University of Wyoming
George Mitchell (1859-1955) immigrated to the United States from Scotland in 1875. He worked as a surveyor for the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad before going to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1879. He worked as a ranch hand on the HR Ranch near Wheatland, Wyoming, in the early 1880s and around 1888 became one of the first settlers in Casper, Wyoming, and served as its first mayor. He owned the Wyoming Lumber Company in Casper from 1888-1892. In 1894, he bought the HR Ranch, where he lived the rest of his life, and in 1896, he incorporated the Mitchell Cattle Company. In addition to his cattle business, Mitchell served as president of the Stock Growers Bank of Wheatland for twenty-eight years; was trustee, vice president, and treasurer of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (1908-1931); and was a charter member and later president of the Laramie County (Wyoming) Cattle and Horse Growers Association. He participated in Democratic Party politics, serving as a member of the Wyoming territorial legislature in 1886 and the Wyoming House of Representatives in 1935, and he was a member of the Democratic State Committee for many years.
The collection consists primarily of business records, including numerous ledgers and bills and receipts. Also included is correspondence, clippings, a scrapbook with photographs of Mitchell and his family and friends, a map, and a few other assorted items.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.
Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event.
Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via
There are no known other archival collections created by George Mitchell as of the date of processing.
This material was received from Ruth Mitchell Fancher in 1957.
The collection was processed by Roger Simon, August 2017.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
An essay of “notes and dates on Mr. Mitchell’s Life,” by Ruth Mitchell Fancher, his daughter.
Includes handwritten annotations (possibly by daughter Ruth), photographs of Mitchell, his family and friends, and some of his properties, and clippings about Mitchell.
Four ledgers, including one for HR Ranch.
Three ledgers.
Includes
Includes an agreement for the use of land, a review of public funds on deposit in Wyoming banks, and a manuscript regarding types of sales taxes.
Includes a resolution from the Laramie County Cattle and Horse Growers Association.
“Map Showing Land Claims of the Milwaukee and Wyoming Investment Co.”—it includes the HR Ranch, which Mitchell bought in 1894.