Wind River Basin

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From Wyoming Tales and Trails

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This page: Dubois, Rendezvous of 1830, F. A. Welty's Store.

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Wind River County, A. Bierstadt

For discussion of Bierstadt and the Lander Expedition see Lander


 Dubois, Wyo., 1940's
Click here for close-up

The area around Dubois was early explored, by among others, John Colter who is believed to have passed through Union Pass in 1807 in his discovery of Yellowstone. The Astorians also passed through in 1811. Union Pass remained an important route until South Pass due to its gentle incline became the route for the Emigrants' Road. Today Union Pass is noted for wildlife. In the area remain grizzlies and lynx as well as re-introduced wolves.


Dubois, 1920

Dubois was first settled in the 1870's and was known as "Never Sweat." However, when it came time for the establishment of a post office, officials in Washington determined that it should be named for Idaho United States Senator Fred Thomas Dubois (1851-1930), a member of the Postal Committee, and today remembered primarily for his strong anti-LDS beliefs and being chairman of the committee of the Senate that required navy bean soup to be always on the Senate menu.

Stringer Hotel, Dubois

The Stringers were among the early settlers of Dubois. Other early residents of the Dubois area included Butch Cassidy who operated a horse ranch. It has been alleged that he always seemed to be able to sell more horses than he could raise. When President Arthur came through the Dubois area, he and his entourage started to camp on land belonging to a local named Clark. When Clark was told that it was the President of the United States, supposedly Clark replied: "I don't care what he is president of; he is on my land without permission." The President and his party moved.

As noted with regard to the discussion of Lander, several of the early mountain man rendevous were conducted in the area. Some question exists as to the exact location of several of the rendevous. Hiram Chittenden, History of the American Fur Trade, discussed with regard to Yellowstone, contended that the rendevous of 1830 was conducted near South Pass or Lander. On the other hand, Charles Giffin Coutant, in his 1899 History of Wyoming, contends that it was conducted at the head of the Wind River near Dubois. The expedition, led by William Sublette, consisted of 81 men on mules, 10 wagons drawn by 5 mules each, and 2 carts. It took from April 10 until July 16 to get from St. Louis to the Wind River Basin, making 15 to 25 miles a day. Additionally there is evidence that Andrew Henry and William Ashley's company had its winter camp in the area in 1823-24 as did Jedediah Smith in 1829.


 F. A. Welty's Store, approx. 1910


Welty's Store, 1920's

Modern view of Welty's Store

Note the original building behind the addition which has been added to the front. The original store building depicted in the first photo dates to 1889 when Frank A. Welty constructed the building on the east side of Horse Creek just to the north of present day Dubois. The building was constructed next to the home of his father Francis "Doc" Welty. George Hays and Juey Yeomans established a general store in Dubois which was purchased by F. A. Welty in 1898. The building was then moved and reconstructed behind the Hays-Yeomans Building. The Welty General Store has remained a fixture in Dubois ever since.

Next Page: Dubois continued.