The City of Sheridan and Sheridan County
Transcribed by Dee Clark '60
Submitted by Beth Garbutt '54 from papers of her great grandfather.

A Memoir of J D LOUCKS

In the spring of 1880 in company with J.M. Works, we left Bedford, Iowa, with a mule team bound overland for Bozeman, Montana. We proceeded on our journey without any mishaps and crossed Big Goose at the present site of the town of Sheridan about the twentieth of June, was favorably impressed with the locality and fertility of the country, but wishing to see more we pushed on and camped June 26th on Custer's battlefield on the Little Horn, just four years after the fight. Saw where the men fell, as there had been no effort made to bury them in a grave but had just thrown dirt over them, leaving some of their feet with their boots on sticking out. Their lines was in the shape of a V as they came down a ridge towards the river, one line on each side coming about one and a half miles from the river with Custer at the point.

We arrived at the end of our destination, Bozeman, on the 11th day of July. Here we stayed a couple of months and seeing nothing that suited us as well as the Goose Creek Country. Mr. Works took the team and in company with Judd Dunham returned to that place, where he arrived the first of October and built a cabin on unsurveyed Government land, about three miles above the present location of Sheridan. I bought a pony outfit and took a trip through the Yellowstone Park, returned to Bozeman and took the stage in October for Red Rock, Montana, then the terminus of the U. and N. Railroad, spent some little time at Virginia City and intermediate points and at Ogden took the overland R. R. for home in Iowa. In the spring of 1881 packed up our goods and started back to this country "via" St. Paul and Bismarck, then the terminus of the N. P. R. R. Here we took a small steamer bound for Miles City. On our way, at old Fort Berthold we visited the Indian camp of 1700 of Sitting Bull's surrendered Indians. We arrived at Miles City in June 1881. On the opposite side of Tongue River from Miles City and below Fort Keogh was "Rain in the Face's" band of 1600 Indians waiting transportation to Standing Rock Agency on the Missouri in the Dakotas.

The steamboats soon arrived and the landing commenced. It was an impressive scene; the Indians were camped on the Yellowstone, which was very high at that time of the year, above them Fort Keogh, below them Tongue River and in their rear soldiers with cannon at commanding places. For two days and nights while getting everything in readiness, the Indians and more especially the squaw's kept up their dismal howlings on taking their farewell to their beloved homes and hunting grounds. On the morning of the third day they were forced, at the point of the bayonet and the cannon, on board of the several steamers, and were soon wending their way down the stream. Thus departed Sitting Bull, Rain in the Face, their brave warriors, squaws and papooses, with all their glory, to take up the degrading life to them, of an agency Indian.

Their country, once theirs, was now open for settlement by the whites. I remained in Miles City that summer and winter, when the N.P.R.R. was completed to that place. On the first day of March 1882, in company with Hon. John McCormick (leaving my family in Miles City) we started with teams for the Goose Creek country, arriving there about the 20th of March, having camped out the bigger part of the way.

Sackett & Skinner had settled on, and built a small store on the new present site of Big Horn. Hon. George T Beck had located and was living on a ranch on Big Goose, now called Beckton. Richard McGrath was keeping stage station on Wolf Creek. R.F. Mock kept the post office called Bingham on Tongue River and John Rhodes (J.M. Work's son-in-law) was keeping the Mondell post office at the Big Goose crossing. I found my old friend J.M. Works comfortably situated on a ranch three miles above the crossing. I took up a claim (which we now own) two miles farther up. This was in March 1882, and the land had been surveyed during my absence in the fall of 1881. Mr. Rhodes, wishing to leave for a more promising country, sold me his outfit and I took charge of the post office about April the 10th.

I walked about ten miles to be sworn in and walked back the same day and on this walk I conceived the idea that at the crossing and at the junction of the two streams was a natural location for a small town or trading post. And forthwith I invited what few settlers I could find, J. Walter Scott, M.L. Sawin, J.G. Hunter, Ken M. Burkitt, Alex Gould, who met at my place on the first of May, talked the matter over and agreed it was worth attempting. We met again in a few days, organized a company of which I was elected President, J. Walter Scott Secretary and Ken M. Burkitt Treasurer. We talked over the prospect of building up a town and came to the conclusion that forty acres was more than enough for years to come. As President, I advanced three dollars, the registering fee, sent to Cheyenne, presented it as townsite and had it withdrawn as such from the market.

