Life Story of Francis Valentine Goodman who was on the first Powell expedition in 1869 for the first three weeks

Written by E.G. Evans November 6, 1959

Material given to the Powell Museum by Goodman's grandson Dan Kurt

* * * as to the story of Mr. Goodman, I do believe I can come as near telling the story as any one now alive, but it has to be from memory of talks with him and others as there is no diary or written record. First, description: Height, about 5' 9" weight about 180, broad intelligent head, brown hair, dark blue eyes, broad nose, a good-looking mouth with slightly receding chin --was fairly good looking, very healthy and strong, most always wore a beard which was red brown in color--had a sunny disposition, loved the out-of-doors, did not care for hard work, made friends with most people he met, was a deep thinker and a great reader, quite a talker but did some thinking before he talked, never spilling his brains out his mouth or telling what he did not want to, was a very staunch Republican, belonged to no church but was broad minded and respected other people's opinions, even to the point of being friends with Confederate men who he fought against, he still respected them although he believed them wrong.

Was born in England February 2, 1844, died in Vernal, Utah about June 23, 1915 at the age of 71.

Had some schooling as a boy. I don't know how much but he was a good penman, good at figures and spelling and exceptional on world history.

He was apprenticed to a miller to learn the making of flour but soon tired of working for his learning and a very small amount of pay.

So at the age of 17 he ran away from his apprenticeship, England, home and friends, came to the United States, joined the New Jersey Volunteers to fight the Civil War and served through to the end.

Soon after the war he returned to England, worked in the custom house and was married to the daughter of a well-to-do family whose name I never learned. She died shortly of TN or as it was called then quickly consumption. There were no children.

He returned to the United States, possibly in 1867 or late 1868. I think he landed at New Orleans for he spent some time in Ozark Mountains which he always wanted to return to.

He reached St. Joe, Missouri and fell in with a freight outfit going west. Was ox teams with trail wagon about 150 working oxen and 100 reserve steers for replacement on account of sore necks, worn out hoofs and sick or crippled oxen. St. Joe to Deer Lodge, Montana in about four months then return to St. Joe or near for winter. This outfit was owned and bossed by Abner Tuman who later became a millionaire cattle man in the upper Green River territory. Frank Goodman enjoyed a walk, but had about as long a one as he wanted this time. Besides, he said the food was not always to his liking, consisting of cornbread, salt side of pig, coffee and molasses. When the hunter was successful there was fresh meat and everyone was happy, but meat didn't keep well.

However, he did not care to return to Missouri as he wanted to see the West so he joined Hudson Bay Company as a trapper in Canada, went to British Columbia then down the Columbia river to Walla Walla, Washington Territory where he quit the Hudson Bay Company and with a partner whose name I cannot be sure of, went trapping on their own into Oregon up the Snake River and over to the head of the Green River and sold their furs at Green River City. It was here in 1869 he met Major Powell, a one-armed veteran of the Civil War who was outfitting for a trip down the Green and Colorado Rivers.

Having nothing particular to do at the time, as trapping is best from November to April on account summer pelts are inferior to winter furs, he joined up with Mr. Powell. Before leaving Green River he had some underwear made of red flannel - shirt and drawers separate as was the style at the time, draw string at the waist to tie and one at each ankle to wrap and tie. Also buckskin trousers and shirt made by an Indian squaw who was the wife of a white man named Cutch - a hat or cap of beaver that he had made himself, a buffalo robe, a blanket and an army blue overcoat.

Must have left two or three years' savings at Green River. However, he never said, but he should have accumulated some, as he never touched liquor and did not gamble.

As he related, the trip started out fine -- a joy ride through new country and a jolly good time. They met their first difficulty in Red Canyon at Ashley Falls (named after William Henry Ashley who came that way in 1825). The last time I was there the name and date was still on the rocks where Mr. Ashley had his first trouble, also the Manley party lost their boat at this point along about 1840 (?). Galloway said it was bad. Myself and another boy put a boat over with ropes. We were not running the river, but had found the boat at the mouth of Skull Creek and had need for it at the Allen Ford where trail crosses canyon -- were handling cattle on that part north side in winter, south in summer, an experience I will not forget. But it is another story, so excuse me for straying off.

