Kansas to Wyoming, 1881
Virginia Belle Benton
INTRODUCTION
Virginia Belle Benton was 18 years old when the family left northern Kansas for Wyoming. The diary that is published below was written by her day-by-day. Their wagons were pulled by mules.
The writer of the diary was the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. George Washington Benton. The father was not only a minister but also a medical doctor. Other family members who traveled with the wagon train were:
Gazelle Benton—Virginia’s sister.
John and Martha Benton—Virginia’s brother and his wife. These two had been married on December 4, 1878. They spent the rest of their lives in Wyoming.1
An unnamed and undated newspaper clipping told of the marriage of 22-year-old Virginia and a prominent Wyoming rancher as follows:2
Married—Nov. 18, ’85, in the mountain town of Benton, at the new residence of and by Elder Benton, Mr. Willis M. Spear and Miss Blue Belle Benton. A large party of relatives were assembled for the occasion, all bent-on making the affair one of much pleasure. In response to the Minister’s injunction, made in flowery terms the sturdy Spear vowed to shield the modest Blue Belle from the world’s chilling blasts, as together they tread the winding pathway through Life’s meadow.
The diary that follows was published in Annals of Wyoming3 in its issue of April 1942, and it is with permission of the present editor of that publication, Rick Ewig that it is here published once more.
We usually feel that we should publish something of the life of the diary writer; however, her biography was published in a book, Women of Wyoming by Cora M. Beach, 4 and we have added that biography as an Epilogue to the diary.
VIRGINIA BENTON’S DIARY, 1881
Wed., June 15, 1881: We left home about eleven o’clock and after eating dinner with one of our neighbors we traveled about ten miles to our nearest [?] of Riverton, Nebraska, 5 when we camped on the banks of the Republican river until the 18th. Several of our friends came to see us there and to see how we liked camping. Saturday was a very busy day but we finally finished the business that kept us there and left sometime in the afternoon and camped near a sod house which was built on the prairie miles away from every other home and when the men went to the house to see about milk and water they found notice on the door, saying the well had gone dry and the drought had taken the corn and vegetables and they were going back where there was more rain. So we had to take our water keg some distance away to a small stream and also take the teams there to be watered. We had no intention of traveling on Sunday but with such a scarcity of water and no milk we decided to move on, which we did and as it rained we only went far enough to be able to procure milk, water and wood.
Mon., June 20: We traveled all day and camped at night just as a heavy rain storm came on and continued half the night.
June 21: We reached Kearney and camped on the west side of the city.
June 23: We camped west of Elm Creek Station.
June 24: We reached Plum Creek Station and as it rained again we were sheltered by a merchant in rooms above his store.
June 25: We crossed to the south side of the Platte river and camped that night in the sand near the home of a minister, with whom Father was acquainted. Another severe rain, hail, and wind storm came up and tore our tent and blew it over but luckily we could sleep inside the wagons as the fleas were intolerably thick here and would have eaten us alive if given half a chance.
June 27: We stayed there over Sunday and Mon. We only traveled about 20 miles as the rains had made the roads too muddy and where there was no mud it was sandy and the thermometer stood at 92 in the shade.
June 28: We traveled another 20 miles and reached the abandoned Ft. McPherson6 and as a terrible wind storm came up we were given permission to camp in one of the vacant buildings which we were very glad to do as we could not have stretched our tent. That day our dogs saw a band of sheep for the first time and killed one before we could reach them so we bought the one they killed and enjoyed eating fresh mutton.
June 29: We took the opportunity of washing and afterwards we went to visit the National Cemetery7 (which was taken care of by an old Irish gentleman and his son) which looked so very pretty and green that we thought of an oasis in the desert. We were invited to spend that evening with a family living there, and enjoyed the music which we unitedly produced without stopping to consider whether our voices were cultivated or not.
June 30: We stopped at noon near the home of a Swede who presented us with new potatoes and some fresh mutton and we entertained two guests at dinner that evening. We camped near North Platte city and Mr. Nickham and his daughter (who were our guests at noon) gave out an appointment for religious services in the Baptist church there and Father preached to the few who could be notified in such a short time.
July 1: We stopped on our way through North Platte and ate ice cream. (A great luxury)
July 3: We traveled about 25 or 30 miles and camped near the river again over Sunday, which proved to be a hot windy day. Two cowboys, Black and John Meyers, and a Doctor camped there also.
