Pioneering on the Cheyenne River: Part 2, Pioneers on the Cheyenne
PIONEERS ON THE CHEYENNE
JOHN B. KENDRICK
JOHN B. KENDRICK was born September 6, 1857, in Cherokee County, Texas, coming from Texas to Wyoming as a cowboy. He was one of the famous drovers who traveled up the Texas trail twice. His employer on his first trail drive from Texas was Charles Wulfjen. Kendrick became his foreman on his ULA Wyoming ranch, a position he held for five years. He returned to Texas and invested his savings in long-horned cattle. These were trailed to Wyoming with cattle of his employer.
Kendrick was also range manager for the Converse Cattle Co.
His early education was very limited, so far as schools were concerned, but he studied and read all books that came within his reach. E. A. (Dad) Boots, who worked at the ULA for Kendrick, said that Kendrick studied evenings while the cowboys played poker.
Kendrick was full of reminiscences and told many interesting tales. He said on one of the trips up from Texas with a drove of cattle, the boss paid them in gold, near the junction of Snyder Creek and the Cheyenne River. One cowboy missed his money next morning, and as the notorious Tom Wagoner was with the cowboys, they all thought he had stolen it. The boss called them all up and told them they would have to stand a search to clear themselves. They all took off their boots and stood search, but Tom Wagoner only pulled off one boot. He said the boots were new and the other boot hurt his foot too much to pull it off. They were all quite sure he had the cowboy's gold in his boot, but no one volunteered to help pull it off. Kendrick said Tom Wagoner was a highly educated man, and among one of the greatest personalities he ever met.
A couple of years after this episode, Tom Wagoner was hanged about 35 miles north and a little west of Snyder Creek, on a little creek near the Popham ranch, in what is now Weston County. He was accused of being a little too handy with a "sea weed."
In 1891, Kendrick married Eula Wulfjen, daughter of his former employer. As the range became overcrowded, he purchased the OW ranch near Sheridan and moved his stock there.
He became Governor of Wyoming in 1914 and U. S. Senator from Wyoming in 1916, and served until his death in Sheridan, Wyoming, November 3, 1933.
M.D. BROWN
THE GENIUS of pioneering is born in a man. It runs in families and is handed down from father to son. Such was the Brown family of Missouri, to whom was born Mathew D. Brown on October 6, 1856. Matt's parents, Mathew J. and Mary Brown, were among the first white settlers of Johnson County, Missouri, and his great-grandmother was Daniel Boone's sister.
Mat worked on various farms, saving the little money he earned, and resolved to go to the West, where adventure and danger gave a wild variety of life. So in the spring of 1876 he arrived at Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory. Here he hired out to Street & Thompson, who were running a freight outfit between Cheyenne and Custer, Dakota Territory.
The following sketch was written by Malcolm S. Campbell, president of the Robber's Roost Historical Society, which appeared in the July, 1942, issue of "Annals of Wyoming," journal of the State Historical Department. This follows in part:
"His first load contained 18,000 pounds of flour drawn by a ten-mule team. On this trip everything went well until they were about half-way between Running Water, the present site of Lusk, and Hat Creek station. When going down through the breaks the wagon train was attacked by Sioux Indians.
The wagon boss ordered a retreat back up the hill, but bringing up the rear was a driver by the name of Croft, who was driving four horses which had been sold to Heck Reel by the Army because they wouldn't stand gun fire. When the shooting began the horses lived up to their reputations and the driver had his hands full. Croft talked through his nose in such a peculiar fashion that he always brought a laugh, 'even in a pinch.' All he could yell was, 'Come and kill this damned Indian before he kills me.' One Indian had singled him out since he was more or less helpless as a defender. The main obstacle of the retreat was Croft and his outfit, who were blocking the way. When asked by the wagon boss why he didn't get started back, he replied, 'My place is behind.' Every teamster had his place in the wagon train. They finally succeeded in driving off the Indians and pulled back up the hill where they went into camp and sent a messenger to Fort Laramie for help. Captain Egan and a company of soldiers arrived a few days later.
"The wagon train started on, accompanied by the soldiers as far as Indian Creek, where, as nothing happened, the soldiers stopped. Soon afterward the wagon train met approximately 250 men returning to Cheyenne from the Black Hills, some because of Indians and others because there was no flour in Custer, and provisions were running short. Learning that the wagon train was loaded with supplies, the latter group started back with the freighters.
"As the wagon train pulled to the top of a hill between Cole and Cottonwood creeks, a wagon wheel broke, causing a halt for repairs. A young horse wrangler with the outfit, who had ridden ahead to the brow of a hill to look around, returned as fast as his horse could carry him, with the news that the country on the other side was swarming with Indians. The wagon boss ordered the wagons placed in a circle and sent a messenger back to inform Captain Egan of their predicament. A half-hour later Indians appeared on the horizon and started circling the train, gradually working in closer and closer, exchanging a good many shots. Suddenly, as Captain Egan and his company of soldiers came into sight, the Indians started to pull out. One man with the wagon train was wounded and two or three Indians were killed. After repairing the wheel the train proceeded on to the Cheyenne River crossing, the present site of Edgemont, South Dakota. Upon arriving there they learned of the Metz massacre. The Metz family, enroute to Custer from Cheyenne, were traveling through Red Canyon when Indians attacked the party. Seven bodies were found, four men, Mr. and Mrs. Metz, and a colored woman who had tried to escape, and whose body was found a half mile from the main party. Matt and the other drivers helped bury them on the north side of the Cheyenne River. In later years, when the railroad was built across the site, some of the skeletons were found in the excavations and scraped into the grade.
