Pioneering on the Cheyenne River: Part 4, Pioneers on the Cheyenne

R. ANDERSEN

RAS ANDERSEN was born in Denmark in September, 1878. In 1892 he came to America and settled in Custer County, Nebraska, where he secured employment on various farms, and four years later, March 31, 1896, he passed through Wyoming enroute to Montana, where he worked on sheep and cattle ranches in that State.

In 1898, Ras was in Montana when he heard the news that the United States had declared war on Spain, so he returned to Nebraska in time to join the First Nebraska volunteers and saw service in the Philippines with that regiment. In June, 1898, while enroute to the Philippines, he was a member of the expeditionary forces who stopped and placed the first American flag on Wake Island. He was discharged in 1899.

In 1900, he came back to Wyoming and worked for some of the sheep and cow outfits in this section, among them 7L ranch on the Cheyenne River, J. L. Baird, owner; OS on Cheyenne River, Jess Corneilson, owner; Musk Creek ranch and Black Hills Livestock Co.

In the fall of 1903, Ras was camp tender for J. L. Baird. John Mead was range foreman. While moving the sheep wagon he got stuck in the Cheyenne River quicksand. The river was up and he barely got out with the horses. The herder told him he would find a band of Indians camped half a mile up the river, so he rode up to see if he could persuade them to help him get his wagon out of the water. After promising them a fat mutton, a number of them, under supervision of John Smith (Eagle Feather, killed in Lightning Creek Indian fight) came to help. A few days later Mr. Andersen was on Snyder Creek with the sheep when a cowboy stopped at the camp and asked if he had heard of the Indian fight. He had not. The cowboy related to him how Sheriff Miller and one of his deputies had been killed in a skirmish with the Indians some twenty miles from where they were. These were the same Indians who had helped him out of the river. Earlier in the year another incident was the lynching of "Diamond L" Slim Clifton. Mr. Andersen in relating his early experiences said:

"I was sleeping in the Antlers Hotel one night in 1903, when Scotty, the night clerk, woke me early in the morning, carrying a candle. I told Scotty to turn on the lights, but he said, 'The cowboys were in last night and cut the electric light wires and hung Slim Clifton."

"We had a young medical student by the name of Reed who came two different seasons to herd sheep, and thus earn money to finish his schooling. He was camped on Antelope Springs. The sheep were not yet sheared, and a number bogged in the mud. This day two were too heavy to get up. 'I think said Reed, “that I can get those sheep up on their feet.” Going to the wagon. he brought his medical pouch, gave the two ewes a hypo injection. What it was I will never know, but it brought the sheep to their feet. Proudly they danced and pranced down the creek about 100 yards, then quietly laid down and died."

In the early days, Mr. Andersen homesteaded on the Cheyenne River, where he was engaged in ranching on his own.

"Line Riders from the T-7, 21 and FS ranches were camped on the river with one of the Kincaid boys," said Mr. Andersen. "We were riding down the river one morning looking for beef. We were scattered through the timber, when one of the boys said, 'Here's a good steer.' A local rancher said, 'Well, knock him down,' and the boys did just that. We proceeded to skin the animal and found that the steer belonged to the rancher who had said 'Knock him down.” That was one on him. Naturally, it should have been one from the big outfits."

In 1914, Mr. Andersen was married to Miss Ida M. Barrett of Newcastle. They are the parents of Lucille W. Andersen, who married Dr. Richard J. Gladman, and Carroll C. Andersen.

In 1915, Mr. Andersen was appointed Adjutant General of this State by Governor John B. Kendrick. He was elected captain of the National Guard and served many years. He also had the honor of taking his company south, where he served on the Mexican border as major of infantry. He served in France during World War I as major of Field Artillery. A number of soldier boys of this country served under him, among them being William Smyth of Bright, Wyo. He was one of the most popular officers of the regiment.

After his discharge he returned home to re-enter ranching. During intervals of inactivity on the ranch he was engaged as State sheep inspector for many years.