July 4: Was very cool and chilly in the morning, scorching hot afternoon. We traveled as far as Brule Station and camped.
July 5: We only came about five miles this side of Big Springs [Nebraska] as we had another storm from every direction, a little boy wanted to come with us to Cheyenne. He had come from Chicago.
July 6: A “Dr. Powell” came along with a blanket, one that someone had given him, and as we thought him queer we were glad he was not going our way. We ate dinner at Denver Junction and passed thru Julesburg [Colorado] and camped on Lodgepole Creek [Nebraska], We ate dinner at Lodgepole station and camped for the night about two miles from Colton Station, where several families were camped who were on their way from Texas to Oregon.
July 8: We reached Sidney [Nebraska] in time to see the soldiers on drill with their horses. We received several letters here, had our teams shod, and traveled nine miles farther before camping for the night.
July 9: We traveled 17 miles and camped beside a spring where thistle roses, rock lilies, primroses and other flowers were growing.
July 10: Sunday again—we wrote letters.
July 11: Traveled 25 miles and camped near Bushnell station [Nebraska]. Showers again. Dr. Powell reappeared and ate supper and breakfast with us.
July 12: We ate dinner near Pine Bluffs, Wyoming Territory. Passed Egbert Station and Widow Brown’s sheep ranch and camped where the swallows had built their nests in the cliffs.
July 13: We came five miles up on the prairie and could see the mountains like a great bank of clouds in the distance. We traveled 26 miles and camped near Cheyenne—east of town near the lake. Cheyenne is 13 years old and the houses are low on account of the wind. We all received letters here. Prayer meeting night so Father and sister went to church and met the Whipples.
July 14: Mrs. Whipple came to visit us in camp today and took me home with her for awhile. This afternoon we passed through Cheyenne and our road led us out past the Fair Grounds and Ft. Russell.8 We camped near Whitcomb’s sheep ranch and Father and sister drove down to get milk for the children. The housekeeper told them the romantic history of Whitcomb’s marriage to a descendant of a Sioux Indian princess, and showed them the oil paintings of the daughters who were away at boarding school.
July 15: Traveled about 21 miles—stopping at the foot of the mountains for dinner and camping in an open park on top of the mountains, which we were told were the Laramie Mts.
July 16: Our first morning in the mountains, so far from every human being but ourselves and such a silence and hush over everything. Not even a bird call could be heard. Delightfully cool and fresh after the rain. I wanted to walk and examine every boulder and every plant by the way. We saw a mountain looking like a fortress, and another place like a graveyard with headstones, a pulpit, seats, a bar and a platform. We ate our dinner where we could see the Tower of Babel in the distance. It rained in the afternoon and we passed a rock that looked like a square tombstone with two rosebushes beside it. We had a very, very steep hill to ascend, where there were three springs and then a gradual descent of 12 miles thru the Cheyenne Pass where the road was just wide enough for one wagon at a time. One place was so slanting that my left hind wheel was moving in space for one breathless second, but luckily the wagon did not tip over, and we reached the valley safely. Camped about one mile east of Laramie City. We had another downpour of rain which made us sad and sloppy.
July 17: Father, John and Gazelle went to the Baptist Church to Sunday School (Pastor away) and were invited to dinner by one of the Deacons, so accepted the invitation. Another storm. John and Gazelle came back to camp but Pa stayed and held services in the evening and stayed all night.
July 18: Rained again and we were invited to move into the vestry of the church, which we were glad to do and have a dry spot to sleep in.
July 19: Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn called on us. Father and John went to Cummins about 30 miles away in the Rocky Mts. to see if it would be a good place to camp while we were waiting word from Frank, who had gone on to Oregon and Washington. Gazelle and I attended Young Peoples’ meeting in the evening. Rainy again.
July 20: Mother returned Mrs. Blackburn’s call and I stayed all night with Mrs. B. as Mr. B. was away, and she was nervous about staying alone.
July 21: I read “Bitter Sweet”9 from Mrs. Blackburn’s library. Pa and John returned. I stayed with Mrs. B. again and read part of “Stepping Heavenward, ”10
July 22: Finished reading and went back to church. We packed up and started for Cummins in the afternoon— camped about 7 miles from town.
