Bryant Butler Brooks

Bryant Butler "BB" Brooks was born in Bernardston, Massachusetts to Silas Newton Brooks and Melissa Minerva Burrows. In 1871, his father moved the family to Chicago, Illinois to expand his lock manufacturing business. After receiving business education he worked west through Nebraska and eventually Wyoming. In 1882 he traded six beaver traps and a sack of flour for a trapper's cabin on the Big Muddy in Central Wyoming. With the backing of his parents he started a small ranching operation. His ranch took its name from his registered V-V (pronounced V bar V) brand. 

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He married Mary Naomi Willard on March 11, 1886 and brought her to his ranch. Together they would have four daughters and a son. 

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BB Brooks became active in Wyoming politics, serving in the Legislature in 1892. In 1905 he was appointed Governor of the State of Wyoming to serve the remaining term of Fenimore Chatterton. In 1907 he was reelected for another term. The Brooks family moved to Cheyenne and were the first family to occupy the Governor's Mansion. 

 

His brother John Brooks convinced the Governor to invest in wooden ship building in Maine. Investing in a five masted schooner with the Percy and Small Shipyard of Bath Maine, BB Brooks hoped to overcome the western indifference to the shipping industry. On October 22, 1907, the schooner "Governor Brooks" was launched and quickly placed into service as a coal hauler on the Eastern seaboard. Because of the success of the venture, Brooks and other investors from the Cowboy state funded the construction of the largest wooden sailing vessel ever constructed. The six-masted schooner "Wyoming." Launched on December 15, 1909 the ship would have a distinguished career before being lost in a storm off of Nantucket. 

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Following his time as Governor, Brooks would become involved in the oil industry, mining and lumber as well as building his ranching empire. He would be a President of the Wyoming National Bank and became involved with nearly every civic organization in Casper. 

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A great supporter of local history, he would work with organizations placing monuments for Central Wyoming early history and pioneers and would make numerous commemoration speeches. Most notably, he would deliver the dedication speech for the opening of the Fort Caspar Museum built on the site of the original fort. 

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He built a large brick home in Casper's "big tree" district where he and his wife Mary would entertain friends and members of their large extended family. When he was able, one of his greatest loves was traveling, visiting many parts of the United States and taking a European vacation. 

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To tell the story of his life he completed his memoirs which he presented to his many friends and relatives around the country. He passed away in Casper on December 8, 1944 leaving behind a lasting legacy that is carried on by his descendants to this day.

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