He was mayor of Newcastle four terms, beginning in 1930, and county Director of Public Works during the depression years. With relief labor he built many public improvements, among them being the Weston County Fair Grounds, Mallo Camp Recreational Center, enlargement and improvement of the Newcastle water system. Some sixty stock reservoirs throughout the county were built, as well as graveling many miles of county roads, improving and extending the sewer system of Newcastle and Upton. The Upton recreational community building, and many other projects too numerous to mention, were constructed under his supervision. His only real interest was in building a good community. His hold has never slackened, because· he had the real interest of the people at heart.

MERTON W. JONES

MERT JONES was born December 10, 1866, in Missouri. He came to Nebraska in his early youth and worked for various outfits around Valen­tine and Ogallala, when these two lively little frontier towns received the tribute of millions of cattle from the great trail herds

Valentine was also an Indian trading center, and Indians were there to receive their rations. Mert was master of several Indian languages, including the sign language. He married Lucy Foot, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Merrit Taylor, at Springview, Neb. The couple moved west soon afterward, and took up ranching at the OS ranch on the Cheyenne River. He later homesteaded a tract of land on Lance Creek, and turned to ranching in earnest. While living in this part of the county, Mert worked for the 4W and Fiddle­ back wagons. He enjoyed telling jokes on himself and related many funny happenings of his early days. He said his first job was on a little chicken ranch in Kansas, and there he accumulated enough money to buy a pair of high-heeled boots, then he sent in his resignation as a chicken wrangler, and found himself in Western Kansas broke. His first opportunity for work was breaking prairie, and high-heel boots and his heels only lasted about six days. He bought a pair of shoes from the farmer for $2 and left, destination unknown, but landed in Valentine, Neb., with a few stop-overs to let his sore feet rest.

After securing a job at the 4W, someone asked Mert where he came from, and he replied, "Maine." He proved to be such a good hand the old cowpokes began to wonder "how come" and asked what part of Maine he was from. Mert replied, "the main part of Missouri, where they raise pigs, pumpkins and plow boys."

In 1897, Mert purchased the ULA ranch from William Keating, and he and his family moved down there that fall.

Mert Jones was considered one of the best cowmen in this .part of the State. Most every year he was appointed foreman of the Indian Creek pool wagon. The Indian Creek pool wagon was from the east and there was also another wagon, the 4J, from the west. The roundup expenses were paid by different stockmen, the money being raised by assessing all stock owners a certain amount in the districts connected with the roundup. Mert Jones repre­sented the very highest type of a Wyoming pioneer. His experiences were many and varied. He was always ready and willing to help his friends and neighbors.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones were the parents of five daughters-Mrs. May Meng. deceased; Mrs. Maude Glover, Porcupine, So. Dak.; Mrs. Verdi Jensen, deceased; Mrs. Verona Covert, Scenic, So. Dak., and Dorothy Walker, San Francisco, Calif.

Mr. Jones died in 1942 at Wilmer, Calif.

JESSE DURST

JESSE DURST was born February 7, 1873, in Idaho. At the age of three years he accompanied his parents to Utah, where they lived a year or so.

In 1877 they decided to come to the Territory of Wyoming, making the slow and difficult trip in a covered wagon pulled by three yoke of oxen. They lived in Wyoming two or three years, then moved to Dakota Territory, near Custer, where they took up their permanent residence.

In 1880, Jesse's father, John Durst, set up a sawmill on French Creek, the first one in operation in that part of the Black Hills. This mill was freighted in by ox team over the Cheyenne-Deadwood trail.

Most of the old ranches of this territory used more or less lumber, and it was sawed at this sawmill. The 21 ranch was made entirely of lumber hauled from this mill.

John Durst was one of the old-time freighters, making the trips from Cheyenne and other points when the country was swarming with outlaws and Indians. Jess helped his father on some of these trips, bringing supplies to Custer.

