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“Queen Ann” Bassett
(May 12, 1878 – May 8, 1956)

Ann Bassett's Grave
Herb and Elizabeth Bassett moved to Browns Park in extreme northwest Colorado. Already pregnant when they arrived, Elizabeth gave birth to the first white child in Browns Park – Ann Bassett.
Ann inherited many of the Bassett traits helping people in need and loving the rural life, but genetics added a violent temper and manipulative personality. Ann learned how to push the right and wrong buttons in her association with people. Queen Ann want things done one way – her way.
Yet, you can’t help, but admire a self-assured woman who combined the ability of a range rider and a woman of fashion.
Trouble began in Browns Park when the large cattle barons wanted to move the smaller ranchers out of this pristine area. An agreement was made that cattle from these large holdings could not cross into the area. Riders from the small ranches were used to herd any strays back over the invisible line. A range detective was hired by Ora Haley -one of the cattle barons – to sniff out any “rustlers”. Notes where posted at various ranches warning these “rustlers” to leave the area or suffer the consequences. First Matt Rash was killed, then Isom Dart. This range detective was Tom Horn.
A number of the small ranchers exited the area. The Bassetts received their warning, but stayed. Ann had known Matt Rash and Isom Dart since childhood. Also, Ann and Matt had grown close with Ann spending time at Matt’s cabin. Ann Bassett began her vendetta.
Ann took it upon herself to ride the invisible line looking for strays from the large operations. Instead of herding them back, Ann would shoot them or herd them into the Green River letting them suffer the fate of being permanently stuck in the muddy bottoms or carried downstream to places unknown.
Ann then set her sites on Hi Bernard. Bernard was the manager of the Ora Haley operations and known as an efficient and honest operator. In the book The Bassett Women is the following description of Ann’s meeting Hi Bernard:
In Confidentially Told, Frank Willis [Ann's last husband] describes Hi’s courtship of Ann–or Ann’s entrapment of Hi. According to Willis, Ann wrote a note to Hi, suggesting an interview at her cabin on Douglas Mountain. When Hi arrived he found the petite Ann, curved in all the right places, waiting for him in a pretty dress and smelling of a seductive perfume, with the light of friendship shining in her soft eyes. She proposed a partnership with Hi, using her Douglas the winter range down in the valley. “Surely,” she may have said, “a man of your ability needs to be building for himself rather than for another.”
The marriage of Hi Bernard and Ann Bassett surprised the Browns Park area. The cattle baron, Ora Haley, fired Hi Bernard. This rocky marriage lasted about six years.
Later Ann was taken to court on the accusation of rustling. The first verdict resulted in a hung jury and the second trial’s outcome was not-guilty. A Denver reporter called her the “Queen of Rustlers”. From this point, Ann was called “Queen Ann”.
A long time resident of Browns Park relates her experience with Ann in the book The Bassett Women:
Rosalie vividly remembers Ann riding up to the Miles cabin, her back straight and her head held high, singing as she rode, with a side of beef tied to her saddle.
“Maybe it was Two-Bar beef like they said,” Rosalie said, “but we would have gone hungry without it. They were good to poor people, both Aunt Ann and Aunt Josie were. We’d be invited to pick apples in the Bassett orchard, and at Christmas they’d be the ones to fix up a tree at the schoolhouse. We wouldn’t have had much of a Christmas if Josie and Ann hadn’t been there.”
Ann settled down, married Frank Willis and these two traveled to California, Arizona and Wyoming trying to start new ranches. Eventually, Ann returned to Browns Park on the old homestead where she died.
“Queen Ann” Bassett Willis is buried in the Bassett Cemetery in the Browns Park area. Ann was cremated and for many years her ashes remained in the jar. She was finally buried in the cemetery, but the exact spot is only known by family members. A memorial plaque for Ann and other Bassetts was erected years later. This cemetery is on private land, but can be visited by asking at the only gas station/general store in Browns Park. The cemetery is only a couple of blocks behind this store.
I have constructed a crude map which will help you locate Ann Bassett’s grave. Click on the Brown’s Park link below.
Brown’s Park
Books about Ann Bassett
The Bassett Women by Grace McClure
This book is so well written I felt I knew the Bassett women when finished. It is a book filled with the history of the Browns Park area. Additionally, it is a book about sibling rivalry, the good and bad in people and accepting people for what they are.
Where the Old West Stayed Young by John Rolfe Burroughs
THE book on the history of Brown’s Park. The view of the Bassetts in this book is somewhat tainted since it was based on a privately published paper by a resident who hated the Bassetts.
The Romantic and Notorious History of Brown’s Park by Diana Allen Kouris
An important book on Browns Park since the sources used are different (in places) from those referenced by Burroughs.

