Editing Stetson (section)

==Prospector's hat==
[[John B. Stetson]] was born in 1830 in Orange, New Jersey, where his father, Stephen Stetson, was a hatter. He worked in his father's shop until he went West for his health.<ref>Carlson, Laurie. (1998) ''Boss of the Plains, the hat that won the West''. p. 5, {{ISBN|0-7894-2479-7}}</ref> Stetson created a rugged hat for himself made from thick [[beaver]] [[felt]] while panning for gold in Colorado. According to legend, Stetson invented the hat while on a hunting trip while showing his companions how he could make cloth out of fur without tanning.<ref name="Reid">Etta Reid, ''Ingenuity, luck united to make Stetson hat''. News & Record (Greensboro, NC). Triad Classifieds Deasomedtriadn; p.. GRN6. September 9, 2007</ref><ref>Carlson, Laurie. (1998) ''Boss of the Plains, the hat that won the West'@. {{ISBN|0-7894-2479-7}}</ref>  Fur felt hats are lighter, they maintain their shape, and withstand weather and renovation better.<ref>Snyder, Jeffrey B. (1997) ''Stetson Hats and the John B. Stetson Company 1865–1970'' p. 40 {{ISBN|0-7643-0211-6}}</ref>

Stetson made an unusually large hat from felt he made from hides collected on the trip and wore the hat for the remainder of the expedition. Although initially worn as a joke, Stetson soon grew fond of the hat for its ability to protect him from the elements. It had a wide brim, a high crown to keep an insulating pocket of air on the head, and was used to carry water.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

As their travels continued, a [[cowboy]] is said to have seen J. B. Stetson and his unusual hat, rode up, tried the hat on for himself, and paid Stetson for it with a [[Half Eagle|five dollar gold piece]], riding off with the first western Stetson hat on his head.<ref>Snyder, Jeffrey B. (1997) ''Stetson Hats and the John B. Stetson Company 1865–1970'' p. 49 {{ISBN|0-7643-0211-6}}</ref>