In the year of 1887, he got his first job as a real cowboy and went to work for the Union Cattle Co. at the S&G and Bridle Bit ranches. Later on he became foreman and worked in that capacity until the Union Cattle Co. closed out. Some of the old cow hands who worked there during Jesse's time were: Shock Hill, Lee Carr, Charles Petro, Ed Lindsy, Jack Kelly, Walt Soper and Jimmy Laramie. After the Union Cattle Co. closed out, Jesse migrated to Montana and worked many years for the big outfits in that State and Northern Wyoming. Among them were the Half Circle Land the Three V (vvv).

Early in 1900, Jesse and Jack Kelly, another old Union Cattle Co. cow­ puncher, filed on homesteads on the south side of the Cheyenne River, opposite the old Bridle Bit ranch, the ranch they had worked at in the past. The Kelly filing still bears the name of Kelly Springs, there being big springs on this land. Jesse lived here a year or so and then relinquished his land. Later he went to the West Coast and secured employment in the ship yards. His next residence was Newcastle, but the roving spirit was in his blood and he headed for California. At this time Emmet Arnold and Mert Jones, two old cowpokes from this territory, were living in Los Angeles, doing cement contracting. Emmet phoned for an order of cement. When the truck arrived, low and behold, Jesse Durst was the driver.

Arnold made the wisecrack, saying, "If Pug Lindsy was here, this crowd would be complete." Jesse stayed in California about seven years, then returned to Custer, So. Dak., where he was employed on the Jack Kelly ranch. Mr. Durst passed from this life at Custer, So. Dak., in the summer of 1945. A man known by everyone for his generosity and kindness.

CHARLES MELVIN HANSON

(Contributed) 

Born on August 15, 1876, at Laotto, Indiana, a small mining village eight miles from Fort Wayne, the son of a carpenter, or turner, by trade. My parents moved to Central Nebraska in 1879, where they homesteaded. My mother died on December 4, 1884.I then went to live with a family at a place called Ashton, when the railroad built through from St. Paul to Loup City. This was in 1890. I was there a year and a half. They had a large family and some of the older children abused me, so one day I took off with a few things I had brought from home. At the age of ten I was herding cows for a farmer at $3.50 per month. While I was pulling weeds from the garden the cows got into the corn field and I received a whipping from the farmer, so I left there. He still owes me $5.00 of my wages. I then went to work for my uncle at $25.00 a year, my board and clothes. I stayed there one year and out of my money I bought the first calf I ever owned. I gave my uncle $10 for it. He kept her until she was a year old. I then went to work for a man named James Thresher, herding cows at $5.00 a month, and he kept my heifer. I worked during the summer and fall and went to school three months in the wintertime. I held this down for close to three years, or until he sold his cattle and started a hardware store. By this time I began to think I should have more pay, so I got 50 cents a day working in the field, plowing, harvesting, or whatever there was to do. I still managed to get some place where I could do chores for my board and get to go to school for three months. In 1891 I decided to try my hand at farming, so I got an old team and harness, borrowed machinery from folks and listed in 40 acres of corn. This was the drouth year, so very little matured. I wasted about $6 on seed and a cultivator, but I didn't get any corn.

The following spring I came to Cheyenne on the 16th day of March. I got off the train about 7:00 a.m. My father, having married again and living in Cheyenne, had made arrangements with a baggage man, a close neighbor, to pilot me home. We had come about four blocks when we were passing a dive, as they were called in those days. There had been a little gunfire not long before, for just off the walk lay a man who had been shot. That was the first murdered man I ever saw, and I wondered if that happened every day, for that was what I had been told before I left Nebraska. However, I managed to get by-- a green tenderfoot not yet 15, and who had never ridden on a railroad before. At least I had a place to stay, even though I did have only $6. My stepmother really treated me fine. I will say that to her dying day she was as kind as a mother could be and I was always the same to her. Times were hard then. If you could find work for 50 cents a day on the ranch or farm, you were getting good wages. I worked around Cheyenne at whatever I could get to do. I just made enough to keep in clothes and whatever I had left over I gave to help keep the table going. On November 9th I got a job with Mr. John Wilkinson, 35 miles east of Cheyenne. He gave me $10 per month herding sheep at the ranch. There I really found a home. Mrs. Wilkinson was as kind as a mother to me, and so were all the rest of the family. I spent four years there. The first part of September, 1896, Mr. Wilkinson and his brother sent me, in company with one Robert Swift, to deliver a bunch of sheep to J. M. Corneilson on Black Thunder, and to return a bunch of 1200 wethers for the feed lot. We were camped on Thanksgiving Day on what is now known as the A. A. Ketchum place. We had a good camp wagon coming up, but this went to Corneilson and we had an old 10x12 tent to start back with. It rained that night and lo and behold the next morning it broke down in the middle and froze stiff. So there we were, 200 miles ahead of us and snowing. We had snow and more snow. When we reached the Hat Creek breaks a real blizzard came. We had to stay behind the rocks all one day. Then the sun came out a little, but, oh, I was cold. We had to move on, and the snow kept coming down until the 20th day of December, when we arrived at the Wilkinson ranch. I decided I had enough herding for that winter, so I went to Cheyenne and got work in the railroad shops for six months.

