Henry Everett Underwood

© Cheyenne Star

03 Feb 1972

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Henry Everett Underwood, former resident of Strong City, and a colorful character died December 13, 1971 in Ft. Worth, Texas, from a heart attack. He was 68 years of age.

Recently Underwood about two years in Cheyenne came to be near his mother Mrs. G. E. Underwood, who as at that time a resident of the Convalescent Hospital in this city. He visited his mother every day until her death, according to the supervisor, Mrs. Weaver was very attentive. Kemo, his dog, accompanied him on all these visits.

The following account of the adventurer H. E. Underwood, appeared in December 14, 1971 issue of the Fort Worth, Texas Star Telegram. A rugged individualist, who for three years-through a goverment good-u-owned part of the Alaskan Hwy., was dead today at 68. Harry Ernest Underwood was not the type to settle down to routine living. "He was always out looking for a new adventure, "his brother, Harvey Underwood said today.

As a young man he took a construction job on the Panama Canal. At age 37, he took off for Alaska, still looking for new adventures. He found them. He had always dreamed of having a cabin by a lake in Alaska, and in 1957 applied for a land grant.

Under the terms, his brother related today, those making application drew for property, with the promise they'd improve it. Harry Underwood drew and got some land in 1959. It was near a lake. An Alaskan bank loaned him $1200 to build his cabin. Three years later the goverment land office in Fairbanks, Alaska, discovered that the land he drew included one fourth of a mile of the Alaskan Hwy. An adventurer with a sense of humor, Underwood barricaded that part of the highway one day for three hours. He erected a big sign. "This highway is under new ownership: Underwood Turnpike." The bank was in the act, too. It held a mortgage on the highway. After three months of fun with the goverment, Underwood paid off the mortgage to the bank and gave the land back. Then the government gave him some more land by a lake.

When Underwood returned to Fort Worth in 1968, he brought his faithful Samoyed dog, Kemo, with him. Kemo, whose name stands for friend, once saved his life while returning to his cabin through waist deep snow, he fell into an ice crevice and fractured an ankle. He called on Kemo. The dog hovered over him and Underwood put his arms around the dog's neck. Kemo pulled him out the crevice and dragged him to a highway where he summoned help.

Kemo was at Harvey Underwood's home at 4212 Little John today while funeral arrangements were being made for his master. Harry Underwood died yesterday at his home, 3642 Ave. I.

He is also survived by his wife; another brother, Paul Underwood of Fort Worth, and a sister in California.

Buried Laurel Land Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.

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