Panoramic view of the Grand Tetons, 1902. Cunningham Cabin, Spread Creek. The cabin was built in approximately 1888. Built in a "dog trot" fashion, it is located at Spread Creek about 25 miles north of Jackson and was owned by Pierce Cunningham. Cunningham arrived in the valley in the early 1880's from New York. During the winter of 1892-93, the cabin was occupied by three men, George Spenser, Mike Burnett, and "Swede" Jackson. Swede was a partner of Cunningham's and had been delegated the duty of keeping an eye on the other two by Cunningham who, perhaps, suspected that Spenser and Burnett made their living by selling horses with defective titles. In April of 1893, Spenser stepped out of the cabin and near the corral was confronted by a posse from Idaho led by A. A. Anderson. In the ensuing shoot-out, Spenser ended up dead. The posse then turned its attention to the cabin. There, Burnett found a similar fate. Spenser and Burnett were buried near the corner of the corral. Later badgers dug up the bones and spread them about. Two years later the cabin was used as a fort during the Indian Scare of 1895. Jackson Hole, 1941. Nick Wilson In 1889, Elija Nickols "Nick" Wilson (1845-1916), a former Pony Express rider and Overland Stage driver guided a company of L.D.S. into the valley. At the age of 9, Wilson had been adopted by Chief Washakie's mother. Thus, Wilson was a adoptive brother of Chief Washakie. Wilson first came through the valley at age 12 with a company of Shoshoni. He was employed by the Pony Express at age 15. The village of Wilson is named after him. There, Wilson with his son-in-law operated a hotel, store and saloon. Others ventured into the valley. William Dean "Bill" Menor arrived in the Hole in 1892 from Sheridan. Later in 1905, he was joined by his younger brother Holiday H. Menor who had previously prospected in Montana. Both had grown up in Winfield, Kansas. Each established homesteads, Bill on the west side of the river and Holiday on the east side. Bill proved up his claim in 1908 and Holiday in 1919. Bill was the first settler on the west side of the Snake River. In 1894, Bill Menor established a cable ferry across the river charging fifty cents for a team and twenty-five cents for a horse and rider. During the winters when the ferry had to be laid up, Menor rigged up a small platform suspended on the cable on which passengers could haul themselves over the river before it froze over. In later years at the beginning of winter, settlers from the area would construct a temporary bridge which would then be dismantled in the spring when the ferry went back into operation. Menor's Ferry, 1909 Menor also maintained a store and would provide overnight lodging and meals for only the ferry fare for those who were caught when the river was unsafe for the little ferry to cross. He insisted, howver that they get up early and be on time for meals. Bill Menor's Cabins. National Archives. In 1918, Bill Menor sold the ferry to Maud Noble. She increased the tolls, $1.00 for an automobile with Wyoming plates, $2.00 for out-of-state cars. ,p> Menor's Ferry, approx. 1925. Photo by Harrison "Hank" Crandall. Bill and Holiday Menor left the valley and moved to California where they died within a year of each other. Next to Bill's hospital bed was placed a crude painting of the Tetons. In 1926, a bridge was built across the Snake River, and the little ferry went out of business. A year later, Maud sold out to the Rockefeller interests discussed below. The present ferry at Moose is a reconstruction of the ferry. Re-established Menor's ferry.