Large Reception Held for Governor-Elect Kendrick in 1914

The largest reception ever up to that time in Sheridan was held on Dec. 12, 1914, to celebrate the election of John B. Kendrick as Wyoming Governor. Over 1500 people attended.

Sheridan Post, December, 1914 talked about the upcoming event: Date Arranged for the Reception for Mr. Kendrick the public reception by the people of Sheridan County to governor elect and Mrs. John B. Kendrick will be held Saturday evening next December 12. The reception proper will be held in the Elks home and the Odd Fellows Building next door. Both halls have been secured for the occasion. Good music will be furnished, and dancing will continue until midnight. Refreshments will be served in both halls during the evening.

This occasion, arranged under the auspices of the Sheridan Commercial Club, is strictly non-partisan. It is merely an expression of good will to the governor-elect, the first Northern Wyoming governor, by his friends and neighbors of the Sheridan county, regardless of politics.

Everybody is invited. The country people, especially are urged to be present and participate in the merry-making. The committee in charge of the reception has been called to a meeting this evening where the final details will be arranged. The chief facts, however, are all settled. They are these: The reception will be held next Saturday evening, commencing at 8 o’clock and continuing until midnight, and YOU are invited to be present.

In 1914, Sheridan area rancher John B. Kendrick, who was a ‘rags to riches’ story in Northern Wyoming, was elected as Wyoming Governor. Orphaned at an early age, Kendrick came north from Texas in 1879, at age 21, trailing cattle to Wyoming with the Snyder-Wulfien cattle company. He worked on ranches around Wyoming, and invested his wages in cattle and eventually in land.

At one time the Kendrick Cattle Company owned around 210,000 acres of deeded and leased land in southern Montana and northeastern Wyoming.

Kendrick got interested in Wyoming politics, and in 1910, he was elected a state senator from Sheridan County, and in 1914 was elected Governor of Wyoming.

From the Sheridan Enterprise, November 4, 1914: Kendrick Is Elected Governor; Majority Of Over 4,000 Votes in Sheridan County Gives Him Over 2000 Majority Beats His Opponent

John B. Kendrick of Sheridan was yesterday swept into the office of governor of Wyoming by no less than 4,000 majority votes, and this neat figure may even go higher when the votes are finally tabulated. He signally defeated his opponent, H.S. Ridgely, republican, carrying county after county, the list being headed by Sheridan County with a majority of 2033, with one small precinct missing — a majority which is a splendid tribute to the affection and high esteem in which his friends and neighbors hold him. Democrats, progressives, republicans— Mr. Kendrick owes this splendid home tribute and expression of confidence to them all, without regard to politics.

Even counties across the mountain voted for Kendrick. From the Thermopolis Independent, November 6, 1914. John B. Kendrick Governor. Returns from Tuesday’s election show the election of John B. Kendrick as governor of the state of Wyoming by a majority of between three and four thousand. Big Horn County gave Kendrick 1318 votes to 934 for Ridgely. Washakie county’s vote was 450 for Kendrick to 230 for his opponent. Park gave Kendrick 829 and Ridgely 761.

Sheridan Enterprise, Sunday Morning Edition, Dec 13, 1914, Great Crowd Greets the Governor-Elect. Citizens Stream In and Out of the Elks Club for Many Hours Last Night at Reception. Was a Brilliant Success. They were all there last night at the Kendrick Reception, from Judge Percy Meta of the Basin country, and Hayden M. White from Buffalo, and Charlie Cash of Kaycee. to Tug Wilson from the OW, and they were all mighty welcome, and had a bully good time. In short, the big popular reception to Governor Elect Kendrick was a most brilliant success. In point of numbers, it was the largest reception as ever given in Sheridan.

Fully 1500 or more people calling during the evening, paying their respects to the governor-elect, chatting for a short time with members of the receiving line, and enjoying the dancing later in the Elks Lodge room. and in the Odd Fellows Hall next door.

The big crowd began to arrive even before the appointed hour, 8 o’clock, and by nine o’clock the stream was a heavy one that taxed the ability of the reception committee to get and keep in line past the receiving party. It was exactly as desired and planned – everyone was invited without regard to his station in life, or his political affiliation, and they came as invited.

Men in high boots and mackinaws rubbed elbows with men in formal evening clothes. There were colored citizens as well whites. There were laboring men and women of the city as well as those better fixed in worlds goods It was a splendid cosmopolitan. democratic crowd not democratic in the partisan sense but in the sense that there was perfect good feeling and cordiality.

That was what made the affair worthwhile and was what made it the delightful occasion that the big reception parlor of the Elks Club was handsomely decorated with huge bunches of carnations and roses and with potted plants and ferns.

In the receiving line were Governor-elect Kendrick and Mrs Kendrick Mayor and Mrs Tynan. Commissioner and Mrs Wood. Commissioner Canfield, Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Fryberger and Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Massey. Mrs. Canfield was unable to be present on account of illness. The guess were received first by the general reception committee, then introduced to the governor-elect and then passed down the line.

For the first part of the evening an orchestra played behind the screen of flowers. Dancing was enjoyed on the second floors of the two lodge rooms. Punch and wafers were served, and bevy of pretty girls presented each woman with a carnation.

The crowds did not cease coming until after 11 o’clock, when the stores closed, and permitted the last swarm of citizens to gather in the rooms It was a delightful event and will serve as a splendid public compliment to the newly elected governor from his old friends, his neighbors and his fellow citizens.

The Sheridan Post, December 15, 1914, reported on the reception this way: A Popular Reception Brilliant Social Affair on Saturday Evening Throng of People the Elks Home and Odd Fellows Hall the Scene of Animated Function. The popular reception was given last Saturday night in honor of Governor-elect and Mrs. Kendrick was brilliantly successful from every standpoint. The attendance was even larger than had been anticipated, the extreme cold of the night failing to keep away even the country folks, many of whom had driven to Sheridan expressly for the event and returned to their homes after the event was over.

One has to remember that transportation was still rather rustic back in 1914, the top speed of the Ford cars was about 28 miles per hour, so it was a commitment for country folks to come to a reception in Sheridan.

There were only around 8000 people in the town of Sheridan according to the 1910 census. But, a lot of people came.

The article continues, It is estimated between 1500 and 2000 persons were in attendance at different times during the evening, many of them going early and remaining until close.

The halls were beautifully decorated and there were flowers in profusion. There was delightful music, not only in the halls where dancing in progress, but in the reception hall as well. Delicious refreshments were served: everyone had a delightful time.

The reception began at 8 o’clock, and even before that hour people began to gather at the Elks home. They continued to come until almost midnight. the crowd being constantly recruited by new arrivals and the line of people going up to the reception line being continuous, and without end. and by them introduced to Mr. Kendrick and the others of the reception line.

The crowd was delightedly cosmopolitan and democratic, there being men and women from all professions and trades, from town and country, from nearby and afar off, members off all professions aud trades, all members of all political parties. All were present to express good wishes and wish good luck to all the foremost citizen of Northern Wyoming who will, on Jan. 1, assume the office of chief executive of the state.

Kendrick served as governor for two years, 1916 he resigned when he was elected a Wyoming State Senator and served in that capacity from 1917 until his death in 1933.

But, the largest reception even held in Sheridan was held for Sheridan’s own John B. Kendrick when he was elected governor of the state 108 years ago this week.