Taylor, Merritt, Cheyenne River Pioneer
Merritt Taylor was born in 1848. He was a scout, trapper, and cattleman, coming to this territory in the early 70’s. He was a native of Vermont and settled near Valentine, Nebraska Territory. At that time Valentine was a cow capital of the great herds from the south.
While out scouting, Taylor came in contact with a band of Indians on the war path. He eluded them by reversing his route and made for a canyon which led him to a creek that ran in the direction he wished to go. Wading in the water, where there was water, and walking backward when he came to a dry spot, he made the Indians believe he was going in the opposite direction and by so doing he started the redskins in the opposite direction, and thus beat them to the “get-away.”
Near Valentine a Vigilance Committee was formed and Merritt was elected captain.
When the Overland Route across the continent was established, and the rush of emigration began, the great trail herds started to come north, it naturally brought bad men into the territory, and at times these reckless adventures made serious trouble. The Vigilance Committee was organized by a majority of the best citizens of Nebraska Territory. Among the outlaws suspected was the notorious “Doc” Middleton and his gang. The committee captured and hung two of his band and they once had “Doc” surrounded in a dug-out, but he shot his way out and made his get-away. Through the grapevine, Taylor was advised that “Doc” was advised the “Doc” was to visit his corral on a certain night, so Taylor sat in the shade of his house with a double-barreled shotgun and guarded his corral of horses, but no one put in an appearance. Later on, “Doc” relieved Taylor of some of his Overland transportation facilities.
“Doc” Middleton, whose real name was James Riley, was a typical outlaw. He came to Wyoming Territory from Texas and organized a gang of outlaws which operated in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, Kansas and the Dakotas. It can be plainly seen that from the territory he covered it required a big string of saddle stock. As he had the pick of the bunch, he was always well mounted. In later years “Doc” settled down and married a girl by the name of Richerson and ran a saloon at Ardmore, South Dakota where they raised their family. He died at Douglas, Converse County, Wyoming of natural causes.
Taylor stayed around Valentine for several years, and then when the gold excitement started in the Black Hills, he went to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, and was there in August, 1876, when Wild Bill was killed. When asked if he saw Wild Bill, he said, “No, I never saw him, didn’t want to see him. He was nothing but a murderer anyway.”
It was said Wild Bill (James Butler) Hickok) had killed at least eighty men, all in fair gun battles, and that he never took advantage of any of his adversaries. He was said to be the greatest pistol shot known to history.
Merritt Taylor located in what is now Niobrara County, about 1890, on Lightning Creek, where Wyoming’s last Indian battle occurred. Here the postoffice known as Taylorville was established, and Mr. Taylor was postmaster. He and Mrs. Taylor lived on this ranch a number of years, where they accumulated considerable livestock and land holdings. Just after the turn of the century they sold their holdings on Lightning Creek and moved to Lusk where he died.