Luke Voorhees Manuscript

Collection

Identifier: MSS 195B

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This file contains type written copies of three short manuscripts written by Luke Voorhees.

In one, Voorhees recalls his acquaintances with William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, including meeting Cody's mother who ran a road house outside of Lawrence, Kansas in 1857. He discusses Cody and his partner Grouard's knowledge of Native American sign language and western geography. Jim Baker's family life and living arrangements are also mentioned. Voorhees discusses what he sees as the misguided efforts to memorialize Cody and Baker, including preservation of the Jim Baker cabin.

Another manuscript briefly details the work of the first Territorial Legislature to create Sweetwater and Uinta Counties and names the first county officials.

The last manuscript is potentially incomplete. Voorhees discussed many of the firsts for the city of Cheyenne, including the arrival of the first train, church services, first bicycle (velocipede/"two-wheeled jackrabbit"), and the marriage of James B. Cox and Ellen C. Harrington. He was present at the driving of the golden spike completing the transcontinental railroad and describes the occasion. He also relays the predictions of many at the time that the railroad would not survive and likens it to the future of dry farming in Laramie County.

Voorhees recalls the deaths of the Metz family near Red Canyon, on the Cheyenne Black Hills stageline in April 1876. The family, a black woman, and several other white travelers were killed during a fight with local Native Americans. Voorhees found the bodies and assisted in their burial. He describes the scene in graphic detail. His business partner, Henry E. Brown, was killed three days later near the Hat Creek Station.

Dates

Undated

Creator

Voorhees, Luke, 1834-1925 (Person)

Biographical Note

"Luke Voorhees, a resident of the west since 1859, died at his home in Cheyenne last Friday. He had been attacked with pneumonia and his age gave little hope that he would recover. He was in his eighty-seventh year.

Mr. Voorhees was a native of New Jersey, coming west to Pike's Peak during the gold excitement in 1859. He was at Alder Gulch in Montana during the gold excitement there in the early sixties, was at the driving of the golden spike which united the Central and Union Pacific railroads and operated a stage line from Cheyenne to the Black Hills during the rush to the Deadwood field. He was the first territorial treasurer of Wyoming and filled the office of receiver of the Cheyenne land office during the Wilson administration. He was Justice of the Peace at Cheyenne at the time of his death.

He is survived by his wife and a son, George Voorhees."

-- obituary from the Douglas Budget 1925/01/22

Extent

1 file folder

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Three short manuscripts written by Luke Voorhees recalling his memories of Buffalo Bill Cody, Jim Baker, early Cheyenne, the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory Point, and the aftermath of a fight between white travelers and Native Americans near the Cheyenne Black Hills Stageline in 1876.