I just joined

[bowiemaker]

Well I just mailed my membership application along with my registration for the National Meet in Evansville. I have yet to shoot in an NCOWS match but I have seen enough here on the forums and learned enough from talking with friends that are member to decide that this is something I want to be a part of.

The historic aspect is especially interesting to me. My family history goes back to the earlist white settlers in America. My ancestors came to Virginia from England in the 1650s. George Washington was my 23 rd cousin four time removed and my 5th cousin married Robert E Lee.

My 2nd and 3rd cousins, John and his son Landon Carter, were among the first white settles in what is now Tennessee. They fought in the revolution and Carter Valley and Carter County Tennessee is named after them.

Of more interest to the old west period is my 6th cousin, Judge William Alexander Carter after whom I  adopted my alias of Judge Carter. After serving in the Seminole wars in Florida and striking out in the California gold rush, Judge Carter became the sutler at Fort Bridger Wyoming in 1857 when it was still part of the Utah Territory. Over the years he had numerous exciting adventure and also became one of the areas most prominent citizens. He was the first one to run cattle through the Big Horn Basin and the first to register a brand in Wyoming. The Carter Cattle Company is still in business today.

He was instrumental in getting Wyoming recognized at it's own territory in 1868 and later as a state. He also opened the first saw mill in the area, built the first school, and was the first to drill for oil in Wyoming. From 1857 until his death in 1881 Judge carter was very much a part of the old west running cattle and wagon trains throughout Wyoming, Utah and and all the way to Denver Colorado.

One of his last accomplishmetns in 1881 was to fulfill an Amry contract to lay out a wagon road from Fort Bridger to Browns Hole Utah. Although, Carter was then 63 years old, he personally supervised the laying out of the road. In the cold and damp of the winter in the Uinta Mountains, Carter suffered from exposure and returned home to Fort Bridger and died. His son, Willie, then a student at Cornell, returned home and completed the contract. Carter's widow, Mary Hamilton Carter, continued the business until the fort was abandoned in 1890.

So that's my story. Glad to be a part of NCOWS. I'll be seeing you around the campfire.

[Tjackstephens]

Welcome pard, Will see you in Evansville. Tj

[Irish Dave]

Welcome to NCOWS, pardner.
You have a lot of history to be proud of.

[Will Ketchum]

Welcome to NCOWS.  You really need to write your family history unless someelse has arlready.  If that's the case then perhaps there is a way we can read it.

Will Ketchum

[River City John]

Bowiemaker,
Welcome!, and looking forward to meeting you at the Nationals.

RCJ

[bowiemaker]

Welcome to NCOWS.  You really need to write your family history unless someelse has arlready.  If that's the case then perhaps there is a way we can read it.

Will Ketchum

There is quite a bit about Judge Carter here: http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/bridgerc.html

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Bowiemaker, WELCOME!

Glad to have you join the fun.  I hope we can meet at the Nationals!

[Windy City Joe]

Welcome aboard. At the national stop by the campsite for coffee or a drink. We will have plenty of both.
Windy City Joe

[bowiemaker]

Thanks. I am looking forward to meeting everyone in Evansville.

[Dr. Bob]

Glad to see you here pard.  See you in Evansville!