On May the 10th, 1882, with Jack Dow for surveyor, we commenced to stake out the town. At a subsequent meeting we named our staked out town Sheridan, and in order to raise funds to pay expenses, we required everyone who took a lot to pay the sum of $2.50 for the first and fifty cents for each additional lot. Besides the building which I occupied, (which was built by George Mondel) at the crossing, was a small log house used for a dwelling, and quite a large log building used for a stable. Both buildings were said to have been built by horse thieves and used for their purpose.

The mail was carried through this part of the country on buckboards, and when the streams were high they could not cross, but would stretch a rope across and pull the mail over on it, and sometimes passengers when they would visit it. The drivers would then turn round and go back to the next stream or station. Big Goose, being one of the uncrossable streams, the driver quite often had to wait here and sometimes stay all night.

There was at this time a big six footer by the name of Foster driving on this run, who was stopping with me one night when at about dusk five big buck Indians came marching in, asked for something to eat, (I was just getting supper) and stay all night. As it was raining I did not like to turn them out, and did not like the looks of them either. They were big ugly looking fellows and well armed. I knew they were not Crows, they seemed sullen and would not talk much. Foster said they were Cheyenne and were out on mischief and for me not to let them stay as they would certainly rob and maybe murder both of us. I thought I could better control them inside than out, at least I did not want to let them know I was afraid of them. I told them yes, and went on cooking supper, paying no more attention to them until supper was ready. I then filled full tinplates for four of them, then set supper on the table for Foster and I then addressing the one I took for leader, told him, Foster my friend. You my friend, sit down and eat with him, he looked at me and then at the others. I said again, you my friend and motioned to him to sit up in my place. At that the others said "How" then he said "How" and took the seat, then I knew all was right.

And when we came to go to bed they spread their blankets on the floor (ground floor), they gave me their guns and belts to keep until morning, and to show them that I trusted them I stood their guns up at their heads when they said "How" again. Foster took his blankets and crawled through a hole we had for a window and took for the brush, saying that he was not going to trust his scalp in the hands of no treacherous Indians. I laid down and slept as soundly as ever knowing that an Indian never went back on friendship. Next morning at daylight all were up an seemed pleased to find everything as we had left them. I gave them their breakfast, some tobacco, bacon, and flour and started them on their way with a hearty "How". Foster didn't show up until after they were gone, seemed surprised to find everything alright, said he did not have a very pleasant time of it, laid awake all night expecting every moment to see the shack afire.

On the next morning one lone Indian came riding up, said "How" and then proceeded to stretch and nail upon one end of the cabin two freshly caught beaver hides with the remark "you keep", then I recognized one of my friends of the day before, and with a "How" he was off.

Henry Held built and operated a blacksmith shop, the first permanent building on the townsite, R. Cornwell built the first residence, and his family was the first to live in the town, the next building was a saloon. This was about the first of July. I sent for my family about that time, cost me $150.00 to bring them from Miles City a distance of 150 miles, "were fifteen days making the trip, no bridges at that time and had to ford streams quite often, which at times were dangerous, I had at this time increased my stock of goods. Hon. Robert Foote of Buffalo, kindly and materially aided me, for such unselfish deeds to the early settlers, he is entitled to the gratitude of the country. And among my first customers, after I received my first load of goods, was "White Horse" and his band of about one hundred Indians, squaws and papooses of the Crow tribe. They camped on the opposite side of the creek for about three days. The first day was spent with them in looking over things, pricing, etc., towards evening a small band of bucks came marching in, headed by an ugly and ill-tempered looking fellow, who demanded "Whiskey." I told him I did not keep it, he did not seem satisfied but proceeded to hunt for it, he come around behind the counter, I stepped before him, and asked him again what he wanted, he said "Whiskey." I told him again I did not keep it, at that he came close up to me and said in my face "you lie."