July 23: We traveled about 23 miles and passed thru the little mining town of Cummins11—camped about 2 miles beyond, beside a spring on the mountainside. Father bought some wild respberries from some small boys and we had a feast.
July 24: Father, John and I went to Sunday School in Cummins at 3 o’clock, 24 persons present. In the evening Pa, Mat and I went to church service; Mr. Nixon preached.
July 26: Gazelle and I picked some raspberries and made jam.
July 28: I went berry picking with some ladies from Cummins—when I came back to camp found Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn, daughter and niece, Mrs. Wyman and Mrs. Kelly, calling on Mother. They all went to gather berries afterwards. Yesterday was Mother’s 58th birthday.
July 29: John and Mat began hauling lumber to Laramie. Pa and I went to the Betsy Jane Mine and called on Mrs. Blackburn. Mrs. Wyman, Mrs. Kelly and Dr. Watson with his sister Mary went with us to the Quartz mill.
July 31: Wrote letters in the A.M. After noon, Father, Mother, John and I went to Sunday School. Father preached in the evening. Mrs. Bacon, Mrs. Watkins, Miss Watkins and I were the only ladies there.
August 1: Mat took a load of lumber to Laramie. Pa and John went down to Cummins to help him and came across Mat Derley of Hennepin, Ill. He is a relative of Martha’s (John’s wife). The men went hunting—started for Tie Park—came back before dark.
August 2: Sue (the mule) was sick so Mat did not return till after dark. Pa and John engaged to get 10 cords of wood—8 ft. long for $25.00.
August 3: John and Mat chopped and hauled two loads of wood to the quartz mill and Father hauled a load of lumber to Cummins for Beard & Thomas.
August 4: John and Mat hauled three loads of wood and Pa hauled one load of lumber. A balloon passed over about sunset.
August 6: They took the wood to Cummins and broke a reach so did not get back until noon. Pa went down town on horseback and took supper at the Betsy Jane. Mr. Wyman and his little girl came for medicine for the baby. The people in Cummins had a fracas with Milo Kendall—the Constable—and drove him away.
August 7: Father and I went to meeting in the morning and heard Mr. Sanders read his sermon. Six of us went to Sunday School in the afternoon and Mr. Derley came home with us and stayed all night. He and [John] went hunting up to Tie Park12 on the 8th and John and Mat took two loads of lumber to Cummins. I read “The Fishers of Derby Haven.”13 Rained very hard.
August 9: J. and M[atha] went to Laramie with lumber. It rained in sheets and comforters in the afternoon and we sat in the tent and listened to Mr. Derley telling how he found thieves on the Kankakee River—where he was acting as a detective a good many years ago.
August 11: John’s team strayed away Tuesday night and the boys had to hunt for them. Pa was so worried that he started to Laramie to look for the boys. Mrs. Gage, Mrs. Edmunds and several boys passed on their way to the berry patch. It stormed. I started down to Hardings and met Bacon, Mr. Derley and Gazelle coming up—rode back with them.
August 12: Very foggy. No man in camp so G. and I had to hunt up Kitty and Kizer, the little mules—which we succeeded in doing after a great deal of tramping. The men came back and brought letters.
August 13: Mrs. Harding and I went berrying. John hunted for Kitty and Kizer and found them helping themselves to pie in Mrs. Watkins’ kitchen window.
August 14: Father, John and I went to the school house and Father preached. About 50 people present. It rained. Mr. Peabody and Mr. Banks addressed the S.S. A Bible reading was given in the evening.
August 15: Mr. Linn came to our camp and told us about the route up to the northern part of Wyoming and about the fish, game, lovely water and tillable lands on Goose Creek—as he had seen it in passing thru. Mr. Banks and Miss Forbes came and borrowed my side saddle. Mrs. Gage and Mrs. Watkins came for a few minutes. John and Mat put their wagon boxes back on the running gears.
August 16: We packed the wagons. Mr. Peabody, wife and two boys, Mr. Banks, Mr. Sales, Elder Watson (of Laramie), Mrs. Cook and Mr. Blackburn came to maek us a farewell call. We started while it was raining and passed thru Cummins. Camped that night about eight miles from there beside an irrigating ditch.
