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DOUGLAS PARK CEMETERY A WALKING TOUR [T]he growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts, and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life and rest in unvisited tombs. George Eliot Middlemarch, 1872 This brochure was financed in part with funds granted to the Douglas Historic Preservation Commission from the National Park Service, U. S. Department of the Interior. The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office administers these federal funds as part of Wyo mings Certified Local Government program. This program received Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Dept. of the Interior. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U. S. Dept. of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, D.C. 20013-7127. Photos of cemetery overviews, Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse, Sir Barton Memorial, and all tombstones, by J. Derks. Except as noted, all other photos courtesy of the Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum. ---PAGE BREAK--- WELCOME DOUGLAS PARK CEMETERY is a historical treasure trove awaiting your discovery. As you follow the tour through the stately wooded grounds, you will soon find yourself silently communing with that dazzling variety of characters who built the city of Douglas, and made the Old West. Time required: From 1 to 2 hours. Directions: Start at the main entrance at Ash and Ninth Streets, in Douglas. Route: See Tour Map at the center of this guide. Hours: Open 7 a.m. to dusk, every day of the week. Parking: On the street, or on roadways in the Cemetery. Rest room: Available in the Maintenance Building, near the main entrance. (Sorry, there are no pets allowed on the grounds.) The Douglas Park Cemetery was established in 1902, to replace the original Pioneer Cemetery north of the city, which was considered too remote and unattractive for the young and growing city of Douglas. The new grounds consisted of a rectangular ten acre parcel, laid out along a low ridge system at the east edge of the city. Ex- panded three times since its inception, as of the year 2000, about 5,200 interments had occurred, with the cemetery comprising a total of 40 acres. A network of gravel roads affords easy access to every part of the grounds. A variety of deciduous and coniferous trees are present throughout, often in dense concentrations. Antelope, deer, rabbits, squirrels, turkeys, owls, and buzzards are all frequent visitors to the grounds. Burial plots are typically arranged in rectangular clusters of 30 graves each. In addi- tion, full-circle and quarter-circle areas throughout the grounds serve as family (or else fraternal society) plots. A Veterans section is located along the northwest edge of the cemetery and, directly adjacent to that, an area for Grand Army of the Republic veterans (that is, soldiers of the Civil War Union Army); several of the burials in these sections are transplants from the old Pioneer Cemetery. Babyland, reserved for burials of infants less than one year old, is located in the southeast por- tion of the grounds; many of the tombstones in this section have been funded by donations, and all of the lots are provided at a nominal fee. (The Veterans and Grand Army sections are situated along the first half of the tour route, while Babyland is at the end; for exact locations, see the Tour Map.) Tombstones often reflect the character and interests of the deceased, through words, images, or a combination of the two. At Douglas Park, tombstone images run the gamut. Besides the rather common crosses, Bibles, angels, and stylized flowers and foliage, also on display are: a pickup truck, a Model car, a Ford Mustang car, an airplane, sailboats, a dirt bike (with rider), and a (sans rider). In addition, you will see saddled horses (usually but not always riderless), cowboy hats, boots, lassos, wagon wheels, animal traps, branding symbols, and an Indian teepee. Watch for an elephant (representing the Republican political party; but no donkeys are in As I wander through the cemetery Im amazed at what I see. Not only lots with trees and stones But amazing history. Here lies a respected madam Maggie Wheelock was her name She and her girls worked the Green House Where South Second Street earned fame. She was very stern in nature But showed a tender side too Caring for the gals that worked for her A 60-40 split would do. Down the road a little further A unique stone catches my eye It belongs to J. T. Williams A clever sort of guy. Tho he never would drink whiskey Himself, no none at all He used it to gather votes Out at the LaPrele Ball. He longed to be the Sheriff So he would slip a man a drink Out from under his batwing chaps Quite a politician, dont you think? The people at the dance They all took the bait J. T. Williams was the first Elected sheriff in 1898. The next stone that I visit Does not stand out like some Its small and bears the inscribed name Of the notorious Doc