USA > Colorado > History of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming, 1540-1888 > Part 82
USA > Nevada > History of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming, 1540-1888 > Part 82
USA > Wyoming > History of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming, 1540-1888 > Part 82
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Newell Beeman, born in Ontario co., N. Y., in 1844, came to Almy in 1871, engaging as book-keeper of the R. M. C. & I. company, and in 1873 became supt and business manager. He was elected county commissioner in 1874, and twice reelected; was also school trustee, and several times on the republican central committee for the territory. The coal, according to Beeman, is semi-bituminous brown coal, of good [quality, which is used by the company and the towns along the railroad. Its quantity is practically unlimited.
Justin Pomeroy was the first agricultural settler and cattle-raiser north of the railroad in Uinta co., where a large number of farms were later HIST. NEV. 50
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786
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Since the completion of the Oregon Short Line rail- road, this county has progressed rapidly in improve- ments, and is destined to be one of the most impor- tant in the future state. Its assessed valuation in 1883, was $2,096,377.
Sweetwater county by the erection of a new coun- ty, Frémont, out of the Sweetwater region, has lost the significance of its name, as well as the most val- uable portion of the territory. The county seat, which in early times was at South Pass City, was removed in 1874 to Green river.'
Frémont county established in 1884, contained an
opened, chiefly, however, for raising hay, oats, potatoes, and vegetables. In 1868 Moses Byrn and C. Guild located themselves on Muddy creek, 12 miles east of Fort Bridger.
John W. Myers took a land claim at the crossing of Bear river on the old stage road. In 1877 a Mormon colony located in Salt river valley, 140 miles north of Evanston. The valley is 20 miles long, and 7 to 9 miles wide, with beautiful scenery. In 1868 Beckwith, Quinn, and company took up a tract about 50 miles north of Evanston, containing 15,000 acres, 4,000 of which is under cultivation, 400 acres being in lucern, which yielded from 2 to 3 tons to the acre, and cut twice a year. From 3,000 acres of irrigated meadow land they cut in 1881, 3,500 tons of hay, and thrashed 1,800 bushels of barley. They wintered 2,500 head of cattle, of which 97 were thorough- bred Durham bulls and 40 thoroughbred cows. They owned a large number of thoroughbred horses, and fattened a herd of Berkshire hogs on lucern, turnips, and barley raised on the rancho. Blythe, Pixley, Christie, Lank- tree, and many others had extensive ranchos on Bear river previous to 1880, since which time there has been a marked increase in settlement. Trans. Wyom. Acad. Sciences, etc., 1882, 98-9.
Robert L. Hereford was born in Va, in 1827, and crossing the plains in 1851, wandered about the Rocky mountain region and west coast, always occupying high and responsible positions, when he went to Big Thompson river, Colo., in 1860.
Jesse Knight, born in 1850, and educated at an academy, went to Omaha in 1869, to Wyoming in 1871, remaining at South Pass city until 1873, being one year in merchandising business, and two, clerk of the court for the 3d judicial district. Uinta county being added to the district in 1873, and he has been in the same office ever since.
" Green river was an interesting point to travellers on account of the fos- sils found in the Green river sholes. These are arranged in thin layers of different colors, some of which contain thousands of impressions of fish, insects, and water plants. At Burning Rock cut, between layers of a light colored, chalky limestone, were strata of a dark color, saturated with petroleum, which, being ignited, burned for several days hence the name. The Sweetwater Gazette is published at Green river. Green river, named after a member of Ashley's expedition of 1823, and not on account of its color as is commonly asserted, furnishes some of the finest views of the passage of the continent. All the other towns in the county with the exception of Downieville, on Green river, are simply railroad stations. They are Mars- ton, Bryan, Wilkins, Salt Wells, Point of Rocks, Hallville, Black Butte, Bitter Creek, Table Rock, Tipton, Red Desert, Washakie, Latham, Creston, and Fillmore. Wolfe, Mercantile Guide, 178-84.
