Natrona County, Wyoming - The whole text, 1923 (part 7 of 15)

No record can be found of the meeting held on the above date, but it is evident that at this meeting provisions were made for a teacher and for the rental of a building suitable for school purposes, for the first public school in the village of Casper was opened on Monday, July 8, 1889, in the Congregational Tabernacle, with Miss Anna Weber (later Mrs. W. A. Denecke) as teacher. The tabernacle was on the southeast corner of Durbin street and Third avenue (now First street) where the New York Oil company's offices are located. A picture of this building is published elsewhere in this volume. Miss Weber had charge of the school until the middle of April, 1890, when she resigned. Mr. M. P. Wheeler, who had recently come to Casper from Johnstown, Nebraska, was engaged to finish the term, and he had charge of the school for ten weeks after April 22. In the first issue of the Wyoming Derrick, May 21, 1890, announcement was made that "The enrollment of the Casper schools is an even 5o. Principal M. P. Wheeler started in less than three weeks ago with an attendance of only 26. He is evidently the right man in the right place, and if he continues the work he has so ably begun, Casper can soon boast of the best schools in Central Wyoming." Mr. Wheeler received ^75 per month for his services, or a total of $187.50 for the ten weeks' work.

It is evident that at the meeting of the school board held on May 6, 1889, the number of the district was changed from 33 to 14, and that a new member of the board was elected, for an official notice published in the Casper Mail October 11, 1889, which is the first record of any meeting that can be found since May 6, is as follows: "Proposals will be received until October 15, 1889, for the erection of a school house in school district No. 14, town of Casper, county of Carbon, according to plans and specifications now on file at the Bank of Casper.

The business transacted at the meeting held on October 15 is also a conjecture, for no more records appear until after Natrona county was organized, on April 12, 1890, but it is known that the proposed school house was not built, for the Congregational Tabernacle was used for school purposes until the 1 889-1 890 term was finished by Miss Weber and Mr. Wheeler.

School district No. 2 was formed by Cordelia M. Cheney, county superintendent of schools, on May 7, 1890, four weeks after the organization of Natrona county. The boundaries of this district were nearly the same as the boundaries of original district No. 33, which was afterwards changed to district No. 14. Mrs. Cheney designated May 19, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, as the time for the electors of this district to elect three trustees. G. E. Butler was chairman and

John McGrath acted as secretary at the election. H. A. Lilly was elected trustee for one year; Charles O'Neall, two years; George Weber, three years. These trustees met at the office of the Casper Mail on May 20 when Charles O'Neall was elected director; George Webej, treasurer; H. A. Lilly, clerk. At this meeting $630 was appropriated for a school house fund, $630 for teachers' fund, and $100 for a library fund.

The next meeting of the trustees was held at the Bank of Casper on May 23, when a call was issued for a special election to be held on Monday, June 30, 1890, to vote upon the proposition of bonding the district in the sum of $4,000 for the purpose of securing funds with which to erect "a handsome, commodious, and creditable brick school house." Eighty-seven votes were cast for the bonds and none against. Joel L. Hurt bought these bonds, but before he would accept them and turn over the money, twenty men of Casper signed a note guaranteeing to pay back the money if the school district was in such financial distress when the bonds became due that it could not meet Its obligation. The bonds were promptly taken up by the school district when they became due. Mr. Weber resigned as a member August 9, and on August 19, J. J. Hurt was elected to fill the vacancy. Advertisements for bids for the building of the new school house were published in August and bids were received on September 6, 1890. Messrs. Erben and Merrian were awarded the contract, the price being $4,225. Chris Baysel was the architect. Work was commenced at once and the building, consisting of four rooms, was to be completed by November 15. The new building was described as being "two stories high, with a tower twelve feet square, projecting six feet outside and six feet inside the building, forty-eight feet in height. The floor arrangement is the same in each story, there being two school rooms on each floor, each 23x30 feet, and also two recitation rooms 16x16 feet. Only two rooms are required at this time and only the upper rooms will be finished until the lower rooms are needed." The two rooms were not ready for occupancy until January 20, 1891. The lower rooms in the building were not finished until the fall of 1894. The bondsmen for the contractors were required to pay to the school district the sum of $620.62, on account of the building not being finished at the time specified, but this money was afterwards paid back to the bondsmen by the school district.

School was commenced in the new building on January 20, 1891, with an attendance of fifty pupils. J. C. WiUiams was principal, and Miss Clementine Evans (now Mrs. P. C. Nicolaysen) was assistant. The largest number of pupils in attendance during the term was twenty-six in Mr. Williams' room and thirty-six in Miss Evans' room. The term closed on June 26, with the usual last-day-of-school exercises. Mr. Williams received a salary of $70 a month and Miss Evans received $50 a month.

At the annual election held on May 4, 1891, E. A. Johnson was elected trustee to succeed H. A. Lilly, whose term of office expired. Mr. Johnson was elected clerk. Miss Ryan of Buffalo was engaged to teach room A, and Miss Franc Butler, (now Mrs. Franc Sheffner) had charge of room B, during the 1 891-2 term. Miss Ryan resigned early in the term and Mr. George Fallan finished the term. Mr. R. L. Carpenter and Miss Butler were the teachers hired for the 1892-3 term. Mr. Carpenter taught six weeks and resigned and Guy Cleveland was hired to finish the term. Mr. Cleveland was a man of wonderful physical ability, which, in those days, was required in addition to other qualifications attendant upon a successful school teacher, and it is said, with a hickory rod somewhat smaller than the handle of a broom, Mr. Cleveland finished the term in a manner that proved highly satisfactory to the school board, although some of the larger boys whose education needed training from the rod rather than from books, did not admire his method of teaching or his manner of administering corporal punishment.

Messrs. Charles O'Neall, N. S. Bristol, and H. A. Lilly were the trustees during the 1894-5 term and at the meeting held June 16, the following-named teachers were hired: M. L. Edwards, principal; Etta Lipson, intermediate department; Franc Butler, primary department.

On December 14, Mr. Edwards tendered his resignation to take effect the first of the year and Joseph A. Williams was secured for the balance of the term. On complaint of Mr. Williams and many of the parents whose children were attending school, on January 17, 1895, the school board asked and demanded the resignation of Miss Etta Lipson, a teacher in the intermediate department of the Casper schools, "because the room in which she was a teacher was not properly conducted." The action of the board did not meet with the approval of a great many of the parents who had children in the school, and a mass meeting was held -at the town hall on the evening of January 22, 1895, at which nearly one hundred men and women were present. At this mass meeting the members of the board were asked to be present and give some further and definite reason for Miss Lipson's dismissal, but none of the members of the board were present and they had refused to give any further reason for the dismissal of the teacher. A petition was then circulated and signed by a great number of the voters in the district requesting the board to rescind its action, because the signers considered it unwise and against the best interest of the school. Still the members of the board did not comply with the request, and then came a set of resolutions asking the board to resign, the whereases and resolves being couched in language as follows:

"Whereas, A petition has been circulated among the patrons of the Intermediate department and among the citizens of School district No. 2, and said petition has been signed by at least one half of the electors in School district No. 2, and said petition has been duly presented, asking that Miss Etta Lipson be retained in her position as a teacher in our public school, and said board of trustees refuse to receive and recognize said petition, but have wholly ignored the said petition; and

"Whereas, Upon due request from persons having authority to ask said board to file specific charges against said Etta Lipson as a teacher, and they have wholly failed to do so; and

"Whereas, Upon due inquiry said board is unable to give any well founded reasons for the removal of said Etta Lipson, the teacher in our public schools, and as it is the belief of those that have gone to the members of the school board and conversed with them about the matter, that the board is acting partial in the matter, and with malicious spite in the matter, and with anything but the best interests of the school at heart;

"Therefore, We, the citizens, electors and patrons of the public schools of Casper, in mass meeting assembled, do ask and request that the present trustees of School district No. 2, to-wit: Charles O'Neall, N. S. Bristol and H. A. Lilly, that they resign as trustees in and for said School district, and do hereby prefer charges against them as follows, to-wit: Acting with malicious spite in asking for the resignation of Miss Etta Lipson as a teacher in our public schools at this time.

"Fourth: As acting unwisely and arbitrarily in ignoring and failing to take into consideration the petition heretofore presented to them protesting against the removal of Miss Lipson as a teacher."

The members of the board were still inclined to the opinion that they were right in the dismissal of the teacher and Miss Lipson was not allowed to finish the term and the members of the board did not resign. Miss Lipson, however, did not send in her resignation as requested by the board and on January 25 she was tendered a check in payment for her services for the full time she had taught and Mrs. L. Brown was secured to finish the term and she was installed as teacher on January 28. Miss Lipson also appeared at the school room on the morning of the 28th and the members of the board requested her to deliver to them the keys to the school building and the register, but she refused and carried them home with her. Then she brought action in the courts against the board for her salary. The board retaliated by bringing action against Miss Lipson for the recovery of the school register and the keys to the school house. The school board secured the register and the keys, but Miss Lipson did not get the salary she asked for. Mr. WiHiams, the principal, went to Omaha the latter part of January where he was called on account of sickness in his family, and failing to return, at the meeting of the board held on February 5, five dollars was appropriated to pay for telegrams sent out to secure another principal. Professor S. E. Notson was finally secured, and he finished the term in a manner that was highly satisfactory to all concerned. The enrollment during this school year was 140, the grammar department having 41; intermediate department, 45; primary department, 54.

