Wyoming Genealogy - Wyoming Genealogy

Byron Cemetery, Big Horn County, Wyoming

Byron was organized in 1900 by Mormon pioneer settlers. The town was named for Byron Sessions, of Utah who was one of the leaders who helped settle the town and build the Sidon canal, used for irrigation. Soon after they settled, a farmer saw gas escaping from a fence post hole, and ignited the gas. It burned for several years, and in 1906 the Byron gas field began when a test hole was drilled and gas was found about 700 feet down. To reach the Byron Cemetery go North on Center Street one mile out of town. The cemetery is … Read more

Basin Pioneer Cemetery, Basin, Big Horn County, Wyoming

Beginning at the Court House in central Basin, drive west on B Street until you pass the schools. Take a right turn, north, onto the dirt road. Northeast a few hundred feet you will see an old log building and the cemetery, with a wood rail fence in front and a wooden sign and gate in the middle. The cemetery is not well kept, and although there is a wood rail fence around the front part, the fence has fallen down in the back, and there are stones and boards scattered around. N 44 22 893 W 108 03.043 Internments … Read more

Mount View Cemetery, Basin, Big Horn County, Wyoming

From the Big Horn County Court House in central Basin, drive about 2 miles to the west on Hwy 30 toward Otto. The cemetery is on the north side of the road. You can’t miss it. It is a very well-kept and well organized cemetery on a nice hill overlooking the town. To the East are the beautiful Big Horn Mountains. The date given in this database is the date of death, provided by the Atwood Funeral Home in Basin. N 44 23.220 W 108 03.778 NAME LOT BLOCK DATE Abigt, Bessie G. 10 E(sp4) July 23, 1985 Abigt, Fred … Read more

Bonanza Cemetery, Big Horn County, Wyoming

Bonanza was named because oil was discovered seeping from a spring here in 1887. Oil was so good it could be burned in lamps without refining. Promoters thought they had found a “bonanza,” but it did not prove so and rigs pulled out in 1890. Deeper drilling has now brought back the Bonanza oil field, but the town remains a ghosttown. If you visit the cemetery, you’ve seen everything. The Bonanza Cemetery is located about 8 miles west of Hyattville at the junction of Hwy 31 and Road 31 1/2. Turn left or south on the dirt Road 31 1/2 … Read more

Wyoming Forts

In the states adjoining Wyoming were a number of forts that played a part in the military history of the state. Among these may be named Fort Hall, Idaho, Uinta and Thornburg, Utah; Sedgwick (first known as Fort Rankin), Colorado; C. F. Smith and Custer, Montana and Robinson and Sidney in Nebraska. Camp Auger Fort Bridger Camp Carlin Fort Casper Fort Connor Fort Fetterman Fort Halleck Fort Philip Kearny Fort Laramie Fort Mackenzie Fort McKinney Fort Reno Fort D. A. Russell Fort Sanders Fort Stambaugh Fort Fred Steele Fort Walbach Fort Washakie

History of Fort Mackenzie

On January 13, 1899, Francis E. Warren, United States Senator from Wyoming introduced a bill for the creation of a Government military post near the City of Sheridan. The necessity for such a post had been brought to the attention of President McKinley the year before and an executive order had been issued for the establishment of temporary barracks under the supervision of Gen. E.V. Summer. In the debate on the Warren bill the fact was brought out that there were over twenty-three thousand Indians upon the various reservations tributary to the proposed fort. These included the Fort Benton, Standing … Read more

History of Fort McKinney

On October 12, 1876, Fort McKinney was established on the northwest bank of Powder River, three miles above and south of the site of old Fort Reno. It was first called “Cantonment Reno” On July 18, 1877; the location was changed to the north bank of Clear Creek, a short distance west of the present City of Buffalo and about two miles above the crossing of the old Bozeman Road. The old site was then used as a depot. The mane of Fort McKinney was given to the post on August 30, 1877, after the removal. The first substantial buildings … Read more

History of Fort Stambaugh

Fort Stambaugh, Wyoming near Sweetwater River, 1870; Shoshoni Chief Washakie's camp

Soon after the discovery of gold in the South Pass region in 1867, a request was made for troops to protect the miners from Indian depredations. The request was ignored for a time, but in June 1870 a small military station was established in Smith’s Gulch, near Atlantic City and given the name of Camp Stambaugh. Two years later it was garrisoned by two companies, which were quartered in four large log buildings. The presence of these troops kept the Shoshone and Bannock Indians from a possible outbreak. On January 27, 1878, Gen. Philip H. Sheridan recommended the removal of … Read more

History of Fort Washakie

The Shoshone or Wind River Reservation was established by the treaty concluded at Fort Bridger on July 3, 1868, and on June 28, 1869, an order was issued for the establishment of a garrison at some point upon the reservation. A site was selected near the junction of Trouth Creek and the Little Wind River and a post was established under the name of Camp Augur, in honor of Gen C. C. Augur, one of the officers who had negotiated the treaty the year before. On March 28, 1870, the name was changed to Camp Brown and on December 30, … Read more

History of Fort Fred Steele

This fort was located at the point where the Union Pacific Railroad crosses the North Platte River, in Carbon County, and was established by Col. Richard I. Dodge on June 30, 1868, as a protection to the builders of the railroad. It was named in honor of Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele of Civil war fame. Withinforty-eight hours after the completion of the fort, camp followers to the number of five hundred or more had established the town of “Brownsville” nearby. Five days later the population of the town was estimated at fifteen hundred. On June 28, 1869, the Government established … Read more