The American West | Cowboy State Daily

The American West is a place of cultural significance, dominant landscapes, and stories that transcend time. In this series learn about the people, the myths, legends, and reality of a place that is unique in American History.

Contributors

Fueled by chokecherry wine and a reputation for headbutting his way into trouble, a Danish prospector’s murderous rampage along Badwater Creek in 1932 became an infamous across Wyoming.

Wyoming History: The Butting Dane’s Drunken, Murderous Badwater Creek Rampage

Fueled by chokecherry wine and a reputation for headbutting his way into trouble, a prospector with the nickname the "Butting Dane" went on a drunken, murderous rampage along Badwater Creek in 1932 that became infamous across Wyoming.

Jackie DorothyAugust 09, 2025

Wyoming History: Teddy Roosevelt Wanted Big Game In Yellowstone, But Settled For A Vole

During his famous 1903 two-week stay in Yellowstone National Park, President Teddy Roosevelt itched to hunt up some big game. Instead, he settled for scooping up a vole with his hat.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 03, 2025

Clearmont Jail Jon Roanhaus Public Domain 8 2 25

Wyoming History: That Time Skunks Got Mad In The Tiny 2-Cell Jail In ‘Bloody’ Clearmont

Now part of the town playground, the tiny two-cell Clearmont jail has a bizarre history in a town once described as being “bloody.” Built to hold drunks and booze runners, its most infamous story comes from the time skunks got in — then got mad.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 02, 2025

The cemetery below Roundtop Mountain was founded in the early 1900s, nearly 150 years after a battle is believed to have been fought on the summit of Roundtop.

Wyoming History: 250 Years Ago, Pivotal Battle Was Fought On Roundtop Mountain

Roundtop Mountain near Thermopolis, Wyoming, is now a popular hiking destination, but it’s also where the Shoshone are said to have gotten their first horses. That came from a pivotal battle fought there against settlers about 250 years ago.

Jackie DorothyJuly 27, 2025

Cowboys on the range. Depicts many men sitting in front of a cook's tent in the late 1800s.

Wyoming History: Cowboys Were Tough, Determined And Could Gossip Up A Storm

Surviving in the remote settlements of the Wyoming Territory in the late 1880s took grit, determination and getting into everyone’s business. Cowboys were tough, and also could gossip up a storm to combat loneliness and hard living.

Jackie DorothyJuly 26, 2025

Jacob Snyder, above, was a close friend of Butch Cassidy, below, and, like Cassidy, claimed he was not an outlaw, but had been framed as a thief by a Wyoming ranch foreman with a grudge. History says maybe, maybe not. They were both inmates at the territorial prison in Laramie at the same time.

Wyoming History: That Time Buddies Butch Cassidy And Jacob Snyder Were Framed

Jacob Snyder was a close friend of Butch Cassidy and, like Cassidy, claimed he was not an outlaw, but had been framed as a thief by a Wyoming ranch foreman with a grudge. History says maybe, maybe not.

Jackie DorothyJuly 20, 2025

Paul Knowles shows a recently discovered photo of Jim Douglas, left, founder of Dixon, Wyoming, riding with famous mountain man Jim Baker.

Wyoming History: New Photos Of Legendary Mountain Man Jim Baker Discovered

In what Western historians call an “extremely exciting” discovery, a trunk containing new photographs of the famous mountain man Jim Baker has been found. It also holds letters written to a lawman by Wild Bunch informants.

Renée JeanJuly 20, 2025

Wyoming pioneering game warden Albert Nelson, left, once set the broken leg of famed wildlife artist Carl Rungius, right. The thankful painter gave Nelson a painting that was later saved from the devastating 1927 Kelly Flood.

Wyoming History: Legendary Artist Gave Wyoming's First Game Warden Painting For Setting Broken Leg

Wyoming pioneering game warden Albert Nelson once set the broken leg of legendary wildlife artist Carl Rungius. The thankful artist gave Nelson a rare original painting that was later saved from the devastating 1927 Kelly Flood.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 13, 2025

Wyoming sheep baron J.B. Okie, bottom, was throwing an opulent high-society party when it was crashed by Sheriff Frank K. Webb, above, and his prisoner. That prisoner was Otto Chenoweth, an outlaw horse thief who escaped and charmed the ladies as a dashing gentleman.

Wyoming History: Otto Chenoweth, The Gentleman Outlaw Of Lost Cabin

Sheep baron J.B. Okie was throwing a high-society party at his opulent mansion in Lost Cabin, Wyoming, when it was crashed by the sheriff and his prisoner. That prisoner was Otto Chenoweth, an outlaw horse thief who escaped and charmed the ladies as a dashing gentleman.

Jackie DorothyJuly 06, 2025

Wyoming History: Mountain Man Joe Meek Survived Bears And Blackfeet Raids

When an 18-year-old Joe Meek arrived in the wilderness of Wyoming in 1829, the greenhorn had to toughen up fast to survive bears and hostile tribes. When he fell asleep on guard duty, he also survived the wrath of Capt. William Sublette.

Jackie DorothyJuly 05, 2025

Twin sisters Rula Bullock and Effie Manley were 21 months old when they were taken captive by a killer in their home in March 1955.

Wyoming History: Taken Hostage With Twins By Murderer Changed Green River Woman Forever

It’s been 70 years since Charles Billings, an imposter Pinedale ranch hand, gunned down two men and took a Green River woman and her infant twin daughters hostage. The incident traumatized the woman for the rest of her life, her daughters say.

Dale KillingbeckJune 29, 2025

In 1887, the wild man of Chugwater, dubbed Bud by the locals, roamed around Chugwater Valley, as it was known then, and alluded capture by cowboys and circus men.

