Wilbert Newell Long
James “Otis” Long was the son of William Oliver and Keturah (Duncan) Long, born in 1883 near Holden, Missouri, died in 1960 in Indiana, buried with his wife at New Ross, Indiana. He married Valla Conner in 1907 and to this union came Wilbert Newell Long, born in 1909.
Soon after Wilbert was born they moved west to take up a homestead in Wyoming. They arrived at the end of the rails at Aladdin, Wyoming and from there moved on by wagon over the Bear Lodge. They filed on 160 acres at the mouth of Government Canyon. This area was a large sagebrush flat with high scenic sandstone cliffs to the east. They built a one-room log cabin in a bend in the Little Missouri River.
Otis’ aunt Della was married to Enice Cheshier – the Cheshiers filed on their own homestead about a mile south of the Long homestead. Their cabin was built in about the same spot that Ray and Reba Dorsett later lived. Otis helped to construct their cabin as well. No doubt they had moved westward in search of a home and prosperity. They had found that such things do not come easily. Otis dug by hand for well water. Though quite near the river he had not found water at 40 feet and gave up. Fall of the year came and they laid in a winter supply of food. One day not long after, they returned home to find their cabin and all their belongings burned to the ground. That winter Mrs. Long cooked for a Texas cow outfit, the 7W Ranch, and Otis tended to headquarter chores.
They decided they would give up the homestead site and moved south a few miles into the more hilly and pine clad region and re-file on a different block of land. They found a good spring bubbling up and seeping from under a ledge of rock. They filed on this 160 acre block and build another one-room log cabin a very short distance from the spring this location is just on the west edge of Seely Divide. As the years passed, the government granted homestead additions. Otis and Valla took advantage of this until they had a block of 640 acres. Otis’ sister Dora and her husband Howard Sherrard also homesteaded in the Bear Lodge.
In 1915 William Aubery “Chub” Long arrived to add his voice and become number four in the home. It was about the same year when Wilbert, the older son, was sent to drive the milk cows in one evening. Darkness came and he didn’t come so they went out to search for him. Among the searchers was a neighbor, Frank Okonski. About 10 pm Frank found the lost boy and brought him in.
By 1919 the Longs had built up a small ranch and perhaps felt rather secure in that which they had. Perhaps they remembered greater comfort in living back east in Indiana. Perhaps they wanted better school conveniences. Perhaps they missed their parents and other relatives. Perhaps they felt a little farm in Indiana would give ease and greater comfort and perhaps they worried about long distances from doctors and medical help. Anyway, they decided to sell out and move back to Indiana. The ranch homestead was sold to neighbor Chep Tromble and an auction sale was held, and then they set out for Indiana – one of the neighbors loaded them up and drove them to Moorcroft where they boarded a train.
Other children were born to Otis and Valla after they left Crook County – in fact, a third son Darol was born enroute back east to Indiana. Later two daughters came to share their small Indiana farm home.
The two older boys, Wilbert and Chub, always remembered Crook County and in 1934 came back to live and make their permanent home near Hulett. Chub married Alice Mahoney and had 5 children, one dying at birth – they later moved to Iowa to be near children and grandchildren. Wilbert married Marian Talbott Stoner and had 1 daughter Marilyn and two sons, John and James Curtis. James Curtis, also buried here, was killed at the age of 10 or 11 when he was dragged by a frightened horse. (“He was an active member of the Cactus Kids 4-H club of Seely-Hulett).
James “Otis” Long was the son of William Oliver and Keturah (Duncan) Long, born in 1883 near Holden, Missouri, died in 1960 in Indiana, buried with his wife at New Ross, Indiana. He married Valla Conner in 1907 and to this union came Wilbert Newell Long, born in 1909.
Soon after Wilbert was born they moved west to take up a homestead in Wyoming. They arrived at the end of the rails at Aladdin, Wyoming and from there moved on by wagon over the Bear Lodge. They filed on 160 acres at the mouth of Government Canyon. This area was a large sagebrush flat with high scenic sandstone cliffs to the east. They built a one-room log cabin in a bend in the Little Missouri River.
Otis’ aunt Della was married to Enice Cheshier – the Cheshiers filed on their own homestead about a mile south of the Long homestead. Their cabin was built in about the same spot that Ray and Reba Dorsett later lived. Otis helped to construct their cabin as well. No doubt they had moved westward in search of a home and prosperity. They had found that such things do not come easily. Otis dug by hand for well water. Though quite near the river he had not found water at 40 feet and gave up. Fall of the year came and they laid in a winter supply of food. One day not long after, they returned home to find their cabin and all their belongings burned to the ground. That winter Mrs. Long cooked for a Texas cow outfit, the 7W Ranch, and Otis tended to headquarter chores.
They decided they would give up the homestead site and moved south a few miles into the more hilly and pine clad region and re-file on a different block of land. They found a good spring bubbling up and seeping from under a ledge of rock. They filed on this 160 acre block and build another one-room log cabin a very short distance from the spring this location is just on the west edge of Seely Divide. As the years passed, the government granted homestead additions. Otis and Valla took advantage of this until they had a block of 640 acres. Otis’ sister Dora and her husband Howard Sherrard also homesteaded in the Bear Lodge.
In 1915 William Aubery “Chub” Long arrived to add his voice and become number four in the home. It was about the same year when Wilbert, the older son, was sent to drive the milk cows in one evening. Darkness came and he didn’t come so they went out to search for him. Among the searchers was a neighbor, Frank Okonski. About 10 pm Frank found the lost boy and brought him in.
By 1919 the Longs had built up a small ranch and perhaps felt rather secure in that which they had. Perhaps they remembered greater comfort in living back east in Indiana. Perhaps they wanted better school conveniences. Perhaps they missed their parents and other relatives. Perhaps they felt a little farm in Indiana would give ease and greater comfort and perhaps they worried about long distances from doctors and medical help. Anyway, they decided to sell out and move back to Indiana. The ranch homestead was sold to neighbor Chep Tromble and an auction sale was held, and then they set out for Indiana – one of the neighbors loaded them up and drove them to Moorcroft where they boarded a train.
Other children were born to Otis and Valla after they left Crook County – in fact, a third son Darol was born enroute back east to Indiana. Later two daughters came to share their small Indiana farm home.
The two older boys, Wilbert and Chub, always remembered Crook County and in 1934 came back to live and make their permanent home near Hulett. Chub married Alice Mahoney and had 5 children, one dying at birth – they later moved to Iowa to be near children and grandchildren. Wilbert married Marian Talbott Stoner and had 1 daughter Marilyn and two sons, John and James Curtis. James Curtis, also buried here, was killed at the age of 10 or 11 when he was dragged by a frightened horse. (“He was an active member of the Cactus Kids 4-H club of Seely-Hulett).