August 17: We stopped at Sodogreen’s to get some good water to drink and stopped near Hutton’s ranche to get our dinner. It stormed but we finished our journey to Laramie and camped on the West side of the river. Father and mother went to stay all night at Blackburn’s.
August 18: We went shopping at Wagner’s and I bought a pair of shoes $2.50, a porte monnai[e] 50c, gloves $1.00, 3 hdkfs, 50c, and then went to Mrs. Blackburn’s and she gave me 4 chromos. We went to the ticket office to see a huge stuffed bear and in the evening went to prayer meeting at the Baptist Church. Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Barron, Mrs. Bannon, Mrs. Wilmot, Mrs. Riggs, Elva Bunker and some other ladies were there.
August 19: We left Laramie and traveled thru red earth and sand for 18 miles and camped by the Lewis Ranch all night. Came down the Laramie River.
August 20: The mules had strayed, so while the men were hunting them, Mrs. Lewis and her sister came and visited with us and then we went to the house and visited them. We started as soon as the mules were found and crossed the river at Little’s ranche and came up Cooper Lake station, past the steam construction for forcing the water to the R.R. tank, then thru green brush and swamps to a road on the north side of the R.R. and to the head of a lake near a snowshed, where we camped for the night
Sunday, August 21: The mules were all gone to the Laramie River so the men had to go after them. Pa shot an antelope, 2 miles from camp and Gazelle helped him bring it up before breakfast. Mr. Clark and wife from Cedarville, Kansas, passed us and went to Lookout station to camp. As it was a better camp and they were going to northern Wyoming too, we moved camp to Lookout station for the night.
August 22: We traveled thru sand and cobblestones to Rock Creek station and camped there. Father found that the Mr. Thayer who owned the store there was a cousin of his first wife (Maria Morse). Mr. Thayer’s two fine sons came to camp to call on us and Mr. John Thayer came and spent the evening. He has been a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, and Governor of Wyoming. J.W. Austin and family were camped at this place also with some young people of their party and we enjoyed hearing them sing in the evening. “Tenting on the Old Camp Ground” and “My Pretty Quardoon [Quadroon]” were especially sweet to hear in the open air.
August 23: We came nine miles up into the hills and stopped for dinner. There was neither wood, water or grass but rocks all around and sand and red earth. In the afternoon we reached the 22 mile ranche and camped—no wood, poor grass but very good water, Mrs. Evans who lived there invited us in to have some music in the evening.
August 24: We traveled over a rocky sandy road to Yankee’s ranche—camped for dinner and found to our surprise that they had a piano there. Afternoon we passed Mountain Home ranche14—entered La Bonte Canyon and camped beside the stream in a beautiful spot with the wooded cliffs towering above us. The ruins of an old stage station were there and the grave of a murdered man (Ed Hewitt—July 15, 1878) himself a murderer. A lonely place but with the Clark and Austin party and some soldiers who were camped there we became a little village of white tents.
August 25: We passed Hall’s ranche and stopped at Point of Rocks Station at noon, then at Point of Rocks filled our keg with water and came over the mountains. Camped beside the LaParele [LaPrele] creek in the canyon. Found Mr. Austin’s kitten.
August 26: We passed Slaymaker’s ranche and got some water at Mason’s cut off, came within 15 miles of Ft. Fetterman15 and stopped for dinner, where there was a ranche. Came 12 miles to Spring Canyon ranche and a half mile farther we camped beside the LaParele again.
August 27: We passed Ft. Fetterman and crossed the North Platte bridge thru sand 15 miles to Sage Creek station and camped. We went to the Clark and Austin camp and had a good time singing again.
Sunday, August 28: The Clarks and Austins went on to Brown’s Springs. A Texas Ranger got his breakfast with us and told us stories of his adventures. A Dutchman, Winters, came after dark and got a cup of tea. [29th] Mr. Winters and Mrs. Fifield ate breakfast with us. We came 12 miles to Brown’s Springs and stopped for dinner. In the afternoon we passed Dry Cheyenne station. 9 miles from there we reached Stinking Water creek and 4 miles farther to Sand Creek where we camped for the night. We first saw sage hens this afternoon and killed several.