Then I went to Grover, Colo., to run a store for Gross, Dolan & Co. I worked there for a year--did not feel good, so back to the sheep ranch I went. I worked there until September, 1901, when Mr. Wilkinson sent me to the Cheyenne River with 2,000 sheep on shares. I landed here the 28th day of October, 1901, at what was the Bridle Bit ranch-and it still goes by that name.

I will have to tell a little incident that happened with the Indians or this story would not be complete. So I will start with my first night's camping. I had brought from Cheyenne a man about 60 years of age who lived about three miles from my father's homestead in Nebraska. We were talking about the Indians and the owls began their night's chant. This old man swore it was Indians, and never slept a wink that night. In the morning he wanted to get out of here, so I took him to Edgemont that day. I saw Indians go by here for several years, but they were all friendly. I had a French-Canadian working for me that winter. He was a squaw man, as we call a man who marries a squaw. He claimed to be the first white man to learn about the Custer massacre. He had lived with the Indians for years and talked their language. He told me all about the battle of Wounded Knee at Pine Ridge. In 1890 or '91, things were fine for the Indians who went hunting around Pumpkin Buttes and on into the Big Horns, until November, 1904, when about 200 or more went. They were accused of killing cattle the year before, which they denied. They were taken to Newcastle and fined in 1903, so they said they 'were not going to be taken this time, so Black Kettle and Brown told me the day they went up. They were both educated Indians-Carlisle school boys. Sheriff Miller gathered some men to take them in. There were six wagons that came down the Cheyenne River and camped at the old 9 9 9 ranch on Lightning Creek for dinner. I was out south of there that morning to get some horses. I passed the camp coming home and met a deputy sheriff and some six or eight men. They asked me if I had seen any Indians, and I told them I had seen five or six wagons, mostly squaws, with one or two old men.

In 1903, a widow, Frances Frazier, homesteaded on the south side. In 1904, I married her and we resided here until her death in 1945. I was in the sheep and cattle business until 1910, and I both made money and lost it -got completely down and out, so I sheared sheep and worked out to get another start. I have one son who was born in 1911. I was still broke. but had hopes for the future. By 1917 I had a start again, and then came the war. By 1919 I had 40 head of cattle and money was easy to get with that many cattle. The bank would let me buy 200 more yearlings at $47 per head, and by 1922 those same steers were doing good to bring $35. Down and out again. This time my land and all went--everything except my wife's homestead and home. I managed to buy back one cow from the bank at the same price as the others brought. This time it was slow for a start-no credit, just a big debt hanging over me. I had to keep trying. As I could no longer shear a sheep, I did whatever I could. I finally got a few head, and in 1926 I bought some dairy cows and managed to eat most of the time. I kept out of debt until 1934, and then the drouth came. Butterfat was 8 cents per pound-no feed-so in order to keep going I had to borrow more money for feed. Things kept going worse, so more borrowed money. In 1936 the bank just said "We can't carry you any more, try to get some from the government." They were taking over all those who were too poor to stay in business those days. From the time I got away from the bank and high interest, I have made good. I now have a comfortable home and don't owe anyone.