The remainder of the trip to Custer and the return to Cheyenne were without incident, and although he made several trips over the same road, Matt found the first to be the most exciting.
Matt quit freighting in 1881 and secured a job from the Union Cattle Company, and was sent to their S&G ranch. and worked for this cow outfit until the fall of 1887. In the spring of 1888, he started working for John Sires, owner of the 21 horse ranch. On August 1, 1888, Matt was sent, to Three Forks, Montana, to gather straggling 21 horses. He was gone about seven weeks and picked up about 50 head of range horses bearing the 21 brand.
On his return to the ranch he learned that George Williams, the foreman, had taken leave without notice and forgotten to leave the money sent to pay wages and ranch bills. He was afterwards heard of in South America.
The owner took for granted that this change in affairs at the ranch also meant his (Williams) resignation. He appointed Matt as range foreman for the company and he worked in that capacity until 1897.
Mr. Sires also owned a horse ranch near Lewiston, Idaho, and it was there that he was killed in May, 1895. The 21 ranch was built on unclaimed land, or land belonging to the government. Matt used his preemption rights to acquire the land on which the ranch buildings were located.
On December 6, 1894, Mathew Brown and Mary Herman were married at Edgemont, So. Dak. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Crowell were their attendants. They took up their residence on the 21 ranch. There were born to them two children-Laurel on May 18, 1896, and Mathew, on January 20, 1911.
The writer recently became possessor of an old Waterbury clock given to Matt and Mary by Will Hogg as a wedding present. This old clock has been ticking on perfect time for all these 53 years, and is still hiking along at a lively pace. It is one of those kind that strikes and gives you one-half hour notice to be on time. It used to sit on the shelf in Matt's bunk house, and if this old clock could talk instead of tick, it could unwind a lot of wild and wooly yarns of the hot-stove league. There would be such tales as helping arrest road agents and perhaps hanging them. Participants' names withheld for "political reasons." There would be yarns of wild bronc riding, with no holds barred nor names withheld. Then, for the benefit of the tender foot that might drop in, there would be wild stories of the killing and scalping of a bunch of buck Indians. Other tall tales and a few fish stories, too, but Matt's stories never wound up fishy, and for spice he usually wound up with three long-eared hounds with him on a coon hunt or possum for supper. But a lot of these old "wind jammers" never would wait for a tenderfoot to come along. They belonged to the big league and they laid it on as they come, win, lose or draw.
Many Indians stopped at the ranch on their yearly hunting trips. Among these were Red Cloud, Shut-the-Door, Stinking Bear and Horney Frog.
Mrs. Brown related that when she arrived at the ranch as a bride she was baking biscuits for dinner one day. As she was removing them from the oven, she heard a noise behind her. Looking back she saw several Indians entering the door. Excited and fearful, she dropped the biscuits and they rolled over the floor. The Indians were very accommodating-they picked up the biscuits and ate them. Every time one would gulp a biscuit down he would grunt, "Ugh! Ugh!" Not being familiar with the Indian language, Mrs. Brown did not know whether that meant the biscuits were good or bad. She baked another batch and set them on the table, and from the way they disappeared she decided right then and there "Ugh" in the Sioux language meant "good."
Mr. and Mrs. Brown sold their holdings to Daniel Burton and Rice Akers in 1945 and moved to Edgemont, So. Dak. There he and Mrs. Brown are enjoying a long-needed and well-earned rest.
JOE BILLINGTON
JOE BILLINGTON was born in England in about 1866 and came to this country when a young boy. He became an all-around cook and cooked at several old cow ranches, among them being the OS, S&G, 0--0, AU7 and the 21 horse ranch.
It was said of him that while the cowboys were telling their wild and wooly stories, although where he came from (England) it was supposed to be tame and civilized, when Joe pitched in a story it was just as good as the old waddies had to hand out.
Joe was crossing the country and stayed all night at the old ranch and while the boys were whiling away the hours until bedtime, and speaking about the big outfits they had worked for and known, one puncher asked Joe who he worked for, he replied, "The biggest outfit in the U. S. A.", and of course they asked what outfit that was, and Joe replied, "The pot and pan."
Joe decided he would take a rest from his profession, so he went to the Harry Stine place on the Cheyenne River and stayed there for a year or so.
From Edgemont, he migrated to South America, and got the first charter for the Odd Fellows Lodge in the town where he lived.
This was the last knowledge anyone here had of him, but it was supposed he rounded out his days cooking sour dough biscuits for the South American cowboys.
E. A. BOOTS
E. A. BOOTS was born in Ohio. He left there with his brother in 1871 and headed for Kansas. He stayed there but a few months. He didn't like Kansas, so he decided to go to Texas, as he had heard a lot about that State. He left his brother in Kansas and never saw him again.
He was in Texas a year or so working at odd jobs on various ranches. In relating his experience, E. A. said, "There was a big epidemic of yellow fever down there that year. People died like flies, so I decided to get the hell out of there."
