The Union Company, had a large number of filings made by men who were to work in the railroad shops, and by women, some of whom it was said had not the best of reputations. Some of these claims were desert claims where a pretence of developing irrigation was possible, and there are yet the marks of the old ditches that run up and down the hills along Horse Creek, in Wyoming, that were used to make Desert "proof of irrigation" to secure patent to the land.

On the Nebraska sice of the state line, the desert land laws did not apply, and the men and women filed pre-emptions, expecting to make proof after six months alleged residence. Some pretense of residence was necessary, and the parties would absent themselves from their usual haunts at Cheyenne, for a week or two. perhaps twice during the six months of "residence" on these claims, and they found Oelrich's one of the free and easy places, where they assembled, when presumed to be residing upon their respective clairrs just across the river.

One time Oelrichs had 1 illed a horse in the hard ride from Cheyenne, and they were stranded at the ranch. Hank Ingraham had just been up to Fort Laramie, and bought a team of condemned United States horses, and had paid thirty-seven dollars for the team. This was about 1883.

Charlie Oelrich ran across Hank on his way down the river to the feeding meadows in Mitchell Valley, and wanted to buy the team. Hank said : "They will cost you four hundred dollars." Charlie never hesitated ; he wrote him a check and took the team.