WLM
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As he researched the bridge, he
became curious about the man
who built it and his bicultural
family. With encouragement
from historians, Glass began to
write down what he’d learned,
continually adding to it for years.
The Town of Evansville created a replica of a portion of Reshaw’s Bridge.
of whiskey to boot. He bought
trail-weary livestock, grazed and
rested them on plains grass, and
resold them to emigrants in need
of fresh stock.
Eventually a small community
grew up at the bridge with
trading posts well stocked with
supplies and liquor, blacksmith
shops, and homes for both
workers and Native Americans.
The military often had a presence
at the bridge to protect emigrants
as well as the bridge itself.
Military camps came and went
until the added responsibilities of
protecting the telegraph and the
Pony Express created a need for
a more permanent location. Fort
Casper (renamed Fort Caspar in
the 1930s) was established a few
miles upstream.
Truly, John Baptiste Richard and
his bridge were where Casper
began.
* * * * *
Author Jefferson Glass lives only
a few hundred yards from the
site of Reshaw’s Bridge. At first
he was more interested in the site
than the man.
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