King of the Cowboy Towns...

That's what Western Horseman magazine says (Feb. 2012.).

Now I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, so I'm no cowboy.  But Bev spent lots of time on her dad's ranch in California and knows which end of a horse... oh never mind.

But Sheridan and cowboys?  Now there's a match.

Western Horseman magazine names Sheridan "King of Cowboy Towns"

Here's a bronc rider catching some serious air at the 2008 Rodeo.

Sheridan-WYO Rodeo - 2008n

The Ladies Shall Be At The House On Wednesday

What was life like on Residence Hill on the early days?  It seems that Mrs. Carrie Benham, of 450 S. Thurmond (the current home of the Residence Hill Bed & Breakfast) sometimes hosted her church group.  Perhaps in this way she was like her husband Harry, perhaps both were involved in their community. 

All within that one generation, hardworking families became Sheridan’s leaders.  Some business leaders started out pushin' cattle as John Kendrick did others hauled and sold lumber, as Harry Benham did.  In that one generation Sheridan grew from a few log cabins to a bustling town.  

So on May 10^th 1910, the Ladies Circle of the Congregational Church Ladies met a Carrie’s house.   I wonder what they talked about? I'm blogging in the expanded kitchen, and the door to the great room is half open.  Do you suppose, if I listen carefully, I can hear the echos of their voices?

Harry Benham is Doing Better

On December 27, 1911, just one hundred years plus two weeks ago, the Sheridan Enterprise reported that H. C. Benham was somewhat improved. His "greatly aggravated attack of quincy" seems to have lifted.

'Quincy' or 'Quinsy' seems to be an archaic term for tonsillitis run amok. A more modern term (and definitely less palatable) is 'Peritonsillar Abscess'. If you truly want the gory details, go here.

Sadly - his father, Jacob died while Harry was sick, as was reported in the Enterprise of December 22, 1911.

The good news is he got better, going on to become (from his bio):

director and v-pres. Sheridan County Bldg. & Loan Assn., since organization, 1912; director and pres. Sheridan Business Men’s Club, 1914; director and v.-pres. Sheridan Commercial club, 1912-1914; first president Denver-National Parks Highway Assn., 1913; pres. Sheridan Good Roads Club, 1913-1914; mem.  Masons, York rite;  Past High Priest R. A.  Masons.

Surfing in Wyoming (in January?)

A lazy Sunday afternoon with too much time on the Internet sometimes reveals nice surprises.  I happened upon wyohistory.org a project of the Wyoming State Historical Society.

I read about the Johnson County War.  It was the baiss of the 1953 movie Shane, with Alan Ladd and Jean Arthur.

When one adopts a place as one’s home, there is always much to learn.  In my case I was also looking for more information on Harry Benham, who built our home.  No luck there, but the web site has a lot of neat stuff.  Check it out.

I Played With the TripAdvisor Travel Map.

I know I missed a lot of spots - especially in India, where I've traveled.  Still it was a lot of fun.

John B. Kendrick

Sheridan County records indicate that John B. Kendrick was the first owner of the property that later became known as Residence Hill.  His influence in Sheridan is still evident.  Sheridan's delightful City Park is Kendrick Park, and generations of kids have splashed in Kendrick Pool.  Kendrick Mansion regally overlooks the old part of town (see Sheridan's Trail End State Historic Site), and visitors can golf at Kendrick Golf Course.

His biography from the Men of Wyoming reads:

John B. Kendrick, governor of Wyoming; cattleman; (Dem.) b. Sept. 6, 1857, Cherokee county, Texas; s. of John Harvey and An.na (Maye) Kendrick; educ. pub. Schls. Florence, Williamson county, Texas; raised on a Texas ranch; cowboy on the Texas Trail, beginning March 17, 1879; trailed cattle from Matagardo Bay, Gulf coast, to the head of Running Water, in Wyoming, 1,500 miles; was employed by chas. W. Wulfjen, whose daughter he afterward married; arrived in Wyoming Aug. 27, 1879; continued in the employ of Mr. Wulfjen until spring 1883 as foreman of his outfit: built what is known as the Ula ranch in eastern central Wyoming during this time; in 1883 he returned to Texas and invested  his savings in a small bunch of cattle and placed them with another  herd belonging to his former employer, trailed them to the head of the Cheyenne river in Wyoming; acted as foreman for and became an owner of the Lance Creek Cattle Co., 1885-7; range manager of the Converse Cattle Co., 1887-97; succeeded the Converse Cattle Co., in business 18097, buying their ranch and herd remnants; has continued actively in the cattle business since; interested in the coal mining fields of Sheridan county and is heavily interested in Wyoming real estate; pres. First National Bank, Sheridan 1900-2; Wyo. State Senator, 1911-15; Democratic candidate for  U. S. senator, 1912; pres. Wyoming Stockgrowers’ Assn., 1909-13; v-pres. National Livestock Assn., 1910-15; governor Wyoming 1915-1919; mem. 32 deg. Mason; Elks. Home Sheridan, Wyo. Address:  Cheyenne Wyoming.

How to Get Here

From I-90 take exit #23 (5^th St. ) West into Sheridan.  At the stop light (Main St.) turn left (South).  Drive through the business district to the Court House and turn right onto Burkitt St.  You will be heading west.  Travel 3 blocks and turn left at the blinking red light onto Thurmond.  At the top of the first big hill is 450 S. Thurmond.

GPS Cordinates:  44.797916,-106.959801