Anyway, Powell and company had first trouble there -- lost part of supplies but saved all boats and men, continued on through canyon, came out in Brown's Park or Brown's Hole, a valley between Red and Lodore canyons, part in Colorado part in Utah. A few days later they entered Lodore Canyon and somewhere above where the Yampa River enters, they ran into a bad place unexpected and had a bad time -- got wet and lost more supplies. Frank took off his outer clothes and spread them to dry as they went along, wearing the red underwear to dry on his body. After a few miles they struck trouble again and this time lost one boat and Frank Goodman's buckskin suit, beaver hat, buffalo robe and blanket, also army blue overcoat, some more supplies. Anyhow, when Mr. Goodman had to swim, the red flannel drawers came untied at the waist and he swam out of them except the draw strings at the ankle held and made swimming very difficult and he almost didn't make it.

I think he made a decision right there. I don't think that buckskin suit was dry yet and probably the men were glad to save their own hides. Anyhow, this was a serious set back - loss of one boat and three times losing some supplies. They emerged from this terrible canyon into Island Park in Utah then into Rainbow Fork and onto Split Mountain Canyon and into calm waters and open valleys past the mouth of Ashley River named by Wm. H. Ashley, 1825, on down to the mouth of Duschene River, they called Uintah River, but since changed. It was thought by some early explorers that Duschene was a tributary to the Uintah, but the fact is that the Uintah is a much smaller and shorter river and is therefore tributary to Duschene.

When the Powell party reached here, they had too many men for boats and provisions left. The Major would not ask any man to leave or put him off but would be pleased if some of them would leave, so Frank V. Goodman volunteered to leave but no one else cared to stay in that forlorn God-forsaken country where the nearest whites were over in Wasatch or Utah County, Utah and they were not much more friendly to outsiders than were the thousands of Indians between. Indians had just recently been driven into that territory from south and east and not yet reconciled to it -- they had been played a dirty joke by the government and now their descendants are collecting a few million for the country that was given by treaty to their grandparents then taken away by force -- pardon me for wandering off on the wrong track again.

However, Frank Goodman figured he would just as soon take his chances with the Indians as in the river -- did not care much now where the river went to and this ended his river running career. Now the Powell party had lost their merry maker as he was a good story teller and an excellent singer -- never forgot a poem, song or story. Well, here he was afoot and alone, all he had that he was not born with was two shoes and a suit of red woolen underwear. He said when he saw the boats go around the bend and on out of sight down the river, he had a few lonesome moments but no regrets, but always hoped to see the gang again but I do not think he ever did.

He made his way up the Duschene River with plenty of hardship. After about 10 days he arrived at Form Creek (?) near the head of Duschene River where the first Ute Indian agency in Utah was just being established under command of Lieutenant Pardon Dodds. A Civil War veteran enlisted in Pennsylvania and always known as Captain Dodd, the first Indian agent for Utes after their exchange from other points. Yes, some of the Utes were native of the Uintah but many were from New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. I think Kit Carson was one agent for them in New Mexico. (?)

However, Mr. Dodds provided Mr. Goodman with something to cover the red flannel and a hat - also a job at the agency and they were very good friends forever after.

I think it was in the fall of 1870 that he decided to quit the government job at the agency. Having got a couple of small Indian ponies for pack animals and bought many beaver traps, he secured a valuable companion who had also two ponies, a partnership that was to last happily for several years. They loaded up with traps, ammunition, flour, sugar, salt, tea, coffee, two buffalo robes, two blankets, a government tarp or bed canvas and good buckskin moccasins and clothes all around - also shovel, ax and pick. The rest they would need they could either catch, shoot or go without.

