surrounded by owners of cattle. Prices went up mighty fast that morning and we had to pay a dollar or two dollars more per head than we had talked about. No regrets, for we all made money on them. Harris was very quick on the trigger. He saw deals and made them, while we were virtually sleeping. He bought the remnant of a big herd from one of our closest and best traders, but it turned up trumps. The steers in two years paid the price and a good herd was left as profit. Over and above Franklin and Baer were loyal friends. Our firm in a small way helped them in 1887 and 1888. They in return have repaid it over many times. Better friends never lived and many a poor friend has got a helping hand and lift through their kindness. About 1908 there was a heavy movement of settlers to the West. It had been going on for years but it grew rapidly after the above year. It became necessary to trim one's sails on the open range business and after that season we bought very few cattle. Gradually we realized our herd. In 1911 we practically cleaned up our cattle. Our capital and profits were turned over to the Western Ranches and Investment Co., Ltd. The record of the company is tabulated and makes a very interesting study. M CHAPTER XXX ENTION has been made several times in these pages of the Wyoming Stock Growers' Association, and at the risk of some repetition it will be wise from a historical point of view to treat it in detail and leave a record of an institution, which although sometimes crude in its ways, was a part and parcel of the western range business. In the office of the above association in Cheyenne, under the zealous care of Miss Alice Smith, the secretary these many years, are two books, both records of the work of the association. The first one carries us from November 29th, 1873, till July 2nd, 1883, and we have copied and tabulated the salient features from this book as follows, and submit them without remark: On November 29th, 1873, a meeting of stockmen of Laramie County was held at the County Clerk's office. M. V. Boughton was elected Chairman and W. L. Kuykendall, Secretary. Messrs. Kent, Orr, Durbin and Reel were appointed as a committee to draft rules and regulations for an association of stockmen thereafter to be organized, and also to draft a law to present to the legislature for the better protection of the stock interests of Laramie County. These minutes were in the handwriting of the W. L. Kuykendall and are signed by him as Secretary. The next meeting was held February 23rd and 24th, 1874, and the following named stockmen signed an agreement to become members of the Association: (Of the above Thos. McGee is the only one remaining in Cheyenne and still owns his ranch on Crow Creek.) The following stockmen were admitted to membership at this meeting: Rules and Regulations were adopted and the first Monday in April of each year at seven o'clock in the evening, was fixed as the time of holding the annual meetings of the Association. The name of the Association was THE LARAMIE COUNTY STOCK ASSOCIATION. The entrance fee was fixed at five dollars and the monthly dues at 50c for each member, payable in advance. Two hundred hand bills were ordered printed to notify stockmen of Laramie County of the commencement of the round-up on May 15th. Monday, April 6th, 1874. At this meeting H. B. Kelly, John Snodgrass, Mark M. Coad and L. A. Litton were elected members. February 13th, 1875. N. R. Davis and F. M. Phillips elected members. At this meeting it was voted to assess members for the payment of detectives employed by the Association in such amount as was in proportion to his assessed valuation of stock. Members elected: O. P. Goodwin Thos. McShane Nick O'Brien April 5th, 1875. E. W. Whitcomb W. C. Moore Wm. Guiterman T. M. Overfelt Billy Lykins was employed during 1875 as the first detective for the Association. The exact date of his employment does not appear. At this meeting the following officers were elected: A. H. Swan, President G. A. Searight, Vice-President. A. H. Reel, Treasurer. April 3rd, 1876. M. V. Boughton evidently served as President until this time, although the minutes do not show his re-election in previous years, but in the minutes for this meeting he is thanked for his services as President for the previous two years. The laying out of round-ups and detective work seem to have been the principal work of the Association up to this time. Up to this meeting the minutes are written by Mr. Kuykendall. April 3rd, 1877. A. R. Converse and F. E. Warren elected members at this meeting. April 1st, 1878. Philip Dater, W. F. Swan, Luke Voorhees, W. C. Lane, R. S. Van Tassell, Andrew Gilchrist, W. C. Irvine, May Goldschmidt and C. Ferris were elected members. The minutes for the 1877 and 1878 meetings were written by G. B. Goodell. Special meeting held this day. Members elected. İ. C. Whipple Frank Wolcott W. E. Guthrie Harry Player A. C. Beckwith March 28th, 1879. Edgar P. Bronson A. T. Babbitt E. Nagle B. E. Brewster At this meeting the Executive Committee was created, consisting of three members, residents of Cheyenne, to have charge of all business of the Association during its adjourn ment. The name of the Association was changed at this meeting to WYOMING STOCK GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, and Mr. Thos. Sturgis, as Secretary, made many changes in the conduct of the affairs of the Association. November 18th, 1879. A special meeting was held this day to discuss questions submitted by the General Land Office regarding the best method for the United States to dispose of its grazing lands throughout the Territory of Wyoming to actual settlers. At this meeting a resolution favoring the leasing of public lands was voted down. This appears to be the first time this question was discussed at the meeting of the Association. February 16th, 1880. Special meeting. The following were elected members: H. E. Teschemacher John Hunton Richard Frewen Dues were increased to ten dollars at this time. |