Andy Polson 1916-2001
Ropes & Saddles

Cowboy (and other) poems by
Andy Polson
see book cover
Andrew Polson was born February 20, 1916, near Mt. View, Wyoming, second child of Carl and Eliza Polson.  He grew up with his sisters, Eunice and Lolla, and brothers, Stan and Clyde, on the family ranch near Mt. View.  After he finished high school, Andy hired on with the Upper Green River Cattle Association. Andy later worked as a cowboy for the Bill Todd ranch and for the Myers Line above Evanston.

A picture of him riding the bronc, “Bottoms Up”, at the DC Ranch at Kendall, Wyoming, served as the model for the bronc rider on the mural in the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney.

On July 6, 1943, Andy married Ruth Hanson, a schoolteacher from McClusky, North Dakota, who was teaching in Mt. View.  After their marriage, they lived in Evanston, where Andy worked on the forest and for the railroad.  There they had twins, Carol and Claire, who died shortly after birth.  They moved to the Dubois area where Polson worked for the Double Diamond ranch for four years.  During that time, their daughter, Lois, was born.

Andy gave up cowboying to attend barber school in Fargo, North Dakota.  It was in North Dakota that their son Carl was born.  After barber school, Andy moved his family to Lander, where he barbered with Harvey Betts until 1958.   In 1958, he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service.  He retired as a postal clerk in 1981.

Andy was an active member of Bethel Lutheran church in Lander.  He helped build the original church building at 6th and Shoshone.

Although Andy left ranching, he always enjoyed helping his friends with branding and during round-ups.  He was a member of the  Fremont County Sheriff’s Posse, riding with them in parades for many years.

Andy’s hobbies included woodworking, traveling with Ruth, and writing poetry.  He especially liked doing things with and for his grandchildren, Andrea Howell, Lauren Banis and Erika, Jeremy, and Leif Polson.

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