August 30: We found the water tasted of sage and our sage hens tasted of sage and when Mother sent me after whole pepper and told me to grind it in the coffee mill, I got cuble [cubeb] berries instead—so our breakfast was very spicy. Five miles from there we passed Antelope ranche and when Father went to the door to make inquiries there were 8 men, one Mr. Fifield, gambling, which so horrified him that we hurried away and drove two miles farther thru sandbeds and stopped for dinner in a dry creek bed. After dinner we came about 14 miles and struck a roundup. They gave us some meat. It was dark but we kept on until we reached Hathaway’s old ranche or 17 Mile R. and camped beside Mr. Clark’s outfit.
August 31: We traveled 17 miles to Hathaway’s new ranche, crossed Powder R. and camped near old Ft. Reno.16 Pa saw two Englishmen who were going to the “Big Horn.” Some of the cowboys and Mr. Fifield came down and Pa preached to them. John was sick. Mr. Clark was very much excited as he considers all cowboys desperate characters. He drew all his canvas down tight around his wagon, crawled inside and kept his hand on his gun until they all left camp.
September 1: We left old Fort McKinney depot—stopped at Steve Farwell’s store for some supplies and came on to the Nine Mile Hole where we camped for dinner. It was so warm and windy we could scarcely keep our eyes open to drive so we decided to stay here until tomorrow as there is a prospect of getting some antelope. Pa and a ranchman went hunting but they failed to find any antelope. An old man who looks as if he and beer were boon companions camped beside us this evening and he informed us that he is Colonel McConihe.
September 2: Mr. Lambert and McConihe ate breakfast with us. We came 18 miles to Crazy Woman’s Fork and Harris’s ranche, and ate dinner—then six miles farther and camped for the night. Weather very cold. Mr. McConihe ate supper with us.
September 3: McC. ate breakfast with us and the Englishman with Mr. Serithers came along just as we started. We came by the Nine and Six Mile ranches and stopped on Clear Creek near Ft. McKinney.17 Father went over to the fort and made an appointment to preach in the Company quarters at 3 o’clock on Sunday. Mr. Lenney came back with him.
September 4: Father and I went to meeting in one of the buildings used for the telegraph office. Mr. Lang was usher, and the house was crowded. As we were returning to camp it began to blow and storm—exceedingly cold to us for this time of year. Emily Fordice came to camp and visited a long time. Rained tonight.
September 5: Pa got some fresh vegetables—3 cabbages, 5 cucumbers, 2 beets and some turnips and onions—which taste good to us. The Clear Creek water is so delicious that we can hardly get enough of it after all the alkali and sage flavored water we have been forced to drink on our way up here. This evening Mr. Sparks, Co. A. cornet player, and Mr. Ackerman, the trumpeter of Co. G. 9th Cav., came over and spent the evening.
September 6: We woke up to find the ground covered with snow. Got our letters and papers so read them.
September 7: We started out again—came thru Buffalo and about 4 miles from Snyder’s to Rock Creek—stopped for dinner. Mr. Fifield went by on horseback. We came on past Lake DeSmet to Sturgis ranche (Buttermilk Sturgis) on Shell Creek and camped. While we were spending the evening with the Sturgis family, Miss Lida Davis, Miss Burgess and Mr. Babcock came to ask Miss Sturgis to go to a dance at Sonnesbergers.
September 8: Mr. Sturgis, Father and John went to Big Piney to look for a ranche. I read “Milbank.” [Millbank]18 September 9: It rained. Pa and John went to Piney again but came back without finding one.
September 10: Miss Davis, Miss Burgess, Mr. Snider and another man rode past, on their way to Big Horn. Pa and John went to Goose Creek. I read “Marian Grey” (consider it slush—Kept the mules from straying and killed a rattlesnake.
September 11, Sunday: I read “Work or Christie’s Experience” over again. Sid Sturgis, prospective Sheriff James, Mr. Fifield, and Oliver Hanna called at Sturgis. Mr. Hersey and Mr. Carns came by. A theatre troupe went by, going to Ft. McKinney.
September 12: Miss Wright and her brother-stopped here on their way home from Sonnesbergers. Mr. Canning and some other folks, from the fort, went by a fishing. Mr. C. stopped to buy some sugar.
September 13: Father and John came back and Mr. Wolfe came with them to see the harness, wagon, and the white mules “Sam and Sue” which father is trading for 160 acres on Little Goose Creek, 19 ½ miles above Big Horn.
