Women’s vote in Wyoming: Wyoming Territory was created along the current state boundaries on July 25, 1868. On December 10, 1869, the territorial legislature was the first in the country to pass a law that allowed women to vote. Some of the legislators believed that since African-American men could now vote, it was unfair to withhold the right from women. Others hoped that it would attract more women to the territory, which had an even more disproportionate ratio of men to women than most of the West.

Chicago Fire: After a dry summer in the Midwest, a fire ignited for unknown reasons in the barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary at 13 DeKoven Street in Chicago, on October 8, 1871. The fire spread quickly, and the firefighters were unable to quench or even contain it. It burned through the surrounding neighborhoods until rain extinguished it on October 10. The fire left around 300 people dead and 100,000 homeless.

Peshtigo Fire: In Wisconsin, the most devastating fire in U.S. history began on October 7, 1871 at an unknown location in the woods. It consumed the entire village of Sugar Bush, buildings and inhabitants, then raced on to the sawmill town of Peshtigo. With 200-foot flames and unbearable temperatures, trees exploded and the sawdust that covered the streets burst into flame as well. The fire killed 1,200 people and burnt approximately 2 billion trees.