History & Geneology

Johnson County Local History & Genealogy

Welcome to the Johnson County Library Local History Department.  We look forward to assisting you with your local history and research inquiries!  Requests are processed in the order they are received. If your request is time-sensitive, please reach out to the library directly for assistance (307)684-5546.

Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. & Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

While walk-ins are welcome, scheduling an appointment is appreciated and encouraged to help ensure availability and provide you with the best possible assistance during your visit. Preserving and sharing our community’s history is a passion, and historical research often benefits from meaningful conversation and personal connection. Scheduling ahead allows us to dedicate the time and attention your inquiry deserves.

Johnson County Library Local History Archives

• Willow Grove Cemetery - alphabetical listing of burials
• Buffalo Obituary - Index of obits published in Buffalo Bulletin. Digital and paper copies available per request. Use CTRL+F to search after you open the link. You can search by last name. Date formats vary. Contact staff at (307)684-5546 for assistance.
• Local newspapers including: BUFFALO ECHO, BUFFALO VOICE and the BUFFALO BULLETIN from 1800s to the present day. The newspapers are on microfilm and physical format.
• Thousands of vintage photographs, the originals scanned and saved digitally
• Over four hundred oral history manuscripts (audio and video recordings are available for more recent ones) gathered by the Works Progress Administration, local members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, local community interviewers through the years, plus many personal journals, school research papers, and college theses
• Scrapbooks, old ledgers, brand books, local cookbooks, and sheriff records
• Historical Publications such as the Annals of Wyoming, Jim Gatchell Museum’s The Sentry, Hoofprints of the Past and Fort Phil Kearny Newsletters and Archeology Magazines
• Johnson County High School and Buffalo High School Annuals
• Volumes of books on local history or by local authors
• Census records on microfilm
• A list of names for mail delivery in the 1890s, and old phone books
• Eight vertical file cabinets of items obtained about local people, places, Indian Wars, genealogies, maps, Forts Reno, Cantonment Reno, McKinney and Phil Kearny, the 1892 Johnson County Cattle War, outlaws, ranches, homesteads, the Occidental, Basque history, dry farming, Hole-in-the-Wall and Kaycee history, cemetery indexes, maps including topographical and aerial, house histories, church and building histories, fires, Veterans, and lots of interesting miscellaneous files such as UFO and Lake DeSmet Monster sightings.

Genealogy

• Databases: ANCESTRY LIBRARY EDITION is accessible on public access computers or your device at the library.  You simply need your library card to gain access. 
• Vertical files of archived Johnson County History including genealogies and family histories
• Obituaries

Wyoming State Flag

On display at the Johnson County Library is one of six original Wyoming state flags made by designer Verna Keyes. Originally designed in 1916, the flag is made of silk taffeta. The buffalo is handpainted in oil and the Wyoming seal is inked on top. In April 1982 the flag was framed by the Friends of the Library and unveiled by Verna Keyes herself at a Friends luncheon. The Jim Gatchell museum in Buffalo, WY also has one of these flags on display. Natrona County Library has a third flag on display along with Mrs. Keyes' recollection of the flag's creation. A fourth flag is at the Carbon County Museum.

Johnson County Cattle War

Time and circumstance were bringing changes to the free range in what is now northeastern Wyoming. The operators of the large cattle outfits, resisting these changes, recruited 25 gunmen from Texas and formed a vigilante group known as the Invaders. The group gathered in Cheyenne and took a train to Casper and continued north by horseback. The group planned to proceed secretly to Johnson County. Supposedly, they carried a list of suspects they planned to kill. At the KC Ranch cabin, they encountered Nate Champion and Nick Ray and killed them. The killings were observed and when the news reached Buffalo, a group of armed men rode out to meet the Invaders. They met at the TA Ranch, and after several days, Federal troops rode out from Fort McKinney to rescue the Invaders. They were taken to the Fort and then transferred to Cheyenne. Political power ensured the group would never come to trial for the murders.

History Data Collection Project

We could use your help and collective knowledge!

We're looking for help with the history of your homes. Have any family facts to share? Do you know the chain of the deed/ownership? Please fill out both sides of the questionnaire attached here. Email to johncountylib@gmail.com, mail to Johnson County Library c/o Local History Department 171 North Adams Buffalo, WY 82834.  You can also drop it by the library circulation desk during your next visit.

Johnson County Library Publications

Listen Closely as Johnson County Speaks Volumes I - VI: A passion project and large undertaking for the last several years by Nancy Tabb, Dolly Fraley, and Jonette Goraj.  All publications are available to borrow through the library, and additional copies are also available if you would like to add any of these titles to your personal collection.

Backtracking by Fred K. Gray: With the blessing of Fred’s family, this publication was made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor and the dedicated efforts of library staff and volunteers. In their words (Nancy Tabb, Dolly Fraley, and Jonette Goraj), "When we first read his manuscript we kept thinking everyone in Johnson County needs to be able to read this. So we set out to make that possible." We are are honored and grateful to be a small part of sharing Fred's story. Mr. Gray wrote his own memoir and "published" it in a 3 ring binder that he handed out to family and friends. We think he would be very proud of his second professionally published book. Previously he compiled Never a Dull Moment from his brother's journals and notes.