He got a job with a man who was trailing cattle north. This was in the year of 1873. Mr. Boots, in describing the trip, said: "The herd contained 3,500 head. There was a trail boss, two drag drivers, two swing men, a cook and a horse wrangler and two flank men. Each man on trail had six or seven horses. Our rations were sour dough, bread, meat, beans and coffee. Our trail route was north, through Fort Griffin to Ogallala, Nebr." '(his was known as the Fort Griffin-Dodge City trail, also referred to as the Chisholm Trail.) "We had no trouble with the Indians to speak of as we crossed their nation," he said. "We appeased them with a tribute of a couple of lanky body critters who were hardly able to travel."
"Ogallala was the trail's end. It was one of the great cow capitals from which the cattle were dispersed to the ranches and ranges. I quit the outfit here and came on to Cheyenne, where I worked for various outfits for a couple of years."
The first winter Mr. Boots was in Wyoming he and Ad Spaugh were in charge of a herd of cattle near Cheyenne. It was a severe winter and their cattle became quite poor. They were good rustlers, though, and were able to get at enough cured grass, and so lived until the chinooks came.
Mr. Boots started to work for John B. Kendrick on the ULA ranch on Lance Creek in 1883 and worked for him a couple of years.
In 1886-87, Mr. Boots was one of the outstanding range inspectors and detectives for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. His happiest years were spent on the range, and as the big outfits were closing out, and the cowhands were all locating on ranches of their own, so in the early '90's, he located on a fine stock ranch near Thermopolis, Wyoming. Here he reared his family.
Mr. Boots died in 1945 at Thermopolis, Wyo., at the age of 89, outliving his allotted three score and ten by many years.
WILLIAM G. HOGG
WILLIAM HOGG was a native of West Virginia, born December 17, 1870.
He spent most of his boyhood days on one of his father's farms. Here he fished, gathered nuts, etc., but his greatest delight was 'possum and coon hunting. When the hired man, George Oldaker, took Will and his brothers on their first 'possum hunt, he found a new interest in life and repeated the exploit many times.
Will was an accomplished musician, starting to take violin lessons at the age of seven. He went on a steamboat down the Ohio River to Gallipolis to purchase his first violin. Later on he took piano lessons. He attended the country schools until he had finished the grades, then the family moved to Point Pleasant for the winter so the children could have the advantages held out in the high school. On Saturdays and evenings he worked on a large poultry farm and loved poultry ever after. After locating on Lance Creek he had all kinds of poultry--peacocks, four or five different kinds of ducks, geese, guineas, pheasants and game chickens, etc.
In 1888, at the age of 18 years, he came West and arrived in Dakota Territory, working one year for Frank Blessing, near Ardmore. In 1889 he went to work for John Sires, owner of the 21 horse ranch, and worked for him seven years. In 1893 Mr. Sires shipped ten or twelve cars of horses- to the Chicago market. Will accompanied him on this trip, and while there attended the World's Exposition. Will then purchased a ticket to his old home in West Virginia and spent the holidays at home. Returning to Wyoming in January, '94, he resumed his job at the 21.
In 1894, Mr. Sires shipped horses to Kentucky. Will accompanied him on this trip, also. Mr. Sires was a native son of Kentucky, so they visited his relatives. On the way down Mr. Sires bought a blue Yankee overcoat, brass buttons and all. He didn't put it on until they were near the home of his nephew. When he presented himself they shook hands and his nephew said, "Good Lord, Uncle John, what are you doing with that Yankee make-up on?" His nephew's wife took the coat and handled it rather gingerly and exclaimed, "Well, that's the first time I ever had one of those things in my hands." She found a lot of big checks Mr. Sires had received for his horses, so she could stand to look at the coat hanging up, by looking over her shoulder. Mr. Sires' people had a fine plantation in Shelbyville, Kentucky. His sister's name was Shelby and lived in Shelby County. On this trip Mr. Sires purchased four cars of thoroughbred stallions and shipped them back to his Wyoming ranch. Will then left Shelbyville for West Virginia and remained there with his folks until after the holidays before returning to his job at the 21 ranch.
The fall of 1895, Mr. Sires shipped his horses to Atlanta, Georgia. Will again accompanied him on his trip. They attended the "Cotton Exposition" at Atlanta, Georgia. Afterward, Will made his yearly trip home for the holidays, returning to Wyoming in January.
He then filed on a homestead on Lance Creek and with his father and brothers engaged in raising cattle and thoroughbred horses. They also ran sheep at various times. Will settled on his own ranch in 1896. He was a bachelor, a man of fine character, neither drank nor used tobacco, and yet he was raised where the weed grew. He was of a friendly and gentle nature, and his heart was full of love for his fellow man. He was a very generous and open-handed man, many times to his own loss-but always with kindness and consideration for the other fellow.
Mr. Hogg died August 11, 1940, at the age of seventy.
WILLIAM TRUMPETER
WILLIAM TRUMPETER was born in Prussia, Germany, and came to this country in his youth. He first lived in Illinois, later moved to Hiawatha, Brown County, Kansas. In 1887 he married Elizabeth Miller and he and his wife left in April of 1888 with a little caravan of covered wagons on their long, toilsome journey to Wyoming. Their teams consisted of a span of mules and a team of large draft mares used for relief. They also had a saddle horse. Mr. Trumpeter's sister and husband (Mr. and Mrs. Joe Herman) were also members of this caravan. Like many others, they crossed the prairies and sought homes in the West. They brought all their possessions with them and it took more than a month to make the journey.