In 1895, our school had grown to such proportions that four teachers were required. Professor S. E. Notson was in charge and Mary E. Hurlburt, Hattie Bethards and Mrs. Notson were the teachers in the grammar, intermediate and primary departments. The enrollment was 124, with 24 in the high school, 30 in the grammar department, 28 in the intermediate department, and 42 in the primary department. Mrs. Notson resigned during the term and Miss Minnie Burns was hired to finish the term. For the 1896-7 term the same corps of teachers was hired who had finished the 1895-6 term. George James Wilson and Elizabeth Jameson graduated at the end of this term, and these were the first students to graduate from the public schools of Casper.

For the 1897-8 term a kindergarten department was established in the Casper schools and Miss Adah Turner (now Mrs. F. W. Cottman) had charge of this department. The other teachers were the same as those who taught the 1896-7 term.

The second teachers' institute for Natrona county convened in Casper on June 14, 1897, with Miss Wilhelmena Clark as county superintendent. The following-named teachers were present: Alma Morgan of Winthrop; Clyde L. Carpenter, Freeland; Matilda Leeper, Ervay; Mattie Ervay, Ervay; Paulina Smith, Casper; EflRe Cummings, Casper; Adah Turner, Casper; Minnie Burns, Casper; Hattie Bethards, Casper; Minnie Hurlburt, Casper; S. E. Notson, Casper.

For the 1898-9 term, S. E. Notson was retained as principal and Miss Adah Turner again had charge of the kindergarten. Mrs. T. A. Dean, Miss Eva Cantlin and Miss May Hamilton were the other teachers. On account of ill health Mr. Notson resigned after teaching about a month and Mrs. E. C. Jameson took his place until Will F. Chase came in January. The second graduation exercises of the Casper public schools were held on April 3, 1900, and Clark Johnson was the only graduate.

were the other teachers. The enrollment was 34 for the high school; grammar department, 15; intermediate department, 30; second primary, 27; first primary, 55; total, 161. Mr. Chase was a failure as a teacher and an executive in a school room, and although he was allowed to finish the term, he came nearly finishing the school at the same time.

The school enrollment on September 6, 1900, was: Kindergarten, first and second grades, 55; Miss Turner and Miss Leeper teachers; third and fourth grades, 38, Miss Edith Evans teacher; fifth and sixth grades, 23, Miss Hamilton, teacher (Miss Hamilton resigned January i, to take the position of county superintendent of schools and she was succeeded by Miss Eflfie Cummings, who finished the term); seventh and eighth grades, 23, Miss Cantlin, teacher; high school, 27, F. E. Matheny, principal. Total enrollment, 166.

At the annual school election held on May 6, 1901, an appropriation of $3,700 was made for school purposes for district No. 2, $2,500 of which was to be used for the payment of teachers' salaries and the remainder was to be used for incidental expenses. The enrollment for the past year averaged 255, seventy-two more than the previous year.

Teachers retained for the 1901-2 term were F. E. Matheny, J. B. Ruple, Carrie Friend, Effie Cummings, Nora Crow, Edith Evans, Mrs. F. E. Matheny, Mary Craig.

The proposition to issue bonds for the erection of a new school house and to vote a levy of two mills to pay for the same was voted upon at a special election held on Saturday, January 2, 1901. There were sixty votes for the bonds and two votes against. The new building was to be 42x68 feet, containing four rooms, each room to be 28x32 feet. The site for the new building was on Center street, between Park and Milton streets (now Eighth and Ninth streets), where the Park school is now situated. The contract for the construction of this building was let to local contractors and the members of the school board were superintending the work. There was some jealousy among other local builders and considerable feeling was worked up against the members of the board by these builders and their friends, the claim being made that the contractors were not complying with the specifications, and on August 14, 1901, a warrant was issued by County Attorney Alex T. Butler, charging the members of the board, consisting of Frank Wood, S. W. Conwell, and W. E. Tubbs, with the "misappropriation of public funds for the erection of a public building, the said public buildingnotbeingerectedaccordingto the accepted and adopted plans and specifications." When the warrant was served by the sheriff, the members of the board were at the site of the building making an investigation of the work that had thus far been done, and upon which considerable complaint had been made by some of the taxpayers and competitors of the contractors. After being placed under arrest the members of the board appeared before Justice of the Peace Frank Jameson, and asked that their preliminary trial be extended for ten days. The request was granted and each of the members was placed under a bond of five hundred dollars to appear for trial. The members refused to give the bond and they were placed under charge of the sheriff, who, by order of the county attorney, incarcerated them in the county jail. The members of the board were served with a sumptuous dinner by the sheriff, at the expense of the county, and nearly everyone in the town, except the county attorney and the families of the members of the board, looked upon the matter as a joke. After dinner the sheriff took upon himself the responsibility of releasing the members upon their own recognizances to appear for trial upon the date set by the court.

The information issued by the county attorney contended that "the school building was not being erected according to plans and specifications; that changes had been made in the building which were less costly than the original plans; that work on the building could not be safely proceeded with, and if the building was completed as per the changes that had been made, it would not be a safe and strong building." The members of the board claimed that they were looking after the building in a businesslike manner; that the contractors were proceeding satisfactorily; that no complaint had ever been made to them as to unsatisfactory workmanship on the building or material in the building, and that not as much as one penny had been misappropriated knowingly by them.

Before the day set for trial the county attorney indicated that the case would be dismissed, but a subpoena was served on the officer, requiring that he be brought into court on August 24, 1901, at 10 o'clock a.m. with all the affidavits and other papers relative to the case. On the 24th of August, the case was postponed until September 16, on account of sickness of Justice Jameson. At the trial the case was dismissed, and the board was vindicated.

The enrollment for Casper schools in September, 1901, was: High school, 24; grammar department, 24; intermediate A, 35; intermediate B, 27; primary A, 20; primary B, 29; kindergarten, 34; total 193. The teachers retained for the 1901-2 school year were F. E. Matheny, principal, J. B. Ruple, assistant principal, Carrie Friend, grammar department, Effie Cummings, fifth grade, Nora M. Crow, fourth, Edith Evans, second primary, Mrs. Matheny, first primary, Mary Craig, kindergarten. The three first-named teachers were located in the new building referred to in the preceding paragraph.

The teachers for the 1902-3 term were, F. E. Matheny, E. M. Childs, Mrs. F. E. Matheny, Mary Craig, Edith Evans, Althea Marian Jones, Emma Yard, Minnie B. Whitmore, Bertha B. Goetzman. The enrollment was: High school, 21, seventh and eighth grades, 27; fifth and sixth grades, 34; fourth grade, 25; third grade, 33; second grade, 24; first primary, 29; kindergarten, 23; total, 216.

The schools had made a decided improvement under this corps of teachers and Mr. Matheny was retained as superintendent for the 1903-4 term, with the following teachers: J. J. Jewett, principal, Bertha Goetzman, Effie Cummings, Mrs. Matheny, Sue Merriam, Bertha Imhoff, Mary Holmes, Mary Craig. In the Central school building there were the kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth grades, and in the Park school building, there were fifth, sixth, grammar, and high school. The enrollment was 253. The school census taken in Casper in June, 1904, showed 312 people in district No. 2 between the ages of six and twenty-one years. At the school election of district No. 2, held in 1905, the secretary's report showed an enrollment of 287 pupils. There were ten teachers. It cost the district ^9'9i5-54 to conduct the schools of the preceding year. Of this amount ^6,477.93 was paid to the teachers, $2,802.23 for other expenses in maintaining the schools, $160.00 library fund, and $472.38 kindergarten fund.

Mr. Matheny was engaged as superintendent for the 1904-5 term, and Mr. Jewett was the principal. Miss Catherine Gries, Miss Bertha Goetzman, Miss Effie Cummings, Miss Allie West, Miss Sue Merriam. Miss Bertha ImhofF, and Miss Mary Craig were the teachers. For the 1905-6 term the enrollment was slightly increased and one additional teacher was hired. For the maintenance of the schools in district No. 2 there was drawn on the teacher's fund, $6,930.07, and on the special fund, $2,200.80; making a sum total of $9,130.87.

The average monthly salary for male teachers in Wyoming in 1906 was $74.14, and for female teachers $49.50. In 1907 the average salary for male teachers was $85.20, and for female teachers $53.50.

