  the  deter- 
mined opposition  of  the  Democrats,  led  by  William  Springer  of 
Illinois,  the  minority  leader  on  the  Territories  committee,   who 


14.  George  L.  Shoup,  later  Senator  from  Idaho,  had  been  appointed  by 
Benjamin  Harrison  in  1889.  James  H.  Hawley,  ed.,  History  of  Idaho, 
KChicago,  1920),  219-220. 

15.  Edward  A.  Stevenson,  one  of  Grover  Cleveland's  few  resident  ap- 
pointments, served  as  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  from  1885-1889.  Haw- 
ley, History  of  Idaho,  217. 

16.  George  Ainslie,  a  resident  of  Colorado,  had  moved  to  Idaho  in  1862, 
and  served  as  delegate  from   1878-1882.     Hawley,  History  of  Idaho,   182. 

17.  Lewis  Wolfley,  a  Republican,  had  succeeded  Governor  C.  Meyer 
Zulick  in   1889.     J.  H.  McClintock,  Arizona,  IKChicago,    1916),  339-34L 

18.  Charles  Wright  of  Tucson  was  active  in  Arizona  politics.  McClin- 
tock, Arizona,  347,  362. 

19.  Probably  William  Christy  of  Prescott,  who  served  as  territorial 
treasurer  and  chairman  of  the  Republican  territorial  committee.  See, 
History  of  Arizona,  Biographical.  IV( Phoenix,   1930),  168. 


JOSEPH  M.  CAREY  AND  WYOMING  STATEHOOD  163 

disapproved  of  Wyoming,  woman  suffrage,  and  the  admission  of 
new  Republican  states.^" 

Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  March  5,  1890 

To  day  I  heard,  I  get  it  direct,  that  Springer  is  organizing  oppo- 
sition as  best  he  can,  to  the  Wyoming  measure.  He  pretends  that 
he  did  not  know  how  our  Constitutional  Convention  was  organized; 
that  he  thought  it  was  under  the  convention  called  under  an  act  of 
our  Legislature.  He  further  said  that  he  was  going  to  fight  the 
suffrage  proposition  in  our  state  and  also  in  Idaho.  Barnes  of 
Georgia-^  has  also  joined  with  Springer  in  the  Committee  on  Terri- 
tories this  morning  in  the  tirade.  But  I  believe  we  will  win. 
Springer  and  his  crowd  notwithstanding. 

The  Democrats  had  a  Delegation  down  here;  they  ran  around 
and  saw  two  or  three  men  and  left.    It  is  just  as  well. 

If  it  were  not  for  the  Oklahoma  bilP^  I  believe  our  bill  could  be 
gotten  through  the  House  next  week,  but  this  like  the  Education 
bill-"^  in  the  Senate  remains  from  day  to  day  the  unfinished  business 
of  the  House.  Both  measures  are  monstrosities,  they  will  not  kock 
[sic]  down,  but  hang  on  indefinitely.  The  Oklahoma  bill  is  legis- 
lation on  every  conceivable  subject,  with  over  40  sections,  the 
opponents  proposing  amendments  to  each  section,  calling  aye  and 
nay  votes,  so  you  see  the  journey  for  it  may  be  a  very  long  one. 

Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  March  15,  1890 

The  State  matter,  up  to  this  point  is  in  the  best  possible  shape. 
The  matter  is  under  consideration  in  the  House.     We  consented 


20.  For  the  action  of  the  Committee  on  the  Territories,  see  House  Report 
39,  Fifty-First  Congress,  1st  Session,  (Washington,  1890),  1-62.  Springer's 
career  is  outlined  in  Dumas  Malone,  ed..  Dictionary  of  American  Biography , 
17(New  York,  1935),  483-484.  Springer's  interest  in  Wyoming  statehood 
had  ended  when  it  became  apparent  that  only  the  Republicans  would 
benefit  from  admission. 

21.  George  T.  Barnes  sat  in  the  House  of  Representatives  from  1885- 
1891.  Biographical  Directory  of  the  American  Congress,  1774-1949,  (Wash- 
ington, 1950),  816.  The  Wyoming  constitution  contained  a  provision  for 
woman  suffrage  and  this  proved  to  be  the  main  focus  for  opposing  attacks 
on  the  statehood  bill. 

22.  A  bill  to  organize  the  newly-opened  Oklahoma  Territory  had  been 
introduced  in  December,  1889. 

23.  The  Blair  bill  to  appropriate  money  for  the  improvement  of  public 
education,  especially  in  the  South,  was  a  perennial  issue  in  Congress  from 
1884-1890.  C.  Vann  Woodward,  Origins  of  the  New  South,  1877-1913, 
(Baton  Rouge,  1951),  63-64. 


164  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

that  the  Oklahoma  bill  should  be  disposed  of  yesterday  and  to-day, 
and  a  rule  was  reported  by  the  Committee  on  Rules  to  that  effect. 
Springer  is  trying  to  make  a  compromise  with  us  delaying  the  mat- 
ter until  week  after  next,  as  there  are  several  contested  election 
cases.  I  am  in  favor  of  accepting  his  proposition  on  certain  con- 
ditions, viz:  that  the  admission  bills  shall  be  considered  in  the 
House  where  debate  can  be  limited  and  the  previous  question 
ordered  at  any  time;  that  the  Democratic  party  shall  make  no 
dilatory  motions,  and  that  the  case  shall  be  disposed  of  in  one  or 
two  days  after  consideration  is  commenced.  Springer  is  willing  to 
do  this,  but  he  wants  to  put  some  conditions  on  the  Committee  on 
Territories  that  they  will  not  stand,  viz:  that  they  will  report  at 
once  bills  for  Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  Speaker  Reed-^  sent  for 
me  and  said  under  no  circumstances  to  agree  to  any  kind  of 
compromise,  but  to  go  ahead  that  the  Democrats  wanted  to  pro- 
voke debate  against  the  admission  of  a  State,  and  it  would  do  them 
no  good  in  the  country  at  large,  and  certainly  could  not  do  them 
any  good  in  Wyoming,  that  the  Wyoming  measure  had  the  right  of 
way  and  to  hold  the  fort,  but  there  are  some  questions  arising  that 
may  make  it  wise  to  accept  Springer's  proposition,  which  will  avoid 
a  long  and  protracted  debate.  The  session  is  well-advanced,  the 
Blair  bill  hangs  on  in  the  Senate,  and  Senators  are  growing  very 
anxious  about  their  individual  matters,  and  I  want  to  get  it  through 
the  House  so  that  Senator  Platt^^  will  have  an  opportunity  to  take 
up  the  House  bill  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 


Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  March  24,  1890 

I  am  glad  to  get  such  good  news  from  Gov.  Warren,  Mr.  Slack-^ 
and  others.  It  shows  that  our  people  will  get  into  line  when  the 
time  comes  and  that  we  will  be  able  to  make  a  successful  fight. 
Just  as  soon  as  I  can  get  time  I  will  write  you  very  fully  and  candid- 
ly and  without  mental  reservation,  about  the  political  preferment 
for  myself  in  case  the  State  bill  should  become  a  law.  I  have  not 
the  time  nor  the  inclination  to  even  talk  about  it  now. 


The  House  debated  the  Wyoming  bill  on  March  26,  1890,  and 
Carey  made  an  eloquent  speech  on  behalf  of  his  measure.     After 


24.  Thomas  B.  Reed  of  Maine. 

25.  Orville  H.  Piatt  of  Connecticut. 

26.  E.  A.  Slack  was  editor  of  the  Cheyenne  Daily  Sun,  the  journalistic 
voice  of  the  Wyoming  Republican  party  in  Cheyenne. 


JOSEPH  M.  CAREY  AND  WYOMING  STATEHOOD  165 

all  the  arguments  had  concluded,  the  House,  acting  on  strict  party 
lines,  passed  the  bill,  139-127,  and  sent  it  to  the  Senate.-^ 

Senate  prospects  looked  favorable  and  Carey  turned  to  the 
political  problems  in  Wyoming.  The  first  state  election  would 
follow  admission,  and  if  the  Republicans  failed  to  win,  the  value 
of  statehood  would  be  nullified.  During  the  winter  of  1890,  the 
Democrats  had  begun  their  preparations  for  the  first  canvass,  while 
the  Republicans  struggled  through  the  last  session  of  the  territorial 
legislature,  in  which  the  Democrats  controlled  the  upper  house. 
By  the  spring,  Carey  viewed,  with  some  foreboding,  the  Demo- 
cratic efforts  and  he  urged  Van  Devanter  and  Warren  to  make 
plans  to  capitalize  on  the  expected  success  of  statehood. 

At  the  same  time,  Carey  had  to  make  a  decision  about  his  own 
fate.  If  the  Republicans  triumphed,  he  would  be  the  logical  candi- 
date for  one  of  the  two  seats  in  the  United  States  Senate.  Warren 
and  Van  Devanter,  anxious  for  RepubUcan  success  to  further  their 
own  ends,  sought  to  ascertain  Carey's  wishes  as  to  his  own  political 
rewards.  The  Republican  campaign  would  be  strengthened  if  the 
party  could  claim  that  a  vote  for  the  GOP  was  a  vote  for  Carey  as 
Senator. 


Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  April  8,  1890 

You  indicate  that  you  consider  that  it  would  be  wise  for  me  to 
announce  myself  with  respect  to  a  United  States  Senatorship — this 
matter  has  been  called  to  my  attention  of  course  almost  every  day 
since  the  statehood  fight  took  shape  and  form.  I  have  never  want- 
ed to  consider  myself  a  prospective  candidate  for  the  Senate  or  any 
other  place  that  would  be  open  by  reason  of  Wyoming  becoming  a 
state.  I  have  put  this  matter  off  as  something  to  be  decided  by  the 
circumstances  that  might  hereafter  arise.  My  great  ambition  for 
the  last  two  years  has  been  to  see  the  territory  admitted  as  a  state. 
As  soon  as  that  is  accomplished,  my  most  earnest  desire  will  be  to 
have  the  state  take  its  place  in  line  with  the  party  that  shall  have 
made  its  admission  possible.  I  do  not  expect  to  stand  in  anybody's 
way,  while  I  do  expect  to  assist  in  carrying  the  new  state  into  the 
haven  of  the  Republican  party.  I  have  not  felt  it  wise  for  the 
Republican  party  to  talk  much  about  candidates.  In  other  words, 
the  first  state  convention  should  be  left  untrammeled  in  order  that 
it  might  be  free  to  select  the  strongest  and  most  available  candidates 
for  the  respective  offices.     I  believe  that  it  will  be  best  to  have  a 


27.  Paulson,  "Congressional  Career  of  Joseph  M.  Carey,"  37-51,  is  a 
convenient  digest  of  the  speech.  For  the  vote,  see  Congressional  Record, 
Fifty-First  Congress,  1st  Session(March  26,  1890),  2710-2712. 


166  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

frank  talk  about  all  these  things  before  anybody  gets  into  a  groove 
or  feels  that  he  has  a  mortgage  or  right  to  any  place.  We  must 
fight  to  win  and  sink  all  personal  aspirations.  If  I  know  myself, 
I  am  perfectly  free  to  do  as  I  have  now  suggested.  If  possible  let 
us  learn  of  the  plans  of  the  Democrats  before  we  make  our  own. 


Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  April  21,  1890 

Now  you  ask  me  to  talk  to  you  very  freely  about  everything.  I 
am  disposed  to  be  entirely  frank  about  every  question  that  affects 
the  Republican  party  in  Wyoming  Territory.  So  far  as  my  own 
actions  are  concerned,  in  commencing  the  State  agitation  last  sum- 
mer, I  acted  upon  this  basis,  (and  as  you  know,  went  to  most  of  the 
counties  and  secured  the  passage  of  the  resolution  calling  for  the 
apportionment  of  the  Territory,  and  the  issuing  of  the  proclama- 
tion by  the  Governor  to  call  into  existence  a  Constitutional  Con- 
vention [sic] )  that  it  was  necessary  that  our  people  should  be 
united  in  their  efforts  for  State  government.  The  Democratic 
party  have  gone  crazy  and  I  think  are  making  fools  of  themselves 
to  day.  If  they  are  not  fools,  the  great  mass  of  the  people  of  Wyo- 
ming Territory  are.  They  abandoned  their  effort  to  make  a  State 
out  of  the  territory  and  are  caucusing  about  the  plunder  in  case  the 
Territory  should  become  a  state.  In  this  movement  the  great  body 
of  the  people  are  not  engaged.  I  have  failed  yet  to  see  a  man 
whose  name  is  connected  with  the  movement  at  Rawlins,  who  has 
up  to  this  time  ever  been  able  to  bring  any  influence  at  the  right 
moment  to  secure  party  harmony  or  victory,  with  the  possible 
exception  of  three  or  four  men.  These  exceptions  include  Mr. 
Beckwith-"'  and  Mr.  Holliday.-'* 

The  debate  on  the  Wyoming  bill,  copies  of  which  I  will  be  able  to 
furnish  you  in  full  within  a  few  days,  will  be  most  interesting  read- 
ing to  the  people  of  Wyoming  Territory.  If  the  Democratic  party 
can  get  any  satisfaction  out  of  the  falsehoods  stated  on  the  floor  of 
the  House  by  members  of  their  party  with  reference  to  Wyoming, 
they  will  be  able  to  drink  a  very  bitter  draught.  The  time  has  come 
now  to  commence  work  in  one  way;  put  the  Democratic  party  on 
the  defensive;  our  campaign  is  to  be  the  offensive  one.  You  can 
have  the  newspapers  of  the  Democratic  party  inside  of  ten  days, 
trying  to  explain  the  conduct  of  the  party  as  a  party,  and  the  con- 
duct of  its  individual  members.  .  . 


28.  A.  C.  Beckwith,  of  Evanston,  combined  his  extensive  business  inter- 
ests with  an  active  part  in  Democratic  politics. 

29.  W.  H.  Holliday,  a  Laramie  businessman,  was  the  unsuccessful  Demo- 
cratic candidate  for  governor  in  1894. 


JOSEPH  M.  CAREY  AND  WYOMING  STATEHOOD  167 

I  recognize  the  fact  that  Mr.  Corlett-^"  has  a  personal  following, 
but  sore-heads  never  carry  much  weight  while  they  will  antagonize 
some  of  the  good  and  faithful  in  the  Democratic  party.  The  mo- 
ment the  newspapers  have  taken  up  the  cudgel  for  our  side,  viz: 
the  Statehood  party,  do  not  place  too  much  emphasis  on  the  name 
of  the  Republican  party,  and  drive  the  Democratic  papers  to 
defining  the  position  of  their  party,  not  only  here  but  in  Wyoming 
Territory,  you  will  find  that  our  ranks  will  close  up  and  many  of 
the  lukewarm  of  the  Democratic  party  will  act  with  us,  as  they  have 
in  the  past.  We  do  not  want  a  slate  now.  We  do  not  want  our 
first  Convention  to  meet  with  the  idea  that  anything  is  cut  and 
dried.  The  people  of  the  Territory  will  make  the  slate;  they  will 
select  the  men  that  they  want  for  officers,  and  on  this  basis  we  can 
win  the  victory  alike  creditable  to  the  Republican  party  and  the 
people  of  the  new  State. 

I  cannot  attend  to  these  things  now,  but  I  shall  stand  in  this  way 
with  reference  to  the  campaign,  to  perform  a  duty  wherever  I  may 
be  called  to  do  it,  and  I  shall  make  an  effort  to  reach  Wyoming 
before  the  Governor  issues  his  proclamation  calling  an  election. 


Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  May  10,  1890 

The  Wyoming  bill  I  have  no  doubt  will  pass.  Senator  Beck's^' 
unexpected  death  took  away  from  us  our  time  Monday  and  Tues- 
day. The  silver  business  will  commence  on  Monday  and  it  is 
difficult  to  tell  how  long  it  will  proceed  but  we  may  get  in  in  the 
middle  of  it.-^- 


Willis  Van  Devanter 

Cheyenne,  Wyoming  June  11,1 890 

In  reply  to  your  letter  I  will  state  to  you,  had  I  understood  the 
full  purport  of  Mr.  Hay's-^-^  telegram  to  me,  I  should  perhaps  have 


30.  W.  W.  Corlett,  a  noted  Wyoming  lawyer  and  long-time  Republican, 
had  been  disappointed  in  his  quest  to  be  named  Chief  Justice  of  the  Terri- 
tory in  1889  and,  in  disgust,  he  went  over  to  the  Democrats  in  April  1890. 
I  have  omitted  several  paragraphs  where  Judge  Carey  discusses  the  political 
affiliations  of  various  Wyoming  newspapers. 

31.  James  B.  Beck,  of  Kentucky,  father  of  the  Wyoming  Democrat  and 
promoter  of  Cody,  Wyoming,  George  T.  Beck. 

32.  Carey  is  referring  to  the  discussion  of  the  silver  question  which  re- 
sulted in  the  passage  of  the  Sherman  Silver  Purchase  Act. 

33.  Henry  G.  Hay,  a  Cheyenne  banker  and  politician,  served  as  state 
treasurer  from  1895  to  1899,  and  in  1903.  A  staunch  Republican,  he  con- 
tributed money  and  energy  to  his  party's  campaigns  in  the  1890's. 


168  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

answered  it  in  a  different  way.  I  was  not  responsible  for  the  delay 
in  its  reaching  the  meeting. '^^  I  was  engaged  at  the  time  I  received 
it  in  going  from  man  to  man  in  the  Senate  for  my  own  more  certain 
satisfaction.  I  sent  the  dispatch  early  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day 
on  which  it  was  received  at  Cheyenne,  which  should  have  been 
there  on  Cheyenne  time,  about  2  or  3  oclock.  To  be  frank  with 
you  if  influence  should  come  here  that  would  be  powerful  with  the 
Democratic  Senators,  of  course  it  would  hasten  a  conclusion  in  the 
Senate.  But  I  do  not  know  of  a  United  States  Senator  on  the 
Republican  side  that  will  vote  against  the  measure.  I  do  not  even 
suspect  one.  I  am  assured  by  many  of  the  leading  men  that  there 
is  not  one.  You  know  there  are  many  men  who  do  not  like  to  say 
in  advance  previous  to  the  consideration  of  a  bill  just  how  they  are 
going  to  vote.  This  is  natural,  and  right.  But  every  Republican 
so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  see  them,  and  I  have  seen  about  every 
one  here,  of  course  there  are  some  away  or  sick,  wants  Wyoming 
admitted. 

It  looks  to  me  as  if  the  Democrats  in  Wyoming  are  doing  just 
what  I  imagined  they  would  do,  exhausting  themselves  now,  mak- 
ing fools  of  themselves.  If  they  can  exert  any  influence  here  with 
their  party  why  in  the  world  do  they  not  do  it.  Judge,  I  treated 
every  man  that  came  here  from  Wyoming  on  the  State  matter  with 
the  greatest  kind  of  courtesy.  I  went  farther  perhaps  than  I  was 
required  to  do,  in  my  endeavor  to  do  all  I  could.  I  used  my  rights 
on  the  floor  of  the  House  and  Senate  and  by  personal  appeal  took 
men  off  of  the  floors  outside  where  they  could  be  seen  and  talked 
to.  But  no  one  that  came  here  seemed  to  me  to  mean  business 
except  Mr.  Holliday.  He  was  in  dead  earnest,  he  wants  State 
government.  To  ask  you  and  other  members  to  come  here  now 
would  be  an  ungracious  thing  upon  my  part,  as  the  weather  is 
intensely  hot,  and  I  do  not  see  really  where  a  point  could  be  made, 
unless  it  would  be  in  showing  the  Republicans  our  anxiety  and 
assuring  them  of  our  faith  in  ourselves.  There  is  an  indication  now 
of  an  end  to  the  silver  question.  The  Republicans  have  agreed  in 
caucus,  the  outside  world  does  not  know  this  and  I  do  not  care  for 
you  to  say  anything  about  it,  that  the  Wyoming  measure  will  be 
taken  up  as  soon  as  the  silver  bill  is  disposed  of. 

On  June  27,  1890,  the  Senate  passed  the  Wyoming  bill,  27-18, 
and  President  Harrison  signed  the  measure  on  July  10,  1890. 
After  the  celebrations  had  concluded,  the  Republicans  began  prep- 
arations for  the  state  election  in  September.  With  Warren  running 
for  governor,  and  the  assurance  that  Carey  would  be  elected  to  the 


34.   Probably  the  mass  meeting  on  June  5.    1890,  at  which  Judge  Van 
Devanter  presided.    See,  Cheyenne  Daily  Leader,  June  6,  1890. 


JOSEPH  M.  CAREY  AND  WYOMING  STATEHOOD  169 

Senate,  the  Republicans  won  easily  on  the  statehood  issue,  electing 
a  clear  majority  in  both  houses  of  the  legislature.'^'* 

Carey's  election  to  the  Senate  followed  on  November  15,  1890. 
This  honor,  a  tribute  to  Carey's  successful  campaign  for  statehood, 
marked  the  high  point  of  Carey's  political  career  in  Wyoming. 
Within  four  years,  a  combination  of  circumstances,  including  the 
Johnson  County  War,  the  Democratic  victory  in  1892,  the  silver 
issue,  and  the  superior  political  skill  of  Francis  E.  Warren,  cost 
Carey  his  Senate  seat.  Despite  the  political  reverses  of  the  1 890's, 
however,  Joseph  M.  Carey,  in  his  campaign  for  Wyoming  admis- 
sion, had  performed  a  signal  service  to  his  constituents  and  terri- 
tory, an  achievement  which  no  electoral  defeat  could  diminish. ^^ 


35.  Congressional  Record,  Fifty-First  Congress,  1st  Session(June  27, 
1890),  6589.  For  the  election  campaign,  see  Francis  E.  Warren  to  W.  C. 
Irvine,  September  20,  1890,  Warren  Papers. 

36.  Paulson,  "Congressional  Career  of  Joseph  M.  Carey,"  53-63,  77, 
gives  the  usual  interpretation  of  Carey's  failure  to  win  re-election  to  the 
Senate.  In  my  view,  the  belief  that  Carey's  opposition  to  free  silver  was  the 
sole  cause  of  his  defeat  over-simpHfies  the  complex  history  of  Wyoming 
politics  in  the  1890's. 


170 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


Courtesy  of  M .  Paul  Holsinger 
WILLIS  VAN   DEVANTER 


Willis  VanDemnterz 
Wyoming  Ccader,  1884-1897 

By 

M.  Paul  Holsinger 

Willis  Van  Dsvanter  represented  the  state  of  Wyoming  as  a 
member  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  from  191 1-1937.  As 
one  of  that  Court's  most  prominent  "judicial  conservatives"  during 
an  era  permeated  by  conservative  thought.  Van  Devanter  was 
extremely  important  in  formulating  American  constitutional  theory 
and  practice.  Even  though  today  many  of  his  more  conservative 
ideas  have  been  replaced  by  newer  interpretations,  the  Justice's 
record  remains  one  to  which  students  of  government  must  turn  if 
they  are  to  understand  the  development  of  the  American  consti- 
tutional system. 

In  the  years  between  1884  and  1897,  Van  Devanter  also  played 
a  powerful  major  role  in  the  affairs  of  the  territory  and  state  of 
Wyoming.  Most  historians  have,  however,  tended  to  ignore  this 
period  of  the  Justice's  life,  concentrating  instead  on  his  later  years. 
This  article  has  been  prepared  in  hopes  of  providing  more  com- 
plete information  on  the  background  of  the  future  Justice,  a  man 
whom  many  students  of  Wyoming  and  the  Far  West  have  for  too 
long  forgotten. 

Wilhs  Van  Devanter  came  to  Wyoming  Territory  in  July,  1884, 
less  than  a  year  after  his  marriage.  He  and  his  young  bride  had 
left  their  home  in  Marion,  Indiana,  in  hopes  of  finding  their  fortune 
in  the  Far  West.  They  first  explored  the  possibilities  of  both 
Arizona  and  southern  California,  but  they  finally  decided  on 
Cheyenne,  where  Van  Devanter's  brother-in-law  and  former  law 
partner,  John  W.  Lacey,  had  just  received  the  appointment  of  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Territorial  Supreme  Court  from  President  Chester 
A.  Arthur. 

The  Van  Devanter  family  soon  felt  right  at  home.  Though 
still  a  part  of  the  untamed  "wild  west",  Cheyenne  had  many  of  the 
luxuries  usually  associated  with  a  much  larger  city  of  the  East — 
electric  Mghts,  running  tap  water,  a  municipal  opera  house,  tele- 
phones, ready  access  to  other  areas  of  the  nation  via  train,  and 
even  large  and  well-stocked  mercantile  houses  such  as  that  headed 
by  future  Governor  and  United  States  Senator  Francis  E.  Warren.^ 


1.  Agnes  Wright  Spring,  The  Cheyenne  and  Black  Hills  Stage  and  Ex- 


172  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Within  a  week  after  his  arrival  the  twenty-five  year  old  Van  De- 
vanter  opened  a  law  office  downtown.  His  practice  apparently 
went  well  from  the  start,-  but  the  desire  for  advancement  soon  led 
him  to  form  a  partnership  with  two  older  attorneys  in  the  Territory, 
Hugo  Donzelmann,'*  and  Charles  W.  Stewart.^  The  new  firm  was 
short-lived;  within  a  few  months  the  partnership  was  terminated."' 
It  is  impossible  today  to  know  exactly  what  caused  this  break,  but 
it  can  be  assumed  that  personality  conflicts,  particularly  between 
the  easy-going  Donzelmann  and  the  more  energetic  Van  Devanter, 
were  major  causes  of  the  disagreement.*' 


presx  Routes  (Glendale,  California:  The  Arthur  H.  Clark  Company,  1949), 
p.  323.  Hubert  Howe  Bancroft,  History  of  Nevada,  Colorado  and  Wyoming, 
1540-1888,  Vol.  XXV  of  The  Works  of  Hubert  Bancroft  (San  Francisco: 
The  History  Company,  1890),  p.  798,  and  Velma  Linford,  Wyoming — 
Frontier  State  (Denver:     The  Old  West  Publishing  Company,  1947).  p.  302. 

2.  Van  Devanter's  incomplete  fee  books  and  records  for  these  years 
make  it  impossible  to  gain  a  completely  accurate  picture  of  his  business 
activities.  It  was  not  until  early  1885  that  he  began  a  systematic  attempt  to 
keep  a  record  of  his  correspondence,  but  letters  from  this  period  would 
seem  to  support  this  statement.  See,  for  example,  WVD  to  Frank  M.  Joyce, 
April  23,  1885. 

3.  Hugo  Donzelmann  was  born  in  Germany  in  1848,  immigrating  to 
America  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  After  service  in  the  United  States  Army 
in  the  Indian  Wars,  he  resigned  in  1869  and  began  to  study  law  in  Alexan- 
dria, Virginia.  Four  years  later,  he  moved  to  Wyoming,  where  he  contin- 
ued to  study  law  at  night  while  holding  various  positions  during  the  day.  In 
1882,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  After  working  with  Van  Devanter,  he 
later  served  as  Attorney  General  of  Wyoming  Territory  and  then,  after  the 
election  of  1896,  and  with  Van  Devanter's  support,  as  American  counsul  to 
Bohemia  from  1897-1901.  He  returned  to  private  practice  in  Wyoming  in 
1901  and  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  there.  See  I.  S.  Bartlett, 
History  of  Wyoming  (Chicago:  The  S.  J.  Clarke  Publishing  Company, 
1918),  volume  3,  pp.  421-422. 

4.  Charles  W.  Stewart  was  another  Republican  politician  who  had  held 
minor  Territorial  positions  under  Governor  William  Hale.  Before  joining 
Van  Devanter,  Stewart  served  as  Territorial  Ordinance  Custodian,  Yellow- 
stone Park  officer,  and,  in  1884,  as  Territorial  Deputy  Auditor.  He  lived  in 
Cheyenne  until  at  least  1886,  at  which  time  his  name  disappears  from  Wyo- 
ming records.  No  further  biographical  material  is  available.  Letter  from 
Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department  to  M.  Paul  Holsinger, 
March  30,  1962). 

5.  A  record  of  the  actual  termination  date  of  this  partnership  no  longer 
exists.  In  a  May  12,  1885,  letter  inquiring  about  having  his  name  inserted 
in  J.  H.  Hubbell  and  Company's  next  legal  Dictionary,  Van  Devanter  makes 
no  mention  of  any  partners,  and,  on  December  1,  1885  in  a  letter  to  J.  B. 
Martindale,  he  notes  that  the  firm  of  Donzelmann,  Stewart,  and  Van  De- 
vanter, as  the  partnership  had  been  officially  known,  had  "long  since  been 
dissolved." 

6.  For  Van  Devanter's  attitude  toward  Donzelmann,  with  whom  he  was 
to  work  in  Republican  politics  for  many  years,  see  the  Van  Devanter  letters 
in  the  Francis  E.  Warren  collection  in  the  University  of  Wyoming  Archives 
for  the  years  1890-1897. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  173 

Legal  practice  in  territorial  Wyoming  was  a  challenge  to  even 
the  best  of  men.    Fifty  years  later  Van  Devanter  reflected: 

The  Wyoming  Bar  was  strong  because  the  drones  didn't  come  this  way 
and  those  with  any  pronounced  weaknesses  didn't  live  long.  Wyoming 
had  no  system  of  jurisprudence  and  as  a  result  drew  on  the  whole  line 
of  the  best  decisions.  This  practice  made  lawyers  out  of  lawyers. 
They  studied  and  they  studied  profoundly." 

During  his  stay  in  Wyoming,  Van  Devanter  had  occasion  to  go 
into  every  county,  often  to  areas  accessible  only  by  horseback  or 
stage, '^  to  plead  cases  for  clients.  In  some  remote  areas,  he  was 
one  of  the  first  lawyers  to  appear  in  court  sessions,  many  of  which 
were  held  in  improvised  store  rooms. ^  Though  most  of  his  work 
was  routine — drawing  up  mortgages,  wills,  deeds,  acting  as  a 
notary  pubhc,  or  preparing  contracts  and  partnership  agree- 
ments— all  of  it  provided  him  with  a  firm  grounding  in  the  many 
technicalities  of  the  law,  subjects  in  which  he  was  to  excel  in  later 
years. 

As  a  lawyer,  most  important  and  prestigious  of  Van  Devanter's 
work  was  his  dealing  with  the  many  growing  cattle  companies  in 
the  territory,  especially  with  Wyoming's  major  livestock  concern, 
the  Swan  Land  and  Cattle  Company. ^^     In  August,   1885,  Van 


7.  Winslow  B.  Van  Devanter,  "Willis  Van  Devanter,"  p.  4.  "Typewritten 
manuscript  in  Van  Devanter  papers."  This  statement  is  taken  from  a  speech 
Van  Devanter  gave  in  Cheyenne  in  1933. 

8.  In  May  of  1886,  for  instance,  Van  Devanter  made  a  round  trip  to 
Fort  Laramie  on  business.  His  fee  book  shows  the  total  cost  of  the  two  day 
trip  to  be  $23 — $20  for  transportation  and  $3  for  the  cost  of  meals.  Willis 
Van  Devanter,  Ledger  Book,  p.  34. 

9.  In  1885,  for  example.  Van  Devanter  argued  five  cases  in  Lander, 
where  district  court  was  being  held  for  the  first  time.  (WVD  to  William  L. 
Simpson,  May  8,  1936).  Records  of  these  and  similar  cases  cannot  be 
located,  however,  and  thus  the  historian  is  deprived  of  sources  necessary  to 
evaluate  the  real  scope  of  Van  Devanter's  contribution.  For  a  list  of  some 
of  the  cases  in  which  he  participated,  however,  see  his  fee  book  for  1885- 
1887. 

10.  For  several  years  before  Van  Devanter's  arrival  in  Wyoming,  Alexan- 
der Swan  and  his  brother  Thomas  had  been  buying  grazing  land  outside 
Cheyenne.  In  1884,  with  combined  American  and  British  support,  the  new 
company  was  capitalized  at  $3,750,000  and  in  July,  the  same  month  that 
Van  Devanter  arrived  in  Cheyenne,  the  new  concern  announced  the  pur- 
chase of  550,000  acres  of  land  from  the  Union  Pacific.  Since  the  federal 
government  was  unable  to  prevent  encroachment  on  its  adjoining  property, 
the  company  could  state  with  some  pride  that  over  one  million  acres  had 
been  obtained  for  grazing  purposes.  The  Cheyenne  press  asserted  that  this 
was  the  largest  purchase  of  its  kind  ever  made  in  the  United  States.  Within 
a  few  months  the  company  had  over  130,000  head  of  cattle  roaming  an  area 
which  extended  100  miles  from  east  to  west  and  from  forty-two  to  one 
hundred  miles  north  to  south.  Maurice  Frink,  et  al.,  When  Grass  Was 
King  (Boulder,  Colorado:  University  of  Colorado  Press,  1956),  p.  205, 
and  pp.  166-167,  and  E.  S.  Osgood,  The  Day  of  the  Cattleman  (Chicago: 
The  University  of  Chicago  Press,  1957),  p.  98. 


174  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Devanter,  acting  as  an  agent  for  his  father-in-law,  negotiated  the 
purchase  of  a  one-third  interest  in  a  new  venture  of  the  Swan  Com- 
pany for  the  sum  of  $20,000.''  The  investmeijit  seemed  excep- 
tionally sound.  In  1883,  the  directors  of  the  parent  company  had 
paid  a  nine  percent  dividend;  in  1884,  ten  percent,^-  and  a  large 
return  on  the  family  investment  seemed  assured.  In  the  winter, 
however,  a  major  blizzard  hit  the  open  range.  When  spring  al- 
lowed cowboys  out  again,  they  found  as  much  as  85  percent  of 
some  herds  frozen  in  the  ravines  or  piled  along  fences.'-''  Many  of 
the  large  firms  were  shaken  or  forced  out  of  business;  the  Swan 
Company  survived,  but  on  a  reduced  scale. 

Throughout  the  spring  and  summer  of  1886,  Van  Devanter,  to 
whom  all  the  family  affairs  in  the  Territory  had  fallen  after  the 
sudden  death  of  his  father-in-law  in  November,  negotiated  with  the 
Swans  to  protect  the  family  money.  In  September,  with  his 
mother-in-law's  permission,  he  sold  the  family's  stock  to  Alexander 
Swan  for  $24,000  of  promissory  notes. '^  Swan  was  so  influential 
in  the  Territory  and  so  prominent  in  financial  circles  that  Van 
Devanter  made  no  effort  to  obtain  security  for  the  notes^"'  assum- 
ing that  everything  would  improve  during  the  coming  months. 
The  winter  of  1886-1887,  however,  was  even  more  disastrous 
than  the  previous  year.  Between  January  28  and  30,  a  severe 
blizzard  hit  the  plains,  isolating  thousands  of  cattle  and  forcing 
everyone  off  the  range  for  the  season.  Some  companies  lost  as 
much  as  80  to  90  percent  of  their  herds.  Thorough  studies  of  this 
period  indicate  that,  in  the  Territory  as  a  whole,  not  much  above 
15  percent  of  the  herds  were  lost,  but  even  this  was  too  much  for 
many  companies,  and  the  "cattle  kingdom"  in  Wyoming,  which 
had  existed  on  borrowed  capital  for  years,  came  to  an  abrupt  end.'*' 

On  May  28,  1887,  the  Swan  Land  and  Cattle  Company,  having 
suffered  losses  of  over  $100,000  in  1886,^'  declared  itself  bank- 


11.  Letter  from  Willis  Van  Devanter  to  Peckham  and  Brown,  Chicago, 
May  18,  1887.  Hereafter  letters  to  or  from  the  future  Justice  will  simply  be 
designated  WVD.  Unless  specified,  all  such  material  will  be  from  the 
personal  papers  of  the  Justice  which  are  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son, 
Mr.  Winslow  B.  Van  Devanter  of  Washington.  D.  C. 

12.  Frink,  When  Grass  Was  King,  p.  241. 

13.  Osgood,  The  Da\  of  the  Cattleman,  p.  220. 

14.  WVD  to  Peckham  and  Brown.  May  18,  1887. 

15.  Ibid. 

16.  Frink,  Cow  Country  Cavalcade;  Eighty  Years  of  the  Wyoming 
Stocki^roMers  Association  (Denver:  The  Old  West  Publishing  Company, 
1954),  p.  59. 

17.  Frink,  et  al..  When  Grass  Was  King,  p.  257.  The  company's  actual 
loss  was  27,112  pounds.  The  blizzard  had  decimated  many  of  its  herds. 
Louis  Pelzer  in  his  The  Cattlemen's  Frontier  (Glendale,  California:  The 
Arthur  H.  Clark  Company,  1936),  p.  114,  notes  that  in  the  spring  of  1887, 
the  company  gathered  only  100  three-year  old  steers  from  a  herd  of  5500. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  175 

rupt.  That  evening,  in  an  effort  to  save  his  mother-in-law's  inter- 
est, Van  Devanter  posted  a  $100,000  bond  and  had  himself  ap- 
pointed receiver  for  the  firm.^'^  For  over  a  year  he  worked  unsuc- 
cessfully to  straighten  out  the  complex  legal  and  financial  affairs 
of  the  company.  Instead  of  money,  however,  Van  Devanter  re- 
ceived from  the  company  only  the  books  and  one  empty  fireproof 
safe.  Finally  acknowledging  his  inability  to  recover  the  family's 
losses,  he  resigned  his  post  in  June,  1888.  Despite  his  failure, 
however.  Van  Devanter's  rule  as  receiver  as  well  as  his  legal 
dealings  with  many  of  the  smaller  companies  in  the  Territory  went 
far  toward  making  him  known  throughout  all  of  Wyoming.  With 
his  background  as  a  stepping  stone  it  was  far  easier  to  climb  in 
prestige  in  the  following  years. 

POLITICAL  PARTY  AFFAIRS    1884-1890 

Extremely  important  in  making  Van  Devanter  influential  in 
public  affairs  was  his  connection  with  the  Territory's  Republican 
Party.  It  was  natural  for  Van  Devanter  to  join  the  G.O.P.  in 
Wyoming,  since  he  had  been  brought  up  in  an  atmosphere  of 
Midwest  Republicanism.  At  the  same  time,  since  most  of  the 
business  leaders  of  the  Territory  were  Republicans,  the  obvious 
economic  benefits  which  came  from  belonging  to  the  party  were 
not  overlooked  by  Van  Devanter.^'' 

Early  in  1885  Van  Devanter  offered  his  services  to  Francis  E. 
Warren,  the  new  Territorial  governor.  Warren's  appointment, 
one  of  the  last  made  by  outgoing  President  Chester  A.  Arthur,  had 
been  generally  approved  by  both  political  parties  in  Wyoming, 
since  Warren  was  the  first  resident  of  the  Territory  to  hold  the 
office  of  governor.-"     Warren,  who  knew  little  about  the  law, 


18.  WVD  to  Peckham  and  Brown,  May  30,  1887,  and  WVD  to  Rachel 
Burhans,  May  30,  1887.  Van  Devanter  obtained  twelve  surety  signers  on 
this  bond,  including  ex-Governor  Francis  E.  Warren,  the  owner  of  Chey- 
enne's largest  mercantile  house  and  a  leader  in  Republican  party  affairs. 

19.  WVD  to  T.  H.  Van  Devanter,  February  24,  1897.  In  the  succeeding 
years,  he  added,  he  had  become  "an  ardent  Republican"  and  "from  present 
judgement  and  choice  I  remain  one." 

20.  Francis  Emory  Warren  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1884.  After 
serving  throughout  the  Civil  War,  he  came  to  Cheyenne  in  1868,  and  by 
1877  he  was  in  sole  control  of  the  largest  mercantile  house  in  the  city.  An 
active  participant  in  the  cattle,  horse,  and  sheep  raising  enterprises  in  the 
Territory,  he  rose  quickly  to  political  power,  becoming  mayor  of  Cheyenne 
and  treasurer  of  the  Territory  in  1884.  Governor  from  early  1885  to  late 
1886,  he  was  renamed  to  the  post  in  1889  and  served  as  the  last  governor 
of  the  Territory  and  the  first  governor  of  the  State  of  Wyoming.  He  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  in  1890  for  a  two-year  term  but  defeated 
in  1893  after  the  combined  Democratic-Populist  victories  in  the  state  elec- 
tions. Named  again,  however,  in  1895,  he  remained  in  office  until  his 
death  in  1929,  becoming  the  senior  member  of  the  Senate  in  his  later  years. 


]76  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

called  on  the  younger  Van  Devanter  for  legal  advice,  introducing 
him  at  the  same  time  into  the  Republican  organization.  A  close 
friendship  between  the  two  men  soon  developed  which  was  to  last 
until  Warren's  death  in  1929  and  which  was  to  be  directly  re- 
sponsible in  later  years  for  Van  Devanter's  advancement  to  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court. 

When  the  Territorial  legislature  met  in  January,  1886,  Wyoming 
had  no  capitol  building,  and  the  legislature  was  meeting  in  halls  in 
downtown  Cheyenne.  Warren  invited  Van  Devanter  to  join  Re- 
publican leaders  in  conference  on  proposed  legislation  to  remedy 
this  situation.  From  one  of  these  meetings  came  a  request  for  the 
young  lawyer  to  draw  upon  his  legal  talents  in  drafting  a  special 
appropriation  bill.-^  The  bill  he  prepared  was  an  elaborate  one, 
consisting  of  55  sections,  the  chief  provisions  of  which  were  that 
$150,000  should  be  spent  to  begin  construction  of  the  present 
capitol  in  Cheyenne,  and  another  $50,000  to  establish  a  University 
at  Laramie.--  Introduced  originally  into  the  House  by  a  regular 
member,  it  quickly  passed  both  branches  of  the  legislature  with 
little  difficulty  and  was  signed  into  law  by  Governor  Warren  early 
in  March. -'^  For  the  rest  of  his  life  Van  Devanter  never  ceased  to 
be  proud  of  the  small  yet  extremely  significant  role  he  played  in 
the  creation  of  both  the  capitol  building  and  the  university.-^ 

Several  days  after  the  adjournment  of  the  legislature,  in  March 
1  886,  Warren  appointed  Van  Devanter  one  of  three  commissioners 
to  revise  the  laws  and  statutes  of  the  Territory. -'•  Working  with 
him  were  two  other  prominent  Republicans,  Isaac  P.  Caldwell 
and  J.  W.  Blake.-*'  The  laws,  when  they  were  finally  finished, 
were  largely  patterned  after  the  statutes  of  the  state  of  Ohio  which 
Van  Devanter  had  studied  at  Cincinnati  Law  School  six  years 
before.-'     These  revised  statutes,  which  were  voted  into  effect  by 


21.  WVD  to  Marion  L.  Rice,  November  19,  1932. 

22.  Wilson  O.  Clough,  A  History  of  the  University  of  Wyoming,  1887- 
1937  (Laramie,  Wyoming:     University  of  Wyoming,  1937),  p.  14. 

23.  Territory  of  Wyoming,  Legislative  Assembly,  House  Journal  of  the 
Ninth  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Territory  of  Wyoming,  1886,  pp.  76,  194; 
Council  Journal  of  the  Ninth  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Territory  of  Wyo- 
ming, 1886,  pp.  208,  235  (Cheyenne,  Wyoming:  The  Leader  Book  and  Job 
Printing  House,  1886). 

24.  WVD  to  A.  G.  Crane,  April  26,  1932:  "My  interest  is  perhaps 
deeper  .  .  .  than  you  know."  Since  he  had  drafted  the  bill  which  established 
the  school,  he  added,  "naturally  I  have  always  had  a  real  interest  in  what 
was  accomplished  by  that  effort." 

25.  WVD  to  Rachel  A.  Burhans,  March  23,  1886.  Van  Devanter  was 
appointed  on  March  11,  1886. 

26.  Bancroft,  History  of  Nevada,  Colorado  and  Wyoming,  1 540-1888, 
p.  755.     Bancroft  mistakenly  says  "Black"  instead  of  "Blake." 

27.  WVD  to  Robert  Hunter,  June  7,  1886.  Van  Devanter  commented 
that  "fully  nine-tenths  of  the  code  ...  is  taken  from  the  Ohio  code  ...  of 
1880." 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  177 

the  legislature  of  1888,  were  in  turn  used  by  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1889  in  formulating  the  new  constitution  and  laws 
for  the  state  of  Wyoming. 

At  the  Laramie  County  Republican  Convention  on  October  2, 
1886,  Van  Devanter  and  ten  others  were  chosen  as  delegates  for 
the  Territorial  convention  at  RawUns.-'^  There,  on  October  6,  he 
was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  the  Territorial  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives which  was  scheduled  to  convene  in  January,  1888.-^ 
He  set  out  energetically  to  win  the  election.  "I  have  unfortunately 
gotten  into  politics,"  he  wrote  a  prominent  rancher  four  days  after 
his  nomination,  and  "now  that  I  am  in  for  it,  I  am  anxious  to  be 
elected  and  to  get  as  good  a  majority  as  possible. "•^^'  Stressing  the 
fact  that  he  was  the  only  attorney  in  the  Territory  to  be  nominated 
for  the  House,-^^  Van  Devanter  traveled  the  vast  area  of  his  district 
from  the  Colorado  to  the  Montana  borders.  Such  efforts  paid  off 
well  for  him.  His  total  of  2,312  votes  within  the  county,  made 
him  the  leader  of  the  Republican  ticket;  he  received  more  votes 
than  even  the  popular  former  mayor  of  Cheyenne,  Joseph  M. 
Carey,  who  won  re-election  as  the  Territorial  representative  to 
Congress.  ^^ 

During  the  fourteen  months  interim  period  between  the  election 
and  the  convening  of  the  legislature,  Van  Devanter  became  actively 
involved  in  city  affairs.  Through  an  appointment  from  Mayor 
John  Riner,  in  early  1887,  he  was  named  Cheyenne's  city  attor- 
jjgy  33  jjjg  pQst  p3J(^  a  stipend  of  $750,  $250  more  than  Riner 
himself  received  but  $50  less  than  the  city  sexton. =^^  Though  the 
duties  of  his  position  were  minor,  the  position  brought  Van  De- 


28.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Democratic  Leader,  November  7,  1886. 

