Bryant Butler Brooks

Bryant Butler Brooks (February 5, 1861 – December 8, 1944) was an American businessman, rancher, politician, oilman, banker and published author.

After attending a business college in Chicago, Bryant headed west to Alexandria, Nebraska to work on a ranch and farm operation owned by his father's cousin, Judge L.D.

After the roundup and cattle drive, he returned to parent's home in Chicago to take a short course in assaying and metallurgy.

At the Big Muddy, he traded six beaver traps and a sack of flour for a trapper's old sod-roofed log cabin.

Bryant and Mary were married in Alexandria, Nebraska, where she was a school teacher living with parents, Judge Lockhart Dickman Willard and Olive Hester Clark.

His official portrait was painted by artist Michele Rushworth and hangs in the state capitol in Cheyenne, Wyoming.