Middleton. The Living History of Douglas Park Cemetery He was a horse thief from Nebraska Stealing thousands from the Sioux Killed four men in self defense Served time in prison too. Doc Middleton went straight in time For his bad ways had to go He joined the famous Buffalo Bill And rode in the Wild West Show. As I walk a little further Down the cemetery lane I see a stone of sand and grout That bears a statesmans name. Have you heard of Josiah Hazen? He was famous in our state He was a very well liked sheriff But he couldnt outsmart fate. While chasing some train robbers In the area of Teapot Dome He was shot by those he hunted So his posse brought him home. As history tells the story He bled too much and died Masons came from all around To show their mournful pride. There are many others here Who inspire me as well George Pike, Maude Dawes and Mike Henry Have hidden stories yet to tell. So folks: Please dont let our history die We all need to write it down So those who will live after us Will know the history of our town. Kenny & Neb Simonton ---PAGE BREAK--- evidence), at least one cat, a birdhouse with birds, several deer and other wild animals, and many domestic farm animals. There are several fishing poles, and some armed hunters. Log cabins, landscapes, farms and ranches are common; there is an oil rig or two, and some windmills. And finally: a padlock and ring of keys (this for a former locksmith); a microscope; an artists palette-and-brush; a palm tree; an ink well (with quill pen); a rendering of Leonardos Last Supper; a stuffed Teddy bear; a bar of notated music; and a cast iron cooking stove. The verbal inscriptions are not as varied as the visual. There is one quotation of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and there are several original epitaphs: especially notable are those of Ben and Maggie Wheelock and George W. Pike (15). Otherscarved in stone for eternityinclude: Thank you cowboys for the ride, andId rather be at Silver Spruce (which is a Wyoming hunting resort). Across the years, some unusual burials have occurred at the Douglas Park Cemetery. For example, according to the official records, an Elmer J. Phelps is buried in the roadway. On the face of it, this seems bizarre and inexplicableuntil we note that Phelpss death date, 1902, is the very year in which the Cemetery was established; the initial stages of any big project are, as everyone knows, always a little chaotic Or consider: According to the records, one burial in the 1960s consisted solely of a leg. Not until about a decade later was the limb joined by its original owner (who had suffered from diabetes) And then, in 1976 the body of octogenarian Lionel H. Curtis was found by firefighters in the smoldering ruins of his ranch home, with the charred remains of his dog draped protectively across his torso; best friends to the end, the two are interred in the same grave. To conclude the preliminaries, we note without particular comment that there are certain occurrences associated with the grounds: all certainly explicable, but as yet, unexplained. For example: Why does the flag pole near the main gate glow so oddly, at a certain hour of the dusk? Then too, some observers report a point of light emanating from the tree line, at a particular time of the nightevery night Giant owls have been known to fall from the trees, lifeless, without obvious cause but then, these are matters to ponder another time: The Tour is about to begin [Caveat: Cemeteries house the dead, but they are made for the livingfor those who wish to remember, and to contemplate During your visit, please respect the privacy of those remembering those who rest in peace.] 1883 ~ 1946 JOSEPH R. HYLTON, M.D. 21 Joseph Roy Hylton was born and raised in Kansas, and completed his pre-medical studies at the University of Nebraska, at the age of 16. He earned his M.D. degree at Bennett Medical College in Chicago, graduating in 1906. With a professional colleague, Hylton began his medi- cal practice in Glenrock, Wyoming (about 20 miles west of Douglas), then later came to Douglas to practice general medicine, until his retirement in 1941. Hyltons patients in- cluded employees of the local madam, Maggie Wheelock (8)for whom, it is said, he would occasionally prescribe shots of medicinal whisky. He married Ara Louise Davis in 1907, and they raised a family of three children. Hylton is perhaps best known today for his acquisition of the first Triple Crown winner in history, named Sir Barton. (Although at the time, the Triple Crown distinc- tion had not yet been made, the magnitude of the achieve- ment not yet recognized, in the horse racing world.) The champion thoroughbred lived out his retirement on the Hylton ranch, and was ultimately interred there. Later, his remains were moved to Washington Park, immediately north of the Cemetery, to rest beneath the memorial on view there today. (The Park is accessible through a pedestrian gate at the north end of the grounds; see Tour Map.) Memorial to Sir Barton located in Washington Park, immediately north of the Cemetery. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1878 ~ 1938 WALDO BOLLN 1 Waldo Bolln is one key member of the Bolln family, an enterprising group that helped keep food and other necessaries in the pantries of the earliest Douglas settlers, and of several generations of their descendants. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Waldo Bolln came to Douglas in 1901, to work with his brother, Otto, in the flourishing general merchandise store owned and operated by their uncle, George Bolln. (The elder Bolln had purchased the store at the U. S. Armys Fort Fetterman, then moved it to nearby Douglas in 1888; by the time Waldo arrived, George Bolln was renowned as one of the leading merchants in Converse County.) After the death of their uncle in 1904, the brothers continued to jointly operate the George Bolln Mercantile Company for the next ten years. Then, in 1914, Waldo decided to try his hand at dairy farming. Traveling to Wisconsin, he purchased a dairy herd and brought it to Douglasonly to discover, upon arrival, that the entire herd was tubercular and had to be destroyed. (The Wisconsin veterinarian who had certified the herd was convicted of fraud and imprisoned.) The following year, Waldo formed a partnership with friend Albert Peyton, and the two established the Peyton Bolln Grocery in Douglas. Bolln eventually became sole owner of the business, which he ran successfully until 1936, when he relinquished management to his son, Otto, who operated the store until 1970. The elder Bolln went on to serve as the Douglas Postmaster until the time of his death. The George Bolln Co. store, on North 2nd Street, about 1898 1866 ~ 1939 MAUDE DAWES 20 On the Dawes itinerary: Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse, built 1885. (Now located in Douglas, on the grounds of the Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum.) Maude Dawes came to Wyoming in 1894 at the age of 28, to teach in the rural schools in and around Converse County. Born and raised in Iowa, she had previously taught at public grammar schools in Nebraska for a period of 12 years. Dawes taught in Wyoming public schools until 1909, then was appointed Converse County Superintendent of Schools, a position she held for a total of 19 years. Respon- sible for overseeing as many as 70 different schools in 25 districts, Dawes visited each property at least once a year, altering her footgear (mud boots or snowshoes) and means of transport (chauffeured automobile or horse and buggy) in accord with the terrain and the seasons. When schools were out of session, Dawes lived at her mountain homestead, doting on the local wildlife and tend- ing her collections of books and antiques. But after a fire destroyed her home and belongings, Dawes built a four- room log cabin along the bank of LaPrele Creek. From about 1909 to 1916, Dawes ran a summer resort at Cold Springs, Wyoming, about 40 miles southwest of Dou- glas. Starting with a small house and a few tents, she even- tually added cabins, a hotel (with several bedrooms, a large kitchen, and a dining and living room)and even a large outdoor dance floor. Her hospitality attracted tourists from around Wyoming and from many neighboring states. How- everresort or not, at Maudes, idleness was evidently not encouraged: Everyone, a visitor recalls, pitched in and helped with the household chores. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1879 ~ 1947 C. H. HOFMANN 2 The Hofmann plot is one of the more attractive in the Douglas Park Cemetery. The massive family marker is accompanied by two smaller stonesone for C. H. and the other for his wife, Effieand the three are arranged symmetrically about the longer axis across the space, which measures 25 feet wide and 50 feet long. Located on a gentle easterly slope, the plot is framed by six towering evergreens, three at each longer side, all evenly spaced. Viewed from down slope, at the east edge of the plot, the overall effect is at once stately and serene. Given this spacious, carefully planned composition, it may come as no surprise to know that Christian Henry Hofmann arrived in Wyoming in 1901 to manage the un- dertaking department of a Cheyenne mercantile company, after having received his professional training from Chicagos United States School of Embalming. Later on, in Douglas, Hofmann established an uphol- stering and furniture business, in addition to maintaining his own undertaking practice (thereby effectively doubling his customer base, to include the living as well as the dead). While in Douglas he also served as the Converse County Coroner for many years. Hofmann was married to Effie Alice Hubbard in 1902. Overview of the stately Hofmann family plot. Note the two smaller headstones in the foregroundfor C. H. and wife, Effie. 