Frederick Hamilton Redington traveled annually by horses and wagons to Yellowstone from the Redington ranch in Shelton, Nebraska. An album was kept of the 1905 trip and a poem written by F.M. Martin of Maryville, Missouri. It appears the poem "A Trip through Yellow Stone Park, July 1905" was printed and possibly given to the group members.
According to the 1870 United States Census, Fred was born September 1843, in Amherst, Ohio to Jane Gillman Redington from England and Alexander H. Redington (tanner) of Massachusetts. Fred had 4 brothers and sisters; John (farm worker), Pamela E., Frank (farm worker), and Charles (Louis C.). They also lived with Jane's mother Mary Gillman born 1790, England. The 1880 United States Census has Fred listed as F.H., age 26, single, and a farmer in Amherst, Ohio. It states he lived with his sister Pamela, her husband Henry J. Jackson, and their daughter, Edith born in 1880.
Unfortunately, the majority of the 1890 United States Census was burned. Little is known of the family between 1880 and 1900. But, according to Fred's grandson, Ed Traynor, Fred's first wife was Phoebe Hargraves of Cody, Wyoming. Fred and Phoebe had at least one daughter, Arlie B. Redington Hargraves (Traynor), Ed's mother. Arlie was born December 24, 1889 in Nebraska and died in July 23, 1981 in Los Angeles, California.
The 1900 United States Census draws an interesting picture of the family living together in Omaha, Nebraska. Fred is listed as the head of the family and working as a sheep sales person for a livestock company. Also listed are Louis C. (brother), Alexander H. (father), Pamela E. Jackson (sister), Edith M. Jackson (daughter) and Arlita or Arlie Redington (daughter). Pamela E. Jackson, Fred, and their father, Alexander H. had all become widowers since 1880.
There is a mention in the poem of the Cottonwood Ranch and Hargraves Hotel. Reuben C. Hargraves was a wealthy wool producer that built a house in Cody, Wyoming in 1906, that still stands as a vaction home, called the Hargraves House. The Hargraves also owned the Cottonwood Ranch on Cottonwood Creek just north of Cody. It appears that Fred and Phoebe met prior to 1889. It is also possible that he knew of the lodging and ranch from the sheep raising connection. According to the historian of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the Hargraves moved to Lusk, Wyoming to raise sheep, prior to living in Cody. Lusk is located on a geographically reasonable route from Shelton, Nebraska to Cody, Wyoming. Maybe the two families met on the trail or while herding sheep in the Wyoming/Nebraska area.
It is noteworthy that the 1910 United States Census Reuben C. Hargraves and his wife, Josephine, are listed directly above the Pollock family who Jackson Pollock, the American artist, is a direct descendent.
Within the group of loose prints is a postcard from Robert V. Newton to Arlie Redington. Robert or Bobbie was a photographer for Western Drug Company born in 1889 to mother Flora E. Newton.
Information was unavailable for Gertie Lewis, the cook's helper at the ranch and F.M. Martin of Maryville, Missouri that wrote the poem.
Author: Lee H. Whittlesey
MS 436 - Traynor Collection
| McCracken Research Library
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