Dear friends, don't buy today and pay tomorrow or in the future. Save and pay as you go, and, above all things, don't feel that you are too old to fulfill a place in this world-no matter what your handicap-someone is worse off than you are. Remember, you are only as. old as you think you are, and only as rich as the kind things you do for others. You can never take riches with you, but the kind deeds live forever. I am 71 years young and hope to be that way a long time.

--Charles M. Hanson

JAMES HAMMELL

JAMES HAMMELL was born in Bainbridge, England, April 26, 1876, and came to the United States and to Wyoming in the early '90's. He obtained work at the Anthony Wilkinson ranch, near Cheyenne, and worked there four years. He then went to British Columbia. During the year he was there he had employment on a tug boat. Returning to Cheyenne, he again went to work for Anthony Wilkinson.

In 1898, Mr. Wilkinson sent Jim to this section of the country to look over the range proposition. On his return, Jim's report was that things were most favorable, and upon his recommendation Wilkinson bought the Bridle Bit and OS ranches from the Union Cattle Co. The following spring, Jim trailed a band of sheep from near Cheyenne and located them on the Bridle Bit range. The following year, with the help of Charles Hanson, Jim trailed 4,000 head from Cheyenne. These were located on the Bridle Bit and OS range.

In 1901, he homesteaded a tract of land on the Cheyenne River, near the mouth of Alkali Creek.

Mr. Hammell was married in June of 1903 to Isabelle Groggins, who was born at Lanchire, England. To this union three children were born-Doris, (Mrs. Elliott Bolin); Thomas J., who married Genevieve Black, and Harold, who married Sylvia Peterson.

In the fall of 1903, the year of "Wyoming's last Indian battle on Lightning Creek," the Indians were camped near the 9 9 9 ranch. When they broke camp, the Indians departed in two groups, one going up Lance Creek and the others up the Cheyenne River. Mr. Hammell was at his Bridle Bit head­ quarters. He traded a shotgun for three little pinto ponies. After the trade an Indian remarked that the previous year on their hunt- (this part of the country was their ancient hunting ground)-they had had a little brush with the law, and if they bothered them this year there would be trouble. In a way the trade proved to be very unprofitable, as two of the ponies he traded for evidently returned to the reservation, as this was all open country in those days, and the first enclosed fence that would stop them was 90 miles away at the reservation line. He sold the remaining pony for $10 to Harry Wing of Edgemont, So. Oak.

A few days after the Indians passed the Bridle Bit, Sheriff Miller came by on the trail of the Indians. He told Jim there was apt to be fighting and he had better get his guns and go up west where his sheep were located, remarking, "You can't tell what an Indian will do-he might kill your herder." He went to the Lightning Creek country where his sheep were located and saw the Indians fleeing after the battle.

Before the battle, a messenger was sent down the Cheyenne River to warn the ranchers of the suspected trouble, and that they had better prepare to protect their families. Several families, among them Mrs. Jim Hammell, congregated at the Ed Arnold ranch and made hurried preparations to barricade themselves. They took all the fighting equipment into the "stockade" with them, including hat pins and 30-30 rifles.

There was only one man, George Thompson, at the Arnold ranch this particular night. He acted as captain of the brigade. The next day a cowboy told them the skirmish had taken place the previous night. The day preceding the battle, George Thompson, accompanied by another man, rode up to Lightning Creek to see if anything had happened to George Coates, Jim Hammell's sheepherder. It was after dark when they arrived at the sheep wagon. George met them at the door with his gun. He had heard the battle the previous day, but didn't know what all the shooting was about until a cowboy passed by and gave him the news.

James Hammell still resides on his original homestead on the Cheyenne River, where he is actively engaged in the stock business. Mrs. Hammell died in 1943 at Lusk, Wyo.

JAMES H. WILLIAMS

JAMES H. WILLIAMS was born December 6, 1862, at Monroe, Wisconsin. He was one of eight children, six brothers and two sisters. Jim spent most of his boyhood days on one of his father's farms, working on the farm when not at school, until he left for Wyoming.