September 14: We left Shell Creek and ate our dinner near Mr. Terrill’s ranche, where Mr. Wright is living. Came by way of Meade’s cut-off to Little Goose Creek and saw our new home in all the glory of autumn tints in the leaves of the wild plum and choke cherries, cottonwood, quaking asp, birch and willow. We are content with the two room cabin for a haven of rest after three months of camping, although doorways and window openings have to be covered with blankets and sheets. Doors and windows cannot be gotten short of Cheyenne or Laramie.
EPILOGUE
MRS. WILLIS M. SPEAR20
State Regent Daughters of the American Revolution
“As the twig is bent the tree inclines” is a trite saying that applies to Mrs. Willis M. Spear, the daughter of Reverend and Mrs. George W. Benton. She was born December 6, 1863 in Berlin, Wisconsin, and her early childhood memories are of the return of the family to Illinois and the migrations to Kansas and later to Wyoming. Reared in the home of a Medical Missionary who was at the service and call of all who might need him over a radius of sixty or seventy miles, she early learned the meaning of the word “service, ” and the fact that a life spent in the poursuit of selfish pleasure was barren indeed.
It was at the age of eight years that she recalls the first winter they spent in Iowa at a small place called Tyson’s Mills, where her father preached and ministered to the sick, and later the residence in Kansas and eventually the final migration to Wyoming. She was educated in the public schools of the localities in which the family lived and for a time she attended private schools, and later study classes helped her to acquire information on subjects in which she was much interested. She says “the school of experience” has been her greatest teacher, however, and that her special interests, music and art, have been pushed aside for the practical part of living.
The greater part of Mrs. Spear’s life in Wyoming has been spent on the ranch which was the original holding of her father, for just prior to her marriage to Willis M. Spear, November 18, 1885, he purchased the ranch from Mr. Benton, and this continues to be the Spear home during the summer months and as much of the time during the winter months as they can manage. The Spear family lived continuously on the ranch until the winter of 1902–1903 when they found it necessary to establish a residence in Sheridan where their children could have the advantages in school work offered by the higher grades, and here too, they built a home. The change in ownership of the ranch saw no diminution in its social life for it continued to be the center of social activities for the young people of the community as well as those older. Mrs. Spear was president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and as a member of the First Baptist Church in Sheridan, taught in its Sunday School, was a member of the choir, a church trustee and treasurer of the building fund for the church. She was secretary of the Old Settlers’ Club of Sheridan for fifteen years and is still a member. In 1911 she affiliated with the Sheridan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and served it as treasurer, historian and regent. She was elected State Registrar of the organization in 1918, re-elected in 1920. In 1922 she was elected State Treasurer and two years later, Vice Regent, succeeding to the office of State Regent early in 1925, upon the resignation of Mrs Bacon (the then State Regent), and was elected to succeed herself at the Conference in 1926. She is also a member of the Sheridan Woman’s Club, the Book Review Club and the Sheridan Music Club.
During the World War she was a Captain of a group in selling Liberty Bonds and had charge of seven counties in raising funds for an ambulance to be sent to France from Wyoming “Daughters” for the use of the soldier boys.
Mrs. Spear is a woman of high ideals, a worthy daughter of worthy parents, kindly and charitable in her dealings with her fellowmen. Her home is one where hospitality reigns and the door has “the latch-string on the outside.” She is a warm and loyal friend, a true and much-beloved wife and mother.
Mr. Spear, too, is of a family of early Wyoming pioneers and is one of the highly respected men of his community, and has been honored in many ways, at present he is the Senior Senator from Sheridan County, which office he has held for six years. He is one of the large stockmen of his locality. Mr. and Mrs. Spear have had the following children:
Jessamine, born in 1886, married in June, 1906. William V. Johnson, and they have the following children: Annabelle Johnson, born 1907, married December 10, 1925, Jackson Moody; Phyllis Vie Johnson, born 1908; William Spear Johnson, born 1912; Elsie Eileen, born 1915;Torrey Benton, born 1916; Victor Elarth, born 1922; Homer Bradford, born 1925. Living in Kirby, Montana.
Willis Benton, born 1888, married in February, 1914, Ruth Henderson, of Washington, D.C.
Philip Torrey, born 1892, married in October, 1915, Jessie Mather of Fremont, Nebraska.