787
WYOMING.
area of about 20,000 square miles, inclusive of the whole Sweetwater mining country, the Shoshone res- ervation, and the elevated valley of the Bighorn on the west side of that river, with the Shoshone moun- tains on the western border.8
8 The Wind river valley is a fertile and beautiful region, popularly known as the garden of Wyoming. The first commissioners appointed to organize, were, H. G. Nickerson, B. F. Low, and Horace E. Blinn. The first com- missioners elected were, R. H. Hall dem., A. J. McDonald, and H. E. Blinn rep., J. J. Atkins was elected sheriff on the republican ticket. Ervin F. Cheney appointed deputy district clerk. South Pass city is the oldest town in the county. A newspaper was started there in 1868 by N. A. Baker called The News. It was sold to E. A. Slack, who moved it to Lara- mie. This paper was succeeded by the Sweetwater Miner, which was removed to Bryan.
Horace E. Blinn was born in Snelburn, Vt, in 1847, and educated there. In 1870 he migrated to Wyoming, locating himself at Camp Brown, now Fort Washakie, as post trader with J. K. Moore, and remaining there three years. He then went to Boulder co., Colo, where he erected a saw mill. In 1881 he returned to North Fork city, Popo Agie valley, settling three years later in Lander.
Louis P. Vidal, born in France, came to Wyoming, located himself finally in Atlantic City, and took up the extension of the Buckeye mine. He erected several houses there, and took contracts for supplying Camp Brown with certain necessary articles. In 1871 he went to this post, which had been removed to the Shoshone reservation, and named Fort Washakie, but in 1872 engaged in stock raising with his residence at Lander, the most impor- tant town in Frémont county.
Among the early settlers of what is now Frémont county, was John D. Woodruff, born in Broome co., N. Y., in 1847, and in 1866 came to Wyoming. Being well acquainted with the country, he acted as guide to generals Sheridan and Crook when selecting the site Fort Custer.
The pioneer cattle raiser of Frémont county was John Luman, born in 1838, in Jackson co., Va. In 1854 he settled in Kansas, migrating to Colo in 1859, and soon going to Fort Bridger, where he was employed by the post sutter two years. He then returned to Colo, remaining there seven years, mining and prospecting. He later became a successful stock raiser.
Another pioneer was James A. McAvoy, born in Ohio in 1842, and in 1868 came to Cheyenne. Thence he went to South Pass city in 1869, remain- ing there, engaged in mining. In 1873 he located himself on Willow creek in the Wind river valley, within the lines of the Indian reservation. He next engaged with Samuel Fairfield in constructing a road from the timbered lands at the head of Big Popo Agie to Lander. When Frémont co. was organized he was elected county clerk.
Still another sort of frontiersman was Major Noyes Baldwin, born in Woodbridge, Conn., in 1826, served in the civil war and afterward came to Wind river valley and established a trading post, dealing with the Indians for three years. He was one of the first discoverers of gold at South pass, with him being Henry Ridell, Frank Marshall, Harry Habbel, Richard Grace, and others. He is now a resident of Lander.
Robert H. Hall, born at Sacketts Harbor, N. Y., in 1852, came to Camp Stambough in 1873, remaining there for over four years, when he removed to Lander, having become interested in cattle.
James J. Atkins, born in Wis. in 1853, came to Dakota in 1872, and afterward to Lander, where he secured a farm and raised stock. He was elected sheriff on the organization of Frémont co.
788
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
Carbon county contains 13,500 square miles. As its name indicates, it overlies extensive coal deposits, particularly in the southern portion. It has several mineral districts, in which are found the precious metals, besides copper, iron, iron-paint, fire-clay, gypsum, salt, and coal oil. The latter promises to be one of the foremost resources of the territory, and particularly of Frémont and Carbon counties. The petroleum of Wyoming lies near the surface, and resembles the best Russian and Rangoon oils. For lubricating purposes it is not excelled by any known.'
