Albert Rochelle

Albert Rochelle, Niobrara County Pioneer, Dies of Heart Attack Friday

Albert Rochelle, a man who played an important part in the early development of Niobrara County, died of a heart attack in Casper early Friday morning. Funeral services were held in Casper at 2:00 p.m. Monday.

Rev. C. T. Hawes, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Casper, officiated at the services. The family asked that contributions be given to the Heart Fund.

Mr. Rochelle came to Wyoming in 1894 and took a herd of sheep on shares. From this beginning he became senior partner of the Lance Creek Land and Livestock Co., which at one time operated sheep and horse ranches in Niobrara county, and grassed 10,000 head of cattle on the Churn Ranch in Nebraska and on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian reservations in South Dakota.

He was also identified with mineral and oil development in Niobrara County and with other properties in eastern Wyoming. The town of Rochelle in Campbell County is the site of one of his first ranches.

ON COUNTY BOARD HERE
Mr. Rochelle was primarily instrumental in separation of Niobrara County from Converse, and was appointed to the first board of county commissioners by Gov. Robert Carey.

He was the last surviving charter member of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association, retaining active membership until his death.

In 1926 he moved from Lusk to Arminto, purchasing the interests of D. H. Ralston. A few years later two of his sons, Marion F. and Rodney J. Rochelle, became active partners in this enterprise which now operates in both Natrona and Fremont counties.

Mr. Rochelle was married to Miss Kathleen Ogden, primary teacher, formerly of Leon, Iowa, at Cheyenne in 1907. The family had laid plans for an extensive Golden Wedding on June 7th of this year.

Mrs. Rochelle served a term in the Wyoming Legislature as a representative of Niobrara county.

BORN IN IOWA
He was born on a farm near Valley Junction, Iowa, (now part of Des Moines). His parents, Joseph and Margaret Rochelle, had recently moved to this country after having pioneered in western New York.

Roscoe Ross of Lance Creek served as an active pallbearer at the services and Ed Arnold was among the honorary pallbearers.

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