Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, September 11, 1919, Page 5

THURSDAY. SEPT. 11. 1919 OLD TIMERS 10 ATTEND STATE FIR TOMDRRDW, Transformation Wrought in Recent Years N ot Complete to Some (Continued From Page One) would extend its line up the North Platte river. Those who followed the railroad flocked to the point where it was understood a town would be platted, others in search of better fortune cast their lot with them, and a village of tents and rough shacks rose up amid the sagebrush and greasewood. The brush was never grubbed from the main street, short was the time before the ilroad reached Douglas, approximately six months. the new town was Bert Wagner, now manager and buyer in the clothing department of Richards and Cunning- ham, and he recalls many interesting incidents and episodes of the earl» days. After an onion famine, of three months, the first shipment of this vegetable was devoured out of hand by the residents without shed- ding a tear. All freight was deliv- ered overland from Rock Creek and prices were high. James Smith, own- er of the Natrona hotel building, and David Graham, who built the Grand Central, were among the freighters who plied their trade on the long trail from Rock Creek. Excitement reached a climax fol- lowing the opening of the townsite of Douglas in September, 1586. For- est Richards, who later formed a business tnership with A. J. ningham, bot the first lot for 51 and founded the F National He also was in the mercantile busi- ness with C. H. King & Co., who transferred their activities to Doug las from Nebraska and subsequently ed a store in Casper when the ‘oad reached here. Out of this firm grew the present large business of Richards & Cunningham of Cas per, one of the largest business en- terprises in the state. Lots sold well at the Dou and there followed a si mble to ild. The sagebrush disappeared hin 90 days many ousine S open- st pied. Wagner opened his store with 2 dance and thereby made himself popular with the frontier crow Be- ing somewhat of an artist on the piano | in those days he also frequently en- tertained cowpunchers and others in the thirst parlor across the street. in building was made neces- the coming of winter. Lum- was scarce and hardware also difficult to obtain, so the hoom 'st- ed about a year. The town contin- ued to thriv however, and as the terminus of the railroad promptly su- perceded Rock Creek and Nebraska points as the supply base for a large territory. During part of that time, it is claimed by some, the popula- tion was greater than at any time sinee. . When the Cheyenne Northern built north in 1889 trade was greatly stim- ulated and Orin Junction came into existence about the same time. En- gineers employed on the railroad homesteaded the townsite of Orin while the road was building and later turned it over to the company, it is understood. When Converse county was creat- ed in 1888, Douglas was county seat and its history really dates from that time. The county | townsite of Dougl. os were completed and cecu-| ' af Bert Wagner was the first clothing merchant of Antelope, the s: ed the coming of the railroad and and goods were freighted from Rock Creek ,then the in the drug bu nearest railroad point. Because accommodations were Among those who cast their lot with — tlement where the bu - The store was housed in a tent structure, as shown in the photograph, taken in 1886, the opening of the a grocery store. scarce it also served as a rooming-house and haif of {newspaper men await- it was rented to C. E. Clay of Rock Creek, who opened }ish« At the right is the tent in which A. R. Merritt, ‘luding, bew now one of the leading merchants of Douglas, started iness with $500 capital. Fremont, Nebr., to “grow up with the country.” He came from \fin; The photograph of Antelope at the left shows one side of main treet and the one abo the other side as the town appeared when a bunch of cowboys, returning from a round: in the Big Horns, sighted the mushroom village from the top of a hill r miles distant, aba doned the cattle and gave rein to their horses to see who would be the first to “shoot it u That they carried out their purpose is attested by those who lived thru the arly lage Antelope and survive to spin stories of the pioneer days. The Budyret offic the scene of H. Barrow gressman Frank © Barrow Dougla Main business corner of Douglas as it appeared July 4, 1887, showing the CY outfit on a holiday. Beginning at the left of those on horses the pictures show: Malcolm Campbell (present Marsha! of Douglas), next unknown, Harry