29.  Ibid.  Van  Devanter's  name  was  one  of  twenty-two  suggested  for 
the  seven  candidates  from  Laramie  County.  Apparently  his  name  was  on 
top  of  the  final  list.  The  fourteen  month  lapse  in  time  between  the  election 
and  the  actual  convening  of  the  legislature  was  originally  created  by  the 
1879  legislature.  Anxious  to  get  away  from  odd-year  elections,  it  changed 
the  time  for  holding  the  next  general  election  to  November,  1880,  and  every 
two  years  thereafter.  Elected  officials  were  to  take  office  the  next  January. 
The  legislators,  however,  made  the  scheduled  time  for  the  convening  of  the 
next  legislative  session,  January,  1882,  thus  creating,  apparently  inadvertent- 
ly, the  fourteen  month  lapse.  This  very  inconvenient  system  was  changed 
by  the  1888  legislative  assembly,  to  which  Van  Devanter  belonged.  (Ban- 
croft, History  .  .  .  of  Wyoming,  1540-1888,  p.  796.) 

30.  WVD  to  W.  W.  Irvine,  October  8,  1886. 

31.  WVD  to  Jesse  Knight,  October  12,  1886;  WVD  to  Virgil  S.  Grout, 
October  15,  1886. 

32.  Van  Devanter  was  elected  as  a  representative  from  the  combined 
district  of  Laramie  and  Crook  Counties.  Crook  County  was  at  the  time 
still  unorganized,  and  all  administrative  functions  were  performed  by 
Laramie  County. 

33.  I.  S.  Bartlett  (ed.)  History  of  Wyoming  (Chicago:  The  S.  J.  Clarke 
PubHshing  Company,  1918,)  II,  29.  Van  Devanter's  appointment  is  dated 
January  18,  1887,  though  he  was  apparently  appointed  several  days  earlier. 


178  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

vanter  into  closer  contact  with  all  of  Cheyenne's  important  leaders. 
During  his  tenure  in  office,  which  lasted  just  over  one  year,  he 
became  the  city's  legal  representative  both  in  and  out  of  court. 

Van  Devanter  also  formed  a  new  law  partnership  during  1887 
of  important  significance.  In  an  attempt  the  year  before  to  secure 
the  legal  business  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  in  the  Territory, 
Van  Devanter  had  learned  that  the  company  preferred  to  deal  only 
with  large  and  established  firms.  His  choice  of  a  partner  soon 
settled  on  Charles  N.  Potter,  a  former  city  attorney.  Their  part- 
nership, which  lasted  until  1889,  proved  to  be  quite  remunerative 
and  business  increased  to  the  point  where  Van  Devanter  could 
write  to  a  friend  in  Ohio,  'T  should  say  that  there  is  but  one  firm 
in  Wyoming  having  a  better  practice  than  ours."-^"'  The  fortunes 
of  the  Territory's  Republican  party  prior  to  the  legislative  session 
of  1888  did  not  fare  as  well  as  Van  Devanter's  private  practice. 
In  the  first  year  and  one-half  after  the  inauguration  of  Grover 
Cleveland  as  President  in  March,  1885,  Warren  had  been  allowed 
to  govern.  On  November  5,  1886,  however,  he  was  suspended 
from  office,  accused  by  the  President  of  having  illegally  fenced  the 
public  lands. •^•'  Appointed  to  succeed  him  was  George  W.  Baxter, 
a  young  Democratic  cattleman.  Complaints  soon  reached  Wash- 
ington accusing  him  of  the  same  offense  as  Warren,  and  though 
Baxter  was  temporarily  exonerated  before  the  end  of  his  second 
month  in  office,  the  embarrassed  Cleveland  was  forced  to  ask  for 
his  resignation.-^''  Then,  in  a  departure  from  his  announced  policy 
of  appointing  residents  of  the  Territory  as  governor,  the  President 
named  Thomas  Moonlight,  a  Kansas  Granger,  to  fill  the  post 
Moonlight  was  committed  to  breaking  "the  stranglehold  of  the 
cattle  kings"  on  Wyoming  affairs-^'^  and  in  the  next  year  he  con- 
stantly antagonized  the  Republican  leadership,  composed  in  large 


34.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader.  January  12,  1888. 

35.  When  in  July,  1887,  his  brother-in-law  John  W.  Lacey,  resigned  the 
Chief  Justiceship  to  form  the  immediately  successful  firm  of  Corlett,  Lacey 
and  Riner,  Van  Devanter  determined  to  imitate  its  success.  Charles  N. 
Potter  was  born  in  New  York  in  1852.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  moved  to 
Cheyenne  and  in  1878  was  appointed  city  attorney,  a  post  he  held  until  he 
was  named  county  attorney  three  years  later.  After  the  severance  of  his 
partnership  with  Van  Devanter  in  1889,  Potter  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention,  as  secretary  of  the  Republican  State  Central 
Committee  from  1890-1892,  as  Attorney  General  of  Wyoming  from  1891- 
1895,  and  as  Justice  of  the  Wyoming  Supreme  Court  from  1895  until  his 
death  in  1927.     (Bartlett,  History  of  Wyoming.  U,  100,  103). 

36.  W.  Turrentine  Jackson,  "The  Governorship  of  Wyoming,  1885-1889: 
A  Study  in  Territorial  Politics,"  The  Pacific  Historical  Review.  XIII  (March, 
1944),  3;  W.  Turrentine  Jackson,  "The  Administration  of  Thomas  Moon- 
light," Annals  of  Wyoming.  XVIII,  No.  21   (July,  1946),  139. 

37.  Jackson,  "The  Governorship  of  Wyoming,  1885-1889,"  p.  6. 

38.  Jackson,  "The  Administration  of  Thomas  Moonlight,"  p.  140. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  179 

part  of  prominent  members  of  the  stock  industry.  When  the 
legislature  met  in  January,  1888,  Republicans  in  that  body  could 
be  expected  to  pose  problems.  In  the  forefront  of  the  Republican 
leadership  was  the  twenty-eight-year-old  representative  from  Lara- 
mie county,  Willis  Van  Devanter. 

From  the  opening  day  of  the  session,  Van  Devanter  was  in  the 
public  eye.  Even  though  the  House  was  controlled  technically 
by  Democrats,  he  was  named  the  chairman  of  the  credentials  com- 
mittee and  led  the  unanimous  vote  to  elect  a  Republican  speaker, 
Nat  Huntington  of  Johnson  County.-^-*  He  then  launched  a  bitter 
attack  on  the  Democratic  nominee  for  clerk  of  the  House,  Major 
Herman  Glafcke,  which  accomplished  nothing  (for  Glafcke  was 
easily  elected)  except  to  shove  Van  Devanter  further  into  the  lime- 
light. The  Democratically  orientated  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader 
spent  a  long  editorial  column  attacking  him  publicly. 

"Mr.  Van  Devanter  ...  is  a  young  man  of  smooth  address  [the  editor 
wrote  in  part],  with  no  false  modesty  about  asserting  his  own  claims 
to  recognition,  and  a  well-defined  purpose  of  shoving  himself  ahead  in 
the  world.  He  has  political  ambitions  ...  If  Mr.  Van  Devanter  were 
a  level-headed  man — and  we  can  no  longer  believe  that  he  is — he 
would  have  known  without  being  told  that  an  outrageous  attack  upon 
the  private  character  of  a  political  opponent,  unwarranted  by  estab- 
lished facts,  would  have  made  the  blood  of  every  decent  man  boil  with 
indignation.  But  apparently  he  didn't  know  these  things  and  his 
demagogic  efforts  to  crush  Major  Glafcke  have  reacted  upon  himself 
with  a  terrific  force  of  a  boomerang.  The  blow  which  he  intended 
for  his  victim  he  received  squarely  between  his  own  eyes."^o 

If  this  "blow"  was  indeed  given.  Van  Devanter,  however,  suffered 
none  of  its  effects,  for  the  next  day,  the  paper's  assembly  reporter 
noted  that  Van  Devanter  "appeared  smiling  and  composed,  speak- 
ing in  his  usual  suave  tones. "^^  The  attack  served,  as  he  well 
realized,  to  make  him  a  leading  spokesman  for  the  Republican 
members  of  the  House. 

Several  days  later.  Van  Devanter  introduced  House  Bill  No.  1 
which  called  for  the  adoption  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  1887. 
After  a  quick  first,  second  and  third  reading,  the  bill  carried.^- 
Van  Devanter  was  then  named  chairman  of  the  Judiciary  com- 


39.  Territory  of  Wyoming,  Legislative  Assembly,  House  Journal  of  the 
Tenth  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Territory  of  Wyoming,  1888  (Cheyenne: 
The  Leader  Book  and  Job  Printing  House,  1888),  p.  6.  Huntington  was 
apparently  popular  but  the  reason  the  Democrats  did  not  choose  to  elect  a 
member  of  their  own  party  to  the  position  of  Speaker  remains  a  mystery. 
Party  lines,  however,  were  not  as  sharply  drawn  as  today,  and  it  is  probable 
that  Huntington  was  elected  simply  because  he  was  well  liked. 

40.  Editorial  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  January  19,  1888. 

41.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  January  19,  1888. 

42.  Wyoming,  House  Journal,  p.  22. 


180  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

mittee,  a  post  he  held  throughout  the  session,  as  well  as  a  member 
of  several  other  lesser  committees. ^'^ 

Van  Devanter  voted  constantly  with  the  Republican  Party  until 
February  1 1  when  he  split  with  the  party's  leaders  to  vote  against 
House  Joint  Resolution  8,  the  important  proposal  which  called  for 
the  formation  of  a  constitution  and  the  organization  of  a  state 
government.  In  an  apparently  non-partisan  17-4  vote,  the  House 
overwhelmingly  approved  the  bill.  Only  Van  Devanter,  the  new 
speaker,  L.  D.  Pease,  and  two  Democrats  voted  against  the  bill's 
passage. ^^  Van  Devanter's  reasons  for  voting  against  the  idea  of 
statehood  when  the  majority  of  Territorial  residents  were  in  favor 
of  it,  are  today  inexplicable.  It  may  be  that  Van  Devanter  was 
more  realistic  than  to  allow  his  politics  to  blind  him  to  the  fact 
that,  as  Governor  Moonlight  also  believed,  Wyoming  was  not  ready 
for  statehood  and  would  be  far  better  off  as  a  Territory  for  several 
years  more.  But  if  this  was  so,  no  records  exist  to  substantiate  it, 
and  several  months  later  Van  Devanter  himself  became  as  strong 
an  advocate  of  statehood  as  any  other  member  of  his  party. 

As  the  session  drew  to  a  close,  a  great  many  bills  were  hurriedly 
introduced.  One  of  the  most  important  was  a  bill  presented  by 
Van  Devanter  which  called  for  several  more  public  buildings  in 
the  Territory,  including  a  $150,000  addition  to  the  capitol.  The 
bill  passed  only  to  be  vetoed  by  a  strongly-worded  message  from 
the  Governor.^"'  Calling  for  a  discussion  of  the  veto,  Van  Devanter 
in  a  speech  "replete  with  sound  argument,"^*'  called  for  an  over- 
riding of  the  veto.  The  other  members  apparently  agreed,  and  the 
bill  was  enacted  into  law.^" 

On  the  last  day  of  the  session,  March  9,  the  legislature  passed, 
among  other  acts,  a  bill  introduced  by  Van  Devanter  to  set  up  the 
first  Territorial  fiscal  agency.^''  A  night  session  then  began  at 
10:20  P.M.  The  general  appropriation  bill  providing  for  in- 
creased Territorial  expenditures  passed  the  House  with  amend- 


43.  Ibid.,  p.  26.  Speaker  Huntington  resigned  several  days  later  because 
of  increasing  illness,  and  reassignments  were  made.  Van  Devanter  was 
then  reappointed  to  the  chairmanship  of  the  Judiciary  Committee.  There 
was  considerable  criticism  of  this  appointment  from  outside  sources,  mainly 
because  Van  Devanter  was  a  Republican.  The  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader, 
for  instance,  objected  to  having  a  Republican  appointed  to  a  chairmanship, 
but  unlike  its  bitter  attack  of  a  few  weeks  before,  the  editors  added,  "We  do 
not  wish  to  be  construed  as  casting  any  aspersions  upon  .  .  .  Mr.  Van 
Devanter's  character.  It  would  be  simply  ridiculous  to  assert  that  .  .  .  [he] 
is  not  eminently  qualified  to  fill  the  position  assigned  to  him."  (Che\enne 
Weekly  Leader,  February  2,  1888.) 

44.  Wyoming,  House  Journal,  p.  129. 

45.  Ibid.,  p.  237. 

46.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  March  8,  1888. 

47.  Wyoming,  House  Journal,  p.  244. 

48.  Ibid.,  p.  307. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  181 

ments  proposed  by  Van  Devanter  to  establish  three  new  counties.*^ 
The  upper  house,  the  Council,  voted  for  the  bill  also,  and,  hoping 
to  embarrass  the  administration  through  a  higher  budget,  sent  it 
to  Governor  Moonlight's  office.  Moonlight  predictably  vetoed  the 
bill,  but  Van  Devanter  raUied  the  Republicans  and  many  dissident 
Democrats  in  an  effort  to  override.  The  clock  in  the  hall  was 
stopped,  and,  with  Van  Devanter  acting  as  floor  leader,  the  bill 
passed  the  House,  14-2.  The  Council  followed  suit  early  the  next 
morning,  thus  not  only  providing  money  with  which  to  run  the 
Territory,  but,  on  the  basis  of  Van  Devanter's  amendment,  creating 
at  the  same  time  the  three  new  counties  of  Converse,  Sheridan,  and 
Natrona. ■^'^  Finally,  at  "about  the  time  people  were  returning  home 
from  church  Sunday  noon,"  the  legislature  adjourned  after  45  days 
in  session. ^^ 

On  the  whole  the  legislative  session  was  a  disappointing  and 
frustrating  one.  Charles  Guernsey,  a  RepubUcan  Councilman, 
later  wrote  that  "nearly  everything  we  favored  [Moonlight]  was 
against,  and  otherwise,  likewise.  We  fought  day  and  night.  Little 
was  accomplished,  much  left  unfinished. "'^^  For  Van  Devanter, 
however,  the  session  served  to  push  him  even  more  into  the  fore- 
front and  as  Governor  Moonlight  began  to  antagonize  more  and 
more  of  his  fellow  Democrats,  because  of  his  desire  to  curtail  both 
statehood  and  the  large  cattlemen,  Van  Devanter  and  the  Republi- 
cans loomed  larger  as  the  men  who  would  soon  be  back  in  power 
again. 

Necessary  to  bring  about  any  change  in  administration,  how- 
ever, was  a  Republican  victory  in  the  national  election  of  1888. 
As  a  Territory,  Wyoming  could  not  vote,  but  Van  Devanter  and  his 
colleagues  did  everything  they  could  to  build  up  public  opinion  for 
the  G.O.P.  while  depreciating  the  Democrats.  Both  as  a  delegate 
to  the  Republican  Territorial  Convention  and  as  a  campaigner. 
Van  Devanter  threw  himself  wholeheartedly  into  the  election  fight 
When  the  local  elections  were  held,  the  Republicans  won  an  over- 
whelming victory,  carrying  not  only  the  Congressional  delegate's 
post  but  most  of  the  other  elective  offices  as  well.  In  the  national 
election,  despite  President  Cleveland's  popular  majority.  General 
Benjamin  Harrison  was  elected  President  by  a  majority  of  electoral 
votes  and  Republicans  in  Wyoming  had  every  reason  to  anticipate 
that,  after  March,  1889,  they  would  regain  control  of  the  admin- 
istration of  the  Territory.    Even  Democratic  papers  conceded  this 


49.  Ibid.,  p.  32L 

50.  Ibid.,  pp.  325,  327,  and  Bancroft,  History  of  .  .  .  Wyoming,   1540- 
1888,  p.  758. 

51.  Charles  A.  Guernsey,  Wyoming  Cowboy  Days  (New  York:     G.  P 
Putnam's  Sons,  1936),  p.  46. 

52.  Ibid.,  p.  48. 


182  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

and  pushed  vigorously  for  the  reappointment  of  Francis  E.  Warren 
as  Territorial  governor.  The  Cheyenne  Daily  Leader  commented 
in  December,  "We've  had  enough  [of  the  Moonlight  administra- 
tion]. .  .  .  We  could  wish  Wyoming  no  better  Xmas  [sic]  gift 
than  the  assurance  of  Governor  Moonlight's  immediate  and  pre- 
cipitate removal.""''^  Twenty-four  of  the  twenty-seven  newspapers 
in  the  Territory  supported,  either  openly  or  tacitly,  Warren's 
return.''^ 

On  March  29,  1889,  President  Harrison  reappointed  Warren  to 
the  post  of  governor,  in  partial  fulfillment  of  his  campaign  pledge 
to  support  home  rule.''''  With  Van  Devanter  serving  on  the  inau- 
guration committee,  Warren  was  inducted  into  office  eleven  days 
later,  and  the  Republicans  took  over  administration  of  the  Terri- 
tory.-''^ There  was  one  important  exception — the  Chief  Justiceship 
of  the  Territorial  Supreme  Court.  Lacey  had  been  replaced  in 
1887  by  William  L.  Macginnis,  a  Democrat  from  Ohio,  and  the 
new  chief  justice  showed  no  sign  of  wanting  to  leave  office  only 
half  way  through  his  four-year  term.  Nevertheless  leaders  of  the 
Republican  party  put  pressure  on  Van  Devanter  to  take  the  office 
if  Macginnis  could  be  forced  to  resign  and  if  President  Harrison 
could  then  be  induced  to  appoint  him.  Though  dubious  at  first, 
Van  Devanter  had  convinced  himself  by  early  April  of  the  advisa- 
bility of  accepting  the  post. 

My  practice  is  such  [he  wrote  a  friend]  that  it  will  be  a  sacrifice  for 
me  to  take  the  Chief  Justiceship,  but  the  position  being  a  highly 
honorable  one,  and  furnishing,  as  it  does,  ample  opportunity  to  devel- 
op one's  best  ability,  I  shall  be  especially  pleased  if  the  appointment 
is  given  to  me."'" 

No  Wyoming  resident  had  ever  been  appointed  to  the  post  of 
Chief  Justice,  and  party  leaders,  in  an  effort  to  change  this  practice, 
sent  recommendations  to  Harrison  favoring  Van  Devanter. ^'"^  Fur- 
ther endorsements  came  in  from  all  over  the  Territory;  in  Converse 
and  Fremont  Counties  every  attorney  went  on  record  for  Van 
Devanter;  in  Carbon  and  Crook  Counties  combined,  only  two 
lawyers  declared  themselves  in  favor  of  anyone  else.''-'  Harrison's 
hands  were  tied,  however,  until  late  July  when,  with  support 
mounting  for  Van   Devanter,   Macginnis   resigned.      One   month 


53.  News    item    in    the    Cheyenne    Daily    Leader,    December    23,    1888, 
quoted  in  W.  T.  Jackson,  "The  Governorship  of  Wyoming,"  p.  9. 

54.  Ibid. 

55.  W.  T.  Jackson,  'The  Governorship  of  Wyoming,"  p.  11. 

56.  Ibid.     Also  see   a  copy   of  the   inauguration   program   in   the   Van 
Devanter  papers. 

57.  WVD  to  Alfred  S.  Bright,  April  4,  1889. 

58.  WVD  to  Tom  Hooper,  April  12,  1889. 

59.  WVD  to  Thomas  M.  Gotten,  April  24,  1889;  WVD  to  Charles  Allen, 
April  24,  1889;  WVD  to  F.  H.  Harvey,  April  24,  1889. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  183 

later,  on  August  31,  1889,  Harrison  gave  the  Territorial  Repub- 
licans their  final  plum  by  signing  Van  Devanter's  commission.*'" 

CHIEF  JUSTICE  OF  WYOMING  TERRITORY:      1889-1890 

The  Wyoming  Supreme  Court  in  1889  was  composed  of  three 
members,  one  of  whom  served  as  chief  justice.  In  actuality,  how- 
ever, the  position  of  justice  was  really  little  more  than  local  since 
each  man's  main  responsibility  was  to  serve  as  presiding  judge 
over  one  of  three  not-too-equal  districts."^  The  chief  justice  auto- 
matically was  required  to  live  in  the  First  District,  which  at  the 
time  was  made  up  of  Laramie,  Converse  and  Crook  Counties,^^ 
and  after  1890  and  its  creation  by  the  legislature,  of  Weston 
County  too.  That  service  within  the  district  was  the  most  impor- 
tant was  realized  by  Van  Devanter  even  before  he  assumed  the 
Chief  Justiceship.     Writing  to  a  friend  he  noted. 

The  fact  that  there  were  200  days  of  court  in  this  County  [Laramie] 
alone  last  year  and  only  about  10  days  of  Supreme  Court,  argues  that 
the  position  is  essentially  a  District  Judge-ship  and  essentially  a  Dis- 
trict office.*'"* 

In  the  slightly  over  one-year  period  that  Van  Devanter  remained 
Wyoming's  Chief  Justice,  he  more  than  continued  the  pattern  that 
his  predecessors  had  started. 

On  October  2,  1889,  before  the  attorneys  of  Cheyenne  and  a 
few  friends.  Van  Devanter,  at  thirty  years  of  age,  took  his  oath  of 
office.  In  doing  so,  he  thus  became  one  of  the  youngest  justices 
in  the  federal  court  system.  Both  major  newspapers  in  the  city 
were  highly  complimentary,^^  and  even  the  Cheyenne  Weekly 
Leader,  which  less  than  two  years  before  had  been  so  highly 
critical  of  him  as  a  legislator,  now  noted  that  he  possessed  "a  dig- 
nity which  inspires  respect."^'^ 

From  the  first  meeting  of  district  court  late  in  October,  the  cases 
Van  Devanter  handled  as  a  trial  judge  were  a  mixture  of  the  routine 
and  the  dramatic.     The  grand  jury  during  that  first  sitting,  for 


60.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  September  5,  1889,  re- 
ports that  it  had  predicted  Van  Devanter's  appointment  for  over  three  weeks. 

61.  The  three  judicial  districts  were:  First — Laramie,  Converse,  Crook, 
and  (after  1890)  Weston  Counties;  Second — Albany,  Natrona,  Johnson,  and 
Sheridan  Counties;  Third — Carbon,  Sweetwater,  Uinta,  Fremont,  (and, 
after  1890)  Big  Horn  Counties. 

62.  Bartlett,  History  of  Wyoming,  II,  29.  Bartlett  adds  Weston  County 
here,  thinking  in  terms  of  Van  Devanter's  total  term. 

63.  WVD  to  B.  F.  Fowler,  April  13,  1889. 

64.  Typed  sketch  in  the  Van  Devanter  papers  for  September,  1889,  with 
a  note  that  it  is  taken  from  the  one  appearing  in  the  Cheyenne  Sun  during 
that  month,  or  news  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  October  3,  1889. 

65.  Ibid. 


184  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

instance,  handed  down  an  indictment  in  a  knifing  case,  one  for 
grand  larceny,  several  for  attempts  to  kill  with  dangerous  weapons, 
and  some  for  cattle  rustling.*"'"  Van  Devanter  became  known  for 
his  lectures  from  the  bench.  The  newspapers  described  his  talks 
as  "kindly,"  "fatherly,"  "quite  plain,"  "timely,"  or  simply  "good 
advice.""'  He  showed  himself  hard  or  lenient  as  the  occasion 
demanded.  In  December  three  convicted  cattle  rustlers  were  sen- 
tenced to  four,  five,  and  seven  years  in  jail  respectively,  marking 
th  first  time  in  over  two  years  that  any  suspected  cattle  thief  had 
been  convicted."''  In  larceny  cases  he  was  particularly  severe, 
since  he  believed  that  the  West  was  a  land  of  opportunity  for  every 
man.  No  one  physically  able  to  work,  he  told  a  convicted  thief 
just  before  sentencing,  "need  steal  in  Cheyenne.""^ 

Early  in  1890,  the  Territorial  Supreme  Court  met  for  the  first 
and  only  time  with  Van  Devanter  as  chief  justice.  When  the  court 
sat  in  late  January  and  early  February,  only  eleven  cases  were 
heard,  all  of  which  dealt  with  minor  technicalities  in  the  law."" 
The  effect  of  these  cases  was  to  provide  Van  Devanter  with  an  even 
broader  understanding  of  the  law's  intricacies,  but  little  else  in 
prestige  or  fame. 

During  the  next  few  months  of  1890,  after  the  adjournment  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  Van  Devanter  continued  his  activity  as  district 
judge,  presiding  in  Converse  County  at  Douglas,  in  Crook  County 
at  Sundance,  and  in  newly  created  Weston  County  at  Newcastle."^ 
At  the  latter  session.  Van  Devanter  sentenced  the  man  who  had 
shot  and  wounded  Mayor  Frank  W.  Mondell  of  Newcastle. '- 

Several  years  after  he  left  the  bench.  Van  Devanter  summed  up 
the  first  chapter  of  his  judicial  career  in  a  letter  to  Francis  E. 
Warren : 


66.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  November  14,  1889.  In- 
dicative of  the  still  partially  "wild  west,"  the  paper  noted  that  the  man 
indicted  in  the  knifing  case  was  "supposed  to  be  the  man  who  stabbed  Mike 
Ciannan  in  Klett's  saloon  three  weeks  ago." 

67.  I  hid..  December  12,  1889. 

68.  I  hid..  December  5,  1889;  December  12,  1889. 

69.  /hid. 

70.  These  cases  were:  Black  v.  Territory.  22  P.  1090  (1890);  Perkins  v. 
McDowell.  23  P.  71  (  1890);  Wolcotr  v.  Bachman.  23  P.  72  (1890);  Bohurg 
V.  Prahe  et  al..  23  P.  70  (1890);  Wyoming  Loan  and  Trust  Company  v.  W. 
H.  Hollidav  Company.  24  P.  143  (1890);  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Company 
V.  Jarvi.  23  P.  398 '(1890);  Palmerston  v.  Territory.  23  P.  73  (1890); 
Menardi  v.  Omalley,  23  P.  68  (1890);  Stamper  v.  Gay  et  al,  23  P.  69 
(1890);  Howard  v.  Bowman.  23  P.  68  (1890);  First  National  Bank  v. 
Swan  et  al..  23  P.  743  (1890). 

71.  News  items  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader.  December  19,  1889, 
February  27,  1890;  Winslow  B.  Van  Devanter,  "Willis  Van  Devanter,"  p.  5. 

72.  Bartlett,  History  of  Wyoming.  II,  29.  Mondell  later  became  United 
States  Congressman  from  Wyoming  and  a  good  friend  of  Van  Devanter. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  185 

When  Chief  Justice  of  the  Territory,  I  by  virtue  of  that  position  also 
held  the  District  Courts  in  the  First  District.  During  that  time  many 
important  civil  and  criminal  cases  were  tried  before  me  and  no  appeal 
from  my  decision  was  ever  taken  in  a  criminal  case,  although  I  sen- 
tenced a  great  many  offenders  from  murder  down.  In  civil  cases  there 
were  perhaps  a  dozen  appeals,  but  my  decision  was  affirmed  in  every 
case.  ...  In  this  respect  my  record  is  better  than  that  of  any  Territorial 
Judge,  not  even  excepting  Lacey."^ 

During  the  period  of  Van  Devanter's  Chief  Justiceship,  his  most 
important  role  was  nonjudicial.  A  leading  Republican  politician 
as  well  as  a  judge,  Van  Devanter  played  an  active  part  in  the  drive 
of  the  G.O.P.  to  achieve  statehood  for  Wyoming.  After  the  pas- 
sage of  the  bill  in  1888  calling  for  the  establishment  of  a  state 
government,  Joseph  Carey,  the  Territory's  representative  in  Con- 
gress, introduced  a  statehood  bill  in  the  House  only  to  have  it  left 
in  committee.  Though  various  bills  were  presented  to  Congress, 
during  the  next  year,  nothing  came  of  the  Territory's  request  for 
admission  to  the  Union.  In  1889,  however.  Congress  passed  the 
so-called  Omnibus  Bill,  paving  the  way  for  the  admission  of  the 
states  of  North  and  South  Dakota,  Washington,  and  Montana. 
Wyoming,  therefore,  had  reason  to  hope  for  like  success. 

In  early  April,  1889,  Governor  Warren  urged  Wyoming  resi- 
dents to  begin  to  prepare  for  statehood  and  five  months  later  a 
constitutional  convention  was  called.  The  convention  was  in  ses- 
sion from  September  2  to  September  30,  with  the  Republicans 
holding  a  slim  majority.  Van  Devanter  as  Chief  Justice  was  not  a 
delegate,  but  a  pass  to  the  floor  of  the  meeting  remains  in  his 
papers,  and  it  is  not  unrealistic  to  assume  that  he  also  played  an 
important  behind-the-scenes  role  in  drawing  up  the  state  constitu- 
tion. On  November  5,  1889,  the  constitution,  having  been  sub- 
mitted to  the  people,  was  approved  by  a  popular  vote  of  6272  to 
1923,  a  majority  of  slightly  more  than  three  to  one.^^  This  vote, 
however,  presented  problems  for  the  Territory.  Idaho,  which  was 
also  seeking  admission,  had  just  voted  in  favor  of  its  new  consti- 
tution by  a  majority  of  eight  to  one;  Montana  had  approved  one, 
twenty  to  one,  South  Dakota,  by  twenty-three  to  one.'"'  There 
were  many  Congressmen  in  Washington,  consequently,  who  argued 
that  the  people  of  Wyoming  really  did  not  want  statehood,  since 
the  percentage  favoring  the  constitution  seemed  slim  in  comparison 
with  that  of  other  territories.  Carey  had  been  predicting  a  popula- 
tion of  between  110,000  and  125,000  when  Wyoming  was  ad- 


73.  WVD  to  Francis  E.  Warren,  January  21,   1897. 

74.  John  D.  Hicks,  The  Constitutions  of  the  Northwest  States.  The  Uni- 
versity Studies  of  the  University  of  Nebraska,  Volume  XXIII,  Nos.  1-2 
(Lincoln,  Nebraska:     University  of  Nebraska,  1925),  p.  148. 

75.  Ibid. 


186  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

mitted,'''  yet  only  over  8,000  had  voted  in  a  territory  which  per- 
mitted universal  adult  suffrage."^ 

In  Washington  Carey  was  despondent.  Though  he  countered 
all  the  charges  against  Wyoming  to  some  degree  by  a  speech  in 
Congress,  he  confidentially  wrote  to  Van  Devanter  in  January, 
1890: 

I  feel  that  I  am  receiving  but  little  assistance  from  the  people  of  Wyo- 
ming in  this  fight  for  statehood.  This  city  has  been  full  of  Idaho 
people  since  the  opening  of  Congress.  .  .  .  The  men  from  New  Mexico 
are  coming  in  force.  .  .  .  Now  I  do  not  care  whether  a  man  comes 
here  from  Wyoming  Territory,  but  I  am  entitled  to  the  assistance  of 
the  press  and  of  the  Wyoming  Legislature  in  this  fight.  I  am  far 
ahead  of  either  of  the  others  in  the  fight,  though  I  have  had  to  go  it 
single  handed.*'^ 

Van  Devanter  now  took  an  active  role  in  the  Republican  drive 
to  win  the  people  of  the  Territory  to  the  cause.  At  bar  association 
meetings'"  he  spoke  on  the  subject,"^"  and  he  addressed  various 
"monster  mass  meetings"  called  in  Cheyenne  to  promote  state- 
hood.'^^ By  April,  Carey  was  more  encouraged  about  the  Terri- 
tory's chances,  but  he  still  expressed  concern  over  Democratic 
opposition.    In  another  personal  letter  to  Van  Devanter,  he  wrote: 

The  Democratic  Party  have  gone  crazy,  and  I  think  are  making  fools 
of  themselves.  If  they  are  not  fools,  the  great  mass  of  the  people  of 
Wyoming  Territory  are.  ...  If  the  Democratic  party  can  get  any 
satisfaction  out  of  the  falsehoods  stated  on  the  floor  of  the  House  by 
the  members  of  their  party  with  reference  to  Wyoming,  they  will  be 
able  to  drink  a  very  bitter  draught  [should  the  statehood  bill  be  de- 
feated]. The  time  has  come  to  commence  work  in  one  way;  put  the 
Democratic  party  on  the  defensive;  our  campaign  is  to  be  the  offensive 
one."^- 

After  several  false  starts.  Congress  finally  admitted  Wyoming 
as  the  forty-fourth  state  on  July  10,  1890,  exactly  one  week  after 
the  admission  of  the  state  of  Idaho.  Five  days  later.  Governor 
Warren  announced  that  the  first  general  state  election  would  be 
held  on  September  11.    A  period  of  no  more  than  thirty  days  was 


76.  United  States  Congress,  51st.  Congress,  1st  Session,  Congressional 
Record  (Washington:  Government  Printing  Office,  1889  [.v/c]),  volume 
21,  p.  2679. 

77.  The  population  of  Wyoming  was  at  the  time  just  under  60,000 
persons.  In  every  other  territory  more  persons,  both  actually  and  propor- 
tionally, had  voted  in  favor  of  their  constitutions  than  had  the  residents  of 
Wyoming. 

78.  Joseph  M.  Carey  to  WVD,  January  24,  1890. 

79.  Van  Devanter  had  been  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Wyoming  Bar 
Association  in  Cheyenne  in  1889,  a  group  which  lasted  but  a  short  time 
due  to  the  excessive  distances  in  the  Territory  and  later  State. 

80.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  February  6,  1890. 

81.  News  item  in  the  Chevenne  Weekly  Leader,  April  3,  1890. 

82.  Joseph  M.  Carey  to  WVD,  April  21,  1890. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  187 

allowed  for  campaigning.^-^  The  Republican  State  Central  Com- 
mittee met  on  August  14  in  Cheyenne  to  nominate  candidates. 
Though  he  was  not  present,*^^  Van  Devanter  was  selected  together 
with  H.  V.  B.  Groesbeck  and  Arthur  Conaway,  to  run  for  the 
three  justiceships  on  the  state  supreme  court.  Francis  E.  Warren 
was  named  by  the  Republicans  as  their  gubernatorial  candidate. 
The  Democrats  nominated  ex-justice  Samuel  Corn,  P.  Gad  Bryan, 
and  Henry  S.  Elliott  for  Supreme  Court  Justices. ^^ 

Charges  by  the  Democrats  that  Warren  would  resign  to  accept  a 
United  States  Senatorship  for  which  he  was  expected  to  be  chosen 
were  of  little  avail.  Warren  was  easily  elected  governor  and  Van 
Devanter  and  his  running  mates  won  overwhelmingly,  as  did  all  the 
other  Republican  candidates  for  state  offices.  In  the  state  Senate 
only  three  of  the  sixteen  members  were  Democrats;  in  the  House 
of  Representatives,  only  seven  out  of  thirty-three.^^  The  Cheyenne 
Democratic  Leader  dejectedly  reported  the  election  as  a  "landslide, 
clean  sweep,  snow  storm  or  soup  festival"  for  the  Republicans. 
Democratic  headquarters  looked,  it  said,  "like  a  cave  of  gloom." 
At  the  Republican  headquarters,  on  the  other  hand,  "the  hilarity 
was  unrestrained  and  the  faithful  swarmed  to  the  place  to  celebrate. 
.  .  .  They  sang  and  danced  and  shouted  until  weary,  and  chaffed 
every  democrat  who  appeared."^"  Not  even  a  Democratic  con- 
stable was  elected  in  Laramie  County,  and  throughout  the  state 
the  Republicans  had  almost  equal  success. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  October  11,1 890,  one  month  after  the 
election,  the  votes  were  canvassed  with  Van  Devanter  as  Chief 
Justice  acting  as  a  member  of  the  board.  When  it  was  officially 
declared  that  the  Repubhcans  had  captured  all  the  state  adminis- 
trative offices.  Van  Devanter  and  his  fellow  justices  drew  lots  to 
decide  the  length  of  their  terms  as  provided  for  by  the  new  state 
constitution.  The  terms  of  the  justices  were  to  be  staggered,  one 
for  four  years,  one  for  six,  and  one  for  eight.  The  justice  who 
drew  the  short  term  was  to  become  the  Chief  Justice.  Van  De- 
vanter found  himself  the  holder  of  the  four-year  term  and  thus 
the  new  Chief  Justice  of  the  state.  A  few  minutes  before  midnight, 
he,  his  associates  on  the  Supreme  Court,  and  other  Republican 


83.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  September  11,  1890. 

84.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Weekly  Leader,  August  14,  1890.  Van 
Devanter  was  at  Sundance,  near  the  Montana  border,  opening  a  session  of 
District  Court  on  that  day. 

85.  News  items  in  the  Cheyenne  Democratic  Leader,  August  27,  1890, 
and  September  7,  1890. 

86.  Frances  B.  Beard,  Wyoming,  From  Territorial  Days  to  the  Present 
(Chicago:     American  Historical  Society,  1939),  I,  476. 

87.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Democratic  Leader,  September  13,  1890. 


188  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

leaders  met  Warren,  who  had  been  out  of  town,  at  the  raihroad 
depot,  rushed  him  to  the  capitol,  and  with  him  all  were  inau- 
gurated.'''' 

Four  days  later,  without  any  advance  warning,  Van  Devanter 
resigned  his  position  to  return  to  the  private  practice  of  law. 
Under  the  provisions  of  the  constitution.  Governor  Warren  was 
empowered  to  appoint  a  justice  to  sit  until  the  new  general  elec- 
tion; he  named  Homer  S.  Merrill,  a  Republican.  Justice  Groes- 
beck  became  Chief  Justice.  The  reason  for  Van  Devanter's  sudden 
resignation  cannot  be  definitely  determined.  It  is  possible  that  he 
resigned  because  of  the  inadequacy  of  the  salary,  still  only 
$3,000.''^  More  probable,  however,  he  realized  that  if  he  wished 
to  advance  quickly,  the  best  hope  for  the  future  lay  in  open  par- 
ticipation in  political  activities  from  which  he  was  barred  as  a 
member  of  the  Supreme  Court.  The  fact  that  he  resigned  so 
quickly  would  also  seem  to  indicate  that  it  had  already  been 
determined  that  he  would  do  so,  and  that  his  name,  an  important 
drawing  card,  had  been  used  simply  to  guarantee  a  complete 
Republican  sweep  in  the  voting.  If  this  is  true,  it  will  probably 
never  be  verified  since  many  of  Van  Devanter's  papers  pertaining 
to  his  political  activities  were  destroyed  at  his  orders  some  years 
after  his  elevation  to  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.^^ 

When  the  first  legislature  of  the  state  met  in  special  session  to 
elect  the  state's  two  United  States  Senators,  the  choices  ran  as 
predicted.  Joseph  M.  Carey,  was  quickly  named  and  though  it 
took  seven  ballots,  the  Republican-dominated  legislature  finally 
also  picked  Governor  Warren  to  be  the  second  Senator.  Despite 
his  repeated  vows  to  the  contrary,  Warren  resigned  his  office  as 
Governor  to  accept  the  Senatorship.  He  was  succeeded  by  the 
Republican  Secretary  of  State  Amos  W.  Barber. ^^ 

Warren's  decision  to  become  Senator  was  to  be  highly  advan- 
tageous for  Van  Devanter,  who  now  became  the  recognized  resi- 
dent head  of  the  Republican  party  in  Wyoming.  The  next  few 
years  were  to  be  vitally  important  to  Wyoming's  development  but 
even  more  so  to  Van  Devanter's  drive  for  future  preferment. 


88.  Bartlett,  History  of  Wyoming.  I.  214. 

89.  This  is  the  reason  which  Van  Devanter  gave  for  his  resignation,  and 
certainly  he  may  have  felt  impelled  to  earn  more  money  to  support  himself 
and  his  family.    See  Winslow  B.  Van  Devanter,  "Willis  Van  Devanter,"  p.  4. 

90.  WVD  to  R.  H.  Repath,  January  1,  1917. 

91.  Fenimore  C.  Chatterton,  Yesterday's  Wyoming:  The  Intimate  Mem- 
oirs of  Fenimore  C.  Chatterton,  Territorial  Citizen,  Governor,  Builder 
(Aurora,  Colorado:  Powder  River  Publishers  and  Booksellers,  1957),  p. 
45.  Wyoming  had  no  lieutenant  governor  and  thus  the  secretary  of  state 
was  the  next  ranking  official. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  189 

THE  YEARS  OF  STATEHOOD 

The  years  from  1890  and  1897  mark  clearly  the  beginning  of 
Van  Devanter's  ascent  from  the  position  of  small-city  lawyer  on 
the  frontier  to  a  seat  on  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  There 
were  two  separate  and  yet  complimentary  aspects  of  his  rise  to 
national  prominence — his  political  activities  and  his  legal  work 
before  the  various  courts  of  the  state.  Of  these  certainly  the  most 
well-known  was  his  legal  activities. 

Soon  after  resigning  his  post  as  Chief  Justice,  Van  Devanter 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  John  W.  Lacey.^- 
The  partnership  of  "Lacey  and  Van  Devanter"  became  Wyoming's 
most  prominent  law  firm.  Few  firms  in  any  state  would  boast  two 
former  Chief  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  or  such  a  successful 
practice.  Not  only  did  the  two  men  manage  to  obtain  the  business 
of  many  of  Wyoming's  leading  personalities,  but  they  also  became 
the  new  state's  legal  representatives  for  the  Union  Pacific.  The 
business  which  had  eluded  Van  Devanter  four  years  earlier  now 
became  his  and  for  the  next  six  years  Van  Devanter,  as  the  rail- 
road's counsel,  defended  the  company  in  many  court  cases. ^'^ 

In  later  years  Van  Devanter  was  to  be  severely  criticized  for  this 
connection  with  the  railroad  by  many  persons  who  were  afraid  that 
he  would  make  no  attempt  to  be  impartial  whenever  the  railroad 
was  concerned.  As  early  as  1897  and  then  afterward  until  his 
appointment  to  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  Van  Devanter 
was  continually  forced  to  defend  himself  against  these  allegations,^^ 
as  well  as  from  the  charge  that,  as  an  agent  for  the  company,  he 
was  guilty  of  corruption.  Not  even  the  most  superficial  evidence 
supported  these  attacks,  but  facts  were  valueless  in  preventing 
their  constant  repetition. 

Most  of  Van  Devanter's  cases  during  the  nineties  were  routine 
and,  relatively  speaking,  commonplace.    Two,  however,  stand  out 


92.  John  W.  Lacey  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1848.  At  the  age  of  fifteen, 
he  joined  the  Union  Army,  remaining  in  service  until  1865.  Six  years  later 
he  began  the  study  of  law  under  Isaac  Van  Devanter  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1875.  He  married  Justice  Van  Devanter's  sister  Elizabeth  in 
1878,  the  same  year  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Isaac  Van  Devanter. 
Appointed  chief  justice  of  Wyoming  in  1884,  he  held  that  post  for  three 
years  and  then  returned  to  private  practice,  first  with  the  firm  of  Corlett, 
Lacey,  and  Riner.  Corlett  had  died  in  1890  and  Riner  had  been  appointed 
United  States  District  Judge  for  Wyoming  opening  the  way  for  Lacey  and 
Van  Devanter's  partnership.  After  severing  his  connection  with  Van  De- 
vanter, he  continued  in  practice  by  himself,  becoming  for  the  next  thirty- 
two  years  one  of  the  top  lawyers  in  the  West. 

93.  See  Redman  v.  Union  Pacific  Railway  Co.,  29  P.  88  (1892);  Schenck 
V.  Union  Pacific  Railway  Co.,  29  P.  741  (1892);  White  et  al.  v.  Hinton 
et  al,  30  P.  953  (1892);LmA'  v.  Union  Pacific  Railway  Co.,  45  P.  508 
(1896). 

94.  See  for  example,  WVD  to  Francis  E.  Warren,  March  11,  1897. 


190  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

not  only  because  of  their  extreme  importance  to  Wyoming,  but 
because  both  were  in  so  many  ways  connected  with  Republican 
party  politics.  Van  Devanter's  most  widely  publicized,  and  cer- 
tainly most  sensational,  case  as  a  lawyer  was  his  defense  of  the 
leaders  of  the  so-called  "Johnson  County  War"  of  1892.  The 
basic  facts  of  this  episode  of  Wyoming  history  are  well  known  by 
even  the  amateur  Western  historian,  but  Van  Devanter's  role  is 
usually  ignored  and  it  is  here  that  a  reappraisal  is  necessary. 