They arrived at their journey's end in May, and camped three miles south of Lusk, at Mr. Norton's ranch, until they located four miles north of Lusk. Here Mr. Trumpeter used his preemption right to acquire 160 acres of land from the government. They made the wagon their home until logs to build their house could be cut and hauled from the timberland. Their two-room house was completed August 26th, and on August 27th their first child, Viola, was born.
Their nearest neighbor was Fred Berggren, who lived three miles south of them. Other neighbors were Frank Palmer and Joe Herman. The first man the Trumpeters got acquainted with in Lusk was Ben Hummel, who was operating the only hotel in the thriving village. In 1905 Ben Hummel located in Edgemont and purchased the Great Western Hotel, which was under his management until his death a few years ago. The Trumpeters lived on the homestead about two years, and then moved to Cambria, Wyo., where Mr. Trumpeter had employment in the coal mines. Cambria was a busy mining center, but at the present time it is one of the ghost towns of Wyoming.
Their son, LeRoy, was born in October of 1890. Shortly afterward they returned to their homestead near Lusk. While absent, some mischievous scamp had put a pole in their deep well which they had drilled. They had no water, so they relinquished their homestead and moved over on Old Woman Creek. Fred Berggren moved in nearby, so they had one close neighbor. The next nearest neighbor was 15 miles away. While living there they had their first Indian scare.The occasion was the "Battle of Wounded Knee," at the Pine Ridge Agency, in December of 1890, the last battle between Indians and United States troops.The government sent a messenger to the settlers to warn them that a band of Indians had escaped from the "Battle of Wounded Knee," and were headed west, and probably were on the warpath. Mr. Trumpeter and Mr. Berggren dug a tunnel from the house to the cave, where they might take refuge in case of an attack. It was stocked with provisions, bedding, guns, etc., and at night the two families occupied, it. After staying close to home for a few days, and believing all danger past, the men went riding after stock. Mrs. Trumpeter, being on the alert, saw about 15 Indian wagons approaching. She grabbed the children and started to the cave, when she saw Mrs. Berggren come running with her two children. The Indians seemed to be in a hurry and passed by on a lope. It was later learned they were a roving band of Indians who had been on a hunt and knew nothing of the battle until the Indian police overtook them and escorted them back to the reservation.
While the Trumpeters were living at the Old Woman Creek location, they drove over to the 9 9 9 ranch on Lance Creek to visit the William Powell family. When they came to the first crossing on Lance Creek, it was running considerable water. Not knowing how treacherous it was, they drove in, and when about the middle of the stream the water rushed over the wagon box. After considerable maneuvering they barely escaped with their lives. They had two more crossings to make before reaching the 9 9 9, so they decided to pitch camp until the water receded. A short time after this visit the Powells moved to Edgemont and Trumpeters moved to the 9 9 9. The 21 ranch, a distance of 16 miles, was the nearest neighbor, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Crowell working there at this time. Mrs. Crowell was the housekeeper and Ed was general ranch hand. Mrs. Trumpeter and Mrs. Crowell exchanged visits, and their mode of transportation on these social calls was horseback. Edgemont, some 50 miles away, was the postoffice and trading point. Mrs. Trumpeter and small children took the team and wagon and made this trip for provisions in the summer, and late in the fall they stocked up for winter, the weather and roads not permitting them to make trips in wintertime, as it took at least. two days in good weather, and no limit in bad weather. The Trumpeters lived on the 9 9 9 ranch three years, then homesteaded on the Cheyenne River at the mouth of Hat Creek, so the children could attend school there. They later bought a ranch five miles east of Edgemont, where the children all completed their high school course.
Mr. and Mrs. Trumpeter were the parents of five children-Viola May, deceased; Joseph LeRoy, State veterinarian of South Dakota; Bessie Etta, William (deceased), and Herbert Arthur.
Mr. Trumpeter died at Edgemont in 1925. Mrs. Trumpeter makes her home in Edgemont and California.
MERRITT TAYLOR
MERRITT TAYLOR was born in 1848. He was a scout, trapper and cattle man, coming to this territory in the early '70's. He was a native of Vermont and settled near Valentine, Nebraska Territory. At that time Valentine was a cow capital of the great herds from the south.
While out scouting, Taylor came in contact with a band of Indians on the war path. He eluded them by reversing his route and made for a canyon which led him to a· creek that ran in the direction he wished to go. Wading in the water, where there was water, and walking backward when he came to a dry spot, he made the Indians believe he was going in the opposite direction, and by so doing he started the redskins in the opposite direction, and thus beat them to the "get-away."
Near Valentine a Vigilance Committee was formed and Merritt was elected captain.
When the Overland Route across the continent was established, and the rush of emigration began, and the great trail herds started to come north, it naturally brought bad men into the territory, and at times these reckless adventurers made serious trouble. The Vigilance Committee was organized by a majority of the best citizens of Nebraska Territory. Among the outlaws suspected was the notorious "Doc" Middleton and his gang. The committee captured and hung two of his band and they once had "Doc" surrounded in a dug-out, but he shot his way out and made his get-away. Through the grapevine, Taylor was advised that "Doc" was to visit his corral on a certain night, so Taylor sat in the shade of his house with a double barreled shotgun and guarded his corral of horses, but no one put in an appearance. Later on, "Doc" relieved Taylor of some of his Overland transportation facilities.