Thus far we have given somewhat at length the commencement, growth, success and vicissitudes of our schools, the trials of the teachers, the hardships of the pupils, the difficulties of the members of the school board and the interest of the parents, because a full description was necessary in order that the people nowadays might appreciate the cumbersomeness of building up a school in a frontier village to the magnitude of the present school system, but to continue the minor details, giving the names of teachers, the number of pupils, the personnel of the school board, et cetera, for each year from 1906 up to 1922, would make a large volume in itself, on account of the wonderful improvements, changes and increase in the number of pupils and teachers that have been made, therefore we will have to be content with a brief resume of the schools up to the present time and a comparison of the same from the first day that Mrs. Adah E. Allen called her little flock of nineteen pupils to order until the end of the year 1922, when there were nearly 4,400 pupils and about 170 teachers in the city of Casper, which is considered the biggest and most up-to-date school town in the state. The census of school district No. 2, taken in May, 1910, showed 529 persons of school age, against 465 the previous year. Three colored children were included in the 1910 census.

The contract was let for the building of the Natrona County High school on May 21, 1913, for $35,550, and $6,000 for the plumbing and heating. C. R. Inman was the building contractor and W. W. Keefe did the plumbing. This was one of Casper's public buildings that was erected without dissension from "Casper's Trouble Makers Club," most of the members of which had been called hence or moved to other climes where progress and push were not so much in evidence as at Casper.

There were enrolled in the Casper schools on November i, 1919, 2,080 pupils. Of this number 226 were students in the High school. Eighty-three teachers were employed in the city. On account of the congested condition of the school buildings a room in the public library and one in the Episcopal gymnasium were used for classes, and later it was found necessary to use two additional rooms in the basement of the library. During the 1919-20 school year $80,285.27 was expended for teachers' salaries, and $89,929.82 was expended for school house expenses and supplies. The school census showed an increase from 958 in 1915 to 2,797, i" 1920. At the end of the term in 1921 the enrollment was 3,046.

In 1921, a material increase was made in the salaries of the teachers in the grade schools of district No. 2 as well as for the instructors in the Natrona County High school, and sex discrimination was entirely eliminated. A minimum of $1,600 a year for all grade teachers, with an increase of $100 a year as long as they remained in the Casper schools, and a minimum of $2,000 for High school instructors. Formerly an instructor in the Casper schools, teaching grades below the sixth, was started at $1,560, with an increase of $60 a year. In the sixth, seventh and eighth grades the minimum was $1,620 a year, with a $60 increase. By placing all grade teachers on the same plane, teachers below the sixth grade were to receive an increase in salary, as well as women members of the High school faculty. In the high school a woman instructor was started at $1,956, while a man received $2,076, but it was decided that both men and women instructors should receive $2,000 for the first year of their service, with the yearly increase as above stated.

At the beginning of the term in 1921 there was an enrollment of 3^338 pupils in school district No. 2 which includes the city of Casper, Mills and Salt Creek. A comparison of the enrollment in 1920 and 1 92 1 is herewith shown:

The rooms in all the school buildings of Casper, as well as those at Mills and Salt Creek were overcrowded, and it was at once decided to erect a new ten-room building in North Casper and a sixroom building in South Casper. New buildings were in course of construction at Mills and Salt Creek. At the beginning of this term there were 120 teachers, but fifteen more teachers were added to the force at once.

At the beginning of the year 1922, there was an enrollment of 3,950 pupils in the district, against 472 in 191 1, and there were 150 grade teachers and twenty-five High school teachers, against fifteen in 191 1. A summary of the Natrona County High school on December 31, 1921, showed an enrollment of 436 students, 185 boys and 251 girls; there were twenty full-time instructors and five were employed part of the time. The equipment and property of the High school district was listed as follows: Books in library, 1,121 volumes; 26 magazines; special librarian in charge throughout the day. Cost of apparatus: Science, $2,175; domestic science, $2,450; music, $720; maps, $175; gymnasium, $2,000; manual training, $5,000; commercial, $1,880. Two large and up-to-date buildings. Area of eight acres of land, with grandstand and well-fenced field of such unusual quality as is rarely found in connection with high schools. Two well equipped gymnasiums.

At the end of 1922 there were thirty High school instructors, with three supervisors in the Natrona County High school, located in Casper; there were 136 grade teachers, with five supervisors and six special teachers for subnormal and abnormal children. There were about 4,400 pupils in the district with 535 in the High school, and the

Bonds were voted in the summer of 1922 for a $500,cxdo buildmg for the Natrona County High school district, to be located in Casper. A list of the buildings constructed in 1920-21, the number of rooms, and the cost of each building is given below:

In 1922 a new fifteen-room building was constructed in North Casper and six rooms were added to the East Casper school building. There were six teachers in Salt Creek and 180 pupils, and five teachers in Mills and 160 pupils. Of the other rural schools in the county, in 1922, district No. 3 comprised the Freeland school, with 7 pupils; Dickinson, 4 pupils; Laney's, 4 pupils. No. 4, Bessemer, 10 pupils, with 25 more pupils in this district, near Emigrant Gap and on the Yellowstone Highway, not attending school. No. 5, Split Rock, or Dumb Bell, 3 pupils; Sanford, i pupil. No. 6, Clarkson, or Childers, 2 pupils; Jourgensen, I pupil. No. 7, Alcova,7 pupils. N0.9, Bucknum, 8 pupils; Wilson Creek, 10 pupils. No. 10, Winthrop, or Clark's, 13 pupils. No. II, Muddy, or Brooks, 14 pupils. No. 12, Greenlaw, 2 pupils. No. 13, Oil City, 6 pupils; Waltman, 10 pupils; Brotherson, 5 pupils. No. 15, Deer Creek Park, 3 pupils. No. 16, Natrona, 19 pupils; Powder River, 11 pupils. No. 17, Pathfinder, 2 pupils. No. 18, Arminto, 16 pupils; Wolton, 11 pupils; Badwater, 3 pupils; Keiver, 2 pupils. In addition to the above the schools at Wilson, or the Poor Farm, the Country Club, Horse Ranch, Ohio Oil company's South Camp, Kasoming, Mud Springs, Glenrock-Carter Camp, all of which are in district No. 2, should be termed as rural schools.

Thus it may be seen that the schools of Natrona county have kept pace with the growth and improvement in the business and professional lines and it may be truly said that the spirit of the school is high, the moral standards strong, the attitude of pupils favorable, the educational aims and achievements promising, and the support of the public liberal and loyal.

THE town of Bessemer was established In the summer of 1888, at about the same time people commenced to locate in Casper, and it was called by its enthusiastic citizens the "Queen City of the West."

The Wyoming Improvement company surveyed the site and platted the town lots which consisted of forty-nine blocks, In addition to which grounds were reserved "upon which to erect the future capitol building of Wyoming." A bridge was built across the river and advertising folders were issued in February, 1889, setting forth the resources and advantages of the place. A great many town lots were sold, and the citizens had been given assurance that the railroad would be built Into the town not later than 1890.

Miss Clementine Evans (now Mrs. P. C. Nicolaysen), was Bessemer's first school teacher. There were in the town a drug store, two general merchandise stores, a saloon, a newspaper, blacksmith shop, hotel, restaurant and the other establishments that went to make up a typical frontier village.

In the spring of 1890 the newspaper, the Bessemer Journal, stated that Max A. Jaensch was in the town making arrangements for the construction of a brewery, and a wholesale and retail liquor house was to be established there as soon as the buildings could be completed.

A stage line was operated between Casper and Bessemer, round trips being made twice each day, leaving each point at 7 o'clock in the morning and arriving at 2:30 in the afternoon. Among the wellknown men who were engaged in business there and who are yet residents of the county are W. A. Blackmore, who was proprietor of the drug store, and G. W. Johnson, who was postmaster and also conducted a general store. Others who were engaged in business there, but who long ago left the county or have been called hence, were G. C. Riggles, harness and saddlery; Frank J. Posvar, dry goods and groceries; Conrad Houk, saloon; J. Enos Walte, publisher Bessemer Journal; C. W. Eads, livery; Mrs. C. M. Doss, hotel; Charles Peterson, real estate; Charles Ford, brick plant; J. W. Van Gordon, boarding house. Wm. Clark was proprietor of the "Searlght House," which he advertised as being "the best hotel in Central Wyoming, with accommodations unsurpassed." He also "supplied parties with good rigs and saddle horses at reasonable rates who wished to go over the oil regions." John Clark was proprietor of the Bessemer-Casper stage line. Chris Baysel was the architect and builder of Bessemer. Mr. Baysel's energy and enthusiasm was probably more commendable than his ability as a builder, for the houses he constructed were quite susceptible to the high winds that prevailed on the open prairies and although none of them were ever blown down, they failed to keep out the dust in the summer or the snows of winter. He was given the contract to draw the plans and specifications for the bridge crossing the Platte river at Bessemer, and during its construction, in addition to being the architect, he voluntarily assumed the responsibility as foreman of the construction gang, which caused dissension among the workmen. One evening after work a meeting was held by the workmen and Frank Verden was chosen as their boss, and the next morning when Baysel appeared on the bridge and commenced to direct the men, Mr. Verden, who was a tall and very strong man, lifted him in the air and pitched him into the river, about fifteen feet below. Baysel, after emerging from the stream, went home, changed clothing, and in a short time moved to Casper, where his services were somewhat in demand.

