John Baptiste Richard, known as "Reshaw," was a fearless adventurer and opportunist who was always right in the middle of the action. The early American West was changing fast, and Richard was there to jump on opportunities before others even realized they existed. He owned several trading posts, built the first bridge to span the North Platte River, and was even a merchant during the Colorado gold rush. Richard's historical contributions were not limited to Wyoming, but he can also be considered the state's first rancher.

• The biography of John Baptiste Richard, a Wyoming pioneer

• A look at the early American West from a front-row seat

• Covers his time as a trading post owner, bridge builder, and rancher