9 This county embraces a large extent of the Laramie plains, devoted to grazing. Good agricultural lands are found chiefly along the north Platte. Rawlins, founded in 1870, and named in honor of John A. Rawlins, is the county seat, and has about 1,800 inhabitants, railroad machine shops, banks, an assay office, established by the legislature in 1877, good public buildings erected in 1882, two newspapers, the Tribune and Journal, and a general condition of prosperity. It is situated in the midst of a mineral district, centrally in relation to other districts, and the east and west portions of the- territory, and is the natural outlet of northern Colorado. The mineral paint mine at Rawlins was discovered by John C. Dyer and others. It was worked, but not profitably, owing to railroad rates. The Rawlins district contains copper mines which assay 40 per cent of copper to the ton, with an ounce of silver and traces of gold. The Ferris mineral district near Rawlins was discovered by George Ferris, John C. Dyer, and others. The Medium Bow Range contains several mining districts. Dexter district, 40 miles south of Rawlins, Summit, Douglas, Centennial, and Bramel districts, are in this range, and contain both quartz and placer mines. Hanspeck gold placer mines, 80 miles south of Rawlins, yield well to the hydraulic process. The Seminole district, 35 miles north of Rawlins, contains quartz, free milling, yielding from $12 to $30 per ton.
Carbon is a coal mining town, where about 500 miners are employed. Warm Springs is a settlement of 250 people in the Platte valley, and the only agricultural town in the county. Large herds of cattle have been kept on the ranges for stock-raising purposes, but there is a tendency to dairying and farming, which will ultimately drive out the stock cattle, and result in more compact settlement. The population of Carbon co. in 1883 was about 5,000, distributed upon farms, in railroad towns, and in the mines; and the assessed valuation $3,662,368. The railway stations are Separation, Green- ville, Fort Steele, Edson, Station House, Percy, Medicine Bow, and Aurora. Taking into consideration the age of the territory, the wealth of this, the third county in value, is worthy of remark. Its property had increased in 1886 to between $4,000,000 and $5,000,000. The history of the men who founded the prosperity of the county is proper in this place.
James France, born in Pa in 1838, came to Wyoming in 1868, and opened store under the firm name of H. C. Hall & Co. A branch store was estab- lished at Rawlins in 1869, of which France took charge. He continued in merchandising until 1884, when he engaged in banking, erecting a building for that purpose. He was elected to the legislative council in 1874, and was appointed territorial auditor by Gov. Hoyt, vice Downey, elected to con- gress. He was appointed postmaster in 1871, retaining the office until 1885; and was several times county commissioner, being chairman of the board for three terms.
Dewitt C. Kelley, born in Pa in 1850, came to Rawlins in the spring of
789
WYOMING.
Johnson county was organized out of the northern
1870, engaging as book-keeper for France, which situation he retained until 1882, when he was transferred to the James France bank, of which he was made cashier. In Dec. 1882 he went into merchandising for himself. The same year he was elected probate judge and county treasurer, and reëlected in 1884.
John C. Davis, born in Ireland and educated in England, came to Wyom- ing in 1869, and was engaged in different situations for 7 years, when he went into mercantile business, managing the establishment of J. W. Hughes for four years, and being made partner in 1880.
Barton T. Ryan, born in Ind. in 1838, and accompanied Gen. Sully on his march across Dakota to the Yellowstone, to intimidate the Sioux, and being in the battle of Deerstand, where 15,000 Indians were opposed to 3,000 troops. In the fight 585 Indians were killed against a loss of a few men killed and wounded on the side of the army. In 1870 he purchased an interest in a lot of cattle shipped from Iowa to Carbon co., and engaged in the business.
