, 1924-02-21

hiding his way. Many hours of bit
-er anxiety were experienced by his
wife during these delayed trips with
he mail, for she remembered all
sorts of disasters which might have
befallen him. At this time there
was no post office at Elk Mountain
and the few settlers came to the
fort to get their mail.
Many lonely months were spent
by Mrs. Ellis for how different were
the sage clad hills of Wyoming.
and the Fort so snugly Swallowed
from a western sun by old Elk
Mountain, when she thot of the busy,
busting city of Dundee. She long
ed for her relatives and home f.
bonnie Scotland, and begged many
times for her husband to return
with her and the children to their
home across the sea, but he liked
America and assured her that in
time all would be well with them.
In time she did learn to love Wy
oming better than any other land,
and not for worlds would she have
gone away to stay.
In August 1875, the Ellis family
moved away from Fort Halleck to
a piece of land about ten miles east
and on the Medicine Bow river. The
journey was made in a heavy wagon
with a double box, Mrs. Ellis with
the two children and an infant three
weeks old, riding on a seat that was
elevated to such a degree that her
feet dangled in the air. After sew
eral hours ride they arrived at their
new home, her arms aching as n re-
suit of clinging to a baby and keep
ing the other two children from
falling out of the wagon. At the
new home IA one room cabin which
had been built by Bill Baker, a
brother of Jim Baker, the famou
old scout and Indian fighter. There
was no floor in the cabin when the
family moved in. In order to keep
the wolf from the door, Mr.. Ellis
then went to Rawlins which was
now a thriving little village, and
worked at his trade, while the wife
and mother remained on the little
ranch with the little ones.
When at last sufficient funds
could be raised the Ellis's bought a
little band of sheep, and the children
and father cared for them. Just
when they were getting a good start
Mr.. Ellis vas stricken with paral-
, SlS Ol' uuN NHllt tlulI inc Shttp
and for twenty-five years was bed
ridden. and passed to the Great Be
yond on February 10, 1903. After
Mr.. Ellis became helpless the sheep
were sold, as the children were then
too young to care for them. A small
nerd of goats were purchased
turned loose in the hills, but prowl-
ing, Carnivorous animals soon de-
yourpd them all Mich cows we're
bought, and by the aid of the
young folks of the eamily butter wts
made for sale. Every week, Mrs.
Ellis took her ana buggy and
took the butter to Carbon where the
bought 1t, giving her from
thirty to fifty per pound for it.
Within n few years the daughter
was stricken with ONE malady
left her unable to walk. COM
her to make her way in n
chair. which is still her fate.
Another son had come to the Ellis
who grew to manhood and
October list. 1916 was laid to
rest in the cemetery at Elk Noun
to Laramie about fourteen
tain. Mrs. Ellis and her daughter.
years ago. where they spent several
months, but becoming homesick for
the old home at Elk Mountain, they
returned there and spent several
years in that little town, When
Mrs. Ellis became too feeble to long
or keep house for herself and dau-
shter. they moved to Wheatland
they have spent the past two
years and have received the best q
and attention in Dr.. Phifers