Wyoming Genealogy - Wyoming Genealogy

Marks and Brands of Albany County Wyoming, 1871-1880

The Newman Ranch on the Niobrara, about 1886.— Photo by courtesy P. H. Waddill of Gordon, Nebraska

From Original Books in the Office of County Clerk of Albany CountyBy A. S. “Bud” Gillespie and R. H. “Bob” Burns These brands were entered in the order filed, and the figures give the month, day, and year on which they were filed. The list is a kind of Who’s Who of Albany County Livestock Raisers, some of which became well established through the years and others whose names disappear from the tax rolls in a few years. These rugged men all had one thing in common, namely an unbounded faith in the future of the livestock industry on the … Read more

Laramie Plains First Area to Produce Range Cattle

Atop the world are the Laramie Plains, an extensive plateau situated on top of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of around 7,000 feet above sea level. They extend some hundred miles north and south from the Colorado line to Laramie Peak, and are some fifty miles wide from the crest of the Laramie Mountains (Black Hills) on the east, to the Medicine Bow Mountains on the west. The plains, along with the rivers and mountains, all bear the name Laramie, from Jacques LaRamie, an early day French trapper who was killed by Indians in 1820 near the mouth of … Read more

Pioneer Ranches of the Rocky Mountain Empire

Resources of Plains and Origin of Intermountain Livestock Industry By R. H. “Bob” Burns Early explorers and later emigrants noticed the thick sod of grass covering the western plains west of the 100th meridian and they also noticed the good condition of the large herds of game such as buffalo, antelope, deer, and elk. It is not surprising that when travel-weary oxen were turned loose to graze on these short grasses they soon recovered their strength and rapidly put on flesh. Many such incidents involving travel-weary oxen have been reported by word of mouth. Stage masters and others with business … Read more

Gebo Ghost Town and Cemetery, Hot Springs County, Wyoming

Gebo Ghost Town and Cemetery, Hot Springs County, WyomingN 43 47.511 W 108 14.4071/4 Section 10, Twp 44N, R95W This town was named for Samuel W. Gebo, who was a developer of the coal mines here in the 1880’s. Gebo, Wyoming was an active town for 32 years, 1906-1938. In 1929 there were about 1200 employees and families living in the area with over 600 employed in the coal mines of Gebo. Thus, these deaths represent only a few of those that must have occurred at Gebo, Wyoming and Crosby, Wyoming (the closest town to Gebo). The first car of … Read more

Dickie Mausoleum, Hot Springs County, Wyoming

Dickie Mausoleum, Hot Springs County, WyomingN 43 59.493 W 108 46.241Elevation: 6592′ (There are five people buried here.) Dave and James Dickie were born on the Islander Bute off the coast of Scotland. They tried New Zealand. Disillusioned with the conditions there, Dave came to San Francisco in 1884. He then took a job in the Rock Springs, WY area herding sheep for John Lobar. Bringing along a finely bred Scottish collie dog, James joined his brother. They eventually ended up on Enos Creek, then Gooseberry Creek in Hot Springs County. Other relatives came over. More history is contained in … Read more

1883 Pensioners – Wyoming Territory

List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883 – Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Which Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, and the Date of Original Allowance, United States Pension Bureau Senate – Executive Document 84, Parts 1-5. This list is taken from the official Pension Roll of 1883, the major genealogical source for Civil War and War of 1812 pensioners. Pensioners are listed by post office address, and in no apparent order after that. Albany County No. ofcertifi-cate. Last nameof pensioner First nameof pensioner Post-officeaddress Cause for which pensioned Monthlyrate Date oforiginalallowance. 128768 Kearney Francis J. … Read more

Otto Cemetery, Otto, Big Horn County, Wyoming

Otto cemetery is located one quarter mile east of Otto on a little knoll on the south side of Wyoming road 30. It is a well kept cemetery and easily seen from the main road. When the term “duel stone with” has been used in the list below, it refers to two names (sometimes three) on one tombstone which are either husband/wife or siblings. Alphabetizing the list of names separated some of these situations. This notation may save future genealogists some valuable time. Unknown (26 marked “unknown” graves) Interments at Otto Cemetery Allen Alfred L 21 Jan 1916 18 Sep … Read more

Manderson Cemetery, Manderson, Big Horn County, Wyoming

The Manderson Cemetery is located .9 mile east of the center of Manderson, on Highway 20 South toward Worland. It is on the north side of the road, and is visible from the highway. It overlooks the river and the Worland valley. It is fenced and has a good gate, but visitors have been pushing the wire down instead of entering by the gate. Thus animals are getting in from time to time. This is a good-sized area for the number of people resting here. Bald Eagles cruise the river and a beautiful little group of Hungarian Partridge have taken … Read more

Hyattville Cemetery, Hyattville, Big Horn County, Wyoming

Hyattville was first established in 1886 as Paintrock, Wyoming. It was named for Indian pictographs on a nearby cliff. Samuel Hyatt started a store and the first post office, and the town was renamed for him. When the store was destroyed by fire in 1900, Sam Hyatt became a rancher. Asa Shinn Mercer was also a pioneer settler here. He made himself famous by taking two shiploads of young women around Cape Horn in the 1860’s for matrimonial purposes on the West Coast. When he finished with that enterprise, he came to Wyoming to settle. The Hyattville Cemetery is located … Read more

Forshee Family Cemetery, Hyattville, Big Horn County, Wyoming

This family plot is on a private ranch near Hyattville. Ask permission to visit! From downtown Hyattville, drive 3.5 miles northeast on the Cold Springs Road until you reach the Rea Grove Lane. Proceed south, crossing the creek over the wooden bridge and up the hill. Bear left and enter the gate to the ranch house. You will need assistance to locate this spot. The plot is .5 miles from the ranch house on a hillside overlooking Paintrock Creek. To the east is the hovering, majestic presence of the Big Horn Mountains. To the north are the remarkable red bluffs … Read more