They went mostly afoot as the ponies were loaded. Down the Duschene they went, being special friends to the hostile Utes now they had little worry. When they reached Green River they followed up the mouth of the Ashley. With its broad mouth, swamps and sloughs, it was a perfect beaver paradise. Also plenty large fish in the Green River with an abundance of buffalo berries which when dried were like gravel but good winter food, deer rabbits and antelope were plentiful. No white people within 100 miles, no Indians near by. Mr. Goodman told me these next few years were the happiest days of his life.

They trapped the Ashley as far as they could reach on foot leaving the ponies free to get fat by the mountain. Snow was gone possibly May 1 -- they had all the beaver, some mink and few otter that the ponies could pack with their bed and a few camp utensils. This made it necessary to leave the traps and all heavy articles and walk on foot, lead or drive the ponies to Green River City which was the fur market of the west. I forgot to mention that they made a winter lodge or camp on the bank of the river near the mouth of Ashley by digging a pit in the side hill, building the front of cottonwood logs, roofing it over with logs covered with willows with plenty dirt on top, chimney of a sort and a fireplace in the back. A willow shed in front. This was their winter home for several seasons. There were three routes from here to Green River City depending on the season or how the snow was on the mountains, also grass for horses. The lower was over Diamond Mt. into Brown's Park, raft over the river then up by way of Sears Canyon, Red Creek Canyon, on up Red Creek to the big bend and over onto Taber Mt. to the head of Sage Creek, north on Sage Creek to where it turns west, then through the hills coming onto Bitter Creek and following a short way to its mouth at Green River. Next higher altitude route was onto Diamond Mt crossing, Pot Creek near the head north through Jackson Draw and crossing the river Little Hole then north west to Dutch John Spring then west to the little gap in the reef, thence north to Spring Creek Gap on up Spring Creek onto the Little Mt. at its head then down Current Creek to near the river on north over small divide onto Sage Creek -- at its mouth choice here of raft the river or continue up river -- rough going through Fire Hole Basin. Next higher altitude trail was up Little Brush Creek and over the Mt. through McKee Draw, north and striking Green River at the Allen Ford just above where Flaming Gorge Dam is going to be built in the near future and just below Ashley Falls which will be covered plenty deep when the water backs up.

From Allen the narrow trail up through ledges, reaches the other trail west of Dutch John Spring.

Where a town is going to be built for the dam. Either of those trails are plenty long and crooked, when you think of walking, but when one considered time was no element except when crossing the altitude divides (the highest point in McKee Draw is 8,000 feet but only for a few miles.) If there was water, wood and grass, they could rest a day or a week and no trouble to make 10 miles a day, 15 days travel, 15 days rest in a month which is not bad. On those trips they wanted such things as potatoes, carrots, dried apples, prunes, raisins and rice, and the rest of the summer lived the life of Riley, generally going up the river to better grass, more fish and game to Piney La Bage, Goss Ventre (Goss Vent), Fontinelli, Greys River, Hams Fork -- in fact, it seems like it made no difference time was plentiful -- always arriving at Mr. Cutch's place to help with the hay. Cutch had an Indian wife and family, many milk cows, made much butter and cheese, also chickens and eggs and late in the summer or fall they would leave going to Burnt Fork then to Henry's Fork always taking a couple of big cheeses with them, having loaded up with flour at the City and a few traps they proceeded to the mouth of Henry's Fork to visit Elija O. Driscol who had an Indian wife who was the mother of George Finch who in turn married a half breed sister of George Herford, raised a large family. Finch was one of the best men I ever knew. Spent all his life along Green River. At one time had 1,500 cattle and many more friends. He was a very good friend to Frank Goodman, and they thought much of each other. Well, Goodman and pal usually finished loading their ponies there with carrots and potatoes and went south over Taylor Mt. onto the head of Ashley, nearest way home but elevation of 10,000 feet -- no good in May or June. Trap just a little in the summer or early fall but could unload their packs at the winter place and return to trap a month on the head of Ashley or Bush Creek or McKee Draw, as fur got good early in the high altitude. Then when winter came they could go to their dugout and trap the lower streams.

