Name/Title
File, DocumentEntry/Object ID
2015.180.11.147Scope and Content
Rans Baker's Research Collection
Box 8
2015.180.11.147
The following file is composed of Lectures and Notes given or researched by Rans. Contents have briefly been listed. For more information on the subject, see the notebook.
Potpourri of Business in the 1880’s
3rd Lecture 3/20/2001
Union Pacific Railroad brought jobs to the area and Rawlins in particular.
In the 70’s Seminoe-Ferris Gold Rush, 1871 brought 1,000 miners to that region
Other mining
Freighting through the 1880’s, ox, mule and horse drawn , hauled goods north and south from the railroad, especially shipping to the Fort Washakie and White River Agencies.
Other subjects: Government warehouse, population trend in 1879, (800 +-); 1880-1500;
This legal pad of Ran’s notes has a taped paper over a handwritten page which is about the violence in the town and other mayhem.
1879, it names people, bars and dives.
Other subjects: Maxwell House, Old Depot, Union Pacific Hotel (2nd), Senate Saloon and Gambling House, Rawlins House,
Names: William McCarty (opened kilns and made bricks), Sam Morgan, Charles and Harry Blydenburg, Lem Learn, John Gordon,
1880-Masons build a hall on the southwest corner of 4th and Cedar Street; used as an opera house.
Beginning of newspaper, “The Carbon County News,” 1/12/1878. Did not succeed.
E. A. Slack started “The Carbon County Journal,” 7/19/1879. Sold it to J. C. Friend. Became the leading Democratic paper in the WY. Morris C. Barrow started the Republican, “Wyoming Tribune.” This paper was moved to Saratoga and became the “Platte Valley Lyre.” Later sold to Gertrude and Laura Huntington. “The Laborite” started by Will Reid.
Discourse on Labor Unions for the railroad, statistics given for injured and killed in 1888. Threats made against the few Chinese in town to leave.
Other minor newspapers and their origins are listed on page 15.
Opinions about Rawlins from Mrs. Annie Frew (arrived 5/14/1882) and Anne Reid on page 17.
William Granger remodels his store, 1870; the shell of this building can be seen directly across from the present day parking area of the Post Office.
The last remnant of early Rawlins. History of this building given on page 18. (Includes Bennett and Magor).
Reminiscences of Mrs. Con Ryan on the early days and being a wife of a railroad employee. Page 19.
Page 21 describes what she would have seen looking east and west in 1884?
The original town of Rawlins sprung up between the Railroad and Sugar Creek. In 1877 U.P. properly platted the town.
James France building, page 22.
J. W. Hugus, A. F. Brown, John C. Davis, mentioned page 23.
James France banking business fails, page 24, 25. J. W. Hugus banking system seeks to make up for the business. Page 26.
Other businesses:
Ruben Knox Saddlery (sold ½ interest to I. C. Miller, then Miller sold to John F. Foote who placed Knox back in charge). John A. Donnel bought Foote’s interest and the shop became Donnel & Knox?, Page 27. Writes of fancy saddle built for Jay Torrey of Em-Bar Cattle Company.
Rawlins first telephone company, page 27-29
1881-1883 saw the building of the Frank Blake house, The Presbyterian Church, The Methodist Church, the Court House, 1882-1883, Episcopal Church.
1886-Bull Canyon Creek Lake to be built. Later called Hogback Lake. Had to be redone in the 1890’s due to neglect, page 31.
1890 census: 2,235 people in Rawlins
Early Doctors:
Dr. George Sarcheti, homeopathic doctor; first resident U. P. surgeon, Dr. Thomas Maghee, early 80’s; Dr. E. Stuver; Dr. John Osborne, 1881;
Dr. Maghee established the first hospital in one wing of the old jail on the corner of 5th and Cedar.
Page 32-33 concerns Lillian Heath, George Webb, Big Nose George, exact locations of various businesses.
Dr. Stuver built Rawlins 2nd Drug Store, The City Drug on the corner where Rasmusson’s Furniture now stands.
Dr. A. F. Thode, page 33. Dr. T. G. Ricketts, page 34. Amputation of Thomas Cosgriff’s leg, page35.
Growth of Dr. Osborne’s business, page 37.
H. A. Kirk’s daughter, Mrs. Eva Holt, obstetrics, page37.
After March 1889, Dr. Osborne sold his drugstore to Fennimore Chatterton, page 37.
William Jungquist’s hardware and Agricultural Implement Store history, location.
P. J. (Pete) Foster Tobacco-Book-Stationery Store (north and adjacent to Jungquist). History of Pete and his business given, page 37-38. Died 1/27/1883.
Z. T. Brown, law office; Henry Brunning, opened saddle shop; Twin Wallace brothers opened grocery store in Mrs. Foster’s building, 3/1884.
Rawlins Cemetery Association was buying the land on which the current cemetery is located.
Fireworks started blaze in the 300 Block of North Front. Spread Eastward, but was extinguished. Another fire started at 11:00 pm that burned Foster building, Osborne’s drug building, entire 400 block east of 5th and north of Cedar. North Cedar Street spared. More information on this fire of 1884, page 39.
Buildings were replaced with Rawlins Stone. Each business quarried their own stone.
The Rawlins Dimension Sandstone Co. cited in papers as working quarries, Southeast of town, 1887. Trustees: James France, R. M. Galbraith, James G. Rankin, William Smith, Frank Earnest, and John C. Davis. Sold sandstone to Territory University in Laramie, and later to build the new Territory Capitol Building, 1887.
McPherson Quarry, business sales, including the new penitentiary, 1889. History of gray and red sand stone. Kearny Quarries and others; limestone. Contractor H. E. Errett. Jerry Mahoney, quarried.
Security, Strength, Stability ideal symbol for the 1880’s.Collection
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