map to Ann Bassett Gravesite
Nate Champion
(September 29, 1857 – April 9, 1892)
was born in Texas and migrated to Kaycee, Wyoming. Working as a top hand for many ranches in the area, Nate became a participant in the Johnson County War where it was the cattle barons against the smaller ranchers. Champion sided with the small ranchers.
Some historians claim the smaller ranchers were really rustlers rounding up stray cattle. Other historians point out the cattle barons were just greedy and did not want competition.
Nate has mostly been portrayed as quiet and courageous. The first attempt by the cattle barons to rid the area of Nate Champion failed when he wounded several of the attackers.
On April 9, 1892, while Nate and Nick Ray were at the KC ranch, another attack ensued. Nick Ray was killed early in the onslaught. Nate Champion held off the 50 ‘Regulators’ for most of the day. When the ranch was set afire, Nate emerged and was shot dead. The ‘Regulators’ consisted of cattlemen, range detectives and some 20 hired gunmen from Texas.
The Johnson County War and the killing of Nate Champion has been depicted in the awful movie Heaven’s Gate.
Nate Champion is buried in the Willow Grove Cemetery in Buffalo, Wyoming. Nick Ray is buried nearby.
Books about the Johnson County War
The Johnson County War by Jack R. Gage
A unique book that presents both sides of the Johnson County War. One half explaining the cattle barons view and the other half presenting the ‘rustlers’ side.
Guardian of the Plains by John Rolfe Burroughs
This book is a history of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, the cattle barons. A good history of Wyoming with a chapter on the Johnson County War, Burroughs’ books are always wonderful reads and well researched.
Powder River Country, The Papers of J. Elmer Brock edited by Margaret Brock Hanson
A history of the area surrounding Kaycee, WY, this book has many articles about the Johnson County War. Additionally, there are many insights to other area historical events gathered from original sources. The spectrum of information in this book is priceless.
Malcolm Campbell, Sheriff by Robert B. David
About one third of the book describes the Johnson County War from Malcolm Campbell’s view. Though Campbell was not directly involved in the range war, he provides great insight into the conflict. I came away thinking this is the way it was.
John Chisum
(August 5, 1824 – December 20, 1884)

John Chisum
It was here that he prospered despite rustlers and Indians. Soon, John Chisum became the undisputed cattle king of New Mexico and may have owned the world’s largest cattle herd at the time. Small ranchers accused him of gobbling up their stock, but since many of Chisum’s dealings were verbal, his connection in various events can not be traced.
John Chisum’s famous Jinglebob Ranch was named after his way of identifying cattle. The ear of the cattle would be notched making a clear distinction of ownership.
Many of his early cowboys were involved in the Lincoln County War: Billy the Kid, Jesse Evans, etc. Chisum seemed to remain neutral on this aspect of history, but his political power did help elect Pat Garrett as sheriff.
John Chisum died in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and is buried in Paris, Texas. The gravesite is in a family plot.

John Chisum Grave Map

John Chisum's Grave
John C. Coble
(1857 – December 4, 1914)
John Coble was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and graduated from a local college. He came west stopping in the Nebraska Platte River Valley to begin his cattle raising career. Then on to Johnson County and finally to Albany County in Wyoming.
In Albany County, Frank Bosler formed the Iron Mountain Ranch Company and hired John Coble to manage the operations. Coble showed his eccentricity when he pulled his gun and put a bullet in an oil painting dominating the wall at the Cheyenne Club. The Cheyenne Club was a social men’s club where prominent citizens gathered. After this incident John resigned his membership.
During this time a cattle baron in western Colorado was trying to squeeze out the small ranchers and rustlers. Coble had heard of a man-hunter who was perfect for the job – Tom Horn. After his services in Browns Park, Horn began his employ and friendship with John Coble.
Coble had trouble with a local rancher Kels Nickell – Willie Nickell’s father. In a dispute over some cattle wandering onto Iron Mountain Ranch property, Kels Nickell seriously injured Coble with a knife wound to the abdomen.
After Tom Horn was arrested for the killing of Willie Nickell,
Coble stood by Horn’s side when others distance themselves due to the public opinion. Coble went so far as to divert $5,000 given to him by Bosler for ranch operations to pay a retainer fee for Horn’s lawyers.When Tom Horn was hanged for Willie Nickell’s death, John Coble paid for the coffin, gravestone and all the funeral expenses. He also made sure the manuscript written by Horn was put into book form. This manuscript is now known as the book “Life of Tom Horn: Government Scout and Interpreter – Written by Himself”
Coble ventured to western Wyoming and Texas trying to establish and manage other ranches, but work did fall into his lap. He repeatedly wrote Frank Bosler requesting money. In Elko, Nevada Coble’s health was failing and he was in financial trouble. In the lobby of the Commercial Hotel, Coble pulled his gun, put it into his mouth and fired. He left behind a widow and four children.
John C. Coble is buried in the Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Isom Dart Gravesite photo map to find grave
John King Fisher Gravesite photo map to find grave
Charles Goodnight Gravesite photo map to find grave
Bose Ikard Gravesite photo map to find grave
“Nigger Jim” Kelly Gravesite photo map to find grave
Oliver Loving Gravesite photo map to find grave
Burt Mossman Gravesite photo map to find grave
Print Olive Gravesite photo map to find grave
Ben Snipes Gravesite photo map to find grave
Tom Sun Gravesite photo map to find grave


#1 by Butch Badon on December 25, 2009 - 9:17 pm
Steve,
It is nice to see you are still producing Old West history material. Great website and I will learn from it.
Thanks for your wonderful contributions.
Butch
#2 by Cory Chandler on December 29, 2009 - 3:27 am
Thanks for all the effort, thanks to people like yourself others can learn and enjoy from a great time US history.
#3 by Paul Cool on February 10, 2010 - 3:22 pm
As the author of the Bob Martin article, I note with some horror that the online publication of the article includes a photo of John Ringo tagged as the photo of Curly Bill. The photo should be dropped as (1) there is no authenticated photo of Curly Bill and (2) Ringo plays no part in the Martin story told here. I would add that following the discovery of the Paul v Shibell case file, we now have more info about Martin, including his purported age and the fact that he had a wife (common law or ceremonial) at Cloverleaf New Mexico. Thanks, Paul Cool 2/10/2010