In much of this later travel, he was accompanied by sometime newspaper correspondent and dime novelist James McKenna, better known as "Cimmaron Scribbler," with whom he had become acquainted in Denver.Together, the two men roamed from New Mexico to Montana, observing and often participating in events ranging from the pursuit of Vittorio to the EarpClanton feud. The economy of the West and firearms technology both were developing rapidly, and men could afford the best at a time when life and property still relied more on selfprotection than on unevenly administered and sporadically enforced municipal and territorial law. Anderson found his skills and wares in demand. In addition, it was a rare community that didn't number shooting competitions among its amusements, and at these, Prairie Peddler was a welcome participant and frequent judge. In 1889, the former Indian Territories finally were opened for settlement. With his mercantile enterprises continuing to expand and Flora Mae still not wholly accepted by Denver society, Anderson decided to shift his headquarters to the Oklahoma Territory, and in 1893, the Andersons abandoned Denver for the territorial capital of Guthrie. Upon achievement of statehood, they moved once again to the new capital at Oklahoma City, where Anderson turned over active direction of Anderson Mercantile to his sons. Following Flora Mae's passing in 1909, he relocated a final time to Lawton, where until his own death at age 84, he remained an icon of Western lore and a straightshooter to the end. dD |
By 1876, Anderson's operations had expanded to the point where the Kansas City distribution center no longer could easily service all his customers. Accordingly, with the concurrence of his partner, Anderson decided to establish a second distribution warehouse in Denver, rapidly becoming the focal point of Colorado and Wyoming mining activities. His challenge was finding a trustworthy individual to manage the Denver operation. He solved it by marrying Flora Mae Johnson, a childless widow, owneroperator of one of the city's bettermanaged dance halls (and incidentally, a much cheaper source of liquor than Anderson's previous providers). Flora Mae proved as able a ramrod of warehousemen as of soiled doves, and what began as a marriage of convenience became, in the course of time, a genuine love match that lasted thirtyone years until Flora Mae's death at age 70. |
Prairie Peddler S.A.S.S. #24967 |
Demonstrating The Gatling |
For the most part, his sales were to shopkeepers in the rapidly proliferating cattle and mining towns along the Kansas Pacific, and later the Southern Pacific, rail routes. But he also carried a modest inventory for sale (at inflated prices) to ranchers, homesteaders, and others not yet served by permanent establishments, which he supplemented with a stock of whiskey and ladies' notions. Given the nature and value of his cargo, he would have been attractive prey for both white and redskinned thieves but for his own skill with his products, the protection afforded by legitimate customers (including many of the West's bestknown peace officers) and not least, the Gatling cleverly mounted on the rear of his freight wagon. |
By 1876, Anderson's operations had expanded to the point where the Kansas City distribution center no longer could easily service all his customers. Accordingly, with the concurrence of his partner, Anderson decided to establish a second distribution warehouse in Denver, rapidly becoming the focal point of Colorado and Wyoming mining activities. His challenge was finding a trustworthy individual to manage the Denver operation. He solved it by marrying Flora Mae Johnson, a childless widow, owneroperator of one of the city's bettermanaged dance halls (and incidentally, a much cheaper source of liquor than Anderson's previous providers). Flora Mae proved as able a ramrod of warehousemen as of soiled doves, and what began as a marriage of convenience became, in the course of time, a genuine love match that lasted thirtyone years until Flora Mae's death at age 70. |
On The Trail, 1880 |
Page 2 |