This went on this way until spring of 1876 or 1877. White settlers were coming or getting ready to come to the Ashley Valley. The handwriting was on the wall, and as all good things must end, Goodman and his partner divided their belongings and parted good friends.

Frank then took his part of fur and traps and went back up river. There he met Bill Bates and they trapped the Uintah Mts. on the north side and came out life-long friends. I do not know how long he and Bates were together, but he next took a man by the name of Baker as a partner, and they worked the upper Green River country which had been trapped by so many for so long it was not so good. The fall of 1879 was bad and they decided to try the Ashley territory for the winter. Had wintered in Brown's Park winter before, but it was trapped out. On their way south they met with Charley Smith and his family who were on their way from Idaho to find a home in the Ashley Valley so they traveled together a few days or more, and that was where he fell in love, and he and Baker dissolved partnership. Francis Valentine Goodman and the young lady returned to Green River City and were married. She age 17, and he age 35. Now the record probably shows her name Elizabeth Ann Smith, but she was defintely not Charley Smith's daughter, but Mrs. Smith's daughter. Her true name was Madgley, and she was born in Lynn, Mass. Must have been in the Smith family when quite small, but she hated and despised Smith and on account of him, hated Morman in general, that is, their church and religion, not individuals.

I could tell the Charley Smith story too, but that is another one. However, he left Ashley later in front of a lynch mob. I know several of his children, and they are a fine family in southeast Arizona.

However, neither Smith or Goodman reached Ashley that year, for 1879 was the most disasterous year the Rocky Mt. region has ever known -- a dry summer, no rain, no grass, no hay, an early fall or a winter without autumn, early snow and severe cold. This was the finish of the buffalo, half the elk, 60% of the deer, 75% of antelope, 80% of cattle and 30 of horses.

The winter of 1879-1880 was worse that anything that has happened since as weather is concerned. Livestock men and companies that were worth millions came out worth a few hundred. Only Abner Luman came out whole that winter. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman lived in a house on the Finch and O'Driscol ranch at the mouth of Henry's Fork, helped feed and care for poor cattle, they being among the few that had hay. Frank never liked cattle after that. He caught quite a few beaver that winter too.

The next summer they all went to Ashley Valley. Smith located a farm on Green River between Ashley and Brush Creek. Frank and his wife moved into the old dugout at the mouth of Ashley. Tried trapping that winter, but no good. There was quite a few people in Ashley and they were all eager to trap beaver. Here on the last day of the year 1880 his son John Francis Goodman was born. Next year he and Charley went trapping on Bear River with a little better result, but not good, and his daughter, Sarah was born on the Ashley River home. He never attempted to claim the land and did no farming except some potatoes and garden. He moved to Brown's Park and took a claim on Willow Creek up near the Mt. He and Mrs. Goodman and two babies wandered up the river in the summer back to Brown's Park where he had a good log house for winter. Then he gave up the Willow Creek place and took one on Beaver Creek in Brown's Park. He got a small bunch of sheep, wintered them there and trailed them up the river in the spring. Now since the hard winter had finished many cattlemen, the first sheep to take their place wintered in the lower country and trailed to higher altitude for summer. In so doing they left many small bunches of sheep. The coyote got most of them, but Mr. Goodman said he beat the coyotes out of some. Mrs. Goodman would care for the sheep and the children. He would hunt and trap and both kept look out for stray sheep to get them before the coyotes did. If the owner ever came and claimed them, O.K. he could have them. If not, he and coyotes were both out. Probably neither of them knew it. However, unless there were quite a few it would not pay to come after them. In this way the small herd grew. Also the family grew, so Mrs. Goodman took care of the children, a few milk cows, and a garden while Frank cared for the sheep and tried to build a ranch; did put up some hay, but the sheep took most of his time.