Isaac C. Miller, born in Denmark in 1844, came to Omaha in 1866, and the following year to North Platte, merchandising at Bitter creek until 1870, when he located himself at Rawlins. In 1871 he went to mining at Hahn's peak, and in 1873 returned to Rawlins and engaged in cattle raising. He was elected sheriff in 1880, holding the office two terms.
Perry L. Smith, born in Ill. in 1836, came to Rawlins in 1868, dealing in icattle and keeping a meat market. He was appointed county commissioner in 1869, and subsequently elected two terms, being chairman of the board each term. In 1874 he was elected county clerk for two years, and in 1879 was elected to the council of the legislature, being reelected in 1881. He was appointed territorial auditor in 1884.
Samuel Fairfield, born in New Hampshire in 1836, came to Lander in 1873, and erected three saw-mills, one of which he sold to the government, remain- ing in that region until 1880. He then moved to Rawlins, where he remained three years, when he went to Garfield co., Colo, and with others located the town of Meeker on land purchased of the government, and partly improved for a military post.
John C. Dyer, born in Washington, D. C., in 1845, came to Fort Bridger, Sweetwater mines, and Cheyenne in 1867, where he engaged in merchandis- ing, following the railroad west to Rawlins. He became interested in min- ing, and was one of the discoverers of the Ferris district, George Ferris, another of the company, discovering the first mine, which entitled him to have the district named for him.
Robert M. Galbraith was born in England in 1844. He had charge of the shops at Omaha, Laramie, or Benton, beginning when he was but 22 years of age, and having then 700 men under him. In 1870 he became inter- ested in mines in the Seminole district. In 1882 he engaged in merchandis- ing at Rawlins, selling out in 1884, and going into the stock business with Blake, his cattle range being 30 miles south of Rawlins. He was elected to the territorial council in 1882.
James V. Cantlin, born in Ill. in 1848, went to western Neb. in 1868, and thence to Rawlins in 1871. He was appointed postmaster at Ferris in 1877, and deputy sheriff of Carbon co. in 1878, holding until 1884, under James Rankin.
Homer Merrill, born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1846, came to Wyoming in 1872, and was admitted to the practice of the law at Laramie City, removing to Rawlins in 1874. He was elected prosecuting attorney for Carbon co. soon after, which office he held almost continuously for 10 years, and was supervisor of census in 1880.
A. L. Mauk, born in Pa in 1846, of German and French parentage, came to Rock Spring, Wyoming, in 1878.
William McCarty was born in Ireland in 1837, and after some mining
790
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
portion of Carbon county in March 1881.19 It pos- sessed at this period assessable property valued at $1,259,981, which had increased in 1883 to $2,481,- 404. It contains a large amount of good land which is being brought into a condition for farming by irri- gating canals cut on the bench lands lying back of the meadows along the numerous streams in the county. Coal is abundant and of good quality. The county seat is Buffalo, founded in 1879-80 by W. L. Andrews, A. J. McCray,11 William H, Phillips, and Charles Williams, on the south side of Clear creek. It is now chiefly on the north side of the stream, and within a short distance of Fort McKinney.13
The town was incorporated in 1884, having at the age of three years 500 inhabitants and a municipal
experiences in Colorado, he came to Eureka, Nev., Cal., and Mont., returning to Utah and Colo, and finally settling in Rawlins in 1875. He accompanied Gen, Crook in his expedition to the Powder river in 1876.
Frank A. Hinman, born in Iowa in 1857, and educated in Colo common schools, engaged in placer mining in 1877 at Hahn peak.
Benjamin F. Northington, born in Ky in 1833, of English parentage, was educated in Cal. His father erected the first grist-mill in Ky. In 1849 he went to Texas in the cattle business, and to Cal. through Mex. and Ariz. in 1849, in a company commanded by David S. Terry, the first to take that route and cross the Colorado near Yuma. In 1873 he settled in Raw- lins, giving up mining, though he went to the Black hills in 1876. He was elected sergt-at-arms of the house of representatives in 1875.
