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22 The McLaurys in Tombstone, Arizona Following his discharge from the Army, Will McLaury lived in Tama County for about six months. He was, by this time, in his early twenties and once he regained his health was eager to set out on his own. By his own dating , he left Iowa in March of 1865 to travel to Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and back to Iowa. All of his roaming over the West took place in the year-and-a-half between March 1865 and October 1867. According to his family, Will spent this time driving a stage, following the gold rush into Colorado and fighting Indians during that time. It is perhaps more likely that he was actually working hauling freight during this period of time. Late in 1867, he came back to Iowa to spend another few months in the vicinity of his boyhood home.1 What stories did he bring for the eager ears of his younger brothers? What seeds of wanderlust did he plant in their imaginations? Was he aware in later years of having influenced his younger brothers to seek their fortune far from Iowa? Will moved to Dakota Territory in 1868, around the time of his father’s move to Buchanan County. The choice of Dakota Territory may have been connected to the beginning of the Civil War, from the time Eddie McLaury joined the Iowa 14th. When the regiment was formed at Camp McClellan, Companies D, E, F, G, H, I and K were sent on to the Tennessee campaign; however, Companies A, B, and C were sent west to Fort Randall in the Dakota Territory (located near present-day Yankton). The recruits in that regiment were from Benton and Tama counties, so they would have included former neighbors and friends. Some of the soldiers either remained in Dakota Territory or returned after their discharge from the Army with stories of life in the Dakotas.2 In the summer of 1870, Will lived in the unincorporated township of Elk Point, Dakota Territory. The federal census, taken in June, indicated he was caring for the three-year-old daughter of his near neighbor, whose parents lived William R. McLaury Four 23 An O.K. Corral Obituary in the next dwelling over.3 By this time, Will decided to engage himself in the legal profession. Sometime in 1870 he moved to Sioux Falls, where he built an office for himself , before moving to another office the following year. His admission to the bar took place in October 1871, and as he was sworn in, he was advised that admittance to the bar would not make him a lawyer. He took this admonition to heart. Out of gratitude to the men who had inducted him into the bar, McLaury proposed that he hold a dinner with his three examiners.4 After some discussion, it was decided that we should gather in my office, and that Mr. McLaurie [sic] be graciously allowed to provide refreshments. The judge, the bar and the officers of the court were included in the invitation. The banquet, as we called it, consisted mainly of crackers and cheese, cove oysters, cigars and plenty of frontier whisky. After a while the guests began to get warmed up, and songs were sung, stories were told, and many drinks were consumed. Judge [Jefferson P.] Kidder presided over the feast, and smiled and joked with all. As the evening drew on toward the wee small hours, I proposed that we drink the health of our new made brother in the law, Mr. McLaurie [sic]. The Judge smilingly bowed to Mr. McLaurie, and called him by name. Mr. McLaurie, as the “Exhibit A” of the evening, had been drinking with this, that, and the other guest, until he was well nigh too full for utterance. He rose unsteadily to his feet, and, placing his hands upon the edge of the table, bowed with great gravity to the judge and to each of the guests; an instant passed and, collecting himself with a start, he again bowed to the judge and to each one. Then he began “Mr. Chairman,” and again paused to collect his thoughts. The chairman bowed and said, “Mr. McLaurie.” A moment passed, and then again “Mr. Chairman.” The chairman repeated, “Mr. McLaurie.” Finally recalling the incidents of the afternoon, the speaker again commenced: “Mr. Chairman , I deeply ’preshate the great honor which has been conferred ‘pon me zsish day, by being admitted to...

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