He sold his right to the land and the sheep and moved to Rock Springs, went to work at the coal mine. He finally got to be guard on the night shift, not underground. By now he had children in school.

That had the purpose of the move from Brown's Park where there was no school this last two or three years. And he bought a ranch in the northeast corner of Brown's Park, off to itself at the foot of Cold Spring Mt. -- quite a distance from the river and other ranches. Then bought a small bunch of sheep that could be ranged close by or at home. But this place he bought from a Mr. Sears was in Colorado and at that time no sheep were allowed in the western (part) of that state, but on account of his friends and the respect people had for him he got by for quite a while. As this small bunch grew then he met a man over in Ashley Territory who was a foreman for a large sheep company at Salt Lake. They ranged several herd north of Book Cliff Mt. and south of White River, nearly south of Vernal. We will call this man Mr. A. as he afterward was (a) very popular big business man and raised a fine family who are yet around. Mr. A. offered Mr. Goodman 1,000 ewes with wool on and due to lamb in May for $1,000. Of course he took the sheep to be delivered on Diamond Mr. in April. When the time came, Mr. A. did not appear, but in his place to consummate the deal was John Bennett, an outlaw of the Robbers Roost Gang who was hanged by a posse for carrying provisions to Tracy Font and Johnson, holed up in Lodore Canyon after the killing of Willie Strange and W.S. Hoy. Font, sometimes known as Dave Merrill. Anyhow, Mr. Goodman knew then where the catch was. He had paid Mr. A. a small forfeit which he could never get back. The sheep had no wool brand and were an exceptionally good lot with good fleece on them, not too old and prospect of 85% lamb crop within next 50 days, so he paid Bennett the balance and heard no more about it. He and Mr. A. were friends after, but he told me he would never trust him. But many did, and he died with a good reputation. Those sheep at that time, wool and lambs were worth about $3,000.

Frank sheared and barbered them on Pot Creek and then moved them to Brown's Park, crossing them on the Garvis Ferry. When he got them home added to the head he already had they would total about 2,500 head and about 1,700 lambs that would be sheep next year. The other ranches and cattlemen now began to get troublesome -- said he had carried it too far and to get out of Colorado or else. This went on for about a year. Part he and sheep were in Utah, next in Colorado, next in Utah. Finally after threats on both sides and many quarrels, a party of men with masks on, held him up while others moved his sheep wagon and sheep, well into Utah, then told him to go after them, (the sheep) but never bring them back across the state line. He said he knew a few of the men but he knew he was vastly out-numbered and bloodshed would do no good. So he sold the ranch to Matt Rash and the sheep to an old and good friend, Tim Kenney of Rock Springs. By this time there were seven children at home, and they buried two. Mrs. Goodman was anxious to visit her mother and half brothers and sisters -- eight or nine of them. They had left Ashley late fall of 1881 and were now in Arizona at St. David Pomerino and Benson. Charley Smith, Sr. probably in Mexico -- or was for a time but returned and died in Arizona. So the Goodman family with two wagons, six good work horses, two saddle horses and some cash started in October to go to Arizona by way of Vernal. The sickness of the youngest child delayed them at Vernal. The others started to school and winter came on. He had many friends and decided to stay. He bought a good farm in the northeast part of Ashley next to the hills. Then next year he bought right at the foot of the Mt. This was unpatented land, what was called squatter's claim. The improvements could be sold also a quit claim deed, but the land was yet not surveyed and belonged to U.S., not yet on the market or tax list either. Person in possession had 90 days preference when it was put on market, He then bought a watering place on top of the Mr. at Limestone Springs. He was now in the sheep business, but altogether he had gone in a little too deep. He had borrowed from a Rock Spring Bank where he had dealt for years whose president and manager was Augustine Kendall, easy to borrow from but without a heart when times went bad. He would get his before it was too late, client be damned. However, Mr. Goodman done his best. His time was taken up with the sheep which soon were two herds, and big ones. He could not succeed on either one of the ranches as he was not a farmer and had to be with the sheep, leaving the farm to hired help and the boys, two of them too young to be much help. The older ones just was not.

