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.
Jackson “Jack” H. Anderson represented the essence of 20th century America. Born as the tenth child of thirteen in 1895 near Hannover, Illinois. Restless as a youth, Jack set out from home as a teenager, “riding the rails; working odd jobs; side-stepping harm from thieves and toughs.” Jack’s skills kept increasing as he moved west – learning skills in farming, ranching, hunting, trapping, and mechanics. His time going west would also be the first stint he would spend as an employee of the Forest Service (a job he would occasionally return to later in his life). In 1918, while still employed with the Forest Service in Montana fighting fires, Jack started to receive mail about friends and acquaintances back home. “one day I got a letter that told about three boys who were in my class in grade school who had been killed over there. It got me to thinking. Then news that poor Ike had been slaughtered arrived and in July I was told that my good Buddy Harvey Abner had been shot by a German sniper. I decided to join the Army.” Jack would end up serving in the 148th Field Artillery which consisted of units from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming. During the aftermath of a battle while collecting their dead, Jack found a young soldier who had been left for dead. His name was Leonard Young from Burris-Lenore, WY. After getting Leonard to the hospital and saving his life, the two men would become good friends. The 148th would see action at Chateau-Thierry, the Champagne-Marne Defensive, the Aisne-Marne Offensive, St. Mihiel Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
The 148t h Field Artillery would be disbanded in June of 1919. Jack decided to visit his pal Leonard Young’s home at Crow Creek. Finding this country to his liking he wrote, “It became clear to me that I liked this part of the west better than Western Montana. There was better grass, a better place to run livestock and milder winters.” Jack would go on to establish a ranch and marry Lucile Bushey. Lucile and Jack would have six children. Tragically, on a cold December night when returning from Lander, Jack came upon his house engulfed in flame. Four of their six children passed away. After the tragedy, Lucile would move with their remaining children to California. Yet Jack remained. Hunting, fishing, ranching, reading, and playing music Jack persevered through the hardship. Eventually he would remarry to May Bell Anderson for five years before she passed away. Jack would follow her in December of 1987. Jack H Anderson live a hard life, punctuated with sorrow, but he found joy in the people around him and the activities he did. You can learn more about Jack in his autobiography Memoirs Of A Free Spirit.
Next up for the Fremont County Museum
November 7, 6:30pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Celebrating Our Veterans” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
December 7, 11am at the Dubois Museum, “Christmas Open House”
December 7, 11am at the Dubois Museum, “Kids Corner: DIY Christmas Ornament” Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
December 7, 2-4pm at the Riverton Museum, “Santa’s Workshop” Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
December 7, 10-4pm at the Riverton Museum, “Christmas Open House”
December 14, 6-8pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Old Fashioned Christmas” Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
December 21, 6-8pm at the Riverton Museum, “Ghosts of Christmas Past: Alma Law” Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
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 to be used specifically for the benefit of the museum of your choosing by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.