Shortly  after  the  cattlemen  and  hired  Texans  who  had  gone 
north  were  rescued  by  soldiers  from  Fort  McKinney,  they  were 
moved  for  their  own  protection  from  Buffalo,  where  they  had  been 
initially  interned,  to  the  Laramie  County  jail  in  Cheyenne  to  await 
trial  for  murder. ••''  In  early  summer  Van  Devanter,  his  partner 
Lacey,  and  eight  other  attorneys  were  chosen  to  defend  them.  It 
was  Van  Devanter,  who  soon  assumed  preeminence  among  the 
attorneys.  In  a  letter  to  Senator  Warren  several  days  after  the 
northern  raid,  he  had  stated  his  attitude  about  the  situation: 

You  have  doubtless  read  the  sensational  reports  in  various  newspapers 
and  even  in  those  at  Cheyenne,  concerning  the  war  in  Johnson  County. 
So  far  as  I  have  observed  fully  ninety  percent  of  the  telegrams  appear- 
ing in  the  press  are  either  entirely  false  or  so  much  so  as  to  give 
a  grossly  inaccurate  impression  of  the  expedition  which  went  North 
and  the  results  which  attended  it  .  .  .  There  is  no  question  but  that 
the  expedition  was  either  poorly  managed  or  committed  many  grievous 
errors;  none,  however,  so  grievous  as  the  error  of  going  at  all.  How- 
ever, it  is  true  in  this  case  as  in  others  that  public  opinion  largely  goes 
with  the  successful  party  and  had  the  expedition  been  successful  in 
the  purpose  which  is  attributed  to  it  by  the  press,  it  is  probable  that 
the  present  opinion  would  be  somewhat  modified.^** 

Within  several  weeks  after  their  transfer  to  Cheyenne,  pressure 
was  placed  to  have  the  cattlemen  and  their  Texas  hirelings  tried  in 
Johnson  County  where  fever  pitch  ran  high.  Van  Devanter  was 
adamantly  opposed  to  such  a  move.  In  a  letter  to  Senator  Joseph 
M.  Carey,  he  clearly  stated  his  position: 

...  so  long  as  I  have  anything  to  do  with  the  defense  I  do  not  propose 
to  see  their  necks  put  into  the  noose  by  having  them  tried  in  some 
county  where  there  will  be  a  certain  conviction,  unless  the  jury  is 
bought,  and  neither  do  I  expect  to  have  anything  to  do  with,  nor  will 
I  permit,  the  buying  of  a  jury.    It  is  all  nonsense  to  say  that  these  men 


95.  Among  the  captured  cattlemen  were  W.  C.  Irvine,  later  president  of 
the  Stockgrowers  Association  and  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Livestock 
Commissioners;  H.  W.  Davis,  former  president  of  the  Association  and  a 
member  of  the  legislature;  W.  J.  Clarke,  state  water  commissioner;  Frank 
Canton,  deputy  United  States  marshal  for  Wyoming;  and  H.  E.  Tesch- 
macher.  longtime  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Association 
and  a  Harvard  graduate.  (Osgood,  The  Day  of  the  Cattlemen,  pp.  251- 
252  fn. ) 

96.  WVD  to  Francis  E.  Warren,  April  20,  1892. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  191 

can  be  tried  in  any  county.    The  most  favorable  one  will  undoubtedly 
prove  a  dangerous  place.^''' 

After  much  persuasion  and  legal  maneuvering,  Van  Devanter 
was  able  to  get  a  change  of  venue,  and,  on  August  7,  1 892,  the  men 
were  placed  on  trial  at  Cheyenne.  Throughout  the  summer  the 
prisoners  had  enjoyed  all  the  comforts  of  home  in  the  Laramie 
County  jail;  in  fact,  several  of  the  men  had  been  allowed  to  go 
home  when  they  chose  and  others  had  even  taken  a  business  trip 
to  Denver.  Many  persons  began  to  say  openly  that  considering 
their  influence,  the  cattlemen  would  never  be  tried.  While  a  jury 
was  being  selected,  the  Laramie  County  sheriff  suddenly  asked  the 
presiding  judge,  Richard  Scott,  either  that  he  be  relieved  of  the 
responsibility  of  keeping  the  prisoners  at  county  expense,  or  that 
Johnson  County  be  required  to  pay  the  total  cost  of  the  bill. 
Whether  or  not  Van  Devanter  suggested  this  action  is  today  a  moot 
point.  Johnson  County  was  bankrupt  as  everyone  well  knew  and 
Scott  could  not  force  it  to  pay  any  part  of  the  bill.  Since  Laramie 
County  refused  to  provide  for  the  prisoners,  and  there  were  no 
other  alternatives  open  to  him,  Scott  had  to  release  the  men  on 
bail  until  the  next  term  of  court  scheduled  in  January,  1893. 

When  the  case  was  called  to  trial  again,  the  hired  Texans  had 
fled  the  state  to  escape  prosecution,  leaving  only  twenty-three 
cattlemen  to  be  tried.  The  selection  of  jurymen  began  on  January 
6.  For  the  defense,  Van  Devanter  was  allowed  twelve  challenges 
per  defendant,  or  a  total  of  276  in  all.  The  prosecution  had  six 
challenges  per  man,  or  138.  On  the  first  day,  forty-one  men  were 
excused  or  challenged;""'  the  second  day,  fifty  were  excused;'-*-'  and, 
on  January  8,  129  more.^^'^'  By  January  20,  a  total  of  969  pros- 
pective jurors  had  been  dismissed  by  the  court  or  challenged  by 
either  Van  Devanter  or  the  prosecution  attorney.  Question  about 
the  availability  of  more  men,  the  Laramie  County  sheriff  admitted 
that  there  were  not  more  than  2,100  eligible  jurors  in  the  whole 
county  and  that  to  secure  many  others  would  mean  going  miles 
outside  the  city.^"^ 

On  the  21st,  with  still  not  one  acceptable  juryman  in  the  box, 
prosecuting  attorney  Bennett,  anticipating  ultimate  defeat,  con- 
ferred with  his  chief  opponent  and  agreed  to  dismiss  all  charges. 
Opposing  this  on  the  ground  that  it  would  then  be  possible  to  try 
the  men  in  Johnson  County,  Van  Devanter  insisted  on  continuing 
the  trial.     After  further  consultation,  however,  Bennett  agreed  to 


97.  WVD  to  Joseph  M.  Carey,  June  27,  1892. 

98.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Daily  Leader,  January  6,  1893. 

99.  Ibid.,  January  7,  1893. 

100.  Ibid.,  January  8,  1893. 

101.  Ibid.,  January  20,  1893. 


192  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

accept  a  specially  picked  jury,  and  Van  Devanter  approved  the 
plan  to  dismiss  the  charges  against  everyone,  including  the  missing 
Texans.  A  jury  was  impaneled  and  the  motions  were  quickly 
passed,  thus  ending  one  of  the  most  famous  episodes  in  Wyoming 
history.'"-  Van  Devanter's  role  as  a  defense  lawyer  was  thus 
victorous.  Many  years  later,  he  justified  the  acquittal  of  the  cattle- 
men on  the  ground  that  nearly  all  of  them  were  either  leading 
citizens  in  Wyoming  or  from  fine  families.  Despite  the  fact  that 
the  "war"  was  "pretty  raw,"  the  rustling  needed  to  be  stopped, 
he  felt,  and,  in  the  long  run,  the  threat  of  further  invasions  without 
punishment  had  that  effect.'"'^ 

As  a  lawyer.  Van  Devanter  devoted  proportionally  more  of  his 
time  to  cases  dealing  with  political  matters  than  with  any  other 
topic.  His  position  in  each  of  these  cases  depended  on  whether  or 
not  the  Republicans  were  in  control  of  the  state's  administration.'"^ 
Probably  the  most  famous  of  these,  however,  had  nothing  directly 
to  do  with  politics,  though  before  the  various  trials  were  over,  both 
the  Republicans  and  Van  Devanter's  prestige  were  deeply  involved. 
In  July,  1895,  the  legislature  passed  a  law  establishing  hunting 
seasons  in  an  effort  to  curb  the  rapid  extermination  of  the  state's 
wildlife.  This  act  was  aimed  in  large  measure  at  the  state's  In- 
dians, who,  as  wards  of  the  federal  government,  claimed  immunity 
from  Wyoming  law.  On  October  3,  Race  Horse,  a  Bannock 
Indian,  was  arrested  by  Sheriff  John  Ward  of  Uinta  County  and 
charged  with  violating  the  new  act  by  killing  seven  elk  out  of 
season.  Kept  in  custody  for  four  days,  owing  to  his  inability  to 
raise  bail.  Race  Horse,  through  the  United  States  attorney  in  Wyo- 
ming, instituted  a  habeas  corpus  action  in  the  United  States  Dis- 
trict Court  in  Cheyenne.  Van  Devanter,  Wyoming's  Attorney  Gen- 
eral B.  F.  Fowler,  and  one  other  lawyer  acted  as  counsel  for  the 
state. 

The  United  States,  on  behalf  of  Race  Horse,  based  its  case  on  a 
February  24,  1869,  treaty  which  gave  the  Bannocks  the  right  to 
hunt  upon  unoccupied  lands  of  the  United  States.     Van  Devanter 


102.  Ibid.,  January  22,  1893.  In  all.  1064  prospective  jurors  were 
examined  and  dismissed  before  the  end  of  the  trial. 

103.  Interview  of  Willis  Van  Devanter  in  The  Denver  Post,  April  26, 
1936. 

104.  See,  for  instance:  State  ex  rel.  Bennett  v.  Barber  et  al.,  and  State 
ex  rel  Chapman  v.  Barber  et  al.,  32  P.  14  ( 1893);  State  ex  rel.  Henderson  v. 
Burdick.  35  P.  125  (1893)  and  State  ex.  rel.  Holcome  v.  Bitrdick,  33  P.  131 
(1893);  State  ex  rel.  Henderson  v.  Burdick,  33  P.  128  (1893);  State  ex  rel. 
Miller  v.  Barber,  34  P.  1028  (1893);  Slavmaker  v.  Phillips,  40  P.  971 
(1895);  Christian  v.  McReynolds,  40  P.  979  (1895);  State  ex  rel.  Blyden- 
haugh  Y.  Burdick,  46  P.  854  (1896);  and  People  ex  rel.  Richardson  v. 
Henderson.  35  P.  517  (1894),  all  of  which  Van  Devanter  won. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  193 

and  his  colleagues  argued  that  Wyoming's  admission  to  the  Union 
had  abrogated  the  treaty  within  the  boundaries  of  Wyoming,  but 
Judge  John  Riner  decided  for  the  federal  authorities  and  Race 
Horse.  1"'^' 

Wyoming  immediately  appealed  the  case  to  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  and  Van  Devanter,  as  one  of  the  few  lawyers  in 
the  state  who  had  been  admitted  to  practice  before  that  court, 
became  the  state's  chief  attorney  in  the  case.^"''  With  an  election 
year  under  way,  Van  Devanter  took  a  special  interest  in  the  case. 
One  week  before  it  was  to  be  argued,  he  wrote  Senator  Warren : 

Of  course  you  know  that  my  interest  in  this  case  is  altogether  on 
account  of  the  Governor  [W.  A.  Richards],  and  political  considera- 
tions ...  If  the  Governor's  course  can  be  sustained  by  the  Supreme 
Court,  it  will  help  his  Administration  and  help  us  politically  all  over 
the  State,  and  will  do  us  untold  good  in  the  northern  half  of  Uinta 
County  and  in  portions  of  Fremont  County. i'*" 

When  the  case  of  Ward  vs.  Race  Horse^"^  was  argued  before  the 
Supreme  Court  on  March  11-12,  1896,  Van  Devanter  presented 
the  oral  arguments  for  Wyoming.  Opposing  him  was  United  States 
Attorney  General  Judson  Harmon.  Two  months  later,  on  May  25, 
Associate  Justice  Edward  D.  White  delivered  a  seven-to-one  opin- 
ion of  the  Court  favorable  to  the  state.  White's  decision  followed 
closely  Van  Devanter's  earlier  arguments,  thus  not  only  giving  the 
state  of  Wyoming  a  big  boost  but  giving  Van  Devanter  in  his  first 
Supreme  Court  case  an  impressive  victory.  Van  Devanter's  expec- 
tation that  the  Republican  party's  participation  in  this  case  would 
help  earn  votes  in  Uinta  and  Fremont  Counties  was,  however,  not 
realized.  When  the  elections  were  held  in  1896,  both  areas  con- 
tributed heavily  to  the  Republican  defeat.^"** 

In  these  cases  and  in  all  his  many  others.  Van  Devanter's  ability 
as  a  lawyer  in  private  practice  during  Wyoming's  early  statehood 
period  is  unquestionable,  if  ability  can  be  gauged  by  success.  His 
presentation  of  cases  showed  all  the  thoroughness  which  was  to 
characterize  his  decisions  on  the  United  States  Supreme  Court. 
This  legal  success,  reinforced  by  his  activities  as  a  Republican 
politician  in  the  state,  helped  him  to  achieve  more  lofty  heights 
after  1897. 


105.  In  re  Race  Horse,  70  F.  598  (1895) 

106.  WVD  to  J.  M.  Dickinson,  February  29,  1896,  and  WVD  to  Jesse 
Knight,  March  2,  1896.  The  clerk  of  the  Court  refused  to  list  either  of  the 
other  two  attorneys  who  were  connected  with  Wyoming's  case  because  they 
had  not  been  admitted  to  practice  before  the  Supreme  Court. 

107.  WVD  to  Francis  E.  Warren,  March  3,  1896. 

108.  163  U.  S.  504  (1896) 

109.  See  below 


194  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

POLITICS,   1890-1897 

Political  affairs  in  Wyoming  during  the  1 890's  were  based  to  a 
large  extent  on  local  needs  or  demands.  All  parties,  Republican, 
Democrats,  and,  after  1892,  the  newly  formed  People's  Party,  had, 
in  many  cases,  common  planks.  Elections  became  personal  battles 
and  depended  far  more  on  individual  popularity  than  on  ideological 
differences.  It  was  the  Republican  party  which  controlled  Wyo- 
ming during  the  first  two  years  of  the  1  890's.  There  was  at  first 
little  reason  for  the  people  to  repudiate  the  party  responsible  for 
gaining  statehood,  but  party  control  was  anything  but  concrete. 
As  early  as  December,  1 890,  Van  Devanter,  now  the  unofficial 
G.O.P.  spokesman  in  the  absence  of  Warren  and  Carey,  noted  in  a 
letter  that  "the  political  waters  take  turns  of  being  turbulent,  then 
semi-turbulent,  and  then  quiet;  one  extreme,  sooner  or  later,  fol- 
lowing the  other."' ^"  Despite  the  fact  that  Governor  Amos  W. 
Barber  was  not  a  very  forceful  leader,  the  Republicans  managed 
before  early  1892  to  build  up  their  power  to  the  point  where  Van 
Devanter  could  hazard  the  statement: 

Wyoming  is  a  Republican  State,  but  the  majority  is  so  narrow  that 
nothing  save  excellent  work  will  at  all  times  keep  it  in  the  Republican 
column.  A  majority  of  the  people  coming  to  Wyoming  are,  however, 
Republicans  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  it  is  probable  that  the 
Republicans  will  have  a  safe  majority. m 

Events  of  the  next  few  months,  however,  were  to  dim,  at  least  tem- 
porarily, even  this  mild  optimism. 

Wyoming's  economic  development  had  lagged  for  several  years, 
and  by  early  1892  a  hint  of  depression  was  already  evident.  Many 
people  in  the  state  were  prone  to  blame  the  Republicans  for  failing 
to  counteract  the  unfavorable  economic  conditions.  In  March, 
Senator  Warren  voiced  his  concern  in  a  letter  to  his  party  lieuten- 
ant. After  asking  Van  Devanter  whom  he  thought  should  run  for 
office  in  the  state,  Warren  added  with  some  foreboding  that  "it 
seems  to  me  we  have  many  unfortunate  features  to  overcome" 
before  the  election.''- 

For  Republicans,  matters  went  from  bad  to  worse.  In  April,  the 
Johnson  County  War  occurred,  and,  though  the  Republican  admin- 
istration had  been  aware  of  the  impending  trouble,  nothing  had 
been  done  to  prevent  it.  The  Republicans  denied  having  any 
knowledge  of,  or  connection  with,  the  cattlemen's  action,  but 
Democratic  charges  of  complicity  were  hard  to  refute,  especially 
since  most  of  the  cattlemen  were  leaders  in  the  G.O.P.  From 
Washington,  Senator  Warren  wrote  Van  Devanter: 


110.  WVD  to  Francis  E.  Warren,  December  24,  1890. 

111.  WVD  to  O.  A.  Baker,  February  24,  1892. 

112.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  WVD,  March  19,  1892  (Warren  Papers). 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  195 

I  have  worried  much  over  the  situation  and  am  quaking  now  with 
apprehension,  not  knowing  how  this  matter  is  to  end  or  what  will  be 
its  result.  The  worst  feature  is  the  cattle  contention  creeping  into 
politics,  with  primaries,  conventions,  etc.,  adopting  platforms  for  or 
against  ...  It  will  be  harder  to  eradicate  the  evil  and  to  secure  peace 
and  good  government  [now]  .  .  .^^^ 

The  Populist  Party,  which  had  gained  momentum  by  early  1 892, 
also  capitalized  on  the  "war."  At  its  first  national  convention  in 
July,  1892,  in  Omaha,  Nebraska,  the  party  drew  up,  along  with  its 
regular  platform,  a  resolution  condemning  "the  recent  invasion  of 
the  Territory  [sic]  of  Wyoming  by  the  hired  assassins  of  plutoc- 
racy, assisted  by  federal  officials. "^^^  By  the  time  of  the  Wyoming 
party's  nominating  convention  in  September,  it  had  gained  enough 
strength  to  be  on  a  bargaining  level  with  the  Democrats.  After 
some  political  maneuvering,  the  two  parties  worked  out  a  "fusion" 
ticket,  similar  to  those  being  formed  in  Colorado,  Idaho,  Kansas, 
and  North  Dakota.  The  Populists  agreed  to  support  the  Demo- 
cratic state  candidates,  John  Osborne,  the  mayor  of  Rawlins,  who 
had  been  nominated  for  governor,  and  Henry  A.  Coffeen,  a  Sheri- 
dan banker  nominated  for  United  States  Congressman,  in  return 
for  Democratic  support  of  the  Populist  presidential  electors  in  the 
state  who  were  pledged  to  General  James  B.  Weaver. 

Van  Devanter,  whom  the  Republicans  named  as  party  chairman 
at  their  convention  in  Laramie  on  September  14,  and  the  other 
party  leaders  were  initially  untroubled  by  the  move.  They  nom- 
inated a  "strong"  ticket  of  Edward  Ivinson,  a  pioneer  Laramie 
banker  for  governor  and  Clarence  D.  Clark,  the  incumbent,  for 
Congress.  In  an  effort  to  keep  Wyoming  "in  the  RepubUcan  col- 
umn where  it  belongs,"^ ^•''  Van  Devanter  and  the  state  central  com- 
mittee^^^  set  to  work  to  push  their  candidates. 

Despite  Van  Devanter's  argument  on  behalf  of  the  G.O.P.  that 
"the  result  of  the  present  election  not  only  affects  our  State  govern- 
ment, but  also  that  of  the  National  government,"^^^  it  soon  became 
apparent  that  the  combined  Democratic-Populist  Party,  with  its 
attacks  on  alleged  Republican  corruption  and  inefficiency,  was 
cutting  sharply  into  the  ranks  of  the  G.O.P.  The  Democratic 
candidate  for  governor,  John  Osborne,  traveled  the  state,  picking 
up  support  wherever  he  went.  In  contrast  to  Ivinson,  a  lackluster 
campaigner,  Osborne  was  an  active  and  dynamic  speaker  and  his 


113.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  WVD,  April  15,  1892  (Warren  Papers). 

114.  Edward  Stanwood,  A  History  of  the  Presidency  (New  York: 
Houghton  Mifflin  Company,  1912),  P.  509. 

115.  WVD  to  Frank  M.  Foote,  September  20,  1892. 

116.  The  executive  committee  of  Wyoming's  Republican  party  in  1892 
consisted  of  Van  Devanter  as  chairman.  Senator  Joseph  Carey,  Otto 
Gramm,  Benjamin  Fowler,  and  Frank  M.  Foote. 

117.  WVD  to  Frank  M.  Foote,  September  20,  1892. 


196  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

work,  and  the  increasing  unrest  over  the  ineffectual  prosecution  of 
the  cattlemen  invaders  who  still  had  not  been  brought  to  trial, 
began  to  show.  Van  Devanter  tried  at  first  to  discredit  the  im- 
portance of  the  fusion  of  the  two  opposition  parties: 

ft  seems  to  me  The  wrote  in  September]  that  both  of  these  parties 
surrendered  their  alleged  principals  [sic]  and  joined  in  an  arrangement 
to  cry  calamity  throughout  the  state  and  to  ride  into  office  that  way,  if 
possible^  ''^ 

By  the  first  of  October,  however,  he  was  openly  worried.  To  a 
member  of  the  Republican  State  Executive  Committee,  he  noted: 

We  are  going  to  have  a  hard  fight  in  Wyoming  .  .  .  The  Democracy 
are  doing  all  that  they  can  to  belittle  Wyoming,  to  undermine  its 
business  interests,  and  to  sow  calamity  everywhere,  in  order  that  they 
may  create  a  prejudice  which  will  be  of  temporary  advantage  to 
them. 11'' 

To  counter  some  of  the  inroads  being  made  by  the  opposition. 
Van  Devanter,  as  state  G.O.P.  chairman,  offered  to  send  "sub- 
scriptions" of  $  1 00  each  from  Republican  campaign  funds  to  news- 
papers in  Buffalo,  Saratoga,  Lander,  Casper,  and  elsewhere,  if  the 
local  papers  would  guarantee  consistently  strong  Republican  edi- 
torials. He  emphasized,  however,  that  he  was  not  attempting  to 
bribe  the  newspapers,  since  he  was  stipulating  that  each  edition 
send  free  copies  to  non-subscribers.^-"  Party  leaders  also  made 
efforts,  at  Van  Devanter's  request,  to  get  the  names  of  the  Repub- 
lican presidential  electors  placed  at  the  top  of  the  ballot  in  every 
county. ^-^  To  obtain  extra  money  for  the  campaign,  Van  Devan- 
ter turned  again  and  again  to  the  candidates  themselves.  In  the 
middle  of  October,  for  instance.  Van  Devanter  wrote  to  Senator 
Warren  (who  was  hoping  to  be  re-elected  by  a  Republican-con- 
trolled legislature  after  the  campaign)-  "Exigencies  of  many 
kinds  .  .  .  have  arisen  which  will  make  it  absolutely  necessary  that 
Mr.  Ivinson  shall  give  us  $10,000  straight,  and  that  you  shall  give 
us  $5,000.  There  is  no  other  alternative  whatever. "^2-  To  others, 
he  stressed  the  need  for  hard  work.  "Overconfidence  in  the  re- 
sult," he  wrote,  "is  the  greatest  obstacle  in  the  road  to  success. "^-'^ 
Nevertheless,  on  the  same  day,  he  exhibited  some  of  that  same 


118.  WVD  to  Charles  Burritt,  September  22,  1892. 

119.  WVD  to  Otto  Gramm.  October  1,  1892. 

120.  WVD  to  Gertrude  Huntington  (The  [Saratoga]Lvrc),  October  7, 
1892;  WVD  to  John  H.  Lott  {The  Buffalo  Bulletin),  October  7,  1892;  WVD 
to  W.  A.  Deniecke  (The  Natrona  Tribune),  October  8,  1892;  WVD  to  Matt 
Borland  (The  [Lander]   Wyoming  State  Journal),  October  8,  1892. 

121.  WVD  to  Fenimore  Chatterton  and  others,  October  10,  1892. 

122.  WVD  to  Francis  E.  Warren,  October  19,  1892.  Emphasis  Van 
Devanter's. 

123.  WVD  to  John  Storrie,  October  19,  1892. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  197 

overconfidence  when  he  wrote  to  a  friend  that  "the  Repubhcans  are 
going  to  carry  the  state  without  any  question  whatever. "^-^ 

The  fight  for  votes  went  down  to  the  wire.  Stiff  battles  took 
place  in  the  western  and  northern  counties,  where  the  Democrats 
had  made  greater  headway  than  in  the  more  populous  south.  The 
Republicans  were,  nonetheless,  confident  of  victory  when  election 
day  came  on  November  8.  The  results  of  the  voting  were  therefore 
all  the  more  staggering  to  them  and  to  Van  Devanter.  Republican 
presidential  electors  carried  the  state,  but  by  a  margin  of  only  700 
votes  out  of  16,700  cast.^^'''  The  state  election,  however,  brought 
the  crushing  blow.  The  Democratic  party  won  the  governorship 
by  almost  1,800  votes,  the  one  Congressional  seat  by  500  votes, 
and  one  Supreme  Court  seat.^-*^  After  the  election,  the  legislature, 
which  had  been  overwhelmingly  Republican,  consisted  of  twenty- 
two  Republican,  twenty-one  Democrats,  and  five  Populists,  who 
had  been  elected  separately  despite  the  fusion  ticket. ^^" 

When  the  legislature  met  in  late  January,  1893,  its  main  concern 
was  the  election  of  a  United  States  Senator  to  a  full  six-year  term, 
Wyoming's  first.  Van  Devanter  and  the  Republican  leadership 
still  hoped  to  re-elect  Francis  E.  Warren,  but  problems  with  their 
own  party  made  the  chances  slim.  Five  Republicans  were  abso- 
lutely pledged  not  to  vote  for  Warren, ^-*^  but  they  were  hopeful  of 
electing  some  Republican,  preferably  Clarence  D.  Clark.  On  the 
first  ballot,  fifteen  candidates  were  nominated.  Warren  was  the 
leader  in  votes,  but  he  received  only  eight  of  the  necessary  twenty- 
five  for  election.     Day  after  day  other  ballots  were  taken;  votes 


124.  WVD  to  Jesse  Knight,  October  19,  1892. 

125.  Walter  Dean  Burnham,  Presidential  Ballots,  1836-1892  (Baltimore: 
The  Johns  Hopkins  Press,  1955),  pp.  29,  880-883.  The  Republicans  car- 
ried Albany,  Carbon,  Converse,  Fremont,  Laramie,  Natrona,  and  Weston 
Counties.  The  Populist  electors  carried  Crook  County  by  117  votes,  John- 
son County  by  252,  Sheridan  County  by  8,  Sweetwater  County  by  28,  and 
Uinta  County  by  28. 

126.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Daily  Leader,  January  1,  1893.  In  the 
Supreme  Court  contest,  Gibson  Clark,  a  Democrat,  easily  defeated  C.  H. 
Parmalee,  the  Republican  candidate. 

127.  The  combination  ticket  had  resulted  in  at  least  a  partial  upset  vic- 
tory and  even  in  losing  the  presidential  election,  the  Populists  won  a  great 
deal  of  prestige.  Because  of  fusion,  they  won  over  forty-six  per  cent  of  the 
state's  vote.  In  only  five  other  states  did  they  score  higher.  John  D.  Hicks, 
The  Populist  Revolt.  A  History  of  the  Farmer's  Alliance  and  the  People's 
Party  (Minneapolis:  University  of  Minnesota  Press,  1931),  p.  263.  In 
Nevada  the  Populists  got  66.76  per  cent  of  the  vote;  in  Colorado,  57.07 
per  cent;  in  Idaho,  54.66  per  cent;  in  North  Dakota,  48.96  per  cent;  in 
Kansas,  48.44  per  cent;  and  in  Wyoming,  46.14  per  cent. 

128.  The  five  were  Fenimore  Chatterton,  DeForest  Richards,  and  B.  B. 
Brooks  (all  later  Republican  governors  of  the  state),  Joseph  Hazen,  and  C. 
C.  Hamlin.  These  men's  counties  had  voted  Democratic  in  the  presidential 
election  and  they  felt  duty  bound  to  vote  against  the  established  Republican 
leadership.     (Fenimore  Chatterton,  Yesterday's  Wyoming,  p.  47). 


198  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

traded  indiscriminately,  but  no  one  came  within  less  than  nine 
votes  of  a  majority.^-'' 

On  the  evening  of  February  3,  at  a  conference  of  Republican 
members  and  party  leaders,  Senator  Fenimore  Chatterton  of  Car- 
bon County  suggested  that,  since  it  appeared  certain  that  the  five 
Populist  representatives  who  held  the  balance  of  power  would  not 
vote  for  either  Warren  or  Clark,  the  Republicans  should  cast  a 
solid  vote  for  some  other  prominent  Republican  in  the  hope  of 
bringing  the  necessary  three  additional  votes  over  to  their  side.^'^" 
This  proposal  was  accepted,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth, 
Republican  block  voting  began.  After  voting  vainly  for  five  differ- 
ent men,  the  Republicans,  on  February  1 1 ,  proposed  Van  De- 
vanter  for  the  Senate.  He,  too,  however,  got  only  the  same 
twenty-two  party  votes.  On  February  19,  after  thirty-one  ballots, 
the  legislature  finally  gave  up  and  adjourned  without  electing  any- 
one.'-^' Immediately  after  the  session,  Governor  Osborne  appoint- 
ed his  own  candidate,  A.  C.  Beckwith  of  Evanston,  but  the  United 
States  Senate  refused  to  seat  him.^'^-  As  a  consequence,  Wyoming 
had  but  one  Senator,  Carey,  for  the  next  two  years. 

The  years  between  1893-1894  were  uneventful  for  the  Repub- 
lican party.  With  the  Democrats  in  administrative  control  of  the 
state  government.  Van  Devanter  as  Republican  state  chairman 
could  only  attempt  to  build  up  party  strength  while  undertaking  a 
campaign  to  alter  the  unfavorable  image  which  the  party  had 
acquired  from  the  Johnson  County  fiasco.  Paying  his  own  ex- 
penses in  part,  he  made  frequent  tours  through  the  state  to  build 
support  for  the  G.O.P.^'^'^ 

The  national  depression  after  1893  was  damaging  to  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  Wyoming  as  was  the  Democratically-supported 
Wilson-Gorman  Tariff  which  drastically  lowered  tariff  rates. 
Among  the  items  placed  on  the  "free  list"  was  wool,  and  to  the 


129.  Chatterton,  the  senator  from  Carbon  County,  stated  that  on  one 
occasion  when  a  member  of  the  legislature  rose  to  change  his  vote,  a 
Democrat  who  favored  another  man  pressed  a  gun  in  his  back  with  the 
admonition  "sit  down  you,  S.  B."     {Ibid.,  p.  50). 

130.  I  hid.,  p.  50. 

131.  The  full  story  of  the  balloting  can  be  found  in  news  items  of  the 
Cheyenne  Daily  Leader,  January  25  to  February  19. 

132.  Chatterton,  Yesterday's  Wyomini^,  p.  51.  The  Senate  engaged  in 
what  one  historian  has  called  "a  prolonged  debate"  on  whether  or  not  to 
accept  Beckwith's  appointment.  Before  it  ruled  officially,  however,  Beck- 
with sent  in  his  resignation,  thus  preventing  the  Senators  from  making  a 
definite  decision.  (A.  C.  Hansen,  "The  Congressional  Career  of  Senator 
Francis  E.  Warren  from  1890-1902,"  Annals  of  Wvoming,  XX  (January. 
July,  1948),   16). 

133.  WVD  to  J.  B.  Okie,  January  2,  1893.  "Our  State  Committee," 
Van  Devanter  wrote,  "is  without  means — in  fact,  myself  and  another  have 
had  to  respond  more  liberally  than  we  could  well  afford  in  order  to  dis- 
charge the  obligations  incurred  during  the  campaign." 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  199 

many  persons  in  Wyoming  connected  with  sheep  raising,  this  was 
disastrous.  Van  Devanter  and  other  RepubUcans  had  every  reason 
to  anticipate  a  reversal  of  the  results  of  1892.  At  their  state  con- 
vention, the  Republicans  nominated  W.  A.  Richards  for  governor 
and  Frank  Mondell,  the  ex-mayor  of  Newcastle,  for  Congressman. 
Van  Devanter,  who  was  renamed  state  chairman,  began  to  plan 
the  campaign.    To  one  of  his  colleagues,  he  stated  his  belief  that: 

If  Wyoming  drifts  into  uncertain  channels  again  as  it  did  two  years 
ago,  it  will  become  an  uncertain  state  in  politics  and  will  bid  fair  to 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  Nevada  instead  of  in  the  pathways  of  the 
more  progressive  states  of  the  West.  The  result  of  this  election  means 
much  to  us  as  Republicans,  and  more  to  us  as  citizens  and  indi- 
viduals.1^4 

The  following  week  he  added: 

As  a  Republican  and  as  a  citizen,  I  am  very  much  interested  in 
Republican  success  this  fall.  I  always  endeavor  to  be  true  to  my 
friends,  and  for  the  same  reason  I  endeavor  to  be  true  to  my  party. 
I  would  rather  see  any  Republican  made  United  States  Senator  than 
to  see  a  Democrat  elected  to  that  position. i^-t 

When  the  Democrats  ineptly  produced  a  platform  which  sup- 
ported both  the  Cleveland  administration  and  the  unpopular  low 
tariff  the  main  problem  facing  the  Republicans  was  to  obtain 
money  to  insure  their  almost  certain  victory.  Van  Devanter 
worked  tirelessly  in  this  effort  and  by  the  first  of  October,  he  was 
able  to  give  an  optimistic  report: 

Everything  is  looking  well,  and  all  signs  point  to  a  splendid  victory 
for  the  Republicans  this  fall.  In  fact,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  every 
county  in  the  State  will  be  carried  by  the  Republicans. i^e 

Silver  played  an  important  role  in  the  election;  for  a  while  it 
threatened  to  split  the  Republican  party  in  two.  At  their  conven- 
tion, the  Republicans  had  gone  on  record,  as  they  had  in  all  past 
elections,  in  favor  of  free  coinage  of  silver  at  the  ratio  of  sixteen 
to  one.  Senator  Joseph  Carey,  however,  had  been  swinging  grad- 
ually toward  the  national  party's  concept,  the  gold  standard;  his 
speeches  and  roles  in  Congress  had  tilted  that  way  repeatedly. 
When  the  campaign  opened  in  Wyoming,  Carey  wrote  to  Van 
Devanter  that  he  wanted  to  stump  the  state  for  the  party  as  he  had 
done  so  many  times  in  the  past.  The  Republican  leaders  had 
already  secretly  decided  to  withdraw  their  support  from  the  Sena- 


134.  WVD  to  M.  C.  Barrow,  August  30,  1894. 

135.  WVD  to  M.  C.  Barrow,  September  4,  1894.  Since  there  was 
already  one  vacancy  in  the  Senatorships  of  the  state  and  Carey's  term  was 
now  expiring,  there  were  two  Senators  to  be  chosen.  The  necessity  of 
having  a  Republican-controlled  legislature  was  therefore  imperative  if  the 
party  hoped  to  elect  its  choice. 

136.  WVD  to  T.  S.  Benton,  October  3,  1894. 


200  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

tor,  and  Van  Devanter  now  replied  as  tactfully  as  he  could  that, 
under  the  circumstances,  it  might  be  better  for  Carey  to  remain  in 
Washington,  especially  since  a  majority  of  the  state's  citizens 
favored  the  party's  free  silver  plank.  "We  should  do  nothing,"  he 
wrote  Carey,  "which  will  erroneously  cast  upon  the  party  any 
suspicion  of  insincerity  in  this  matter."'-''  Carey  insisted  on  cam- 
paigning, however,  and  Van  Devanter,  as  party  chairman  had  to 
refuse  to  allow  him  to  do  so  under  official  party  auspices. 

Despite  the  potentially  open  split  in  party  ranks.  Van  Devanter 
was  able  to  hold  the  voters  together.  To  a  man  who  wrote  that, 
because  of  Carey's  stand  on  silver,  he  would  vote  against  the  Re- 
publican party  unless  Van  Devanter  could  assure  him  of  the  party's 
loyalty  to  the  silver  plank.  Van  Devanter  wrote: 

I  feel  that  you  can  absolutely  endorse  the  entire  Republican  ticket 
without  sacrificing  your  views  as  to  Senator  Carey.  I  say  this,  because 
Wyoming  is  a  free  silver  state,  and  in  my  judgement  will  not  elect 
any  Senator  who  is  not  a  free  silver  man.i-'^^ 

Such  arguments  paid  off.  The  general  election  resulted  in  a  land- 
slide victory  for  the  Republicans,  with  the  party  carrying  almost 
every  office.  W.  A.  Richards  was  easily  elected  over  Democratic 
gubernatorial  candidate,  W.  H.  Holliday  (Osborne  had  refused  to 
run  for  re-election ) ;  Mondell  overwhelmed  Coffeen  for  the  Con- 
gressional seat;  and  the  Republicans  carried  forty-eight  of  the  fifty- 
five  legislative  seats. '•'^"  The  Populists,  who  had  refused  to  join 
with  the  Democrats  as  before,  were  completely  routed,  drawing 
only  eleven  percent  of  the  vote,  lowest  in  all  the  West  with  the 
exception  of  Nevada.'"*"' 

The  question  of  the  selection  of  the  two  United  States  Senators 
still  hung  in  the  balance.  Van  Devanter's  name  was  frequently 
mentioned,  but  he  quickly  stifled  the  idea  in  a  newspaper  inter- 
view.'^' The  Republicans  determined  to  push  for  the  election  of 
Warren  and  Clarence  D.  Clark,  and  Van  Devanter  enthusiastally 
supported  this  decision.  Senator  Joseph  Carey,  however,  finally 
realizing  that  he  was  to  be  excluded  for  the  "party  good,"  would 
not  give  up  without  a  battle.  He  bitterly  attacked  Van  Devanter 
and  all  the  other  "regular"  Republicans,'^-  but,  completely  unper- 
turbed by  the  attacks.  Van  Devanter  arranged  for  free  transporta- 
tion on  behalf  of  Senator  Warren  for  legislators  on  both  the  Bur- 
lington and  the  Union  Pacific.    The  election  results  did  not  disap- 


137.  WVD  to  Joseph  Carey,  October  9,  1894. 

138.  WVD  to  M.  W.  Pettigrew,  October  12,  1894. 

139.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Sun,  November  24,  1894. 

140.  Hicks,  The  Populist  Revolt,  pp.  332,  337.     The  Populists  lost  every 
state  in  the  West  which  they  had  carried  in  1892. 

141.  News  item  in  the  Cheyenne  Sun.  November  13,  1894. 

142.  WVD  to  B.  F.  Fowler,  December  8,  1894. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  201 

point  him,  for  both  Warren  and  Clark  were  voted  into  the  Senator- 
ships.  Carey,  who  had  done  so  much  for  the  state  and  territory, 
was  ignored. 

In  the  months  between  January,  1895,  and  the  summer  of  1896, 
Van  Devanter,  still  serving  as  the  state's  Republican  chairman, 
was  occupied  with  preparing  the  state  for  the  coming  presidential 
election.  An  avowed  McKinley  supporter,  he  also  personally 
faced  the  task  of  winning  members  of  his  own  party  over  to  the 
McKinley  side.  As  early  as  1892,  he  had  been  president  of  the 
Cheyenne  Republican  League  Club,  ostensibly  a  McKinley  organ- 
ization^*^"*  and  had  thereafter  continued  his  activity  in  the  move- 
ment. In  the  late  spring  of  1895,  he  and  other  delegates  from  the 
state  attended  the  national  convention  of  the  League  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio^^"*  and  he  constantly  endeavored  to  gain  converts  for  the 
McKinley  cause.  Many  of  the  state's  Republicans,  however, 
favored  Senator  William  Allison  of  Iowa,  a  supporter  of  free  silver, 
and  Van  Devanter  moved  quickly,  if  not  necessarily  truthfully,  to 
squash  suspicions  that  McKinley  was  unsound  on  the  silver  ques- 
tion. Wyoming  should  declare  itself  for  him  early,  Van  Devanter 
said,  because 

McKinley's  views  upon  the  silver  question  more  nearly  accord  with 
those  of  Wyoming  than  do  those  of  any  other  presidential  candidate, 
and  the  question  arises  whether  it  would  be  better  for  us  to  squarely 
declare  our  preference  and  declare  ourselves  without  waiting  until  the 
question  is  elsewhere  settled  beyond  doubt. ^45 

Wyoming  RepubUcans  had  far  more  to  worry  about  than  the 
matter  of  the  presidential  nomination.  The  chief  problem  facing 
the  party  was  the  continuing  national  depression.  The  threat  was 
imminent  that  the  "ins"  would  get  the  blame  for  hard  times.  Gov- 
ernor Richards,  Van  Devanter,  (who  was  accused  by  some  of 
being  both  "political  boss"  and  "governor  de  facto" ),^^*^  and  other 
Republicans  bore  the  brunt  of  the  attack.  Populism,  which  had 
seemed  moribund,  now  revived,  and  'the  Democrats,  ripe  for 
breaking  with  their  national  leader,  President  Grover  Cleveland, 
gained  in  strength  in  Wyoming  and  the  surrounding  states.  Repub- 
licans found  themselves  in  trouble;  by  the  summer  of  1896  the 
outlook  was  dark  for  the  Wyoming  G.O.P. 

Van  Devanter  was  confident,  nevertheless,  that  if  McKinley 
and  a  strong  Republican  ticket  were  nominated,  the  state  party 
could  sweep  to  power  on  the  national  surge.  To  help  quarantee 
this,  he  put  himself  in  the  running  for  the  position  of  Republican 
National  Committeeman,  a  position  which  Carey  had  held  for 


143.  WVD  to  Theresa  Johnson,  June  18,  1894. 

144.  Note  in  the  Van  Devanter  papers  dated  June  16,  1895. 

145.  WVD  to  M.  C.  Barrow,  March  22,  1896. 

146.  News  item  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  (Denver,  Colorado)  News,  July 


202  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

twenty  years.  He  moved  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  achieve  his  goal. 
By  the  middle  of  March,  he  was  stressing  the  need  for  a  man  of  his 
background  and  beliefs  on  the  national  committee.  The  thought 
of  Carey  on  the  committee,  he  told  a  colleague 

is  sufficient  to  put  one  well  on  his  guard.  If  the  Republicans  succeed 
in  the  coming  presidential  contest,  as  seems  highly  probable,  what 
kind  of  a  "monkey  and  parrot"  time  do  you  suppose  we  would  have  in 
Wyoming  in  connection  with  federal  patronage?  Warren,  supported 
by  Clark  and  Mondell,  would  probably  be  opposed  at  every  time  by 
the  member  of  the  National  Committee  and  vice-versa.  Under  such 
circumstances  the  patronage  would  in  all  probability  be  a  curse  and 
not  a  blessing. ^^" 

In  each  county  delegates  were  elected  to  the  state  Republican 
convention  which  was  to  be  held  in  Sheridan  that  year.  The  loca- 
tion had  been  suggested  by  Van  Devanter  in  the  hope  of  showing 
"the  people  up  there  [in  northern  Wyoming]  that  they  are  a  part 
of  us  and  we  are  a  part  of  them."^^'^  Van  Devanter's  wooing  of 
supporters  paid  off.  Even  before  the  elections,  he  was  supremely 
confident.  "The  indications,"  he  wrote  to  a  supporter,  "are  that 
Carey  will  be  beaten  in  every  county  in  the  selection  of  dele- 
gates."'^-' The  best  thing  for  Carey  and  his  backers  to  do  would  be 
simply  to  withdraw  from  the  race,  he  added  to  another  friend 
several  weeks  later,  but  they  probably  would  not,  since  they  did 
not  seem  to  "recognize  a  coming  defeat  when  they  see  it."^'''" 

The  election  results  proved  Van  Devanter  to  be  an  apt  prog- 
nosticator.  In  Cheyenne,  even  with  a  snow  storm  raging  on  elec- 
tion day,  April  16,  his  supporters  won  an  overwhelming  victory. ^•''^ 
On  hearing  the  news,  Senator  Warren  quipped  that 

the  Carey  outfit  [has]  burnt  their  bridges  behind  them  and  their  fall 
was  much  like  that  of  the  tumble  bug.  ...  I  do  not  now  recollect 
among  our  many  fights  and  scrimmages  anything  more  decided  or 
more  neatly  done  than  the  killing  and  burying  of  'his  nibs.'!-""'- 

state  that  the  supporters  of  ex-Senator  Carey  had  been  completely 
defeated.'"'-^  At  Sheridan,  the  delegates  went  on  record  in  favor  of 
McKinley  and  appointed  Van  Devanter  as  one  of  six  delegates  to 
the  national  convention.'"'^     From  Mark  Hanna,  McKinley's  cam- 


8,  1897.    Clipping  in  the  Van  Devanter  papers. 

147.  WVD  to  M.  C.  Barrow,  March  19,  1896. 

148.  WVD  to  B.  B.  Brooks.  February  19.  1896. 

149.  WVD  to  John  M.  Thurston,  March  22,  1896. 

150.  WVD  to  M.  C.  Barrow,  April  1,  1896. 

151.  WVD  to  Francis  E.  Warren,  April  17,  1896. 

152.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  WVD.  April  20,  1896.     (Warren  Papers). 

153.  WVD  to  E.  Dickinson.  May  1.   1896. 

154.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  Mark  Hanna,  May  15.  1896.  The  other 
delegates  were  B.  B.  Brooks,  B.  F.  Fowler,  Otto  Gramm,  J.  E.  Davis,  and 
C.  C.  Hamlin. 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  203 

paign  manager,  came  a  telegram  of  "congratulations  upon  your 
splendid  work."^^'^ 

Van  Devanter,  however,  was  unable  to  go  to  the  St.  Louis 
National  Convention.  In  May,  shortly  after  the  state  convention, 
he  contracted  a  severe  case  of  typhoid  fever,  and  it  was  feared  for 
a  while  that  he  would  not  live.^^*^  With  Senator  Warren  leading 
the  delegation  to  St.  Louis  and  casting  Van  Devanter's  proxy  vote, 
Wyoming  backed  McKinley  and  the  Republican  platform  of 
"sound  money"  even  though  it  initially  cast  its  six  votes  against  the 
currency  plank  in  the  platform.  Unlike  Colorado  and  Idaho, 
whose  delegates  walked  out  of  the  convention,  or  Utah,  Nevada, 
and  Montana,  whose  delegates  spUt  their  votes,  Wyoming  remained 
solid  in  its  support  of  the  regular  Republicans  and  the  party 
nominees,  McKinley  and  Garret  Hobart.^'"^^  Van  Devanter  was 
unanimously  elected  by  his  colleagues  as  Wyoming's  national 
committeeman. 

The  election  in  Wyoming  presented  a  number  of  problems  for 
the  G.O.P.  Van  Devanter's  illness,  lasting  until  about  the  first  of 
October,  deprived  the  party  of  its  chief  organizer  for  most  of  the 
campaign.  The  party  was  also  at  a  great  disadvantage  because  of 
the  national  platform's  opposition  to  free  silver.  Surrounded  by 
pro-Wilham  Jennings  Bryan  states,  the  Wyoming  Republicans  tried 
desperately  to  win  votes.  For  a  few  days  after  the  election,  the 
result  was,  surprisingly  enough,  in  doubt.  Nevertheless  when  the 
final  tabulations  were  recorded,  the  Democrats  had  carried  the 
state. 