1920 ~ 1938 JIMMIE MITCHELL 19 In June 1938, an automobile accident caused the death of an 18-year-old boy who was traveling through Douglas with his familya group described in the city press as a band of Gypsies. The Romaor Gypsies, as they were called (in the mis- taken belief that they came from the country of Egypt) were an ethnic group that emigrated to Europe and America from India. Because of their nomadic way of life and their traditional penchant for petty theft, they were typically re- garded with suspicion amongst the locals wherever they traveled. In Douglas, however, the unhappy accident afforded citi- zens an excellent opportunity to study the Gypsies strange customs and characteristicsaccording to the Douglas Budget reporter who covered the story. And de- spite the citizenrys rude, stares, the family apparently welcomed the attention, inviting the public to view the proceedings: Following the last prayers of the Priest the casket was opened full length. Cloths which bound the hands and feet were severed and another which had been tied under the chin and over the head was removed Clean washrag, towel and tooth brush and some money were laid beside the youth for use on his way up. The funeral then con- cluded with a sumptuous feast and songfest. The Budget reporter concludes with the acid observa- tion that the family left more money in Douglas than they took awaysomething that rarely happens to a band. Mitchells grave is somewhat unusual for the Douglas Park Cemetery, in that the top of the concrete coffin enclo- sure remains visible at ground level, by design. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1854 ~ 1946 GEORGE H. CROSS 3 Born in Montreal, Canada, George Cross attended three dif- ferent colleges or universities and completed a four-month tour of Europe before deciding to head for the Colorado Territory, in the company of two friends familiar with the area. The three eventually established a small ranch in Colo- rado, and first herded their stock north into Wyoming in 1877. Cross established his U. S. citizenship in 1883, then filed on a homestead in what was soon to become Converse County. The following year, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lea Marie LeVasseur, of Quebec, Canada. Their first two children, both daughters, died of diphtheria dur- ing a family visit to Canada in 1889. Obviously undaunted, the Crosses subsequently raised a total of nine children to adulthood. Cross began a political career with his election as one of the first Converse County Commissioners, in 1888. He also served as a State Senator for many years. Several of Crosss accomplishments were key steps in the early development of Douglasincluding the construc- tion of the LaBonte Hotel (in partnership with Otto Bolln [see organization of the Converse County Bank, and establishment of a telephone company for residents of ru- ral areas around the young city of Douglas. George H. Cross, probably about 1890 1857 ~ 1910 MERRIS C. BARROW 18 Born in to a minister and his wife, Merris Clark Barrow was educated for the ministry, but had other ambitions. Moving to Nebraska in the latter half of the 1870s, he learned and practiced the printing trade while leasing a small local newspaper. In 1879, after a stint with the U. S. Postal Service, he became city editor of the Laramie Daily Times paper, in Laramie, Wyoming. Then in 1886, while working for a Rawlins, Wyoming newspaper, Barrow heard of a new railway being laid through central Wyoming. Sensing brighter prospects, he moved his familyincluding wife Minnie and three chil- drento what he considered a promising locale along the new railway: the Armys abandoned Fort Fetterman, near present-day Douglas. Here Barrow began publishing a weekly under the pseudonymous masthead, Bill Barlows Budget. In 1886, the Barrows finally settled, moving them- selves and their paper to the new town of Douglas. In time, Barrow began issuing his weekly newspaper editorials in a magazine, under the rubric, Sage- brush Philosophy; although abstruse, verboseand today all but unreadablethe pieces achieved some national popularity for their brusque and jocular irreverence. In Douglas, Barrow served as the first Town Clerk, and then as Mayor in 1890. He continued publishing the Bud- get up until the time of his death. Still in publication, the papers name was changed to The Douglas Budget in 1914. Bill Barlowthe Sagebrush Philosopher ---PAGE BREAK--- 1862 ~ 1916 JOHN MORTON 4 Born in Germany in 1862, John M. Jenne emigrated to the United States with his family in 1867. Raised in Illinois, Jenne left home at the age of 15 and lived for a time in Chi- cago before joining the U. S. Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. While serving, he saw action in Indian campaigns in Arizona and New Mexico. When he later decided to desert the Army, Jenne adopted the moniker John Morton, a name he legalized in 1904. After working as a miner in Colorado for a time, Morton came to Rawlins, Wyoming in 1880, where he worked as a ranch hand. By 1890, he was in business for himself, and soon moved his new sheep ranch operation to Converse County. To his home ranch on the North Platte River (pur- chased from John T. Williams in the early 1900s), Morton added the Boot Ranch and Sand Creek Ranch in 1912and a great deal more in the following years. In time, the Morton holdings were the most extensive in the state. Morton was also active in state and local politics, serv- ing as a State Representative and as Mayor of Douglas. At the time of his death, he was president of three enterprises: First National Bank of Douglas, the Douglas Electric Light Company, and the Douglas Mercantile Company. After his death, the Morton empire was ably adminis- tered by his wife, Sarah McDermott Morton and their eldest son, Jack. John Morton 1841 ~ 1918 ALVAH W. AYRES 17 One of southeast Wyomings most popular scenic attractions bears the name of the family headed by Alvah Washington Ayres: this is the Ayres Natural Bridge, located several miles west of Douglas. After coming west from Kansas in 1860, Ayres drove wagon teams for more than 20 years, in both Colorado and Wyoming. It was during this itinerant life that he first saw the bridge that now bears his name: a natural span of rock that stretches across the flowing waters of LaPrele Creek. In 1882, he homesteaded the scenic land around this bridge and began raising cattle and horses. Ayres was active in state politics, serving as a Represen- tative in 1892. He was also instrumental in organizing the Wyoming Pioneer Association, an organization devoted to researching and recording the early history of the state. Ayres was mortally injured in 1918 on a trip to Douglas, when an automobile frightened the team of horses he was driving, and sent his wagon out of control. In 1920, the land that is today known as Ayres Natural Bridge Park was deeded to Converse County by Ayres adopted son, Andrewson of Sallie O. (Clay) Button, whom Ayres had wed in 1890. Today, the Park is main- tained and administered by Converse County, and is open to the public on a seasonal basis. The natural rock bridge located on the Ayres homestead was one of the earliest tourist attractions in Wyoming. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1874 ~ 1952 SARAH MORTON 5 Sarah McDermott was born in New York, and moved with her family to Wyoming, at the age of 14. She married the rancher John Morton in 1894, and they raised a family of five children. After Johns death in 1916, Sarah managed the Morton ranch with her eldest son, Jack 1895). They continued to acquire landtheir most notable acquisition being the Fiddleback Ranch on Cheyenne River, in 1944and to in- crease the size of their livestock herds. By 1930, lands man- aged by the Morton Land and Cattle Co. defined a swath about 200 miles long through the eastern half of the state, extending from Laramie to Gillette. Two of Jack Mortons younger brothers, Edward and James, participated in the operation of the Morton empire but proved susceptible to (at least) one temptation readily available in the growing city of Douglas: bootlegged whisky. After a series of episodes, an exasperated Sarah directed the town sheriff to close down the bootleggers and to rid the town of one Maggie Wheelock who was a major supplier of liquor (and of other temptations equally unsavory). Unfortunately for Sarah, the sheriff was stymied by Wheelocks threat to close her bank accounts, cash in her municipal bonds, and shut down her rental properties, thereby effectively bankrupting the town. One local historian remarks that this affair was probably the only battle Sarah Morton ever lost. Sarah Morton 1864 ~ 1903 L. E. FALKENBERG 16 Louie Falkenberg was killed in one of the regions last Indian battles, which occurred at Lightning Creek, Wyoming (about 45 miles northeast of Douglas) on October 31, 1903. A ranch hand and trapper by trade, Falkenberg had joined a sheriffs posse of five, which was pursuing a small band of South Dakota Sioux Indians suspected of illegal hunting and theft within the state of Wyoming. Apprehended on the banks of Lightning Creek, the Indians opened fire on the posse, killing Falkenberg instantly and mortally wounding the sheriff. Four Indian braves were killed in the return fire, and one squaw was seriously wounded. Although the surviving Indians escaped from the site of the battle, nine were later captured, returned to Douglas to stand trialand ultimately acquitted. At trial, it was con- cluded that the two actually guilty of the killings were them- selves killed in the return gunfire. (One of thesea Chief Eagle Featherswas reportedly a graduate of Carlisle College.) The funeral for Deputy Falkenberg boasted a long pro- cession of mourners, and drew one of the largest public gatherings in Douglas history. Funds raised from the citi- zens of Douglas were used for the monument that now marks his remains. The nine Indians brought to trial in Douglas for the murder of Deputy Falkenberg. All were acquitted. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1883 ~ 1963 LEROY MOORE 6 Leroy Moore was born at the Ogalalla Ranch in northeast Wyoming, where his father worked as a range foreman. During the tumult preceding the Johnson County War (which pitted homesteaders against established ranchers), his father was accused of rustling and forced into hiding; whereupon, he sent Leroy and the rest of the family to Texas for safekeeping. There, during his early school years, Moore revealed a scholastic bent. (Perhaps because he never completed high school, he later took to schooling himself, packing his saddlebags with scholarly books.) Eventually, the Moores reunited in Wyoming and purchased a ranch on Lightning Creek, where Leroy was raised to adulthood. In 1909, he married Edna Irvine, with whom he had five children. (Edna died in 1918, and in 1920, Moore married Helen Slonaker, with whom he had five additional chil- dren. The couple raised all ten children to adulthood.) After purchasing his in-laws ranch in 1915, Moore be- gan adding to his holdings, doubling and tripling his acre- age at bargain prices during the Great Depression. Later, the purchase of the Buzzard Ranch on Sweetwater Creek almost doubled the size of his holdings. Although the Moores retired to California in the 1950s, Leroy actively supervised his ranch lands for the remainder of his life. The Moore stone is a model of elegant, restrained de- sign: a perfectly-scaled ornamental vase is set before a rect- angular slab, in an exquisite, asymmetrical composition. The Moore family stone: elegant simplicity 1855 ~ 1908 GEORGE W. PIKE 15 One local historian describes George Pike as a gallant and unusually successful horse thief. Pike came to Antelope, Wyomingthe tent town that would soon become Dou- glasin 1885. He thrived first as a gambler and petty con- man, and then as a ranchermeaning, in Pikes case: horse thief. In this capacity, he came to be widely regarded as the single greatest success in all of the Old West. Habitually on trial, he was never convicted, thanks in no small part, perhaps, to the able counsel of his attorney, Frederick H. Harvey (11). But Pikes life turned when, one day, the proverbial tables did: Attorney Harvey, by now dismissed from Pikes service, successfully represented a defendant against charges brought by Pike himself for the alleged theft of a horse belonging to Pike. Harvey argued that the horse in dispute had probably been stolen by Pike in the first place, thus nullifying his claim. The court bought the argument, and the case was dismissed. In the face of this embarrass- ment, Pike henceforth strove to become a more or less re- spected citizen of Douglas. The epitaph inscribed on Pikes tombstone, which calls him the wildest one of the wayward West, was composed shortly after Pikes death by an anonymous writer on the staff of The Denver Post newspaper. George W. Pike, looking the more or less respected citizen ---PAGE BREAK--- 1859 ~ 1914 JOHN T. WILLIAMS 7 John T. Williams is a versatile and ambitious figure in Wyo- ming pioneer history. After working as a range foreman for a large ranch in central Wyoming, Williams established his own livestock operation in 1885. He later formed a part- nership (with George Metcalf) to operate a general mer- chandise store at the pioneer settlement, Fetterman City. In 1888, he became the first elected sheriff of Converse County; later, he also served as a deputy to Sheriff Josiah Hazen and he was twice elected senator to the Wyo- ming state legislature. Williams played several key roles in the early develop- ment of Douglas. He was instrumental in creating the Wyo- ming State Fair; in developing an irrigation system for lo- cal ranchers; and in the founding of the Douglas municipal power and light plant. He is also credited with supervising construction of an early Douglas landmark, the Unity Temple Building, in 1902. In the spring of 1898, Williams received secret commu- niques from the U. S. War Department, which directed him to recruit Converse County volunteers for a Wyoming regi- ment of horsemen and marksmenthese to fight in what was soon to become known as the Spanish-American War. (Many of the graves in the Veterans section of the Cem- etery are a partial testament to his success in this regard.) Williams was married to Elizabeth Ragsdale in 1887, and the couple raised a family of three children. John T. Williams 1851 ~ 1913 “DOC” MIDDLETON 14 James M. Riley, alias David Doc Middletonone alias amongst a dozen more, but the one that has stuckwas born in Mississippi, spent much of his life in Texas and Nebraska, and did not come to Douglas until 1913, at the age of 62. Regarded as one of the last of the men of the Old West, he had already appeared in Buffalo Bills Wild West Show and was one of the annual attractions at the city of Cheyennes Frontier Show. In 1893, he was the fa- vorite in a 1,000 mile horse race, which began in far west- ern Nebraska and ended at the Chicago Worlds Fair. Horse troubles, however, forced him out somewhere in the middle of Iowa, and he had to settle for a $75 consolation prize. Middleton has been called the