One of our local historical “legends” was a man named “Bear George” McClellan. He lived not far from my house which means in his written stories, I can recognize many of the places he talks about. I was recently given copies of his obituary and remembrances of him. I also have copies of some of the articles he wrote for popular magazines of his day. Some stories seem to have been bound together in some sort of book owned by Mrs. J. H. Tully, of another local pioneering family. Since Bear George died 88 years ago, I believe these stories are all out in the public domain since the 75 year limit has been reached. If you are sensitive to the wording of the days in which he lived, or if you do not care for hunting stories, or if you don’t appreciate a wry story teller, you may want to avoid these tales of Wyoming in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It was still a wild and wooly place and Bear George led an adventurous life. I’ve chosen to begin at the end, I’ll share his obituaries since they give more insight into his background. Please, let me introduce Bear George McClellan.
The following was written by Paul Frison, another local legend. It appeared in the Wyoming State Tribune.
”Washakie County Neighbor Pays High Tribute To Character of M’Clellan”
Tensleep, Wyo., Oct. 19- The late George B. McClellan of Washakie County leaves behind him perhaps one of the most colorful lives of any man in the state of Wyoming, a multitude of friends extending throughout the entire state, and a career that is so full of hardships and pleasure, adversity and good fortune, that he will linger in the memory of the people in the Big Horn Basin.
As an adventurous youth of 17, he came into the Territory of Dakota, where he spent his first year in the west, hunting buffalo around old Fort Laramie, and into the Big Horn mountains where he with his Crow Indian partner, trapped beaver for one winter. He eventually engaged in the cattle business at Red Bank, Wyo., as a partner of the late Governor W. A. Richards and Dr. Harris of Chicago.
Known generally throughout Wyoming as “the Bear,” he typified this unique name in his most individual and realistic manner by telling bear stories.
McClellan had served as state senator and state representative from the Big Horn Basin country intermittently for the last 35 years, always manifesting a vigorous, fighting attitude in the defense of the stockman and the farmer.
His powerful physique, his dynamic personality, combined with an irresistible determination to further his principles, exemplified a most dominating yet lovable individuality long to be remembered.
His demise, though not unexpected, causes a pull at the heart strings, because of his long and continual residence and constant and sympathetic interest in current affairs.
One of his favorite sayings was, “Gentlemen, I have already lived in one territory, a state, three counties, and have never changed my residence in 49 years.” It is perhaps unique at this time to add that “the Bear” also lived 73 years and died on his birthday.
One might just as well expect to reach up into the sky and remove one of the stars from the Big Dipper and assume it would go unnoticed as to expect the departure of “the Bear” to happen without its sorrow.
His campfires now are cold. They no longer radiate warmth, but in the memory of his fellow men he will live. He carved his niche in the hearts of the people.

Yes. I look forward to more stories of the bear.
Look forward to reading more.
Sounds interesting.
Fascinating man.
Looking forward to reading the stories about Bear George!