17a

Chaps from Henry Dahlem The First Sheriff of Cody Wyoming circa 1880's

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 800.00 USD
Chaps from Henry Dahlem The First Sheriff of Cody Wyoming circa 1880's
Western Americana, Native American Indian Items, Sioux Indian Items, Winchester, Savage, Colts, Remington, C.M. Russell, Antiques, Collectibles, Slot Machines, and MORE!
This lot features original hand made Chaps owned and worn by Henry Dahlem (1872-1852). The chaps were handed down through the family and purchased directly from the family’s sale. These are from circa 1880’s and believed to be worn when he was 8 to 15 years old. This is an excellent Western Americana Collectible. Attached to the lot is a picture of Henry Dahlem (fourth from the left) standing with the famous Buffalo Bill Cody (first from the left). Henry Dahlem was the son of John and Helma (sic) Dahlem, and was born September 18, 1872 near Clatonia, Nebraska. Raised in the outdoor life, Henry moved with his family to Oklahoma City, in 1891, and in 1893 was in the famous run on Cherokee Strip, but lacked two days in age to hold his claim. After attending business school in Oklahoma City, he moved in 1895 to Cripple Creek, Colo., where he worked in the gold mines but soon set out for the country to the north with three other cowboys. Headed for Montana, they stopped at the Diamond ranch in Wyoming, spent the winter at Wheatland but moved on to Billings the next Spring - a town with a population of only 3,000.
Henry Dahlem went from there to Red Lodge, took out a homestead, and in 1903 came to Cody. He entered business with Tex Holm and Fred Welch, the Holm Transportation company. Trips thru the park were made during the summer, and when the construction began on Shoshone Dam, he drove a coach and four horses daily taking workers, government officials and sightseers between the dam site and Cody. He took the first tourists through the canyon when the road was first completed. When Park county was first organized in 1911, he was elected the sheriff, and with only three automobiles in the region, conducted his law enforcing duties on horseback. His job as sheriff was a pressing one, because horse and cattle stealing were common practices during those days.
He married Bertha Simpers, of Rockport, Indiana in September 1911 at her home town, and moved into the newly-built sheriff's quarters in April 1912. Their daughter, now Mrs. Roy Daly, was born in the new home.
After four years as sheriff, Mr. Dahlem moved his family to Sage Creek where his son, Clarence, was born. He divided his time between his ranch on the Northfork and the Sage Creek farm. The chaps are in good condition. They measure 35" long.