Converse County WY Archives Biographies.....Magoon, James H. 1857 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wy/wyfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 28, 2011, 4:39 pm Source: See below Author: A. W. Bowen (Publisher) JAMES H. MAGOON. One of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Converse county, Wyoming, Mr. J. H. Magoon enjoys the distinction of being the first person to locate a homestead in the county where he resides. He was born at Lancaster, in the province of Ontario, Canada, on April 14, 1857, the son of Williard and Elizabeth (Prentiss) Magoon, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Canada. The father removed in early life from his native state to Canada, where he followed the occupation of farming until 1867, when he removed to Harrisonville, Lewis county. N. Y., where he engaged in farming and lumbering, and resided until his death. He had a family of nine children, James being the eldest son. He grew to man's estate in New York, received there his early education, being a graduate from the high school of Harrisonville. After having completed his education, he engaged in teaching for two terms in the schools of Lewis county, and then sought his fortune in the West, coming to Nebraska, where he engaged in teaching for a short time in Hamilton county, then accepted a clerkship in a store, where he remained until 1880. He then came to Cheyenne, Wyo., and was employed for a short time as a clerk, but soon engaged in business for himself. He soon disposed of his mercantile interests, and removed to Converse county, where he located on his present ranch on Young Woman's Creek, about twelve miles northwest of Lusk, and entered upon the business of stockraising. He has continued since that time to make this place his headquarters, is now the owner of about 1000 acres of fairly improved land and is gradually building up a fine ranch property. For eight years he was engaged in cattleraising but then changed his stock to horses, raising Hambletonian and Gold Dust stock, as well as other grades of trotting animals. In July, 1882, Mr. Magoon married Miss Etta M. Watt, the daughter of Wm. Watt, a highly respected citizen of Ohio, where she was born. Upon the breaking out of war between the United States and Spain in 1898, Mr. Magoon offered his services to his country and enlisted as a member of Troop E, Second U. S. Volunteer Cavalry, Colonel Torry's Rough Riders. After being mustered into service in May, 1898, the regiment was ordered to Florida, where they were held in camp until September, when the war being over they were honorably discharged. During this time he was in charge of the culinary department of the troop and discharged his responsible duties in a highly satisfactory manner. In 1901 he accepted a position with the Barron Mercantile Co., of Lusk, Wyo., in its mercantile department, and continued that occupation until September 21, 1902, when the store was sold to H. C. Snyder. Mr. Magoon is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and for nine years he has served the community in which he resides as a school trustee, and takes an active interest in all measures calculated to improve the condition and promote the welfare of the city, county and state of his residence, being highly respected by all classes of his fellow citizens. Additional Comments: Extracted from: PROGRESSIVE MEN OF THE STATE OF WYOMING ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO, ILL. A. W. BOWEN & CO. PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS 1903 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wy/converse/bios/magoon49gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wyfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb