[Wyoming]. Powder River Cattle Company

[Small Archive of Documents Relating to the Powder River Cattle Company in Wyoming]

London: 1884-1887. Three printed documents, varying sizes, [14]pp. total. Light wear along folds. Light tanning. One document in a red cloth folding case. Very good plus. Item #1661

An interesting group of three printed documents concerning the Powder River Cattle Company in Wyoming. The manager of the company, Morton Frewen, was the scion of Anglo-English gentry and came to the Wyoming Territory in 1878 to seek his fortune, establishing one of the larger cattle concerns on the Northern Great Plains in what is now northeastern Wyoming, with additional holdings in Alberta. In 1882, the company was reorganized as the joint-stock Powder River Cattle Company, Ltd., with an English board of directors and investors. Frewen served as manager until 1886, when controversy ensued with charges of false statements of losses due to overstocked pastures and harsh winter. The present group includes Frewen's report to the first annual meeting of the company, as well a defense in an 1886 lawsuit between Frewen and the directors of Powder River, and an 1887 profit-and-loss statement composed by the company's liquidator. In full, they are as follows:

1) The Powder River Cattle Company, Limited, Report of the General Manager... at the first Annual General Meeting, Held February 26th, 1884. London: 1884. [4]pp.

2) In the High Court of Justice... Between Morton Frewen... Plaintiff and The Powder River Cattle Company Limited... Defendants. Defence Delivered the 26th Day of March, 1886, by Messrs. Stibbard, Gibson & Co. London: 1886. [6]pp.

3) To the Shareholders of the Powder River Cattle Company, Limited... The Balance sheet of the above Company... C. Fitch Kemp. London: 1887. [4]pp.

Early and unusual ephemera relating to British ranchers in Wyoming.

Price: $750.00