Elsie H., born in 1896, married in June, 1916 to Harold C. Edwards. Theri home is in Sheridan and they have the following children: Virginia Maye Edwards, born December 22, 1917; Elsie, born August 15, 1919; Charlene Howard, born October 5, 1920; Lois Adeline, born June 26, 1925.
1 Martha Charlotte Benton’s obituary was poublished in the Sheridan Press on Nov. 12, 1945, p. 1. She died on Nov. 10, 1945.
2 The Willis and Virginia Spear papers in the Wyoming State Archives, Museums & Historical Department, Cheyenne. MSS. 450. Typescript of the papers of Ellis Spear, presented by Jessamine Spear Johnson, March 1942.
3 “The Spears of Sheridan County, ” XIV, No. 2, pp. 99–127. The diary is on pages 108 to 120.
4 (Casper, Wyoming, 1927), pp. 493–94.
5 The starring point of the Benton journey was Smith County, central Kansas, immediately south of the Nebraska border.
6 This military post was established 2 miles west of Cottonwood Springs, Nebraska, on September 27, 1863. It was abandoned on March 19, 1880. Robert W. Frazer, Forts of the West (Norman, OK, 1965) pp. 85–88. See also Louis A. Holmes, Fort McPherson, Nebraska (Lincoln, 1963).
7 Frazer, op. cit. p. 185. As Fort Mc Pherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska, it has continued to the present. Here are buried those who have been killed in all the wars since.
8 Fort Russell had been established on July 21, 1867, three miles west of Cheyenne, Wyoming, on the north bank of Crow Creek. It is now the Francis h. Warren Air Force Base.
9 Josiah Gilbert Holland, Bittersweet (New York, 1858).
10 Elizabeth Prentiss, Stepping Heavenward (N.Y., 1869). One early commentator wrote of her as “a writer of religious and juvenile fiction.”
11 Now known as Cummins City. Mae Urbanek, in her book, Wyoming Place Names (Missoula, Montana, 1988), p. 47, tells of the founding of the town by John Cummins, a miner. He salted the region with copper ore samples and sold it for a huge price to an eastern company; then he absconded with the money to Texas. Nothing exists there now. The Bentons camped in the Cummins City area from July 23 to August 16.
12 This was a place where they stored and processed railroad ties.
13 This was a book by Hesba Stratton (1832–1911), (London, Religious Tract Society, 1866).
14 Also known as Camp Marshall, a telegraph station about 66 miles west of Fort Laramie. Grace R. Hebard anti E.A. Brininstool, The Bozeman Trail, (Glendale, CA, 1960), Vol. 1, p. 81.
15 Fort Fetterman was established on the south bank of the North Platte River, near the mouth of La Prele Creek. It was here that the Bozeman Trail forsook the river and turned north. Although it is a ghost now, some buildings still remain. Frazer, op. cit., p.
16 The Federal Government built three small forts in 1866 and garrisoned them to protect travelers along the Bozeman Trail. They were Fort Reno and Forth Phil Kearny in northwestern Wyoming, and Fort C.F. Smith in Montana. Fort Reno was abandoned in 1868. T.A. Larson, Wyoming (New York, 1977), pp. 68ff, and Robert A. Murray, Military Posts in the Powder River Country of Wyoming, 1865–1894.
17 Fort McKinney was established in 1877 on Clear Creek, a branch of the Powder River. It was abandoned in 1894. In 1903 it was made into the “State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home.” Frazer, op. cit., p. 183.
18 Millbank was a novel written in 1871 by Mary Jane Holmes, a most prolific writer. The books Virginia Benton tells of reading during the remainder of her journey were also written by Holmes. One early biographer of this writer describes her works as “pure in tone and-free from sensational incidents.“ Most would say today they were over-sentimental in tone. She wrote 28 novels and collected stories. Virginia Benton wrote off another of Holmes’ novels, Marian Grey, “Consider it slush.” See entry for September 10 below.
19 Little Goose Creek and Big Goose Creek have their confluence in the city of Sheridan, which received its name and first postoffice in 1881, the same year the Bentons arrived. Urbanek, op. cit., p. 179.
20 Cora M. Beach, Women of Wyoming (Casper, WY, 1927), pp. 493–94.