J. B. Okie papers - Archives West

J. B. Okie papers, 1893-1921

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Okie, J. B. (John Brognard), 1864-1930.
Title: J. B. Okie papers
Dates: 1893-1921 (inclusive)
18931921
Quantity: 26.75 cubic feet (61 boxes)
Collection Number: 00123
Summary
Repository: American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions: Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

J.B. Okie (1864-1930) was a Wyoming sheep rancher and businessman. He came to Rawlins, Wyoming, in 1882 and worked briefly as a cowboy before buying his first herd of sheep, which he grazed along the Sweetwater River before moving them to the Badwater Creek in Fremont County, Wyoming, in 1883. In 1884 he built his first home on the Badwater at Lost Cabin, Wyoming. He formed the Bighorn Sheep Company at Casper in 1893 and moved its headquarters to Lost Cabin in 1902. Also in 1893, he bought the Smith Mercantile Company in Casper, Wyoming, and reopened it as the Casper Mercantile Company with his brother Fred as manager; this store was closed in 1898 when Fred Okie left Wyoming. The first Bighorn Sheep Company mercantile store opened in Lost Cabin in 1895, with later expansion into the central Wyoming communities of Arminto, Lysite, Kaycee, Moneta, and Shoshoni. In 1919, Okie bought the Piggly Wiggly stores franchise for Mexico, where he owned six stores.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection is materials related to Okie's Wyoming ranch and mercantile businesses and includes 20 boxes of correspondence (1894-1921); 31 boxes of general business files, arranged alphabetically; day books of the mercantile stores (1899-1904); three letter books of the Bighorn Sheep Company (1897-1902), with some entries for the Casper Mercantile Company (1897-1898); a journal of the Buffalo Creek Company (1902-1903); a herd book for the Bighorn Sheep Company (1898-1906); a minute book for the Bighorn Sheep Company (1893-1909) and a passenger and freight record book of the No Wood and Lost Cabin Stage Line (1911-1914).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by J. B. Okie at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Collection material received from J.B. Okie and Family in 1966, Mrs. V.G. Okie in 1971, and Karen Love in 1972.

Processing Note

Processing Information

Encoded by Katelyn Wittenborn and Alexandra Cardin in May and November 2020.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Letter and Minute Books Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Letter Books
Box
60	No Wood & Lost Cabin Stage Line Record Book	1897-1898
60	No Wood & Lost Cabin Stage Line Record Book	1900-1901
61	No Wood & Lost Cabin Stage Line Record Book	1901-1902
	Minutes Books - BHS Co, Day Books
Box
52		1897 August
52		1898-1899
52		1898-1899
53		1899-1900
53		1899-1900
57		1899-1900
53		1900 January 29-May 7
54		1900 May 7-September 10
54		1900 August 11-December 2
54		1900 September 11-December 12
55		1900-1901
55		1901 April 2-May 30
55		1901 September 9-December 10
56		1901-1902
56		1902 April-June
56		1902 June-October
56		1902 June-September
56		1902 July-November
58		1903-1904
59	Sheep, Cattle, Horses	undated

