Just Jim,
Did the original information say what they were doing. It seems more like a hunting trip than a move in a covered wagon. I wonder because the wagon does not seem to be very crowded nor does it have water barrels and such tied to the side.

The lady wearing gloves along with long sleeves and a wide brim hat were protection against the sun.  The men were likewise attired against the elements. My folks protected themselves similarly into the 1960's.  Somewhere in there we got stupid about the sun.

Bill, 
I have thought of that often, back in the day when people moved via wagon and even first automobiles, who would drag gear like that around.  But they were of a different sort, my grandparents had photos their parents had taken beginning when they first moved to a homestead in eastern Wyoming before the turn of the last century - and it wasn't just a couple of photographs.   
Greg

It's possible the family planned a hunting trip and a photographer from town came along to document it with photos.
A simple hunting trip with one or two men wouldn't likely be documented. But a trip that was long enough to involve hauling a wagon, gear, and the family, was a pretty big deal and they might have wanted it documented just for that reason. 
Wonder if they had other pictures taken of game harvested, and such? Would be interesting to see ....the rest of the story.

By the way, this image is pictured on page 164 of Dutcher's Ballard book and states it was taken in South Loop Valley near Broken Bow, Nb. in 1886. 
John's guess was a Montana with the young man, and a Pacific in the wagon. Broken Bow isn't a huge town today, and likely pretty small in 1886. But there are numerous small towns in the area, so not a big deal for a photographer to come out from town for the day, or days, to take some pictures of the hunt for the family.

When you get a chance use Sir Google and enter "Broken Bow Nebraska in 1886" check out images.  Somebody at the time was a busy photographer, there is a lot from that era.  It looks like they had a print shop among other things, so I can imagine the little blurb in the bottom corner of the local rag, 

"The Jones's left this morning on a month long hunting trip, loaded up with their Ballard rifles, wish them luck, they should have stopped by the General and got one of those new Winchester repeating rifles..."

I made my last comment somewhat in jest, but I grew up in very small community and when I was first learning to read, the local rag was published twice a week.  I remember reading stories used to fill up the pages, like "what was happening 50 years ago... so and so's sister, husband, kids 1-8 made the 14 mile journey in the wagon - had a wonderful afternoon, evening, and church the following morning, returning home by dark the following day"  This was news that was actually printed - it was a different time. 

That store, YES! if only we could.
Greg

marlinguy wrote on Jun 20^th, 2019 at 10:42am:


I bought an 1851 Navy Colt repro in about 1971 or so, and it was my introduction to the world of bullet casting. I knew pure lead was required, and I walked into the S.F. Travis hardware store in Cocoa, Florida. It was a WONDERFUL place, with shelves full of old stock, and rolling "library" ladders to permit access to the high shelving. I learned later they had been founded in 1885. 

I asked for lead, and a grizzled old fellow asked "how much?" while pointing to a pig of lead on the floor. He chopped off a chunk with an axe, and a few hours later, I witnessed the magical transformation of cold, gray lead into a shiny, mercurial pool. What fun!