The  results  proved,  in  many  ways,  a  moral  victory  for  the 
Republicans.  Even  with  Carey  opposing  the  entire  Republican 
ticket,^^*^  the  vote  was  exceedingly  close.  Democratic  nominee 
John  Osborne  defeated  Congressman  Frank  Mondell  by  only  266 
votes  and  Samuel  Corn  defeated  Supreme  Court  Justice  H.  V.  B. 
Groesbeck  by  576.  The  RepubUcans  scored  a  striking  victory  in 
winning  the  legislature,  thirty-seven  to  twenty. ^'^^  In  the  presiden- 
tial vote,  the  mountain  states'  Democrats  carried  eighty-one  percent 
of  the  total  vote;  in  Montana,  Idaho,  and  Nevada,  they  won  by  a 


155.  Mark  Hanna  to  WVD,  May  15,  1896. 

156.  WVD  to  John  N.  Tisdale,  January  20,  1897. 

157.  Republican  National  Party,  Official  Proceedings  of  the  Eleventh 
Republican  National  Convention.  Held  in  the  City  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
June  16,  17,  18,  1896.  (Minneapolis,  Minnesota:  Charles  W.  Johnson, 
1896),  p.  123. 

158.  WVD  to  Francis  E.  Warren,  August  29,  1897,  quotes  defeated 
Supreme  Court  Justice  Groesbeck,  "You  do  not  know,  but  I  do,  that  Carey 
opposed  the  whole  ticket  at  the  last  election.  He  and  his  wife  had  me  at 
their  house  after  my  defeat  and  talked  very  plainly  to  me,  and  I  know  just 
what  I  am  talking  about." 

159.  Bartlett,  History  of  Wyoming,  1,  228. 


204  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

four-to-one  margin;  in  Utah,  by  five-to-one;  and,  in  Colorado,  by 
six-to-one.  In  Wyoming,  however,  the  Democrats  won  by  only 
304  votes  out  of  the  21,093  cast.^*"'"  Thinking  back  over  the  elec- 
tion. Van  Devanter  later  commented  that  "with  a  week  or  ten  days 
more  in  the  campaign  [I]  believe  that  the  educational  work  could 
have  been  carried  to  such  an  extent  as  to  have  assured  the  State 
for  McKinley."^*'^ 

At  the  victorious  Republican  headquarters  in  Canton,  Ohio,  the 
newly-elected  Republican  administration  had  reason  to  take  notice 
of  the  work  of  the  Wyoming  Republicans.  Even  in  losing,  Warren, 
Van  Devanter,  and  othsrs  could  well  feel  entitled  to  certain  favors 
for  their  efforts  and  Warren,  who  had  been  constantly  pushing  Van 
Devanter  for  more  important  positions,  moved  to  obtain  at  least 
one.  Long  before  the  Republican  National  Convention  of  1896, 
Mark  Hanna,  the  key  man  in  McKinley's  campaign,  had  written 
local  politicians  throughout  the  country  that  if  they  would  organize 
their  areas  for  McKinley,  they  would  be  consulted  after  the  election 
with  respect  to  appointments. ^*'-  Warren  had  begun  even  then  to 
push  Van  Devanter  for  the  Solicitor  Generalship  of  the  United 
States,  ^"'^  and,  after  McKinley 's  election,  Warren  now  began  to  try 
to  collect  on  Hanna's  promises. 

Being  a  practical  politician,  Warren  informed  Van  Devanter 
that  the  post  of  Solicitor  General  might  be  unavailable,  but  he 
would  try  to  get  either  that  or  an  Assistant  Attorney  General's  post 
for  him.  To  McKinley,  Warren  praised  Van  Devanter  highly  and 
added  "There  is  absolutely  nothing  which  will  be  so  kindly  received 
and  so  thoroughly  appreciated  by  the  Republicans  of  the  State  of 
Wyoming,  and  by  my  colleague  and  myself,  as  this  appointment. ^*^^ 
Letters  of  recommendation  for  Van  Devanter  came  to  President- 
elect McKinley  from  Senator  Clarence  Clark  and  Representative 


160.  E.  E.  Robinson,  The  Presidential  Vote:  1896-1932  (Stanford 
University,  California:  Stanford  University  Press,  1934),  p.  52.  The  total 
vote  was  Democratic  Party  10,376,  Republican  Party  10.072,  and  others 
(mainly  Prohibition),  645.  Of  the  154  counties  in  the  mountain  region, 
141  voted  Democratic,  and  only  thirteen  went  Republican.  Eight  of  these 
thirteen  were  in  Wyoming.  Ibid.,  p.  63.  The  Republicans  carried  Albany, 
Big  Horn,  Carbon,  Converse,  Fremont,  Laramie,  Natrona,  and  Weston 
Counties.  The  Democrats  won  in  Crook,  Johnson,  Sheridan,  Sweetwater, 
and  Uinta  Counties. 

161.  WVD  to  John  S.  McMillin,  (Undated,   1896). 

162.  Herbert  Croly,  Marcus  Alonzo  Hanna,  His  Life  and  Work  (New 
York:     The  Macmillan  Co.,  1923),  pp.  185-186. 

163.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  Mark  A.  Hanna,  April  24,  1896.  (Van 
Devanter  Papers)  Francis  E.  Warren  to  WVD,  May  2,  1896.  (Warren 
Papers) 

164.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  William  McKinley,  January  21,  1897,  (United 
States  Department  of  Justice,  Appointment  Papers — Willis  Van  Devanter, 
MSS  in  the  National  Archives,  Washington,  D.  C.) 


WILLIS  VAN  DEVANTER:  WYOMING  LEADER  205 

Mondell.^^''  Another  letter  bore  the  signatures  of  "all  the  Senators 
and  members  of  Congress  from  Wyoming,  Colorado,  Utah,  and 
Idaho  who  were  true  to  the  Republican  Party  during  the  last  cam- 
paign."^^^  Wyoming  Republican  officials  from  Governor  W.  A. 
Richards  to  the  state  and  federal  judges  also  added  their  names  to 
the  requests. ^^" 

For  several  months,  however,  chances  seemed  slim  that  Van 
Devanter  could  be  appointed.  The  rumor  cropped  up  that  as 
attorney  for  the  Union  Pacific,  Van  Devanter  had  been  engaged  in 
corrupt  activities.  Warren  sought  to  reassure  the  new  Attorney 
General  Joseph  McKenna  and  other  important  government  offi- 
cials that  there  was  no  truth  in  the  rumor.  When  nothing  had  been 
done  by  the  time  of  McKinley's  inauguration,  Warren  confessed  to 
be  "sweating  blood  and  foaming  .  .  .  inside"  at  the  thought  of  being 
blocked  now  so  close  to  his  objective. ^*^^  At  seemingly  the  last 
minute,  however,  everything  turned  out  satisfactorily.  On  March 
12,  McKenna  and  the  new  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Cornelius 
Bliss,  told  Warren  to  have  Van  Devanter  come  to  Washington  on 
the  "first  train  if  possible,"  for  an  interview. ^"^^  Two  days  after- 
ward. Van  Devanter  received  notification  of  his  nomination  to  the 
important  post  of  Assistant  Attorney  General  assigned  to  the 
Department  of  the  Interior,  a  position  which  gave  him,  indirectly, 
legal  authority  over  the  public  lands  of  the  nation. ^^^  On  March 
18,  the  United  States  Senate  ratified  the  nomination,  and  Van 
Devanter  quickly  wound  up  his  business  ties  in  Wyoming  and  pre- 
pared to  start  on  a  government  career  that  was  to  last  for  the  next 
forty-four  years. 

In  leaving  Wyoming,  Van  Devanter's  connection  with  the  state 
and  its  leaders  was  not  severed.  From  1897-1900,  he  remained 
Wyoming's  Republican  Committeeman  and  he  was  responsible  for 
obtaining  many  important  appointments  to  national  positions  for 


165.  Clarence  D.  Clark  and  Frank  Mondell  to  William  McKinley,  Jan- 
uary 28,  1897  (United  States  Department  of  Justice,  Appointment  Papers — 
Willis  Van  Devanter,  MSS  in  the  National  Archives). 

166.  There  were  only  six  in  all:  Warren,  Clark,  Mondell,  Edward  O. 
Wolcott,  Arthur  Brown,  and  George  L.  Sharp. 

167.  Ibid.  Among  the  men  who  gave  Van  Devanter  their  backing  were 
Richards;  B.  F.  Fowler,  the  attorney  general;  Amos  Barber,  the  ex-governor; 
A.  B.  Conaway,  chief  justice  of  the  state  supreme  court;  C.  N.  Potter,  Van 
Devanter's  old  partner  and  an  assistant  justice  on  the  court;  and  John  Riner, 
United  States  District  Judge  for  Wyoming. 

168.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  WVD,  March  11,  1897.     (Warren  Papers) 

169.  Francis  E.  Warren  to  WVD,  March  12,  1897.     (Warren  Papers) 

170.  Van  Devanter  had  been  hopeful  of  being  named  first  Assistant 
Attorney  General  in  the  Department  of  Justice,  where  he  would  have  had 
the  opportunity  to  argue  cases  regularly  in  the  courts,  but  if  he  was  greatly 
disappointed  by  the  appointment  he  received,  his  letters  fail  to  show  it. 


206  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Wyoming  residents. ^^^  As  he  climbed  up  the  ladder  of  preferment, 
first  as  Assistant  Attorney  General  ( 1897-1903),  then  as  Judge  of 
the  Eighth  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  (1903-1910),  and  finally  as 
Associate  Justice  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  (1910- 
1937),  Van  Devanter  represented  the  state  of  Wyoming  well. 

Today,  nearly  twenty-five  years  since  his  death  in  1941,  and 
nearly  seventy  years  since  his  important  role  in  Wyoming  affairs 
ended.  Van  Devanter  has  been  generally  forgotten  by  residents  of 
the  state.    He  deserves  something  better. 


171.  Among  the  more  important  Wyoming  appointees  to  federal  jobs 
were:  Hugo  Donzelmann,  Van  Devanter's  old  law  partner,  who  was 
named  American  council  to  Bohemia;  W.  A.  Richards,  who  received  the 
post  of  Assistant  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office  in  1899;  H.  V. 
S.  Groesbeck,  Van  Devanter's  successor  as  chief  justice,  who,  though  now 
almost  completely  deaf,  became  an  assistant  in  Van  Devanter's  office;  F.  W. 
Mondell,  who  served  from  1897  to  1899  as  Assistant  Commissioner  of  the 
General  Land  Office;  and  Estelle  Reel,  one  of  Wyoming's  leading  Republi- 
can women,  who,  in  1898  was  appointed  the  first  woman  Superintendent  of 
Indian  Schools  for  the  United  States. 


Zhe  Self-made  Mdn  in  Wyommg 


The  career  of  DeForest  Richards,  Wyoming's  fourth  governor 
(1899-1903),  contains  no  element  not  duplicated  in  the  lives  of 
many  other  nineteenth  and  early  twentieth  century  Americans  who 
migrated  from  their  native  east  to  become  successful  in  business, 
the  professions,  and  politics.  Growing  with  the  west,  these  men 
often  saw  in  their  own  rise  to  prosperity  and  influence  the  triumph 
of  virtue  and  hard  work  over  the  adversities  of  a  new  and  un- 
tamed country.  Their  sagas  appeared  to  them  to  be  in  the  best 
tradition  of  the  self-made  man  in  America.  It  was  further  char- 
acteristic of  this  self-made  man  that  he  readily  identified  the 
sources  of  his  obvious  success  within  himself  and  said  so.^ 

Richards  was  born  of  Puritan  and  Huguenot  ancestry  in  Charles- 
town,  New  Hampshire,  on  August  6,  1846.^  After  graduation 
from  Kimball  Union  Academy  at  Meriden  and  a  year  at  Phillips 
Andover,  he  accompanied  his  family  at  the  end  of  the  Civil  War 
to  Alabama.    While  his  father,  a  Congregational  minister,  assumed 


1.  Irvin  G.  Wyllie,  The  Self-Made  Man  in  America:  The  Myth  of  Rags 
to  Riches  (New  Brunswick.  N.  J.,  1954),  passim,  for  example  21,  29-30,  38, 
40,  45,  83-84,  and  chapter  VII. 

2.  Harry  B.  Henderson,  Sr.,  "Governors  of  the  State  of  Wyoming:  III, 
DeForest  Richards,"  Annals  of  Wyoming,  12:121-23  (April  1940),  and 
Who  Was  Who  in  America,  I,  1897-1942  (Chicago,  1942),  1028. 


208  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

the  presidency  of  Alabama  State  University,''  young  Richards  fol- 
lowed a  political  career  suggesting  Carpetbag  tendencies  during  the 
Reconstruction  era.  His  first  essay  in  business  led  only  to  debts 
which  he  managed  to  pay  off  by  subsequent  success  in  merchandis- 
ing in  Camden.  In  1885  he  removed  to  Chadron  in  northwest 
Nebraska,  and  very  shortly  he  crossed  over  into  Wyoming,  ex- 
tending his  merchandising  and  banking  interests  first  to  Douglas 
and  then  to  Casper.  His  fortune  and  his  reputation  developed 
spectacularly  when,  following  the  heavy  cattle  losses  from  the 
storms  of  1886-87,  he  brought  sheep  into  the  Platte  River  district, 
trailing  them  from  Oregon  and  selling  to  the  ranchers  of  Converse 
County. 

Support  from  livestock  and  other  business  interests  facilitated 
his  Wyoming  political  career,  which  began  with  membership  in  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  1 890,  included  service  as  state 
senator  and  mayor  of  Douglas,  and  was  climaxed  by  election  to 
the  governorship  in  1898  as  a  Republican.  Reelected  in  1902,  he 
died  on  April  28,  1903,  not  long  after  entering  on  his  second  four- 
year  term.  He  had  been  seriously  ill  for  only  two  weeks  with  a 
kidney  disease,  but  had  actually  been  in  poor  health  for  some  time 
from  a  heart  condition.^ 

Richards'  biographer  describes  him  as  less  a  politician  than  a 
safe  and  conservative  businessman,  as  reflected  in  his  state  papers. 
As  a  banker  it  was  said  that  he  believed  in  a  borrower's  honesty 
and  ability,  and  lent  him  money  with  sincere  trust  and  the  faith 
that  he  was  assisting  him  to  achieve  prosperity."' 

The  intimate  letter  that  follows — apparently  written  to  a  young- 
er cousin  of  childhood  acquaintance  soon  after  his  inauguration  as 
governor — confirms  both  the  broad  outline  of  his  career  and  his 
observed  characteristics."  It  glows  with  a  simple  and  open  pride  in 
personal  achievement  and  family,  then  so  usual  but  now  often  con- 
strued as  naive.  It  views  life  as  a  struggle  of  good  against  evil, 
wherein  sound  money  conquers  false  heresies,  ample  fortune  re- 
wards the  diligent,  and  an  office  seeker  triumphs  without  deals. 
But  in  halting  his  westward  movement  in  frontier  Wyoming — 
population  62,555  at  statehood  in  1890,  only  92,531  ten  years 
later  while  he  was  governor — Richards  had  chosen  wisely,  for 
there  the  kind  of  society  he  pictured  himself  as  inhabiting  could, 
indeed,  appear  to  him  a  reality. 


3.  Walter  L.  Fleming.  Civil  War  and  Reconstruction  in  Alabama  (N.Y., 
1905).  613-14,  suggests  that  Richards'  father  profited  handsomely  as  a 
Carpetbagger. 

4.  Obituaries  in  Wyoming  State  Tribune  and  New  York  Times,  April  29, 
1903. 

5.  Henderson,  loc.  cit.,  122. 

6.  Letter  in  possession  of  this  writer. 


THE  SELF-MADE  MAN  IN  WYOMING  209 

Mrs.  Harriet  C.  Budd 
101  E.  69th  St, 

New  York  City  Cheyenne,  Wyo. 

Jan.  27th  1899. 

My  dear  Hattie : 

I  was  very  much  delighted  to  get  your  letter  of  the  20th  forward- 
ed to  me  from  Douglas,  and  to  know  that  you  feh  some  pride  over 
the  high  honor  bestowed  upon  me  by  my  fellow  citizens.  Some 
honors  of  this  kind  are  of  questionable  value,  but  coming  as  mine 
have  after  a  bold  and  hard  fight  for  honest  money,  and  in  a  section 
so  tinctured  by  false  heresies  that  it  seemed  a  forlorn  hope,  I  feel 
that  I  have  a  right  to  experience  a  little  pride  myself  at  the  outcome, 
and  I  would  be  more  than  glad  if  the  sainted  and  noble  spirits  of 
our  ancestors  could  look  down  with  approval  upon  me,  for  I  love 
and  adore  their  memories.  Very  many  of  my  old  friends  who  had 
lost  all  track  of  me  are  writing  me  from  very  widely  scattered 
sections  congratulating  me  over  my  preferment. 

I  feel  gratified  for  my  good  fortune,  for  I  have  certainly  been 
favored  with  strength  and  health,  and  with  as  fine  a  speciment  of 
womanhood  and  manhood  as  I  have  in  my  two  children,  with 
ample  fortune  which  I  have  earned  every  cent  of,  and  now  this 
honor — what  more  can  a  man  ask  for. 

Hattie  I  never  write  such  letters  as  this,  but  as  I  write,  my  mind 
has  gone  back  to  the  days  when  I  used  to  fight  for  my  little  cousin, 
and  I  felt  like  telling  you  something  of  myself  as  I  thought  you 
would  perhaps  like  to  hear  it. 

I  am  busy  with  the  burdens  of  many,  many  appointments,  and  a 
legislature  in  session,  but  I  am  untrammeled  by  any  promises  or 
pledges,  and  so  the  prospect  is  not  so  serious  as  it  otherwise  might 
be.  I  wish  you  would  write  me  how  Kenneth  is  getting  on.  Robert 
Bartlett  is  now  here  doing  some  R.R.  work  which  we  hope  may 
make  him  a  strong  man. 

Much  love  to  all, 

Affy, 

De  F.  Richards 


Ccst  We  J  or  get 

By 

Timothy  J.  Mahoney 


Flow  bravely,  bright  River, 
As  in  days  when  you  flowed 
Past  the  Platte  Bridge  log  fort, 
On  the  Old  Mormon  Road; 
Where  emigrants,  faring 
In  quest  of  a  dream, 
Often  rested  at  night 
By  your  soft-singing  stream. 

Flow  bravely,  bright  River, 
Past  mountain  and  glen 
Hard  won  through  the  struggles 
And  faith  of  strong  men. 
Who  staked  fate  and  fortune 
On  wagons  and  teams — 
And  builded  an  empire 
From  out  of  their  dreams. 

Flow  proudly,  bright  River, 
Past  this  noble  site 
Where  once,  long  ago. 
In  an  Indian  fight 
Caspar  Collins  died  nobly 
Defending  a  friend — 
And  hallowed,  forever. 
This  proud  river  bend! 

Flow  gently,  kind  River, 
Nearby  lie  the  graves 
Of  volunteer  soldiers 
And  Indian  braves — 
They  fell,  here,  defending 
The  things  each  loved  best! 
Let  them  rest  here,  in  peace — 
In  the  heart  of  the  West! 


Wyoming  >  Earliest  Place  J^ antes? 

By 

Wilson  O.  Clough 

Any  study  of  Wyoming  place  names  must  begin  with  the  re- 
minder that  there  was  no  territorial  Wyoming  until  after  the  Civil 
War  (1868),  and  that  this  region  was  until  after  1800  part  of  a 
vast  inland  mountain  area  still  unexplored.  Indeed,  it  was  the  last 
major  region  of  central  North  America  to  be  penetrated  by  the 
white  man.  Hence  names  now  familiar  to  Wyoming  begin  farther 
east,  like  Missouri  or  Platte  or  Wyoming  itself,  and  creep  westward 
with  the  first  explorers,  so  that  specific  dating  is  difficult.  I  do  not 
intend  here  to  repeat  previous  studies,  such  as  Mr.  Dee  Linford's 
"Wyoming  Stream  Names,"  in  Wyoming  Wild  Life  for  1942-43, 
reprinted  in  Annals  of  Wyoming,  1943-44.  What  interests  me  for 
the  moment  is  the  data  supplied  by  the  first  two  volumes  of  the 
magnificent  five-volume  project  of  Carl  I.  Wheat,  a  collection  of 
trans-Mississippi  maps  from  the  beginning  down  to  1861.^ 

The  earliest  names  for  this  region  are,  therefore,  likely  to  be  lost 
in  history.  This  is  true  not  only  for  Indian  names,  perhaps  applied 
to  stream  or  mountain  long  before  the  white  man,  but  also  for 
French  and  English  names  which  may  or  may  not  have  been  trans- 
lated from  Indian  terms  already  in  use.  Again,  some  western  place 
names  must  have  been  in  oral  use  among  traders  or  trappers  long 
before  they  found  a  place  on  some  map;  or  they  may  have  moved 
westward,  as  a  Lac  de  Sioux  is  found  on  a  French  map  of  1701  on 
the  upper  Mississippi,  or  as  Big  Bellies  (Gros  Ventres)  Indians 
may  be  mentioned  long  before  the  name  appears  in  western  Wyo- 
ming. 

Take,  for  example,  the  word  Missouri,  found  on  Wyoming's 
Little  Missouri.  Perhaps  the  first  printed  appearance  of  Missouri 
is  on  a  French  map  of  1688  (FranqueUn),  shortly  after  La  Salle's 
exploration  of  the  Mississippi.  On  that  map  a  western  affluent  is 
vaguely  shown  entering  the  Mississippi  with  the  words  "La  Grande 
Riviere  des  Missourits  ou  Emmissourittes."  But  a  century  would 
pass  before  the  great  reach  of  the  Missouri  would  be  recognized, 
and  more  before  the  Little  Missouri  could  even  be  noted.     Shall 


1.  Carl  I.  Wheat.  Mapping  the  TransMississippi  West,  1541-1861  San 
Francisco.  The  Institute  of  Historical  Cartography,  1957 — .  5  Vols.  Maps 
reproduced  are  listed  at  the  front  of  each  volume,  and  are  not  further  foot- 
noted here.  Unless  otherwise  indicated,  authority  for  statements  about  them 
is  also  from  the  text  of  Professor  Wheat. 


212  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

we  date  this  place  name,  then,  as  1688,  or  as  1736,  when  Veren- 
dreyes  reached  the  Mandan  villages,  or  1785,  when  Peter  Pond's 
map  reads  "'Hereabouts  the  Missouri  takes  its  source  out  of  the 
mountains;"  or  shall  we  take  Antillon's  Spanish  map  of  1802  which 
shows  a  brief  stream  blank  at  either  end,  labelled  "Rio  Missouri, 
descubierte  in  1790  por  Mr.  Makai,"  even  though  Mackay  was 
there  in  1787?  Or  shall  we  say  more  accurately  that  Little  Mis- 
souri does  not  appear  in  the  now  Wyoming  area  until  Lewis  and 
Clark?  At  any  rate,  Wyoming's  Little  Missouri  is  one  of  the  oldest 
place  names  of  this  region.  The  same  might  be  said  next  of  the 
Platte,  which  appears  on  maps  farther  east  long  before  anything  is 
known  of  its  source  or  of  its  two  major  branches. 

A  study  of  the  early  maps  reproduced  in  Wheat  emphasizes  the 
long  ignorance  of  this  immense  Rocky  Mountain  watershed  com- 
plex. Remember,  for  example,  that  the  Spanish  were  in  Mexico 
city  by  1521,  and  had  penetrated  to  the  upper  Rio  Grande  by 
1581;  and  that  the  French  had  reached  the  upper  Mississippi 
region  by  the  1670's.  Yet,  as  far  as  Wyoming  is  concerned,  maps 
are  masterpieces  of  guesswork  and  confusion  even  after  the  Lewis 
and  Clark  expedition  of  1 804-06. 

One  of  the  earliest  maps  of  North  America,  Gestaldi's  of  1546, 
shows  a  vague  Atlantic  coast  line,  a  river  somewhat  resembling  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  the  legend,  "Tierra  de  los  Bretones,"  i.e.,  the 
Breton  fishermen  of  France.  Farther  south  is  La  Florida,  and 
above  Mexico  city  is  Nova  Hispania.  There  is  no  Rio  Grande,  no 
information  on  interior  North  America,  and  the  continent  is  vague- 
ly joined  to  Asia  in  the  far  northwest.     Such  were  the  beginnings. 

While  the  Atlantic  coast  is  more  accurately  mapped  after  1600, 
and  old  Mexico  and  central  America  take  form,  the  interior  re- 
mains long  a  mystery.  Though  the  name  California  may  go  as  far 
back  as  1540,  and  Hakluyt's  map  of  1587  takes  advantage  of 
Drake's  daring  voyage  of  1580  to  label  north  of  California  as 
"Nova  Albion,  inventa  ab  Anglice,"  nevertheless  California  con- 
tinued to  be  shown  on  many  maps,  even  as  late  as  1660,  as  an 
island,  extending  from  the  bay  of  San  Francisco  to  the  Gulf  of 
California.  The  Spanish  Onate  remained  in  Santa  Fe  from  1598  to 
1608,  and  explored  eastward  to  the  Pecos  and  the  Arkansas,  and  in 
1604  to  the  lower  Colorado  river,  not  yet  named.  Yet  maps  for 
years  showed  the  Rio  Grande  as  emptying  into  the  Gulf  of  Cali- 
fornia. Not  until  the  1685  map  of  Penelosa  is  the  Rio  Grande 
shown  as  flowing  south  to  El  Paso,  and  as  being  the  same  as  the 
Rio  Bravo,  emptying  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  And  though  Santa 
Fe,  Isleta,  Zuni  and  Acoma  appear  on  his  map,  adjacent  spaces  are 
labelled  merely  Apaches.  By  1690  Father  Kino  had  shown  that 
California  was  not  an  island,  and  had  put  at  least  the  mouth  of  the 
Rio  Colorado  on  the  map.  Yet  we  may  truthfully  say  that  as  late 
as  the  American  Declaration  of  Independence,  1776,  the  Spanish 
had  done  little  to  extend  their  knowledge  on  maps  much  north  of 


WYOMING'S  EARLIEST  PLACE  NAMES?  213 

Taos.  By  virtue  of  their  possession  of  Louisiana  later,  they  devel- 
oped some  interest  in  the  rivers  from  the  west  into  the  Mississippi; 
and  a  map  of  1757  (Venegas)  indicates  the  Mandan  villages  on 
the  Missouri  and  the  mouth  of  the  Platte;  but  from  there  to  San 
Francisco  is  mostly  a  blank. 

What  of  the  French?  Cartier  penetrated  the  St.  Lawrence  as  far 
as  Quebec  in  1534,  yet  the  Great  Lakes  were  not  known  much 
before  1630,  and  then  left  open  on  maps  to  the  west.  Joliet  and 
Marquette  touched  the  upper  Mississippi  in  the  1670's,  and  La 
Salle's  explorations  came  in  the  next  decade.  Even  so,  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi  is  often  shown  almost  as  far  west  as  the  Pecos; 
and  the  intervening  territory  to  the  Pacific  is  cramped  on  their 
maps  to  one  third  of  its  actual  width. 

French  curiosity  about  the  far  west  increases  after  1 720,  first  in 
seeking  a  land  route  from  Louisiana  to  Santa  Fe,  then  by  trying 
the  same  from  the  Missouri  river.  Thus  in  1714,  Etienne  de 
Bourgmond  went  up  the  Missouri  by  boat  to  the  Platte,  apparently 
not  yet  so  named;  and  in  1739  the  Mallet  brothers  went  from  the 
Platte  south  to  the  Arkansas  through  what  is  now  Kansas  and 
southeast  Colorado,  and  so  to  Santa  Fe.  Neither  of  these  voyages 
saw  the  mountains  to  the  west. 

Wyoming  history  has  long  looked  to  Verendreyes  as  a  pioneer 
in  this  region.  His  first  route  (1731)  was  via  Lake  Superior  to 
Lake  Winnepeg.  Later  (1736)  he  visited  the  Mandan  villages  on 
the  Missouri;  and  from  there  his  sons  explored  farther  westward, 
how  far  we  do  not  know.^  They  may  have  seen  the  Black  Hills. 
Some  think  they  viewed  the  "Shining  Mountains,"  a  name  perhaps 
applied  to  the  Big  Horns.  If  so,  their  route  would  have  been  up 
tributaries  of  the  Missouri  or  the  Yellowstone. 

Thus  we  come  to  the  mid-eighteenth  century;  yet  as  far  as  the 
vast  mountain  region  is  concerned,  the  story  north  of  Taos  is  best 
expressed  by  the  words  on  the  Venegas  map  of  1757:  "Ignoro, 
Nescio,  Yo  no  le  se,"  in  short,  "I  do  not  know." 

Yet  the  Spanish  took  one  important  step,  after  a  century  and  a 
half  of  almost  static  rule  in  New  Mexico;  namely,  the  Escalante 
expedition  of  1776,  accompanied  by  a  cartographer,  Pachecho,  in 
search  of  a  route  from  Santa  Fe  to  Monterey  on  the  Pacific.  This 
expedition  touched  near  modern  Durango  and  Grand  Junction  in 
southwest  Colorado,  and  went  through  the  modern  Wasatch  moun- 
tains to  the  present  Sevier  and  Green  rivers,  and  Utah  Lake.  They 
apparently  heard  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  but  did  not  see  it.  The 
Green  they  named  the  Buenaventura,  a  name  long  a  puzzle  to  map 
makers,  who  had  it  rising  east  of  the  Rockies,  or  flowing  directly 


2.  See  the  Verendreyes  story  in  Annals  of  Wyoming,  Vol.  17,  No.  2  (July 
1945),  106-147. 


214  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

west  into  San  Francisco  Bay  or  into  the  Columbia.  Escalante 
turned  back  from  the  Grand  Canyon  region,  northeast,  and  then 
southeast  back  to  Taos.  He  recognized  the  watershed  character 
of  the  Rockies,  and  something  of  their  width. 

In  1779,  Governor  Anza  of  New  Mexico  fought  the  Comanches 
to  the  northeast,  and  mapped  the  upper  Arkansas  (still  confused 
with  the  Red  river),  named  the  San  Luis  valley,  and  saw  South 
Park,  returning  from  north  of  the  Arkansas  probably  by  La  Veta 
Pass.  Though  Spanish  traders  may  have  penetrated  farther  north, 
this  appears  to  be  about  the  extent  of  Spanish  mapping  by  1800. 

The  British,  as  we  know,  came  later,  moving  westward  with  the 
expansion  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  Yet  a  1755  map 
(Mitcheirs)  shows  "Head  of  the  Mississippi  not  known,"  and  the 
Missouri  as  "reckoned  to  run  westward  to  the  Mountains  of  New 
Mexico,  as  far  as  the  Ohio  does  eastward;"  and  another  map  of 
1 763  shows  west  of  the  Mississippi  as  merely  "Great  Space  of  Land 
Unknown."  However,  Hearne  explored  the  Great  Slave  Lake  by 
1771;  and  in  1785  a  Yankee  employee  of  the  Company,  Peter 
Pond,  brought  the  U.S.  government  a  map  showing  the  Great  Slave 
Lake  as  emptying  much  too  easily  into  the  Pacific  to  the  west. 
Both  British  and  American  ships  were  touching  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  by  1792,  another  incentive  for  a  land  route  across  the 
continent;  and  other  Britishers  touched  the  upper  Missouri  in  the 
1790's. 

We  can  see,  then,  from  this  backward  glance  what  a  problem 
confronted  Jefferson  in  his  long-cherished  wish  to  see  the  continent 
crossed,  and  to  furnish  Lewis  and  Clark  with  all  possible  informa- 
tion. The  Louisiana  purchase  of  1803  served  as  a  tremendous 
stimulus  to  westward  exploration;  and  President  Jefferson  wel- 
comed every  scrap  of  information.  He  had,  however,  very  little 
more  than  the  above.  Mackenzie's  exploit  of  crossing  via  the 
Canadian  Rockies  in  1793  had  not  touched  on  the  Missouri; 
MacKay  and  Evans  had  mapped  portions  of  the  upper  Missouri 
in  the  1790's  -  these  maps  Jefferson  had  in  1804;  and  another 
map,  author  unknown,  of  1797,  also  available  to  Lewis  and  Clark, 
showed  the  Rio  Missouri,  a  brief  stretch  of  the  Rio  Platte,  and 
above  the  Mandans  the  R.  des  Roches  Jaunes  (Yellow  Stones). 
Also  the  Missouri,  though  it  is  shown  as  rising  too  far  south,  pro- 
gressed northward  to  a  bend  and  a  "chute"  or  falls.  But  there  is 
nothing  westward  to  the  Pacific,  and  the  intervening  space  is  much 
too  narrowed.  Another  map  of  1796  (Collet)  gave  a  southwest 
branch  to  the  Platte,  rising  too  near  Santa  Fe,  with  both  north  and 
south  branches  coming  vaguely  from  a  very  thin  line  marked 
mountains.  Collet  also  showed  a  large  branch  of  the  Missouri  as 
coming  from  the  south,  labelled  "Rock  or  Crow  River,"  probably 
intended  for  the  Yellowstone.  To  the  west  a  label  reads,  "Stony 
Mountains,  according  to  Mackenzie,  or  Yellow  Mountains  accord- 
ing to  the  Indians  dwelling  on  the  Missouri,  and  supposedly  a  con- 


WYOMING'S  EARLIEST  PLACE  NAMES?  215 

tinuation  of  the  Cordilleras."  And  one  other  item:  Governor 
Wilkinson  of  the  Louisiana  Territory  in  1 805  forwarded  to  Jeffer- 
son a  savage's  map  on  a  buffalo  pelt  showing  "a  volcano  .  .  . 
on  the  Yellowstone  River  and  a  flinty  substance  which  cuts  iron, 
on  a  branch  of  the  Missouri;"  perhaps  the  first  hint  of  the  Yellow- 
stone park  area.'^  But  of  Wyoming  proper,  almost  nothing  was 
known. 

The  fact  is  that  Lewis  and  Clark  were  truly  explorers  of  a  high 
order,  not  only  proceeding  into  the  almost  unknown,  but  exercising 
extraordinary  judgment  as  to  the  Indians,  who  might  easily  have 
wiped  out  the  expedition  more  than  once  without  a  trace  of  their 
documents  for  the  future  historian.  Again,  as  far  as  modern 
Wyoming  is  concerned,  we  may  assert  that  up  to  about  1805  there 
were  almost  no  place  names  appropriate  to  its  history,  aside  from 
the  still  remote  Missouri  and  Platte,  and  hearsay  on  the  Yellow- 
stone, the  Black  Hills,  the  Big  Horn  mountains,  and  the  Cheyenne 
river. 

II 

The  Lewis  and  Clark  story  is  well  known  and  well  documented. 
Our  interest  here  is  simply  what  additions  they  may  have  made  to 
names  familiar  within  Wyoming  geography,  though  they  did  not 
touch  Wyoming  proper.  From  St.  Louis  to  the  Mandan  villages, 
the  party  could  proceed  on  previous  information.  Beyond  that  was 
chiefly  speculation  and  original  discovery.  The  explorers  must 
have  underestimated  the  distance  to  the  Pacific,  as  every  map  to 
date  had  done.  That  some  French  traders  had  penetrated  beyond 
the  Mandan  villages  seems  certain,  and  is  verified  by  a  few  entries 
in  the  Lewis  and  Clark  Journals.  Indeed,  some  French  appear  to 
have  been  living  with  the  Mandans;  and,  in  an  early  entry,  on 
reaching  the  mouth  of  the  Platte  on  July  21,  1804,  Clark  records:^ 
"I  am  told  by  one  of  our  party  who  wintered  two  winters  on  this 
river  that  it  is  much  wider  above."  On  October  1,  1804,  the  party 
"passed  the  river  Chien,"  and  a  Mr.  Jon  Vallie  "informs  us  that  he 
wintered  last  winter  300  leagues  up  the  Chien  river  under  the  Black 
mountains  ...  100  leagues  up  it  forks.  One  fork  comes  from  the 
S.,  the  other  at  40  leagues  above  the  fork  enters  the  Black  moun- 
tains .  .  .  The  Black  mountains  he  says  is  very  high  and  some  parts 
of  it  has  snow  on  it  in  the  summer."  (Journals,  I,  176)  Mr.  Vallie 
told  also  of  animals  "with  large  circular  horns."  The  reference 
would  seem  to  be  to  the  Black  Hills  of  South  Dakota.    Further,  we 


3.  Wheat,  op.  cit.,  II,  33-34. 

4.  Original  Journals  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  Expedition,  1805-1806. 
Edited  by  Reuben  Gold  Thwaites.  New  York:  Antiquarian  Press,  1959, 
8  Vols.,  I,  87. 


216  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

have  no  way  of  knowing  whether  the  Frenchman  spoke  from  per- 
sonal knowledge,  or  from  such  evidence  as  Indians  often  gave  by 
means  of  crude  maps  in  the  sand  or  on  pelts. 

The  expedition  spent  the  winter  in  the  Mandan  villages,  and 
Lewis  prepared  a  summary  of  information  to  date.  In  this  he 
mentions  a  stream  "usually  called  the  Paducah's  fork;  it  heads  with 
the  Big  Horn  river  branch  of  the  Yellowstone  in  some  broken 
ranges  of  the  Rocky  mountains,"  and,  he  adds,  passes  through  the 
Black  Hills  "to  join  the  Platte."'  (Journals,  VI,  40-41).  Here  we 
have  not  only  one  of  the  earliest  mentions  of  the  Big  Horn,  but  also 
a  stream  which  would  seem  to  refer  to  the  Sweetwater  and  the 
upper  Platte,  indicating  again  earlier  penetration  into  these  areas. 
On  some  early  maps,  the  Paducah  is  put  on  the  Platte. 

On  April  12,  1805,  we  are  told  by  Lewis  that  "The  little  Mis- 
souri .  .  .  takes  it  rise  in  a  broken  country  West  of  the  Black  hills 
with  the  waters  of  the  Yellowstone  river,  and  at  a  considerable 
distance  S.W.  of  the  point  at  which  it  passes  the  Black  hills." 
(Journals,  I,  298).  The  information  is  not  too  precise.  On  April 
26,  1805,  the  Yellowstone  is  reached,  and  Lewis  records:  "The 
Indians  inform  us  that  the  Yellowstone  is  navigable  for  perogues 
and  canoes  nearly  to  its  source  in  the  Rocky  mountains  ...  Its 
extreme  sources  are  adjacent  to  those  of  the  Missouri,  river  Platte, 
and  I  think  probably  with  some  of  the  south  source  of  the  Colum- 
bia river  .  .  .  This  river  in  its  course  receives  the  waters  of  many 
large  tributary  streams  principally  from  the  S.E.  of  which  the  most 
considerable  are  the  Tongue  and  Big  Horn  rivers.  The  former  is 
much  the  largest,  and  heads  with  the  river  Platte  and  Big  Horn 
river,  as  does  the  latter  with  the  Tongue  and  the  river  Platte." 
(Journals,  I,  337,  340).  It  is  such  indefinite  information  as  this 
which  accounts  for  later  maps  placing  the  headwaters  of  the  Mis- 
souri, the  Platte,  and  the  Rio  Grande  within  a  very  few  miles  of 
each  other. 

Eventually  Lewis  and  Clark  reached  the  Three  Forks,  here 
abandoning  the  name  Missouri  and  giving  the  names  from  West  to 
East  of  Jefferson,  Madison  and  Gallatin  rivers.  Lewis  on  July  27, 
1805,  climbed  a  cliff  from  which  he  could  view  all  three  streams, 
see  the  distant  snow-clad  peaks  to  the  southeast,  and  speculate  on 
the  next  move.  (Journals,  II,  267).  Ascending  the  Beaverhead 
fork,  and  with  the  help  of  the  Shoshone,  they  managed  to  reach  a 
stream  that  led  to  the  Columbia. 

On  their  return,  Clark,  with  a  party  of  twenty,  returned  to  the 
Three  Forks  and  went  up  the  Gallatin  and  across  to  the  Yellow- 
stone by  way  of  the  present  pass  from  Bozeman  to  Livingston, 
Montana,  chosen  on  recommendation  of  the  Indian  woman,  Saca- 
jawea.  Clark's  was  thus  the  first  exploration  of  the  Yellowstone 
from  this  point  to  the  Missouri,  where  he  rejoined  the  others  of  the 
expedition.  Clark's  Fork,  which  he  at  first  mistook  for  the  Big 
Horn,  was  named  on  July  24,    1 806.     Camping  that  night  just 


WYOMING'S  EARLIEST  PLACE  NAMES?  217 

below  Pryor's  stream,  named  from  a  Sergeant  Pryor  in  the  party, 
they  reached  the  Big  Horn  on  the  26th  of  July.  Of  this  river  Clark 
writes:  "I  am  informed  by  the  Indians  and  others  that  this  river 
takes  its  rise  in  the  Rocky  mountains  with  the  heads  of  the  river 
Platte  and  at  no  great  distance  from  the  Rochejaune  and  passes 
between  the  Cote  Noir  [Clark  writes  Coat  Nor]  or  Black  Moun- 
tains and  the  most  easterly  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains." 
(Journals,  V,  297).  On  July  29,  Clark  mentions  the  "Lazeka  or 
Tongue  river,"  and  later  the  Redstone,  called  Powder  river  on 
Lewis'  map  of  1806. 

So  far  no  one  has  touched  on  what  is  now  Wyoming  territory, 
aside  from  possible  adventurers  implied  above.  Thus  we  may  say 
that  so  late  as  1806  or  1807,  no  one  has  mapped  an  inch  of  actual 
Wyoming  territory,  though  reports  indicate  scattered  visitors,  or  at 
least,  some  knowledge  of  its  rivers  and  mountains.  Up  to  this 
point,  that  is,  a  few  geographic  names  point  to  Wyoming,  such  as 
the  Platte  (named  before  1740),  the  Black  Hills  (possibly  from 
Verendreyes'  time),  the  Yellowstone  (known  by  its  French  name 
by  the  1790's),  the  Little  Missouri  and  the  Cheyenne  rivers  and 
the  Big  Horn,  mentioned  by  1805.  We  may  also  add  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  loosely  referred  to  as  the  Stony  and  Rocky  at  various 
times  from  Verendreyes  on,  and  perhaps  at  first  signifying  the 
Black  Hills  or  the  Big  Horn  range.  By  1806,  Clark's  Fork  is 
named,  and  slightly  later  the  Big  Horn,  Tongue  and  Powder  rivers 
identified.  For  any  actual  mapping  of  Wyoming  territory  we  must 
wait  until  1807.  Our  first  true  on-the-spot  place  nances  date  from 
1807. 

Colter  and  Drouillard  returned  in  1807  from  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  expedition  to  join  with  Manuel  Lisa  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big 
Horn  on  the  Yellowstone.  Colter's  much-disputed  soUtary  expe- 
dition into  the  Yellowstone  Park  region  may  have  led  him  even  to 
Jackson  Lake,  or  even  the  upper  Green  river  area,  as  well  as  to 
the  Big  Horn  river  and  the  Stinking  Water  (in  1902  officially 
made  the  Shoshone).  If  Colter  made  any  maps  they  are  lost  to  us 
today.  George  Drouillard  (usually  spelled  Drewyer  in  the  Jour- 
nals), however,  left  what,  says  Wheat,  "so  far  as  known  is  the  first 
accurate  sketch  map  of  the  Yellowstone-Big  Horn  country. "•'* 
Hence,  we  may  now  safely  assert  that  the  first  actual  Wyoming 
place  names  on  any  map  are:  Clark's  Fork,  the  Stinking  Water 
river.  Hart  [sic]  mountain,  the  Big  Horn  river,  the  Little  Big  Horn 
river,  and  the  Tongue  river,  all  dated  1807.  Of  these  the  Stinking 
Water  and  Hart  mountain  appear  for  the  first  time.  The  others 
are  first  recorded  but  a  year  or  two  earher. 

George  Drouillard,  half  Indian  and  a  sturdy  figure,  set  out  in 


5.  Wheat,  op.  cit.,  II,  52-53. 


218  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

1 807  and  1 808  to  assist  Lisa's  post  by  making  contact  with  the 
Indians  to  inform  them  of  the  opportunity  to  trade.  He  was  killed 
by  Indians  in  1810.  Colter  had  apparently  gone  up  Pryor  Creek 
over  a  gap  to  the  Big  Horn  or  Stinking  Water  and  so  to  the  Yellow- 
stone region.  Drouillard  went  first  to  Clark's  Fork,  then  to  the 
Stinking  Water  by  its  north  fork,  to  the  Big  Horn  and  Hart  moun- 
tain, and  back  by  Pryor  Creek;  and  on  his  second  trip,  via  Pryor 
Creek  to  the  Big  Horn,  then  the  Little  Big  Horn  and  the  Tongue 
rivers,  and  back  to  the  Big  Horn."  His  rude  map  he  gave  to  Clark 
in  1  808  in  St.  Louis.  On  it  he  showed  also  a  north  fork  of  the 
Platte,  a  "branch  of  the  Platte;"  no  doubt  the  Sweetwater,  which  it 
is  unlikely  that  he  had  visited.  His  map  also  implies  that  Indians 
could  and  did  trade  with  the  Spanish  settlement  by  14  days  from 
Lisa's  fort,  or  with  families  by  1  8  days  from  the  Stinking  Water, 
perhaps  via  the  Green  (not  yet  named  or  shown). 

By  the  time  the  Lewis  and  Clark  map  appeared  officially  in 
1814  (Lewis  having  died  before  that  date),  new  information  was 
already  available,  and  was  added  to  the  published  map.  For 
example,  Zebulon  Pike  left  St.  Louis  in  1 806,  went  up  the  Osage 
to  its  source,  then  to  the  Kansas  and  the  Arkansas  rivers,  following 
the  latter  up  to  where  Pueblo  now  stands,  and  so  to  the  peak  which 
bears  his  name.  He  identified  a  branch  of  the  Platte,  but  confused 
the  Canadian  and  Red  rivers,  and  thought  the  Yellowstone  rose 
behind  Pike's  peak.  His  worst  error  was  to  camp  on  the  Rio 
Grande  and  get  arrested  by  the  Spanish. 