Bessemer was a candidate on April 8, 1890, against Casper for the county seat of Natrona county, and the people of that precinct cast 667 votes, while in Casper precinct 304 votes were cast. It was estimated that there were at least three times as many votes cast in Bessemer as there were men, women, and children; and it was likewise said that the people of Casper did not overlook casting her full quota, and a few votes possibly might have been cast in Casper that were a shade off color. It is not improbable that some Casper electors exercised their franchise more than once that day. The Bessemer vote was thrown out, however, and the town lost not only the county seat, but the railroad did not come through as was promised and expected; the oil well, which was being drilled close to the town turned out to be a duster; the residents commenced to pack up and leave; and the business houses commenced to close up. Everything went from bad to worse and in a very few years there was not a house or building of any kind left in the town. They had all been torn down and moved away. Today there is nothing left of Bessemer but a few holes in the ground, and thus died the town that "hit the ball" and was up and doing from the date of its birth until she lost the railroad, the county seat, her oil well, and her life all at about the same time. During the middle of the summer of 1891 the first house built in Bes- semer was torn down and moved to Casper. The people had already given up hope of the railroad coming that way, and quite a number of people who went there with great expectations had moved away, selling their property and their goods at the best price they could.

The Bessemer Journal suspended publication in December, 1890. J. Enos Waite, who published the paper under contract with the Wyoming Improvement company, being unwilling to continue the struggle, and the Improvement company, being reluctant to put any more money in the proposition, came to the mutual understanding that the pubhcation should cease. The newspaper plant was attached by an Omaha paper jobbing house to satisfy a claim for paper furnished the company, and the sheriff had the types and presses and other material moved from Bessemer to Casper on February 24, and sold at auction on the 28th. Waite then went to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he published the Real Estate News for a couple of months, and then returned to Casper and commenced the publication of the Natrona Tribune on June I, 1 891, the plant used for this paper being the old Bessemer Journal plant. It had been purchased by about a dozen Casper men who had incorporated the Republican Publishing company.

The records at the court house show that on August 4, 1892, "The Wyoming Improvement company being indebted to the county in the amount of $265.78 for taxes, and as the said company is the owner of a bridge across the Platte river at Bessemer, it is ordered that the county treasurer be instructed to accept a conveyance of the bridge to the county, and the county cancel any and all taxes that may stand on the books for the years 1890 and 1891 against the company." This was the last chapter of the town of Bessemer and the Wyoming Improvement company, so far as their importance in Natrona county was concerned. Bessemer Bend, however, is today one of the prettiest spots in Natrona county. Located at the west end of the foothills of Casper mountain, along the eastern bank of the Platte river about fifteen miles west from Casper, are a dozen beautiful and prosperous ranches. These ranches are in a valley which is protected from the winds that usually sweep down over the country. A large spring on the west side of the river furnishes an abundance of water for irrigating purposes and bountiful crops of small grains are raised and in the valley there are several orchards where luscious apples are grown in great quantities.

A company was organized in 1920-21 which drilled several thousand feet for oil in the Bessemer valley, but the result was a disappointment to the stockholders. But their disappointment was of small moment compared to the mortification of the sturdy men and women who did their bit toward building a town on the bleak prairie where there was no water to supply the needs of even the household, where there was no shelter from the scorching suns of the summer or the howling storms of winter and where nothing would grow but cactus and sage brush.

The "Searight House," previously mentioned as being operated by Wm. Clark, was not within the corporate limits of the town of Bessemer, but was located about a quarter of a mile east of the town proper. This house was built in the late '70's or early '8o's, by the Searight Cattle company of Texas, and it is still standing. The lumber, hardware and other material used in the building of this house was hauled from Cheyenne by freight teams, a distance of more than 225 miles. Joe Black was foreman for the Searight outfit for a number of years and made his headquarters at this house, which was then, and is yet, known as the Goose Egg ranch house. Martin Gothberg was one of the cowboys for the Searight company. The place was sometimes called the Stone ranch, because the house is built of stone, but the original and proper name is the Goose Egg. J. M. Carey bought the Goose Egg property in 1886 and is yet the owner. In the early days this ranch house was the scene of many sociable events among the cattlemen and cowboys, and there is a great deal of interesting history in connection with it.

Owen Wister selected the Goose Egg ranch as the location for one of the most interesting and exciting episodes of his "Virginian." Although Wister, in his "Virginian," says that the Goose Egg is located on Bear creek, it must be remembered that writers of fiction are always careless as to names, dates and locations. The Goose Egg is located near the mouth of Poison Spider creek, where it empties into the Platte river, while Bear creek is in Converse county, about seventy-five miles east of the Goose Egg ranch. But Wister does not claim that his description of the country is correct or all the events mentioned in his book are true, and he purposely changed the names of people, ranches, creeks, and mountains that went to make up his most interesting story, therefore it must be borne in mind that the "Virginian" is a novel, and not a history, and Wister is a writer of fiction and not of facts, and he says in the beginning that the characters in his book, the events and many of the places are not real, therefore it is not the purpose of the author of this book to discredit Wister's "Virginian" but is rather our aim to caution the reader of the novel not to place too much reliance upon it, and more especially upon a joke perpetrated upon some eastern newspaper writers who passed through Casper in 191 1, when it was represented to them that a well known CY cowboy, who afterwards made his home in Casper, was selected as the hero of the "Virginian." It should be remembered that the hero was supposed to have come to Wyoming from Virginia. The joke has been carried so far that many of the recent arrivals in Natrona county actually believe that the Virginian was this former CY cowboy. But let us get back to the Goose Egg ranch house, near where the town of Bessemer was located. It was here according to Wister, that the Virginian came more than one hundred miles on horse back to be present at the Swinton barbecue, to see Molly Wood, the school teacher, and to attend the dance; it was here that the Virginian again met Trampas and made him "stand on his laigs" and admit that he was a liar when he made some derogatory remarks about the school teacher; it was in this house that the school teacher snubbed the hero because he asked her to dance with him before he had been introduced to her, and he felt so badly over it that he and Lin McLean, another cowboy, who came from Massachusetts, got gloriously drunk, and, while in their cups and while the dancers were enjoying themselves in another room, changed the clothing on a dozen babies and then changed the babies from the positions their mothers had left them, and the change was not noticed until the mothers and fathers reached home at an early hour in the morning, and then found that they had brought home with them their own baby's clothing but not their own baby; it was here that a dozen mothers and fathers returned with all possible haste and after all had assembled it took the mothers about two hours to straighten out the mix-up and for each of them to get back her own baby with its proper wearing apparel, all of which makes interesting reading and was a good joke on the mothers, if such a thing had ever occurred, but, according to many old-timers who would have known of it, such a thing never happened at the Goose Egg ranch house or any other ranch house in this part of Wyoming, and while there were dances at the Goose Egg ranch house occasionally, the barbecue as described by Wister and the baby mixup was wholly and entirely imaginary, and those who have been led to believe that certain of Casper's citizens were the instigators of the baby episode and that some of Casper's matrons were some of the babies connected with the story, it may be depended upon that they have been imposed upon, as were the newspaper writers from the east who visited Casper in 191 1, and as a joke were given this interesting data upon which they could write an entertaining article for their newspapers.

the west thirty years ago were very encouraging, but, like some men, it was ambitious beyond its station, and thus far has been doomed to disappointment. In the early spring of 1891 an eastern syndicate, headed by Isaac Van Horn, purchased the hot springs and the townsite from G. C. Riggles. It was then announced that $250,000 would be expended to make the improvements that the company contemplated, and that $75,000 would be expended that year. A steam engine was to be purchased and used to pump water from the river for the purpose of irrigating lands adjacent to the springs and making fine lawns and beautifying the town lots. Two streets were laid out, one of them, on the south side of the river, was to be one and onehalf miles in length, and towm lots were platted on either side of this street. A similar street was laid out on the opposite side of the river. Four or five seven-room cottages were to be erected at once by the members of the company, who were to move their families there and reside. A suspension foot bridge was to be built from wall to wall in the center of the canyon, about 250 feet above the water and the president of the company said he was negotiating for cable with which to build this bridge. Walks were to be constructed in the canyon on both sides, connecting with the foot bridge, and this was to be grand beyond comparison. A first-class stage road was to be built from Casper to the springs by this company. Hotels and bathing accommodations were to be prepared, and as soon as everything was in readiness a daily stage line would be established from Casper to the new health resort, and a stage line was also to be put on from Alcova to the Yellowstone National park. This was the announcement made in April.

In October of the same year the company sent a representative to Casper to contract for lumber for the first buildings, bridges, etc., which was to be hauled to the grounds at once and it was said that work upon the buildings would continue during the entire winter, and in June, 1892, they expected to have everything in readiness to throw open to the thousands of visitors, who would surely come to avail themselves of the healing, health-giving waters, but in the meantime the water from the springs was free to all who desired to go there and "camp" and bathe.

"Until the railroad is built in," the syndicate announced, "we will run a daily stage line of six-horse stage coaches from Casper over the romantic and scenic road. We will build a bridge across the river about twenty miles from Casper, and this structure will be built entirely of native lumber, with piers of different colored stone. We may also put in a line of small steamers and sail boats between Casper and the springs for those who would prefer the water route.

