Collection Summary
Carter, William A.
William A. Carter Papers
1857-1882
03535
5.40 cubic ft. (7 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
Papers of this early Wyoming settler and Fort Bridger post trader.
Biography or History
Carter was an early settler of Wyoming, arriving in 1857. He was appointed judge in 1858,
and served for 14 years. He was instrumental in establishing the boundaries of Wyoming, and
he erected the first oil refinery in the region and operated one of the first sawmills in
southwestern Wyoming. From 1858 to 1881 Carter served as post trader at Fort Bridger,
Wyoming, a fort used by the military from 1857 to 1890. Mary E. Carter served as post trader
from 1881 to 1883.
Scope and Content
The collection includes legal documents, correspondence from 1860-1881, a transcript of a
diary from 1857, a train book of United States stores transported in 1862, and a Fort
Bridger financial journal of 1880-1882. There are also copies of two articles about early
oil exploration in Wyoming from the Inland Oil Index.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection
is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel
laws as they apply.
Related Materials
Judge William A. Carter Papers, Wyoming Archives, Museums and Historical Department,
Barrett Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002.
Acquisition Information
Several donors and created out of other AHC collections.
Processing Information
The collection's finding aids was rekeyed by D.C. Thompson in June 1995.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, William A. Carter Papers, Collection Number
3535, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
Petroleum industry and trade -- Wyoming.
Frontier and pioneer life -- Wyoming.
Fort Bridger, (Wyo.)
Diaries.
Judges.
Merchants.
Sutlers.
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Immigration and American Expansion
Expeditions and Adventure
Overland Journeys to the Western United States
Pioneers
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Wyoming
Diaries
Container List
The Edward Carter Collection of William A. Carter Papers
Journal
1
Sales Book No. 11, for general store, 1880-1882,
with various financial records interleaved dated 1867,
1877, 1883
William A. Carter Papers materials from Wyoming State Archives
July 18, 1995
1
Composite inventory of William A. Carter Papers at the Wyoming State
Archives and Historical Department
1
Articles (2) on early oil wells operated by Judge William A. Carter
photocopies.
William A. Carter Papers of unknown origin
July 18, 1995
1
Train Book, of United States stores transported by W.A. Carter from Ft.
Bridger, Utah, to Denver City, Colorado; Hugh O'Neil, wagonmaster, May 31,
1862
Post Office Documents
1
Memorandum book, Mails Passing East and West, Oct. 1864-April 1865
1
List of Mail Employees and Amounts Owing to W.A. Carter, June 24,
1862
1
List of Mail Company Employees indebted to W.A. Carter, April 16,
1863
1
List of Amounts Due W.A. Carter from Mail Employees East of Bridger,
Dec. 21, 1863
Financial Records
1
Memo of accounts sent R.H. Hamilton, Aug. 25,
1861
1
Overland Stage Line account with W.A. Carter, beginning with quarter ending
Dec. 31, 1862
1
Receipt for $24.25, James Elliott from W.A. Carter, Jan. 18,
1863
1
Check, of M.E. Carter to T. Taylor, $50.00, May 17,
1883
1
Checks (2), blank, numbered 1123 & 1124 of M.E. Carter on First
National Bank, Omaha
1
Account of Irwin & Young (includes Martin's Estate, Jack Robertson,
etc.), no date
Copies
1
Typed transcript of letter from J.H. Ely to W.A. Carter, July 25,
1867
1
Typed transcript, diary of W.A. Carter, Feb.-Oct.,
1865
The W.C. Casto Collection of William A. Carter Papers
Received from Mrs. H.W. Hopkinson by Lola Homsher
August 31, 1946
3
Sketch map of Millersville Claim of C.O.C. & P.P. Express Co.,
recorded March 3, 1862; showing telegraph line, stage road,
main road, new route, Claim and location of buildings, Smith's Fork and Black's
Fork
1
Map: 1871 USGS Dept. of Int. Yellowstone Lake, Wyo. T.
by F.V. Hayden
1
Coe Library
2
Sketch: Ft. Bridger in early 1850s by R.F.E. (photograph)
1
2
Photographs:
5
- Officer's quarters, Ft. Bridger
- First Carter home, 1874
- Evanston, Wyoming
- Ft. Bridger, 1940 (tinted), shows monument
- Print, "Furious Encounter with the Indians on the Plains"
2
Pamphlet: Souvenir History of Ft.
Bridger, by Bill Casto
1
2
Maverick Book: WSGA 1884 Roundup District No. 28
(mostly blank)
1
2
Account Book No. 2 of Merchandise Train, 1866; W.A. Carter, Ft. Bridger
1
3
Ledger: Mill Fork Stone Co., 1890
1
3
Journal: Mill Fork Stone Co., 1890
1
3
Trial balance book: [Mill Fork Stone Co., 1890]
1
(2 sheets numbered 1 & 3).