Duhling, Thomas Coffey, Theodore Pringle (now of Douglas) Ben Campbell, Hugh L. “Colorado” Patton (living in Casper), Tom *'l Lamb, Jim Abney, Oscar Hiestand (now of Casper), Chas. “Red River” Stewart, Harry Stroud (now of Maulta, Mont.) Barermrearetverraerenrrvr Cayetan Vere Wer tnmnreen rer At the extreme left, standing, are W. B. Hardenbrook, now a wealthy resident of Douglas who still owns the barbershop which bears his name in the picture, and Chas. Blackburn. The Maverick bank, which appears at the right on the corner, was start- ed by three Iowa young men who craved the excitement of the west, and its failure after six years’ of op- eration is attributed to the fact that it developed into a pawnshop. A pair of spurs or ofher riding equpment was all that was necessary to secure a loan. The location was later rent- ed by Bert Wagner. Next door to the Maverick was the saloon established by Robert White, now of Casper, and Theodore Prin- gle. The latter still conducts a busi- ness in this location but the dawn of a dry Wyoming has converted it into a soft drink parlor. It was from this place that T. F. “Dogie” Steed shot the lights out of the Wagner store located directly across the street and then walked across to in quire the damage and inform Mr. Wagner that he had won # $10 bet. times as much but he paid it without a protest. The lights were ~burning was named for A. R. Converse, Whoia¢ the time and a_ conflagration came to Cheyenne from Massachu- setts in the fall of 1867. A few years later he was extensively inter- sted in the cattle business with a range on Lance Creek in what is now Niobrara county, which was included in Converse. The act threatened when the oil lamps tum- bled to the floor of the store, The W. B. Hardenbrook barber: shop at the extreme left is still oper- \ating under the old name altho the which demand his personal attention. Company F, Wyoming State militia, the first company to be organized in the state, had its headquarters at Douglas and was recruited almost exclusively from among the business- men. Company F was formed in 1887 with John D. O’Brien, Civil war veteran, as captain. Incidentally the latter was the father of 14 children. Among the members at the date of its organization were Bert Wagner, now of Casper; Edwin’ Wagner, expert accountant with a prominent St. Louis house; Charles Warner, Tom made the phe chandelier cost him about four Bird, and Dr. Morris. | The company received its first call to arms at the time of the cattle men’s raid into the Buffalo district early in 1891 for the purpose of driving out the “rustlers,” as they were termed. The History of Wy oming shows that these raiders left Casper on the morning of April 6, originally owner has more extensive interests \fully armed and equipped for fight ing. They failed to reckon with creating Converse county and which| nn ——————— the host of settlers at Buffalo, how made Douglas a county seat was en- acted by the legislature of 1888 over) the veto. of Governor Moonlight. Then came the Chicago, Burling- ton and Quincy railroad and Doug- las began to assume an air of im- portance among the towns and cities of the state. Situated amid” pros- pective oil fields, in the heart of an agricultural district, with coal de- posits near, it settled down to perm- unent growth and prosperity which) today makes it one of the most at- tractive towns in the state. It boasts of a number of large business institutions, including the Chieago, Hide, Fur and Wool com- pany ,which does a business of $1,- 000,000 annuglly. It is well equip- ped with banks, newspapers, water- works, a postoffice building that cost $75,000, a $50,000 courthouse, a $60,000 county high school, a mod ern city hall and other improvements The population is estimated at 3,- 00. For several years prior to 1913 the State fair had been held at Dougles and inthis messgge to the legislature | in that*y. Gaverjof” Carey. rec: } comendest ‘hat the stale accept” the | Proposition) of thy Northwestern: rail- road to-ddnute tle greunfls: to the state if the lattér Would erect im- provements on them to/the) value’ of $50,000. 