Alcova S Bright Prospects 227

"All the buildings and improvements at the springs will be modern and of the latest and most improved designs. There will be pavilions, driveways, walks and cozy nooks and dark caverns, glass bath tubs, plunge and swimming baths, boats and steam yachts and every convenience for the accommodation of our guests, and in a few years the Alcova Hot springs will be the Arkansas of the West."

Then money matters tightened up in the fall and all work was suspended until the following spring, when T. C. VanHorn and E. P. Weatherly, secretary and treasurer of the Alcova Hot Springs company, arrived from the east and went out to the property. They claimed that they had succeeded in putting the company on a sound financial basis and would now complete the improvements contemplated. And upon the strength of these promises, some more Alcova town lots were sold, but, like the promises heretofore made, they were not kept, and the " resort " failed to materialize. Hope, however, was not entirely lost, for again in the fall of 1898 an effort was made to revive interest, raise capital and put new life in the little village. A pamphlet was issued called the "Problem of Life," the title of which, it must be admitted, was not inappropriately applied. In this pamphlet the leading article stated that "Mother Nature has endowed Alcova with a beautiful and ideal valley to rest in, encircling it with rock-ribbed hills that were upheaved by some volcanic action ages ago. Fremont canyon is an example; it must have been level with the valley but now it stands 1,000 feet high, cleft in twain, and through its solid rock walls the river Platte, 300 feet wide, passes and from its perpendicular side a score or more of springs of hot water flow, ranging from 132 to 139 degrees Fahrenheit. The analysis of these waters shows them to be of wonderful medical qualities, and miraculous cures have been experienced through them.

"The chemists say the water will be very beneficial as a bath. Taken internally it will prove a mild laxative, and taken in connection with the bath would be beneficial in chronic diseases, such as rheumatism, gout, stiff" joints, etc.

"The hot springs have intrinsic value alone, justifying the sick in making a journey of thousands of miles to bathe and drink the healing draught. These, coupled with the many attractive features of the surroundings, will aid nature's cures, and while the fountain of youth may not be found here, yet it will instill and renew the feelings of youth.

"The city has an altitude of 6,000 feet. It is hemmed in on the south and west by Fremont canyon, on the east by the Red cliff and on the north by the conglomerate reef facing La Bonte canyon that contains the most stupendous works of the elements. On the face of this reef is exposed the greatest variety of stone ever known to exist in one quarry. There is granite, marble, limestone, red and white sandstone in layers that breaks into squares ready for the builder's use. This quarry won the premium at the World's Fair at Chicago. The pen may describe, the camera may portray but the artist must plant his easel in this canyon at the setting of the sun on some clear June day to gather the varied hues and catch the colorings in the landscape of nature's wonderland; nothing grander will ever be spread on canvas.

"These canyons, cliffs and reefs are 800 to i,2CXD feet high, protecting Alcova from storms and making a cozy retreat in the winter, which insures to the sick the finest and healthiest climate all the year of any springs resort on earth.

"To the southwest is a canyon six miles long, with rock walls often 1,500 feet high. The Platte river flows through it; the scenery is grand, but no boat can pass through it on account of cataracts. Fremont lost his boats and some of his men there in 1842 making the attempt.

"To the west are saponite beds, a beautiful white substance like sapolio, but much finer grain. Place it powdered upon a burn, it will relieve the pain and heal the burn in a few hours, leaving no scar. Powdered and snuffed up the nostrils it makes nature's own cure for catarrh. Rub the tooth brush across the cake and it makes the finest of tooth powders, cleansing, purifying and whitening even old tobacco-stained teeth.

"The weather is always superb, making boating most enjoyable. Fishing is a splendid treat, as one can catch perch, cat and pike as long as your arm. These pleasures are at your hand and it is no trouble to reach them, as the river flows through Alcova.

"Nature, with generous care, having provided hot springs, climate, scenery and raw materials sufficient to build a city that will be an honor to her majesty, awaits the magic touch and charm that will improve with modern facilities her wondrous work for the healing of mankind."

More than thirty years have passed since the bright future was thus promised for the little town at the foothills of the mountains. Today there is a small general store there, a school house, several comfortable residences and about a dozen log cabins, most of them unoccupied. The great hopes of the promoters and bright prospects for the town are blasted, for the time being, at least, but the wonderful hot springs, whose waters contain marvelous mineral properties, are yet flowing and gushing from the rocks alongside the river, and some day capital may be invested there, and the

Town Of Bothwell 229

There was a movement on foot early in the year of 1889 to establish the town of "Bothwell" in the Sweetwater country, situated about two and a half miles north from the banks of Sweetwater river and nearly opposite Horse creek, where the Bothwell ranch houses were originally located. The Sweetwater Land and Improvement company was incorporated with a capital of ^300,000, with J. R. Bothwell and A. J. Bothwell at the head. Circulars were issued in January, 1889, setting forth the advantages of the new town, and town plats were executed. The lots were offered at from $150 to ^400 each.

"Fertile valleys and large stock interests, close connection to the oil fields and mining interests and soda beds, and at no distant date the removal of the state capital, the Wyoming Central extension of the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley railway will move west from Casper through the Sweetwater valley before the close of the year," were some of the advantages set forth in the circular booming the new town. There was a store, a blacksmith shop, a newspaper called the Szveetzvater Chief, a postoffice, a saloon, owned by James Averell, and a "hog ranch" owned by Ella Watson, spread over the flat during the summer of '89, but for the reason that the townsite was forty-five miles from the railroad, that the "fertile valleys" were producing nothing more than wild grass, grease wood, sage brush and cactus, and that up to date no precious minerals or oil had been found in the vicinity, and because of the fact that the price of the town lots was above and beyond all reason, very few, if any, Bothwell town lots were ever sold.

In the middle of the summer when the boom was on, Averell and the Watson woman were hanged by some cattlemen to the limb of a tree, and their dead bodies were buried in the door yard of Averell's saloon; the newspaper suspended publication for the lack of news and the want of support; the storekeeper moved away; the blacksmith closed up his shop, and thus the town of Bothwell winked out and died.

There is now nothing on the proposed Bothwell townsite but the graves of Jim Averell and Ella Watson. The Bothwell ranch house and other buildings were moved about a mile to the north a number of years ago. Thus Bothwell townsite is left with nothing but a memory of the little settlement where there were many interesting and

Twenty acres of land on top of Casper mountain, ten miles due south from Casper, was filed upon in 1890 by Charles W. Eads, and it was surveyed and platted for a site for a stamp mill. It attained the name of a "town" early in the year 1891, and its name was Eadsville, but the "town" consisted of only three log cabins at that time. Lots were sold during the years of 189 1-2 and ten or twelve more cabins were put up during those years. In the center of the town was a large spring of pure, ice-cold water, of sufficient flow to supply several thousand people.

Gold, silver, galena, copper, lead, and asbestos mines were opened up on the mountains in all directions from the town, and for several years, in the early 90's, there were forty to fifty people who made their home at this point.

The first real mining excitement in this camp occurred in January, 1 891, when S. A. (Jack) Currier received a certificate of an assay from Omaha upon some ore he had sent in, the returns from which showed 33 ounces in silver and 82 per cent lead. In February of the same year, upon the strength of this assay, a telegram was received from Deadwood requesting that six carloads of ore per day be shipped to the mills there, but owing to the fact that the snow in the canyons was from six to ten feet deep, and that the mines had not yet been properly opened up, the shipments could not be made. Many letters were received in Casper every day from mining men inquiring about the camp and the grade of ore that was being taken out, which, it was said, was growing richer with each day's work, and many men were put to work to open up the prospects and have them in shape to be properly shown when an expert from a Denver mining syndicate came up in the early spring to make an examination.

The copper "lead" on the west end of the mountains was found by Bailey and Johnson in February, 1891, with a hanging wall and a ledge more than six feet wide without the foot wall yet being found, the hole being but eight feet deep, but ore was plentiful, even at this shallow depth, being of a rich green oxide of copper, which assays showed 33 per cent in white metal and 42 per cent in copper. This mining camp was called Copperopolis. About this time it was announced that J. E. Daine, who had been a prospector and miner all his life, had prospected and mined all over Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico for thirty-three years, and whose knowledge of rocks and formations was gained by intimate association with them, now appeared on the scene, and after a visit to the camps, he gave it out that he was "very much surprised at the richness of Casper mountain." He had examined the ore very closely, and it was his belief that Casper mountain was a wonderful camp, with copper ore enough there to supply a smelter now, and he had no doubt but one would be built before fall.

The excitement grew more intense with each day, and the samples of ore, running rich with copper and silver, caused great interest among all classes. The railroad company put on an extra coach and arranged to keep up with the rush and furnish accommodations for the multitudes that would flock here during the spring, the advance guard of which was already arriving.

A petition was circulated and signed by nearly all the business men of Casper asking that a postofhce be established at Eadsville and the maintaining of a daily mail route between Casper and that place. "The miners at the several camps," said the newspapers, "are put to much trouble, expense and delay in communicating with the business men of Casper as well as the financial centers of the east concerning the wonderful strikes that are being made there daily, which is of the utmost importance that they should be known at the earliest possible moment."

