Old West History

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Soapy Smith added flair to Denver’s gambling scene in 1880s

(IMPORTANT EDITOR’S NOTE: Shortly after I posted this article to the website, I received a comment from Jeff Smith, the great-grandson of Soapy Smith, and a gentleman who graciously corrected some of the misinformation I had picked up about his great grandfather and passed along below. I urge you to read Jeff’s comment on this post — located at the end of the article — for his corrections and clarifications. I also encourage you to learn more about Soapy Smith from Jeff Smith’s website, “Alias Soapy Smith,” and Jeff’s blog, “Soapy Smith’s Soap Box.” But be warned: The information on that website and that blog is “addictive,” so give yourself lots of time to go there a look around. Heck, if I were you, I’d be sure to bookmark both sites in your browser so you can return there often!)

Vigilantes became the law in 1863-64 Montana

For a period of several months in 1863 and ’64, vigilantes became the only just and true law in and around the gold fields and young settlement of Virginia City, Montana.

Gold Rush came slowly in early Colorado

The so-called Gold Rush, which burst into America’s history with the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in California in 1848, came about in pretty leisurely fashion in Colorado, driven by the casual bands of settlers and stragglers that came to be known as Coloradans. (They “came to be known” by that name because the earliest miners and settlers who populated the region first named it “Jefferson Territory.” The name “Colorado” came as a second choice, after the initial enthusiasm to name the territory to honor President Thomas Jefferson.)

How Buffalo Bill Cody almost saved Sitting Bull’s life

If everything had worked according to Buffalo Bill’s plans, he may have saved the life of his friend, Lakotah Warrior Sitting Bull. However, since things rarely work out according to plans in real-life, the story has some odd twists to it — and, sadly, an unhappy ending.

Book offers treasure trove of stories about Colorado’s gold, silver rushes

One of my very favorite books about the Old West provides a treasure trove of stories about Colorado’s gold and silver rushes. From Bat Masterson to “Baby Doe” Tabor and from Cripple Creek to Leadville — the whole sprawling adventure packed with tales and tall tales is in this book.

Wages of sin paid well for early-1880s Seattle

Preachers and philosophers may debate the wages of sin, but sin paid well for early-1880s Seattle.

According to a paragraph in a fascinating article I was reading recently about Seattle’s famous “Underground,” gambling and prostitution was prevalent in the fledgling Queen City of the Northwest and prompted a sort of “sin tax.” The article mentioned in passing that this tax on the fleshly vices furnished 87 percent of the municipal Seattle budget in 1881-82.

Brown’s steam wagon sought to conquer 1860s Plains freight routes

Looking back into the past, we can see how a steam-powered, iron-wheeled freight wagon to haul goods across several hundred miles of the Great Plains in the 1860s appears to be a real folly. But in 1862, Major Joseph R. Brown, an agent to the Sioux Indians in New Ulm, Minnesota not only thought it was a good idea, he shelled out $9,000 to have the behemoth built. Adding a great deal of other expense, time, and effort, he accompanied his “prairie motor” wagon to the Nebraska City, Nebraska, starting point of what he thought was a prosperous future!

Did Buffalo Bill Cody and Wyatt Earp ever meet?

For all you Old West “history buffs,” students, and Western writers out there who have been at this longer than I, can anyone answer the question I’ve posed in the title of this article? Did Buffalo Bill Cody and Wyatt Earp ever meet? If so, can you point me toward information about any meeting(s) or relationship between the two? If not, how or why do you think such a meeting would NOT take place?

‘Peace Chiefs of the Cheyennes’ — Get a copy of this book

I urge you, if you have any interest in the history and leadership of Plains Indians — especially the Cheyennes — to get a copy of this excellent book by historian Stan Hoig, “The Peace Chiefs of the Cheyennes.” It was published by University of Oklahoma Press in 1980, and, yes, it IS (or at least at the time I’m writing this article) available to order online directly from University of Oklahoma Press — and, no, I don’t make a plug nickle from the purchase if you go to that link and buy yourself a copy.

How to find the best books about life in the Old West

It occurred to me awhile back that many people interested in life in the Old West these days might appreciate some simple, easy ways to find good books and other resources to learn more about the American West. Having grown up in a time when movies, television, and just about every entertainment media had ample references (though often mythical) to the West, this is a subject it never occurred to me might be helpful.

Order rodeo gear — then thank Buffalo Bill for it

Order rodeo gear, from saddles and ropes to rodeo wear of all sorts, then thank Buffalo Bill Cody for his role in “inventing” or at least popularizing modern rodeos.

Throughout America rodeo fans and participants from kids to old timers enjoy annual “Frontier Days” and high school or college rodeo contests. (I’m not a rodeo fan myself, although I’ve been to a few and had a cousin who was a bona fide professional rodeo clown.) I know there’s a professional rodeo circuit that’s been around for a long time, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (P.R.C.A.), and that cowboys and ranch hands from everywhere enjoy showing off their skills and rising to the challenge of serious rodeo competition all over America.

Our adventures on the Pony Express trail were great fun

Our adventures on the Pony Express trail, done a number of years ago for our 25th wedding anniversary, were great fun and very enlightening.

What else would you do to celebrate 25 years of marriage but try to trace some of the history and historic sites of the Old West? In our case, the year was 1992, we had just bought a new-to-us station wagon, and we had some vacation time to combine with a long weekend. At the time, I had been reading about Buffalo Bill Cody (William F. Cody, that is) and happened to read about his early years as one of the original Pony Express riders. Mrs. Hoppy and I immediately knew we had a fun trip to organize for our anniversary celebration.

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