Kris Kirby, a Texan, was the first settler in the vicinity. (Annals of Wyoming 14:3) A number of individuals with the surname Kirby received patents on land near this location in the early 1900's. (General Land Office Records)
County:
Hot Springs
Feature Category:
Manmade Features
Stories:
Kris Kirby was the first settler in this area. Kirby was an old Texas cowman who first settled on the Big Horn River. After staying here for a while he moved on up what is now known as Kirby Creek to about a mile from its mouth. Kirby ran Durham cattle with a boot brand. The story is told that he had these cattle trained to the shot whip. Into the weaving mass of the roundup herd he would rise and crack his long whip and out would come the Durham cattle on the run. He ran around 2,800 head of cattle. The date of his leaving is not certain but he sold out to Captain Torrey for sixty thousand dollars. There was not a cent paid down at the making of this deal. When Torrey shipped his first beef, he made the first payment. The cattle were all paid for in two years time. Kris Kirby was said to have gone back to Chicago, married a widow years younger than him, and purchased a hotel. Just a few weeks after his marriage, he passed away. (WPA)