Reports were brought down from the mountain on February 22 that there was so much excitement over the finds that were made on the Bailey and Johnson claims on the west end of the mountain that prospectors were camped all over the mountain, and that hundreds of claims were being located. This report caused a movement to immediately start to organize a company among the business men of the town to handle and ship the ore, and to advertise the camp in the east. Both the hotels in Casper - the Graham and the Wentworth - were being enlarged to take care of the great rush that would come in the spring, stores were also bemg enlarged, and mining supplies added, and every arrangement was being made to take care of the people who were sure to come when the great rush was on, which would be when the snow melted and the ore could be brought down from the mountain in wagons.

Another report the latter part of March said: "All the miners are elated and the camp is booming. Cowboys have quit the range and gone to prospecting, and everybody in and around Casper is putting money in the companies that are being organized. H. E. Sherman, a practical miner and assayer, arrived on March 2 from the Black Hills to make an examination of the properties. He had made assays of some of the ore sent from here which run 78 per cent copper.

and he says that if the lead is an assured fact this will be a greater mining camp than the Anaconda in Montana. Mr. Sherman spent two weeks on the mountains and when he came down he had no hesitancy in declaring that the ore was all that could be desired and that he had no doubt that there was an immense body of it. He offered to sink a shaft one hundred feet deep on one claim in the vicinity of Copperopolis for a half interest in it, and he returned to the mountain hoping to be able to make a deal with some of the locaters."

Gold was discovered near the west end of the mountain on March 6, 1891, by J. E. Daine and G. E. Butler. Although the snow was very deep, Mr. Daine, "the experienced and practical miner," discovered a quartz vein, which upon being tested showed it to be rich in gold. "There is no mistaking the fact," said the Wyovting Derrick, "as all the town witnessed the test which was made on Sunday, and the richness of the vein is very extensive."

The excitement continued during the early spring and summer months. New mines were found and new leads were discovered every day, many deals were made and some of the miners became millionaires over night; they did not get the cash, however, but they had the property, which they claimed was just the same. In the meantime Eadsville continued to grow in population and wealth.

On October 28, 1891, a car load of copper ore, consisting of seventeen tons, which was brought down from the mountains, was shipped to a smelter in Chicago, and tacked on the side of the car was a streamer in large letters which read:

Copper Ore From The Great Casper, Wyoming, Camp

Before the returns were received on the first car load of ore, several more car loads were shipped to the same smelter in Chicago. More claims changed hands, and options were sold on six claims for ten thousand dollars for each claim, the money to be paid when the lead was found.

In due time, when the excitement was at its highest point, a report was received from the smelter and it was not difficult to figure out that the returns were not sufficient to justify the work and cash outlay in the production and transportation of the ore.

Like the rush of an avalanche from the mountainside fell the news that their dreams were only dreams and the crushing consciousness that the ore on Casper mountain contained neither copper,

Hogadone S Trail 233

For many days gloom reigned unbroken in the little town of Casper as well as at the many mining camps on Casper mountain because of the hard truth that the test ore of the first shipment was a disappointment and failure.

But after the first shock, some of the miners hung on and continued to look for new and better locations, and during the summer of 1892 there seemed to be as much excitement and more hope for the camp than there was before the unfavorable returns were received from the smelter at Chicago. For five years some of the men remained, but they gradually dropped out one at a time, until Eadsville became a deserted camp.

No one is living there now, but a number of the log cabins are still standing. The spring, with its pure, ice-cold water flows as full as ever, and during the summertime campers occasionally go there to avoid the heat and hide away from business cares. It is a beautiful place to camp during the summer months, but its attraction as a mining center is gone forever.

Should you go to Eadsville alone and remain over night it will not be difficult to appreciate the change that has been wrought, where during the day there was the sound of men's voices in boisterous laughter, the loud-resounding stroke of the axe which felled the trees to timber the mines and the sharp report of the blast of powder in the shaft and tunnel and in the night, around the shining fires groups of men in fantastic costumes told tales of marvelous adventures, or sung some old-remembered song, or were absorbed in a game of chance, but now there is but superb silence and majestic loneliness, and even the atmosphere itself seems changed to its original purity, and solitude reigns supreme.

The Hogadone trail, on Caspermountain, a short cut from Casper to the once lively camp of Eadsville, is named after John C. Hogadone, one of the first men to take up a mining claim on the mountain. In 1888-89, ^he nearest road to the top of the mountain was through the CY canyon, but in the summer of '89 Hogadone blazed this trail, coming down and returning on horseback, but all the miners on the mountain put in as much time as they could spare working on this during the summer and they succeeded in getting it in such a condition that a mountain buggy with a team could make the trip to and from the mountain over this route. It was then named the Hogadone trail

The first settlement where the old town of Wolton was located was made in the early nineties by Jack Clark, now of Powder River, who established a stage station for his father who was operating a mail line from Casper to Lost Cabin over the old Bridger trail. This was known as Poison Creek station. In 1896 the Northwestern Railway company built a reservoir on section 8, township 36, range 87, on Poison creek, about sixty miles northwest of Casper, which was one of a string of reservoirs built for the accommodation of stock trailing from the Lander valley and the Big Horn basin to Casper for shipment to market. In the winter of 1896 and spring of 1897 a store was built at this place and a postoffice established by the Wolton Commercial company, which was organized by C. H. King, one of the pioneers of Casper. The new postoffice was called Wolton and the first postmaster was R. L. Carpenter, now of Casper, who was also manager of the store. Mr. Carpenter remained in charge of the store and postoffice until the fall of 1898, when he was succeeded by W. H. Dickinson of Lander. In January, 1899, the stock of the Wolton Commercial company was purchased by A. J. Cunningham and associates of Casper, who afterward operated the Wolton store as a branch of the Casper store. At the time of the transfer to the new owners O. G. Johnson, now of Casper, was appointed manager and remained in charge a number of years, being succeeded in 1905 by J. A. Warlaumont. At the time of the establishment of the store and postoffice at Wolton one of the largest machine sheep-shearing plants in the west was built at that place and was operated for a number of years under the management of J. D. HoUiday. Many thousands of sheep were shorn here every spring, the wool being shipped by wagon freight to Casper. A good water supply for the town was obtained from a spring about a quarter of a mile away. A tank was built on the high ground, a windmill put up, a pipe hne laid to the tank and to all buildings in the place, so that, so far as water was concerned, the place had the conveniences of a city. In the early days of Wolton the range was all open and free; there were no homesteaders and the sheep owners and their flocks moved at will from one locality to another. Among those making Wolton a supply place and shearing point in the early days might be mentioned J. D. Woodruff, Wm. Madden, Ed. Merriam, Andrew Cazanave, D. H. Ralston, T. B. Hood, Colin Campbell, J. A. Delfelder, C. D. Hemry, Joe Jay,

Arminto Incorporated 235

E. B. Conkling, Orchard Brothers and a great number of others of the old-timers of western Natrona and eastern Fremont counties. With the establishment of other business a road ranch, or hotel, became necessary, and the Wolton road ranch was opened. The buildings were constructed of logs, which were hauled from the Big Horn mountains, a distance of forty miles. The first eating house was operated by Billy Day, in a shack afterwards used as a warehouse by the Wolton Commercial company. This was soon replaced by the log buildings built and operated by Harry Brower. In connection with the road ranch was the (at that time) inevitable saloon, and Wolton was the scene of many wild times which resulted in a few fatalities, mention of which is made elsewhere in this volume. The road ranch passed into the hands of T. B. Hood, one of the oldest residents of the county, who operated it for a number of years, selling out to E. O. Orchard. Early in 1904 the road ranch and saloon business passed into the hands of J. D. Holliday and J. L. Marquis, under the management of Mr. Marquis, who conducted the business until the fall of 1905, when it passed again into the hands of Mr. Orchard. He conducted the business at the old place until the summer of 1906, when he moved the buildings and business to the new town of Makoma, afterward called Waltman, about eight miles east. Early in the spring of 1906 the Northwestern railroad was extended from Casper to Lander, and a station was established about three miles west of Wolton. The new place was called Wolton and the postoffice and store of the Wolton Commercial company were moved to the new location. A nice hotel was also built in the new town by J. L. Marquis and associates. A few stockmen established residences at the new place and a school was established in 1907, with George A. Davis, F. V. Marsh, and C. D. Hemry as the first school board and Miss Mae Wetzel as the first teacher. In 1914, with the completion of the Burlington railroad from Thermopolis to Casper, the hotel and store were moved about seven miles northeast to the new town of Arminto on that road. Wolton then became a very quiet place and at present (1923) is the railroad point for a colony of homesteaders, the stock business of the surrounding country having been practically crowded out by the settlers. The new Yellowstone highway passes through Wolton, but like many of the other towns which sprang up in the county and flourished, it no doubt has seen its best days.

the "Jack Pot" ranch which was near that station. The Burlington Railroad company changed the "e" to an "i" and the "a" to an "o" in the spelling, as the railroad company changed the "a" to an "e" in the spelling of Casper, which was named after Caspar W. Collins. Arminto is on the C, B. & Q. railroad, fifty-eight miles west from Casper, and like some of the other small towns in Natrona county, its people at one time had great expectations of it becoming a thriving business center, but those expectations have gone a-glimmering and it has now settled down to a substantial little trading point for the ranchmen and stockmen in that vicinity.

