Dublin Core
Title
John C. Hunton’s Gravestone, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Subject
John C. Hunton’s Gravestone
Description
This Gravestone was unveiled in 2010 by the Daughters of the Confederacy and the Wyoming Pioneers Association to commemorate the Confederate soldier, John C Hunton. The original grave was a smaller headstone with the letters J. H. on it. The new grave has his date of birth and death, as well as his rank and regiment in the confederate army.
John C. Hunton was born January 18, 1839 at Madison Courthouse in Virginia. He would join the United States military at the age of 18, and would see his first military service at Harper’s Ferry in 1859. Hunton’s home in Madison Virginia was in the borderland between the North and the South, the area where families split due to the differences to their loyalties at the start of the secession; John C Hunton would choose the South. John C Hunton would serve with the Confederate army of Northern Virginia in Virginia's Seventh Infantry, and would help lead Pickett's Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war, in 1867, like many disillusioned Southerners, he would move westward, and Hunton’s destination was Wyoming’s Fort Laramie. From there, he worked as a clerk and general aid in the store, and during the winter of 1867, he even shared a room with the famous government scout Jim Bridger.
In 1870, John Hunton received a contract to supply Fort Laramie with wood, and during the next ten years, his government contracts would expand into a large business. He would go on to supply hay, beef, charcoal, lime and other commodities to Camp McKinney as well as to Fort Laramie, also hauling freight for the military to Fort Fetterman, Fort Steele, Fort Phil Kearny, Fort Reno, and Fort C.F. Smith. In 1871, he became half owner of the SO cattle with W. G. Bullock, this herd being the first in the Wyoming area, aside from some work oxen. In the same year, Hunton would open a road ranch at Bordeaux, south of Wheatland. By the 1880s, Hunton would become one of the territory’s most prominent citizens, opening a hotel in Bordeaux and was elected Laramie County commissioner. The era of great cattle barons would end in a disastrous winter in 1886-87, leading to Hunton returning to Fort Laramie in 1889, this time as a post trader. This position would end in 1890, when the fort was abandoned, but would stay in the fort for many years. He became a United States Commissioner from 1892 to 1907, a volunteer weather observer for the weather department, and a civil engineer, surveying uncharted wilderness areas in north central and western Wyoming. Later in Hunton’s life, Hunton and his wife would move to Torrington, and on September 15th, 1926, John C Hunton would call the first meeting of the Wyoming Pioneer Association, an organization that aims to preserve Wyoming’s pioneer history. On September 4th, 1928, at the age of 89, John C Hunton would die, and would be buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne. Due to the obscure location of the gravestone away from the everyday public eye, this monument has not received any controversy from any outside group.
John C. Hunton was born January 18, 1839 at Madison Courthouse in Virginia. He would join the United States military at the age of 18, and would see his first military service at Harper’s Ferry in 1859. Hunton’s home in Madison Virginia was in the borderland between the North and the South, the area where families split due to the differences to their loyalties at the start of the secession; John C Hunton would choose the South. John C Hunton would serve with the Confederate army of Northern Virginia in Virginia's Seventh Infantry, and would help lead Pickett's Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war, in 1867, like many disillusioned Southerners, he would move westward, and Hunton’s destination was Wyoming’s Fort Laramie. From there, he worked as a clerk and general aid in the store, and during the winter of 1867, he even shared a room with the famous government scout Jim Bridger.
In 1870, John Hunton received a contract to supply Fort Laramie with wood, and during the next ten years, his government contracts would expand into a large business. He would go on to supply hay, beef, charcoal, lime and other commodities to Camp McKinney as well as to Fort Laramie, also hauling freight for the military to Fort Fetterman, Fort Steele, Fort Phil Kearny, Fort Reno, and Fort C.F. Smith. In 1871, he became half owner of the SO cattle with W. G. Bullock, this herd being the first in the Wyoming area, aside from some work oxen. In the same year, Hunton would open a road ranch at Bordeaux, south of Wheatland. By the 1880s, Hunton would become one of the territory’s most prominent citizens, opening a hotel in Bordeaux and was elected Laramie County commissioner. The era of great cattle barons would end in a disastrous winter in 1886-87, leading to Hunton returning to Fort Laramie in 1889, this time as a post trader. This position would end in 1890, when the fort was abandoned, but would stay in the fort for many years. He became a United States Commissioner from 1892 to 1907, a volunteer weather observer for the weather department, and a civil engineer, surveying uncharted wilderness areas in north central and western Wyoming. Later in Hunton’s life, Hunton and his wife would move to Torrington, and on September 15th, 1926, John C Hunton would call the first meeting of the Wyoming Pioneer Association, an organization that aims to preserve Wyoming’s pioneer history. On September 4th, 1928, at the age of 89, John C Hunton would die, and would be buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne. Due to the obscure location of the gravestone away from the everyday public eye, this monument has not received any controversy from any outside group.
Creator
United Daughters of the Confederacy
Wyoming Pioneer Association
The Veterans Administration
Wyoming Pioneer Association
The Veterans Administration
Source
1. Shaw, Jerry. “Where You Can Find Confederate Flag Flying in Wyoming.” Newsmax, Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax Media, Inc., 2 Sept. 2015, www.newsmax.com/fastfeatures/confederate-flag-wyoming/2015/09/01/id/673106/.
2. Orr, Becky. “Overdue Recognition.” Wyoming Tribune Eagle, 11 Sept. 2010, www.wyomingnews.com/news/overdue-recognition/article_03605743-b7e5-5d4f-94ca-3b4189cc8b33.html.
3. Horan, Susan. “Archives West Finding Aid.” John Hunton Papers - Archives West, archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv174106. Accessed 15 Nov. 2023.
4. Roddam, Rick. “Wyoming’s Only Monument to a Confederate Soldier.” My Country 95.5, 24 Aug. 2017, mycountry955.com/wyomings-only-monument-to-a-confederate-soldier/.
5. Griske, Michael. “John Hunton and His Diaries of the Wyoming Frontier.” John Hunton and His Diaries of the Wyoming Frontier | WyoHistory.Org, 31 Dec. 2021, www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/john-hunton-and-his-diaries-wyoming-frontier.
2. Orr, Becky. “Overdue Recognition.” Wyoming Tribune Eagle, 11 Sept. 2010, www.wyomingnews.com/news/overdue-recognition/article_03605743-b7e5-5d4f-94ca-3b4189cc8b33.html.
3. Horan, Susan. “Archives West Finding Aid.” John Hunton Papers - Archives West, archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv174106. Accessed 15 Nov. 2023.
4. Roddam, Rick. “Wyoming’s Only Monument to a Confederate Soldier.” My Country 95.5, 24 Aug. 2017, mycountry955.com/wyomings-only-monument-to-a-confederate-soldier/.
5. Griske, Michael. “John Hunton and His Diaries of the Wyoming Frontier.” John Hunton and His Diaries of the Wyoming Frontier | WyoHistory.Org, 31 Dec. 2021, www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/john-hunton-and-his-diaries-wyoming-frontier.
Date
10 September 2010
Contributor
Ian Hodges
Language
English
Type
Gravestone
Identifier
Hist 402A Fall 2023
Coverage
Cheyenne, Wyoming