Mrs. Goodman was all she should be, a very good wife, mother and helper and did more than her share, but in spite of all, both of them, they were in a bad spot, but yet had hopes. About 1901, Mr. Kendall began to bear down. Frank borrowed $3,000 from Ike Burton, an old friend, giving promisory note. With this and the wood money Mr. Kendall was satisfied for a year. Then he borrowed $5,000 from Louis Kabell with the same terms. Then decided to ship the sheep to Omaha and sell them and pay everyone off, which they should have done. But when he had driven them to the railroad at Rock Springs there broke out a strike in Omaha, Chicago, St Joe and Kansas City packing house union. Well, he waited around near railroad a short feed until sheep were in no condition to sell and winter came on. He moved further south for better feed, but had a big loss next spring -- a low price for wood that March. Mrs. Goodman took sick and died quite suddenly. Frank came home for the funeral, but had to go straight back to Wyoming for Mr. Kendall wanted all his money or would foreclose.

He contacted his old friend, Tim Kinney, president of another bank, owner of 15 bands of sheep and land aplenty. They talked to Kendall, but he would be satisfied only with all, so Kinney made him a personal check for all that was owed to him and took over the mortgage on the sheep and the Ashley farm, told Frank to go run the sheep any way or anywhere he pleased, sell when he got ready. Sounds good, but range land and water places now were mostly owned by stock men or leased from the railroad and they resented what they called transient, so it was up to him to find and use out-of-the-way places that were not owned. Kinney helped him out for winter range, generally south of the railroad and east of the river for summers he went up the river as far as Opal and Pine and on the Hams Fork he was a very busy man and had no time to spend with his family in Utah or pay much attention to either on of the ranches. The Brush Creek, a good one, he left in charge an old bachelor whose only qualification as a ranch hand was he was a Civil War veteran and needed a job, had enlisted in the north, them deserted to the south, then again to the north, and was so muddled he could not get a pension -- drank his wages every six months, after he had bought his clothes, which was all he had except a good team of horses and a fiddle, died a county ward. Needless to mention, the ranch did not pay its expense. The ranch in Ashley Valley was one of the best 160 acres -- about half wasteland on the hills to the east on half excellent farm under the rock point canal with plenty of water, here the family lived. John Francis Goodman, the oldest of the family thought he was foreman or boss; also a hired man who Frank had much confidence in thought he was boss or foreman. He was little better then the old guard on the little Brush Creek ranch but had been a good one when Frank could look down his shirt collar. (He) is in Vernal now on state pension. I saw him last summer. With two bosses, Roger and Alf and little Joe should have done a lot of work. .

Roger told them both to go to hell and went out to work for wages, so this good farm did not pay its way, but was a place for the family to live and the two young children, Madge and Joe to go to school. Mr. Kinney investigated and advised selling it, and so it was sold for about the same as it had cost. This left the family no choice but to move on the little Brush Creek ranch with about 18 head of cattle, three or four of them milk cows, a team of horses, a few chickens and pigs. The family now were John 25, Mary 20, Annie 18, Alfred 14, Joe 10, and Madge 7.

The first year they did a little better than man worthless had done. The next John faded out, went to help father with the sheep. The girls and little boys raised the best crop that had been raised since Frank had owned. I tell you all three of these Goodman girls inherited right to work from their mother and have never lost it in any election yet. I know, for I have lived more that half a century with one of them and know all about the other two. They are all going strong and always have been of the best.

