| Named for the Bothwell Brothers. The town was advertised but for various reasons few lots were sold. The summer boom was on, Averell and a woman named Ella Watson, known as “Cattle Kate” were hanged by some cattlemen to the limb of a tree, and their bodies were buried in the dooryard of Averell’s saloon. Shops were closed and the town winked out and died. There was nothing left but the two graves. (WPA) Bothwell was near the banks of Horse Creek. Here, The Sweetwater Land and Improvement Company, incorporated with a capital of $300,000.00, planned a town. During the summer of 1889, Bothwell had a store, blacksmith shop, post office, saloon, and a newspaper, the Sweetwater Chief. (Wyoming Guide) Bothwell Post Office was established on September 5, 1889 with Henry B. Fetz as postmaster. Albert J. Bothwell became the postmaster on May 20, 1891. Its name was changed to Johnstown on June 10, 1892. (Wyoming Post Offices) |