Indian trade money, W.A. Carter, Post Trader, Ft. Bridger, 50 cent value
1
Indian trade money, W.A. Carter, Post Trader, Ft. Bridger, 25 cent value
1
Book: The Lincoln Highway, Lincoln
Highway Association, Dodd, Mead & Co
1
Coe Library
Book: Western Trails, Marion A. Speer,
Limited Edition #541, 1931
1
May 7, 1948:
4
Letter press book of Mill Fork Stone Co., 1890
1
Catalogue of Spiegel & Co. Furniture Store
1
2
Check stub book: W.A. Carter, 1868-1871
1
Check stub book: W.A. Carter, 1873-1874
1
2
Cash book: W.A. Carter, 1864-1865,
Heber City Branch Store
1
4
Employee record book: W.A. Carter, 1885
1
Record of Ordinance Stores, W.A. Carter, about 1861
1
2
Record of Ordinance Stores, W.A. Carter, about 1861
(miscellaneous notations included)
1
2
Notebook: Bannock and Flat Head Indian vocabulary
1
2
Notebook: with miscellaneous notations
1
Newspapers:
2
newspaper shortage
The Daily Globe, Washington D.C., vol. 23
no. 124, May 20, 1870
The Daily Globe, Washington D.C., vol.
23, no. 126, May 22, 1870
2
Letter: W.A. Carter to J.H. Hayford, Ter. Auditor, Laramie City,
Jan. 15, 1871
1
2
Letter: W.A. Carter to R.H. Carter, Supt. Public Schools, Uinta Co., Carter
Station, Nov. 1, 1871
1
2
Letters to W.A. Carter:
8
from Evans & Anthony, June 24,
1868
from Lt. A.E. Woodson, June 21, 1869
from James S. Brisbin, March 22, 1870
from Maj. H.B. Freeman, May 3, 1870
from E.C. Jacobs, Supt. Public Schools, Dec. 28,
1870
from Charles Scribner & Co. per Saml. W. Marvin, June
19, 1871
from Richards, Whitney & Co., Aug. 15,
1871
from R.H. Carter, Nov. 1, 1871
2
Letters to R.H. Hamilton:
7
from Wm. W. Clors (?), Dec. 7, 1873
from J. A. Campbell, June 6, 1874
from Wallin & Tanner, July 8,
1874
from George East, Feb. 23, 1875
from W.H. Remington, May 9, 1875
from W.H. Remington, July 2, 1875
from W.H. Remington, Sept. 27, 1875
Items:
6
Letter to Dick from Alf [Alf. G. Lee, Uinta County Clerk],
March 15, 1875
Note of personal effects of the estate of Isaac Edwards, no
date
Complaint form, blank
Memo of contract between C.O.C. & P.P. Ex. Co. and P.C. Sullivan
for delivery of hay to Warm Springs, Ice Springs and Three Crossings Stations,
Aug. 3, 1861
Receipt from W.A. Carter to R.H. Hamilton, Sheriff of Uinta County, for
taxes gathered, 1870
Note from H. Davidson to Ben Bachman regarding missing horses
[1870]
2
Items: Evidence and Affadavits
11
Note, Workman & Ford to Bachman, Aug. 5,
1870
Affadavit, Bachman vs. Byrnes, Aug. 20,
1870
Complaint, Ben Bachman vs. Moses Byrnes, Aug. 22,
1870
Brief, Wyoming vs. John B. Nixon, Nov. 30,
1870
Complaint, Wyoming vs. John Abell, Nov. 30,
1870
Warrant to arrest John Abell, Nov. 30,
1870
Note, George Prendergast to Byrnes,
[1870]
Jury decision [Bachman vs. Byrnes,
1870]
Affadavit, Joseph Bernson vs. Saro-Wick (Ute Indian), Jan. 18,
1871
Affadavit, Edward Alton vs. Louis Simmons, Nov. 4,
1871 (clipped to affadavit, Wyoming vs. James Manly, June 15,
1871)
Affadavit, Charles H. Davis regarding ownership of horse, Jan.
12, 1874
Items:
6
The Pacific Express Co., Notice
Report of First National Bank, Omaha, Jan. 22,
1870
Advertisement of C.C. Wallin & Co., Salt Lake City
2
Page from Beef Book
Check, Carter Cattle Co. to Lulie L. Groshen for $4000
Hay account (Mr. Carter)
2
Check stub book, John Hastie, Loans and Mortgages, 1897-1899, and 14 blank checks (#1029, 1097-1099,
1125-1134)
1
Items found not listed on previous inventory:
The John and Laura Dahlquist Collection of William A. Carter Papers
Financial Documents
5
Bill of sale, Tootle & Maul, Dry Goods, to W.A. Carter,
Sept. 6, 1878
5
Account of wages and debts of Benjamin Van Deusen, Wilson Creek,
Dec. 15, 1879
5
Castle Brothers, San Francisco, to W.A. Carter, Aug. 23,
1880
5
Dewey & Stone, Furniture Dealers, Omaha, to W.A. Carter,
Nov. 30, 1880
5
Benedict, Hall & Co., Boots and Shoes, New York, to W.A. Carter,
Dec. 3, 1880
5
Castle Brothers, San Francisco, to W.A. Carter, Jan. 3,
1881
The Michael Ginsburg Collection of William A. Carter Papers
Legal Document
5
Affadavit of Pvt. Robert Peck before William A. Carter, Justice of the
Peace, concerning loss of Colt revolver and holster, Aug. 18,
1859
The Grace Raymond Hebard Collection of William A. Carter Papers
Correspondence
5
Frank Fuller, Secretary, Utah Terr., to W.A. Carter, no
date
5
Maj, F.E. Hunt, Camp Floyd, to W.A. Carter, Nov. 9,
1859
(also photocopy of this letter)
5
R.C. Gatlin, Camp near Ft. Garland, to W.A. Carter, Aug. 1,
1860
5
Brigham Young to W.A. Carter, Aug. 10,
1861
(also photocopy of this letter)
5
Robert Campbell & Co., St. Louis, to W.A. Carter, Dec.
11, 1862
(also photocopy and mirror-image negative photocopy of this letter)
5
J.C. Perry, Big Blue, to W.A. Carter, July 7,
1864
(also photocopy and mirror-image negative photocopy of this letter)
5
Moore Carter, Valley City, Neb., to W.A. Carter, July 14,
1864
(also photocopy of this letter)
5
Transcript of letter, R.H. Hamilton, Fort Bridger, to Judge Carter,
April 28, 1868; typed and proofed by Mrs. Cyrus Beard, State
Historian
Financial Records
5
Promissory note, William A. Carter to Robert Campbell & Co. for
$7528.59, April 11, 1859
(also mirror-image negative photocopy of front and back of this note)
5
Bill of sale, Murdock Basye to W.A. Carter, 5 oxen, Aug. 17,
1859
5
Receipt, John Robinson to W.A. Carter for $16.11, Oct. 9,
1860
(also mirror-image negative photocopy of this receipt)
5
Receipts of farm hands paid off by W.A. Carter at Fort Bridger,
Nov. 12, 1861
5
Receipt, John Battiste to W.A. Carter for $67.75, June 24,
1862
5
Copy of account owed by employees of Overland Stage Line to W.A. Carter,
certified by Isaac Eaton, July 5, 1862
5
Account owed by W.A. Carter to Robert Campbell & Co., St. Louis,
Sept. 4, 1862
Military Orders
5
Letter, Anson Mills to W.A. Carter, Feb. 10,
1867
5
General Orders No. 6, Order in relation to sutlers, Jan 26,
1867
(also photocopy of these two items)
Memorandum Books
5
Memorandum book, 1879
5
Quartermaster's employees (Fort Bridger) account book, no
year
5
Train book of J.C. Perry, wagon master,
1864
The Mrs. Harry Helzer Collection of William A. Carter Papers
Correspondence
6
Capt. John McClintock, Camp Douglas, to W.A. Carter about Hay voucher of
Elijah Driskell, June 10, 1867
6
A.W. Street, Salt Lake City, to W.A. Carter, June 11, 1868,
enclosing bill for cigars
6
A.W. Street, Salt Lake City, to W.A. Carter, Aug. 22,
1868
6
C.G. Hammond, Laramie, to Judge Carter, July 4,
1870
6
Lewis Lowry, Omaha, to W.A. Carter, Sept. 27,
1871
Financial and Legal Documents
6
Account book, accounts of Companies B and I, 10th Infantry,
1861
6
Day Book, account book for general store,
1863
6
Receipt, M.E. Carter to Pacific Express Co., July 15,
1886
6
Agreement between William A. Carter and Henry B. Beach for Beach to run
Carter's mercantile business at Ft. Bridger, Oct. 4,
1892
Pamphlet
Fort Bridger, Wyoming, a brief history by Robert S. Ellison,
1931
The Argosy Books Collection of William A. Carter Papers
Ledgers
7
General store accounts, Ft. Bridger, Nov. 1,
1858-June 24, 1859
7
Cash book, Livingston, Kinkead & Co. ("care D Rokohl & Co.,
St. Louis, Mo." no flyleaf), June 26, 1858-Sept. 6,
1859
Typed Transcripts
7
Background to the diary and letters: Ft. Bridger area history written by a
son or daughter of W.A. Carter
7
Diary of W.A. Carter, Sept. 28, 1857-Dec. 2,
1857
7
Letters of W.a. Carter, 1860-1868,
1877
The Joseph M. Roebling Collection of William A. Carter Papers
Ledgers
7
General store accounts, November 1, 1858-June
24, 1859
7
Blotter No. 1, general store accounts, July 21,
1859-Jan. 20, 1860
7
Register of visitors, Officers Club, Fort Bridger, Wyo., 1886-1889
(This item not found on previous inventories. It was found association with
Roebling-Argosy material)
Correspondence
7
A.P. Lake, Uinta Ind. Agency, to Judge Carter, July 16, 1867,
hand-delivered, with envelope
7
Jno. W. Clampitt, Special Agent P.O. Dept., to W.A. Carter, Oct.
14, 1867
Additional Container Lists
The American Heritage Center is in the process of converting its older container lists to a more accessible format. This link is to an older version of a container list.
Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF)
Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF)