A County 10 series in partnership with the Fremont County Museum System
where we take a #Lookback at the stories and history of our community and
presented by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
Atkins was originally born in Wisconsin in 1853, but by 1877, he had settled in Fremont county on land near Willow Creek. He also ran a livery and was part owner of a saloon. He traded shares in oil stocks and amassed a large interest in oil claims. He also dabbled in the cattle industry and owned a ranch along the Wind River close to Dubois, which he later sold to J.K. Moore for $13,000 dollars in 1898.
J.J. Atkins was the first sheriff of Fremont County to serve a full two-year term. In 1884, the newly created Fremont County covered the land from Sweetwater County in the south all the way up to the Montana boundary. It was a huge territory to police. Atkins took up his office on January 5, 1885, and within five days two of his prisoners made a clean escape from his jail. His jail is still standing on 4th street in Lander and has been converted to a family home. His prisoners were J.J.B. Holloway and Richard Watson. They had been arrested for robbery. They were never apprehended after their escape. Later, the third prisoner, Frank Howard walked away from the jail. He had originally been charged with manslaughter, but when the grand jury returned a murder indictment instead of manslaughter he escaped on September 28, 1886.
Atkins married Margaret Boyd, the daughter of William Boyd in 1880. She died 11 years later after a long illness following surgery. After his father-in-law’s death, Atkins was appointed guardian of Boyd’s two minor children.
In March of 1886, the county commissioners started planning for a new county courthouse and jail. Eugene Amoretti had donated the land for the new courthouse and Louis Poire was given the contract to build the new courthouse and jail. The new jail was completed in February of 1887, but Atkins never used the new jail; his term had expired the month before the new jail opened.
Atkins also served the county when he was later elected to be the county assessor in 1903.
After leaving office he became interested in gold claims around Atlantic City and Lewiston. He owned the Blue Bird claim and was part owner of the Good Hope Mining company. Atkins also had an interest in a gold mine called The Rose. He sold The Rose to a capitalist for $50,000.
As he got older Atkins bought a store that sold candy, magazines, and cigars on Lander’s Main Street.
Time was not kind to Atkins, in 1922 he spent a night in the county jail before being taken to the State Home for the Feeble-Minded in Evanston. He was probably the victim of dementia or possibly several strokes. It was a sad ending for one of Fremont County’s early pioneers.
Next up for the Fremont County Museums
July 9, 9-2 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Geology of Torrey Canyon” By Matthew Bruseke
Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series
July 10, 10 am at the Pioneer Museum, “Upper Sinks Canyon Adventure Trek”
Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series
July 13, 9-2 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Mystery Sheep Trap Adventure Trek”
Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series
July 15, 7 pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Lester Hunt: The Wyoming Governor, From Lander” By Charlotte Dehnert
Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
July 17, 2-4 pm at the Riverton Museum, “STEM/STEAM Day”
Baily Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
July 17, 11-2 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Dubois Museum Day”
July 17, 11-2 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Flint Knapping” with Tom Lucas
July 17, 11 am & 1 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Draper Raptor Experience”
July 17, Noon at the Dubois Museum, “From Soldiers to Rangers: The Unique Assignment in Yellowstone National Park” By Brandon Lewis
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander, and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment, the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits, and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax-deductible contribution to be used specifically for the benefit of the museum of your choosing by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.