"Doc" Middleton, whose real name was James Riley, was a typical outlaw. He came to Wyoming Territory from Texas and organized a gang of outlaws which operated in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, Kansas and the Dakotas. It can be plainly seen that from the territory he covered it re quired a big string of saddle stock. As he had the pick of the bunch, he was always well mounted. In later years "Doc" settled down and married a girl by the name of Ritcherson and ran a saloon at Ardmore, South Dakota, where they raised their family. He died at Douglas, Converse County, Wyoming, of natural causes.
Taylor stayed around Valentine for several years, and then when the gold excitement started in the Black Hills, he went to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, and was there in August, 1876, when Wild Bill was. killed. When asked if he saw Wild Bill, he said, "No, I never saw him, didn't want to see him. He was nothing but a murderer anyway."
It was said Wild Bill (James Butler Hickok) had killed at least eighty men, all in fair gun battles, and that he never took advantage of any of his adversaries. He was said to be the greatest pistol shot known to history.
Merritt Taylor located in what is now Niobrara County, about 1890, on Lightning Creek, near where Wyoming's last Indian battle occurred. Here the postoffice known as Taylorville was established, and Mr. Taylor was postmaster. He and Mrs. Taylor lived on this ranch a number of years, where they accumulated considerable livestock and land holdings. Just after the turn of the century they sold their holdings on Lightning Creek and moved to Lusk where he died.
CHARLES McGINNIS
CHARLES McGINNIS, son of John and Katherine McGinnis, was born in Omaha, Neb., June 13, 1871, and came to Wyoming Territory in 1875, locating with his parents just outside of Fort Laramie. They lived here the first winter, then established their permanent home on Cottonwood Creek, about seven miles from the fort. Mr. McGinnis built a long building of round logs and in this building opened a saloon which proved to be a favorite stopping place for the soldiers and travelers.
It was 72 years ago that this little boy, then five, with light windblown hair, first moved with his parents into the log house adjoining the saloon. To the writer he related many anecdotes regarding the early history of this section of the State. He recalls the tragic battle between Gen. Custer and Chief Sitting Bull and his savage band of Sioux, who greatly outnumbered Custer's valiant men. Custer's men numbered only 264, against 6,000 Sioux. Gen. Custer and his entire force of men were annihilated. After the news of the disaster reached Fort Laramie, the Ninth Cavalry was sent, which succeeded in driving back the Sioux, but Sitting Bull was never captured. He remembers that the blue-clad cavalrymen stopped at his father's saloon to quench their thirst and there with descriptive words refought the battle far into the night. This cavalry party was equipped with about 600 horses, on which many red-hued savages were strapped.
Charlie saw many famous characters and notable figures while he lived here. It was a common sight to see the "treasure coach," cattle kings, freighters, soldiers, prospectors, cowboys and Calamity Jane. This notorious female drank, smoked, cussed and wore men's clothes. In this respect she was merely a few score years ahead of many women in these modem days of sophistication. She usually was dressed in soldier pants when upon her journeys from Cheyenne to Deadwood, coming with one bull train and perhaps departing with another. This remarkable character was likeable and loyal to her friends and especially fond of children. Charlie remembers that she often romped with him and his two brothers, Jack and Bill, but these boys could always outdistance her in a running game.
The little boy had little interest in the surroundings. His heart was with the cowpunchers, and at an early age he learned to rope and ride horses and wild calves in his father's corral.
Charlie worked on several of the large ranches as a cowboy in the days when the range was open. His first job was with the 101 outfit. He worked from the Belle Fourche River to the Platte River, and helped drive cattle from the 101 to Wheatland, working for this outfit until 1888, when he started to work for the LZ. In 1890 he took a job punching cows for the 4W on the Cheyenne River. William Keating was foreman at this time. Keating also ran the Fiddleback cattle and horses. He worked for the 4W two years, then left the employ of the Hammond Cattle Co., and for the next four years worked for various cow outfits, among them being the Tom Bell at the CR ranch and Frank Lusk at the FL on Old Woman Creek. In 1895 he started working for the three seven (777) outfit and helped trail 4,000 Arizona steers from Orin Junction to North Dakota. This outfit consisted of eight cowboys, horse wrangler, cook and trail boss. They reached North Dakota in about 30 days.
In 1898 Mr. McGinnis was married to Tracy Petz. To this union three children were born-Henry, Thomas and Irene, deceased.
In 1901 he filed a homestead entry on Old Woman Creek. Here he made his permanent home and engaged in raising cattle, sheep and horses. Among the latter were two bucking horses called "Lightning Creek" and "I-Be-Dam." These horses were shown at all the big rodeos here and were sent to London to perform over there. Mr. McGinnis also owned a ranch on Snyder Creek. which he owned for many years.
In November, 1918, Mr. McGinnis married Mrs. Leona Gillespie Nickerson, who had a daughter, Mrs. Virginia Nickerson Wetherby, by a former marriage. Mr. McGinnis' parents traveled from Scotia, Neb., to Dawes County in 1883, coming by covered wagon drawn by oxen. Henry McGinnis, eldest son of Mr. McGinnis, lives on his father's original homestead, where he raises purebred cattle.
Mr. McGinnis owns property in Lusk, but is happiest when he is on the range, where he would prefer to spend his remaining years. His memories of days of long ago are extremely interesting and he is liked by all who are privileged to know him.
CHARLES (DOGIE) ROBINSON
CHARLES (DOGIE) ROBINSON was a native of Texas. He became distinguished as one of the few who made the long trek with trail herds from Texas to Wyoming two different times. The last trip he made was driving a herd of cattle from Texas to Wyoming for the Suffolk Cattle Company to their Cheyenne River range in Northeastern Wyoming. Two of his companions on this trip were Jeff and Bob Hewett. "Dogie" secured a job from this outfit, owners of the AU7 ranch, and worked there a number of years. He also worked for various other cow outfits, among them being the V5 on Little Lightning Creek. He was wagon boss for this outfit for many years. He also worked for the CR, the Cross A, 9 9 9, Tom Bell and others.
He was a member of the First Battalion of Wyoming Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, in the campaign in the Philippine Islands, being a member of Company F, Wyoming Infantry. During this enlistment he served under Major Frank M. Foot. John O'Brien was captain. He was mustered into service on May 10, 1898, and mustered out of service on September 23, 1899. He did not serve in any distinguished capacity, being just a cowboy in the service of his country. It is quite likely he prevaricated a little to Uncle Sam in regard to his age, as he naturally wanted to make the trip for the excitement. He used to visit the old H.O.G. ranch on Lance Creek. He was full of reminiscences and told many interesting tales of his experiences when he was campaigning in the Philippines. As a child the writer recalls he called them the "Philistines," and just having learned the Bible story of Samson killing 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, she thought Dogie made an ass of things over there, or it would have been a dull affair for Dogie.
Dogie took the census for this part of Converse County in 1900 and about this time he quit working for the big cow outfits and went on ·his own. He was an honor to Wyoming and held the respect and friendship of all who knew him. He died a number of years ago.
GEORGE LACY
GEORGE LACY, the subject of this sketch, was a native of Texas. He came to Wyoming while a young man and secured employment on various ranches in the Territory for a few years. Then in the latter part of the '80's, George got a job of cowpunching for Col. E. Tillitson, owner of the Fiddleback ranch on the Cheyenne River, and worked there many years, later became foreman, and was considered a good range man.
About 1900 he homesteaded land on Lance Creek, two miles east of the ULA ranch. Here he lived for many years and raised a small herd of whitefaces. He provided well for his cattle, with the result that his were the best steers shipped from this territory.
George related that theirs was a very large family, and when the family moved from the South to Nebraska, his father said the first day out he counted them, and he had all of them, but as he only counted every other day he discovered that he would be short one or two, so he scattered them from Texas to the North Platte River. On arrival he counted out and discovered he only had twelve boys and one girl left, and they never heard of the lost ones. His father's supposition was the trail herds later on would pick them up, like the old trail drivers did the lost dogies. But he said the lost ones would make it all right, that their ancestors came from Ireland and none of them knew how they got there.
George said in later years there was a Lacy appeared in Klondike and became quite wealthy in the gold-mining business. They never corresponded with him, but they came to the conclusion that he was one of the Lacy boys that dropped out on the long trek from the South.
In 1914, George was enroute to Edgemont with a team and wagon when the team became frightened and turned the wagon over. George came out of the wreck with a broken leg. He never fully recovered and as he could not carry on his ranch work he disposed of his cattle to O. J. Hitchcock and moved to Nebraska, where he died in 1916.
Later on the land was sold to Harry Townley, who sold it to John Wasserburger, who resides there at the present time. The Bright postoffice is also established here, with Mrs. Wasserburger as postmistress. The Wasserburgers have made this ranch into a very profitable hay ranch, irrigating their alfalfa and small grains from the flood waters of Lance Creek with a centrifugal pump.
PETER DANKS
PETER DANKS was born near Colesburn, Jasper County, Iowa, on November 3, 1872. Here he attended the public schools and lived the life of an ordinary country boy. In 1883 he came with his parents to Chadron, Neb., where they settled on a ranch.
In 1892 Pete started working for the Spade cow outfit and worked there one year. A man named Sales was foreman of the Spade outfit at that time. Mr. Danks worked on several of the large ranches as a cowboy in the days when the range was open, and in the early '90's drove a freight wagon to Custer.
In 1893 he took a job of punching cows for the Hammond Cattle Co., owners of the 4W outfit, on the Cheyenne River, Wyoming Territory, and worked there two years. Billie Keating was foreman. Some of the cowboys were "Dakota" Snyder, Hi Keating, Bill Piper and George Lacy.
Shortly after leaving the employ of the Hammond Cattle Co. he started working for the LO Bar ranch and worked for this cow outfit ten years. Jim Bell was foreman. In the fall of 1946 this old cowboy (Bell) answered the "last roundup." He was put out and sent to greener pastures to join the old cowhands who had preceded him. Pete was a top hand and a good rider. He always stayed on top of his mount until the whistle blew. For illustration, a younger brother, Clayton Danks, now Sheriff of Fremont County Wyo., tried to imitate him and became the world’s champion bronc rider.
Mr. Danks married Myrtle Ball in 1908.He then took up a homestead on Plum Creek, ten miles east of Edgemont, where he made his permanent residence. The children of this marriage are Lawrence Danks, Edgemont, So. Oak., and Mrs. Edith Tanner, Glenmont, Ohio.
Mr. Danks died at Edgemont, So. Oak., on October 3, 1947.
ETHAN ALLEN HOGG
ETHAN ALLEN HOGG came with his parents, brothers and sisters to Wyoming in 1896. The eldest brother, William G. Hogg, had preceded the family eight years before. Will's letters home contained such glowing accounts of the free and easy (?) life on the range that his parents were induced to lease part of their property in West Virginia and come out to Wyoming and join Will. At this time Ethan was 19 years of age. When he was 21, he filed on a homestead on Lance Creek, adjoining Will's land, and where his father, John T. Hogg, and brother, Jim, had already made filings. Then the Hogg ranch was established, and a new and interesting life began for Ethan. He worked for a while for John Berry, winner of the famous relay race from Chadron to Chicago. After Ethan had been out with his first big roundup he decided he'd found a job that he really liked, and always afterward he was sent as representative for the H.O.G. outfit. On many of these roundups there were as many as 200 representatives from different outfits. Ethan is sturdily built and at that time had muscles of iron He was considered the champion wrestler of these parts.Many evenings around the roundup camp fires the boys would put on wrestling matches, but no one ever downed Ethan. William Pearson on the Cheyenne River owned an outlaw horse with a reputation of having thrown everyone who attempted to ride him.Hence this horse was named "Old Eph"-"Eph" being the nickname Ethan had acquired. Ethan was so much interested in sports of all kinds that from his brother Will's prized flocks of game birds Ethan would select the sprightliest looking game cocks and teach them to fight. After the birds had all fought each other, Ethan would stain the feathers of some of them with ink to make them appear as new contenders and match them against the winner. Ira Thomas, a neighbor, also owned fighting chickens and Ethan would sometimes carry his birds to Ira's place, where they would spend hours watching these birds fight. Later on, Ethan's interest was transferred to horses and horseracing. He and his brothers had built a half-mile race track at the ranch, where their thoroughbreds could be trained and exercised by experienced jockeys. Among some of the trainers and jockeys were Shorty Hoover, Samuel C. Brooks, Jim Alfred, Ray DeGering, James P. (Sourdough) Baker, Ora Schaffer, Brownie Hancock, Bob (Monkey Face) Metcalf, Paul McDaniel and Reuben Boatright. In 1904, Will Hogg started going to Lexington, Ky., to purchase thoroughbred horses. Among some of the horses owned by the Hogg brothers were: Richgale, by Imported Richmond; Goldie, by Imported Goldfinch; Little Bob, by McGee. Little Bob was half-brother to the great Exterminator. Another horse was Perennial. On the female line they had such blood as Broomstick, Irish Lad, Benbrush, John S. Raridan. They had a horse by the name of Little Joe, who ran one-half mile in 48 seconds on a "bull ring." Another horse that was of their breeding that made the spotlight on the big-league tracks was Aladdin by Goldie. He won a mile and one-sixteenth on the Tijuana, Calif., track against the best Kentucky sent out. When this race was run, the track stewards thought Aladdin was a "ringer" (a famous horse run under a fictitious name) and all bets were held up until an investigation was made. Affidavits were sent to the Hogg Brothers, Jasper Harmon of Edgemont, So. Oak., and the Jockey Club. It was proved Aladdin was his legal name. This horse was sold for $300 by the Hogg Brothers to a man by the name of Dawson of Casper, Wyo. Dawson was a barber and later on became interested in the oil game. Dick Dalton was trainer of Aladdin. The odds paid $77.00 for $2.00 --i.e. $77 was paid for every $2 bet. The owner, Dawson, had $1,700 on Aladdin's nose. At the time of the payoff; Mr. Dawson was near Pierre, South Dakota, drilling oil wells. He was notified by telegram to come to California and all bets on Aladdin would be paid off. Aladdin was by Goldie out of Dakota Girl. Some time afterward this horse was sold for $25,000. This same horse was also a money winner at the Ak-Sar-Ben races in Omaha, Neb. The Hogg Brothers sold horses to the officers at Fort Robinson, Neb., and some to the government for the cavalry for a number of years. They also had horses that carried the blood of Fairplay and Sampson and direct descendants from All-Smiles and Man-o'-War. Watching these beautiful horses at work and at ease gave Ethan great pleasure and urged him to know more about them. He acquired all the information obtainable concerning the great and near-great racers of all time. He became an authority on the history of these horses and many people from different parts of the country have written him for information about certain horses -such as the sire's name, when sired, ownership, when and where raised, etc. Ethan always had such information at his fingers' end and gladly passed it on. Ethan still keeps some of the old thoroughbred racing stock and today his interest in "the sport of kings" is as keen as ever. To hear him give the entire history of some horse or relate the fine points of some great race by the great winners of long ago, and also of the big money horses of today, is as interesting as seeing a good horse race.
OWEN E. SHAY
OWEN E. SHAY was a native of Iowa, coming to Nebraska in the early '90's, locating at Crawford, where he went into the restaurant business. In 1896 he purchased a band of sheep and moved to what is now Niobrara County. In the spring of 1897, after lambing and shearing, Mr. and Mrs. Shay and family came to Old Woman Creek and grazed their sheep there a few days. Water became scarce, so they moved on down Old Woman Creek to Lance Creek. Mrs. Shay drove the wagon and Mr. Shay trailed the sheep. One afternoon, Mrs. Shay and children, Genevieve and Leo, drove by the Hogg ranch. They camped near there and visited the Hoggs for a day or so. This being a sparsely settled section of our county, people were glad of any occasion that brought them to spend a day or two in the society of their neighbors. We were very glad to see Mrs. Shay-we had not seen a woman since we had been to town a month or six weeks before, and Mrs. Shay said she hadn't seen a woman for about three months.
The Shays had no permanent location at that time, and home was where night overtook them, and their destination was where they found water and grass. Their motive power consisted of two big bay horses and one little saddle horse. They just dodged from one water hole to another.