'This.was acceded:to!by’ the legislature and liberal ‘appropriations were made toward the institution. The last legislature changed the method | | of fair management by placing it un- der the jurisdiction of a board of state fair directors. The town and the fair present a striking contrast to the early day pic tures which the pioneers will conjure up tomorrow on their return to the sgenes of long ago, but the visions thew insnire are the same that gave to the city its present heritage and made possible its progress. a MAIL DELIVERY FAILS, EVANSTON DISAPPOINTED (special to The Tribune? EVANSTON, Wyo., Sept. 11 Evanston’s expectation that a mail delivery by carrier would be institut ed here has been disappointed because the postoffice department has been{tuined as captain at that time. unable to find any person willing to take the job of carrier at the law wage attached to the position. For that reason the delivery service was not instituted, as had been intended, on September Ist. Efforts to obtain | a carrier will be continued i Pointed Question Some medical fiend claims, to haye discovered that bee-Stings are a for rheumatism. Pity’ the tating/ rheumatic patient, timorously muttering: “To ‘bee or not to ‘bee’ |—that is the question!”’—The Pass-! 4 ing Show (Loudon ys ever, and on being informed that some 200 armed men were ready to give them a warm reception, they went to the T. A. ranch in a bend of Crazy Woman creek and built breastworks of logs and garth to withstand an attack. This atteck was pending at tbe time the Douglas militia was called to arms, but two days later, before they had gone over 15 miles, they were notified by courier that on the cial order of President Harrison, Col. J. J. Van Horn, commandant at Fort McKinley, had reached the scene with three troops of cawalry! just in time to prevent an attack. Company F of Douglas was re- organized at the time of the Spanish- American war and recruited to war trength. Captain O’Brien was re- Soldiers Will Eat | El kat Thermopolis | Feast This Month (special to The ‘Tribuae.> THERMOPOLIS, Wyo., Sept. 11.! ~The Mothers league when it gives an entertainmere- here September 0 n honor. of returned soldiers will be able*to serve elk met to its guests, the state game department having agreed to provide all the elk neces-| sary for a big’ barbecue. SOME PIONEERS OF DOUGLAS NOW - LIVING THERE AND AT CASPER Caspe ived in Douglas A. J, Cunninghan James H. Burg R W. H. Zindel. Mr. and Mrs. Julius Svendsen. Mr. and Mrs. J P Smith. Wilson S. Kimball, Sr Oscar Hiestand. Hugh L. Patton. Mrs Hannah McClure. Bert Wagner. Barney Gunn. Douglus people now living were residents of the town in arly days: Mr. and Mrs. J. M. McGhee Mr. and Mrs, A. R Merritt Mr and Mrs. L. W. Cleland Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Cook Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cook. Mr. and Mrs. E, T. David Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Metcalf Mr. and Mrs, C. F. Maurer Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Mecus Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs, H R. Paul Mr. grid Mré. George Snitch Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Chamberlain. Mr. and Mrs, George Pewell Mr. and Mrs. Fy S. Knittle. Mr. and Mrs, George Doyle Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Door Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Alle Mr. and Mgs. John. Murphy. Mr. and Mrs. N D. Newsome. Mrs. Margaret Bolln Mrs. J.T.’ Williams. resident wh rmerly Mrs € ge Ullma Mike Henry Fred Hildebrandt Ww B. Hardenbroo? H Ben Campbell. \rthur Phillips ake Pattersor Goodwin {rs. Alec Fersrusor ‘ire. Elmer Clark. a PRIEST RECEIVES AUTO AS PRESENT AT (Special to The LWLINS, Wyo. Rawlin: f Catholic Wwny years, now is ma ve-pa which Was presented tc yer f congregation >. ao Insomnia “Never aid Mr. when there's a threat that I get nervous and can't RAWLINS h, who has SECEFS SESS SSSSO SOS SS SSS SOS PO OOOH POSS PO OOHOOS | 4 IL 4 ee ee es oe ee ed MUAH POOSSC PSO SOS OS ODO PO SEO SSE OV OOO OOOOH POO OOUO® HVMUUAAMIA CGA A MHA WHY RAMBLE ON? I um iside un- UTA A with painful hindrances? der the shadow of Chiropractic, “twill re- BOTY ONT OVI Tyr Pest Tver TY Pere tert mrrtene TOLL Tne ni aan lieve and refresh thee for the rest of life’s journey DR. M. E. HARNED Chiropractor i 226 North Maple. Phone 369-W Consultation and Examination Free HHUA IMECHE HE POPEOE SSOP SOOLOCPOSELDO II ESIOLOLS BELOPODOC OSES SOOO CS eee gor ooeeee® We Can Ship a Few Thousand Tons ot COTTON SEED CAKE from our twelve large Mills in TEXAS : LOUISIANA OKLAHOMA and F MISSISSIPPI ! £) 1 dunng October Wire for Prices Today Delivered Your Station Southland Cotton Oil Company Head Office-——Paris, Texas teen eeeeeeeererereeesecsecsneasesseesseseee seen ss eeee® (LRA ELLAAAAAAAAALL LS Le EAST CASPER GROCERY Will Open MONDAY With a Complete Line ot HL Le ROA NANA Groceries, Fresh Meats, Vegetables and § Soft Drinks. | Deliver to Anv Part of the City at Any Time. JULIUS SCHNEIDER, Prop Phone, 401-M