luckiest outlaw, since, despite being implicated in numerous murders, thefts, and cattle rustlings, he served time for only a single murder convictionuntil his Douglas debut. Upon his arrival, Middleton opened a saloon in Orin, a nearby village, but was soon convicted of selling alcohol illegally. While im- prisoned in the county jail, he contracted erysipelas (a usu- ally benign skin disease) and was quarantined in the citys pest house, a three-room bungalow located next to the new Douglas Park Cemetery. He died of pneumonia while an inmate of the house, and was buried at county expense. Middletons grave remained unmarked for more than 50 years. Not until 1976 did one of his descendants place the stone tablet that marks the site today. Doc Middletonhere playing the good loser, visiting the finish line of the Chadron-to-Chicago horse race, 1893. Nebraska State Historical Society ---PAGE BREAK--- 1878 ~ 1940 MAGGIE WHEELOCK 8 Born and raised in Ohio, Margaret AuFrance came to Wyoming in the late 1890s, on the arm of a man who would soon prove to be a professional paramourto herself, and to a subsequent parade of equally naive or complicit young women. After establishing Maggie as a professional madam in the new city of Douglas, the man disappeared, leaving her to fend for herself. Which she did, with uncommon success. Maggie took to recruiting and very efficiently manag- ing a score of willing young women out to profit from the carnal appetites of the western frontier. City Hall turned a blind eye to the businessexcept for tax assessments, in- variably levied at twice the going rate, augmented by fines generated in police raids conducted according to the citys financial necessity. Maggies husband, Benjamin E. Wheelock, whom she wed in 1913, was fluent in several American Indian lan- guages and served as an interpreter for the state and fed- eral governments. Maggie followed her husband to the grave after a pe- riod of only seven weeks; the two are buried side-by-side, and share a common marker. (Benjamins father, B. C. Wheelock, also resided in the area and is interred beside the couple.) Maggie and Benjamin Wheelock (This photographic image is also affixed to the couples tombstone.) 1840 ~ 1924 MICHEAL HENRY 13 Micheal Henry was founder of the renowned 88 Ranch, one of the most ambitious Wyoming ranching operations of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Ireland, Henry graduated from a military acad- emy in New York state, at the age of 15. Coming to Wyo- ming in 1855, he served as a bugler for U. S. Army troops stationed on the western frontier. Later, during the Civil War, he fought in the Union Army at and Vicksburg; following the war, he re- turned to the western borders of the country to serve in Army patrols along the emigrant trails. After being discharged in 1877, Henry built a log cabin in Wyoming on a parcel of land north of the North Platte River; here he established a blacksmith shop to service a local stage station, while his wife, Catherine (with whom he raised six children), served as a cook, nurse, and inn- keeper. Soon Henry began acquiring and breeding horses, even- tually growing his herd to more than 3,000 head. Acquir- ing an international reputation, Henrys 88 Ranch at one time supplied horses to the governments of both Holland and the United States. U. S. Army Bugler Micheal Henry in 1855, age 15 ---PAGE BREAK--- 1854 ~ 1899 JOSIAH HAZEN 9 In June 1899, Converse County Sheriff Joe Hazen was killed in ambush near present-day Kaycee, Wyoming by a mem- ber of the notorious Hole-In-The-Wall Gangeither Tom Roberts or Harvey Logan (alias Harvey Currey), depend- ing upon which press account (or wanted poster) is to be believed. (The Gangs roster at one time also boasted sev- eral members of the arguably more notorious Wild Bunchincluding Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.) At the time of his murder, Hazen was leading a posse in pursuit of three of the Gang who were implicated in a train robbery that had been committed a few days earlier near the city of Medicine Bow, Wyoming. Only one of the trio Bob Lee, alias Bob Currywas eventually apprehended, although not until the following year, in March of 1900. Born in Illinois, Hazen worked in Wyoming as a cattle- man, operated a livery stable, and had a part interest in a local copper mine, before becoming Sheriff of Converse County in 1897. He married a waitress, Nettie Burlingham, in 1890 and fathered two sons. Sheriff Hazen was buried in the old Pioneer Cemetery north of Douglas, in one of the largest funerals the city had yet seen; mourners included Wyoming Governor J. DeForest Richards. Hazens remains were moved to their present location in the Douglas Park Cemetery in 1917. Converse County Sheriff Joe Hazen 1838 ~ 1915 JOHN D. O’BRIEN 12 Amongst the very earliest Wyoming pioneers, John D. OBrien was born in Ireland, the youngest of nine children. He came with his fatherless family to America in 1847, to reside in New York. In 1852, at the age of 14, OBrien enlisted as a musician in the U. S. Army, serving in conflicts with southern Ameri- can Indian tribes. After a brief respite from the service, he joined the Union Army during the Civil War. Coming west with the Army in 1867, OBrien assisted with the building of Fort Fetterman, Wyoming, an outpost on the edge of the western frontier. After serving in vari- ous exploratory expeditions, he was discharged in 1877 and settled on a ranch just west of present-day Douglas. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, OBrien re-enlisted yet again, serving in the Philippines as a com- missioned captain in the First Wyoming Infantry, where he was wounded in action. OBrien married the Irish-born Anastatia Shea, with whom he fathered a total of 15 children. Their eldest daugh- ter, Margaret, was the first pioneer child born at Fort Fetterman, in 1867. OBrien was proud of his status as an old timer. In a January 26, 1887 letter to Bill Barlow (18), editor of the lo- cal paper, OBrien stated: I lay claim to being the oldest residenter in and around Fetterman or Douglas. I came here in June, 1867, when Fetterman was not known Old Timer John D. OBrien ---PAGE BREAK--- 1885 ~ 1961 L. C. BISHOP 10 Loren Clark Bishop served for 18 years as the State Engi- neer of Wyoming. Lauded for his administrative and engi- neering prowess, he was originally appointed by popular demandas expressed in letters of endorsement sent to the governor from hundreds of water users across the state. As a boy, Bishop left school in the eighth grade to help support his family, working as a ranch hand. At the age of 20, he purchased a restaurant from L. E. Falkenberg (16), and ran it successfully for several months. But after contracting typhoid fever, he sold the property, accepting an unsecured note as payment. The new owner re-sold the business, and skipped towntaking, for good measure, Bishops stash of money, his 45 Colt re- volver, and his best suit of clothing. Soon thereafter, in 1906, Bishop entered the surveying profession, working with a party on the LaPrele Irrigation System. In 1919, he was appointed managing engineer by the Douglas Reservoirs Company, with whom he went on to enjoy a tenure. When, in 1938, a new governor (Leslie Miller) assumed office, the noted campaign of en- dorsements resulted in the governors appointment of L. C. Bishop as the new State Engineer. In 1911, Bishop married Sadie Almeda Greenwood, with whom he raised a family of four. He was also a U. S. Army veteran, serving for a total of 14 years. L. C. BishopState Engineer of Wyoming, 1938-1956 1858 ~ 1920 FREDERICK H. HARVEY 11 Frederick H. Harvey was a leading, even brilliant, figure on the early Wyoming bar. Born in Iowa, Harvey gradu- ated from Iowa State University in 1884, then earned a graduate law degree from Columbia Law School, New York. He came to Douglas in the year of its official founding, 1886and, two years later, became the first Converse County Attorney. For several years, he was also retained as a defense attorney by the inveterate horse thief George W. Pike (15). In the Johnson County War of 1892, which saw estab- lished cattle ranchers pitted against homesteaders and op- portunistic livestock rustlers, Harvey reportedly functioned as a hired gun of the cattlemen, although his ammuni- tion in this capacity consisted strictly in the form of legal services and strategic advice. Elected as the second mayor of Douglas in 1900, Harvey proved an able and popular administrator, being re-elected to successive terms without opposition, and serving for a total of 8 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for the widespread planting of trees throughout the young city of Douglas, entrusting their ongoing cultivation to the la- dies of the town. Following his tenure as mayor, he served as District Court Commissioner until the year of his death. A life-long bachelor, Harvey left no descendants of record. Frederick H. Harveylawyer, politician, tree planter ---PAGE BREAK--- 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1234 1 2 3 7 8 10 11 18 17 16 21 15 13 12 4/5 19 14 9 6 20 Douglas Park Cemetery~A Walking Tour I-25 LOOP I-25 LOOP CENTER ST ASH ST 9TH ST 4TH ST RICHARDS ST Douglas Park Cemetery Washington Park Area Map èN 4 HOW TO USE THE TOUR MAP The self-guided tour starts at the main entrance, at the intersection of Ash Street and South 9th Street. Each numbered dot on the map represents a grave, and corresponds to the number shown at the upper corner of each page in this guidebook. (The 21 graves are accurately plotted on the map, but you may have to search a bit to find the right one.) Some family sites are labeled (as names) on the map, and will help you orient yourself if you get lost. Note that, on this map, North is to the right. RR Veterans Grand Army of the Republic Babyland Joss Jenne Kennedy Eastman Daniels Maurer Wilson & Gibb Virden & White Hamilton MAINTENANCE BUILDING IOOF PEDESTRIAN GATE (TO WASHINGTON PARK) MAIN ENTRANCE èN 100 FT. ~ ~