HISTORY. The territory included within the present State was a part of the Louisiana Pur chase of 1803 with the exception of the south west corner, which was a part of the Mexican cession of 1848. The Territory of Wyoming was directly emitted by Congress, July 25, 1808, from Dakota, Utah, and Idaho. The stories of Span ish exploration have no foundation. The first white explorers were Sieur de in Vet-endue and his sons, who passed through while looking out for situations for posts in 1743-44. White hunters visited the Yellowstone in 1804, and in 1807 fur-trading posts were established in Montana and the trappers began to range the country. The first permanent fort was built on the Laramie Fork of the Platte in 1834. It was sold to the American Fur Company in 1835, re built by that corporation in 1836; and sold to the United States in 1849. Frimiont visited the country in 1842 and in the same year Fort Bridger was built on the Black Fork of the Green River, but was abandoned in 1S53 on account of Mormon opposition. The streams of immigration both to California and Oregon passed through the Territory, but few or none of the immigrants settled permanently. A chain of forts was built by the Federal Government to protect the trav elers, however, from the Sioux and other Indians, who declared war against the military and the trappers in 1854. In 1867 the discovery of gold
led to the founding of South Pass City, and the same year Cheyenne was laid out by the Union I'aeific Railroad Company. The surrounding country, which was without government of any sort, was formed into Laramie County, Dak., and a vigilance committee kept order. The Terri torial Government was organized in 1869, and the same year woman's suffrage was adopted and has been maintained to the present time. The Indians viewed with suspicion the coining of the whites, and in 1866 refused to grant a right of way through their lands, and until after they had been punished for the massacre of General George A. Custer (q.v.) in Dakota in 1S76, they were constantly making trouble. With the ces sation of the Indian outbreaks growth in popu lation was rapid, and the State was admitted to the Union July 10. 1890, as the Constitution adopted in November, 18S9. had been approved by Congress. In national polities the State voted first in 1892 for the Republican candidates. The free-silver agitation in 1896 carried it into the Democratic column, but in 1900 the Republican electors were again chosen.