Series II. General Material Return to Top

Container(s)	Description
Box
1	"A"
1	Aberdeen Mill Co.
1	R. D. Adams
1	Adjustable Table Co.
1	Allen Brothers
1	American Book Co.
1	American Carbolite Co.
1	American Carbolite Sales Co.
1	American Cordial & Distilling Co.
1	The American Steel & Wire Co.
1	American Surety Co.
1	Applications for Positions
1	Arapahoe Merc. Co.
1	Arminto Store
1	Armour & Co.
1	Atlantic Refining Co.
1	Atwater Kent Mfg. Works
1	The Automobile Blue Book Publishing Co.
2	"B"	1919-1920
2	Baggs Mercantile Co.
2	Balance Sheets
2	M. C. Barrow
2	Barteldes Seed Co.
2	Battle Renwick
3	Beatrice Creamery Co.
3	A. W. Bebb & Co.
3	Jacob Becker
3	Beebe & Runyan Furniture Co.
3	Bell Paint Co.
3	Bemis Bagg Co.
3	Bemis Omaha Bag Co.
3	Bighorn Milling Co. & W. R. Johnson
3	Bighorn Hot Springs Bottling Work
3	Big Horn Sheep Co. Minute Book
3	Blackman & Griffin Co.
3	John Blessing
3	A. Booth & Co.
3	Borden's Condensed Milk
3	S. F. Bowser & Co.
3	Earl C. Boyle
3	H. N. Boyd & Co.
3	Howard Boyer Wool Co.
4	S. A. Bristol Co.
4	George A. Brooks Barile Mills
4	J. S. Brown Merc. Co.
4	Watson A. Brown
4	Browning Bros. Co.
4	The Brulet & Bourk Comm. Co.
4	Building A/C
4	Burke & Riner
4	C. A. Burlew
4	Burley & Tyrell.
4	Burroughs Adding Machine Co.
4	Burton Seed Co.
4	Business Clearing
4	Fred H. Busley
4	Butler Bros.
5	"C"	1919-1920
5	C. & N. W. R. R.
5	California Power Work
5	Messrs. Campbell & Reid
5	Cancelled Checks
5	Philip Carey Co.
5	Carpenter Paper Co.
6	Carson Crockery Co.
6	Carson Pine Scott & Co.
6	A. S. Carter
6	Casper Battling Works
6	Casper Commission Co.
6	Casper Ice Cream Co.
6	Casper National Bank
6	Casper Steam Laundry Co.
6	Casper Storage Co.
6	Central Broom Co.
6	Chamberlain Medicine Co.
6	E. T. Chapin Co.
6	Charge & Credit Slips
6	J. W. Cheever
6	The Cheyenne Creamery Co.
6	Chicago Burlington & Quincy R. R.
6	Chicago & North Western R. R.
6	Chicago Telephone Supply Co.
7	Cloak Drummer Co.
7	Cole Manufacturing Co.
7	The Coleman Lamp Co.
7	Collins Plow Co.
7	Colorado Fuel & Iron Co., Denver, Colo.
7	The Colorado Portland Cement Co.
7	Colorado Portland Co.
7	Commissioner of Public Lands, Cheyenne, Wyoming
7	E. A. Condax & Co.
7	Continental Oil Co.
7	Continental Supply Co.
8	P. B. Coolidge
8	William Cooper & Nephews.
8	Cooley-Wirth Printing Co.
8	N. Cotton Co.
8	County Clerk Fremont Co. (F. W. Thomas)
8	Mrs. H. O. Cox
8	Crawford Fruit & Produce Co.
8	Crawn Overal Mfg. Co.
8	Curtis & Co. Mfg. Co.
8	Danforth Mill Co.
8	John Deere Plow Co.
8	C. E. DeGroot
8	Delfelder.
8	DeLoach Mill Mfg. Co.
8	J. W. Denio Milling Co.
9	Denver Dry Goods Co.
9	Denver Hatch Case Co.
9	Denver Photo Materials Co.
9	Denver Post
9	Denver Tent & Awning Co.
9	Denver Watch Case Co.
9	John Derrig & Co.
9	Diels Bros.
9	Eugene Dietzgen Co.
9	Dipping a/c	1904 May
9	M. A. Disbrow & Co.
9	W. A. Discus
9	Dodson, Fisher, Brockman Co.
9	T. A. Dougherty
9	Duncan Electrical Manufacturing Co.
9	DuPont de Nemours & Co.
9	Durkin, Reeves & Co.
9	Dutcher & Robertson
10	"E"	1919-1920
10	E - F
10	East Liverpool Pottery Co.
10	Economy Shirt Co.
10	Ehrlich & Sons
10	Elgin System Creamery Co.
10	Elliott-Fisher Co.
10	Ellsworth & Thayer Mfg. Co.
10	Engle-McMichael Co.
10	Expense Bills
10	"F"	1919-1920
10	Fabricius Toy & Notion Co.
10	Dr. Peter Fahrney
10	John T. Farrwell Co.
10	J. F. Fendrich
10	Ferguson-McKinney Dry Goods Co.
10	D. M. Ferry Co.
10	Fidelity-Phenix Fire Ins. Co.
11	Marshell Field and Co.
11	First National Bank
11	First National Bank - Shoshoni
11	First National Bank - Worland
11	B. S. Flersheim Mercantile Co.
11	Florence Hdw. Co.
11	J. A. Folger & Co.
11	Foot, Schulze & Co.
11	Ford Motor Co.
11	Ford Optical Co.
11	Fourth Asst. P.M. or Post Office General Correspondence
12	Freighter's Slips
13	Fremont County
13	Fry & McGill Motor Supply Co.
13	D. E. Fuller
13	"G"	1919-1920
13	Gamble Robinson & Co.
13	Gate City Hat Co.
13	Gem Cutlery Co.
13	General Correspondence re Mail
13	General Merchandise - Butter & Eggs
13	Gerlach & Carbon
13	Gilinsky Fruit Co.
13	Gillette Sales Co.
13	B. F. Goodrich Co.
13	Gordon & Ferguson
13	Great Western Store Co.
13	W. F. Griffin.
13	Chas. D. Griffith Shore Co.
13	Guiterman Brothers
14	"H"	1919-1920
14	Hallack & Howard Lumber Co.
14	Hallwood Cash Register Co.
14	Hammond Packing Co.
14	Hedges-Atkins, McGee Co., Denver
14	Heebner & Sons
14	Peter Henderson & Co.
14	H. Hendrich
14	Hess Flume Co.
14	Heynemann & Co.
14	Hibbard, Spencer, Barlett & Co.
14	Hides & Pelts
14	R. J. Hillier
14	The Howard-Boyer Wool Co.
14	Hudson Coal Co.
14	H. A. Hyatt
14	Hyatt & Darke
14	The Independence Coffee & Spice Co.
14	Indianapolis Luck Co.
14	Robert H. Ingersoll & Bros.
14	International Harvester Co.
14	International Harvester Co. of America
14	International Mfg. Co.
14	International Salt Co.
14	Interstate Rubber Co.
14	Interstate Salt Co.
14	Interstate Unemployment System