More  important  for  the  Wyoming  area  was  the  organization  of 
the  Missouri  Fur  Company  in  1808,  and  the  influx  of  trappers 
into  the  upper  Yellowstone  and  western  Wyoming  regions.  Thus 
Wilson  Price  Hunt  named  Hoback  canyon  in  1811,  and  named  the 
present  Tetons  the  Pilot  Knobs.  Robert  Stuart  crossed  the  South 
Pass  area  in  1812,  thereby  sketching  the  future  Oregon  trail,  and 
touching  the  Sweetwater  and  the  Platte,  and  naming  the  Pathfinder 
canyon.  The  Sweetwater  was  certainly  so  named  by  Ashley  in 
1823,  if  not  before.  Ashley  also  changed  the  Spanish  river  to  the 
Green  river.  Other  early  explorers  left  their  names  on  Wyoming's 
later  map:  Henry's  Fork,  Jackson  Lake,  La  Barge,  Fort  Bridger, 
Sublette,  etc. 

A  preliminary  Lewis  and  Clark  map  of  1  809  is  able  to  indicate 
not  only  "Highest  Peak"  (Pike's),  but  also  Eustis  Lake  (later 
Yellowstone  Lake),  and  Lake  Biddle  (later  Jackson  Lake),  as 
well  as  "Manuel's  Fort  in  1807."  It  shows  the  Platte  river  as  run- 
ning straight  east,  and  the  headwaters  of  the  Platte,  Arkansas,  Big 
Horn,  Missouri  and  Yellowstone  as  all  much  too  nearly  from  the 
same  ceneral  area. 


6.   M.   O.   Skarsten.      Gcorqe   DrotiiUard    (Glendale:      Arthur   H.   Clark 
Co.,  1964). 


WYOMING'S  EARLIEST  PLACE  NAMES?  219 

The  official  map  of  1814,  "By  Order  of  the  Executive,"  shows 
the  improved  information  on  the  Missouri,  Yellowstone,  and  Big 
Horn  rivers,  and  the  Columbia  reaches  more  nearly  its  proper  size. 
Yet  the  Platte  still  runs  straight  east,  and  is  not  yet  divided  into 
north  and  south  forks,  and  there  is  too  little  space  between  the  Big 
Horn  and  the  Arkansas.  Mountains  are  vague,  and  indicated  on 
the  upper  Cheyenne  river.  Yet  Gap  Creek  is  shown  into  the  Big 
Horn  (the  route  from  Pry  or  over  to  the  Big  Horn),  and  a  Salt 
Fork  into  the  Stinking  Water,  with  a  "Boiling  Spring"  at  their 
junction.  Heart  mountain  is  placed.  The  Yellowstone  river  is 
shown  as  coming  from  Lake  Eustis  (Yellowstone  Lake),  but  the 
Big  Horn  is  erroneously  given  as  coming  from  Lake  Biddle  (Jack- 
son Lake),  below  which  close  by  is  the  head  of  the  Platte,  and  the 
Arkansas  just  south  of  that.  Even  the  Rio  del  Norte  (the  Rio 
Grande)  is  shown  rising  just  west  of  Lake  Biddle!  No  room  is  left 
for  the  Buenaventura  (the  later  Green).  In  fact,  what  is  now 
northern  Colorado,  southern  Wyoming  and  the  general  mountain 
area  is  almost  squeezed  from  the  map.  Indeed,  such  cramping  of 
the  map  prevails,  with  changes,  even  to  the  time  of  Fremont 
(1841 ).  For  many  years  maps  show  rivers  running  blindly  to  the 
west.  On  one  (Robinson's,  1819),  the  Platte  and  the  Big  Horn 
both  rise  behind  Pike's  Peak. 

Long's  exploration  of  the  front  Rockies  in  1821  added  Long's 
Peak,  and  the  identification  of  the  South  Platte  to  the  Rockies;  yet 
he  added  confusion  by  putting  the  source  of  the  Lewis  Fork  of  the 
Columbia  behind  Pike's  Peak,  probably  assuming  that  the  front 
range  was  the  continental  divide.  He  did,  however,  give  the  North 
Platte  as  rising  in  "Bull  Pen"  (North  Park),  though  he  turned  it 
eastward  too  soon. 

The  Great  Salt  Lake,  though  shown  vaguely  on  maps  from 
Escalante's  time  onward,  sometimes  as  Great  Bear  Lake,  was 
apparently  not  actually  seen  for  record  until  by  Etienne  Provost 
from  New  Mexico  and  Jim  Bridger  from  South  Pass,  both  in 
1824-25. 

The  big  day  of  the  furtrappers  was  from  1820  to  1840,  and 
information  trickled  out  to  the  map  makers,  each  copying  errors 
from  previous  maps,  but  changing  an  item  now  and  then.  Ashley 
was  accompanied  in  1822-23  by  that  strange  figure,  Jedediah 
Smith,  who  without  instruments  and  despite  difficulties,  corrected 
many  misconceptions.  He  had  wintered  in  1823  in  the  Wind 
River  country,  found  South  Pass,  and  reached  the  Green,  which  he 
called  (as  did  Capt.  Bonneville  later)  the  Seeds-ke-dee.  In  1824 
he  met  Ashley  at  Henry's  Fork,  and  later  formed  a  partnership  with 
Jackson  and  Sublette.  Smith  saw  that  the  Green  ran  into  the 
Colorado.  He  wintered  again  in  1829  on  the  Wind  River,  prob- 
ably so  named  before  this  date,  and  was  also  west  of  the  "three 
Tetons,"  as  well  as  on  the  Popo  Agie,  and  in  1830  on  the  Yellow- 
stone.    Whatever  maps  he  made  appear  now  lost,  though  others 


220  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

must  have  used  them.  Some  of  his  namings  are  still  in  use;  for 
example:  Shell  river,  Greybull,  Medicine  Lodge  river,  Nowood 
Creek,  Badwater  Creek,  Wind  River,  the  Popo  Agie;  and  Jackson 
Lake  is  so  named  by  this  time,  and  known  now  not  to  be  the  source 
of  the  Big  Horn.  Thus  we  may  add  the  above  names  as  from  about 
1822  to  1829.' 

Not  a  great  many  new  names  seem  to  appear  between  1 829  and 
1841,  the  date  of  Fremont's  expedition  into  Wyoming.  We  find  a 
French  map  of  1833  which  gives  the  "Ne-Braska  or  R.  Platte," 
and  beneath  it  in  French  "little  depth  of  water  or  water  without 
much  depth."  The  Black  Hills  are  now  clearly  distinguished,  and 
yet  the  Platte  is  still  shown  as  coming  from  west  of  the  Big  Horn. 
Arrowsmith,  greatest  of  British  mapmakers  of  the  period,  by  1834 
shows  the  "Youta  or  Great  Salt  Lake;"  and  Thrall's  map  of  1834 
appears  to  be  about  the  first  to  show  "Larimer's  Peak,"  the  spelling 
also  on  Hood's  map  of  1834. 

Thus  by  1 840  on-the-ground  knowledge  would  seem  to  be  well 
ahead  of  the  map  makers;  and  yet  the  U.S.  is  just  beginning  to  send 
out  trained  men  for  observation  and  information.  Overland  emmi- 
gration  is  starting  to  Oregon,  to  Texas  even  earlier,  and  by  the  mid- 
1840's  to  Utah  and  to  California.  By  1841,  the  Wilkes'  map, 
probably  taking  advantage  of  Fremont's  notes,  shows  the  Laramie 
plains,  the  Laramie  river,  the  Medicine  Bow  mountains,  and 
Independence  Rock.  Fremont's  expedition  of  1841  adds  a  num- 
ber of  further  names  along  the  Platte  and  elsewhere.  His  map  of 
1 846,  for  example,  and  we  shall  stop  here,  shows  Laramie  river 
and  plains.  Fort  Laramie,  streams  named  Bitter  Creek,  Horse 
Shoe  Creek,  La  Bonte,  La  Prele,  Deer  Creek,  Black  Hills  west  of 
Laramie  peak.  Medicine  Bow  Creek  running  into  the  Platte,  the 
Sweetwater  and  Sweetwater  mountains,  and  Devil's  Gate.  We  find 
also  South  Pass,  Little  Sandy,  Big  Sandy,  Green  River,  Wind  River 
chain  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  Fremont's  peak.  Black's  Fork, 
Ham's  Fork,  Muddy  Fork  and  Bear  River;  while  the  country  be- 
tween the  Green  and  the  Platte  is  labelled:  "War  ground  of  Snake 
and  Sioux  Indians." 

When  the  Mormons  met  Jim  Bridger  in  1847,  he  told  them  that 
he  could  correct  all  the  maps  of  the  western  world.  Perhaps  he 
could  have  at  that  time.  But  from  this  date  on  names  are  added 
too  fast  for  even  Jim  Bridger  to  keep  up. 

Such  are  the  earliest  names  in  the  territory  covered  by  the  name 
Wyoming. 


7.  Wheat,  op.  cit.,  II,  119-132. 


My  Cowboy  8}cperieHces 
in  the  J 890 's 

By 

G.  W.   ROSENTRETER* 

I  was  bom  in  Schoenlanke,  Germany,  January  31,  1874.  Be- 
fore coming  to  the  United  States  in  1890,  I  had  studied  Latin, 
French,  and  Greek  in  school  when  I  was  taken  ill  with  typhoid 
fever. 

I  did  not  return  to  school,  and  found  that  an  elderly  gentleman, 
Mr.  Plaga,  (A.  R.  Plaga's  grandfather)  and  his  daughter  were 
coming  to  America.  I  wanted  to  come  with  them,  and  my  parents 
agreed  and  bought  me  a  ticket  to  Laramie,  Wyoming.  It  was  a 
long  ride  on  trains  and  the  ship. 

When  we  got  over  on  the  United  States  soil,  I  looked  for  Indians 
but  was  disappointed.  Later  I  got  to  see  a  good  many  out  west 
and  had  lots  of  experiences  with  them. 

We  arrived  at  Laramie  on  June  13,  1890.  Mr.  Plaga  and  his 
daughter  stayed  there. 

From  Laramie  I  went  to  O.  R.  (Dude)  Henke's  ranch  on  North 
Sybille  Creek  and  batched  there  that  winter.  It  is  now  the  Tom 
Moore  Ranch. 

One  bright  moonlight  night  I  heard  a  coyote  howling  close  to  the 
house.  I  spotted  Mr.  Coyote  and  killed  him  and  even  skinned  him 
right  away. 


*  Mr.  Rosentreter,  now  91  years  old,  still  lives  on  the  homestead  that  he 
filed  on  in  1895.  Through  the  years  he  added  more  land  to  it  and  it  is  a 
very  modern  and  well-improved  ranch  today.  It  is  located  on  South  Sybille 
Creek  on  Highway  34,  about  28  miles  southwest  of  Wheatland. 

His  lifelong  admiration  and  liking  for  good  horses  has  never  dimmed. 
He  still  rides  horseback  and  is  happiest  when  he  is  out  on  his  horse  looking 
over  the  cattle.  He  makes  his  home  with  his  son,  Floyd,  and  daughter-in- 
law,  Helen. 

Mr.  Rosentreter's  other  son,  Laurence,  and  daughter-in-law,  Marie,  are 
ranchers  too,  and  have  a  very  good  ranch  on  Deadhead  Creek.  His  daugh- 
ter. Myrtle  Flaharty,  and  husband  Earl,  are  retired  ranchers  and  live  in 
Wheatland.  He  has  five  grandchildren,  Larry  Rosentreter  of  Sheridan,  and 
Mrs.  Clyce  McCulloch,  Modesto,  California,  who  are  Laurence's  children; 
Floyd's  son,  Eugene  Rosentreter,  who  lives  in  St.  Petersburg,  Florida;  and 
Myrtle's  children,  Clifford  Flaharty,  of  Denver,  Colorado,  and  Mrs.  Elwood 
(Myra)  Hanna  of  Wheatland.  He  has  three  great-grandchildren,  Brently 
and  Troy  McCulloch  and  Susan  Hanna. — Myrtle  Flaharty. 


222 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


One  time  Dude  had  to  go  to  Laramie  for  supplies  and  the  next 
day  it  snowed  and  he  did  not  get  back  for  several  days.  I  was  just 
a  green  kid,  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  did  not  know  much  about 
ranching  yet,  but  I  fed  the  livestock  and  myself.  Dude  was  satis- 
fied when  he  gpt  back  with  the  way  I  had  handled  everything. 

One  day  Otto  Driesen  came  to  the  ranch.  He  stayed  several 
days  with  us  and  said  something  about  being  lousy.  Sure  enough, 
after  he  left  I  felt  a  little  itchy,  but  I  went  to  the  brush  next  to  the 
creek  and  with  soap,  sand  and  water  got  rid  of  the  lice  by  scrubbing 
like  sixty  and  burning  my  clothes. 

The  people  on  the  Sybille  got  their  mail  at  the  Waechter  Ranch, 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  Edna  Hay  whose  son,  Alex  Jr.,  lives  there. 
The  mail  came  from  Cheyenne  to  Iron  Mountain  and  was  carried 
by  horseback  from  there  to  the  Waechter  Ranch.  One  day  as  I 
was  coming  back  from  Waechter's  with  the  mail  I  was  surprised  by 
a  sudden  hail  storm.  No  shelter  being  close,  I  made  up  my  mind 
to  get  off  my  horse  and  take  it.  One  stone  about  the  size  of  a 
walnut  hit  my  head  and  kind  of  dazed  me.    I  got  the  saddle  off  my 


Courtesy  G.  W.  Rosentreter 
GUS  ROSENTRETER  ON  HIS  HORSE,  RAVEN,  1916 


MY  COWBOY  EXPERIENCES  IN  THE   1890'S  223 

horse  as  quick  as  I  could  and  used  it  for  shelter  but  had  a  deuce 
of  a  time  to  control  the  horse. 

Another  time  a  blizzard  came  up  and  I  got  lost.  Being  close  to 
a  brook  I  figured  out  if  I  could  find  out  which  way  the  water  was 
running  I  could  find  my  way,  and  I  did  get  back  to  the  Henke 
Ranch. 

The  next  season  I  stayed  at  the  Rudoph  Henke  Ranch,  now 
owned  by  his  grandson,  Raymond  Henke.  I  helped  with  the 
ditches,  grubbing  sagebrush  and  irrigating  and  got  acquainted  with 
the  pitchfork. 

Hank  Langhof  and  I  dug  a  well  for  Rudolph.  I  broke  a  horse 
that  turned  out  to  be  one  of  the  best  running  horses  I  have  ever 
seen.  He  reminded  me  of  a  greyhound,  keeping  his  head  close  to 
the  ground,  watching  where  he  was  going  all  the  time.  He  never 
made  a  blunder  and  it  seemed  that  he  could  run  all  day. 

One  day  when  I  rode  in  to  the  Plaga  Ranch,  now  operated  by 
Bob  and  Thelma  Garton  and  their  boys,  I  found  the  Two  Bar 
manager,  Al  Bowie,  and  Tom  Horn  there.  They  were  watching  a 
neighbor  who  was  butchering  Two  Bar  cattle.  They  wanted  me  to 
go  with  them  to  arrest  several  men  who  were  butchering  cattle 
illegally.  I  told  them  that  I  did  not  care  about  going  but  Raymond 
said,  "You  had  about  as  well  make  up  your  mind  to  go  as  Tom 
Horn  will  deputize  you  anyway."  When  we  got  to  the  place  they 
had  several  beeves  hanging  up  in  a  shed.  One  man  had  a  big 
butcher  knife  in  his  hand  and  talked  big.  Tom  Horn  told  him, 
"Drop  that  knife  or  I'll  put  a  bullet  through  your  head."  The  knife 
dropped  and  the  show  was  over  except  for  watching  the  prisoners. 

I  was  told  to  go  to  several  of  the  Swan  Company  ranches — 
Jones  Ranch,  Two  Bar,  and  Mule  Shoe — and  tell  the  ranchers  to 
be  ready  early  next  morning  with  their  teams.  They  took  the  beef 
and  the  prisoners  to  Laramie.  That  was  all  I  had  to  do  with  it. 
I  heard  later  that  one  of  the  party  was  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  a 
year  and  the  rest  of  the  guilty  ones  left  the  country. 

By  now  I  was  getting  a  little  bigger  and  my  clothes  were  tighter. 
I  decided  to  do  something  about  it  and  looked  around  for  a  job. 
I  found  that  a  man  was  wanted  on  the  McDonald  Ranch,  where  I 
got  a  job  mixing  mortar  (lime  and  sand)  for  building.  All  I  had  to 
do  was  mix  the  stuff,  put  it  in  a  hod  and  carry  it  up  a  ladder  to  the 
stone  mason. 

My  next  job  was  at  the  Mudd  Ranch  now  owned  by  Raymond 
Gushing.  I  worked  on  fences,  digging  post  holes  and  getting  posts 
ready. 

I  then  worked  at  the  Ferguson  Ranch  now  owned  by  the  31 
Slash  Ranch  Gompany  and  operated  by  Leo  and  Nedalyn  Wilhelm. 
We  started  out  cleaning  ditches  with  scrapers  (slips  they  called 
them)  and  I  got  acquainted  with  a  team  of  mules.  I  had  to  throw 
stones  at  them  to  make  them  go  and  after  they  were  going  I  could 


224  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

not  hold  them.  That  lasted  several  days;  I  guess  the  boss  was 
watching  and  felt  sorry  for  me.  He  told  me  to  work  Babe  and 
Prince,  a  driving  team,  on  the  scraper.  After  that  I  was  the  biggest 
feeling  man  on  the  works.  All  I  had  to  do  was  hang  on  to  the  lines. 
They  were  always  ready  to  go.  After  ditch  work  we  started  haying. 
We  put  up  hay  for  the  Two  Bar  at  Sand  Creek  and  the  Wyoming 
Development  Company  on  the  Wheatland  flats.  The  company  had 
a  farm  to  show  people  what  could  be  done  in  this  country. 

I  wanted  to  be  a  cowboy,  and  after  working  a  while  in  Wheat- 
land, I  got  a  job  at  the  HR  Connected  Ranch,  a  Milwaukee  outfit 
managed  by  Alexander  Hunter.  George  Bennett  was  boss,  Sam 
Woods  was  night  hawk,  and  Fritz  Sandercock,  Fred  Runser,  Billy 
Barker,  Dave  Dewey,  Joe  Rutherford,  and  Fergie  Mitchell  also 
worked  for  the  HR  connected. 

We  started  with  two  wagons  and  horses.  Ed  Held  was  cook  and 
drove  the  cook  wagon  and  was  some  driver!  Sam  Woods  drove 
the  bed  wagon.  The  first  night  when  we  made  camp  at  Chug- 
water  a  sandstorm  came  up  and  blew  the  tepee  down.  We  worked 
lots  of  country  as  there  were  big  open  spaces  everywhere. 

Once  we  were  camped  just  above  Fort  Laramie  on  the  Laramie 
River  when  a  hail  storm  came  up.  Some  of  the  chunks  of  ice  were 
as  big  as  both  of  my  hands.  I  never  saw  anything  like  it.  Some 
of  the  calves  were  killed. 

Of  course  we  wanted  to  see  the  Fort.  We  rode  around  but  it 
was  in  ruins  except  old  Bedlam  and  a  few  other  buildings  which 
are  being  restored  now. 

While  we  were  camped  near  Uva,  I  was  on  herd  one  day  and 
noticed  Ned  Yates  passing  by  on  his  way  to  our  camp.  When  I 
got  relieved  and  went  in  to  eat,  Ned  and  a  bunch  of  cowboys  were 
there.  Ned  spoke  up  and  said,  "When  I  passed  Buster,  (meaning 
me)  he  was  sound  asleep.  I  hollered  at  him  and  he  got  up  and 
shouted  'Four  Aces  by  God'."  He  was  always  pulling  jokes  on 
somebody. 

Another  time  south  of  the  Ranch,  Dave  Dewey  and  I  were  hold- 
ing a  bunch  of  cattle  near  a  bunch  of  antelope.  Dave  said,  "Watch 
me  rope  one."  Sure  enough  the  horse  he  was  riding  was  very  fast 
and  he  got  his  antelope.  Before  we  set  it  free  we  cut  a  hole  in  one 
ear  and  tied  on  a  red  ribbon.  That  antelope  was  seen  after  that 
with  the  red  ribbon. 

Dave  Brice  was  agent  for  the  Colorado  and  Southern  Railroad 
at  Uva.  At  that  time  Wheatland  had  only  a  platform  to  unload 
freight  on.  I  went  with  a  shipment  of  HR  cattle  to  Omaha.  Every 
boy  in  the  outfit  wanted  something — overcoat,  boots,  pants  and  so 
on.  I  went  shopping  in  Omaha  and  when  I  got  all  the  things 
together,  it  was  quite  a  lot  of  stuff,  so  I  bought  a  small  trunk  and 
put  everything  in  it,  except  the  overcoat.  When  I  got  back  to  the 
ranch  all  the  boys  were  satisfied  with  the  goods. 

After  roundup  Dave  and  T  took  a  bunch  of  cattle  over  to  Horse- 


MY  COWBOY  EXPERIENCES  IN  THE   1890'S  225 

shoe  Creek  to  John  Moran.  When  we  got  there  he  invited  us  in 
and  I  noticed  him  looking  under  his  bed.  His  hand  went  under 
and  a  jug  came  out  with  it.    It  being  a  raw  day  we  did  not  object. 

The  boys  were  talking  of  giving  a  dance  at  Uva,  and  women 
were  very  scarce  at  that  time.  They  didn't  think  that  they  could 
get  enough  to  have  a  dance.  I  told  them  that  I  would  get  some  on 
the  Sybille  and  bring  them  to  the  dance.  I  Uned  things  out  and  got 
three  girls  to  go.  I  had  to  get  an  outfit  together,  and  got  one  horse 
and  harness  from  Mr.  Henke,  another  horse  and  buggy  from  Lou 
Roved,  which  made  a  good  outfit.  They  were  the  two  best  driving 
horses  I  knew  of  at  that  time.  I  picked  up  the  three  teachers  and 
we  arrived  okay  at  the  dance  which  was  a  surprise  to  the  boys. 
The  next  day  we  stopped  at  Wheatland,  at  Mark  Johnston's.  Mrs. 
Johnston  fixed  it  so  the  girls  could  rest  and  after  feeding  us,  the 
team  was  ready  to  take  us  home,  and  of  course  everyone  had  a 
good  time. 

At  another  dance  on  Horseshoe  Creek,  the  host  had  cherry  wine 
in  a  dugout  and  every  time  he  took  one  of  the  fellows  down  he 
would  drink  with  him.  So  it  went  on  for  some  time.  After  awhile 
I  noticed  that  it  was  harder  for  the  host  to  make  the  trip  and,  by 
golly,  next  thing  I  knew  he  was  down  and  out.  We  fixed  a  nest 
for  him  and  he  slept  it  off. 

In  1893,  I  headed  for  the  Ogalalla  Ranch,  northwest  of  Douglas, 
to  be  one  of  the  cowboys.  J.  Y.  Lucas  and  I  stopped  at  Douglas. 
We  put  our  horses  in  the  livery  stable  and  went  up  town.  The  first 
place  we  entered  was  a  saloon.  Several  fellows  were  there.  One 
man  spoke  up  and  said,  "Everybody  come  up  and  have  a  drink  on 
me."  I  was  the  only  one  who  stood  back.  The  man  who  invited 
us  to  drink  with  him  had  his  gun  out  quickly  and  said  to  me,  "You 
come  and  get  your  drink."  I  answered  him,  "Not  me."  I  found  out 
later  that  he  was  a  bad  man  and  just  about  ran  the  town.  I  saw 
his  name  on  a  tombstone  in  the  Douglas  cemetery  years  later.  It 
read: 

George  W.  Pike 
Underneath  this  stone  in  eternal  rest 
Sleeps  the  wildest  one  of  the  wayward  west 
He  was  a  gambler  and  sport  and  cowboy  too 
And  he  led  the  pace  in  outlaw  crew 
He  was  sure  on  the  trigger  and  staid  to  the  end 
But  he  was  never  known  to  quit  on  a  friend. 
In  the  relations  of  death  all  mankind  is  alike 
But  in  life  there  was  only  one  George  W.  Pike. 

I  learned  that  George  Pike  and  Kurt  Sears  had  a  good  many 
horses  and  they  ran  their  own  wagon  to  look  after  them. 

When  we  got  to  the  Ogalalla  Ranch  we  found  a  good  many  cow- 
boys as  the  outfit  ran  three  wagons  at  that  time.    Billy  Irvine  was 


226  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

the  big  boss.  Joe  Chambers,  Bill  Rodgers,  and  J.  Y.  Lucas  were 
wagon  bosses. 

After  a  big  snowstorm  that  winter  was  over  I  found  that  one  of 
my  horses  got  tangled  up  in  a  fence  and  died.  After  the  storm  the 
outfit  had  some  boys  fix  fence  and  get  things  fixed  around  the 
ranch.  I  was  with  a  bunch  to  go  to  the  hills  to  get  firewood  ready 
for  the  teamster  to  haul  to  the  ranch  for  the  winter  supply.  We 
started  out  and  when  we  made  camp,  Big  Ed,  our  boss,  said  to  me, 
"You  can  do  the  cooking."  I  told  him  that  I  had  never  cooked 
any,  but  he  was  nice  and  said,  "I'll  show  you  and  help  you  get 
started."  I  was  cook  for  about  a  week  and  found  out  about  dried 
apples  and  rice,  how  they  would  swell  and  overrun  the  pot.  We 
had  plenty  of  potatoes  and  meat  and  Ed  showed  me  how  to  make 
biscuits.    The  boys  seemed  to  be  satisfied  with  my  cooking. 

When  we  got  back  to  the  ranch  we  got  ready  for  the  roundup 
work.  I  went  with  Joe  Chamber's  wagon  to  meet  the  CY  (Carey's 
outfit)  over  on  Salt  Creek.  While  we  were  there  waiting  for  the 
CY  we  heard  about  a  fair  or  show  at  Casper.  Most  of  the  boys 
went  and  I  was  one  of  them.  The  crew  wanted  me  to  ride  in  the 
bucking  contest.  They  said  they  would  back  me,  but  I  did  not 
enter. 

They  were  drilling  for  oil  at  that  time  and  we  got  our  drinking 
water  from  an  oil  rig  as  the  creek  water  was  very  bad.  Some  of 
the  boys  in  our  outfit  were  George  Hiatt,  Billy  Montgomery,  Billy 
Coffman,  and  the  Beattie  Brothers.  One  was  big,  the  other  small. 
Everybody  called  the  big  one  "Little"  and  the  small  one  "Big." 
John  the  Sailor  and  Pinhead  were  a  few  of  the  nicknames  because 
among  cowboys  most  everybody  had  a  nickname. 

Billy  Montgomery,  nicknamed  "Bullhead,"  and  I  were  on  herd 
one  day  with  a  bunch  of  cattle.  We  had  them  scattered  out  in 
rough  country.  Not  seeing  Billy  for  awhile  I  was  curious  about 
what  he  was  doing,  and  when  I  rode  up  on  a  hill  I  spotted  him 
He  had  roped  a  bull  and  the  bull  was  taking  horse  and  man  right 
along.  It  was  a  funny  sight  and  I  had  to  laugh.  That  made  him 
mad  but  I  told  him  if  he  would  cool  off  I  might  or  might  not  help 
him.     Anyway  we  got  Mr.  Bull  down  and  Billy  got  his  rope  back. 

Once  when  we  were  camped  on  dry  Cheyenne  Creek  working 
cattle,  some  one  hollered,  "A  big  flood!"  Sure  enough  the  river 
was  bank  full.  We  were  on  one  side  with  the  cattle  and  our  wagon 
was  on  the  other  side.  When  night  came  the  river  was  still  bank- 
full  and  lots  of  driftwood  was  coming  down.  We  built  a  big  fire 
and  waited  for  the  flood  to  go  down,  but  it  lasted  a  long  time.  The 
next  day  about  noon  everybody  was  getting  pretty  hungry  and  John 
the  Sailor  offered  to  risk  crossing  and  get  us  some  grub.  We  fixed 
ropes  for  him  to  take  over  so  he  would  have  help  coming  back  with 
the  eats  that  the  cook  was  fixing  for  us  hungry  hounds.  John  was 
a  good  swimmer  and  made  it  in  good  shape  and  we  got  filled  up 
once  more.     Just  before  dark  the  second  day  we  decided  that  we 


MY  COWBOY  EXPERIENCES  IN  THE   1890'S 


227 


could  cross.  My  horse  stampeded  when  he  hit  the  water  and,  when 
he  hit  the  bank  on  the  other  side,  he  came  over  backwards  and  I 
got  a  muddy  bath. 

Billy  Coffman  told  us  about  his  horse,  an  outlaw  about  twelve 
years  old  when  he  broke  him.  He  said  that  he  could  go  out  and  the 
horse  would  come  to  him  if  he  had  a  whip.  The  boys  did  not 
believe  him  but  he  showed  us.  He  was  pretty  well  built  and 
seemed  gentle.  Billy  sent  to  the  Meanea  Saddle  Company  for 
some  aluminum  stirrups.  He  put  them  on  his  saddle  and  when  he 
saddled  a  bronc,  the  horse  threw  himself  and  mashed  one  stirrup. 
That  made  Billy  mad;  he  took  the  stirrups  in  the  blacksmith  shop 
and  pounded  them  to  a  mess.  Then  he  sent  them  back  to  the 
company.    His  father  was  head  man  for  Meanea. 

One  time  we  had  a  train  load  of  big  steers  in  the  Gillette  stock 
yards.  When  the  train  came  and  the  engineer  tooted  his  horn,  the 
steers  broke  out  of  the  yards  and  quit  the  country.  Next  day  we 
started  after  them.  We  found  the  main  bunch,  but  according  to 
tracks  there  were  some  more  ahead.  The  boss  told  Billy  Mont- 
gomery and  me  to  look  for  them.  When  we  found  them  we  were 
a  long  way  from  camp  and  we  had  to  go  slow  so  the  steers  would 
not  play  out  going  back.  That  made  me  very  late — about  10:00 
o'clock  that  night.     We  found  our  night  horses  tied  to  the  bed 


Courtesy  G.  W.  Rosentreter 
MR.  ROSENTRETER  WORKING  CATTLE  ON  HIS  RANCH,  1940 


228  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

wagon,  which  meant  for  us  to  stand  night  guard.  That  made  our 
day  much  longer.  But  such  was  a  cowboy's  life.  We  lost  out  on 
sleep  lots  of  times. 

One  rainy  day  the  Keeline  outfit  and  the  Ogalalla  outfit  laid  over 
and  did  not  roundup.  The  boys  were  lost  for  something  to  do. 
One  of  the  Keeline  boys  wanted  to  ride  a  bronc  that  was  kind  of  an 
outlaw.  All  the  boys  watched  the  circus  getting  the  outlaw  sad- 
dled. When  the  boy  got  on  him  he  started  to  buck  and  ran  into  a 
bunch  of  horses  and  they  piled  up.  It  hurt  the  boy  seriously  and  he 
died  while  they  were  trying  to  get  him  to  a  doctor. 

One  rainy  day  one  of  the  boys  and  I  were  to  relieve  some  other 
boys  on  herd.  1  had  my  horse  ready  to  go  but  he  had  trouble 
getting  his  so  I  roped  his  horse,  my  horse  started  to  buck,  his  ran 
the  other  way  and  when  he  got  to  the  end  of  my  rope  I  heard  the 
saddle  pop  as  the  tree  broke.  It  was  a  California  D.  E.  Walker 
saddle,  and  I  had  to  send  it  back  there  to  have  a  new  tree  put  in. 
The  night  herder  was  good  enough  to  let  me  use  his  saddle.  Soon 
after  the  saddle  came  back  to  Douglas,  Lucas  said  he  heard  about 
some  Ogalalla  horses  and  he  was  going  after  them.  He  used  my 
saddle  and  put  it  on  one  of  the  horses.  When  he  got  back  to  our 
wagon  he  said  that  the  horses  got  away  from  him  including  the  one 
which  my  saddle  was  on.  He  had  played  his  horse  out  running 
after  them.  Well,  I  was  a  sick  kid  and  I  could  imagine  my  saddle 
under  that  horse's  belly  and  was  sure  that  he  would  kick  it  all  to 
pieces.  Several  days  later  we  found  the  horse  with  saddle  still  on 
his  back  and  not  ruined. 

One  night  a  big  storm  came  up,  thunder  and  lightning  and  rain- 
ing like  the  devil.  Lightning  was  playing  on  the  catties'  horns  and 
on  my  horse's  ears.  It  would  be  pitch  dark,  then  again  blinding 
light,  and  this  stampeded  the  cattle.  That  was  a  real  bad  night 
and  next  morning  I  was  some  distance  from  camp  but  still  had  the 
bunch  of  cattle. 

I  first  saw  the  Devils  Tower  when  we  camped  on  the  Belle 
Fourche  River.  It  looked  to  me  like  an  old  stump.  I  never  gave  it 
another  thought  until  years  later  a  parachutist  lighted  on  it  and  had 
a  bad  time  getting  down.  Now  it  is  one  of  the  best  known  scenic 
spots  in  Wyoming.  While  in  that  neighborhood  I  saw  thirteen 
different  outfits  camped  on  one  creek.  It  made  quite  a  picture, 
all  those  wagons  and  horses  and  lots  of  cowboys  of  all  sorts. 

Next  spring  after  spending  the  winter  on  the  Sybille,  I  started 
north  again.  I  had  two  good  horses,  Ginger  and  Blue.  I  worked 
for  the  Ogalalla  outfit  again,  only  with  a  different  wagon.  J.  Y. 
Lucas  was  the  roundup  boss  and  we  headed  out  to  meet  another 
roundup  outfit,  but  did  not  know  where  exactly  to  find  it.  Lucas 
told  me  to  take  one  of  my  best  horses  and  look  for  the  roundup. 
I  covered  lots  of  country  that  day.  Toward  evening  I  rode  on  a 
knoll  and  spotted  something.  It  turned  out  to  be  a  store  building 
on  Hat  Creek.     The  storekeeper  let  me  stay  there  that  night.     I 


MY  COWBOY  EXPERIENCES  IN  THE   1890'S  229 

was  sure  pleased  as  my  horse  was  not  too  gentle  and  I  was  afraid 
he  would  quit  me  if  I  had  to  camp  out.  There  was  a  corral  there 
so  I  did  not  have  to  worry.  The  storekeeper  told  me  where  I  could 
find  the  roundup  and  I  succeeded  about  noon  the  next  day  and  had 
dinner  with  that  outfit,  then  went  back  to  look  up  our  layout.  We 
got  together  and  there  was  plenty  of  roundup  work  for  quite  a  spell. 

A  fellow  we  called  Swede  and  I  heard  of  a  steer  outfit  (Pugsly), 
Lazy  P,  wanting  men.  We  thought  it  would  be  nice  to  change  and 
not  have  to  work  so  hard.  We  went  over  and  got  a  job  and  started 
breaking  broncs  for  them. 

One  day  I  helped  Swede  saddle  his  horse.  When  he  got  on,  the 
horse  started  to  buck  and  threw  him  off,  but  one  foot  caught  in  the 
stirrup.  I  was  on  the  fence  taking  in  the  performance.  It  scared 
me  when  I  saw  the  horse  dragging  Swede,  but  his  foot  soon  came 
loose  and  he  got  up  and  could  walk  all  right.  I  jumped  on  that 
horse  and  showed  Swede  how  to  do  it.  After  that  I  tackled  my 
bronc.  He  was  supposed  to  be  nine  years  old  but  I  got  him  going 
and  he  made  a  good  mount. 

Most  of  the  Lazy  P  outfits'  cattle  ran  close  to  the  Big  Horn 
Mountains  on  Powder  River.  After  helping  make  several  ship- 
ments of  the  longhorns  the  roundup  season  was  about  over,  and 
Swede  and  I  planned  a  trip  to  Yellowstone  Park.  I  had  a  good 
outfit,  two  good  horses,  my  bed  and  all  my  belongings.  Swede 
bought  a  horse  from  the  Lazy  P  outfit  to  make  the  trip.  Just 
before  we  were  ready  to  start,  Swede  went  to  the  post  office  and 
got  a  letter  from  his  folks  who  wanted  him  to  come  home  right 
away. 

After  planning  the  trip,  I  started  out  for  the  park  by  myself  and 
headed  for  Sheridan.  Soon  after  crossing  Powder  River  I  noticed 
something  that  looked  like  a  roundup.  When  I  got  closer  I  looked 
for  riders  and  could  not  see  any.  Soon  I  could  see  that  a  bunch 
of  wolves  were  circling  around  the  cattle.  When  they  saw  me  they 
sneaked  away.  There  were  some  real  big  fellows  in  the  bunch. 
I  had  heard  some  of  the  boys  talking  about  such  things  and  now  I 
saw  it  myself. 

I  stopped  at  the  U  Cross  outfit  (Leiter's)  on  Clear  Creek.  It 
was  a  well  improved  place.  It  was  said  Leiters  controlled  the 
wheat  market  at  that  time. 

When  I  got  to  Sheridan  I  was  told  that  there  was  a  better  and 
shorter  route  from  Buffalo  to  cross  the  Big  Horns  so  I  came  back 
to  Buffalo  which  was  not  too  far  from  the  TA  Ranch  and  the 
Hole-in-the-Wall.  I  was  curious  and  wanted  to  have  a  look  at 
them.  First  I  went  to  the  TA  Ranch  near  Crazy  Woman  Creek, 
where  the  settlers  and  cattlemen  had  their  fight.  Before  I  got  to 
the  buildings  I  noticed  a  bunch  of  people  coming  out,  particularly 
a  man  with  a  pearl-handled  six-shooter  in  his  hand.  The  bunch 
were  target  shooting.  Some  of  the  dudes  made  a  bet  with  the 
fellow  who  had  the  pearl-handled  six-shooter  and  he  beat  the  dude 


230  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

who  used  his  rifle.  I  felt  that  the  man  with  the  rifle  had  more 
money  than  shooting  ability.  He  acted  like  he  had  taken  a  drink 
or  two  besides.  It  was  fun  to  watch  them  perform.  I  stayed  at 
the  TA  Ranch  that  night. 

Next  day  I  took  a  look  at  the  Hole-in-the-Wall.  The  wall  is 
very  steep  and  perpendicular  with  only  one  passage  in  the  wall  for 
miles  each  way.  I  heard  that  cattle  thieves  did  use  that  passage 
quite  often  and  would  feel  safe  on  the  other  side  because  it  was  a 
big  open  country. 

I  had  to  find  a  way  over  the  Big  Horn  Mountains.  I  found  a 
trail  leading  to  a  ranch  on  No  Wood  Creek.  There  was  no  wood 
but  plenty  of  big  sagebrush,  the  biggest  I  have  ever  seen.  I  stayed 
at  a  ranch  that  night  and  the  people  who  lived  there  told  me  how  to 
get  to  Thermopolis  Hot  Springs.  When  I  reached  the  springs  I 
found  several  people  camped  there  in  tents.  I  made  camp  there 
and  looked  around  and  found  a  dugout  where  some  one  had 
ditched  the  water  from  the  springs  to  the  dugout.  I  took  a  bath 
there  just  to  try  it  out  and  found  it  was  just  right.  It  was  a  sight  to 
see  the  hot  water  from  the  spring  run  into  the  river. 

I  wanted  to  cross  the  Big  Horn  River,  but  it  was  high  and  people 
there  told  me  that  six  men  had  drowned  the  last  two  weeks  trying 
to  get  across.  Some  who  drowned  were  trying  to  get  cattle  across. 
I  found  out  that  someone  was  building  a  store  at  the  mouth  of  Owl 
Creek  down  the  Big  Horn  River  on  the  other  side  and  that  they  had 
a  boat.  So  down  the  river  I  went  and  found  the  place.  By  shout- 
ing and  motioning  with  my  arms  I  made  the  men  who  were 
working  on  the  building  understand  that  I  wanted  to  get  across. 
One  of  the  men  rowed  the  boat  over.  I  put  my  bed  and  saddle  in 
the  boat  and  led  the  horses  behind.  They  had  to  swim  and  one  of 
them  went  under  out  of  sight.  I  was  sure  that  he  would  drown  but 
once  in  awhile  his  nostrils  would  come  up  and  he  reminded  me  of  a 
whale  spouting  water  as  he  would  blow  the  water  high.  Anyway 
he  made  it  across.  He  must  have  walked  on  the  bottom  of  the 
river  and  come  up  occasionally  for  air. 

I  stayed  there  awhile  then  headed  up  the  creek  for  the  Bar  M 
cow  outfit  which  was  located  at  the  head  of  it.  It  was  uphill  all  the 
way.  The  higher  I  went  the  colder  it  got  and  there  was  snow 
farther  ahead  and  the  people  at  the  Bar  M  advised  me  not  to  go  on 
to  Yellowstone  Park  so  late  in  the  season.  I  turned  back  and 
headed  for  the  Sybille  country. 

One  afternoon  I  came  to  a  sheep  wagon.  The  herder  happened 
to  be  close  and  I  camped  with  him  that  night.  There  were  lots  of 
sage  chickens  around  there  and  the  herder  and  I  killed  several 
young  ones.  The  way  the  boy  cooked  them,  they  were  sure  good 
eating  and  I  filled  up  once  more.  I  came  by  way  of  Casper,  then  a 
one-street  town,  and  Glenrock,  which  was  a  small  place. 

When  I  crossed  the  La  Prele  Creek  I  found  a  bunch  of  Indians 
camped  there.     It  looked  like  a  town  with  so  many  tepees.     I 


MY  COWBOY  EXPERIENCES  IN  THE   1890'S  231 

Stopped  and  they  wanted  to  trade  horses  with  me.  They  told  me 
the  one  they  wanted  to  trade  was  "Hip  good,  run  fast."  I  asked 
them  to  take  the  saddle  off.  They  hesitated  at  first  but  I  insisted. 
When  they  took  the  saddle  off  the  horse  he  had  a  big  lump  on  his 
back.  I  told  them,  "No  trade."  By  that  time  a  good  many  Indians 
had  gotten  around  and  more  were  coming.  Anyway  my  hair  com- 
menced to  raise  so  I  got  close  to  my  horse  and  stepped  on  him 
quickly  and  beat  it.  I  figured  if  they  did  try  to  follow  me  I  could 
outrun  them.  I  kept  looking  back  from  time  to  time  but  they  did 
not  follow  me. 

I  always  came  by  the  HR  connected,  Mitchell's  ranch,  on  my 
trips  going  and  coming  from  up  north.  It  seemed  like  home  to  me. 
I  was  really  treated  nice  there  many  times.  On  one  of  my  trips 
going  north  my  horse  got  lame  when  I  got  to  the  HR.  Fergie 
Mitchell  was  there  and  I  asked  him  if  I  could  get  a  horse  from 
them.  He  said,  "We  are  short  of  horses  but  you  can  have  Stock- 
ings." He  was  a  horse  that  we  used  to  work  on  the  bed  wagon 
and  was  condemned  as  not  fit  for  a  saddle  horse  when  I  worked 
for  the  HR  before  Mitchells  bought  the  outfit.  I  told  Fergie, 
"O.K.,  just  so  it  has  four  legs."  They  got  Stockings  in  for  me  and 
he  and  I  got  along  first  rate.  Everybody  at  the  ranch  watched  me 
leave  on  him.  I  returned  him  to  them,  and  in  later  years  Fergie 
told  me  that  Stockings  stepped  in  a  prairie  dog  hole  and  broke  his 
leg  and  they  had  to  shoot  him. 

Another  season  Emery  Bright  and  I  headed  for  the  Quarter 
Circle  L  Ranch  about  30  miles  north  of  Gillette.  W.  P.  Ricketts 
was  the  big  boss.  The  outfit  ran  three  wagons  and  Collens,  Bur- 
nett, and  Bright  were  the  wagon  bosses.  After  Emery  and  I  got 
there  the  first  thing  was  to  get  ready  to  receive  a  bunch  of  steers  at 
Orin  Junction.  The  Quarter  Circle  L  had  big  holdings  in  Texas 
and  raised  their  own  cattle  there.  They  shipped  the  steers  up 
north.  We  received  them  and  started  them  on  the  trail  back  to  the 
company's  range. 

That  summer  I  watched  a  bunch  of  horses  stampede.  It  was 
cool  and  very  early  in  the  morning.  We  had  several  hundred  head 
of  saddle  horses  and  some  work  horses  in  one  bunch  near  the 
Pumpkin  Buttes  country.  They  started  out  to  run  and  play,  and 
some  of  the  younger  horses  got  scared  and  they  ran  in  all  direc- 
tions. I  got  some  of  the  gentle  ones  back,  but  it  took  several  days 
to  get  them  all.  We  even  found  several  later  on  the  roundup.  One 
day  when  we  were  rather  near  the  Quarter  Circle  L  Ranch  and 
were  getting  short  on  grub  the  boss  decided  not  to  work  and  we 
went  back  to  the  ranch.  That  morning  we  heard  some  wolves 
howl  in  the  direction  that  we  were  going  toward  the  ranch.  When 
we  got  on  a  knoll  we  spotted  two.  One  was  an  extra  big  fellow. 
Most  of  the  boys  started  after  the  big  wolf.  Emery  was  mounted 
on  a  good  horse  and  he  started  after  the  other  one.  When  I  saw 
him  do  that  I  decided  to  help  him.    He  was  gaining  right  along  and 


232  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

turned  him  my  way.  Then  I  took  a  bee  line  and  turned  the  wolf 
his  way.  This  we  kept  doing.  All  at  once  he  disappeared  in  a 
gully  washout.  Emery  went  one  way  and  I  went  the  other.  I 
found  him  and  killed  him.  We  took  his  hide  as  there  was  a  bounty 
on  wolves.  We  split  the  bounty.  The  other  boys  failed  to  get  the 
big  wolf. 

