Florence L. Voorhees

Mrs. Florence Voorhees, Widow of late Luke Voorhees, Wyoming Pioneer, Passes Away at Home in Laramie Monday A. M.

Was Resident of Lusk Many Years Ago; Husband Operated Cheyenne & Black Hills Stage

Florence Jenks Voorhees, 86, died on Monday, February 24, at the Ivinson Home in Laramie, where she had been a resident for several years.

Mrs. Voorhees was the widow of Luke Voorhees, a pioneer of Wyoming, who died in Cheyenne about 15 years ago. Mr. Voorhees was a rancher, mine operator, owner and operator of the Cheyenne & Black Hills stage line in the early days. Mr. Voorhees also served as treasurer of the Territory of Wyoming, and for several terms was treasurer of Laramie county, and was prominent in the business and political life of Wyoming for a generation.

Mrs. Voorhees was prominent in the social life of the State capital for many years and more than forty years ago was well known in Lusk, as her brother, Scott Jenks, was owner of the Mego ranch, now known as the C. M. Dean ranch, situated about 12 miles east of Lusk on the Running Water, and Mr. and Mrs. Voorhees were frequent visitors there. Their son, the late George Voorhees, was later owner of this ranch.

Florence Jenks was married to Luke Voorhees in Salt Lake City in 1874. Her family resided near Florence, Colorado, and the town was given her name. To this union one son, George Voorhees, was born, and for many years he made his home on the Mego ranch and later lived in Lusk. He passed away several years ago in Cheyenne.

Due to the infirmities of age Mrs. Voorhees gave up her home in Cheyenne several years ago and moved to the Ivinson Home at Laramie.

The chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Lusk is named for Luke Voorhees, and Mrs. Voorhees was made an adopted daughter of the chapter, as she was a member of the Cheyenne Chapter of the D. A. R.

She is survived by a grandson, Elwood Voorhees of Rawlins, and also by a granddaugther by her son's second marriage.

Funeral services were held in Cheyenne at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. C. A. Bennett reading the service. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery. Pallbearers were Harry E. Crain, Russell Thorp, H. C. Kienzie, Will G. Hass, Ernest Logan and Reginald Whitaker.

Note: The Cheyenne Lakeview cemetery lists her death date as February 23, 1936.

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