Laramie Part I: the Auction L Avid Kathka, ~ O Csprings K Shet L
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04nnals o/ WYOMING The Wyoming History Journal Summer 2001 ~ol.23, No. 3 In Memory of- Dr. T. A. Larson (1910-2001) This issue of Annals is dedicated to the memory of from the University, he continued to participate in his- Dr. T. A. Larson, Wyoming's historian, who died in tory-related activities, including attendance at most January, 200 1 . Born Jan. 1 8, 1 9 1 0, in Nebraska, he WSHS annual meetings and treks. He also served as graduated from the University of Colorado in 1932. president of the Western History Association and gave Later, after gaining the M. A. in history from C. U., he history presentations throughout the state and region. went on for the Ph.D. in history at the University of Dr. Larson was interviewed for Annals in the fall of Illinois. He came to the University of Wyoming in 1 936 1994. He told then-editor Mark Junge that he had taught and, except for an interruption for military service an estimated 16,000 students. Junge asked him what (1943-461, he spent his entire career teaching at UW, he thought his legacy would be. Always modest about retiring in 1975. Following his retirement, he was his numerous achievements, he said: "It would have to elected to the Wyoming legis4ature, serving four terms. be in the field of Wyoming history and in teaching. He was the author of four books, including the Histovy And that ties in with writing because the writing helped of Wyoming (1 965, rev. 1 978), used by generations of my teaching. No, I think it's in the dissemination of college students and still the standard text on Wyo- the knowledge about Wyoming history, and getting ming history. He wrote numerous articles, including people interested in that, and respecting their history, several for Annals of Wyoming,and served the past six and trying to get them to be more critical, to ask ques- years on our board of editors. A founding member of tions and to not just accept what a book says about both the Wyoming State Historical Society and the something or other." 4. Albany County chapter, he served as the Society's I-Iis legacy lives and may Annals always be faithful fourth president (1 957-5 8). Even after his retirement to it. --Phi/ Roberls, Editor- Dr. T A. Larsow (hdfiona right) is pictured with fhe other. ofic- ers of the Wyoming Sme Hislori- cal Society in September, 1955. He was ufounding men~berof the WSHS and the Albany County chapter, as well as "Mr. Wyo- ming History. " Rarely is there an article published on Wyoming histogv shal does not cite to his work. Also pictured is {Iefi lo right): Dr. Dewitr Dominick, Mmrine Carlyv, Frank Bowron, W. L. Marion, Lamon, and Lo10 M. Hornsher. The pholograph was by Adrian Reynolds. - -- The Cover Aut I ! I 1 The cover i!/usbration is3om Q. postcmdpublished in [he 1920s hy the J L. Robbins I I 1 Co.,Spokane,Wash,andsoldwidely~hroughoutthenorthernpartofWyoming I The editor of Annuis of Wyoming welcomes manuscripts and photographs on every aspect of the history or Wyoming and the West Appropriate for submission are unpublished. research-based anides which provide new information or which offer new interpretations of historical events. First-person accounts based on personal experience or recollections of events will be considered for use in the "Wyoming Memories" section. Historic photo essays for possible publication in "Wyoming Memories" also are welco~ne.Articles are reviewed and refereed by members ofthejournal's Editorial Advisory Board and others Decisions regarding publication are made by ' the editor. Manuscripts (along with sugzestions for illustrations or photographs) should be submitied on computer diskettes in a format i created hy one of the widely-used word processing programs along with two printed copies. Submissions and queries should be ad- : dressed to Editor. Annals of PVyoming. P. 0 BOY4256. University Station. Cararnie WY 82071. or to the editor by e-mail at the following I address. [email protected] ! Editor Phil ~obwt4 Asrristant Editor Sarah Fhyne ~ookRwiew Editor cadH , I ~ Editorial&&stnnts Lty Bryant, R. J. Fruits, Adam George, The Wyoming History ~ournal Stacey Harvey, Richard B. ~enke,John Summer 200 1. Vok. 13, No. 3 Watganer, Tinti ~alratk Editorial AJvismy Board ~ a r b a rBogark, a Evanston M&I Brown, Newcastle/Cheyenne Don Hdgson, Torrington Cheyenne's Harry P. ~ynds: Loren Jost, Riverton ~udle~Gardner, Rock Springs ~laclzsmith,Saloon Keeper, Promoter, Philanthropist sherry L. Smith, Moose By Shirley E. Flynn................................................. 2 Thomas F. Stroock, Caspzr Lawence M . Woods, Worland Wyoming State Historicel Society Fort ~aramie--Afterthe Army ~ubhcationsCommittee Rick Ewig, Laramie Part I: The Auction l avid Kathka, ~ o cSprings k SheT L. Smith, Moose By ~ou~lasMcChristian ......................... .2 Amy Lawrenm, Laramie Nancy Curtis, Glendo WiIIiam H. Moore, Laramie (ex officio) Pat+ Myers, Wheatland (ex-officio) Ester ~ohanssonMurray Laren Jost, Riverton (ex-dficio) By .................................. ..24 Phil Rob&,Laramie (ex-oEfieio) Wyoming State Historical Society Executive Committee Dave Taylor, Resident, Natrona County Myth and Reality in the S ah Creelz Oil Field Clara Warner, 1st Vioe hs., Weston Co. htty MY-, 2nd vice Pres., Platte Co. By Eugene T.Carroll ............................................ 