During the month of December, 1914, George Davis took a census of the town for the purpose of determining whether there was a sufficient number of electors there to incorporate, and on February 3, 191 5, he appeared before the board of county commissioners in Casper with a survey map, a census of the proposed town, an application signed by 218 people who resided in the proposed territory of the town, asking that the place be incorporated. The board of commissioners ordered that C. W. Kittle, C. E. DeGroot and W. I. Lewis be appointed inspectors and that they call an election at some convenient time, and that they perform such other duties as are imposed upon the inspectors as provided by law in such cases.

The election was held on February 27, 1915, when sixty votes were cast in favor of the incorporation and two votes were cast against incorporating. The election of tow^n officers occurred on March 22, when D. H. Ralston was elected mayor; C. W. Kittle, T. A. Hall, W. I. Lewis and C. E. DeGroot, councilmen. The first meeting of the town council was held March 23, in the parlors of the Big Horn hotel, and the following is a list of the officers appointed: J. L. Marquis, marshal; Mrs. C. W. Kittle, clerk; Mrs. W. I. Lewis, treasurer; J. R. Mitchell, police magistrate.

A big dance was given in the evening at the school house by the mayor and councilmen, and at midnight a sumptuous banquet was served at the Big Horn hotel by Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Marquis, there being about sixty guests present.

The Arminto Flockmaster, a four-page weekly newspaper, was issued March 17, 1915, and for several months thereafter it came forth with the local news of the town, but like its many predecessors, after the newness had worn off, interest waned, the advertising diminished and then the Flockmaster failed to appear and it was no more.

At the time the town was incorporated it had two general stores, the Wolton Commercial company, with C. W. Kittle as manager; the Arminto store, owned by J. B. Okie, managed by F. H, Harper; a twenty-five-room hotel, owned and operated by J. L. Marquis; one rooming house, owned by W. I. Lewis, one saloon, a billiard hall, a restaurant, one blacksmith shop, a livery stable, a school house, two wool warehouses, railroad depot and section house, stock yards, sheep shearing pens and numerous substantial residences.

The town of Mills, located about two miles west from the city of Casper, is the second largest town in Natrona county and was the third town in the county to be incorporated. The land upon which it is situated is described as the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 7, township 33 north, range 79 west of the sixth principal meridian, and was homesteaded by Charles M. Hawks on December 21, 1906. Mr. Hawks sold the land to the Mills Construction company in 1919, and this company put up some buildings on the land where headquarters were established for their construction works. It was then known as the Mills-Baker addition to the city of Casper. Engineering work preparatory to the platting of the land into town lots was commenced on April 3, 1919, by John B. Cleary, under the direction of James Mills, William Mills, Thomas Mills and Floyd E. Pendell, who were the officers of the Mills Construction company.

On account of the desirable location, it being situated immediately north of the Platte river and on the Northwestern railway line, many people bought town lots and established for themselves homes, and in the fall of 1920 the village had a population of about 500. Then a petition for the incorporation of the town of Mills was filed with the board of county commissioners of Natrona county. Favorable action was taken on the petition, and an election was ordered by the county commissioners, to be held on May 10, 1921. At this election George E. Boyle was the successful condidate against Clyde Riley for mayor, and Fred Hunter, Fred Shackleford, G. W. Lindsay and Michael Kennedy were elected as councilmen. At the first meeting of the new town council, held on May 14, 1921, officers were appointed as follows: Wm. Mills, clerk and treasurer; Floyd E. Pendell, attorney; Luke M. Wilkinson, marshal; W. R. Hunt, police magistrate. No other business was transacted at this meeting.

The first school to be established in Mills was in September, 1920, with Miss Gladys Tharp and Miss Nora Essenpries as teachers. There were about seventy pupils in attendance. During the fall of 1921 a modern six-room brick school building was erected, and during the 1921-22 school year there was an average attendance of 130 pupils, with the following named teachers: R. E. Robertson, princi- pal;Miss Florence Fowler, grammar department; Miss Gladys Tharp, intermediate; Miss Lillian Larsen, second grade; Miss Nora Essenpries, first grade. The town has two churches, the Free Methodist, with Mrs. Hattie Lambert as pastor in charge, and the Presbyterian, with Rev. James S. Mclnnes in charge. In connection with each of these churches there is a Sunday school, which is largely attended. The Presbyterians completed their tabernacle, located on the corner of Fifth street and Midwest avenue, in March, 1922, and the church was formally organized and dedicated April i, 1922. The elders ordained and installed at this meeting were John S. McKnight, John Husted and E. A. Mason. Rev. James S. Mclnnes of Ouray, Colorado, who was the first regular minister in charge, entered upon his duties September 4, 1922.

The Mills postoffice was established August 13, 1921, with Thomas J. Bassett as postmaster. The mail is delivered in the town daily by special service from Casper. At the beginning there were about twenty-five pounds of mail each day, but within a year's time it had increased to more than 100 pounds daily.

The Mills Volunteer fire department was organized in January, 1922, with Walter Stewart as chief; H. B. Brakebill, financial secretary; Julian Hanson, recording secretary, and G. W. Lindsley, treasurer. It was provided that any man living in the town should be a member of this organization.

The Mills Booster club was organized October 9, 1921, with the following named officers: John McKnight, president; Mrs. Edith Elliott, secretary; D. McDaniels, treasurer.

The town hall and town jail, a two-story concrete building, was finished in April, 1922. Town council meetings and other meetings of a public nature are held in the upper rooms of this building and the ground floor is used for obstreperous violators of the town ordinances and those who do not conform to the laws of the state and nation.

The regular town election held on May 9, 1922, was of particular importance and interest to the residents of the town of Mills, for the proposition was submitted of voting bonds in the amount of $70,000 to provide a system of water works for the town. Mayor Boyle and his associate councilmen favored the bonds, but there was some opposition, as there usually is in such matters, and Mrs. Florence E. McKane was the opposition's candidate for mayor, and G. L. Elmore and R. J. Beaver were the candidates for the council who were opposed to the bonds, while George E. Boyle, G. W. Lindsley and Fred T. Shackleford were the candidates for mayor and councilmen who favored the bonds, the latter being re-elected by a vote of more

Teapot Town 239

With the splendid advantages and the progressive spirit of a majority of the people who have made the town of Mills their abiding place the town is destined to become a city that Natrona county may well be proud of. On May 7, 1922, the ^70,000 bonds were sold and on June 15, bids were opened for the construction of the water system. Nine bids were received, the highest bid being $96,000 and the lowest $62,900, the latter bid being by the Mills Construction company. Work was commenced on the system in the summer of 1922 and was completed in December.

On May 25, 1921, the Mills Construction company was granted a franchise to supply the town of Mills with electric lights and power but the franchise was turned over to the Natrona Power company of Casper and light and power, both day and night, was furnished the new town at once.

The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph company on October 26, 1921, was granted a franchise to erect poles, string wires and do all other things necessary for the establishment of telephone service in the town, and during the month of June, 1922, service was established in the business houses and residences, connections being made from the central office in Casper.

R. E. Wertz of the Producers and Refinery company on October 27, 1921, was granted a franchise to furnish the town with gas for heating purposes, and during the early fall of 1922 this company extended its pipe line through the town and supplied gas to those who desired it. The Producers company has built a large reducing plant along the Yellowstone Highway, just north of the town of Mills.

During the first three years the town enjoyed a very substantial growth in population and many creditable business buildings and modern dwellings have been erected, among which may be mentioned a splendid three-story hotel, an up-to-date moving picture house, concrete block postoffice building, McGillivery's store building, Boyle's store building, the Brakebill store building, McKnight's store building, and many others. There is also a splendid swimming pool in the town, with 135 dressing rooms in the building. The pool is 126x143 feet, and is liberally patronized by the people of Casper.

Teapot, located on section 3, township 38, range 79, about thirty-six miles north of Casper, on the Casper-Salt Creek highway, was added to the map of Natrona county on August 11, 1922, when the Teapot Development company placed on the market 1,040 town lots, which had been surveyed and platted as a townsite. The land comprising this townsite, consisting of 160 acres, was originally filed upon by John Beaton as a homestead, and is one of the very few pieces of land mside of the Teapot oil structure upon which a patent had been issued with no royalty restrictions. The officers of the townsite company were C. M. Elgin, president; V. E. Stanley, vicepresident, and George F. Stenberg, secretary-treasurer. The oil structure surrounding this townsite is being developed by the Mammoth Oil company for the naval reserve of the United States government, and during 1922 a number of producing wells were brought in, the quality and quantity of oil being equal to any of the producing wells in the Salt Creek field.

An office for the Teapot townsite company and several other buildings were erected during the month of June, 1922, but the sale of the town lots did not commence until August 11, and after the first three days of the sale the company reported that 275 lots had been contracted for, and three months later a total of 903 lots had been disposed of, with 137 remaining unsold. A supply store and several other business houses were established at once, and the town of Teapot is now a substantial and flourishing oil camp town.

