Felix Alston (1869-1956) - the Wyoming State Museum

Felix Alston (1869-1956)
Warden of the Wyoming State
Penitentiary,
April 17, 1911 – March 1, 1919
Gift to Warden Alston from
pententiary prisoners.
G-2010.71.12
Felix Alston
Wyoming State Archives Photo Collection
Neg. #23898
When Wyoming Territory was
formed in 1868, a provision was made
for the construction of a territorial
prison in Laramie City. The prison
proved inadequate, however, and in
1888 a new prison was authorized to
be built in Rawlins. Construction on
the new facility began that same year,
but it was not ready to receive inmates
until December, 1901.

Conditions in the new prison were
less than ideal. There was little heat
or plumbing. Initially, the facility
was run by a contractor named Otto
Gramm. Gramm, a wealthy merchant
from Laramie City, was paid fifty
seven cents per day per prisoner, and
was entitled to the profits from the
prison’s broom factory,
which was staffed by
inmates. One inmate later
wrote that, under Gramm’s
administration, tomato cans
were used for drinking cups,
and meals were calculated
down to the last bean so that
just enough food was served
to prevent starvation.
By 1911, a number of guards
had been murdered, several
prisoners had been killed in escape
attempts, and one had been hanged by
other prisoners, making the prison the
focus of much conversation in the
state. Former senator Joseph M.
Carey campaigned for governor
promising an eight hour workday for
women and children, good roads, use
of the secret ballot, and the removal
of Otto Gramm’s contract for
operation of the state prison. Carey
won the governor’s race and made
Big Horn County Sheriff Felix Alston
the prison’s first state-appointed
warden in April, 1911.
Wyoming State Penitentiary, Rawlins
Wyoming State Archives Photo Collection
Neg. #13520
The Wyoming Frontier Prison is now operated as a
museum. For more information, please visit their
website at: http://www.wyomingfrontierprison.org/

Felix Alston led an eventful life. At
various times, he worked as a:
cowboy on the Texas Trail; gold
miner; election judge; feed store
employee and owner; water and
ice man; farmer; Yellowstone
National Park guide; justice of the
peace; tax collector; deputy
sheriff; and sheriff. He is most
well-known for being the
investigator of Wyoming’s Spring
Creek Raid, in which a number of
cattle ranchers murdered three
sheep ranchers.
As warden, Alston brought a
number of reforms to the prison.
He brought books into the facility,
provided educational opportunities,
and added a physical fitness program
for the inmates. Alston also believed
that inmates should give back to the
community and ensured that crews of
prisoners were kept busy making road
repairs in the state. He is best
remembered for creating a prison
baseball team, which included two
inmates he had previously arrested for
arson and murder in the Spring Creek
Raid. Alston served as warden of the
prison until March, 1919.
Wyoming State Prison Baseball Team, 1911
Warden Alston’s son, Felix, Jr. served as the
team’s bat boy.
Wyoming State Archives Photo Collection
Neg. # 9664
Alston left Wyoming in 1920. He
spent time in Texas and Mexico,
finally settling for good in California,
where he died in 1956, at the age of
86.

Wyoming State Museum Donation
In 2010, Felix Alston’s grandson
donated a large number of the
warden’s personal items to the
Wyoming State Museum. Included
was this gold pocket watch, still in its
original wooden presentation case,
given to Alston on his first Christmas
as warden. The inscription reads,
“Presented to Felix Alston, Warden,
by the Inmates of the Wyoming State
Penitentiary for his efforts on our
behalf. December 25 th , 1911.”
Howard railroad grade pocket watch in
presentation case. Pocket watch engraved
with “FA.”
G-2010.71.1, 2
The presentation was accompanied by
a speech written on behalf of the
prisoners by Charles E. Bydenburgh,
a Rawlins citizen. He was hired by
inmates of the Wyoming State
Penitentiary to present the watch to
Felix Alston. You can read the
speech here:
https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/alstonchristmas-speech/

Fake revolver completely carved from wood
by an inmate and used in an unsuccessful
escape attempt from the penitentiary.
G-2010.71.14
Horsehair belt made by an inmate at the
Wyoming State Penitentiary for Warden
Alston's son, Felix, Jr. It was either made
by Herbert Brink (one of the Spring Creek
Raiders) or R.F. Morgan. Both were expert
braiders and had made gifts for Felix Jr.
G-2010.71.3
Dice made by an inmate from stained
wood and brass tacks.
G-2010.71.11 a, b

Signature Stamp for Felix Alston
G-2010.94.27
Convention Pin, American Prison
Association Meeting, October, 1911
G-2010.71.30

Big Horn County Sheriff
Felix Alston served as the Under
Sheriff and Sheriff of Big Horn
County from 1903-1911, just before it
was divided into smaller counties.
Under Sheriff Badge, Big Horn County
G-2010.71.16
Sheriff Badge, Big Horn County
G-2010.71.15

Alston earned a stellar reputation in
law enforcement as the sheriff of
Bighorn County. He oversaw range
disputes between cattlemen and
sheepherders and led the investigation
to track down and arrest seven men
responsible for murders in the
incident known as the Spring Creek
Raid. In 1952, Felix Alston wrote a
manuscript about his experiences
from this time. Click here to read the
manuscript:
https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/the-springcreek-raid-by-felix-alston/
Handcuffs
G-2010.71.10
Business Card
G-2010.71.9 a-d

Personal Items
Felix Alston was also a family man,
avid fisherman, and member of
several fraternal organizations. The
artifacts donated to the Wyoming
State Museum show us this side
of the man as well.
Felix Alston’s Children (l to r):
Felix, Jr., Eunice, Virginia (Peggy), and
Helen Viola
Wyoming State Archives Photo Collection
P93-33/4
Felix Alston
Wyoming State Archives Photo Collection
P93-33/2

Watch fob with photos of Mrs. Alston and
Felix, Jr.
G-2010.94.40
Meerschaum Pipe in Case
G-2011.12.2 a, b, .3
Last hat owned and worn by Felix Alston.
G-2010.94.50

Mustache Cup
G-2010.94.1
Fishing Fly Box and Flies
G2011.12.4 a,b; .17; .19
G-2011.12.19
Felix Alston With His Catch

Fraternal Organizations
From the many artifacts donated
relating to fraternal groups, Felix
Alston appears to have been a
dedicated member of several
volunteer service groups. These
include the Benevolent and Protective
Order of the Elks (BPOE); Modern
Woodmen of America; Independent
Order of Odd Fellows; Fraternal
Order of Eagles; and Freemasons.
BPOE
State Convention Badge, Rawlins
G-2010.71.27
Elk Pin
G-2010.94.36

Elk Antler Pin
G-2010.71.26
Golden Jubilee Grand Lodge Reunion, 1914
G-2010.71.24
Elks Tooth Cufflinks
G-2010.94.46 a, b

Other Fraternal Groups
Fraternal Order of Eagles
2011.12.21
Modern Woodmen of America
G-2010.71.17
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
G-2010.71.28

Freemasonry Cufflinks
G-2010.94.30 a, b
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry 32 nd
Degree. Engraved: “Consistory,
No. 1, Cheyenne, Wyo.,
Gift of Dr. Barber Xmas 1918
G-2010.94.38