Mother Featherlegs Cemetery WY
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Description: Operating from her residence, situated at the base of the Rawhide Buttes, Mother Featherlegs' establishment attracted a motley clientele, including outlaws who were rumored to have devised various heists, such as train and stagecoach robberies, within the cozy confines of her cabin. Subsequently, following these criminal escapades, Mother Featherlegs often found herself entrusted with the ill-gotten gains, comprising valuables, money, and jewels, until the perpetrators returned to claim their loot. Born with the name Charlotte Shepard, she had led a life on the fringes of the law even before her arrival in Wyoming. In Louisiana, she associated with a ruthless gang, which also counted her sons, Tom and Bill, among its members. It was during this time that she crossed paths with Dangerous Dick Davis, also known as 'The Terrapin' in Louisiana. Over time, nearly all the gang members met their demise, and after losing both her sons, she ventured to Wyoming with Dangerous Dick by her side. Here, she not only established her residence but also earned the moniker 'Mother Featherlegs.' Her nickname was a nod to her preference for a pair of red pantaloons she favored, which some quipped made her legs resemble chicken legs. During her time in Wyoming, she was seldom referred to as Charlotte Shepard. Mother Featherlegs and Dangerous Dick Davis set up their household in Wyoming, with her taking charge of the operations, as Davis had a penchant for lounging. Her time in Wyoming, however, was tragically short-lived, as her lifeless body was discovered by a visiting neighbor after only three years. Dangerous Dick Davis, driven by greed for the jewels she safeguarded for the robbers, committed her murder and fled back to Louisiana. In later years, Dangerous Dick was apprehended while still in Louisiana and met his fate at the hangman's noose for her murder. During this time, he confessed to the crime and revealed that her true name was indeed Charlotte Shepard. In 1964, a monument was erected in honor of Mother Featherlegs, and it stands at the site of her former home. Noteworthy contributors to this monument included Jim Griffith, Bob Arrow, and Del Burke. Burke, a significant contributor, was herself associated with the profession and owned and operated the Yellow Hotel in Lusk. This monument remains accessible for visitors to this day.