b'DID YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD WEST.By Lee Anderson, Old West Living Historian, Award Winning Author, and Old School HorsemanLee Anderson and his horse, Concho, are well known around the state doing presentations in schools, corporate events, and civic events. Learn more about them and his book on his website. historicaloldwest.orgO gallala,W hen Lewis andbetween forts and mining camps working Nebraska,Clark launchedas a dance hall girl, a prostitute, a was knowntheir expeditionfreighter, a cook, and a laundress.as the Gomorrahin 1804, the PacificT he magic of the mythical image of of the Cattle Trail.coast had already been Interestingly enough, in spite of its reputation, the townexplored by Spanish,old west cowboy has sold everything recorded only six killings during its nine halcyon years as aBritish, and Russian traders. Even so, therefrom cologne to cigarettes, and even cattle town between 1875 and 1884. were still rumors in the United States that in thepresidents: Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald D uring the last half of the 1800s land was free. Ofunexplored land between the Pacific coast and theReagan, and most recently, GeorgeMississippi River there were mountains of salt, prehistoricW. Bush all successfully rode the essence of the course so were wildfires, swarms of pests, and creatures, and blue-eyed Indians that spoke Welsh.independent, hard-ridin, cowboy image soul-crushing loneliness. It is not uncommon to findT here are accounts ofall the way to the White House.entries in diaries of the times attesting to someone, mostlySan Francisco beingH eres some old-time women, mentally succumbing to the brutal conditions and completely losing their minds. deserted and evencowboy slang terms for T hrough the Homestead Act ofships being abandonedya! A cowboy hat was in the harbor after Samoften referred to as a John 1862, heads of householdsBrannon ranB, after the hat maker, were offered 160 acres ofthrough theJohn B. Stetson. A braided free land as long as they erectedcity streetsrawhide riata, (rope) might a dwelling (no mention of howgrasping a small bottle of gold and shouting,be referred to as a gutline. substantial) and improved itGold! Gold! Gold on the American River!Beans were known to be called over a 5 year period. The federalM artha Jane Cannary, better known aswhistle berries. government distributed someCalamity Jane, was born in 1852 andH ow about a little homespun 2 million plots under that act, encompassing some 270 millionmigrated to Virginia City, Montanaphilosophy? Some highly educated folks acres across 30 states. However,during the mineral boom of the 1860s. Detailshave claimed there are two basic theories on only 40% of the applicants actuallyof her early life remain sketchy but it is knownarguing with women. Just about any husband can satisfied the terms of the Act and successfully claimed ashe was orphaned quite young and driftedtell you that neither one works. land patent.16 June 2020'