30 ~ i n dFabian, a Secretary, Platte County Dick ViIder, T-urer, Wrk County Amy Lawrence, ALnyCounty Research Note: Harold R. Tyler,Jr. Collection, AHC ............................... 34 Jemy Wght, Stat valley Chapter Book Reviews, edited by Carl Hallberg.. ..............................................36 Joyce Warnke, Goshen County Donahue, The Westenr Range Revisited, reviewed by Mark E. Miller ~lo~dbdd, sheridan County JudyWest, ~ernbershi~coordinator Doyle, Journeys to tLe Land of Gold, reviewed by Catherine Curtiss Billington and Hardaway, African hnericar~son the \Vestern Frontier, Governor of Wyoming reviewed by Dennis Mihelich Jim Getinger Szasz, Scots in the North h~lericanWest, rwevi-d by Michael E Funcbioi~ Wyoming ~ept,of State kksand ~ulturalResources New Acquisitions, Hebard Collection, compiled by Tamsen L. Hert.... 39 John Keck, Director Index .................................. .. ............................................................40 WyomingParks & Cultural Resources Commirision William D&is, Cheyenne AnnaIs of Wyoming: The Wyoming History Journal is published quarterly by the Wyoming State Historical Vem Vivion, Rkwlins Society in association with the Wyoming Department of Commerce, the American Heritage Center, and the Diann Reese, Lyman Department of History, University of Wyoming. The journal was previously published as the Quarterly Ernetson Scott, JK, Bdfalo BulIefm (1923-1 925),Annals of Wyoming ( I 925- 1993), Wyoming Annals ( 1993-1 995) and Wyoming His- B. Byron Price, Cody toyJournal (1995-1996)- The Annals has been the official publication of the Wyoming State Historical Herb ~renck,Newcastle Society since 1953 and is distributed as a benefit of mernbefship to all society members. Membership dues Frank Tim 1,&1l, Shosheni are: single, $20: joint. $30; student {under 2 1), $15; institutional, $40, contributing, $100-249, sustaining, Jeanne ~icke~,Cheyenne $250499; patron, $500-999; donor, $1,000+. To join, contact your local chapter or write to the address JmilynWall, Evanstan below. Articles in Annals of Wyoming are abstracted in Htrrorjcal Abstracts and America: Hisrory and Lve. University of paning' Inquiries about membership, mailing, distribution. reprints and back issues should be addressed to Judy Philip Dubois, President West, Coordinator, Wyoming State Historical Society, PMB# 184, 1740H Dell Range Blvd., Cheyenne Oliver Walter, Dean, WY X2009-4945. Editorial correspondence should be addressed to the editorial office of Annals of Wyo- College of Arts and Sciences ming, American Heritage Center, P. 0. Box 4256, 'University Station, Laramie WY 82071. phi1 Rohh, Acting Chair, Depthof Hist. Our e-mail address is: [email protected] Printed by Pioneer Printing, Cheyenne Capyright 2001, Wyoming State Historical Society ISSN: 1086-7368 By Douglas C. McChristian - - Mr. and Mrs. John Hunton Tmnholm Cor~ect~on,AmerlCatI Herrtage Lenter. Un~versityof Wyoming standing next to "Odd Bedlam, " C. 1900. "Fort Laramie is practically aban- doned," penned a disheartened John Hunton to his diary.' The date was March 2, 1890. Earlier that day he had watched the last two companies of the Seventh Infantry march out of the post and rumble across the Laramie River Summer 2001 - bridge on the first leg of their journey to Fort Logan, Hunton's ranch since the 1870s. The arrival of the rail- Colorado. While the doughboys may have been light- roads eliminated the need for stagecoach service from hearted enough at the prospect of Denver's bright lights, Cheyenne to the Black Hills, via Fort Lararnie, though a it was with some sadness, if not foreboding, that Fort short-line to convey passengers and mail continued to Laramie's last post trader witnessed their departure. run between the depot at Bordeaux and the f01-t.~The The old fort had been the center of Hunton's world fort that once had been a great western crossroads slipped since his arrival in the area in 1867. Since then, he had further into a geographical backwater. clerked in the post trader's store, whacked burls as a Col. Henry Clay Merriarn, commanding both the Sev- freighter, and operated his own cattle ranch. His appoint- enth Infantry and Fort Laramie in 1886, observed that, ment to the Iucrative ownership of the trader's store had "in view of new railroad construction and the consequent been approved barely a year and a half earlier.? Almost change of conditions governing the distribution of troops, overnight, the financial boon that had once appeared so it appears to me, this Post has lost its significance ...."5 promising was now but a faded dream. Left with a va- Although Mewiam had voiced a similar view the previ- cant army post and a store full of goods that, for the ous year, shortly after his arrival at the post, neither man's most part, only soldiers wanted, Hunton faced as dismal comments had any immediate effect.