15	B. L. James M. & M. Co.
15	Jewell Bros.
15	Clarence T. Johnson
15	K-L
15	Kanson, A.
15	Keller Strauss Distilling Co.
15	Kelly Merc. Co.
15	The Kentucky Tobacco Product Co.
15	Julius Kessler & Co.
15	Wilson S. Kimball
15	Kimball Drug Co.
15	C. H. King Co.
15	C. H. King Co.
15	C. H. King Co.
15	Kingman Implement Co.
15	F. P. Kirkendall and Co.
15	W. H. Kistler Stationary Co. Denver
15	Joseph Knittel Show Case Co.
15	Kronantz Saddlery Co.
16	Lawrence-Hensley Fruit Co.
16	Lee, Coit, Andreesen Hdw. Co.
16	H. D. Lee Merchantile Co.
16	Lee Broom & Duster Co.
16	Legal Documents
17	Legal Documents
17	A. T. Lewis & Son Dry Goods Co.
17	Liberty Overall Co.
17	The Lindquist Cracker Co.
17	Lininger Implement Co.
17	Lininger and Metcalf Co.
17	C. B. Liver and Co.
17	Lo.
17	Loomis Machine Co.
17	Lost Cabin Bar Co.
17	Lumber & Posts
17	Lumber Received
17	Lumber Sold
17	Lyon Bros.
17	Lyon & Healy
18	"M"	1919-1920
18	A. C. McClurg & Co.
18	McCord Brady Co.
18	McElwain - Barton Shoe Co.
18	S. A. McKenzie Woolrod, Wyoming
19	McPhee & McGinnity.
19	Manning - Bowman & Co.
19	Marke Bros. Saddlery Co.
19	Marks Tailoring Co.
19	Marquis & Co.
19	Marquis & Co. Wolton, Wyoming
19	Marshall Field And Co.
19	Martin - Cott Hat Co.
19	The Merchants Biscuit Co.
19	Meshawaka Woolen Mfg. Co. & Wm. Taschar
19	Midland Chair & Seating Co.
19	E. B. Millar Coffee Co.
19	Milwaukee Corrugating Co.
19	A. J. Mokler
20	Moneta Store Co.
20	Moneta Store A. R. White
20	Moneta Store - Sheep Shearing records.	1914-1921
20	J. K. Moore Co.
20	J. & B. Moos
20	Morey Mercantile Co.
21	Mound City Duck & Rubber Co.
21	Mountian States Telephone Co.
21	Reed Murdoch & Co.
21	S. F. Myers Co.
21	National Bank - Cheyenne, Wyoming
21	National Biscuit Co.
21	Nebraska Moline Plow Co.
21	Nebraska Seed Co.
22	Neligh Mills Co.
22	W. C. Nevin Candy Co.
22	Noble and Bragg
22	Noble Land & Noble.
22	Northern Ohio Blanket Mills
22	Northeastern Warehouse Co.
22	Northwastern Comp. - Board Co.
22	Nye Schneider Fower Co.
22	Oakdale Grain Co.
22	Oats & Grain
22	J. B. Okie
22	J. B. Okie, Jr.
22	J. B. Okie, Jr. also Jimmie Okie
22	Van Okie and Howard Okie
22	Omaha Printing Co.
22	Omaha Stove - Repair Works
22	Omaha Tent & Awning Co.
22	Onken Bros. & West Co.
22	Orders re Mail
22	Oregon City Mfg. Co.
22	Millar Osborn Spice Co.
22	Owl Creek Coal Co.
23	Palmer Candy Co.
23	R. A. Patterson Tobacco Co.
23	Mr. John H. Paul
23	Paxton and Gallagher Co.
23	Jones Perpetual Ledger Co.
23	Peters Branch of International Shoe Co.
23	Phenix Ins. Co.
23	The Pierce Milling Co.
23	Pioneer Town Site Co.
23	J. E. Plummer Agent C. & N. W. Ry
23	Post Office Dept.
23	Geo W. Prior Hat Co.
24	Rasenbaum Bros. & Co.
24	J. E. Rate
24	Chas. Reck
24	Red Bank Telephone Co.
24	Register & Receiver
24	Frank O. Reid
24	Reid, Murdogh & Co.
24	Rhodes Ranch Egg Co.
24	Richards Ranch Drug Co.
24	Richardson Drug Co.
24	S. A. Rider Jewelry Co.
25	Ridger Ericson Engine Co.
25	Ripon Knitting Works
25	Roads Correspondence re: Road
25	Rocky Mountian Bell Telephone Co.
25	E. V. Roddin & Co.
25	Frank Russell Glove Co.
25	Russia Fur & Farming Co.
25	D. Sachs & Sons
25	Schlitz Brewing Co.
25	Mrs. And Mr. Dave Schoening
25	Schulte Hdw. Co.
25	V. V. Scoggan
25	Sears, Roebuck & Co.
25	Albert Sechrish Mfg. Co.
25	The George Sell Baking Co.
25	Sheehan & Fisher
26	Sheep
26	Shoshoni Capital Gazette
26	Shoshoni Commercial Co.
26	Shoshoni Creamery
27	Shoshoni Lumber Co.
27	Silberman Brothers
27	Sligo Iron Store Co.
27	M. E. Smith & Co.
27	Smith Motor Car Co.
27	G. Sommers & Co.
27	Stephenson Underwear Mills
27	John. B. Stetson Co.
27	Stone Ordean Wells Co.
27	Edward E. Strauss & Co.
27	Strauss Bros.
28	Struby-Estabrook Mercantile Co.
28	Studebaker Bros. Mfg. Co.
28	Studebaker Colorado Vehicle Co.
28	Otto Stumpf & Co.
28	W. E. Sullivan
28	The Surburg Co.
28	E. G. Swaim
28	Swift & Co.
28	Swift & Co. Denver, Colorado
28	R. D. Swisner Mfg. Co.
29	"T"	1919-1920
29	H. H. Tammen Curio Co.	1919-1920
29	G. L. Thorp & Co.	1919-1920
29	Toltec Oil Co.	1919-1920
29	Tome Athletic Store.	1919-1920
29	Tootle Wheeler & Matter Merc. Co.	1919-1920
29	Torpin Grain Co.	1919-1920
29	Trans-Mississippi Grain Co.	1919-1920
29	U-Y	1919-1920
29	U. S. Supply Co.
29	Updike Lumber & Coal Co. Hudson, Wyoming
29	Valentine Co.
30	"W"	1919-1920
30	Walker Bin Co.
30	Washakie Trading Co.
30	Washburn - Crosby Co.
30	Chas. and Lucy Wells
30	Western Electrical Co.
30	Western Fruit Co.
30	The Western Steel Headgate Co.
30	Western Union
30	Western Union Telegraph Co.
30	Wheeler, Osgood & Co.
30	Wheeler and Matter Merc. Co.
31	The White Clover Butter Co.
31	Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
31	Winona Wagon Co.
31	Woodward & Lathrop
31	Mr. and Mrs. George Woolf
31	Worland Merc. Co.
31	Mrs. P. A. Wright
31	Wright & Wilhemy
31	Wyman, Pattridge & Co.
31	The Wyoming National Bank
31	Yellowstone Creamery
31	Zittlosen Mfg. Co.