Another  wolf  experience  was  one  evening  when  I  was  riding 
along  a  trail  between  the  Cuny  Hills  and  Squaw  Mountain.  My 
horse  seemed  uneasy  and  I  soon  spotted  a  wolf  coming  along  the 
trail,  followed  by  others.  I  counted  over  twenty  in  that  pack. 
There  were  three  different  sizes.  I  figured  three  litters.  The 
country  was  quite  level  so  I  got  my  rope  down  and  gave  them  a 
chase.  I  got  one  and  of  course  the  others  circled  around  me.  One 
was  extra  large  and  bolder  than  the  others.  I  got  off  my  horse  and 
threw  rocks  at  them  as  I  did  not  have  my  gun.  The  day  before  I 
had  stopped  at  a  sheep  camp  and  the  herder  wished  for  a  gun,  as 
coyotes  were  killing  some  of  the  sheep.  Of  course,  I  had  my  gun 
with  me  and  I  traded  him  the  gun  for  a  new  watch  that  he  had 
gotten  at  Douglas  a  day  or  so  before.  I  sure  wished  for  my  gun 
when  I  came  upon  this  wolf  pack.  Anyway  the  wolves  closed  in 
and  my  hair  began  to  rise  so  I  decided  to  turn  Mr.  Wolf  loose.  I 
was  about  to  let  him  go  when  I  got  surprised — the  bunch  left.  I 
waited  quite  awhile  before  I  took  his  hide.  Betwixt  and  between 
I  had  lost  the  ring  off  my  new  watch.  When  I  got  to  the  Henke 
Ranch  I  found  out  that  they  were  going  to  Laramie  City  the  next 
day.  I  sent  the  wolf  hide  with  them  to  get  the  bounty  also  the 
watch  to  have  a  new  ring  put  on.  When  they  got  back  they  said, 
"The  hide  paid  for  having  your  watch  fixed." 

One  of  our  boys  worked  with  the  CY  (Carey)  Outfit  that  sum- 
mer. When  he  came  back  he  told  us  about  a  fight  between  the 
cowboys  and  the  rustlers.  Bob  Devine,  the  CY  foreman,  wanted 
to  take  his  outfit  into  the  Hole-in-the-Wall  country.  The  rustlers 
were  trying  to  stop  him  but  he  was  determined  to  go  anyway.  So 
the  shooting  started,  one  of  the  rustlers  got  killed  and  our  boy 
from  the  Quarter  Circle  L  had  his  horse  shot.  After  that  the 
rustlers  took  a  big  bunch  of  cattle  and  horses  and  moved  into 
Canada. 

In  the  spring  Dude  Henke  and  I  started  out  to  go  to  the  Quarter 
Circle  L  Ranch.  I  had  a  real  good  three  year  old  horse  that  T 
figured  could  make  the  trip.  Dude  had  a  buckskin  horse  that  was 
older.  We  took  it  easy  for  several  days.  I  knew  a  fellow  who  had 
a  ranch  close  to  Pumpkin  Buttes  and  figured  on  stopping  there  that 
night.  We  had  several  miles  left  to  go  when  Dude's  horse  quit  on 
him.  He  seemed  to  be  played  out.  We  had  to  make  camp  but  it 
was  not  very  attractive.  The  country  was  very  bleak  and  it  was  a 
cool  night.  We  gathered  some  brush  and  cow  chips  which  made  a 
little  heat.  We  bedded  down  but  before  morning  we  were 
shivering. 


MY  COWBOY  EXPERIENCES  IN  THE   1890'S  233 

Next  morning,  as  luck  would  have  it,  two  riders  happened  along 
leading  an  extra  horse.  I  knew  the  boys,  Al  Hophof  and  Johnny 
O'Bryan.  They  let  Dude  ride  the  extra  horse  and  all  the  buckskin 
could  do  was  to  keep  up  with  us  loose. 

When  we  got  to  the  Quarter  Circle  L  Ranch  I  found  my  bed-roll, 
unrolled  it  and  crawled  in  and  stayed  there  several  days.  I  was 
sick  after  being  so  chilled  that  night  we  camped  out.  The  boys 
would  ask  me  if  they  could  do  something  for  me.  One  of  them 
said,  "I  know  what  you  need."  He  brought  me  a  bottle  of  sage  tea 
that  he  had  brewed.  It  tasted  real  good  to  me  and  to  this  day  I 
think  it  helped,  because  in  a  few  days  I  was  fit  to  go  to  work. 

That  summer  I  was  riding  a  bronc  and  had  gotten  to  a  place 
where  there  were  lots  of  cactus  and  prairie  dog  holes.  My  horse 
was  going  a  fast  clip;  he  dodged  one  hole  but  stepped  in  another 
and  we  up-ended.  I  landed  in  a  cactus  bed  and  got  cactus  all  over 
me.  Some  were  in  my  back  where  I  could  not  get  them  and  some 
of  the  boys  had  to  use  a  knife  to  get  them  out. 

At  the  end  of  this  season  I  realized  that  I  had  seen  and  covered 
lots  of  territory  on  different  roundups,  and,  as  I  was  now  old 
enough  to  make  a  filing  on  a  homestead  and  try  and  work  for  my- 
self, I  gave  up  the  cowboy  hfe.  I  filed  on  my  homestead  in  1895 
and  settled  down  on  the  South  Sybille. 


234 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


LESTER  C.  HUNT 


ARTHUR  G.  CRANE 


FRANK  A.  BARRETT  C.  J.  (DOC)  ROGERS 

Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department 


governors  of  the  State 
of  Wyoming  1943-1965 

Biographical  sketches  and  pictures  of  Wyoming's  Territorial 
and  State  governors  through  1940  were  published  in  ths  Annals  of 
Wyoming,  October,  1939,  through  October,  1940.  The  series  of 
articles  was  written  by  Harry  B.  Henderson  Sr.,  of  Cheyenne,  and 
concluded  with  Wyoming's  Golden  Anniversary  Governor,  Nels 
H.  Smith. 

The  following  article  brings  up  to  date  biographies  of  Wyoming's 
governors  through  this  75th  year  of  Statehood.  The  material  was 
compiled  by  Mrs.  Viola  A.  McNealey,  Assistant  Archivist,  Wyo- 
ming State  Archives  and  Historical  Department. 

GOVERNOR  HUNT 

Lester  Calloway  Hunt  was  born  in  Isabel,  Illinois,  July  8,  1892. 
The  family  moved  in  1902  to  Atlanta,  Illinois,  where  he  finished 
high  school  in  1912.  By  securing  a  position  with  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  in  East  St.  Louis,  he  worked  his  way  through  college, 
entering  St.  Louis  University  College  of  Dentistry.  He  was  grad- 
uated in  the  spring  of  1917.  He  came  directly  to  Cheyenne,  where 
he  took  the  State  Board  examination  for  a  Commission  in  the 
Dental  Reserve  Corps  of  the  United  States  Army.  To  practice  his 
profession  he  located  in  Lander  in  July,  1917,  but  practiced  only 
two  months  when  he  was  called  into  the  armed  forces  as  a  First 
Lieutenant  in  the  Dental  Corps.  He  was  on  active  duty  with  the 
Army  until  May,  1919,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  Dental  Corps  with  the  rank  of  Major.  He  returned  to  Lander 
to  resume  his  dental  practice. 

He  met  his  future  wife,  Emily  Nathelle  Higby,  in  Lander,  where 
he  had  gone  after  graduation  from  high  school  as  a  pitcher  for  their 
baseball  team.  They  were  married  February  3,  1918.  They  had 
one  daughter,  Elise  Nita,  (Mrs.  Russell  Chadwick),  and  a  son, 
Lester,  Jr. 

He  was  elected  to  the  House  of  the  22nd  Wyoming  State  Legis- 
lature in  1932;  elected  Secretary  of  State  in  1934  and  re-elected  to 
the  same  office  in  1938;  elected  governor  in  1942,  taking  office 
January  4,  1943.  He  was  governor  of  Wyoming  from  1943  until 
1949  upon  his  election  on  the  Democratic  ticket  to  the  United 
States  Senate  in  1948  and  his  subsequent  resignation  as  governor. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  Governor's  Conference  held  in  Ports- 
mouth, New  Hampshire,  in  June,  1948.    He  served  in  the  United 


236  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

States  Senate  from  January  3,  1949  until  his  death  in  Washington 
D.C.  June  19,  1954.  Interment  was  in  Beth  El  Cemetery  in 
Cheyenne. 

GOVERNOR  CRANE 

Arthur  Griswold  Crane  was  born  in  Davenport  Center,  New 
York,  September  1,  1877.  From  the  time  he  received  his  B.S. 
degree  in  1902  from  Carleton  College,  Northfield,  Minnesota,  he 
was  devoted  to  the  field  of  education.  He  received  his  M.A. 
degree  from  the  University  of  Wisconsin  in  1909  and  ihe  Ph.D. 
degree  from  Teachers  College,  Columbia  University,  New  York 
City,  in  1920.  In  1946  the  University  of  Wyoming  conferred  upon 
him  an  honorary  LL.D.  degree. 

Among  his  many  achievements  in  the  field  of  education  was  that 
of  organizing  and  building  the  State  Normal  School,  (now  State 
Teachers  College)  Minot,  North  Dakota,  between  1912  and  1920. 

During  World  War  I  he  was  commissioned  a  Major,  Sanitary 
Corps,  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  Washington,  D.  C.  During 
1918  and  1919,  while  on  a  sabbatical  leave,  he  was  director  of  the 
Educational  Service  Division  of  Physical  Reconstruction,  United 
States  Army. 

Dr.  Crane  was  principal  of  the  State  Normal  School,  Edinboro, 
Pennsylvania,  from  1920  to  1922. 

During  his  tenure  as  president  of  the  University  of  Wyoming 
(1922-1941)  the  enrollment  tripled,  and  his  building  program 
resulted  in  the  construction  of  six  additional  buildings  on  the 
campus. 

In  1939  he  was  president  of  the  National  Association  of  State 
Universities  and  from  1936  to  1941  he  acted  as  chairman  of  the 
National  Committee  on  Education  by  Radio.  During  World  War 
II  he  was  appointed  to  the  three-man  National  Railway  Labor 
Panel. 

He  was  elected  Secretary  of  State  in  1946  and  became  acting 
governor  in  1949  when  Governor  Hunt  resigned  following  his 
election  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  He  served  as  governor 
until  1951  and  was  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  construction 
of  the  State  Office  Building. 

In  addition  to  numerous  educational  articles  he  wrote  "Educa- 
tion for  the  Disabled  in  War  and  Industry"  and  "Modern  Uses  of 
Wyoming  Coal."  He  was  responsible  for  the  formulation  of  the 
specifications  of  the  courses  of  study  for  the  re-education  of  dis- 
abled soldiers  and  sailors  which  was  published  in  "Rehabilitation 
Monographs,  War  Department." 

He  was  a  member  of  the  National  Education  Association, 
Rotary  Club,  American  Legion,  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  Phi  Delta  Kappa, 
Delta  Sigma  Rho  and  was  a  33rd  degree  Mason.    On  February  8, 


GOVERNORS  OF  WYOMING    1943-1965  237 

1950,   he   was   made   President   Emeritus    of   the   University   of 
Wyoming. 

He  was  married  to  Lura  May  DeArment,  August  23,  1904. 
They  had  two  children,  Paul  and  Mary.  Dr.  Crane  died  August 
11,  1955,  at  the  Veteran's  Administration  Hospital  at  Cheyenne. 
Interment  was  on  August  15  at  Beth  El  Cemetery,  Cheyenne. 

GOVERNOR  BARRETT 

Frank  A.  Barrett  was  born  in  Omaha,  Nebraska,  November  10, 
1892,  the  son  of  Patrick  J.  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Curran)  Barrett.  He 
received  his  A.B.  and  L.L.B.  degrees  from  Creighton  University 
in  Omaha,  Nebraska  where  he  worked  as  a  letter  carrier  from  1911 
to  1916  earning  his  way  through  college.  He  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  Delta  Theta  Phi,  legal  fraternity.  He  was  awarded  an 
honorary  LL.D.  from  the  University  of  Wyoming  in  1958. 

Governor  Barrett  served  nearly  two  years  in  World  War  I  in  the 
"Balloon  Corps"  of  the  air  service.  In  1919  he  married  Miss  Alice 
C.  Donoghue  and  soon  thereafter  went  to  Lusk  to  practice  law. 
Several  years  later  he  bought  a  large  sheep  and  cattle  ranch  and 
entered  into  a  partnership  under  the  firm  name  of  Brooks  and 
Barrett.  His  ranching  activities  caused  him  to  become  interested 
in  the  problems  of  the  wool  industry  which  later  enabled  him  to 
give  invaluable  service  to  the  wool  growers  while  serving  in 
Congress. 

He  served  as  County  Attorney  for  Niobrara  County  from  1923 
to  1932.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  from  1933  to  1935 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  of 
Wyoming  from  1939  until  1943.  He  was  elected  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  78th  Congress  in  1942  and  reelected  to  the 
79th,  80th  and  81st  Congresses.  There  he  served  on  the  Interior 
Committee  and  Chairman  of  Public  Lands.  In  the  81st  Congress 
he  was  a  member  of  the  U.S.  Territorial  Expansion  Memorial 
Commission.  He  was  the  15th  man  to  be  elected  Governor  of 
Wyoming  when  he  was  sworn  into  office  January  1,  1951. 

In  1952  Frank  A.  Barrett  was  elected  to  the  U.S.  Senate  from 
the  State  of  Wyoming.  Thus,  he  served  Wyoming  as  Congress- 
man, Governor  and  Senator,  one  of  the  few  men  in  this  country 
so  honored  by  their  state.  He  served  on  the  Interior  and  Armed 
Services  Senate  Committees.  While  in  the  Senate,  he  was  the 
recipient  of  Honorary  Doctor  of  Law  Degrees  from  his  Alma 
Mater,  Creighton  University,  and  from  the  University  of  Wyoming. 

He  served  as  Commander  of  the  Lusk  Post  American  Legion, 
Director  of  the  Wyoming  Reclamation  Association,  member  of 
Wyoming  Council  of  Boy  Scouts,  member  of  the  Wyoming  Stock 
Growers  Association,  Farm  Bureau,  Wyoming  and  American 
Bar  Associations,  the  Lusk  Lions  Club  and  on  the  State  Historical 
Advisory  Board. 


238  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Frank  and  Alice  Barrett  were  the  parents  of  three  children. 
Frank,  Jr.  chose  medicine  as  a  profession  and  practices  surgery  in 
Cheyenne;  James  E.  Barrett  is  an  attorney  in  Lusk;  Marialyce 
(Mrs.  Richard  Tobin)  is  a  member  of  the  Wyoming  Bar  Asso- 
ciation and  is  engaged  in  legal  work  in  Casper. 

His  first  wife  died  in  1956.  In  1959  he  married  Mrs.  Augusta 
K.  Hogan,  widow  of  Bill  Hogan,  Lance  Creek  oilman  and  close 
personal  friend. 

President  Eisenhower  named  Governor  Barrett  Chief  Counsel 
of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  in  1958.  Gover- 
nor Barrett  died  in  Cheyenne,  May  30,  1962.  Services  were  held 
in  Lusk,  where  he  was  buried  on  June  2. 

GOVERNOR  ROGERS 

Clifford  Joy  "Doc''  Rogers  held  his  first  position  in  state  govern- 
ment in  1928  when  he  entered  the  Motor  Vehicle  Division  in  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  State  A.  M.  Clark.  When  Mr.  Clark  became 
Acting  Governor  in  1931,  Mr.  Rogers  served  as  his  secretary.  In 
1933  he  accepted  a  position  as  Deputy  Secretary  of  State.  In 
1946  he  was  elected  State  Treasurer  for  a  four  year  term  and  in 
1950  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  State.  Upon  the  resignation  of 
Governor  Barrett  in  1952,  when  he  was  elected  U.S.  Senator,  Mr. 
Rogers,  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  automatically  elevated  to  the 
acting  governorship.  In  1958  Mr.  Rogers  was  elected  State  Trea- 
surer for  a  second  time. 

Born  December  20,  1897,  in  Clarion,  Iowa,  Governor  Rogers 
was  orphaned  at  the  age  of  seven  and  was  raised  by  an  uncle  who 
held  degrees  in  both  medicine  and  dentistry  and  was  on  the  faculty 
of  the  University  of  Iowa  for  50  years.  Governor  Rogers  attended 
school  in  Iowa  City  and  at  the  University  of  Iowa  where  he 
majored  in  liberal  arts. 

Having  joined  the  army  in  1916,  he  served  in  the  Mexican  bor- 
der incident  and  overseas  in  France  during  World  War  I.  Follow- 
ing his  discharge  from  the  service  in  1919,  he  homesteaded  in 
Campbell  County  between  Gillette  and  Buffalo.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Legion  and  of  the  Veterans  of  Foreign  Wars 
and  was  the  first  member  of  the  V.F.W.  to  become  governor  of 
Wyoming. 

He  coached  the  first  Gillette  High  School  football  team  and 
taught  briefly  in  the  Gillette  schools  before  moving  to  Sheridan, 
where  he  was  employed  by  the  Veteran's  Hospital  from  1924  to 
1928. 

His  first  wife,  Edna  J.  Rogers,  who  had  three  children  by  a 
former  marriage,  died  in  1936.  He  later  married  Mabel  B.  Rogers 
who  had  one  daughter  at  the  time  of  their  marriage.  Governor  and 
Mrs.  Rogers  owned  and  operated  their  own  business,  a  motel  in 
Cheyenne. 


GOVERNORS  OF  WYOMING    1943-1965  239 

On  May  18,  1962  while  serving  in  the  office  of  State  Treasurer, 
he  died  at  Memorial  Hospital  in  Cheyenne.  Burial  was  in  Beth 
El  Cemetery,  Cheyenne,  May  22. 

GOVERNOR  SIMPSON 

Milward  L.  Simpson  is  a  native  son,  the  second  governor  of 
Wyoming  to  claim  this  distinction.  He  was  bom  November  12, 
1897,  in  Jackson,  Wyoming,  and  was  raised  on  the  Wind  River 
Indian  Reservation  and  in  Lander,  Meeteetse  and  Cody.  Gover- 
nor Simpson's  background  in  Wyoming  dates  back  to  1865  with 
the  arrival  of  his  grandfather,  Finn  Burnett,  who  came  with  the 
Powder  River  Expedition.  His  grandfather,  John  Simpson,  who 
came  to  Wyoming  in  1884,  started  the  first  store  and  post  office  in 
the  famous  Jackson  Hole  area.  His  father,  W.  L.  Simpson,  was  an 
attorney  in  Wyoming  for  50  years. 

The  first  Wyoming  governor  to  be  graduated  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  Wyoming,  he  was  outstanding  there  as  an  athlete,  debater, 
student  and  editor.  He  continued  his  law  studies  at  Harvard  and 
financed  his  education  by  working  as  a  coal  miner,  a  day  laborer, 
cook  on  a  road  construction  crew  and  as  a  ranch  hand.  In  World 
War  I  he  served  in  the  U.  S.  Army  as  an  Infantry  Lieutenant. 

He  established  a  law  practice  in  Cody,  and  also  engaged  in  the 
oil  business.  The  youth  of  the  nation  has  always  been  of  vital 
interest  to  Governor  Simpson.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Cody 
school  board  for  six  years,  and  from  1939  until  1955  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Wyoming, 
and  was  president  of  the  Board  from  1943  until  1955.  His 
accomplishments  on  behalf  of  the  University  have  been  recognized 
nationally,  and  he  served  a  term  as  president  of  the  National  Asso- 
ciation of  Governing  Boards  of  State  Universities  and  Allied 
Institutions. 

In  1927  he  served  a  term  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the 
Wyoming  State  Legislature  from  Hot  Springs  County.  He  took  the 
oath  of  office  as  Governor  of  Wyoming  in  January,  1955,  and 
remained  in  that  office  until  1959,  having  been  defeated  when  he 
ran  for  re-election.  In  1962  he  was  elected  Senator  from  Wyoming 
to  the  United  States  Congress,  in  which  position  he  is  now  serving. 

In  1929  he  married  Lorna  Kooi,  daughter  of  a  pioneer  family, 
and  they  have  two  sons,  Alan,  who  practices  law  in  Cody,  and 
Peter,  who  is  an  instructor  in  history  at  Eastern  Oregon  College  at 
Le  Grande,  and  associate  professor  of  history  at  the  University  of 
Oregon,  Eugene. 

GOVERNOR  HICKEY 

John  Joseph  "Joe"  Hickey,  who  took  office  in  January  1959, 
was  the  third  native  son  to  serve  Wyoming  as  governor.     He  was 


240 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


MILWARD  L.  SIMPSON 


J.  J.  HICKEY 


JACK   R.  GAGE  CLIFFORD  P.  HANSEN 

Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department 


GOVERNORS  OF  WYOMING    1943-1965  241 

bom  August  22,  1 9 1 1 ,  in  Rawlins,  of  a  pioneer  family  who  came  to 
Wyoming  prior  to  1873.  His  father,  a  Union  Pacific  Railroad 
employee,  died  in  1914,  and  "Joe"  began  assisting  the  family 
finances  at  an  early  age  as  a  newsboy  and  later  by  working  as  a 
blacksmith  apprentice,  theater  usher  and  tire  repairman.  He 
attended  public  schools  in  Rawlins,  and  in  1934  he  received  his 
Law  Degree  from  the  University  of  Wyoming.  In  the  same  year 
he  opened  his  law  office  in  Rawlins. 

Besides  practicing  law.  Governor  Hickey  has  been  active  in 
political  affairs  and  has  served  in  city,  county  and  federal  offices. 
In  1935  he  was  appointed  City  Treasurer  of  Rawlins,  a  position  he 
held  for  five  years  under  Democratic  and  Republican  administra- 
tions. In  1938  he  was  elected  Carbon  County  Attorney,  resigning 
in  1942  to  enlist  in  the  U.S.  Army.  In  1946  he  was  again  elected 
County  Attorney  and  served  until  1949  when  he  was  appointed 
U.S.  Attorney,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  Cheyenne.  He  has 
served  as  a  director  of  the  Carbon  County  Memorial  Hospital; 
County  and  State  Chairman  of  the  Cancer  Fund;  Post  Commander 
of  the  V.F.W.  Post  2311;  Department  Commander  V.F.W.  for 
Wyoming;  Trustee  of  the  Engstrom-Duncan  Post  of  the  American 
Legion.  He  has  been  active  in  community  and  church  organiza- 
tions and  has  worked  actively  for  the  Red  Cross,  Girl  Scouts  and 
Boy  Scouts.  In  1954  he  was  elected  Democratic  State  Chairman, 
and  that  year  he  guided  the  successful  campaign  of  Joseph  C. 
O'Mahoney  which  returned  him  to  the  U.S.  Senate  from  Wyoming. 

Governor  Hickey  spent  42  months  in  the  U.S.  Army  in  World 
War  II,  28  months  of  which  he  served  overseas  in  the  European 
Theatre.  Entering  the  army  as  a  private,  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
captain  and  received  his  honorable  discharge  in  1946. 

Upon  his  return  to  Rawlins  in  1946,  he  was  married  to  Winifred 
Espy,  a  member  of  a  pioneer  Carbon  County  family.  They  have 
two  sons,  John  and  Paul. 

He  resigned  as  governor  in  January  of  1961  and  was  appointed 
to  the  United  States  Senate  seat  left  vacant  by  the  death  of 
Keith  Thomson,  Senator-elect,  and  was  appointed  U.S.  Senator  by 
Acting  Governor  Jack  Gage. 

He  was  defeated  in  the  1962  election  in  his  bid  for  re-election  as 
U.S.  Senator  and  returned  to  Cheyenne,  where  he  practices  law  in 
the  offices  of  Hickey,  Rooney  and  Walton. 

GOVERNOR  GAGE 

Jack  R.  Gage,  a  native  of  Wyoming,  became  Acting  Governor 
on  January  2,  1961,  upon  the  resignation  of  former  Governor  J.  J. 
Hickey,  who  sought  appointment  to  the  United  States  Senate  term 
following  the  death  of  Senator-elect  Keith  Thomson.  He  is  the 
eighth  Wyoming  Secretary  of  State  to  be  elevated  to  the  office  of 
the  Governor  in  the  history  of  Wyoming. 


242  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Governor  Gage,  born  in  1899,  was  reared  in  Worland.  He 
was  the  only  child  of  Dr.  Will  Vernon  Gage  and  LaVaughn  Phelan 
Gage.  Dr.  Gage  practiced  medicine  in  Worland,  Wyoming,  for 
many  years.  Governor  Gage  attended  Worland  schools,  and  re- 
ceived his  B.S.  degree  from  the  University  of  Wyoming  in  1924. 
He  is  the  first  graduate  of  the  University  of  Wyoming  to  hold  any 
state  elective  office,  having  been  elected  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction  in  1934. 

He  taught  vocational  agriculture  in  the  high  school  at  Gillette, 
in  1924-25,  was  an  instructor  of  geology  and  biology  in  the  Sheri- 
dan High  School  from  1929  to  1934  and  served  as  State  Superin- 
tendent of  Public  Instruction  from  1935  to  1939.  He  is  a  former 
postmaster  of  the  Sheridan,  Wyoming  post  office  and  resigned  that 
position  to  run  for  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  being  elected  in  November,  1958.  He  was  serving 
a  four-year  term  in  that  capacity  when  he  assumed  the  office  of 
Governor,  taking  the  oath  of  office  in  January,  1961.  He  was 
defeated  in  the  1962  election. 

Governor  Gage  served  as  a  Private  First  Class  in  the  Artillery 
branch  of  the  service  in  World  War  I.  He  is  a  past  governor  of 
Rotary  International,  past  President  of  the  Postmaster's  Associa- 
tion in  Wyoming,  a  member  of  the  Future  Farmers  of  America,  the 
American  Legion,  Masonic  Order,  Alpha  Tau  Omega  fraternity, 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  participated  in  a 
peace  mission  to  Moscow,  Russia,  in  June,  1957,  and  received  a 
Bronze  Medallion  for  an  international  peace  plan  submitted  in 
1953.  He  is  a  well-known  lecturer  and  recently  was  the  recipient 
of  an  historical  award  from  the  Wyoming  State  Historical  Society 
for  his  book.  Ten  Sleep  and  No  Rest.  He  is  also  author  of  Geog- 
raphy of  Wyoming,  published  first  in  1940  and  of  a  new  edition 
published  in  1965. 

Since  1963  he  has  been  affiliated  with  a  national  lecture  circuit, 
speaking  throughout  this  country  and  in  Australia.  In  September, 
1965,  he  began  regular  weekly  appearances  on  radio  station 
KFBC,  Cheyenne,  giving  short  sketches  of  Wyoming  history. 

Jack  Gage  is  married  to  the  former  Leona  Switzer  and  is  the 
father  of  two  sons,  Jack  R.  Jr.,  and  Dick  C.  All  are  graduates  of 
the  University  of  Wyoming. 

GOVERNOR  HANSEN 

Clifford  P.  Hansen,  Republican,  became  Wyoming's  twenty- 
sixth  Governor  at  inaugural  ceremonies  held  January  7,  1963.  He 
was  born  in  Jackson  Hole,  Wyoming,  October  16,  1912,  the  son 
of  Wyoming  pioneers  who  settled  and  homesteaded  in  Jackson 
Hole  in  1897.  His  father,  Peter  C.  Hansen,  helped  organize  Teton 
County  and  later  served  in  the  Wyoming  State  Senate. 

Governor  Hansen  attended  grade  school  in  Jackson  and  was 


GOVERNORS  OF  WYOMING    1943-1965  243 

graduated  from  the  University  of  Wyoming  in  1934.  He  has  a 
cattle  ranch  at  Spring  Gulch  near  Jackson. 

Governor  Hansen  became  a  member  of  the  University  of  Wyo- 
ming Board  of  Trustees  in  1946,  was  elected  President  of  the 
Board  in  1955  and  reelected  in  1962  resigning  just  prior  to  his 
inauguration  as  Governor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  Masonic  bodies,  including  Consistory  and  Shrine;  Rotary 
International;  Sigma  Nu  social  fraternity;  Alpha  Zeta,  honorary 
agriculture  fraternity;  Delta  Sigma  Rho,  honorary  forensic  frater- 
nity; and  Phi  Kappa  Phi,  honorary  scholarship  fraternity. 

In  addition,  he  is  a  past  President  of  the  Wyoming  Stock  Grow- 
ers Association;  has  served  as  Vice  President  of  the  American 
National  Cattlemen's  Association;  Vice  President  of  the  Pacific 
Northwest  Development  Association;  Water  Compact  Commis- 
sioner for  Wyoming  on  the  Snake  River;  Compact  Commissioner 
on  the  Columbia  Interstate  Compact  Commission;  Chairman  of 
the  National  Livestock  Research  and  Marketing  Advisory  Com- 
mittee to  the  United  States  Secretary  of  Agriculture;  and  is  present- 
ly a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Wyoming  Develop- 
ment Association.  He  helped  organize  the  Jackson  Chamber  of 
Commerce  and  has  served  on  the  Jackson  Hospital  Board  of 
Trustees.  In  1965  he  was  named  to  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  National  Governors'  Conference  as  well  as  to  the  Executive 
Committee  at  the  Western  Governors  Conference. 

Governor  Hansen  is  married  to  the  former  Martha  Close  of 
Sheridan,  Wyoming.  They  have  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Peter  Mead, 
living  at  Jackson,  Wyoming,  and  a  married  son,  Peter,  a  1964 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Wyoming. 


Wyoming  Summits, 
Softly  QliHting 

By 

Hans  Kleiber 

Wyoming  summits,  softly  glinting, 
Far  beyond  the  moil  of  throngs, 
Blooming  meadows,  virgin  forests. 
Silent  partners  of  my  songs. 

Always,  somewhere,  in  the  distance, 
Shimmer  ranges  flecked  with  snow, 
Tossed  at  random  by  their  mother, 
Heedlessly,  long,  long  ago. 

Lofty  nurseries  of  rivers. 
Spawning  rills,  not  meant  to  stay, 
Bidden  wanderers  by  nature. 
Seeking  oceans,  far  away. 

Summerdays,  and  snows  of  winter. 
Add  but  luster  to  your  peaks, 
Break  of  dawn,  and  golden  evenings, 
Harried  mankind  blindly  seeks. 

Wyoming  summits,  softly  glinting. 
Have  a  way  of  gathering  toll. 
Once  the  call  of  dormant  ages 
Wakens  echoes  in  your  soul. 


^0ok  Keviem 


The  Necessary  Earth.    By  Wilson  O.  Clough.     (Austin,  University 
of  Texas  Press,  1965.    lUus.,  index.    234  pp.    $5.00.) 

To  Wilson  Clough  fans  and  doctors  of  philosophy  and  literature. 
The  Necessary  Earth  may  well  be  Mr.  Clough's  most  important 
book.  While  it  is  not  lazy  reading  for  a  summer  afternoon,  with  a 
shelf  of  reference  books  and  poetry  collections  in  reach,  it  could 
serve  as  a  mind-stretcher  for  a  whole  lifetime  of  study.  In  part  a 
critique  of  the  early  West,  it  is  primarily  a  book  for  the  serious 
novelist  who  aspires  to  write  western  Literature  with  a  capital  L. 
It  is  here  reviewed  in  terms  of  Wyoming  history. 

Mr.  Clough's  chief  concern  is  "Why  has  not  the  west  produced 
its  national  classic,  its  great  American  novel?"  He  stresses  the 
importance  of  the  western  writer  keeping  in  touch  with  the  funda- 
mental values  of  life,  achieving  solitude,  keeping  his  feet  on  The 
Necessary  Earth,  and  yet  not  letting  his  affection  for  the  young, 
young  land  cloud  his  purpose.  He  must  be  dispassionate.  Senti- 
ment is  deadly. 

No  novel  can  be  mature  literature,  maintains  Mr.  Clough,  unless 
it  is,  like  the  Russian  novel,  a  great  tragedy.  The  real  obstacle 
the  western  novelist  must  fight  is  ".  .  .  this  western  optimism,  this 
disgraceful  cheerfulness  .  .  .  this  youthfulness  of  spirit." 

He  grants  western  writers  the  privilege  of  not  using  the  tired  old 
European  vocabulary,  metaphor,  symbolism  or  classic  literary 
disciplines,  ill-fitted  to  the  frontier.  Yet  he  cannot  condone  a  new, 
more  vigorous  and  optimistic  western  philosophy.  Old  world 
gloom-and-doom  are  a  must.  Tragedy  is  a  must.  "Wait  for  the 
scar  tissue  to  accumulate  ...  for  the  deeper  tragedies  to  sear." 

He  also  warns  serious  writers  against  peopling  their  novels  with 
the  cowboy  badmen  of  the  West,  those  escapees  from  the  East, 
"The  callous,  suUen,  reckless  masters  of  the  six-shooter,  the 
cankered  symbols  of  something  summoned  up  as  'the  good  old 
days.'  "  And  in  even  more  colorful  language,  those  "ghouls  of 
casual  bloodshed"  who  shot  their  way  to  fame. 

He  argues  that  they  have  been  glorified  into  heroes  by  writers  of 

the  western  pulp  story  and  stick-'em-up  television  drama and 

worshipped  by  journalists,  tourists  and — let's  face  it — the  "rank 
and  file"  of  westerners.  Just  whom  he  includes  in  the  "rank  and 
file",  he  does  not  specify,  but  we  could  each  ask,  "Who,  me?" 
(Had  he  written  his  book  in  1965,  he  might  have  included  the 
dregs  of  womanhood,  glorified  out  of  all  good  taste  by  recent 
celebrations  of  our  75th  anniversary  of  statehood.) 

The  great  1961  surge  of  westerns  on  television  has  luckily  been 


246  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

mitigated  a  bit  since  Mr.  Clough's  chapter  first  appeared  as  an 
essay  in  The  Texas  Quarterly,  but  it  is  nevertheless  still  rampant 
upon  the  land. 

We  wonder  why  Mr.  Clough  singles  out  the  television  viewer  of 
the  West  as  the  special  enthusiast  of  the  western.  Television  pro- 
ducers would  not  dramatize  badmen  ad  naiiseiim  unless  their  vast 
market  in  the  thickly  populated  East  gobbled  them  up — and  the 
products  they  promoted.  Rocky  Mountain  westerners  are  simply 
not  numerous  enough  to  influence  Madison  Avenue. 

Instead  of  interviewing  old-timers,  readily  available  in  or  near 
Laramie,  Mr.  Clough  has  read  himself  into  the  position  of  an 
authority  on  gunslingers  and  badmen  in  print,  citing  author,  title 
and  page,  from  Billy  the  Kid  to  northwestern  Wyoming's  Earl 
Durand.  He  skips  Laramie's  own  train  robber,  Bill  Carlisle,  who 
prospered  on  the  strength  of  his  bandman  reputation. 

Opinions  on  the  western  cowboy  differ,  depending  on  which 
books  one  reads  and  on  the  old  cowboys  one  has  known  and  loved 
In  his  Fijty  Years  on  the  Old  Frontier,  James  H.  Cook,  1 857-1942, 
well-read  Nebraska  rancher  and  host  to  world-famed  paleontolo- 
gists, wrote,  "The  majority  of  the  cowboys  of  the  West  were  not  a 
drunken,  gambling  lot  of  toughs.  Their  work  required  clear  heads, 
brave  hearts  and  strong  bodies  to  handle  the  great  trail  herds  or  the 
cattle  on  the  ranges." 

To  the  daughter  of  an  early  Wyoming  cowboy,  stagecoach 
driver,  traveler  with  Gruard,  friend  of  Cook's,  and  collector  of 
earthy,  rock-bottom  authentic  books  on  the  frontier,  who  cut  her 
second  teeth  on  Andy  Adam's  The  Log  of  a  Cowboy,  The  J.  W. 
Schultz  Indian  books.  Cook's  autobiography,  and  the  memoirs  of 
Mrs.  W.  W.  Chapman  and  Mrs.  George  Gilland,  these  and  contacts 
with  the  actual  pioneers  were  all  prime  sources  for  character,  stage 

props,   vernacular and   a   make-the-best-of-it  philosophy,   far 

above  "westerns"  or  War  and  Peace,  The  Lower  Depths  and 
Uncle  Vanya. 

Certain  sections  of  the  Clough  book,  abounding  as  they  do  with 
thirty-some  isms  (existentialism,  egalitarianism,  transcendentalism) 
send  the  plain  newspaperwoman  and  amateur  historian  scurrying 
for  her  reference  books.  In  contrast,  the  more  enjoyable  pages  of 
The  Necessary  Earth  are  the  early  chapters  on  Emerson  and 
Thoreau,  and  Mr.  Clough's  interpretation  of  Robert  Frost  and 
other  poets.  Here  his  own  gift  for  poetry  comes  through  in  flow- 
ing, rhythmic  prose. 

Cheyenne  Grace  Logan  Schaedel 


BOOK  REVIEWS  247 

Fair  Fights  And  Foul.     By  Thurman  Arnold.     (New  York,  Har- 
court,  Brace  and  World,  1965.) 

Few  persons  who  are  alerted  to  its  contents  will  want  to  miss  the 
latest  book  of  Thurman  Arnold,  one  of  Wyoming's  leading  citizens 
(until  recently  he  had  his  name  on  a  Laramie  law  firm's  door  as 
"of  counsel").  His  Fair  Fights  and  Foul  is  an  intriguing  medley 
of  autobiography,  legal  exposition,  economic  treatise,  and  politics, 
seasoned  with  philosophy  and  wit.  Despite  the  difficulties  of 
combining  such  varied  topics,  the  reader  is  immediately  aware  that 
Mr.  Arnold  is  uniquely  qualified  to  discuss  dozens  of  interesting 
and  vital  subjects.  He  has  either  had  the  lead  in  or  occupied  an 
orchestra  seat  at  many  of  the  nation's  star  performances  in  the  last 
half  century.  The  author  is  a  product  of  many  factors:  his  mis- 
sionary ancestors  provide  a  pious  backdrop;  his  lawyer-father,  the 
principles  of  Blackstone;  his  early  ranch  life,  pride  in  self-reliance; 
an  ivy-league  education,  culture  via  the  shock  treatment;  and  his 
experience  with  the  law,  a  practical  approach  to  life's  problems, 
both  individual  and  governmental.  Brilliant  and  perceptive,  the 
author  interweaves  personal  experiences  with  occurrences  in  Wyo- 
ming and  the  nation  from  the  time  of  World  War  I  to  that  of  the 
Great  Society.  No  one  else  ever  had  the  vantage  point  of  being  a 
rancher,  lawyer,  mayor,  state  legislator,  law  teacher,  dean,  govern- 
ment supernumerary,  government  policymaker,  trust-busting  at- 
torney general,  federal  judge,  and  outstanding  private  counsel. 
During  all  of  these  stages,  he  has  had  the  audacity  to  think  his  own 
thoughts  and  the  ingenuity  to  inject  them,  oftener  than  not,  in  high 
places. 

Fair  Fights  and  Foul  is,  as  might  be  expected,  a  sequel  to  the 
earlier  Folklore  of  Capitalism  and  Symbols  of  Government,  but, 
besides  the  inclusion  of  colorful  anecdotes  and  autobiographic 
touches,  is  more  comprehensive  and  panoramic  than  its  predeces- 
sors, and  it  relates  the  metamorphoses  in  government  to  diverse 
forces  ranging  from  the  religious  philosophies  of  St.  Thomas 
Aquinas  to  the  avoidance  of  specifics  by  political  opportunists. 
Importantly,  the  book  is  not  the  mouthings  of  a  Monday  morning 
quarterback,  for  the  author  has  had  an  integral  part  in  the  occur- 
rences of  the  nation.  He  was  a  professor  at  Yale  Law  School 
when,  as  he  says,  "the  cross  fertilization  of  intellectual  disciplines 
.  .  .  made  ...  [it]  a  hot  bed  of  legal  realism."  He  was  an  idea  man 
for  Franklin  D.  Roosevelt,  and  later  an  assistant  attorney  general 
in  forcing  the  long  dormant  antitrust  act  and  changing  the  eco- 
nomic currents  of  the  nation.  In  that  capacity — and  later — he  has 
undoubtedly  participated  in  as  many  controversies  before  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court  as  any  living  advocate.  In  his 
official  position  he  was  successful  in  altering  the  practices  of  great 
corporations  but  unsuccessful  in  his  efforts  to  limit  the  monopolies 


248  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

of  unions.  After  his  re-entry  of  private  practice  with  Abe  Fortas 
(now  on  the  United  States  Supreme  Court)  he  became  an  attorney 
for  the  underdog-criminal,  and  the  harassed  government  employee. 
Advice  for  and  against  cartels  has  been  his  forte.  Regarding  all 
of  these  subjects,  the  author  with  modesty  but  frankness  freely 
expresses  his  analyses  and  views,  recounting  pungent  happenings 
and  peppery  excerpts.  Like  the  telecasting  of  an  athletic  event  by 
a  star  athlete,  it  carries  the  punch  of  experience. 

Although  Mr.  Arnold  has  a  great  love  for  his  profession  and 
its  potential  in  "its  rule  of  law  above  men"  he  is  not  averse  to  an 
occasional  barb  at  the  barrister,  i.e.,  "Legal  learning  is  ths  art  of 
making  simple  things  complicated,  which  should  be  a  simple  task 
for  anyone."  Basically,  however,  he  is  preoccupied  with  the 
national  economy,  challenging  what  he  considers  to  be  the  poli- 
ticians' hobgoblins,  which  envision  the  dangers  of  government 
planning,  inflation,  the  loss  of  states'  rights,  and  a  large  national 
debt  resulting  from  an  unbalanced  budget.  His  thesis  is  that  the 
government  should,  uninhibited  by  states'  rights  or  the  fear  of 
overspending,  use  the  full  productive  capacity  of  the  nation. 

An  admitted  dissenter  and  often  labeled  an  iconoclast,  Thurman 
Arnold  in  his  book  presents  a  different  slant  on  many  national 
problems.  He  is  controversial;  that  is  his  stock  in  trade;  but  even 
those  whose  ire  he  arouses  must  admit  he  presents  a  refreshing 
challenge. 

Cheyenne  Glenn  Parker 


Red  Cloud  and  the  Sioux  Problem.    By  James  C.  Olson.     (Univer- 
sity of  Nebraska  Press,  1965.   Illus.,  index.   375  pp.    $5.95.) 

Red  Cloud,  the  much-discussed  war  chief  of  the  Oglala  Sioux, 
was  a  constant  thorn  in  the  side.  Sometimes  in  the  side  of  the 
military  who  fought  him;  but  just  as  often  in  the  side  of  his  own 
people  who  seemed  to  hold  him  in  respect  even  though  they  didn't 
understand  him.  Just  how  important  a  problem  this  Indian  leader 
presented  is  excellently  displayed  in  Dr.  James  C.  Olson's  newest 
work,  Red  Cloud  and  the  Sioux  Problem.  There  are  times  when 
the  reader  is  forced  to  wonder  just  which  of  the  many  problems 
Dr.  Olson's  title  is  addressing:  the  army's  conflict  with  the  Sioux, 
the  Indian  Commission's  problem  with  the  army,  or  the  Sioux 
problem  with  Red  Cloud.    All  are  discussed  in  some  depth. 

The  hostility  of  two  diverse  people  would  have  been  enough  to 
cover  the  plains  with  violence.  But  added  to  this  normal  hostility 
was,  on  the  one  hand,  the  bureaucratic  nightmare  of  conflicting 
agencies  which  controlled  United  States  policy  toward  the  Sioux, 
and  on  the  other  hand,  the  vast  and  never  completely  understood 
political  undercurrents  of  Indian  cheiftainship. 


BOOK  REVIEWS  249 

These  forces  all  came  to  bear  on  Red  Cloud  whose  role  as  war 
chief,  diplomat,  senior  statesman,  and  rebel  caused  both  sides  to 
see  him  as  hero  and  villain.  Dr.  Olson  has  produced  a  penetrating 
work  on  these  problems  by  combining  a  biographical  study  of  this 
Indian  leader,  an  intriguing  investigation  into  the  poUtical  structure 
of  the  Sioux  nation,  and  an  amazingly  clear  discussion  of  the 
United  States  Government  "policy." 

Much  has  been  written  about  both  Red  Cloud  and  the  Sioux. 
This  work  is  a  welcome  addition.  Dr.  Olson's  study  is  not  a 
"definitive  account  of  the  relations  between  the  Sioux  and  the 
United  States  Government  during  the  years  after  the  Civil  War", 
(dust  jacket)  but  it  is  a  scholarly  and  well-written  investigation  of 
one  of  the  key  blocks  in  the  structure  of  such  post-war  relations. 
The  author  has  not  tried  to  cover  all  phases  of  the  Sioux  problem 
nor  has  he  attempted  to  assimilate  areas  in  which  relationships 
between  the  Sioux  and  the  United  States  were  being  handled  with 
greater  success.  The  Santee  and  Wahpeton  Sioux  had  found  a 
fairly  workable  solution.  However,  Olson  has  done  a  remarkable 
job  of  showing  some  of  the  domestic  problems  of  Indian  leadership 
and  how  this  affected  the  consideration  of  treaties  proposed. 

I  agree  with  the  author  that  the  source  of  Red  Cloud's  name  "is 
of  small  moment"  in  such  a  study  (p.  18)  and  wonder  why,  if  this 
is  the  case,  he  devoted  four  pages  to  discussing  it. 

