November 4

1804  Lewis and Clark record in their journal that Sacagawea was the wife of Toussaint Charbonneau.  In fact, she was one of two wives that Charbonneau had married either at the same time or close in time, with both of them being in their mid teens at the time.  He'd marry three more times during his life, with his last marriage coming at age 70. All of his wives were Native Americans and none of them were older than sixteen years old at the time of the marriage.

1835  Texas forces defeat Mexican forces at the Battle of Lipantitlán in San Patricio County.  Attribution:  On This Day.

1856  The Mormon Martin's Handcart Company, attempting a late crossing of the Oregon Trail, and having run into trouble with the weather, seeks shelter in the Martin's Cove area near Independence Rock, along with a rescue party having sent to find them.  They had not embarked on their efforts until August 27, making an attempt to cross extraordinary late in the year.

1856  James Buchanan was elected US president.

1868  Red Cloud arrived at Ft. Laramie to execute a treaty that gave him victory in Red Cloud's War.  The treaty had been negotiated that prior April.

1875  Thursday, November 4, 1875. A Proclamation of Thanksgiving.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving.

BY J. A. CAMPBELL GOVERNOR OF THE TERRITORY OF WYOMING.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAVING DESIGNATED

Thursday, the 27th day of November, 1873,

As a day of Thanksgiving and Praise, I recommend the faithful observance of the day by all the people of Wyoming, in accordance with the usual and time-honored custom.

"GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER."

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Great Seal of the Territory to be affixed. Done at Cheyenne, this, Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.

J. A. CAMPBELL.

[seal] * GREAT SEAL * TERRITORY OF WYOMING [/seal]

By the Governor:

JASON B. BROWN,

Secretary of Territory.

 

Territorial Governor Campbell was of course a Republican, but not of the type that Republicans would now recognize.  He was a political liberal and a backer of women's suffrage.  He's served in the Union Army as a general during the Civil War and died in 1880 at the mere age of 44. 

After leaving his post as the Territorial Governor, he served in various capacities in the Federal government for the remainder of his short life.  Campbell County Wyoming is probably named after him, although there's some dispute on that.

Last edition:

Wednesday, November 3, 1875. A fateful day.

Labels: 1870s, 1875, 1876, Frontier Wyoming, Indian Wars, Native American Heritage Month, Native Americans, The Frontier West, U.S. Grant

1879. Will Rogers was born in Oologah, Okla.  Sometimes forgotten, Rogers' career as a humorist and political commentator commenced when he started doing a monologue while doing rope tricks.  He was, at first, a cowboy and trick roper.

1884 Grover Cleveland elected President.

1889  A meeting regarding the ratification of Wyoming's Constitution was held in Rawlins.

1924 Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming was elected the nation's first woman governor, when she was elected in a special election to fill the term of her late husband, who had been governor. She would serve until 1927, when she would leave office after having narrowly lost the 1926 election. She refused to campaign in either election, but remained popular nonetheless. Her 1926 loss is likely attributable to her refusal to campaign, which her opponent did do, and her strong support for Prohibition. She would later serve in Franklin Roosevelt's administration and Truman administration as the head of the United States Mint.

 

1924  Calvin Coolidge elected President.

Coolidge took 52% of the Wyoming vote, but showing a strong remaining progressive/populist streak, Robert LaFollette of the Progressive Party took second place with 32%.  The Democratic candidate, the forgotten John Davis, took the balance.

1930  The USS Wyoming became the flagship of Rear Admiral Harley H. Christy, Commander Training Squadron, Scouting Fleet.  Attribution:  On This Day.

1952     Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower elected president.

The popular Eisenhower took 63% of the Wyoming vote.

1952  Frank A. Barrett, Republican from Lusk, was elected to the Senate.

 

The Republican Barrett concluded a term of Governor upon his election and he had been a Congressman from Wyoming previously.

1980  Ronald Reagan elected President.

Reagan took 63% of the Wyoming vote.  Third party candidate Anderson took 7% and the balance went to the unpopular incumbent Jimmy Carter.

2008  Barack Obama elected President.

John McCain took 65% of the Wyoming vote.

2008  Cynthia Lummis elected to Congress from Wyoming.