(307) 674-2178
Check Availability
Sheridan Inn Hotel in Sheridan, WY
  • Home
  • About
    • About Historic Sheridan Inn
    • Friends of the Sheridan Inn
    • Reviews
    • Photo Gallery
    • Blog
    • Resources
  • Hotel
    • Rooms
    • Hotel Amenities
    • Mountain Lodge
  • Weddings
  • Events
    • Event Venue
    • Calendar of Events
    • Gallery
  • Contact
Frank \"White Beaver\" Powell Room

The Frank “White Beaver” Powell Room

Room 214

Frank Powell, M.D. was born in a log cabin in the mountainous districts of Kentucky, near the Tennessee line, on May 25, 1847. His father, C. H. Powell, also a physician, was of Scotch descent, and his mother, a woman of extraordinary beauty, was the child of a full-blooded Seneca Indian, “Medicine Chief,” who had married the daughter of one of the early pioneers of New York. The daughter took the maiden name of her mother, Miss Tompkins.

Frank "White Beaver" PowellFrank never went to elementary school, instead relying on his parents for his education. His father died when he was eight years old, and his mother began to move the family of four around the country to keep all the mouths fed. The family spent time in Ithaca, NY, Chicago, and Omaha. It was in Omaha where Frank met Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickok, and Texas Jack Omohundro. The period of residence in Omaha, however, was not very long, for in 1868 Frank entered Louisville University, in Kentucky, and was graduated in 1871 at the head of his class in medicine.

As legend has it, Frank Powell got his famous nick name from riding into the camp of a hostile tribe, just days after killing a couple of the members in hand-to-hand combat, in order to vaccinate the entire assemblage against smallpox. For this gallant action the natives accorded him the honorific “White Beaver.” In 1876 he was made Medicine Chief of the Winnebagoes, and demonstrated to his final days an actively egalitarian empathy for Indians in a society that sought to eradicate them. Buffalo Bill was quoted as saying, “a natural-born doctor, and don’t you forget it.”

When Powell was not acting as a physician in Wisconsin, he was touring with Buffalo Bill as camp doctor and exhibiting his skills as a marksman. Cody and Powell were also associated in a number of business ventures. They founded a cereal company that produced a coffee substitute from roasted bran called “Panmilt”. The primary target market were Mormons who did not drink caffeine. They also made, marketed and patented “White Beaver’s Cough Cream, The Great Lung Healer”. The name played on Powell’s ancestry, claiming ancient Indian herb preparations for part of its unusual healing powers. After early success, both businesses failed. Powell was elected mayor of La Crosse in 1885 and served until 1887. Powell died May 8, 1906, on a train en route from Los Angeles, from heart failure.

214 Frank White Beaver Powell Bathroom 214FrankWhitebeaver

Share This Page

    Room Amenities

    The Frank “White Beaver” Powell room is a suite that features 1 Queen size bed, a single lavatory, & tub with hand shower.
    All rooms have wired and wireless internet & individual heat/ac.

    Book This Room

    The Esquivel Brothers Room
    Grand Duke Alexis Room
    CHECK AVAILABILITY

    Rooms Menu

    • Alexander Majors Room
    • Annie Oakley Room
    • Bill Pickett Room
    • Black Elk Room
    • Broncho Billy Room
    • Buffalo Bill Room
    • Colonel Prentiss Ingraham Room
    • Death Valley Scotty Room
    • Frank “White Beaver” Powell Room
    • Grand Duke Alexis Room
    • Lillian Frances Smith Room
    • Miss Kate Arnold Room
    • Nate Salsbury Room
    • Ned Buntline Room
    • Queen Victoria Room
    • Robert Summers Yellowtail Room
    • Rough Riders Room
    • Sitting Bull Room
    • Teddy Roosevelt Room
    • Texas Jack Room
    • The Esquivel Brothers Room
    • Wild Bill Hickok Room
    Read our reviews on Trip Advisor
    Historic Sheridan Inn

    Sheridan Inn Hotel Reviews

    • 5 star review  I can't begin to say enough about the staff at the hotel. They went way above and beyond for me during my stay. They even came in an hour early every morning to prepare breakfast for just me and a colleague during our stay because we had to be at work by 6 am. And the rooms are exquisitely renovated. It has an old time charm that you just have to experience. Can't wait to come back. Just wish the bar was operational.

      Google Logo
      thumb Harold Nicholas
    • 5 star review  Beautiful restored 125 year old Hotel. They have 22 rooms completely unique. Fantastic staff. The bed is so comfortable that I want to take it home.

      Google Logo
      thumb April Bocek
    • 4 star review  It is an historic place to visit. We wanted to have lunch there but the dining room was closed. Beautiful interior! Worth seeing.

      Google Logo
      thumb Tia Faulk
    • 5 star review  The inn was far more impressive than I expected it to be when I booked my trip. Upon arrival I was met with a kind and very helpful staff. The rooms were spotless and the beds were top notch. Very comfortable and that's even with having had multiple back surgeries in the past. The inn was updated to modern standards but only so far as to make the place comfortable without detracting from the history the building was full of. Comfortable, friendly, historically rich atmosphere. I cannot wait to stop by for a visit on my next trip north west. Simply a beautiful place I could easily see used for destination weddings or small events.

      Google Logo
      thumb Donnie January
    FacebookGoogle+

    Copyright ©2022 Sheridan Inn | Privacy Policy | Sitemap

    Sheridan Inn • 856 Broadway St, Sheridan, WY 82801 | (307) 674-2178

    Copyright © 2022 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in