Charles E. Blydenburgh, A. B., A. M., and Em. was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1854, and came to Wyoming in 1878, locating himself at Rawlins, with J. G. Murphy, in the business of mining engineering. When the terri- torial assay office was completed, according to an act of the legislature of 1877, the firm took charge of it.
10 Mess. Gov. Hoyt, 1882, p. 19. This county was first established under the name of Pease in Dec. 1875, but was not to be organized until it should have 500 electors residing within it. Comp. Laws Wyom., 1876, 198-201. Owing to the obstinacy with which the Sioux resisted white occupation, it was not settled until after the Indians were placed on reservations under renewed treaties. Its advance since 1877 has been rapid. It was finally named Johnson, in honor of E. P. Johnson of Cheyenne. Johnson Memorial, 24.
11 Alvin J. McCray, of Buffalo, Wyoming, was one of the first settlers. He was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1852. In the spring of 1876 he joined the migration to the Black hills, locating himself at Deadwood, where he es- tablished the first hotel.
12 The first actual permanent settler in the county was Elias N. Snider, post-trader at Fort McKinney. Snider was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1842, and in 1877 was made post-trader of Fort McKinney, which appoint- ment he resigned in 1879 to engage in stock raising and farming. Major B. J. Hart was the first to locate land west of Snyder, and Hart's claim became a part of Buffalo. When the county was organized he was elected probate judge, and served one term. In 1882 he was elected to the lower house of the legislature and reëlected in 1884.
791
WYOMING.
PLAN OF BUFFALO IN 1884.
792
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT.
government. 13 The citizens are intelligent and liberal, supporting law, order, and education generously. It has one newspaper, the Echo, founded by a company, and first edited by T. V. McCandlish.14 In the mean- time, stock-raising is the principal source of wealth, there being a number of stock companies in the coun- try, as well as individual owners. 15 The military post
13 The first mayor of Buffalo was H. A. Bennett, born in Tenn. in 1854, and removed in 1877 to Cheyenne, and thence to Rock creek, where he engag d as clerk with G. D. Thayer, and remained until 1881, when he removed to Powder river and went into business with Conrad, to whom he sold out in 1882.
Another early settler was Richard Kennedy, who was born in N. Y., and brought up in Iowa. In 1872 he drifted to Montana, mining near Helena, prospecting on Clark fork in 1873, trapping in the Bighorn mountains, trad- ing with the Crows, organizing a town site co. in 1877 and calling it after Gen. Miles. Before it had obtained a good start a rival Miles city was started two miles nearer the fort, which overshadowed his town.
Stephen T. Farwell assisted in forming the county organization, and was a justice of the peace previously. He was elected probate judge and county treasurer in 1884. Farwell was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1836.
Noel T. Webber, another early settler, was born in N. Y. in 1822. In 1864 he joined the 3d Colo regt., Capt. Talbot's co., and served four months, being at the battle of Sand creek. He has had a varied experience.
James M. Lobban, who was born in Miss., came to Fort McKinney in 1879, engaging as clerk to the post trader, J. H. Conrad, and remaining until 1882. Lobban was elected probate judge and county treasurer in 1882, and member of the lower house of the legislature in 1884.
Frank M. Canton, a native of Va, born in 1854, removed to Colo in 1868, with his father, who settled himself southwest of Denver. He soon went to Montana, and engaged with William Jamison, who was in the stock busi- ness, remaining until 1877, when he came to Cheyenne and went into the service of the Wyoming Stock growers association, as a detective. He made many arrests of horse and cattle thieves, and some worse criminals, estab- lishing his reputation for nerve and ability. In 1882 he was elected sheriff of Johnson co., to which he had removed with his family in 1881.
14 Cullen Watt was born in Scotland in 1864, and educated in Canada. In 1867 he came to Laramie river in Wyoming. When Fort Mckinney was building in 1878, he located a large tract of land 22 miles east for a farm and stock range.
