G.J. Jones and Simon Morgareidge

The G.J. Jones and Simon Morgareidge families traveled together from Nebraska to Wyoming in 1888. Jones, a Union sympathizer, and Morgareidge, a Confederate, bickered the whole way. Mrs. Jones worked to establish a post office, which she named after William Worthington Morgareidge and her daughter May. The post office, and its location, was called Mayoworth. The Mayoworth Post Office was established on July 16,1889 with first postmaster Charlotte L. Jones. I believe I have said this earlier but is still worth repeating in the time periods of Territorial, Statehood and after Statehood approximately 258 post offices in Wyoming were established by women. I have seen the use of post mistress however the post office apparently has never changed their designation from postmaster.

It was reported in the People's Voice in 1895 the following:
James Morgareidge has succeeded in killing the old pioneer bear of Powder River. This old bear has been ranging in that section of the country for the last ten years and has killed a large number of cattle. The morning after the snow last Saturday, Jim struck his trail on Red Fork and followed it to where he had killed a two-year-old heifer belonging to Tom Gardner. From the carcass he followed the trail a short distance and found the old fellow in Cottonwood Canyon. He shot at him but missed and the bruin started for him. He shot five times more and hit him four times, killing the bear when he was within a few feet of him. The bear made a track 18 inches long, his hide measured 9 feet 8 inches long and 8 feet 8 inches wide and weighed 1,400 pounds. Fifteen gallons of lard were rendered from the carcass.

The neighboring Simeon Morgareidge and Griffith James Jones families of Nebraska moved out to Wyoming and settled on the North Fork of the Powder River in 1888. The two fathers, one Republican and one Democrat, fought the entire journey. Like the Capulets and Montagues, their children married despite this. May Jones married Will Worthington Morgareidge.
Two of their six children, Riley and Grover Morgariedge, are seated. The other gentlemen in the photo are unknown.

This is Riley Morgareidge at the Brock Ranch bunkhouse playing a harmonica for turkeys in approximately 1930. The turkeys would strut to the music. Wild turkeys are once again becoming a common site in the area, after many years of being scarce.

James R. Morgareidge and Elizabeth McDowell Morgareidge on their wedding day. James homesteaded very early in the area on North Fork of the Powder River west of Kaycee. Elizabeth passed away in childbirth, leaving behind a baby girl and grief-stricken husband. The baby was named after her mother Elizabeth and was raised by her father James with assistance from her Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Albert Lowery.

 

Lowerys and baby Elizabeth

Elizabeth McDowell Morgareidge's headstone on the Morgareidge homestead

 

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