Now, Mr. Goodman had increased the sheep and the price some better so now the time to sell. He sold to his old friend Bill Bates, who was now a big sheep man, owned ranch 12 miles long on Currant Creek, The price was $36,000 -- paid Mr. Kinney in full, came back to Vernal paid Kabell and Burton all he owed them, which they had long since written off as lost and could not have collected. Now he came back to his family, found four of them married, Alfred gone to work, John having married in Wyoming. After paying everyone, he still had a small balance, $3,000 to $6,000 and the little Brush Creek ranch which had now been included in the Forest reserve, and they denied him his right to the land for a few years, but he and the two young children stayed on. Finally they granted him to file homestead claim on it with five years to prove up. When he went to file he had to present his citizen papers which he did not have, having been told by his C.O. when mustered out of Army that his time in defense of the country automatically made him naturalized citizen of U.S., but had not told him he would have to present his papers of discharge in court and apply for citizenship. He bought a small bunch of full blood not registered Cotswold ewes, put registered rams with them, ranged them from the ranch and on the ranch he intended to sell young rams to other sheep men and did. This was only part success, but fair, When the two young children married quite young, he himself married Mrs. Tolliver, an old acquaintance of the family. He died before his time to prove up on the land. According to law the widow can prove up in her husband's name, which she did, and the children never received one penny from his estate but have made it somehow.

Now this short sketch has gone on to a long tiresome story which will be hard to read and understand. I did intend to mention Jim Bridger and his Indian wife on Black's Fork who he and his pal of the early 1870's visited when they passed that way. Also, the man we all call Frank is really Francis.

Also, the man you and other writers refer to as Nat Galloway was Nathaniel Galloway, also known as Than Galloway. I have known him all my life -- went to school with his children and listened to his interesting talks -- was a wonderful fellow, and he and Francis Valentine Goodman were at no time associated, and as far as I know never met Galloway coming much the later. Will have a picture taken of and sent it to you soon.

Now I will not blame you if you are disgusted with this blundering blather. But do hope that you sift out something from it that you want. Will not apologize for poor writing, spelling, bad grammar or lack of punctuation as it is out of my line, and I only did my best with what I have.

Yours truly

E. G. Evans

Addendum to the Evans biographical material was provided by Dan Kurt, son of Frank Goodman's youngest daughter Madge --

Ed Evans, the author of the biography, was a very honorable and honest man. He may be mistaken on some items, but I am sure he has tried to be as accurate as his memory allowed.

1. The author of this biography mentions that Ashley's name and date were still on the rocks. Powell mentions the name on the rocks in his diary. Ed, the author would have been there in the late 1800's or early 1900's. Ed also mentions, in the same paragraph, finding a boat at the location and using it. The Goodmans & Evans were a hardy family.

2. From the information here it is interesting to F. Goodman spending several days with no clothes other than his red underwear.

3. The "valuable companion" mentioned was, according to a conversation I had with Ed, was an Indian woman with whom Frank Goodman lived. According to the biography and she (name is unknown) were very happy together. Ed told me that when the encroachment of settlers and lack of animals to trap drove him back to "civilization", he (Frank) offered his companion the option of coming with him back to civilization or her returning to the reservation. She chose the reservation. Ed told me that on the 4th of July celebrations that there were several Indians with the name of Goodman and they were the better athletes. As Frank and his companion spent 6 or 7 years trapping, this is possible.

Tales from my mother said that the Indians would camp at my Grandfather's (Frank Goodman) "Little Brush Creek" homestead. She said they frightened her and she would hide under the bed. That Frank had taken an Indian wife and had Indian children, it can be supposed the Indian used Frank's ranch to camp as they were friends. My mother also had mentioned that her father, Frank Goodman, had trapped with Jim Bridgers. I had questioned that, but according to Ed's biography the Goodmans did, on occasion, visit the Bridgers so it is likely they did trap together.

I hope this fills in some of the questions about Frank Goodman. I hope to try and locate any people on the reservation with the name of Goodman. Also, if it is not under the Flaming Gorge Res., any remains of the dugout Ed mentioned in his biography that my Grandfather had lived in on Ashley Creek with his Indian wife and later my Grandmother. -- Dan Kurt

If any descendants of Frank Goodman have material and photographs, the Powell Museum would apreciate the contributions to improve our telling the Goodman story as well as that of Major Powell and the other men on the 1869 and 1871-72 expeditions.