The saga of Bessey Stacy Badger, my great-grandmother’s mother, who homesteaded with her husband, Leland, is a story of equality. They homesteaded in eastern Wyoming in the late eighteen hundred’s. Wyoming was known as the “equality state,” a fortunate state for Bessey and Leland to choose to homestead.
Leland Badger's parents circa 1871
This is not a story about Leland. Stories passed down abound of him being a ‘wonderlust’, as Robert Service would dub. I must portray lightly this character, Leland, to give you the entire fortune that equality in Wyoming brought for Bessey.
January 26, 2012 at 11:39 am
Wow! It’s so interesting to hear the stories from ranching families that have been raising cattle in Wyoming for generations. Bessey was quite a person, definitely someone to emulate!