Wyoming History: Chugwater Wild Man Was 7-12 Feet Tall And Faster Than A Horse

Newspapers reported the Wild Man of Chugwater was between 7 and 12 feet tall, covered in dark hair and could run faster than any horse. He even eluded a hunt in 1887 by a circus owner who wanted to put him in a cage for his freak show.

Jackie DorothyJune 28, 2025

Wyoming History: Thermopolis Was Founded By A Dashing Outlaw Bachelor

Ben Hanson was the founder of Thermopolis, Wyoming, and a well-respected businessman and cattleman. He also was a dashing outlaw bachelor who was quick with his gun and friends with the notorious Wild Bunch.

Jackie DorothyJune 23, 2025

Carl Dunrud, Wyoming cowboy and Yellowstone Park Ranger, lassoed this male polar bear cub in Baffin Bay. He successfully captured the 2-year-old during the Putnam Greenland Expedition of 1926 and brought it to New York to the Bronx Zoo.

Wyoming History: That Time A Yellowstone Park Ranger Lassoed Polar Bears

Carl Dunrud steadied himself against the small schooner. It was 1926 and the Yellowstone Park ranger and Wyoming cowboy had a lasso ready as he eyed his target. Looking back at him was a polar bear swimming in the cold Arctic Sea.

Jackie DorothyJune 21, 2025

Kathy McKinzie, the great-niece of Gilbert "Muggsy" Schoel, holds the family scrapbook of the fighter who made a name in the boxing world at the turn of the last century.

Wyoming History: ‘The Cheyenne Kid’ Muggsy Schoel Was Boxing Champ In Early 1900s

Wyoming’s “Muggsy” Schoel fought some of the biggest names in professional boxing including the lightweight champion of the world in 1909. Also known as “The Cheyenne Kid,” he was the featherweight champion of the West before he was 20 and fought his last fight when he was 50.

Dale KillingbeckJune 21, 2025

Walter Punteney was a respected cowboy working for the Embar Ranch in Hot Springs County, Wyoming. After his former boss and friend, Jay Torrey, accused him of stealing cattle, Punteney fled to the Hole in the Wall Gang and became a lookout for the Wild Bunch known as Wat the Watcher. He is known to have rustled cattle and robbed at least one bank in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, although lawyers helped get the charges against him lifted. Here he's shown with the Hole in the Wall Gang cabin.

Wyoming History: Outlaw Walt Punteney Was Cattle Rustler, Bank Robber, Heck Of A Nice Guy

Walt Punteney was a well-known member of the notorious Wild Bunch outlaw gang. He rustled cattle, robbed banks and was cheerful and a heck of a nice guy. He also built a saloon which eventually became the popular Cowboy Bar in Pinedale.

Jackie DorothyJune 15, 2025

Henry P. Williams, nicknamed High Powered, tracked the Custer wolf for eight long months. The infamous wolf was finally trapped and shot on Oct. 11, 1920 in Custer County, South Dakota.

Wyoming History: How The Custer Wolf Got The Best Of A Famed Outlaw Hunter

Wyoming’s premier hunter “High Powered” Williams, who had once bested a Hole-in-the-Wall gang member, finally met his match in the 1920s. But it wasn’t another outlaw, it was the notorious Custer wolf that was terrorizing the countryside.

Jackie DorothyJune 08, 2025

Wyoming History: 1927 Kelly Flood Killed 6, Washed Out 75 Buildings

Millions of tons of debris collapsed off Sheep Mountain in Teton County into the Gros Ventre River 100 years ago, creating a new lake. Two years later, the dam breached, flooding the town of Kelly — killing six and washing out 75 buildings.

Dale KillingbeckMay 31, 2025

A view from the old Cheyenne Regional Airport control tower shows the former United Airlines terminal, top center, and warehouse top right. The building with the curved roof is the former airport terminal that closed in more recent years.

Wyoming History: In 1930s-40s, United Made Cheyenne The ‘Air Capital Of The West’

In the 1930s and 1940s, United Airlines made Cheyenne its hub for maintenance, research and training, even making the city the “air capital of the West.” But in 1961, the last of the airline’s ties to the city took off for the last time.

Dale KillingbeckMay 04, 2025

The American West: The Black Hawk War In Utah

The longest, bloodiest war between Indians and Mormon settlers in Utah saw fighting and killing in some 150 skirmishes spread across much of the territory for years. The Ute who led the fighting was Black Hawk, and it became his war.

R.B. MillerMay 02, 2025

Isabel Jewell: Shoshoni, Wyoming’s Hard-Boiled, Tough-Talking Actress

Shoshoni, Wyoming's Isabel Jewell was usually typecast as a hard-boiled, tough-talking broad, gangster's moll, dumb blonde, prostitute, and is known for her poor "white trash" role as Emmy Slattery in “Gone with the Wind.”

Jackie DorothyApril 27, 2025

The American West: Paul Miller Turns Inheritance Into A Freighting Operation

A freighter with a bull team consisting of five oxen, Paul Miller hauled on the Sidney-Deadwood Trail and across South Dakota, carrying everything from mining equipment to beans.

Peggy SandersApril 26, 2025

The American West: A Tale Of Two Colorado Cattle Empires

John Wesley Prowers built the largest cattle ranch in southern Colorado while John Wesley Iliff created his own cattle empire in northeastern Colorado. Both John Wesleys were honest, pioneering men, and very determined.

Linda WommackApril 25, 2025

American West: Wyoming's Earl Durand, The Last Outlaw

The last of the true mountain men, Cody's Earl Durand made his own law. Unwilling to give in to a rapidly changing world that abandoned the ways of the past, Durand fought an inevitable future, until a bank robbery did him in.

Kellen CutsforthApril 24, 2025