Dow, Wilmot S. (Wilmot Sewall), 1854-1891

In six letters to his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles, dating from April to September of 1885, Theodore Roosevelt describes various aspects of his life as a rancher in the Dakota Badlands, touching on subjects such as the weather, working on cattle roundups, and hunting. Roosevelt notes the long hours spent in the saddle tending to cattle herds, inquires about Cowles’s health, and always asks after his infant daughter, though never by her given name of Alice. Roosevelt mentions his ranch hands Wilmot S. Dow and William Wingate Sewall in some of the letters and even highlights his favorite horse Manitou.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1885

William N. Tilchin describes a seminar at Boston University on February 24, 2011, in which students were invited to look at, handle, and discuss items from the university’s Theodore Roosevelt Collection. The article includes Tilchin’s address at the start of the event which summarized Roosevelt’s life and career, and in which he highlighted four aspects of Roosevelt’s presidency: public relations, progressivism, environmentalism, and foreign policy. Tilchin also asserts his view that Roosevelt ranks second only to Abraham Lincoln among the presidents, and he encouraged the attendees to consider joining the Theodore Roosevelt Association.

Three documents on display at the seminar–a contract, a campaign poster, and a letter–appear in the article along with three photographs of some of the students in attendance. 

Wallace Finley Dailey, curator of the Theodore Roosevelt Collection at Harvard University, recreates an exhibit on Theodore Roosevelt’s involvement with Harvard from his days as a student to his work as an overseer. The exhibit was displayed at Harvard in 1977, 1980, 1996, 2005, and 2012. The exhibit in article form consists of twenty-five photographs, including thirteen of Roosevelt, and numerous documents including letters, certificates, diary and notebook entries, and publications by and about Roosevelt. The accompanying text identifies each photograph and document, noting its source and providing context. 

The Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) announces that it is suspending its plans to build a Theodore Roosevelt museum, and that it is searching for a new Executive Director. The TRA also plans a “Theodore Roosevelt Strenuous Life Weekend” in August 2009 to commemorate the 130th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s ascent of Mount Katahdin in Maine. The announcement highlights Roosevelt’s relationship with William Wingate Sewall and Wilmot S. Dow of Maine who would work as ranch hands for Roosevelt in the Dakota Badlands, and it notes that the weekend events will be guided by the actor Joe Wiegand.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2009

Lowell E. Baier describes the importance of Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch to the formation of Roosevelt’s environmental awareness, and subsequently to the emergence of the nation’s conservation movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Baier provides a brief history of the conservation movement in the United States before Roosevelt’s emergence as its leader, and he argues that the conservation effort stemmed in part from the nation’s desire to preserve parts of its frontier past. Baier quotes Roosevelt biographer Edmund Morris in emphasizing the importance of the Elkhorn to Roosevelt’s environmental beliefs, and he highlights efforts to secure the protection of lands directly across the Little Missouri River from the Elkhorn ranch house.

A photograph of Roosevelt with two of his ranch hands and three historic photographs of the Elkhorn Ranch buildings populate the essay along with two contemporary color photographs of the site. The essay also features illustrations of Roosevelt’s cattle brands, sketches of the Elkhorn ranch buildings by Frederic Remington, and a large map showing the various units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and surrounding lands.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

James F. Vivian provides a look at Theodore Roosevelt’s time in the North Dakota Badlands with a collection of newspaper accounts, ranging from 1898 to 1915, drawn from interviews with Roosevelt’s friends, fellow ranchers, cowboys, and acquaintances. Vivian provides an introduction and an afterword to the article, as well as an introduction to each of its twelve sections. The accounts include reminiscences from the likes of William Sewall, Arthur T. Packard, and the brothers Sylvane Ferris and Joseph Ferris. Vivian contends that these interviews “corroborate the content and quality” of the work done by Hermann Hagedorn in his book Roosevelt in the Bad Lands.

Ten photographs appear in the article, including three of Roosevelt’s contemporaries, Frederick Herrig, James W. Foley, and Arthur T. Packard, along with two photographs of the museum dedicated to Roosevelt onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. An illustration by Frederic Remington of Roosevelt’s capture of the boat thieves, and a text box with a listing of the members of the executive committee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association supplement the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Ray H. Mattison describes the methodology used to try to discover the exact location of Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch. Mattison includes a historical background of the ranch, from its original construction and occupation by Roosevelt, William Wingate Sewall and Wilmot S. Dow, through its later abandonment and deconstruction. The primary method used by Mattison to determine the site of the Elkhorn was through a comparative study of photographs between those taken by Roosevelt in 1886 and contemporary photographs Mattison took in 1949. Additionally, Mattison interviewed a number of “Old Timers,” who were familiar with the Elkhorn Ranch, and who were able to corroborate the conclusions he came to based on the photographs.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1950-01

Ray H. Mattison gives a historical summary of the construction and use of Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch, and discusses the buildings present there. Mattison draws from a number of sources, including books, letters, photographs, and interviews to try to give a complete picture of the ranch and its activities.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1960-05

The cultural resources survey, created sometime after 1977, includes information on site access, a description, environmental surroundings, archaeological excavations and types of artifacts found, and a list of published works on the Elkhorn Ranch site.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

Unknown

A form nominating the Elkhorn Ranch Site and Maltese Cross Cabin in Theodore Roosevelt National Park for entry onto the National Register of Historic Places. The form includes basic information about these sites, including name, location, and managing agency, as well as descriptions of the physical appearance of the sites and statements describing their historical significance.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1976-12-22

Regional Archeologist Beaubien writes to Russell Reid, Superintendent of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, to tell him of the discoveries that his archaeological dig made at the Elkhorn Ranch site, including evidence of several of the buildings. Beaubien is working on a preliminary report of his findings, and would like to include a picture of a painting of the Elkhorn Ranch. He wonders if Reid would be able to get him prints of this photograph, and if he knows the history of the painting.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1958-06-19

William Wingate Sewall has been “holding the fort” at the ranch while the other ranch hands are on the roundup. The weather has been nice and he has been spending time tending the garden. Sewall does not think Dakota Territory is very good for farming, but the cattle are doing well. He hopes that Theodore Roosevelt will not lose money on the cattle but doubts he can ever make much profit. Sewall accompanied Roosevelt on a recent hunt and Roosevelt killed a large elk. He hopes to go on his own hunt with Wilmot Dow when the weather is cooler. Sewall is now into his last two years in Dakota Territory and it will be a “joyful day” when he returns home to Maine.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1886-06-27

The weather has been pleasant and William Wingate Sewall has been building a stable and hunting. He killed a buck with the finest set of horns he has ever seen. Sewall describes a great ride on his favorite horse, Sorrel Joe, while trying to corral a group of horses.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1885-12-20

William Wingate Sewall describes the pursuit and capture of three thieves that stole a boat from Theodore Roosevelt. The boat, the best one on the Little Missouri River, had been purchased by Roosevelt in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it was very useful. Sewall and Wilmot Dow built a new boat and they headed after the thieves a few days after the boat went missing. The thieves were captured without violence and Roosevelt accompanied them to Dickinson, Dakota Territory, for trial. Sewall and Dow continued down the river with the boats to Mandan, Dakota Territory, and then took a train back to Medora, Dakota Territory.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1886-04-21

William Wingate Sewall has 100 cattle to practice on during winter. He does not believe cattle are too hard to care for and the work has not been difficult. The country is “queer” and dirty but the soil looks healthy and the water is good. Sewall guesses there is a chance to make money with cattle and Theodore Roosevelt is optimistic. If he can make a profit, Sewall wants to get back to the “clear water and trees” soon. Overall, he thinks that Dakota Territory should have been left to the animals.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1884-08-17

Howard Eaton provides updates on the location and activities of many people that William Wingate Sewall knew from the Medora, Dakota Territory, area.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1888-03-22

Diary of Theodore Roosevelt for the year 1878. Roosevelt attended Harvard College and spent the summer in Oyster Bay, New York, and on an expedition in Maine. The major event of the year was the death of Roosevelt’s father. Roosevelt reflects on the death of his father many times throughout the year. The diary concludes with notes on Roosevelt’s personal finances and his “game record” for the year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1878

Diary of Theodore Roosevelt for the year 1879. Roosevelt attended Harvard College, spent the summer in Oyster Bay, New York, and went on two expeditions to Maine. The diary concludes with notes on Roosevelt’s personal finances and his “game bag” for the year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1879

Ray H. Mattison, Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park historian, writes to Hermann Hagedorn, Roosevelt Memorial Association Secretary, requesting information on the descendants of Theodore Roosevelt’s associates in the North Dakota Badlands. Mattison wishes to invite them to the park’s dedication ceremony. Mattison also requests the Association’s help in deciding who to invite to the ceremony.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-02-14

Left to right: Wilmot Dow, Theodore Roosevelt and William Wingate Sewall in Western garb. Dow has fur coat over left arm; Roosevelt holds a rifle and wears chaps; Sewall wears a long fur coat.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1886