450

Scarce Group of Wyoming Territory Bank Checks, 

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
Scarce Group of Wyoming Territory Bank Checks, 

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Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
lot of 5, all from the Maverick Bank, Fort Fetterman then Douglas, WY, Aug.-Sept. 1886 and Oct. 1887. Fort Fetterman was established in 1867 to guard the Bozeman trail and other American interests in the West from Indian depredations. It replaced Ft. Caspar, and eventually absorbed Forts Reno, Phil Kearny, and C.F. Smith, making it the northernmost fort in eastern Wyoming. It was a primary staging area for Crook's Powder River campaign among other notable Indian battles. The Army abandoned Fetterman in 1882, but by then, a town had grown up around the fort. In 1886 the town of Douglas was established eleven miles up the rail line from Fetterman, and the town quickly died.

Apparently the residents of Fetterman City still identified themselves as associated with the Fort for a few years after its closing, because three checks dated Aug. 16, 23, and 24, 1886 all still are printed Ft. Fetterman. It would seem that Maverick Bank then moved to Douglas, since the Sept 23, 1886 and Oct. 28, 1887 checks are from Douglas.

But even that did not help the bank flourish. The winter of 1886-87 was a brutal one on the northern Plains. Many cattle herds were reduced by half or more. A number of large cattle companies went bankrupt, and the banks that loaned them capital soon followed. The Maverick Bank closed the following winter (1887-88) along with banks in Cheyenne and other "cow towns." 

The Thomas Minckler Collection of Western Americana

Condition: Expected uneven tears, cancellations, bank stamps. Light toning of a few.