John W. Newell

Old Time Lusk Banker Dies in Buffalo July 23

John W. Newell, an old timer of the Salt Creek oil field and one time resident of Lusk, died July 23 at the General Hospital at Buffalo, Wyo. Mr. Newell, 85, had been in ill health for nearly a year, having been hospitalized several times during that period.

Mr. Newell was born October 10, 1868, near Washington, Minn., and received his early education in Iowa. He worked for the A. A. Cooper Wagon and Buggy Company in Dubuque, Iowa for some time, and was later assigned to a position as traveling representative through the middle-western and Rocky Mountain states.

He then established and operated a general merchandising store in Lynch, Nebraska and then moved to Harrison to raise purebred Shorthorn cattle.

Following these ventures, he moved to Lusk, where he constructed and operated the Wyoming State Bank, then in the location of the present Lusk Herald building. He operated this bank for 10 years, and was also Treasurer of the local school board for a few years. He was in Lusk during the First World War and at the time of Lusk's first oil boom, which occurred about that time.

He was owner of the gas company at Edgerton, Wyoming, until about a year ago, when he retired.

Mr. Newell is survived by his wife, Marcia, at the family home; two daughters, three gandchildren and three great grandchildren. Two sisters preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held from a Casper funeral home Tuesday, with interment made in the Masonic plot in Highland Cemetery there.

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