Series III. Correspondence Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
32		undated
32		1894-1903
32		1904 January - September
32		1904 October - December
32		1905 January - May
33		1905 June - September
33		1905 October - December
33		1906 January - August
33		1906 September - December
33		1907 January - August
33		1907 September - December
34		1908 January - March
34		1908 April - May
34		1908 June
34		1908 July - August
34		1908 September
34		1908 October
34		1908 November
34		1908 December
35		1909 January
35		1909 February
35		1909 March
35		1909 April
35		1909 May
36		1909 June
36		1909 July
36		1909 August
36		1909 September
36		1909 October
37		1909 November
37		1909 December
37		1910 January - February
37		1910 March - April
37		1910 May
37		1910 June - July
37		1910 August - September
37		1910 October - November
37		1910 December
38		1911 January - February
38		1911 March - April
38		1911 May
38		1911 June - July
38		1911 August - September
39		1911 October - November
39		1911 December
39		1911 January - March
39		1912 April - June
39		1912 July - September
40		1912 October - December
40		1913 January - February
40		1913 March
40		1913 April - May
40		1913 June - July
40		1913 August - September
41		1913 October - December
41		1914 January - February
41		1914 March - April
42		1914 May
42		1914 June
42		1914 July
42		1914 August
43		1914 September
43		1914 October
43		1914 November
43		1914 December
44		1915 January
44		1915 February
44		1915 March
44		1915 April
45		1915 May
45		1915 June
45		1915 July
46		1915 August
46		1915 September
46		1915 October
47		1915 November
47		1915 December
47		1916 January
47		1916 February
47		1916 March
47		1916 April
48		1916 May
48		1916 June
48		1916 July
48		1916 August
48		1916 September
48		1916 October
49		1916 November
49		1916 December
49		1917 January - April
49		1917 May - December
50		1919 May - June
50		1919 July - September
50		1919 October - December
50		1920 January - April
50		1920 May - July
51		1921 January - December