At the age of 32, he had a desire to go West to the wide open spaces, and in August of 1896 came to Wyoming, where he was appointed range manager of the 21 horse outfit, working in that capacity until it closed out.

John Sires, owner of the 21 outfit, was killed in May, 1895, so Jim helped gather and ship the last of one of the largest horse outfits in Wyoming. Jim's brother, John T. Williams of Douglas, was appointed administrator to close out the 21 outfit.

After the 21 closed out, Jim used his preemption right to acquire a home­stead on the Cheyenne River, two miles west of the 21. He acquired considerable other lands joining it, and lived here for nearly 50 years, with the result that he improved his ranch and home until it is outstandingly attractive.

For many years he was a breeder of fine horses, but of recent years he was in the white-face cattle business. His brand was the Bridle Bit (0-0), which is known far and wide.

In 1907 he was married to Miss Effie Rhoad in Wisconsin.

Mr. Williams was very successful as an auctioneer, and could swap wise­ cracks with the best of them. Many of the ranchmen and dry farmers re­ceived top values through Jim's efforts. Jim was fond of children and always took an active part in schools and politics.

Mr. Williams died in 1946 at the advanced age of 83 years.

D. K. SNIVELY

AN EARLY-DAY FREIGHTER was D. K. Snively, who freighted to Custer and other points in the Black Hills. In 1875, on one of their regular trips from Sidney to Custer, they were attacked by Indians in the Black Hills. A small party of Indians were guarding them at night. During the night the chief who was guarding told them to go, and fast. This chiefs name was Man-Afraid-of-His,.Horse. A few years after this incident, Mr. Snively owned a store at Edgemont, So. Dak. Some Indians came to the store to trade. Among them was Man-Afraid-of-His-Horse. Mr. Snively recognized him as the Indian who had saved his life, and as a token of friendship presented him with some trinkets.

HENRY THOMPSON

In the year 1875, when the discovery of gold in the Black Hills became definitely known, Henry Thompson and a partner named Street established a general store at Custer, Dakota Territory. Street stayed at the store and Thompson freighted. In those days everything was freighted from Cheyenne and other centers to the Black Hills by mule or ox teams.

During the height of the Black Hills gold excitement, it naturally attracted the prospectors and adventurers, and they would accept any kind of trans­portation. Mr. Thompson accommodated some of them on his heavily laden freight wagons burdened with supplies for Custer. When they first started on their journey, Thompson related, he would let them ride until they came to a hill, then they got off and walked up the hill. He again let them get on the wagon, ride down the hill and over the level ground. But this good luck didn't last long, for he soon let them "hot-foot-it" both up and down hill. But they were a jovial, good-natured bunch and didn't seem to mind after they once got themselves "broke in." Mr. Thompson was accommodating at that-he hauled their baggage.

All of Thompson's freighting trips except one were made over the Red Canyon trail, and the other one was made over the Cheyenne-Deadwood trail, via Robber's Roost.

This wagon train was the first to discover the Metz massacre, the discovery being made by their advance scout, Joe Marty. Some historians claim this massacre was committed by Indians; others claim it was by road agents, as high-heel boot tracks were in evidence, and it was known that this party had left Custer with $1,600.00 in their possession, and the money and all other valuables were missing. It was the bullwhacker's opinion that this was the work of road agents, who arranged things so it would appear that the Indians had committed the crime. They helped to bury the dead on the north side of the Cheyenne River.

It was this freighting company--Street & Thompson-who employed Matt Brown as a freighter, his sketch appearing elsewhere in this booklet.

Mr. Thompson was born at Keil, Germany, in 1850, and passed away at Greeley, Colo., in 1925. With his passing one of the last colorful characters of the old-time bullwhacking days was removed.

Mrs. Henry Thompson resides at Grover, Colo., where, at the age of 81, she. is still very active and keen of mind, and continues to make her annual visit to this part of the county to visit her son-in-law, Sedgwick, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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