I grabbed him by the shoulders, turned him around and pushed and kicked him out of the door, the others stood looking on, grinning and grunting their approval, and followed him out and hissed him back to camp, after that I had no more trouble. They cleaned me out of sugar, bacon, flour, red and blue calico and went their way rejoicing, and I cleaned them out of buffalo robes, beaver hides and  what silver dollars they had and ever after we were good friends.

During the summer and fall several families moved in and took up claims in the near vicinity. That fall was general election, we had a voting precinct established and as I was one of the Judges we used my kitchen for a voting place. At this election, I saw for the first time women at the polls voting, and let it be said to the credit of the "Wild and Wooley West," cowboys, hunters, trappers and ranchers, who were assembled there, that I never saw a more orderly, or well conducted election in my life, when the ladies came up to vote (there were seven of them), loud talking ceased, the crowd opened ranks, hats off and woe to any one who would have dared to utter an oath or slurring remark in their presence.

We polled somewhere near one hundred votes. At this election party lines were not drawn, each on voting for, as we thought, the best man for the place. During this fall we made application to be represented in the Big Horn school district, which was done. The man that had taken the claim that the little log house was on concluded that he did not want it, so he moved it over for us a kitchen, and in this we had our first school of fifteen scholars. Miss Clara Works (now Mrs. Moehler of Buffalo) was our first teacher, wages $75.00 per month. I had made application and was appointed Notary Public, was then the only officer who could administer oaths, take acknowledgements, etc., within a large scope of country.

Winter set in early and cold, snow was deep and I saw the thermometer go down to 46 below zero the first of February. A great many cattle died that winter for several cattle companies had located in the numerous valleys, and had brought in vast herds. Among these were the Grinnel Live Stock Company, Hardin & Campbell, Patrick Brothers, Conrad and Company, Ferguson Brothers, Cross & Dunnick and a few others. If winter set in early spring opened early too. Crops were put in and a big harvest returned, settlers came in thick and fast and by the first of December, 1883, nearly every lot in town was occupied by some one with every conceivable kind of a lodging place.

J.H.Conrad & Company had built a large store in the spring and had filled it with a stock of general merchandise. I had also built quite a large building (now occupied by the First National Bank) and filled it with goods. The school district had built a $1,400.00 school house and other buildings such as hotels, livery barns, saloons, blacksmith shops and dwelling houses showed the prosperity of the town. We had build a bridge across Big Goose and settlers still continued to come, ditches were being taken out of the several streams and the soil responded bountifully to the industry of the pioneer settler.

The first marriage took place in Sheridan this summer, the bride was a Miss Cole, and a rather funny or to them serious mishap or break occurred right here as I was a notary public the groom (being ignorant of the duties of that officer) took for granted that I could perform the marriage ceremony as well as to administer oaths, etc., supper was ready and everything else including the bride. When the groom came over to inform me that my presence was needed in an official capacity to solemnize the marriage rites but I (Oh how I hated to do it) had to inform him that the law did not permit me to perform that pleasing ceremony, and that he would have to look elsewhere, with true western grit he saddled up a bronc, started out on a 12 mile trip to the home of Elder Benton above Big Horn, arrived back at 2 a.m., found the bride and supper still waiting and was soon joined in the bonds of matrimony by the Elder in true orthodox style.

In the fall and winter of 1883 we thought ourselves of enough importance to incorporate. So R. M. Cotton, an attorney from Colorado, who had opened up an office in Sheridan and myself drew up the necessary bill which passed the Legislature in Jan., '84. We held our first election on the 2nd Tuesday in March, when the following officers were elected. Mayor, J.D. Loucks, Trustees, M.C. Harris, Robert J. Mills and Thos. M. Cotton. Thus we became an incorporated town in the midst of a prosperous community.

To show the peaceable character and disposition of the early settlers I will mention this incident. In the fall of '84 we elected George Brundage, Justice of the Peace and during the two years he served he had but one case before him which took place in the primitive style, the constable arrested a man for some offense and started with him for the home of Mr. Brundage, which was then too high to cross, so standing on the bank with the prisoner, he yelled aver to Mr. Brundage, who was working in sight. He came to the bank and wanted to know what was wanted, the constable told him who he had, the nature of the crime, etc., the justice then asked the prisoner if the charge was true, to which he answered yes. "Men the verdict of this court is that you pay in the hands of the constable five dollars, and when it is paid you are at liberty," the prisoner paid the fine, started up the creek, the constable back to town and the Justice to his work.