In 1900 they permanently located on the Cheyenne River, at the mouth of Hen Creek. Here they established one of the best ranches on the river. It was said of Mr. Shay that he was the only man who could make a pig trough out of baling wire that would hold water.
The Shays were known far and wide for their generosity and open-handed hospitality. They were a God-fearing and law-abiding people and there wasn't a more beautiful example of Christian character than that displayed by the Shays.
The down-and-out could always rely upon Mrs. Shay being on their side. The sick could always depend upon a good word and a bowl of soup. A number of people who were sick went there to recuperate and they were taken care of as though they were in a hospital. Shays' time and attention were given free of charge. People would complain of being alone. Mrs. Shay would tell them, "No, you are not alone, God is always with us."
In 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Shay sold their ranch and livestock to the Anthony and Leonard Sedgwick Company for $45,000.00 and moved to Washington State. They lived there a few years, then again located at Crawford, Neb., engaging in the restaurant business for a period of three years, after which they established their home on a ranch near Burdock, South Dakota.
Mr. and Mrs. Shay were the parents of two children-Genevieve and Leo. In later years they adopted two more, a girl and a boy-Lucille and Glen. In 1917, their son, Leo, enlisted in World War I and was promoted to lieutenant. At the close of the war he returned to South Dakota and was employed as cashier in the Black Hills Bank.
Mr. Shay died a few years after World War I and was buried at Edgemont. Mrs. Shay then removed to Edgemont so that the two youngest children might have the advantages held out in the high school. After the children graduated, she then divided her time between her children, who lived in Spearfish, and Belle Fourche, So. Dak. She died at the home of her daughter a few years ago. She lived beloved and respected by all who knew her and with them her memory is fondly cherished.
CHARLES JACKSON DILLON
CHARLES JACKSON DILLON was born in Bethany, Harrison County Missouri, on November 22, 1875. He attended the public schools until he was eleven years of age, when he became partially dependent on his own resources. He then struck out for Cleveland, Oklahoma, and took whatever work came to his hand. He was there about a year. He didn't like the south, but wanted to go "Out West," so he purchased a pony with his savings and Wyoming was made his destination.
He applied for a job at Ad Spaugh's ranch. Inexperienced as he was, they took him on. He worked there three years as a ranch hand and horse wrangler. For the next several years he worked for various outfits, among them Jacob Mill, Albert Rochelle and others.
He next worked for George Keeline, owner of the Keeline outfit on the Belle Fourche River. George Amos (Fakie Dufus) was foreman at this time. For his long and faithful service, the Keeline outfit pensioned him in his declining years. He lives at Gillette, Wyo., at the present time. The Keeline outfit is still operating and is owned by the sons, Joe and George, Jr. After three years of riding the range for the Keeline outfit, Jack worked the next few years for the 4W, Fiddleback and Billie Baird, owner of the 21 cow outfit on Black Thunder Creek. Here he broke saddle horses. Jack and Bob Gamble were gathering horses when Bob's horse jumped a ditch and fell, hurting him internally. They took him to the ranch, packed him in ice and started to Gillette, but he died enroute.Some of the men who worked at the 21 at this time were: Bill Smith, foreman; Bert Frazier, Jimmy Nylon, Mose Gallispi, Ray Cassidy and "21 Speck."
Jack broke horses for the Johnson brothers, Lawrence and Alfred, owners of the JA6. He and George Hill were sent as reps to the 21 wagon, with eleven horses each. Each of the boys had one gentle horse and the balance were green broke. They stopped at Charlie McGinnis' horse ranch on Snyder Creek to get dinner. No one was home. While preparing their dinner they discovered a quart of Peruna, which contains a high alcoholic content. They imbibed quite heavily on this concoction (Pe-Ru-Na) before dinner and
after dinner. While they were taking their beauty nap and recovering from the exhilarating effects, their horses got away, except the two they were riding. They just vanished in thin air. Also the horse with the bedroll was gone. They had to go back to the ranch after another string of horses. Jack related they had better luck the second time, as they didn't run onto any blood purifier, and though at that they both got some good out of the Peruna, as they each had good health until the wagon pulled in that fall.
After leaving the JA6, Jack located on Little Lightning Creek, where he went into the cow business on his own. On November 12, Jack started to Billie Dorr's wagon. His bed horse kept trying to go back home, and Jack took his rope down with the intention of teaching him a little horse sense. Jack's horse fell, and when the horse got up Jack's foot was caught in the coil of the rope. Jack was hanging with his head down and he lost his bridle reins. When he would reach to retrieve them it would frighten the horse and he would commence kicking him. He was broken up so badly that he couldn't move from his waist down. He was in an old wagon rut from Wednesday a.m. until Friday. He became so thirsty that he started for some water which he knew was about a mile away. The only way he could move was by pulling himself with his hands from one grass clump to another, and in all he made about a hundred yards. It was sub-zero weather and started to snow. He got into a low place for protection from the cold. Jack's horse was found by Roy Cassady with the saddle on, and a search for him was started. Friday night he was found by Len Vroman, who went to the Taylorville ranch and secured help. They took Jack to Lusk, where he was hospitalized for more than two months. A good many bones were broken and they thought he would never walk again. If he had not been handled properly he would never have walked again. But Jack fooled all the "guessers" and at the age of 72, after all his hardships, he is fairly active and still supervises his ranch.