History
The Johnson County War (Wyoming) 1892
The first farmers on the Plains clashed with the cattle barons who had their ranches there. There were many disputes, particularly over fencing and waterholes, leading to a series of clashes known as the range wars. The most famous confrontation was the Johnson County War.
Events of the Johnson County War
Cattlemen vs homesteaders
- Governor Barber of Wyoming supported the cattlemen, who said homesteaders ('nesters') were rustling (stealing) their cattle.
- The sheriff of Buffalo (Red Angus) supported the homesteaders, who said the cattle barons were stealing their land.
Hangings
- The cattlemen regularly caught and hanged local homesteaders.
- Among those they hanged were Ella Watson and Jim Averill (a poor local couple), and nine trappers who were out hunting wolves.
Attack at the KC ranch
- The cattlemen assembled a list of 70 rustlers they wanted killed. In spring 1892 they hired a lynching party of 43 cattlemen (including 20 hired gunmen).
- The lynching party attacked a ranch known as the KC ranch. They killed Nick Ray and his partner Nate Chapman, who was roundup foreman of the local Northern Wyoming Farmers & Stock Growers Association.
Army involvement
- In response, Red Angus raised a posse of 319 men, who rode out and trapped the cattlemen at a ranch called the TA.
- The cattlemen were eventually rescued by the Army cavalry.
Case dropped
- The cattlemen were charged with murder. They bribed the jury and the case was dropped. Nevertheless, the war marked the end of the power of the cattlemen.
Answer preparation
As part of your revision, think about the arguments and facts you would use to explain:
- Why cattlemen and homesteaders clashed on the Great Plains.
- What the problems were that hindered the establishment of law and order on the Plains.
- Who won the Johnson County War, and what the main events of that war were.
Now try a Test Bite