Series IV. Biographical Material, Manuscripts, and Notes Return to Top

Container(s)	Description
Box
51	"In Memory of John B. Okie", Written and Read by Percy H. Shallenberger at Mr. Okie's Funeral. Mr. Okie Died November 5, 1930, Mimeographed
51	John Brognard Okie, Excerpt from National Cyclopedia Of American Biography, Volume XVII, Mimeographed Copy
51	Manuscript About the Okie Family (V. G. Okie)
51	Manuscript - 12 pages
51	Manuscript - 30 pages
51	Holograph Notes - 3 Pages of Notes	probably 1890s

Series V. Account Records Return to Top

Container(s)	Description
Box
51	The Bighorn Sheep Co. General Merchandise, Lost Cabin, Wyoming. 178 Tickets for Charge Accounts, Received by Mrs. Love from Valintino Baima, Nevada City, California
51	The Bighorn Sheep Co. General Merchandise, Lost Cabin, Wyoming. 72 Mailorder receipts, Received by Mrs. Love from Valintino Baima, Nevada City, California
51	The Bighorn Sheep Co. General Merchandise, Lost Cabin, Wyoming. 19 Receipt Book Total Sheets, Received by Mrs. Love from Valintino Baima, Nevada City, California
51	The Bighorn Sheep Co. General Merchandise, Lost Cabin, Wyoming. 4 Miscellaneous Pieces, Received by Mrs. Love from Valintino Baima, Nevada City, California

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