John Allen Campbell, a brevet brigadier general during the Civil War, was appointed Wyoming territorial governor by President Grant and served between 1869 and 1875.
Although he is most noted for signing in 1869 legislation providing for the first universal sufferage in the United States, Gov. Campbell may also be regarded as the father of the Wyoming National Guard.
At his urging the Legislature in 1870 authorized the formation of volunteer militia units. As a result several short lived units were formed in the Territory including the Cheyenne Rangers in 1873, the Wyoming Home Guard in Laramie and Cheyenne in 1874, and the Wyoming Rangers in Lander.
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