The town of Evansville, on the Yellowstone highway, three miles east from Casper, is the newest town in Natrona county, but by no means of the least importance. The sale of Evansville town lots was commenced in March, 1922, and on August 10 the entire group of lots, consisting of 222, had been sold, with the exception of one. The demand for lots in the new town was so great that an addition of 137 lots were platted adjoining the original townsite on the west, and placed on the market. This addition is to have all the utilities of the original townsite extending to it. The prospects for the town to further expand soon became so encouraging that in the fall of 1922, addition number two, with eighty-two lots, was platted immediately north of the original townsite and put on the market.

The tracks of the Burlington and Northwestern railways pass immediately by the town, and each of these railway companies have promised that passenger and freight depots will soon be erected, and that Evansville shall be a station where all the trains will make a stop. The Evansville Water company, with a capitalization of $100,000, with L. H. Sennett, H. G. Taylor and E. H. Banta as incorporators, was organized in September, and arrangements have been made with the Guaranteed Investment company, with T. J. Diamond as president; Dr. J. E. Seal, vice-president, and P. H. Smith, secretarytreasurer, to furnish the water and complete a sewer system to the business portion and residential section of the town. The Natrona Power company has extended its electric lighting service from Casper to the new town and the telephone company will establish an exchange there probably during the summer of 1923; arrangements are being made for gas service for all the residences and business houses. A number of store buildings, apartment houses and dwelling houses were completed during the summer and fall of 1922 and the Baptist church was also built late in the fall. This church building was equipped with school furniture, and on January 2, 1923, school was opened, with an enrollment of twenty pupils, with Daniel C. Adler as teacher. The Texas company's refining plant (which is described in this volume under the heading of "Oil Fields and Refineries"), is immediately east of the town, and was completed to such extent that fire was placed under the stills and the production of gasoline and refined oils was commenced in February, 1923, and a great many of the employees at this plant have bought lots and established homes in the new town. The fact that the refinery was built here was the incentive for the sale of the lots so rapidly and the cause of the wonderful boom that has taken place, and which, in the not distant future, will put Evansville on the map as one of the leading towns in Central Wyoming.

At the beginning of the year 1923 Evansville had an estimated population of 150, exclusive of the refinery workers who make their homes in Casper. About sixty dwelling houses, fifteen business houses and one church comprised the buildings of the town at the beginning of the year 1923. Among the business houses in the new town were the Evansville garage, a filling station and grocery store combined, three pool halls, three restaurants, two grocery stores, one gents' furnishing goods store, three rooming and boarding houses, one furniture and hardware store, one second-hand furniture exchange, a barber shop and a lumber yard.

UNLIKE the streets of the New Jerusalem, the streets of the city of Casper are not paved with gold, but richer than the gold mines of California, in the qualities of usefulness and convenience to the human race, are the oil wells in Natrona county, which have spouted forth their liquid treasures from the bowels of the earth, bringing forth untold wealth to many men and making land that was considered almost valueless worth millions of dollars, and creating, almost as if by magic, new, vast and profitable industries, and wellnigh realizing the wildest conceptions of sudden and golden fortune found in Arabian legends. But with all the fortunes that have been made from the oil fields in Natrona county the reports that have been sent out were greatly exaggerated. If a man invested one thousand dollars in an oil prospect and received in return ten thousand dollars on his investment, by the time the report had traveled a thousand miles the fortune had risen to a hundred thousand dollars, and the farther the report traveled the larger the fortune had grown, and when one well with a 500-barrel production was brought in, by the time the report had gone a thousand miles the number of wells had reached at least a dozen, and each of these dozen wells was producing at least two thousand barrels of oil each day. The many, many dry holes and non-producing wells that were drilled, and the many, many thousands of dollars that were lost were not broadcasted as were the producing wells that were brought in, and the many, many people who lost their hard-earned money in drilling for oil received no publicity; it was only the successful enterprises and prosperous men that were so extensively advertised.

The original oil prospectors of Central Wyoming had the right idea of the wonderful oil fields that surrounded Casper, but only a few of them lived to enjoy the benefits to be derived from the flowing wells. Very different from the original prospectors were the men of the new type who assisted in the development of the oil fields in this part of the country and who made for themselves vast fortunes. Many of them were amateurs in the oil game; there were lawyers, doctors, merchants, ministers and men in all walks of life who were chafing under their lot and were dissatisfied with the returns from their avocations, and they put into a pool what money they could raise for the drilling of a well. If their first well was a producer, another and another well was drilled until the field was fairly covered with derricks. It was not so with the old prospector. He would locate his land, dig a prospect hole and do such other development work as was required by law to hold the land, and there his development work ended, for the reason that he did not have sufficient capital to drill down to the oil sand, and even though he did get a producing well, there was no demand for his product.

The fur traders and trappers probably were the original discoverers of oil in what is now Central Wyoming, but when the discovery was made cannot be stated. The first record made of its discovery was in 1832, when Captain Bonneville was on his exploring expedition. In regard to the finding of oil by Captain Bonneville, we quote the following from Washington Irving's "Adventures of Captain Bonneville":

"There appeared to be no soil favorable for vegetation, nothing but coarse gravel; yet, all over this isolated, barren landscape, were diffused such atmospherical tints and hues, as to blend the whole into harmony and beauty. In this neighborhood the captain made search for the 'great tar springs,' one of the wonders of the mountains; the medical properties of which, he had heard extravagantly lauded by the trappers.' After a toilsome search he found it at the foot of a sand-bluff, a little to the east of the Wind River mountains, [near the Popo Agie river] where it exuded in a small stream of the color and consistency of tar. The men immediately hastened to collect a quantity of it to use as an ointment for the galled backs of their horses, and as a balsam for their own pains and aches. From the description given of it, it is evidently the bituminous oil, called petroleum or naphtha, which forms a principal ingredient in the potent medicine called British Oil. It is found in various parts of Europe and Asia, in several of the West India islands, and in some places of the United States. In the state of New York it is called Seneca Oil, from being found near Seneca lake."

It is said that Cy Iba found oil oozing out of the ground in the Seminoe mountain country in the fall of 1851. Mr. Iba was then in the company of Kit Carson, Jim Bridger and Cimineau Lajeunesse. Mr. Iba said that the half-breeds sold this oil to the emigrants for axle grease. It was also applied to sores on the feet of horses and cattle. Mr. Iba went westward with the tide of emigration, going first to Alaska. Afterwards he mined in California, and the western territories, bringing up in the Black Hills in 1875, where he was one of the original discoverers of placer gold. In 1882 he again visited the Seminoe oil springs and made a number of locations there. He also located numerous claims in the Salt Creek field, one of which is the famous "Iba Eighty." Although a considerable number of locations had been made on oil lands in the central part of Wyoming in the early '8o's, nothing much was done toward the development

'Inasmuch as Captain BonnevOle had been informed of the existence of these "great tar springs" which had been "lauded by the trappers," he cannot properly be given credit for the discovery of them, as some historians have done.

of the fields until several years later. It was in January, 1889, that the oil fields of Wyoming commenced to attract attention of the people in the east, and the Casper Mail thus tells of these fields:

"To the west of Casper are the Poison Spider, Rattlesnake, Popo Agie and Argo oil basins; on the north are the Salt Creek, South Fork of Powder river, and Big Horn basins. The Popo Agie is the only basin that has been extensively tested, there being in this basin three wells, the aggregate flow of which is 600 barrels per day, therefore forever settling the question of oil in paying quantities in Wyoming. The surface indications in this basin consist of oil springs, which is the case in all of them; the Salt Creek basin, however, showing more indications on the surface than any of the other basins, and in formation and topography being a facsimile of the Popo .Agie basin. There are some who are skeptical regarding these oil fields, but the verdict of those who have investigated them is that the half has not been told. There are springs in various localities that flow all the way from one gallon to ten barrels per day. It is by these springs that the various basins are marked, and it is by these springs that the oil belt of Wyoming is traced for more than two hundred miles."

The first drilling for oil in Natrona county was commenced in the fall of 1888, the location of the well being about three miles northwest from Casper. It was called the "Casper Well," and on March 15, 1889, the Casper Weekly Mail announced that "the reported oil strike at the Casper well last week is still shrouded in mystery. Work has been stopped and everything at the derrick locked up, the workmen claiming that the two-inch cable is broken and the drill at the bottom of the well. It is a noticeable fact that the manager and his men have been locating oil claims ever since the 'break' occurred. Oil men in this vicinity are convinced that oil has been found, and considerable excitement prevails. It is hoped that by the next issue of the Mail, some definite information can be given. The managers at the well stoutly deny the report that oil has been struck at the derrick."

In May, 1889, the Blair Oil and Mining company located on 3,200 acres of land known as the Oil Mountain Springs, about thirty miles west of Casper, on Poison Spider creek, and it was said that drilling for oil would be commenced just as soon as 5,000 shares of the stock could be sold at $2 . 00 per share. The 5,000 shares of stock were not sold and consequently the well was not drilled.