While  this  work  is  obviously  well  researched  and  documented. 
Dr.  Olson  is  very  quick  to  use  as  sources  authors  and  works  that  he 
has  previously  found  reason  to  discredit.  Sheldon's  Red  Cloud, 
Chief  of  the  Sioux,  and  Hyde's  Red  Cloud's  Folk,  whose  reliability 
has  been  questioned,  seem  to  serve  him  as  a  key  to  his  research. 
On  the  other  hand  he  does  not  qualify  the  Eli  S.  Ricker  interviews 
which  he  uses  often.  Utley,  The  Last  Days  of  the  Sioux  Nation, 
and  others  feel  that  there  is  no  small  amount  of  fanatasy  in  Ricker's 
interviews,     (p.  288) 

As  a  parting  comment  let  me  thank  Dr.  Olson  for  adding  the 
weight  of  this  fine  study  to  the  side  of  those  historians  who  still 
insist  on  locating  footnotes  at  the  end  of  the  page  where  they  can  be 
used  rather  than  at  the  end  of  the  book  where  they  can  save  the 
publisher  money. 

Cheyenne  Paul  M.  Edwards 


Nathan  Addison  Baker  (1843-1934).  By  Nolie  Mumey  (Denver: 
The  Old  West  Pubhshing  Company.  1965.  Illus.,  index. 
160  pp.    $15.00) 

Nathan  Addison  Baker  contributed  to  the  early  history  of  Wyo- 
ming and  Colorado,  but  little  has  been  written  or  remembered 


250  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

about  him.  Dr.  Nolle  Mumey,  who  recently  acquired  Baker's 
diaries  for  1865,  1866,  and  1867,  has  researched  into  his  career 
and  has,  in  addition  to  publishing  the  diaries,  given  a  brief  sketch 
of  his  life. 

The  diaries  are  made  up  of  brief  notations,  giving  weather,  short 
notes  as  to  some  of  his  business  and  social  activities,  occasional 
references  to  events  of  the  day,  and  were  written  while  a  resident  of 
Denver  and  later  of  Cheyenne.  These  give  some  interesting  side- 
lights such  as  the  offerings  given  by  the  theatre  and  of  prices  of 
commodities  in  the  frontier  cities. 

One  chapter  is  devoted  to  his  activities  as  a  Wyoming  journalist. 
Baker  started  his  first  newspaper,  the  Colorado  Leader,  in  Denver 
on  June  6,  1867.  He  began  publishing  the  Cheyenne  Leader  on 
September  19,  1867,  and  later  started  the  Laramie  Daily  Sentinel 
and  South  Pass  News.  The  Leader  was  the  first  permanent  news- 
paper established  in  Wyoming  and  a  complete  set  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year  ( 1 898  )  is  located  in  the  files  of  the  Wyoming  State 
Archives  and  Historical  Department  in  Cheyenne.  Bound  in  with 
Volume  I  is  a  fragmentary  copy  of  Volume  I,  No.  I  of  his 
Colorado  Leader. 

Volume  I  of  the  Laramie  Daily  Sentinel  has  never  been  located, 
but  a  complete  set  following  that  volume  beginning  in  May,  1 870, 
is  located  at  the  Carnegie  Public  Library  in  Laramie,  Wyoming, 
and  is  on  film  in  the  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department. 
Of  the  South  Pass  News,  few  are  still  extant,  but  a  few  issues  of  the 
rare  newspaper  are  located  in  the  State  Archives  and  Historical 
Department. 

In  his  later  years.  Baker,  in  corresponding  with  Dr.  Grace  Ray- 
mond Hebard  of  the  University  of  Wyoming,  wrote  some  rem- 
iniscences of  his  early  life  in  Wyoming.  Some  of  his  statements  in 
this  correspondence,  published  verbatim,  are  questionable  due  to  a 
faulty  memory  at  an  advanced  age.  For  example  he  is  mistaken 
as  to  when  the  Leader  was  issued  tri-weekly,  on  later  ownership  of 
the  Daily  Sentinel,  and  he  insists  that  the  Frontier  Index,  the 
itinerant  newspaper  which  crossed  Wyoming  as  the  railroad  was 
built,  was  not  a  true  newspaper.  He  also  misses  the  distance  and 
location  of  South  Pass  City  from  Rock  Springs,  which  was  not 
founded  until  a  few  years  after  the  construction  of  the  railroad. 

Dr.  Mumey  has  included  in  this  volume  inserts  of  facsimile 
copies  of  Volume  I,  No.  22,  November  9,  1867.  of  the  Cheyenne 
Leader;  Volume  I,  No.  16,  September  2,  1869,  of  the  South  Pass 
News;  Volume  I,  No.  1,  July  6,  1867,  of  the  Colorado  Leader; 
Volume  I,  No.  2,  April  26,  1879,  of  Colorado  Rural  Life,  and  a 
map  of  a  proposed  Atlantic-Pacific  Railway  Tunnel,  a  project  in 
which  he  was  greatly  interested.  The  latter  dream  became  a  reality 
later  at  the  nearby  site  of  the  Moffat  Tunnel,  proving  his  dream 
had  been  practical  although  he  had  no  part  in  its  accomplishment. 


BOOK  REVIEWS  251 

Baker's  life  was  spent  in  Colorado  following  the  sale  of  his 
Wyoming  interests  in  the  early  1870's  and  this  work  deals  largely 
with  that  portion  of  his  life,  touching  on  his  business  promotions, 
interests  and  work  in  that  state. 

The  book  is  illustrated  with  a  number  of  rare  photographs.  Of 
special  interest  in  Wyoming  is  one  of  the  Cheyenne  Leader  office 
which  later  burned  in  January,  1870,  and  an  insert,  a  facsimile 
copy  of  the  "First  Carrier's  Annual  Offering  to  Patrons  of  the  Daily 
Evening  Leader,  City  of  Cheyenne,  January  1,  1868,"  a  poetical 
offering  for  a  Happy  New  Year  extolling  Cheyenne. 

The  book  is  published  in  a  limited  edition  of  500  by  Fred  A. 
Rosenstock  of  The  Old  West  Publishing  Company  in  an  attractive 
format. 

Cheyenne  Lola  M.  Homsher 


The  Buckeye  Rovers  in  the  Gold  Rush:  An  Edition  of  Two 
Diaries  Edited  with  an  Introduction  by  Howard  L.  Scame- 
horn.     (Athens:     Ohio  University  Press,  1965.     $5.00) 

In  April,  1849,  a  company  of  Ohioans  who  called  themselves 
the  "Buckeye  Rovers"  set  out  across  the  long  trail  to  California  to 
seek  wealth  in  the  Mother  Lode  country.  They  traveled  up  the 
Platte  and  North  Platte  Rivers,  pausing  at  the  newly  established 
military  post  of  Fort  Laramie,  and  spending  a  month  along  those 
streams  before  reaching  the  Sweetwater.  After  climbing  South 
Pass,  they  moved  on  up  the  old  Oregon  Trail  and  down  the  Snake 
River  before  cutting  south  to  the  Humboldt  and  the  California 
Trail.  After  the  usual  privations  and  hardships  of  the  overland 
trek,  the  party  reached  California  where  they  concentrated  in  the 
Northern  Mines  region  above  Sacramento  in  order  to  work  for 
gold  along  the  Bear,  American,  and  Yuba  Rivers.  Here  they 
would  remain  for  more  than  two  years. 

Two  among  the  Buckeye  Rovers  recorded  the  outstanding  inci- 
dents and  impressions  of  their  journey  in  diaries.  John  Edwin 
Banks  and  J.  Elza  Armstrong  both  wrote  of  their  experiences 
across  the  long  road  to  California.  Banks'  diaries  are  the  more 
important  for  they  continue  the  emigrants'  story  in  the  California 
Mines,  while  Armstrong  terminated  his  entries  when  they  arrived 
in  the  gold  fields.  Furthermore,  Banks  recorded  a  wealth  of  detail 
that  failed  to  impress  Armstrong.  Nevertheless,  Armstrong's  ac- 
count is  valuable  as  it  serves  to  corroborate  Banks'  comments  as 
well  as  to  add  an  occasional  bit  of  information  Banks  failed  to 
record. 

Unfortunately,  one  of  the  three  volumes  in  which  Banks  made 
his  entries  was  lost  long  ago,  but  the  first  and  third  nonetheless 


252  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

give  some  idea  of  experiences  in  the  interim.  Once  in  California, 
Banks  ceased  to  make  daily  entries  in  favor  of  one  entry  per 
week,  a  schedule  he  followed  quite  faithfully.  Throughout,  his 
comments  show  much  more  perception  and  insight  than  Arm- 
strong's. The  passages  dealing  with  the  years  in  the  mines  are 
particularly  interesting,  for  here  Banks  recorded  all  the  hopes, 
fears,  and  frustrations  which  plagued  the  average  miner,  as  well  as 
myriad  aspects  of  life  in  the  Northern  Mines.  His  diaries  reflect 
the  harsh  toil  of  gold  mining,  the  antipathy  towards  Chinese  immi- 
grants, the  overcrowded  conditions  in  wealthy  lodes,  and  finally, 
a  measure  of  success  in  the  area  around  Grass  Valley  in  Nevada 
County. 

In  editing  these  two  diaries,  Howard  Scamehom  wisely  com- 
bined Banks'  and  Armstrong's  trail  diaries  to  present  a  chrono- 
logical account,  with  two  entries  per  day  where  possible.  The 
combined  entries  provide  a  clearer  picture  of  the  journey  of  this 
wagon  train  than  separate  publication  of  the  two  diaries  would 
have  afforded.  The  editor  has  enhanced  these  original  sources 
with  a  thorough,  though  brief,  introduction,  and  with  an  epilogue 
which  traces  the  Ohioans  return  to  their  native  state  and  their 
subsequent  history.  Mr.  Scamehom  has  also  done  a  competent 
job  with  the  footnotes,  which  are  collected  at  the  end  of  the  book. 
Additional  credit  is  due  the  publisher  for  attractive  design  and 
good  printing. 

In  all  respects.  Buckeye  Rovers  is  a  valuable  addition  to  any 
collection  of  Western  Americana. 

Fort  Laramie  National  Historic  Site  Gordon  Chappell 


Philo  White's  Narrative  of  a  Cruize  in  the  Pacific  to  South  America 
and  California  on  the  U.  S.  Sloop-of-War  "Dale"  1841-1843. 
Edited  by  Charles  L.  Camp.  (Denver,  Colo.:  Old  West 
Publishing  Co.     1965.     84  pp.    Illus.    index.     $15.00.) 

In  Wyoming  in  1842  the  fur  trade  had  reached  its  concluding 
years  and  the  first  real  emigration  to  the  Oregon  Country  and 
California  was  beginning.  In  our  concern  with  the  history  or  what 
was  to  become  Wyoming  and  which  was  then  a  wilderness  area 
with  only  one  established  fur  trading  post.  Ft.  Laramie,  located 
within  its  present  boundaries,  and  with  the  start  of  the  Oregon 
Trail  in  this  period,  we  overlook  the  civilization  long  established 
and  flourishing  along  the  Pacific  Coasts  of  North  and  South  Amer- 
ica. Cruize  in  the  Pacific  is  a  fascinating  account  written  by  Philo 
White  in  1 842-43  of  his  activities  and  observations  while  purser  on 
the  sloop-of-war  "Dale"  as  it  sailed  around  the  Horn  and  stopped 
at  ports  in  South  America,  Mexico  and  California. 


BOOK  REVIEWS  253 

Philo  White,  a  traveler,  newspaper  man,  politician  and  intelligent 
observer,  brings  to  life  the  first  stirrings  of  the  U.  S.  Pacific  miUtary 
squadron,  forerunner  of  the  great  battle  fleets  of  later  years,  as  well 
as  pointing  up  the  importance  of  the  area  to  the  United  States  and 
its  trade.  The  duty  of  the  U.  S.  fleet  was  to  forestall  the  English 
navy  along  the  California  Coast,  for  Oregon  Territory  was  under 
dispute,  and  the  British  were  still  empire  building.  As  a  result  of  a 
misunderstanding  on  the  part  of  the  fiery  Thomas  ap  Catesby 
Jones,  Commander  of  the  U.  S.  fleet,  a  seldom-heralded  incident 
occurred  in  his  abortive  "capture"  of  Monterey  in  October  1842. 
He  mistakenly  believed  the  U.  S.  and  Mexico  were  at  war  and,  as  a 
result,  for  24  hours  the  stars  and  stripes  flew  over  this  Mexican 
possession.  Once  the  true  situation  became  clear,  Jones  imme- 
diately restored  it  to  Mexican  sovereignty. 

White  describes  the  apprehensions  of  the  scattered  American 
settlers  and  their  fear  that  England  was  waiting  to  grasp  both 
Oregon  and  northern  California,  and  he  touches  upon  the  way  of 
life  among  the  Spanish  settlements,  the  conditions  of  the  Indians, 
and  the  decline  under  Spanish  rule. 

Wyoming,  remote  as  it  was,  was  affected  by  these  events,  since 
in  1 842-43  its  western  areas  were  then  claimed  by  the  British  under 
Oregon  Country  rights  and  by  Mexico.  The  great  transcontinental 
highway,  the  Oregon  Trail,  which  developed  in  the  years  imme- 
diately following,  was  to  witness  the  vast  migration  of  emigrants 
to  the  Pacific  which  turned  the  tide  of  history  and  stretched  the 
boundary  of  the  United  States  to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Philo  White's  diary  is  important  to  the  history  of  the  period,  and 
of  special  interest  is  the  fact  that  it  was  located  in  Cheyenne, 
Wyoming,  the  property  of  Mrs.  Albert  Walton.  Philo  White  had 
married  into  the  Goodrich  family,  and  was  a  great-uncle  by  mar- 
riage of  Mrs.  Walton.  It  had  remained  in  the  family  for  more  than 
a  century. 

Mr.  Fred  Rosenstock,  well-known  dealer  and  authority  on  West- 
ern Americana,  acquired  the  diary  and  is  the  publisher  of  this 
account,  which  was  edited  in  an  able  manner  by  Charles  L.  Camp. 

Designed  and  printed  in  a  beautiful  format,  the  text  is  accom- 
panied by  illustrations,  including  the  taking  of  Monterey,  from  the 
journal  of  William  H.  Myers,  1841-42,  located  in  the  Bancroft 
Library,  and  by  a  portrait  of  Philo  White.  It  has  been  published  in 
a  limited  edition  of  1000  copies. 

Cheyenne  Lola  M.  Homsher 


254  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Smoke  Over  The  Divide.  By  James  L.  Ehernberger  and  Francis 
G.  Gschwind.  (Callaway,  Nebraska:  E  &  G  Publications, 
1965.     Illus.    64  pp.    $4.95) 

The  steam  locomotives  of  the  Union  Pacific  are  now  represented 
in  three  accurately  prepared  volumes  that  can  be  recommended- 
Kratville's  Big  Boy  in  clothbound  edition,  Ehernberger  and  Gsch- 
wind's  Smoke  Across  the  Prairie,  and  now  their  new  book  entitled 
Smoke  Over  the  Divide.  These  are  publications  for  the  historian, 
railroad  man  and  buff,  alike;  and  all  three  are  priced  within  reach 
of  the  average  po::ketbook. 

Smoke  Over  the  Divide,  published  only  last  summer,  is  already 
a  favorite  among  the  railroad  men  of  the  Union  Pacific's  Wyoming 
Division.  Rightly  so,  for  it  is  the  story  in  pictures  and  words  of 
their  line  when  steam  ruled  the  railroads.  Represented  in  this 
volume  are  big  hogs  handling  tonnage  over  Sherman  Hill  and  up 
Weber  and  Echo  Canyons.  Sleek  passenger  trains  are  included 
along  with  the  branch  line  local  freights.  Nearly  every  portion  of 
the  Wyoming  Division  is  covered  from  Denver  and  Cheyenne 
through  Ogden.  A  large  double-page  spread  is  devoted  to  a 
dramatic  view  of  steam  power  at  the  Laramie  coal  chute  and 
roundhouse. 

Edd  H.  Bailey,  Union  Pacific's  president,  has  written  a  favorable 
introduction  for  the  book. 

Besides  the  many  fine  photographs  of  trains,  a  brief  history  is 
included  describing  the  various  sub-divisions  and  branches  of  the 
Wyoming  Division.  Another  section  covers  the  different  types 
of  engines  used  over  these  lines  in  later  years  with  description  and 
pictures  of  each  class  of  locomotive.  And  finally,  to  make  one 
better  acquainted  with  the  territory  covered,  three  fine  maps,  an 
old  time  table  page,  and  profile  diagram  utilize  other  available 
space  in  the  book.  Anyone  who  liked  the  first  two  books  that  we 
have  mentioned  should  add  this  new  volume  to  his  library. 

Green  River  R.  E.  Prince 


GPH:  An  Informal  Record  of  George  P.  Hammond  and  His  Era 
in  the  Bancroft  Library  (Berkeley,  The  Friends  of  the  Ban- 
croft Library,  University  of  California,  1965.     1 19pp). 

To  mark  the  occasion  of  George  P.  Hammond's  retirement  The 
Friends  of  the  Bancroft  Library  have  published  this  handsome 
festschrift  (designed  and  printed  by  Lawton  and  Alfred  Kennedy) 
consisting  mainly  of  encomia  contributed  by  eight  long-time  asso- 
ciates. 

Since   1946,  Dr.  Hammond  has  been  Director  of  the  famous 


BOOK  REVIEWS  255 

Bancroft  Library.  Before  that,  he  taught  history  and  served  as 
dean  of  the  graduate  school  at  the  University  of  New  Mexico. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Dr.  Hammond  has  led  a  busy  and 
useful  life.  At  the  Bancroft  he  has  improved  the  organization  of 
the  vast  collections,  and  added  considerably  to  them.  Just  after  he 
arrived  at  the  Bancroft  he  "brought  into  being"  The  Friends  of  the 
Bancroft  Library  "to  raise  funds  for  the  purpose  of  supplementing 
the  ordinary  funds"  of  the  Library.  The  money-raising  ability  of 
The  Friends,  who  number  about  1,000,  is  awe-inspiring.  Among 
the  purchases  made  possible  by  their  solicitations  is  one  costing 
close  to  $500,000 — The  Robert  B.  Honeyman,  Jr.  Collection  of 
Early  California  and  Western  Pictorial  Material. 

In  1950,  Dr.  Hammond  established  a  research  project  in  Eng- 
land, setting  Dr.  Robert  H.  Burke  and  two  photographers  to  work 
locating  and  filming  business  records  of  British  firms  active  in  the 
West  and  Mexico.  Other  Bancroft  agents  have  rounded  up  micro- 
film facsimiles  in  France,  Holland,  Spain,  Portugal,  Mexico,  and 
other  countries.  Dale  L.  Morgan  (who  has  been  on  the  Bancroft 
staff  since  1954)  quite  rightly  calls  Hammond  "the  most  eminent 
living  student  of  the  Spanish  Southwest,"  and,  certainly,  Hammond 
has  not  passed  up  opportunities  to  acquire  manuscripts  dealing 
with  his  first  love.  Yet,  as  Robert  H.  Becker,  Assistant  Director 
at  the  Bancroft,  declares,  Hammond  has  the  "ability  and  willing- 
ness to  put  the  interest  of  the  Library  ahead  of  his  own,  rather 
than  the  reverse,  as  is  often  the  case."  During  his  tenure  at  the 
Bancroft,  for  example,  Hammond  has  given  considerable  attention 
to  collecting  literary  manuscripts  and  political  papers  of  recent 
California  leaders,  such  as  Culbert  L.  Olson  and  Hiram  Johnson. 

Besides  collecting  assiduously,  Hammond  has  taken  significant 
steps  to  make  the  Library's  vast  collections  more  accessible  to 
scholars,  organizing  and  calendaring  them,  and  publishing  a  com- 
prehensive guide  (only  the  first  volume  is  in  print,  but  the  second 
soon  will  be,  also). 

Directing  the  Library  would  be  a  full  time  job  for  most  persons, 
but  not  for  Dr.  Hammond.  He  has  continued  to  teach  and  publish 
regularly.  Excluding  book  reviews,  his  publications  list  includes 
87  titles.  He  is  best  known  for  his  scholarly  editing  of  the  Quivara 
Society  publications  (13  volumes),  the  Coronado  Cuarto  Centen- 
nial series  (12  volumes),  and  the  Larkin  papers  (10  volumes). 

Withal,  Dr.  Hammond  is  a  quiet,  patient,  modest,  affable  gentle- 
man. May  he  enjoy  his  retirement  and,  freed  from  administrative 
duties,  find  it  possible  to  carry  out  the  writing  he  has  planned  for 
himself. 

University  of  Wyoming  T.  A.  Larson 


256  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

Peter  Hurd.  A  Portrait  Sketch  from  Life.  By  Paul  Horgan. 
(Austin:  University  of  Texas  Press  for  the  Amon  Carter 
Museum  of  Western  Art.     1965.     Illus.     $7.50) 

This  reviewer  has  been  an  admirer  of  the  art  of  Peter  Hurd  since 
acquiring  one  of  his  lithographs  while  in  New  Mexico  in  the  late 
1930's,  and  has  watched  with  interest  the  development  of  his  work 
throughout  the  years. 

This  brief  biography  of  the  artist,  written  by  the  prominent 
author  and  historian  Paul  Horgan,  gives  more  intimate  glimpses  of 
Hurd  than  could  most  biographers,  for  Hurd  and  Horgan  have 
been  close  friends  since  their  cadet  days  in  1919-1920  at  the  New 
Mexico  Military  Institute  at  Roswell. 

Horgan  sketchily  follows  Hurd's  career  from  his  cadet  days  to 
the  present:  from  his  first  drawings  made  as  a  cadet;  through 
his  trial  period  of  decision  as  to  whether  to  continue  at  West  Point 
and  follow  an  army  career  or  break  with  the  military  life  and  devote 
himself  to  art;  and  through  his  various  phases  of  development  as 
an  artist. 

Peter  Hurd  is  a  truly  Western  artist  and  in  his  paintings  he  has 
captured  with  understanding  and  sympathy  the  beauty  and  mystery 
of  his  beloved  southwest  country.  His  use  of  lights  and  shadows 
and  of  colors  is  outstanding,  and  through  his  art  he  gives  a  true 
feeling  of  what  the  southwest  is.  Through  his  more  recent  mural 
work  he  has  gone  farther  and  given  with  great  understanding  the 
history  of  the  area:  what  the  southwest  was,  what  it  is,  and  how  it 
has  come  to  be  what  it  is  now. 

The  book  contains  16  black  and  white  plates  covering  his  paint- 
ings from  1936-1961.  Six  color  plates,  with  one  exception,  are 
all  of  the  1960  period.    All  are  excellent  examples  of  his  work. 

This  is  another  of  the  fine  contributions  through  publication 
being  made  by  the  Amon  Carter  Museum  of  Fort  Worth,  Texas. 

Cheyenne  Henryetta  Berry 


UNIVERSITY  PRESS  REPRINTS 

The  following  reprints  in  paperback  editions  are  now  off  the 
press  and  may  be  obtained  through  bookstores. 

UNIVERSITY   OF  NEBRASKA   PRESS 

Bison  Books 

Pawnee  Bill,  A  Biography  of  Major  Gordon  W .  Lillie,  White  Chief 
of  the  Pawnees,  Wild  West  Showman,  Last  of  the  Land 
Boomers,    by  Glenn  Shirley.    $1.50 

The  West  That  Was.    From  Texas  to  Montana.    By  John  Leakey, 

as  told  to  Nellie  Yost.    $  1 .50. 


Contributors 


Lewis  L.  Gould,  a  graduate  student  and  acting  instructor  at 
Yale  University,  has  done  extensive  research  on  several  prominent 
political  figures  in  Wyoming.  The  subject  of  his  Ph.D.  thesis  is 
Willis  Van  Devanter  in  Wyoming  politics.  His  article  on  A.  S. 
Mercer  and  the  Johnson  County  War  appeared  in  Arizona  and  the 
West,  Spring,  1965,  published  by  the  University  of  Arizona  Press. 

Dr.  M.  Paul  Holsinger,  native  of  Philadelphia,  earned  his 
B.A.  degree  at  Duke  University,  and  his  M.A.  and  Ph.D.  degrees 
at  the  University  of  Denver.  He  is  now  an  assistant  professor  of 
history  at  Oregon  State  University,  and  he  and  his  wife  and  two 
young  children  make  their  home  in  Corvallis.  Previous  published 
writings  include  an  article,  "Amache"  (Japanese  Relocation  in 
Colorado,  1942-1945)  in  The  Colorado  Magazine  in  1964. 

Frederick  I.  Olson  is  contributing  for  the  first  time  to  the 
Annals  of  Wyoming,  but  he  has  had  articles  published  in  the 
Milwaukee  Journal,  the  Wisconsin  Magazine  of  History,  Mid- 
America,  The  Mississippi  Valley  Historical  Review  and  the  Dic- 
tionary of  Wisconsin  Biography.  Dr.  Olson  was  born  in  Wiscon- 
sin, attended  Harvard  University  where  he  received  his  B.A.,  M.A. 
and  Ph.D.  degrees,  and  since  1946  has  taught  at  the  University  of 
Wisconsin-Milwaukee  and  its  predecessor  institutions.  He  is  now 
professor  of  history  at  that  institution  and  associate  dean  (Mil- 
waukee), University  Extension  Division,  University  of  Wisconsin. 
Dr.  Olson  is  a  member  of  numerous  professional  organizations  and 
his  hobbies  include  golf  and  collecting  Lincolniana  stamps,  coins 
and  books.    Dr.  and  Mrs.  Olson  have  three  children. 

Dr.  Wilson  O.  Clough,  long-time  professor  of  Enghsh  at  the 
University  of  Wyoming,  has  since  1956  been  the  William  Robert- 
son Coe  Professor  of  American  Studies,  and  Professor  Emeritus 
since  1961.  He  has  authored  the  History  of  the  University  of 
Wyoming  as  well  as  several  other  books,  among  them  Our  Long 
Heritage,  now  in  paperback  as  Intellectual  Origins  of  American 
Thought,  and  most  recently  The  Necessary  Earth.  He  has  just 
completed,  for  future  publication,  the  translation  of  a  Frenchman's 
letters  written  from  Colorado,  Cheyenne  and  Fort  Laramie  in 
1867. 

Charles  B.  Erlanson,  Sheridan  rancher,  has  lived  in  Wyoming 
since  1911,  having  immigrated  from  his  native  Sweden,  where  he 
was  bom  in  1891.  In  his  youth  he  estabUshed  friendships  with 
many  Cheyenne  Indians  on  the  Cheyenne  reservation  in  Montana, 


258  ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 

and  is  still  looked  upon  as  a  tribal  member.     His  hobby  is  western 
history. 

Timothy  J.  Mahoney,  retired  stockman,  rancher  and  merchant, 
has  lived  in  Wyoming  most  of  his  life.  Born  in  Denver  in  1893, 
he  attended  schools  there,  including  Sacred  Heart  College,  now 
Regis  College,  and  moved  to  Wyoming  in  191 1.  He  writes  poetry 
as  a  hobby  and  has  had  historical  articles  published  in  the  Casper 
newspapers. 

Burton  S.  Hill.  See  Annals  of  Wyoming,  Vol.  34,  No.  1, 
April,  1962,  pp.  131-132. 

Hans  Kleiber.  See  Annals  of  Wyoming,  Vol.  33,  No.  1,  April, 
1961,  p.  115. 


///  t//e  West-Jn  My  U^^st 

By 
Charles  B.  Erlanson 

I've  lived  all  my  life  in  the  West — in  my  West, 

And  I  know  not  the  world  beyond  my  own  little  nest. 

But  strangers  who  ask  me  if  I  know  what  I  miss. 
To  live  in  this  far  West,  I  answer  like  this: 

"When  you  rise  in  the  morning,  at  the  break  of  the  day; 

When  the  sunbeams  are  driving  the  shadows  away, 
And  you're  filling  your  lungs  with  the  pure  mountain  air, 

Perfumed  from  the  flowers  that  bloom  over  there; 

And  the  robins  are  singing  their  sweet  melodies. 
In  the  joy  of  the  freedom — there  high  in  the  trees, 

If  the  call  of  'the  open'  has  entered  your  breast. 

You'll  then  know  the  reason  why  I  love  the  Far  West." 

When  I  ride  all  alone,  in  the  hours  of  the  night, 

When  the  moon  and  the  stars  throw  their  wonderful  light, 

With  the  landscape  in  silver — the  world  seems  at  rest — 
I  feel  nearer  to  God — out  here  in  the  West. 


Qeneml  hdez 


Adams,  Franklin  P.,  37:1:81 

Adams,  T.  B.,  37:1:35,  37 

Afro- American  Club,  37:1:53 

Allen,  Charles,  37:2:182 

Allen,  John  W.,  Legends  and  Lore 

of  Southern  Illinois,  review,  37:1: 

130-140 
Allison,  Archie,  37:1:113 
Alta  Vista  (1875),  37:1:85 
Andrews,   N.   L.,    37:2:148;   photo, 

152 
Andrews,  Ralph  W.,  Picture  Gallery 

Pioneers,  review,  37:1:132 
Antelope  Gap,  37:1:94 
Antillion's  Spanish  Map  (1802),  37: 

2:212 
Arber,  Perry,  37:1:96 
Argesheimer,  Hattie,  37:1:31 
Argesheimer,  J.  C,  photo,  37:1:5 
Arizona  Crossing,  37:1:84 
"Arkansas  Traveller",  37:1:54 
Armijo,  Jose,  37:1:87 
Armijo,  Miguel,  37:1:87 
Arnold,  Thurman,  Fair  Fights  and 

Foul,  review,  37:2:247 
Arp  &  Hammond,  37:1:53,  69 
Arrowsmith  Map  (1834),  37:2:220 
Awards,  Junior  Historical,  37:1:120 
Ayer's  Diary,  37:1:83 


Bacon,  Billy,  37:1:89 

Badwater  Creek,  37:2:220 

Baird,  J.  C,  37:1:44 

Baker,  Charles  S.,  37:1:48 

Baker,  Nathan  Addison,  1843-1934, 
by  Nolle  Mumey,  review,  37:2: 
249 

Baker,  O.  A.,  37:2:194 

Balch,  Henry  G.,  37:1:8 

Ball,  Statehood  Celebration,  37:1: 
66 

Balloon  ascension,  37:1:66 

Ballot,  adoption  of  secret,  37:1:11 

Bancroft,  History  of  Nevada,  Colo- 
rado and  Wyoming,  1540-1888, 
37:2:176 

Bancroft  Library,  The  Friends  of 
the,  GPH:  A  n  Informal  Record  of 
George  P.  Hammond  and  His 
Era  in  the  Bancroft  Library,  re- 
view, 37:2:254-255 

Bar  M  outfit,  37:2:230 


Barber,    Amos    W.,    37:2:188,    194, 

205 
Bard,  Isaac,  (Diaries)  37:1:83,  84 
Bard,   Mrs.   Isaac   (Rose),   37:1:82, 

85 
Bard,  Mattie,  37:1:85 
Bard,  Mother,  37:1:86 
Bare,  John,  37:1:104 
Barker,  Billy,  37:2:224 
Barlow,  Bill,  37:1:47 
Barlow,  L.  H.,  37:1:113 
Barnes,  George  T.,  37:2:163 
Barrett,  Alice  C.  Donoghue,   37:2: 

237 
Barrett,    Mrs.    Augusta    K.    Hogan, 

37:2:238 
Barrett,  Frank  A.,  37:2:234;  photo, 

237 
Barrett,  James  E.,  37:2:238 
Barrett,  John,  37:1:90 
Barrett,    Marialyce    (Mrs.    Richard 

Tobin),  37:2:238 
Barrow,  M.  C,  37:2:199,  201,  202 
Bartholdi,  Anita,  37:1:121 
Bartlett,  Albert,  37:1:75 
Bartlett,  I.  S.,  photo,  37:1:5 
Bartlett,  Mrs.  I.  S.,  37:1:51,  58,  99; 

37:2:172,  177 
Bates,  Lewis  E.,  37:1:104 
Battle  of  the  Butte,  by  Charles  B. 

Erlanson,  37:1:121 
Baxter,  George  W.,  photo,   37:1:5, 

8,  15,  18,  19,  21,  36,  56;  37:2:178 
Beard,  Mrs.  Cyrus,  37:1:113 
Beard,  Frances  B.,  37:2:187 
Bear  Springs  Stage  Station:  37:1:83, 

87 
Beattie  Brothers,  37:2:226 
Beaver  Men,  The,  by  Mari  Sandoz, 

37:1:127-128 
Beaverhead  Fork,  37:2:216 
Beck,  James  B.,  37:2:167 
Beckwith,  A.  C,  37:2:166,  198 
Beckwith,  Quinn  &  Company,  37:1: 

10 
Bennett  v.  Barber,  37:2:192 
Bennett  and  Company,  H.  A.,  37: 

2:154 
Bennett,  George,  37:2:224 
Bennett,  Harvey  A.,  37:2:150,  153, 

154 
Bennett,   Prosecuting   Attorney,   37: 

2:191 
Benton,  T.  S.,  37:2:199 
Bergersen,  Pete,  37:1:35,  36 


260 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


Berry,  Henryetta,  Peter  Hard.  A 
Portrait  Sketch  from  Life,  review, 
37:2:256 

Bettlyoun,  Susan  Bordeaux,  37:1:89 

Beuchner  &  Company,  (Zehner) 
37:1:53,  68 

Biddle  Lake,  37:2:218,  219 

Big  Horn  River,  37:2:216-219 

Bigham,  Mollie,  37:2:154 

Birmingham,  — ,  37:1:35 

Black  Hills,  37:2:217,  220 

Black  Hills  Stage  Coach,  Cheyenne, 
photo,  37:1:76 

Black  Hills  Stage  Company  (1879- 
1882),  37:1:93 

Black  V.  Territory,  37:2:184 

Black,  Tom,  37:1:104,  106 

Blake,  J.  W.,  37:2:176 

Blydenhaugh  v.  Burdick,  37:2:192 

Bobiirg  V.  Prahe  et  al.,  37:2:184 

Bohlen,  Ted,  The  Schwartze  Ranch 
or  Pole  Creek  Ranch,  37:1:81 

"Boiling  Spring",  37:2:219 

Bon  Ton  Stables,  37:1:53 

Booker,  — ,  37:1:68 

Bordeaux,  by  Virginia  Trenholm, 
37:1:90,  95 

Bordeaux,  James,  37:1:89,  90 

Bordeaux,  Louis,  37:1:90 

Borland,  Matt,  37:2:196 

Bourke,  St.  John  G.,  37:1:97 

Bourne,  Alan  W.,  The  Custer  Al- 
bum, A  Pictorial  Biography  of 
General  George  A.  Custer,  re- 
view, 37: 1 :  134 

Bower,  Senator  Earl  T.,  37:1:113 

Bowie,  Al,  37:2:223 

Bowman,  Jack,  37:1:96 

Bowron,  Frank,  37:1:121 

Brace,  Sid,  37:1:104 

Bradford  Brinton  Museum,  Big 
Horn,    Wyoming,    37:1:121 

Bradley,  Florence,  37:1:31 

Bradley,  J.  Guy,  37:1:103 

Bradley,  William  R.,  37:1:75 

Bragg,  Mrs.  William  F.,  Sr.  (Mary), 
37:1:113 

Bray,  Major  Huley,  37:1:80 

Braziel,  Jud,  37:2:150-155 

Brice,  Dave,  37:2:224 

Brier,  Col.  W.  W.,  Jr.,  37:1:80 

Bright,  Alfred  S.,  37:2:182 

Bright,  Emery,  37:2:231 

Bristol,  Sadie,  37:1:31 

Brock,  Shirley,  37:2:147;  sketch  by, 
148 

Brooks,  B.  B..  37:2:197,  202 

Brooks  &  Barrett  Ranch,  37:2:237 

Brost,  Gary  Glen,  37:1:121 

Brown,  Gene,  37:1:121,  photo,  122 


Brown,  J.  H.  C,  37:1:98 
Brown,  Mabel,  37:1:121 
Brown,  Melville  C.   (Judge),  photo, 

37:1:4;  5,  13,  14,  18,  20,  21,  22, 

24,  29,  44,  50,  56,  58,  61 
Brown,  — ,    (stage  driver)    "Stutter- 
ing", 37:1:86 
Bryan,  P.  Gad,  37:2:187 
Buckeye  Rovers  in   the  Gold  Rush, 

edited  by  Howard  L.  Scamehorn, 

review,  37:2:251 
Buckwalter,  — ,  37:1:35 
Budd,  Harriet  C,  37:2:209 
"Buenaventura"  (Green  River),  37: 

2:213,  219 
Buffalo  Bill,  Wild  West  Show,  37: 

1  ■  88 
Buffalo  in  1884,  photo,  37:2:146 
"Bull  Pen"  (North  Park),  37:2:219 
Burgess,     Terri     Agnes,     37:1:121; 

photo,  122 
Burhans,  Rachel,  37:2:175,  176 
Burnett,  — ,  37:2:231 
Burnett,  Finn,  37:2:239 
Burritt,  Charles  H.,  37:1:24;  37:2: 

151;  photo,  152;  196 
Butler.  A.  D.,  37:1:80 


Cahill,  Margaret,  37:1:31 
Calamity  Jane,  37:1:86 
Caldwell,  George  R.,  37:1:10 
Caldwell,  Isaac  P.,  37:2:176 
Camp  Carlin,  37:1:35,  84,  85 
Camp  Robinson   (Nebraska),  37:1: 

98 
Camp,    Charles    L.,    Philo    White's 
Narrative  of  a  Cruize  in  the  Pa- 
cific to  South  America  and  Cali- 
fornia on  the  U.  S.  Sloop-of-War 
"Dale"   1841-1843,   review,    37:2: 
252 
Campbell,  A.  C,  37:1:14,  17,  18 
Campbell,  Robert  (1834),  37:1:93 
Canton,  Frank  M.,  37:2:151;  photo, 

152;  190 
Carey,  Joseph  M.,  37:1:7,  9,  10,  35, 
37,  40,  43,  45,  47,  49,  56,  photo 
of  home,  70;  Joseph  M.  Carey 
and  Wyoming  Statehood,  by  Lewis 
L.  Gould,  37:2:157-203;  photo, 
37:1:16;  37:2:158 
Carley,  Maurine,  37:1:75;  and  Vir- 
ginia Cole  Trenholm,  The  Sho- 
shonis:  Sentinels  of  the  Rockies, 
review,  37:1:125-126 


GENERAL  INDEX 


261 


Carpender,    Mary   Elizabeth,   Fagan 

Ranch    or    Horse    Creek    Station, 

37:1:82 
Carrington,  Edward,  37:1:86 
Carroll,  John  P.,  photo,  37:1:4,  5, 

7,  9,  12 
Casebeer,  J.  A.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Casper  Chronicles,  by  Casper  Zonta 

Club,  37:1:121 
Celebration  of  Wyoming  Statehood, 

37:1:35 
Chadwick,  Mrs.  Russell  (Elise  Nita 

Hunt),  37:2:235 
Chambers,  Joe,  37:2:226 
Chaplin,  W.  E.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5,  14 
Chapman,  Mark,  37:1:84 
Chapman  v.  Barber,  37:2:192 
Chappell,     Gordon,     The     Buckeye 

Rovers  in  the  Gold  Rush,  review, 

37:2:252 
Chatterton,  Fenimore  C,  37:2:188, 

196,  197,  198 
Cheyenne  Bible  Society  (1876),  37: 

1:95 
Cheyenne  and  Black  Hills  Stage  and 

Express  Line,   37:1:77;  map,  78; 

79,  94,  96,  98,  101 
Cheyenne     Business     houses,     1875 

listing,  37:1:77 
Cheyenne  Club,  37:1:80 
Cheyenne     Commercial     Company, 

37:1:53,  67 
Cheyenne  Daily  Sun,  Excerpts  from 

the,  37:1:33-73 
Cheyenne-Deadwood  Stage  Line  at 

Fort  Laramie,  37:1:98 
Cheyenne-Deadwood      Trail      Trek, 

37:1:75-109 
Cheyenne  During  Stagecoach  Days, 

by  William  Dubois,  37:1:77 
Cheyenne  Gun  Club,  37:1:44 
Cheyenne    and    Northern    Railroad, 

37:1:80 
Cheyenne  Pass,  37:1:87 
Cheyenne  Ramblers  Club,  37:1:43 
Cheyenne  River,  37:2:217 
Christian  v.  McReynolds,  37:2:192 
Chug  Springs,  by  Hazel  Ferguson, 

37:1:93 
Chugwater  Stage  Station,  by  Russell 

Staats,  37:1:88 
Chugwater  Valley,  37:1:87,  88 
Church,  John,  37:1:100 
Clannan,  Mike,  37:2:184 
Clark,  Albert,  37:1:67 
Clark,  Clarence  D.,  photo,  37:1:4; 

5,  14,  21,  22,  24,  29,  50,  64;  37: 

2:195-205 
Clark,  Gibson,  37:1:37;  37:2:197 
Clarke,  Prof.  E.,  37:1:68 


Clarke,  W.  J.,  37:2:190 

Clark's  Fork,  37:2:216-218 

Clay,  Charles,  37:1:86 

Close,  Martha,  37:2:243 

Clough,  Wilson  O.,  37:2:176,  Wyo- 

niing's     Earliest     Place     Names?, 

211-220;     The    Necessary    Earth, 

review,  245;  contributor,  257 
Coffeen,  Donald  and  Grace,  editors 

of    The   Custer   Battle   Book,   re- 
view, 37: 1 : 134 
Coffeen,  Henry  A.,   photo,   37:1:5; 

14,  15,  18,  21,  22;  37:2:195,  200 
Coffeen,    Herbert    A.,    The    Custer 

Battle  Book,  review,  37:1:134 
Coffman,  Billy,  37:2:226,  227 
Coleman,  Curely,  37:1:96 
Collens,  — ,  37:2:231 
Collins,  J.  S.  &  Company,  37:1:69, 

98 
Colter,  (John),  37:2:217,  218 
Company    "B",    Wyoming   National 

Guard,  37:1:53 
Company  "H"  of  the  Girl  Militia  of 

Wyoming    State     Guard,     photo, 

37:1:30;  31,  52 
Company  "K"  of  the  Girl  Militia  of 

Wyoming  State   Guard,   37:1:31, 

52 
Conaway,  Arthur,  37:2:187,  205 
Conaway,  Asbury  B.  (Judge),  pho- 
to, 37:1:4;  5,  14,  17,  19,  24,  44 
Concord  Coach,  37:1:77,  79 
Conrad  and  Company,   (John  H.), 

sketch    by    Shirley    Brock,    37:2: 

148,  150 
Constitutional     Convention,     photo, 

37:1:4;  election  of,  8;  15,  17,  25 
Convery's  Livery  Stable,  37:2:154 
Cooper,  "Owl-Eyed"  Tom,  37:1:104 
Copper  Mine,  37:1:101 
Corlett,  Lacey  and  Riner,  37:2:178 
Corlett,  W.  W.,  37:1:29;  37:2:167 
Corn,  Samuel,  37:2:187,  203 
Gotten,  Thomas  M.,  37:2:182 
Cottonwood  Creek,  37:1:91 
Cottonwood  Draw,  37:1:99 
Cowboy,    by    Ross    Santee,    review, 

37:1:136 
Cowboy    Saloon,    Buffalo    (1880), 

photo,  37:2:150 
Cowhick,  Grace,  37:1:52 
Cowhick,  J.  W.,  37:1:95 
Cowhick,  Rev.  J.  Y.,  37:1:54 
Cowhick,  Ora,  37:1:31 
Crampton,  C.  Gregory,  Standing  Up 

County,  review,  37:1:128 
Crane,  Arthur  Griswold,   37:2:176; 

photo,  234;  236 


262 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


Crane,  Lura  May  DeArment,  37:2: 

237 
Crane,  Mary,  37:2:236 
Crane,  Paul,  37:2:237 
Crescent  Basin,  37:1:99 
Crisler,  Miss  Marie  M.,  37:1:113 
Crook,    General    George,    37:1:87, 

90,  91 
Cuilom,  Senator,  37:1:39 
Cuny,  Adolph,  37:1:96,  97 
Cuny  Hills,  37:2:232 
Cuny  Ranch,  37:1:90 
Cushing,  Raymond,  37:2:223 
Custer  Album,  The,  by  Lawrence  A. 

Frost,  review,  37:1:133 
Custer  Battle  Book,  The,  by  Herbert 

A.  Coffeen,  review,  37:1:134 
CY,  (Carey)  outfit,  37:2:226,  232 


Darrow,  Bob,  Old  Mother  "Feather- 
legs"  Shephard,  37:1:102-104 

Daugherty,  — ,  37:1:86 

David,  B.  B.,  37:1:35 

Davis,  Dick,  37:1:102 

Davis,  H.  W.,  37:2:190 

Davis,  lona,  37: 1 :31 

Davis,  J.  E.,  37:2:202 

Deadhead  Creek,  37:2:221 

Deadwood  Mine,  37:1:101    . 

