Hello Adamson's, I will call my second cousin who lives in Dayton WY, today. Their ranch is just outside of Cheyenne. She is ninety years old and may know something about this Alexander, or know someone who does. Her mind is still as sharp as a tack. Her husband, Walden Adamson, hitched hiked to WY during the depression. There were other family members living there when he went. He learned to be a rancher and had the largest ranch, at one time, that was near Cheyenne. When he died, Ethel sold some of it to reduce the work. I just recently found pictures with names of some of the Adamson's that were living there. I just don't know how they fit in the family yet, maybe Ethel can help me with this too. If I get any info, I will post it to the list. After finding new cousins from my last posting, I am hoping Karen, Deloris, and I can find even more. We just met for the first time the other day. Turns out, we all live in Louisville, Ky. How's that for fate????????? Jerry, Thanks for the Adamson list! You run a tight and efficient ship. There is no doubt, that you are very on purpose and dedicated, to linking all of our Adamson's together. Bonnie Hunter. ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Adamson <badamson@uswest.net> To: <ADAMSON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 08, 1999 12:59 AM Subject: [ADAMSON-L] Alexander D. Adamson, b mid 1800's? > Hello: What does anyone know about an Alexander D. Adamson, > listed and pictured as one of the invading forces in the Johnson > County War in Wyoming in April 1892? Adamson is purportedly > the ranch manager for the Ferguson Land and Cattle Company, > a Scottish owned operation whose range was just south of the > Swan Land and Cattle Co. holdings around Chugwater, Wyo > (between Chugwater and Cheyenne). Adamson may have had > some equity in the operation or later ranched himself just north > of Cheyenne. He was said to be a Scot. > Numerous books treat the Johnson County War, some in great > detail, but Adamson usually gets scant treatment, being listed and > pictured in the lineup when the invader forces were held at Fort > D.A. Russell at Cheyenne, charged with the murder of Nate > Champion and Nick Rae (Ray), a couple of blacklisted cowboys > who were thought to be rustlers by the invader forces. > Some books which picture and list the invaders: > H.H. Smith, "The War on Powder River" > M. Frink, "Cow Country Cavalcade" > R.B. David, "Malcolm Campbell, Sheriff" > A.S. Mercer, "The Banditti of the Plains", > and many others. > A book which has a different picture is a book by D.F. Baber, > Bill Walker's account of the war entitled "The Longest Rope". > Of the books above, the one which references Adamson the > most is "Malcolm Campbell, Sheriff". > A book by John Clay, another Scot, "My Life on the Range", > has brief but interesting comment in three places about Adamson. > Clay was very influential in the investing of foreign money in the > Western range cattle business, and later founded the Clay, > Robinson Livestock Commission Co., eventually having offices > at all the major stockyards. He was President of the Wyoming > Stock Growers Association, thought to be the unofficial sponsor > of the invading forces in the Johnson County War, Clay being > overseas when the war took place. > I have some livestock commission paper indicating that > A.D. Adamson shipped cattle to the South Omaha stockyards > in Oct 1892, probably to raise money for his legal defense. He > was presumably imprisoned at the time at Fort D.A. Russell but > since half the invader forces were prominent ranchers, it was > charged that they got country club treatment at the fort. The > paper I have was for one critter that didn't pass brand inspection, > and was sold to Cudahy for $14.02 (total, not per cwt). After > shipping charges from Cheyenne, yardage, feed and commission, > the net proceeds were $10.67, money typically escrowed until > the owner could be located. Adamson probably shipped several > carloads of cattle, but this was the typical method for handling any > cattle whose brand was unknown or questioned. > In the lineup pictures taken in 1892, Adamson appears to be > a healthy vigorous looking fellow, maybe in mid-forties in age. > Anyone have any info on his lineage, or on what eventually > happened to him (the murder charges were dismissed in Jan 1893)? > Thanks, > Bill Adamson > > ______________________________