During all this time there had not been a single sermon of any kind preached here, although a Sunday school had been successfully carried on. In the spring of '84 there got off the stage one morning quite a young man by the name of Probert right from Wales, England, who said that he had been sent to Sheridan by the Congregational Mission Society, and on the following Sunday he preached the first sermon in Sheridan. He stayed one year and was then transferred to Africa. Rev. Jennings took his place and remained two years. In the summer of '87 Rev. Rader, superintendent of Wyoming of the M. E. Church arrived and organized the Methodist Church. Rev. Vosselter the first M. E. minister. Then came Rev. T.T. Howd and organized the Baptist Church. The first newspaper, "The Sheridan Post," put out its first edition in May, 1887. J.D. Loucks and Thomas M. Cotton publishers, Thos. M. Cotton editor. In the fall T. T. Tynan & Fay Sommers launched forth the Enterprise.

At the election in the fall of 1886 the Republicans put forth their first party ticket with J.D. Loucks at the head for Councilman, who was elected as was the bigger part of the ticket. During the year of '87 we of the northern part of Johnson County, not liking the treatment we were receiving at the hands of the southern part concluded we would be better off if we had a county of our own. With this feeling and wish of the northern part, in conjunction with Mr. Guernsey of Lusk we introduced in the Council of the Legislature of 1888 a bill creating four new counties. I was chairman of the committee on Counties in the Council, took the bill up promptly and had it passed 11 to 1.

But in the house it met opposition and was amended to three counties. A conference committee was then appointed and the council agreed to the amendment, but before it was completed in the house, some one stole the bill in the evening of the last day of the session, and as there was only one more bill to pass, the appropriation bill, it looked as if that was the end of the three new counties. Nothing daunted, we called our forces together, engaged four good clerks, and while the house was putting the finishing touches to the appropriation bill, we drew up another County Bill. I had anticipated some trouble of some kind, so had the engrossing clerk to make me a copy of our part of the bill, the part pertaining to Sheridan County, some few days previous, so I could be prepared for any emergency and could tack it on some other bill and in order to gain time, when the appropriation bill was brought in the council. I moved that it be sent back for (some imaginary) correction, and it was so done and as it was nearing the hour of midnight I, the President, asked to have the Sergeant at Arms to stop the clock which was done at 11:45, we then voted to have lunch and by 1 a.m. the clerks had the county bill prepared, was then called to order, the appropriation bill was then read the first time, referred to proper committee, reported favorable, read the second time before the committee of the whole, when I moved to amend by annexing the county bill which was done and passed the council at about 4 a.m. then sent to the house for concurrence, passed and sent to Governor Moonlight by 5 a.m. when he vetoed the whole thing, and the funny part of it was, he dated he veto the day before, as he had been up all night signing bills and sending to the council for concurrence, appointment to office, he had forgotten another day had commenced. When Johnson County brought suit to enjoin Sheridan County from organizing on the account of the illegality of the act as they claimed it was passed the day after the date fixed by law for the legislature to have adjourned this was the important factor in our favor.

This bill was returned to the council by 6 a.m., passed over the veto by both houses, sent to the secretary of the Territory and returned to the council with his certificate of filing by 8 a.m. when we adjourned sine die. Hon. J.A. Riner President of the council. I immediately wired to Sheridan via Fort McKinney the results when they immediately started for Cheyenne the necessary petition, which the Governor refused to recognize, because he said the bill said a petition and this was in two sections.

So, the work had to be done over again which was accomplished in a few days, and upon this petition the Governor appointed the required commissioners to organize the new county of Sheridan. Said Commissioners M.C. Harris of Sheridan, W.E. Jackson of Big Horn, Henry Baker of Dayton, who called an election, and some time in May 1888 the county was fully organized by electing the regular officers and swearing them in office.

Sheridan was chosen County Seat, and thus out of difficulty the northern star of Wyoming arose and blazed forth never to set, and may its light never be dimmed by infamy or dishonesty.

By J.D. Loucks