In 1891 John. R. Smith was called "King of the Rustlers" by large cattlemen-controlled papers, but he should have been called King of the Pioneers. John R. Smith fought in the Civil War before making his way West as a freighter along the Bozeman and Oregon Trails. He fought multiple engagements with Indians in the West at the height of hostilities and by 1878 had established a ranch on the Crazy Woman Creek- one of the first in Johnson County. He was well respected in the community, and his real crime against the big cattlemen element was that he was active in a local small cattlemen's association and had supported two Kaycee men, George Gordon and George Peterson, who had been accused of rustling.
If you have questions, contributions, or problems with this site, email:
Coordinator - Rebecca Maloney
State Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney
Asst. State Coordinator: Bob Jenkins
If you have questions or problems with this site, email the County Coordinator. Please to not ask for specfic research on your family. I am unable to do your personal research. I do not live in Wyoming and do not have access to additional records.