Dear,  J.  W.,  37:1:101,  106 

Demmon,  Mrs.  O.  J.,  37:1:103,  106 

Deniecke,  W.  A.,  37:2:196 

Devine,  Bob,  37:2:232 

Dewey,  Dave,  37:2:224 

Diapert,  "Cousin  Ike",  37:1:103 

Dickinson,  J.  M.,  37:2:193 

Divide  Hill,  37:1:102 

Donzelman,  Attorney  General,  37: 
1:37;  37:2:172,  206 

Douglas,  Gertrude,  photo,  37:1:30; 
31 

Douglas  Rejoices,  by  Bill  Barlow, 
37:1:46 

Dover,  W.  E.  (Ned)  37:1:113 

Dow,  Mrs.  Mae,  37:1:121 

Downey,  Corlett,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 

Downey,  Stephen  W.,  photo,  37:1: 
4;  5,  14 

Driesen,  Otto,  37:2:222 

Drouillard,  George  (Drewyer),  37: 
2:217,  218 

Dubois,  William,  Chevetine  During 
Stage  Coach  Days,  37:1:75,  77-80 

Duck  Bar,  37:1:91 

Duffy,  Tom,  37:1:88 

Durfee,  Lieutenant,  37:1:43 

Dwyer,  Miss  Nellie,  37:1:58 

Dyer,  Tim,  37:1:81 


Eagle's  Nest  Gap,  37:1:94,  96 
Eagle's  Nest  Stage  Station,   by   Mr. 

and    Mrs.    Elvin    Hudson,    37:1: 

94-96 
Ecoffey,  Jules,  ranch,  37:1:90;  97 
Edwards,   Paul  M.,  Red  Cloud  and 

the  Sioux  Problem,  review,  37:2: 

249 
Ehernberger,  James  L.  and  Francis 

G.  Gschwind,  Smoke  Across  the 

Prairie,      review,       37:1:135-136; 

Smoke   Over   the    Divide,    review, 

37:2:254 
Eklund,  Dick,  37:1:75,  99 
Elliott,  Henry  S.,  37:2:187 
Elbrader,  Frank,  37:1:113 
Elliot,  Miss  — ,  37:1:52 
Elliott,  Henry  S.,  photo  37:1:4;  5 
Emigrant  Trail  Trek  No.   15,  37:1: 

75-109 
England,  J.  A.,  37:1:69 
Episcopal  Guild  Shop,  37:1:107 
Erianson,  Charles  B.,  Battle  of  the 

Butte,  37:1:121;  contributor,  37: 

2:257-258;    In    the     West-In    My 

West,  poem,  37-2:258 
Espy,  Winifred,  37:2:241 
Eustis  Lake,  37:2:218,  219 
Evanston,  Celebration  of  Statehood, 

37:1:46 


Fagan,  Michael,  37:1:83,  84 
Fagan   Ranch   or  Horse  Creek   Sta- 
tion, by  Mary  Elizabeth  Carpen- 
der,  37:1:82 
Fair  Fights  and  Foul,  by  Thurman 

Arnold,  review,  37:2:247 
Featherle^s  (Old  Mother)  Shephard, 

by  Bob  Darrow,  37:1:102 
Ferguson,     Hazelle,    Chug    Springs, 

37:1:93 
Ferguson  Ranch,  37:2:223 
Ferguson  Street,  37:1:35,  44,  71 
Fetterman  Cut  Off,  37:1:89,  94 
Fetz,    H.    B.,    The    Rawlins   Jubilee, 

37:1:46 
Fisher,  John  Andrew,   Cowboy,   re- 
view,  37:1:136-137 
Fitch,  E.  E.,  37:1:113 
Flag,  U.  S.  44  Stars,  sketch,  37:1:74 
Flaharty,  Clifford,  37:2:221 
Flaharty,  Myrtle  and  Earl,  37:2:221 
Flannery,  L.  G.  (Pat),  37:1:113 
Florin,     Lambert,     Western     Ghost 
Town  Shadows,  review.  37:1:131- 
132 
Foote,  Frank  M.,  photo  37:1:4:  5; 
37:2:195 


GENERAL  INDEX 


263 


Ford,  J.  M.,  37:1:98 

Fort  C.  F.  Smith,  37:1:89 

Fort  Fetterman,  37:1:89,  90 

Fort  Laramie,  37:1:84,  85,  88,  89, 
96,  98,  99 

Fort  McKinney,  37:2:190 

Fort  Phil  Kearny,  37:1:89 

Fort  Reno,  37:1:89 

Fort  Russell  (D.  A.),  37:1:43,  80, 
84,  89 

Fouchs,  Ed,  37:1:90 

Fowler,  Benjamin  F.,  37:2:183,  192, 
195,  200,  202,  205 

Fox.  George,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 

Frank,  Meyer,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 

Franklin,  — ,  (Outlaw),  37:1:90 

Frederick  Ranch,  37:1:99 

Frederick,  Ruth,  Government  Farm, 
37:1:99 

Freight  Line,  Fort  Russell  to  Fort 
Laramie  (1867),  37:1:77 

Fremont's  Expedition,  37:2:220 

Friday,  (Chinese  Cook),  37:1:101 

Frink,  Maurice,  37:2:173 

Frost,  Lawrence  A.,  The  Custer 
Album.  A  Pictorial  Biography 
of  General  George  A.  Custer,  re- 
view, 37:1:133 

Furness,  Helen,  photo  37:1:30;  31 


Gage,  Dick  C,  37:2:242 

Gage,    Jack    R.,    photo,    37:2:240; 

241,  242 
Gage,  Jack  R.,  Jr.,  37:2:242 
Gage,  La  Vaughn  Phelan,  37:2:242 
Gage,  Leona  Switzer,  37:2:242 
Gage,  Dr.  Will  Vernon,  37:2:242 
Gallatin  River,  37:2:216 
Gap  Creek,  37:2:219 
Gape,  Minnie,  photo,  37:1:30;  31 
Gamier,  Lallee,  37:1:91 
Gamier,  "Little  Bat",  37:1:91 
Garton,  Bob  and  Thelma,  37:2:223 
Gatchell,  Mrs.  Jim,  37:1:113 
Gathering  of  Zion,  The,  by  Wallace 

Stegner,  review,  37:1:137-138 
Gilmore,  Salisbury  and  Patrick,  37: 

1:79 
Girl   Called   Nettie,    A,    by    Burton 

Hill,  37:2:147-156 
Girl  Militia  of  Wyoming,  Company 

H,  photo,  37:1:30;  31;  Company 

K,  37:1:31 
Glafcke,  Major  Herman,  photo,  37: 

1:  4;  5,  31;  37:2:179 
Gloye,  Alwenie,  37:1:31 
Goetz,  Mamie,  37:1:31 


Gold  Bullion  Shipments  (1876),  37: 

1:77 
Good  Fortune  Mine,  37:1:99 
Goodwin,  O.  P.,  37:1:83 
Gordon,  Alex,  37:1:113 
Gordon,  Kittie,  37:1:31 
Goshen   County   Historical   Society, 

37:1:99 
Goshen  Hole,  37:1:95 
Gould,  Lewis  L.,  Joseph  M.  Carey 

and    Wyoming    Statehood,    37:2: 

157-169;  contributor,  257 
Government  Farm,   by   Ruth  Fred- 
erick, 37:1:99 
Governors  of  the  State  of  Wyoming, 

1943-1965,     compiled     by     Mrs. 

Mrs.   Viola   A.    McNealey,    37:2: 

235-243 
GPH:       An     Informal    Record     of 

George  P.  Hammond  and  His  Era 

in   the  Bancroft  Library,  by  The 

Friends  of  the  Bancroft  Library, 

review,  37:2:254-255 
Gramm,  Otto,  37:2:195,  196,  202 
Granger,  Levina,  photo,  37:1:30;  31 
Grant  in  Aid  Program,  37:1:115 
Grant,    Mortimer   N.,    photo,    37:1: 

4;  5 
Grant,  President  Ulysses  S.  (1875), 

37:1:85 
Graves,  — ,  37:1:86 
Gray,  Senator,  37:1:39,  40 
Great  Western  Mining  and  Milling, 

37:1:107 
Green,  Fannie  M.,  37:2:150 
Griffith,     James     B.,     Jr.,     George 

Lathrop  Monument,  37:1:104 
Groesbeck,  H.  V.  B.,  37:2:187,  188, 

203 
Grout,  Virgil  S.,  37:2:177 
Gschwind,  Francis  G.  and  James  L. 

Ehernberger,    Smoke    Across    the 

Prairie,      review,      37:1:135-136; 

Smoke   Over   the   Divide,   review, 

37:2:254 
Guernsey,  Charles  A.,  37:1:11;  37: 

2:181 
"Gunner,"  a  dog,  37:1:35 


Hamilton,  — ,  37:1:100 
Hamlin,  C.  C,  37:2:202 
Hammond,  Arp  &,  37:1:53,  69 
Hanna,  Mrs.  Elwood  (Myra),  37:2: 

221 
Hanna,  Mark,  37:2:202,  203,  204 
Hanna,  Susan,  37:2:221 
Hansen,    CHfford    P.,    photo,    37:2: 

240;  242 


264 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


Hansen,  Martha  Close,  37:2:243 
Hansen,  Peter,  37:2:243 
Hansen,  Peter  C,  37:2:242 
Happy  Jack  Schoolhouse,   37:1:112 
Hard  Knocks,  by  Harry  Young,  37: 

1:97 
Harmon,  Judson,  37:2:193 
Harris,       Marianne,       Soldier      and 

Brave.  37:1:121 
Hart,  Herbert  M.,  Old  Forts  of  the 

Southwest,  review,  37:1:129-131 
Hart  Mountain,  37:2:217,  218 
Harvey,  Frederick  H.,  photo,  37:1: 

4;  5;  37:2:182 
Hat  Creek,  37:1:95 
Hawk,  George,  37:1:95,  96,  98 
Hawk,  Tom,  37:1:98 
Hay,  Alex,  Jr.,  37:2:222 
Hay,  Mrs.  Edna,  37:2:222 
Hay,    Henry   G.,   photo,    37:1:4;    5; 

37:2:167 
Hayford,  (J.  H.),  37:1:45 
Haygood,  Adah,  photo  37:1:30;  31 
Hazen,  Joseph,  37:2:197 
Heath,  R.  N.,  37:1:67 
Heaton,  Bill,  37:2:149,  151 
Held,  Ed,  37:2:224 
Hell's  Gap,  37:1:99 
Helvey,  Robert  T.,  37:1:113 
Henderson  v.  Burdick.  37:2:192 
Henderson,  Harry  B.,  Sr.,  37:2:207, 

235 
Henderson,  M.  Helen  (Map),  37:1: 

78 
Henderson,  Paul,  37:1:75,  99 
Henke,    O.    R.    (Dude),    37:2:221, 

222,  223,  232 
Henke,  Raymond,  37:2:223 
Henke,  Rudolph,  37:2:223 
Hermann.    Gretchen,    photo,    37:1: 

30;  31 
Hesse,  Fred  W.,  37:2:147 
Hiatt,  George,  37:2:226 
Hickey,  John,  37:2:241 
Hickey,     John     Joseph,     37:2:239; 

photo,  240 
Hickey,  Paul,  37:2:241 
Hickey,  Rooney  and  Walton,  37:2: 

241 
Hickey,  Winifred  Espy,  37:2:241 
Hicks,  John  D.,  Constitutions  of  the 

Northwest  States,  37:1:5 
Hildebrand,  Lyle,  37:1:75 
Hill,  Burton  S..  A  Girl  Called  Net- 
tie, 37:2:147-156 
Hilyer,  — ,  37:1:68 
Hines,  C.  W.,  37:2:154 
Hinkle,  J.  D.,  37:2:153 
History  of  Wyoming,  by  T.  A.  Lar- 

.son,'37:l:5' 


Hoback  Canyon  (1811),  37:2:218 

Hog  Ranch,  37:1:97 

Hogan,  Bill,  37:2:238 

Hogle,  Jim,  37:1:98 

Holbrook,  Dr.  R.  E.,  37:2:153 

Holcome  v.  Burdick,  37:2:192 

Holden,  C.  W.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5, 
18,  20 

Holliday,  W.  H.,  37:2:166,  168,  200 

Holsinger,  M.  Paul,  Willis  Van  De- 
vanter:  Wyoming  Leader,  18S4- 
1897.  37:2:170-206,  contributor, 
257 

Holt's  Drug  Store,  (George  L.),  37: 
2:153 

Homan,  George,  37:1:79 

Homsher,  Lola  M.,  Nathan  Addison 
Baker  (1843-1934),  review,  37:2: 
249-251;  Philo  White's  Narrative 
of  a  Cruize  in  the  Pacific  to  South 
America  and  California  on  the 
V.  S.  Sloop-of-War  "Dale"  1841- 
1843,  review  37:2:252-253 

Hood's  Map  (1834),  37:2:220 

Hooper,  Tom,  37:2:182 

Hophof,  Al,  37:2:233 

Hopkins,  Mark,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 

Hord,  Mrs.  Charles  (Violet),  37:1: 
115 

Horgan,  Paul,  Peter  Hurd,  A  Por- 
trait Sketch  from  Life,  review, 
37:2:256 

Horn,  Tom,  37:2:223 

Horse  Creek  Station  or  Pagan 
Ranch,  by  Mary  Elizabeth  Car- 
pender,  37:1:82 

Horseshoe  Creek,  37:1:91;  37:2: 
225 

Houghton,  Vilette,  37:1:31 

Housman,  Gladys,  song,  "In  Wyo- 
ming," 37:1:121 

Howard  v.  Bowman,  37:2:184 

Howard,  Doc,  37:1:79 

Hoyt,  George  W.,  37:1:36,  38 

Hoyt.  John  W.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5, 
14,  24,  56 

Hoyt  Station,  37:1:100 

HR  Connected  Ranch,  37:2:224, 
231 

Hudson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elvin,  Eagle's 
Nest  Stage  Station,  37:1:94 

Hunt,  Emily  Nathelle  Higby,  37:2: 
235 

Hunt.  Lester  Calloway,  U.  S.  Sena- 
tor, 37:1:74;  37:2:235-236;  pho- 
to, 234 

Hunt,  Lester,  Jr.,  37:2:235 

Hunt,  Wilson  Price,  37:2:218 

Hunter,  Alexander,  37:2:224 

Hunter,  John,  37:1:96 


GENERAL  INDEX 


265 


Huntington,  Gertrude,  37:2:196 
Huntington,  Nat,  37:2:179,  180 
Hunton,  Blanche,  37:1:91 
Hunton,  Jim,  37:1:90 
Hunton,  John,  (Hotel),  37:1:89,90, 

95,  97 
Hunton,  Thomas,  37:1:93,  95 
Hard,  Peter.  A  Portrait  Sketch  from 

Life,    by    Paul    Horgan,    review, 

37:2:256 


Igoe  Creek,  37:1:103 

liidian  Chiefs,  receptions  for  (1875), 
37:1:79 

Ingraham,  Carrie,  37:1:31 

Inman,  Prof.  George  F.,  37:1:68 

Inter  Ocean  Hotel,  37:1:36,  77,  79, 
80,  85 

In  the  West-In  My  West,  by  Charles 
B.  Erlanson,  poem,  37:2:258 

Iron  Mountain,  37:2:222 

Iron  ore   (1st  shipment  from  Wyo- 
ming), 1890,  37:1:99 
•  Irvine,  W.  C,  37:2:190,  225 

Irvine,  W.  W.,  37:2:177 

Ivinson,  Edward,  37:2:195 

IXL  Wagon,  37:1:54 


Jackson,  W.  Turrentine,  37:2:178 

James,  Nat,  37:2:153 

Jayne,  Dr.  Clarence  D.,  37:1:113 

Jefferson  River,  37:2:216 

Jeffrey  Center  (Rawlins),  37:1:110 

Jeffrey,  J.  K.,  37:1:56 

Jenkins,  Gus,  37:1:35 

Jenkins,  Mrs.  J.  F.,  37:1:50 

Jenkins,  Theresa  A.,  37:1:28,  54 

John  the  Sailor,  37:2:226 

Johns,  Ranger,  37:1:86 

Johnson  County  War.  37:2:190, 
194 

Johnson,  Ellis,  37:1:107 

Johnston,  Ada,  37:1:31 

Johnston,  James  A.,  photo,  37:1: 
4;   5 

Johnston,  Mark,  37:2:225 

Jones  and  Harrington  (liquor  deal- 
ers), 37:2:153 

Jones,  Henry,  37:1:113 

Jones,  J.  A.,  37:2:154 

Jones  Ranch,  37:2:223 

Jones,  Senator  of  Arkansas,  37:1:40 

Joyce,  Frank  M.,  37:2:172 


Keefe,  M.  P.,  37:1:53,  69 

Keeline  outfit,  37:2:228 

Kellogg,  Mattie,  37:2:153,  154 

Kelly,  Hi,  37:1:88 

Kelly,  Kate,  37:1:31 

Kelly,  Mary  (grave),  37:1:115 

Kent,  T.  A.   Bank  Building,  photo, 

37:1:32;  44 
Kepler,  — ,  37:1:35 
Ketchum,  Frank,  37:1:103 
King,  Mrs.  — ,  (robbed),  37:1:95 
Kleiber,    Hans,    Wyoming   Summits 

Softly  Glinting,  poem,  37:2:244 
Klett's  Saloon,  37:2:184 
Knight,  Jesse,  37:2:177,   193,   197 
Kooi,  Lorna,  37:2:239 
Kuykendall,  Judge  William,  37:1:79 


La  Bonte  Creek,  37:1:91 

Lacey,  John  W.,  37:2:171,  178,  182, 
189 

Ladeau,  Antoine,  37:1:89 

Ladeau,  Baptiste,  37:1:90,  94 

Lane,  Charles  Elmer,  37:1:113 

Langhof.  Hank,  37:2:223 

Lank,  William,  37:1:100 

Lannen,  Billie,  37:1:87 

Lannen,  Mrs.  Matilda,  37:1:113 

Larson,  Robert  R.,  Old  Forts  of  the 
Southwest,  review,  37:1:131 

Larson,  T.  A.,  Wyoming  Statehood, 
37:1:5-29,  33,  contributors,  141; 
GPH:  An  Informal  Record  of 
George  P.  Hammond  and  His  Era 
in  the  Bancroft  Library,  review, 
37:2:254-255 

Latham,  Dick,  37:1:86 

Larsen,  Hans,  37:1:113 

Lathrop,  George  (Marvin  M.),  37: 
1:79;  George  Lathrop  Monument, 
by  James  B.  Griffith,  Jr.,  104-105 

Layden,  Mamie  L..  photo,  37:1:30; 
31 

LD  Ranch,  37:1:91 

Lee,  Jessie,  37: 1 :31 

Legends  and  Lore  of  Southern 
Illinois,  by  John  W.  Allen,  review, 
37:1:138-140 

Leiter  outfit,  37:2:229 

Lest  We  Forget,  by  Timothy  J.  Ma- 
honey,  poem,  37:2:210 

Lewis  and  Clark,  37:2:212,  214-215 

Library  Hall,  37:1:35 

Linford,  Velma,  37:2:172 

Link  V.  U.P.R.R.,  37:2:189 

Lisa's  Post,  37:2:218 


266 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


Little  Bear  Sta^e  Station,  by  Grace 

Logan  Schaedel,  37:1:84 
Little    Big    Horn    River,    37:2:217, 

218 
Little    Missouri,    Wyoming's,    37:2: 

212,  217 
Lobban,    James    M..    37:2:150-154, 

photo,   152 
Logan,  Ernest,  37:1:85 
Logan,  Hill,  37:1:85 
Lohlien  &  Sigwart,  37:1:69 
Loomis,  Mike,  37:1:96 
Lott,  John  H.,  37:2:196 
Lowry,  John,  37:1:96 
Lucas,  J.  Y.,  37:2:225-226 
Lung,  Sam,  37:2:151 


Mac  Farland,  — ,  37:1:86 
Macginnis,  William  L.,  37:2:182 
Madden,  Jack,  37:1:106 
Madison,  Mr.,  37:1:44 
Madison  River,  37:2:216 
Mahan,  Richard,   The  Beaver  Men, 

review,  37:1:127-128 
Mahoney,     Timothy     J.,     Lest     We 

Forget,  poem,  37:2:210  . 
Manuel's  Fort,  37:2:218 
Map,      Cheyenne-Deadwood      Road 

(1876-1887),  37:1:78 
Masi,  Postmaster,  37:1:35-36 
Mathers,  Mrs.  — ,  37:1:86 
"Mato"    (Bear)    Bordeaux,    37:1:89 
Maxwell,  Thomas,  37:1:88 
McAuslan,  Edward,  37:1:123 
McCandlish,  John  M.,  photo,  37:1: 

4;  5 
McCarty,    Mrs.    and    baby   Ed,    37: 

1:86 
McClosky,  James,  37:1:96 
McCracken,  Dr.  Harold,  37:1:121 
McCulloch,  Brently  and  Troy,  37:2: 

221 
McCulloch,  Mrs.  Clyce,  37:2:221 
McDaniel's  Theatre,  37:1:79 
McDermott,    John,    The    Cheyenne- 
Deadwood    Stage    Line    at    Fort 

Laramie,  37:1:96-98 
McDonald  Ranch,  37:2:223 
McFadden,  George,  37:1:103-104 
McFarland,  Mrs.  — ,  37:1:95 
McGarvey,  Charles,  37:1:54 
McGill,  John,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
McGregor,  Mina,  37:1:31 
McLead,    Charles,     37:2:147,     149- 

151 


McNealey,  Viola  A.,  Governors  of 

the  State  of  Wyoming  1943-1965. 

37:2:234-243 
Mead,  Elwood,  37:1:15,  photo,   16; 

23-24 
Mead,  Mrs.  Peter,  37:2:243 
Meanea  Saddle  Company,  37:2:227 
Medicine  Lodge  River,  37:2:220 
Meldrum,     Acting    Governor    John 

W.,  37:1:49 
Menardi  v.  Omallev,  37:2:184 
Merrill,  Homer  S.,'37:2:188 
Methodist  Church,  Cheyenne  (1874), 

37:1:85 
Metz,  Judge  Percy  W.,  37:1:113 
Michigan  Mine,  37:1:101 
Miles,  General  Nelson,  37:1:121 
Miller  v.  Barber,  37:2:192 
Miller,  Neal  E.,  President's  Message, 

37:1:110-124;  photo,  122 
Miller,  Tobe,  37:1:89 
Minnehaha,  Lake  (1878),  37:1:85 
Mitchell,  Fergie,  37:2:223,  231 
Mizner,  General,  37:1:43,  52 
Mokler,  Verne,  37:1:75,  84 
Mondell,    Mayor    Frank    W.,    37:2: 

184,  199,  202-205 
Montgomery,   Billy   "Bullhead",   37: 

2:226-227 
Montgomery,  Isabelle,  37:1:31 
Moonlight,    Thomas    (Gov.),    37:1: 

7-8,  11;  37:2:159,  178,  180-182 
Moore,  — ,  37:1:83 
Moore,  Margaret,  37:1:31 
Moore,  Tom,  37:2:221 
Moran,  John,  37:2:225 
Morgan,  E.  S.  N.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5, 

14 
Morgan,  Gertrude,  37:1:31 
Morgan,  Senator,  37:1:39 
Mormons  met  Jim  Bridger   (1847), 

37:2:220 
Morris,  Edward  J.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Morris,  Mrs.  Esther,  37:1:50,  55-56 
Morrison,  John,  37:1:98 
Mudd  Ranch,  37:2:223 
Mule  Shoe  Ranch,  37:2:223 
Mumey,     Nolle,     Nathan     Addison 

Baker  (1843-1934),  review,  37:2: 

249 
Mummy  Cave,  37:1:112 
Murdock,  Betty  Jean,  37:1:121 
Murphy,  Kitty,  37:2:153-154 
Murrin,  Colonel  Luke,  37:1:44 
Muskrat  Canyon,  37:1:101,  103-104 
Mv     Cowboy     Experiences    in     the 

I890's,    by    G.    W.    Rosentreter, 

37:2:221-233 


GENERAL  INDEX 


267 


Nathan      Addison      Baker,      (1843- 

1934),  by  Nolie  Mumey,  review, 

37:2:249 
Necessary  Earth,  The,  by  Wilson  O. 

Clough,  review,  37:2:245 
Nettie   Wright's  Dance  Hall,  photo, 

37:2:151 
Newman,  Clara,  37:1:31 
Newman,  Josie,  37:1:31 
Nickerson,  H.  G.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Nigger  Baby  Spring,  37:1:101 
Nine  Mile  Road  Ranch,  37:1:81 
Niobrara  River   (L'Eau-Qui-Court), 

37:1:106 
North  Laramie  River,  37:1:91 
North  Park,  Colorado,  37:1:80 
Nowood  Creek,  37:2:220 
Numpa  (Sioux),  37:1:90 


Oakley,  May,  photo,  37:1:30;  31 
,      O'Brien,  Emma,  37:1:31 

O'Brien,  Nick,  37:1:35 

O'Bryan,  Johnny,  37:2:233 

Ogalalla  Ranch,  37:2:225,  228 

Okie,  J.  B.,  37:2:198 

Old  Bedlam,  Fort  Laramie,  37:1: 
114 

Old  Forts  of  the  Southwest,  by  Her- 
bert M.  Hart,  review,  37:1:129- 
131 

"Old  Iron  Clad"  Store  (Silver  Cliff), 
37:1:107 

Ollerenshaw,  Frances  (Mrs.),  photo, 
37:1:4;  5 

Olson,  Frederick  I.,  The  Self-made 
Man  in  Wyoming.  An  Autobio- 
graphical Fragment  from  Gover- 
nor DeForest  Richards,  37:2:207- 
209;  contributor,  257 

Olson,  James  C,  Red  Cloud  and  the 
Sioux  Problem,  review,  37:2:248 

O'Mahoney,  Joseph  C,  37:2:241 

O'Mahoney,  Mrs.  Joseph  C,  37:1: 
113 

Ord  Ranch,  37:1:102 

Oregon  Trail  Branch,  37:1:94 

Organ,  Caleb  Perry,  photo,  37:1:4; 
5,  9-10;  37:2:153 

Osborne,  Bob,  37:1:97 

Osborne,  John,  37:2:195,  198,  200, 
203 

Osgood,  E.  S.,  37:2:173 

Overland  Stage  Trail,  37:1:123 

Owens,  Johnny,  37:1:86,  97 

Owl  Creek,  37:2:230 


Paducah  (Platte),  37:2:216 
Paine,  Senator,  37:1:39,  40 
Palmer,  Louis  J.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5, 

18,  19,  21 
Palmerston  v.   Territory,  37:2:184 
Parker,     Glenn,     Fair    Fights    and 

Foul,  review,  37:2:248 
Parmalee,  C.  H.,  37:2:197 
Pasmore,  Prof.,  37:1:51,  63 
Pathfinder,  Canyon,  37:2:218 
Patrick,    Salisbury    &    Gilmore,    37: 

1:79 
Patton,  Mr.  —  (1871),  37:1:93 
Pease,  L.  D.,  37:2:180 
Pelton,  Clark,  37:1:97 
Pelzer,  Louis,  37:2:174 
Pender,  Rose,  37:1:98 
People's  Party,  37:2:194 
Perkin's  v.  McDowell,  37:2:184 
Peter     Hurd.       A     Portrait    Sketch 

from   Life,   by   Paul   Horgan,   re- 
view, 37:2:256 
Peters,  Leora,  37:1:121 
Pettigrew,  M.  W.,  37:2:200 
Phillips,   (Portugee)    John,   37:1:85, 

86,  88 
Philo  White's  Narrative  of  a  Cruize 

in   the  Pacific   to  South   America 

and  California  on  the  U.  S.  Sloop- 

of-War  "Dale"   1841-1843,  edited 

by  Charles  L.  Camp,  review,  37: 

2:252 
Pickett,  W.  D.,  37:2:161 
Picture  Gallery  Pioneers,  by  Ralph 

W.  Andrews,  review,  37:1:132 
Pierson,  Mrs.  Lovina,  37:1:110 
Pike,  George  W.,  37:2:225,  poem 
Pilot  Knobs  (Tetons),  37:2:218 
Place  Names,  Wyoming,   37:2:211- 

217 
Plaga,  A.  R.,  37:2:221 
Plaga  Ranch,  37:2:223 
Piatt,    Orville    H.,    37:1:39-40,    48; 

37:2:164 
Platte  River  Crossing,  37:1:123 
Platte   River   (Place  Name),   37:2: 

212,  214,  217-219 
Pole  Creek  Ranch,  37:1:81 
Pond,  Peter   (Map),  37:2:212,  214 
Popo  Agie  River,  37:2:219 
Populist   Party    (revolt),    37:2:195, 

197 
Post,  Amelia  B.  (Mrs.  M.  E.),  37:1: 

29,  50,  55,  62 
Post,  Fred,  Jr.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Post,  Maude,  photo,  37:1:30;  31 
Post,  M.  E.,  37:1:8 
Posts  p.  O.  Ranch,  37:1:81 
Potter,  Charles  N.,  37:1:17,  19,  44; 

37:2:178,  205 


268 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


Powder  River,  37:2:217 
Pratt,  Orman,  (Wyoming  State  His- 
torical Society  Seal  designer),  37: 

1:123-124 
Preston,  Douglas  A.,  photo,  37:1:4; 

5,  18,  19,  22 
Prince,    Richard    E.,    Smoke   Across 

the  Prairie,  review,  37:1:135-136; 

Smoke   Over   the   Divide,    review, 

37:2:254 
Proud  of  Wyoming,  poem,  37:1:48 
Pryor's  Stream    (Creek),   37:2:217- 

218 
Pugsly    (Steer  outfit)    Lazy   P.,   37: 

2:229 
Pumpkin  Buttes,  37:2:231 


Race  Horse  (Bannock),  37:2:192 

Rafter,  Rev.  Dr.,  37:1:63 

Raw    Hide    Buttes   Ranch,    37:1:80, 

101 
Raw  Hide  Springs,  37:1:106 
Rawhide    Buttes    Stage    Station,    by 

Russell  Thorp,  Jr.,  37:1:100 
Rawlings,  C.  C,  37:1:113,  121 
Rawlins  Jubilee,  by  H.  B.  Fetz,  37: 

1:46 
Recker,  Mrs.  B.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Recker,  Jessie,  37:1:31 
Red  Cloud,  37:1:90 
Red  Cloud  Agency,  37:1:98,  101 
Red  Cloud  and  the  Sioux  Problem, 

by  James  C.  Olson,  review,  37:2: 

248 
Redman   v.    Union   Pacific  Railway, 

37:2:189 
Reed,  Thomas  R.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5; 

37:2:164 
Reel,  Heck,  37:1:86 
Remeyer,  — ,  37:1:95 
Repath,  R.  H.,  37:2:188 
Reynold's  Post  (G.A.R.),  37:1:53 
Rhodes  &  Troxeil,  37:1:44 
Rice,  Marion  L.,  37:2:176 
Richards,  DeForest,  37:2:197,  pho- 
to, 207;  207-209 
Richards,  W.  A.,  37:2:193,  199-201, 

205 
Richards  v.  Henderson,  37:2:192 
Ricketts,  W.  P.,  37:2:231 
Rider,  Robin  Elaine,  37:1:121 
Riner,    John    A.,    photo,    37:1:4;    5, 

15.  22,  34;  37:2:177,  193.  205 
Ringolsky,  Leah,  37:1:31 
RiterMnc,  Henry,  37:1:97 
Ritter,  Charles,  37:1:113 


Robinson,  Mrs.  — ,  37:1:53 

Rodgers,  Bill,  37:2:226 

Rogers,  C.  J.    (Doc),  photo,   37:2: 

234;  238-239 
Rogers,  Edna  J..  37:2:238 

238 
Rogers,  Mabel  B.,  37:2:238 
Roripaugh,  Robert  A.,  Legends  and 

Lore  of  Southern  Illinois,  review, 

37:1:138-140 
Rosentreter,  Eugene,  37:2:221 
Rosentreter,  Floyd,  37:2:221 
Rosentreter,  G.  W.  (Gus),  My  Cow- 
boy   Experiences    in    the    1890's, 

37:2:221-233,  photos,  222,  227 
Rosentreter,  Larry,  37:2:221 
Rosentreter,  Laurence,  37:2:221 
Rosentreter,  Marie,  37:2:221 
Rouleau,  Marcelline,  photo  37:1:30, 

31 
Roved,  Lou,  37:2:225 
Rundquist,  Al,  37:1:106 
Running    Water    (Niobrara    River), 

37:1:106 
Running    Water    Stage    Station,    by 

Mrs.  Helen  Willson,  37:1:106 
Runser,  Fred,  37:2:224 
Rush,  H.  S.,  37:1:35 
Russell,  John  L.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Rustic   Hotel    (Fort   Laramie),   37: 

1:98 
Rutherford,  Joe,  37:2:224 
Ryan,  Andy,  37:1:97 


Salisbury,    Gilmore   &    Patrick,    37: 

1:79 
Sand  Creek,  37:2:224 
Sandercock,  Fritz,  37:2:224 
Sandoz,  Mari,  The  Beaver  Men,  re- 
view, 37:1:127-128 
Santee,   Ross,   Cowboy,   review,   37: 

1:136 
Sawmills,  History  of  (Bear  River), 

37:1:113 
Scamehorn,  Howard  L.,   The  Buck- 
eve  Rovers  in  the  Gold  Rush,  re- 
view, 37:2:251 
Schaedel,  Grace  Logan,  Isaac  Bard 
Stage  Station — Little  Bear,    Wyo- 
ming,    37:1:84;     The    Necessary 
Earth,  review,  37:2:246 
Schenck  v  U.P.R.R.,  37:2:189 
Schilling,  Emma,  photo,  37:1:30;  31 
Schwartze.    Fred    W.,    37:1:81,    84, 

107 
Schwartze,  Minna,  37:1:81 
Scott,  Judge  Richard,  37:2:191 


GENERAL  INDEX 


269 


Seal,  Wyoming  State  Historical  So- 
ciety, sketch,  37:1:123-124 
Sears,  Kurt,  37:2:225 
Seeds-ke-dee,  37:2:219 
Seeds-ke-dee,  Tales  of  the,  by  Sub- 
lette County  Artists'  Guild,  37:1: 

121 
Self-made   Man    in    Wyoming,    The, 

by  Frederick  I.  Olson,  37:2:207- 

209 
Shaver,  Sloan  &,  37:1:53,  67 
Shell  River,  37:2:220 
"Shining  Mountains,"  37:2:213 
Shoshonis:  Sentinels  of  the  Rockies, 

by   Virginia   Cole  Trenholm   and 
Maurine  Carley,  review,  37:1:125 
Shoup,    Gov.    George    L.    (Idaho), 

37:1:47 
Sigwart,  Lohlien  &,  37:1:69 
Silver  Cliff,  37:1:104,  106 
Silver  Springs,  37:1:103,  106 
Simpson,  Alan,  37:2:239 
Simpson,  John,  37:2:239 
Simpson,  Lorna  Kooi,  37:2:239 
Simpson,     Milward     L.,     37:2:239; 

photo,  240 
Simpson,  Peter,  37:2:239 
•      Simpson,  William  L.,  37:2:173,  239 
Sims,  Albert,  37:1:99 
Sinclair,   F.    H.,    The   Custer  Battle 

Book,  review,  37:1:134 
Sitting  Bull,  37:1:90 
Six  Mile  Ranch,  by  John  D.  McDer- 

mott,  37:1:95-96 
Slack,  E.  A.,  37:1:9,  photo,  16;  33, 

45;  1,1:1:\6A 
Slater  Flats,  37:1:94 
Slaymaker  v.  Phillips,  37:2:192 
Sloan  &  Shaver   (Shafer),   37:1:53, 

67 
Smalley,  Belle,  37:1:31 
Smalley,  Eva,  37:1:31 
Smith,  George  C.  37:1:17 
Smith,  Jedediah,  37:2:219 
Smith,  Louis  S.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Smoke  Across  the  Prairie,  by  James 

L.    Ehernberger   and    Francis   G. 

Gschwind,  review,  37:1:135-136 
Smoke  Over  the  Divide,  by  James  L. 

Ehernberger      and      Francis      G. 

Gschwind,  review,  37:2:254 
Smythe,  O.  J.,  37:2:153 
Snow,  Clyde,  37:1:85 
Snow,  Mrs.  George,  37:1:86 
South  Pass  (1812),  37:2:218 
Spanish  River,  37:2:218 
Spooner,  Senator,  37:1:39 
Spoor,  Bertha,  37:1:31 
Spotted    Tail,    Chief    (Sioux),    37: 

1:87 


Spring,  Agnes  Wright,  37:2:171 
Spring  Gulch,  37:2:243 
Springer,  William,  37:2:162-164 
Squaw  Mountain,  37:2:232 
Staats,     Russell,     Chugwater    Stage 

Station  and  Division  Point,  37:1: 

88 
Stagecoach  (1876-1887),  photo,  37: 

1:76;  77 
Stage  Drivers,  37:1:101 
Stamper  v.  Gay  et  al,  37:2:184 
Standing  Up  Country,  by  C.  Greg- 
ory Crampton,  review,  37:1:128 
Statehood,  Wyoming,  37:1:5-29,  33; 

37:2:157,  169 
Stebbins  and  Conrad,  37:2:150 
Stegner,  Wallace,  The  Gathering  of 

Zion,  review,  37:1:137-138 
Stewart,    —     (husband     of    Nettie 

Wright),  37:2:148,  156 
Stewart,  Charles  W.,  37:2:172 
Stiff ler,  Mrs.  — ,  37:1:104 
Stinking  Water  River,  37:2:217-218 
Stitzer,  Colonel,  37:1:36 
Storrie,  John,  37:2:196 
Stuart,  Robert,  37:2:218 
Stumbo's  Restaurant,  37:2:153 
Sullivan,  Fred,  37:1:104 
Sutherland,  A.  L.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Swan,  Alexander,  37:2:173-174 
Swan  Company,  37:1:88;  37:2:223 
Swan    Land    and    Cattle    Company, 

37:2:173 
Swan,  Thomas,  37:2:173 
Sweem,  Glenn,  37:1:115 
Sweetwater  River,  37:2:218 
Sweitzer,  Cutoff,  37:1:89 
Swift  Bear  (Sioux  Chief),  37:1:89 
Switzer,  Leona,  37:2:242 
Swolley,  —,37:1:90 
Sybille  Creek,  37:1:91;  37:2:221 


Tea  Pot  Rock,  37:1:115 
Teller,  Senator,  37:1:39 
Templin,  Curtis,  37:1:88 
Ten  Mile  Station,  37:1:99 
Teschemacher,  Hubert  E.,  37:1:17, 

19;  37:2:190 
Tetons     (Pilot    Knobs),     37:2:218- 

219 
Thirty-one   Slash   Ranch   Company, 

37:2:223 
Thompson,  Bud,  37:1:96 
Thompson,    —    (Freighter),    37:1: 

107 
Thompson,  General  J.  C,  37:1:37 


270 


ANNALS  OF  WYOMING 


Thompson,  Mamie,  photo.  37:1:30; 

31 
Thompson,  Minnie,  photo,  37:1:30; 

31 
Thomson,  Keith,  37:2:241 
Thorp,      Russell,     Jr.,     Raw     Hide 
Buttes    Stciqe    Station,    37:1:100- 
103 
Thorp,  Russell,  Sr.,  37:1:80,  88,  104 
Thrall's  Map  (1834),  37:2:220 
Three  Mile  Ranch,  by  John  D.  Mc- 

Dermott,  37:1:97 
Tie  Siding,  Wyoming,  37:1:80 
Tisdale,  John  N.,  37:2:203 
Tobin,  Mrs.  Richard,  37:2:238 
Tongue   River    (Lazeka),   37:2:216- 

218 
Townsend  Train,  37:1:115 
Trabing  Brothers,  37:2:147,  150 
Trenholm,   Virginia,   Bordeaux,   37: 
1:89;    and    Maurine   Carley,    The 
Shoshonis:  Sentinels  of  the  Rock- 
ies, review,  37:1:125-126 
Troxell,  Rhodes  &,  37:1:43 
True  Republic,  The,  37:1:58,  poem 
Tupper,  Jennie,  photo,  37:1:30;  31 
Tupper,  Mabel,  photo,   37:1:30,  31 
Tuttle,  J.  E.,  37:1:53,  69 
Two  Bar  Ranch,  37:2:223-224 


U  Cross  outfit,  37:2:229 
Underwood,  A.  &  Bro.,  37:1:69 
Union  Pacific  band,  37:1:34,  43,  53, 

54,  63,  71,  72 
Updike,    —     (Sheepherder),    37:1: 

100 
Uva,  Wyoming,  37:1:94 
Uva  Creek,  37:1:91 


Van  Devanter,  Willis,  37:1:36,  44; 
37:2:157,  165,  photo,  170;  Wyo- 
ming Leader,  1884-1897,    171-206 

Van  Devanter,  Winslow  B.,  37:2: 
173.  174,  184 

Veihee,  — ,  37:1:100 

Verendreyes,  — ,  37:2:212-213,  217 

Vivion,  Charles,  37:1:123 

Voorhees,  Luke,  37:1:79,  104 

Vreeiand,  Bessie,  37:1:31 

Vreeland,  Effie.  37:1:31 


Waechter  Ranch,  37:2:222 
Walker,  Mrs.  E.,  37:1:69 
Wallis,  Bert,  37:1:113 
Walton,  James  H.,  37:1:113 
Ward  vs.  Race  Horse,  37:2:193 
Ward,  Sheriff  John,  37:2:192 
Warren,  Governor  Francis  E.,  37:1: 
6.   7,    12,   35,   38,   50,   54,   56-57; 
37:2:159-204 
Warren,  Frankie,  37:1:52 
Wasserman,  — ,  37:1:67 
Watkins,  Dr.  John  C,  37:2:155-156 
Watt.  Frank,  37:1:104 
Weaver,    General    James    B.,    37:2: 

195 
Webb,  Francis  Seely,  37:1:121 
Wedemeyer,    Bertha,    photo,    37:1: 

30;  31 
Wedemeyer,  Maria,  photo,  37:1:30; 

31 
Western      Ghost      Town      Shadows, 
Lambert     Florin,     review,     37:1: 
131-132 
Wheat,  (Carl  Irving),  37:2:211,  217 
Whirlwind  (Sioux  Chief),  37:1:89 
White   Bridge  on  Horseshoe  Creek, 

37:1:89 
White,  Edward  D.,  37:2:193 
White  et  al  v.  Hinton  et  al,  37:2: 189 
Whiteley,  A.  R.,  37:1:35 
Whitesides,  Hugh,  37:1:89,  90 
Whittenburg,    Clarice,    The   Shosho- 
nis: Sentinels  of  the  Rockies,  re- 
view, 37:1:125-126 
Wilhelm,    Leo   and    Nedalyn,    37:2: 

223 
Wilke's  Map  (1841),  37:2:220 
Williams,  Cy,  37:1:90 
Williams,  Johnnie  Belle,  The  Gath- 
ering of  Zion,   review,   37:1:137- 
138 
Willow  (Post  Office),  37:1:106 
Willson,   Mrs.   Helen,   Running   Wa- 
ter  Stage    Station,    review,    37:1: 
106 
Wilseck,  Edna,  37:1:31 
Wilson,  Frank,  37:1:53 
Wolcott  V.  Bachman,  37:2:184 
Woods,  Essie,  37:2:153-154 
Woods,  —  (Freighter),  37:1:107 
Woods,  Sam,  37:2:224 
Wright,  Charles,  37:2:148,  156 
Wright,  Nettie,  37:2:147-156 
Wright's  Hog  Ranch,  37:1:97 
Wyoming    Development    Company, 

37:2:224 
Wyoming's   Earliest   Place    Names?, 
by  Wilson  O.  Clough,   37:2:211- 
220 


GENERAL  INDEX 


271 


Wyoming's    44th    Star,    photo    and 

article,  37:1:74 
Wyoming     National     Guard,      "B" 

Company,  37:1:53 
Wyoming   State   Guard,   Companies 

"H"  and  "K",  37:1:31 
Wyoming    State    Historical    Society, 

President's  Message,   by  Neal  E. 

Miller,  37:1:110 
Wyoming    State    Historical    Society 
Seal,  37:1:123,  sketch,  124 
Wyoming  Statehood,  by  T.  A.  Lar- 
son, 37:1:5-29 
Wyoming  Summits,  Softly  Glinting, 

by  Hans  Kleiber,  poem,  37:2:244 


Yates,  F.  D.  and  Company,  37:1:79 
Yates,  Ned,  37:2:224 
Yellowstone  Park  Amendment,   37: 
1:39,  45 

Yelton,  O.  P.,  photo,  37:1:4;  5 
Yoder,  Oscar,  37:1:99 
Yonicic,  Mrs.  Faye,  37:1:113 
Young,  Harry,  Hard  Knocks,  37:1: 
97 


Zehner,   Beuchner  &   Co.,   37:1:53, 
68 


V? 


/L  I'Ia-^ 


L^ 


V^^A-c^ 


^-&o^<^  '^^     />-  r>o    __ 


l_^.--jh-yi^^  ^ 


(?. 


7^   — /^ 


^ 


/H^cfi^- 


.  / 


/r 


Hyn<lA^      (h^ 


-S^-T^ 


_A^3-      g^ 


/ 


(i_^dSttt^^ 


LJ^y 


WYOMING  STATE  ARCHIVES  AND  HISTORICAL 
DEPARTMENT 


The  Wyoming  State  Archives  and  Historical  Department  has  as  its  func- 
tion the  collection  and  preservation  of  the  record  of  the  people  of  Wyo- 
ming.    It  maintains  a  historical  library,  a  museum  and  the  state  archives. 

The  aid  of  the  citizens  of  Wyoming  is  solicited  in  the  carrying  out  of  its 
function.  The  Department  is  anxious  to  secure  and  preserve  records  and 
materials  now  in  private  hands  where  they  cannot  be  long  preserved.  Such 
records  and  materials  include: 

Biographical  materials  of  pioneers:  diaries,  letters,  account  books,  auto- 
biographical accounts. 

0 

Business  records  of  industries  of  the  State:  livestock,  mining,  agriculture, 
railroads,  manufacturers,  merchants,  small  business  establishments,  and  of 
professional  men  as  bankers,  lawyers,  physicians,  dentists,  ministers,  and 
educators. 

Private  records  of  individual  citizens,  such  as  correspondence,  manuscript 
materials  and  scrapbooks. 

Records  of  organizations  active  in  the  religious,  educational,  social, 
economic  and  political  life  of  the  State,  including  their  publications  such 
as  yearbooks  and  reports. 

Manuscript  and  printed  articles  on  towns,  counties,  and  any  significant 
topic  dealing  with  the  history  of  the  State. 

Early  newspapers,  maps,  pictures,  pamphlets,  and  books  on  western 
subjects. 

Current  publications  by  individuals  or  organizations  throughout  the 
State. 

Museum  materials  with  historical  significance:  early  equipment,  Indian 
artifacts,  relics  dealing  with  the  activities  of  persons  in  Wyoming  and  with 
special  events  in  the  State's  history.