Lost Wyoming History: Soldier’s Remains Never To Return to Hometown
This is one small story out of thousands that make up Wyoming's history. Outside of the White River Museum in Meeker, Colorado, there is a headstone without its remains. The late man was from Meeker who died in service with the U.S. Army while in Wyoming.
He died for some unknown reason in the early 19th century. He desired that his remains return to his hometown in Colorado. However, his final resting places is an unmarked grave in Wyoming. In the small mountain town of Meeker, they honor their soldier with this headstone. The sign reads:
his headstone and heart are here forever
Many of the accounts come from the Oregon Trail or other people who have just been traveling through the region. A lot of those souls never made it out of Wyoming. This is the story of one: Wm. Cavanaugh.