Eugene B. Mather and George W. Munkers brought in the first consign- ment of goods for Robert Foote of Buffalo in 1882, consisting of 80,000 pounds. I have already mentioned Munkers. Mather was born in Pa in 1849, and in 1868 went to Butler co., Kan., and established the first saw- mill in that region, 20 miles e. of Wichita, remaining there until 1873. In 1876 he went to Colo with his brother-in-law, Munkers, and thence to Buf- falo, where both took up their residence. Mrs Mather is a daughter of Justice Pomeroy of Uinta co., the first white settler of Fouteville.
15 William J. Clarke, a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 1859, and educated at York, came to Wyoming in 1878. He remained there until 1881. Clarke made his residence at Buffalo.
Fred. G. S. Hesse, born in England in 1852, came to Wyoming in 1876 from Tex., where he had arrived 3 years previous.
Delos Babcock, born in Iowa in 1857, went to Colo in 1873. In 1878 he came to Wyoming.
Charles H. Burritt, born in Vt in 1854, and educated in Middlebury col-
793
WYOMING.
has assisted materially in opening up the frontier. The legislature of 1879 passed an act to locate and establish a territorial wagon road from Rawlins to Fort McKinney, which being used by the military is improved by the soldiers. The presence of a garrison gives a feeling of security which settlers would lack, surrounded as the territory is on the west, north, and east by Indian reservations.
The second town in the county was Sheridan, sit- uated where the Bozeman road crosses the middle fork of Tongue river.16 Bighorn city, a few miles south of Sheridan, on the same stream, is the third. There are post-offices at Depot Mckinney, Trabing, and at Colo, all on the road to Montana
Albany county, with less area, has more population than any county except Laramie. It comprises the eastern portion of the Laramie river, the remainder of its surface being broken and mountainous.17
lege and at Brown university, R. I., studied law in Detroit with Wm A. Moore. He came to Cheyenne in 1879. In 1883, he settled at Buffalo in the practice of the law.
Chauncy Stoddard, born in Peru, N. Y., in 1829, came to Wyoming, Johnson co., in 1879, an important cattle man.
John R. Smith was born in Ohio in 1844. In 1879 settled near Trading P. O. He was one of the commissioners appointed to organize the county, and was treasurer of his school district.
16 Sheridan was incorporated in 1884. Wyom. Sess. Laws, 1884, 129. Its first mayor was John D. Loucks, who was born in N. Y. in 1845. With J. M. Works, he settled in 1880 on Big Goose creek. He was appointed post- master in 1882, was elected justice of the peace, and chosen on the school board, which he was active in establishing. The first 40 acres of the town were laid off in lots, and about four buildings erected; the 2d year there were 50 buildings, and every lot sold.
Henry Held, born in Bavaria in 1849, came to Cheyenne in 1868 and to Sheridan in 1882.
Marion C. Harris, born in Ind. in 1856, caine to Wyoming in 1883.
James B. Culver, born in N. Y. in 1857. In 1884 he came to Sheridan, and engaged with J. W. Conrad & Co.
17 Its resources are principally grazing and mining. It is especially rich in iron, its Iron mountain yielding 85 per cent pure inetal. Laramie City, the county seat, has 4,000 inhabitants. The military post and reservation of Fort Sanders adjoins it on the south. The Union Pacific railroad oper- ates large rolling mills at this place, and in 1883 erected soda manufacturing works. There are 2,000 inhabitants divided among a dozen railroad sta- tions, and a number of ranchos devoted chiefly to cattle-raising. The as- sessed valuation of the county in 1883 was $2,833,515. Nathaniel K. Bos- well discovered the soda lakes in 1869, and subsequently sold them to the railway. He was then slipping 20 tons por week, at a profit of $7.50 per ton, The railway men would only pay what the mine had cost; and when
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