The Diaries of John Hunton

With his homeland overrun and devastated during the Civil War, Virginian John Hunton turned his eyes westward and, in 1867, traveled to Wyoming Territory’s Fort Laramie, bastion of the plains and headquarters for military operations against the Sioux and other Indian Nations. .He settled near that vast army reservation and later became one of the largest government contractors, freight haulers, and cattlemen on the booming Wyoming frontier.

In 1873, Mr. Hunton began to record the story of his life and experiences in his diaries, which ultimately spanned more than half a century. He willed these journals to his good friend L.G. (Pat) Flannery, my grandfather, who dedicated the last years of his life to preparing the historical documents for publication. In addition to the daily diary entries through 1888, Pat’s works included many narratives penned by John Hunton and others, as well as his own painstakingly researched commentaries. The Diaries of John Hunton: Made to Last, Written to Last (ISBN: 0-7884-3804-2) is an abridged version of these fascinating and educational manuscripts, which presents award-winning* topics of interest for a wide variety of readers. Here are a few cases in point.

Old West history buffs will be amazed to discover how the seemingly trivial killing of a lame and half-starved old cow precipitated a quarter-century of hostilities on the plains between the red and white man, culminating in the Custer massacre and General George Crook’s expeditions which finally succeeded in breaking the back of the Sioux’s desperate and often gallant resistance to the invasion of their lands. They will also be captivated by episodes in the lives of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane Canary, Chief Spotted Tail and his daughter, Fallen Leaf, as well as desperadoes, lawmen, politicians, soldiers, and other notable frontier figures who were known by Mr. Hunton and mentioned in his diaries.

Those whose literary preferences include sagas of life’s triumphs and tragedies will undoubtedly enjoy reading about John Hunton’s “boom to bust” business ventures, which met with a disastrous end in 1887 when the huge empires of the early cattle barons came crashing down on all sides. .His love for two women from worlds apart (Lallee, a beautiful French-Sioux maiden, and Blanche, a Virginia belle less than half his age), the murder of his brother, James, by young Sioux warriors, and his own close brushes with death are also discussed in detail.

Readers who like to explore our great land from the comfort of their homes can relive a journey made in 1956 by Pat Flannery and three companions over dim and long-deserted trails from Cheyenne, Wyoming north to the sites of ancient forts and stage stations that were frontier havens of safety for weary travelers and the rendezvous of pioneers --- to places now almost lost to sight and memory. Thrilling stories of the men and women who occupied those sites during John Hunton’s time are also recounted.

All of this and more is waiting for you in this book’s pages that chronicle the existence and passing of an unparalleled generation whose lives were often hard but seldom dull. Your order may be placed with Heritage Books by phone (1-800-876-6103), over the internet (www.heritagebooks.com), or through a book distributor. For a direct order, the “800” number should be called beforehand to obtain information about the various discounts that the publisher provides.

I’m confident that you’ll thoroughly enjoy this unique and enthralling work.

Michael Griske

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* In 2005, articles published in the Torrington Telegram containing excerpts from this work were honored with a Wyoming State Historical Society award presented annually for a newspaper/magazine piece or series. Accuracy, quality of writing, and contribution to the preservation of history were the main criteria used by the awards committee in making this selection.

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