Stowaway Cowboy: Harry Haythorn's Trip to America

Harry Haythorn’s trip to America teaches us about life in the 19th century.

If you’re reading History of the West with Sam Payne: And the Wagons Rolled, you have likely just finished Chapter 1. You might be surprised to learn that Sam’s experience in the opening pages was not altogether uncommon. In fact, the idea to open the story this way came from the real story of Harry Haythorn.

Harry Haythornthwaite was the first generation of the family that would come to be known as the Haythorns. Most people familiar with today’s western working ranches have probably heard of the Haythorns. This ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills has earned a reputation far and wide for its history, cattle, and horses. Harry Haythornth first established the foundation of the ranch in 1884, but perhaps the most interesting story is how he came to America in the first place.

Rather than recite the story, click on this link to visit the Haythorn ranch’s website and let them tell you the history.

The events of Harry Haythornth are not that uncommon. Plenty of people were forced to steal passage aboard a ship in the 19th century. Oftentimes it was motivated by sheer poverty and determination to go somewhere better.

Hopefully reading the history of Harry Haythorn helps you better understand the history of the American West. The more stories you read of the frontiersmen, the more you begin to see they didn’t necessarily have a plan. They were living in the moment and trying to do the best they could to gain a little every day. That meant taking chances when they came and seeing where it took them.