Addison A. Spaugh papers, 1876-1979

Addison A. Spaugh was a Wyoming rancher and businessman. He was born in Indiana in 1857 and arrived in Wyoming with a trail herd of Texas cattle in 1874. From 1879 he was employed by Manville & Peck, founders of the OW brand on Hat Creek. He became foreman of the Converse Cattle Company in 1880; and in 1885 he began ranching on his own near the town of Manville (which he named), expanding rapidly by buying ranches and brands both north and south of Manville. He acquired the 77 and the Horseshoe ranches from T.B. Hord about 1897. In 1910 he began to divest himself of range interests and by 1917 had turned to banking in an effort to build up the town of Keeline, which he had platted. He held interests in banks in Glenrock, Cheyenne, and Douglas, but sold them as a result of pressures in World War I. In 1913 Spaugh and H.B. Card acquired the Jireh Record, which they published for a time together with the Keeline Courier. Spaugh was also interested in the development of the Lance Creek oil field. In 1929, however, Spaugh declared bankruptcy. In 1941 he retired altogether from management of his remaining ranch interests. He first married Estella R. Bailey. His second wife, Marguerite, who survived him, later married A.G. Underwood. Addison A. Spaugh died in Denver in 1943 and was buried in Manville, Wyoming.