A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
Dee K. St John was a son of Edward Talbot St John, a prominent business owner and rancher of the early Lander Valley. While Dee also did various ranching efforts around the area, he also followed his father in business ventures.
Ed often ran a saloon (or two) around town, in various buildings that he owned on Main street. In 1911, his current saloon, the “Parlor Car”, located on the south side of Main street in the 400 block, was bought by his sons Dee and Addison (nicknamed Add). They took over operations in August, and just over a month later Dee found himself in a bit of trouble with the law as he was charged with both gambling and permitting gambling in his establishment. His case was dismissed in May of 1912 as the primary witness was out of the state.
Seemingly, Ed took back over the ‘Parlor Car’, as Dee doesn’t appear to be running a saloon again until James Sheehan announced he was opening a saloon next door to the Dixie Theater (which was on the north side of Main street, opposite the old Fremont Hotel). Dee partnered up with him in this venture.
Dee was married in 1912 to May Lunsford, though this marriage seemed a bit difficult at times; he posted a notice in the paper August of 1916 that he would not be responsible for May’s debts, as she left of her own free will. They were noted to have been together fishing in 1917, however Dee divorced her in 1919.
Dee continued the saloon business through the 1920’s, however with Prohibition he had to pivot like many other business owners. He changed his current outfit to a soft drink parlor, and dubbed it the ‘Elkhorn’. He still got into some shenanigans apparently, as in March of 1920 we find front page news of Dee having shot Glen Cooper at the corner of 2nd and Lincoln. The event seems to have stemmed from Dee speaking with Mrs. Cooper whom Glen did not particularly like to see for some reason. After Glen ordered his wife home, some kind of words were had to make Dee decide to draw a weapon and shoot Glen through the hip. Though it sounds awful, Glen did go on to make a full recovery. Since Glen recovered, Dee was charged with felonious assault. The trial had many witnesses with the jury deliberating for hours but Dee was ultimately acquitted.
For a few years after this, Dee seems to have traveled about the states, working in various pool halls or other jobs. He was in Illinois at the time of his father’s death in 1923. Some buildings did pass into the possession of Ed’s sons, as Add and Dee were renovating some in 1925. So, Dee did get back to living in Lander after doing some traveling, and got back into the soda business toward the end of the twenties. However, it seems he also got back into the forbidden liquor business, as he had a restraining order placed upon his ‘Lamb’ soft drink parlor after federal agents raided his joint. The trial resulted in a guilty plea, with fines and the interesting requirement of leaving the state for one year, and if good behavior is followed jail sentence would be suspended. Most notable was the fact that Glen Cooper was also involved in this, as he too was charged and received a similar requirement. There must have been reconciliation between the men!
Saloons have a tendency to be seen as raucous and rowdy in days of old, and some of these stories and people certainly live up to that image. Dee later remarried and went about his life, passing in October of 1947.
Next up for the Fremont County Museum
April 3, 7pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Wyoming’s History Through the Camera Lens” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
April 18, 9am with the Pioneer Museum, “Garden Expo” Bailey’s Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
April 25, 1pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Sheep Shearing Day” Bailey’s Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
May 2, 10am at the Pioneer Museum, “Branding Class” Bailey’s Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
May 14, 7pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Lander 100 Years Ago” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
May 14, 6pm at the Riverton Museum, “Cowboy Poetry & Roundtable with Jack Schmidt” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
May 23, 10am at the Dubois Museum, “Kids Corner: Blacksmithing History” Bailey’s Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
May 30, 2pm at the Riverton Museum, “Draper Raptor Experience” Bailey’s Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
Daily through December at the Pioneer Museum, “Sweetwater Ranch Life, The Paintings of Jack Corbett” Exhibition Opening
Rare Relics Road Show: Save the Date: Saturday October 10, 2026 Lander, WY Lander Community Center, You Are Invited!
Call the Dubois Museum 1-307-455-2284, the Pioneer Museum 1-307-332-3339 or the Riverton Museum 1-307-856-2665 for detail regarding their programs.
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment, the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax deductible contribution through the Wind River Cultural Centers Foundation https://windriverccf.funraise.org/ or by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.
Caption for the image:
Interior of the saloon John Sheehan and Dee St John co-owned. John behind the bar, Dee leaning on the bar. Addison ‘Add’ is standing next to his horse.