Hiram S. Manville
OLD TIMER DIES
Hiram S. Manville, after whom the town of Manville, Wyoming was named, died at his home in Oakdale, Nebraska, the other day.
Cheyenne State Leader
Death of Hiram S. Manville
Bill Barlow's Budget, December 20, 1911
The death of Hiram S. Manville at Oakdale, Nebraska last Wednesday, takes away another pioneer and former large cattle owner of this section of the state. Mr. Manville came to Wyoming in 1879, and in 1880 formed a partnership with a man by the name of Peck to engage in the cattle business. Their first purchase of stock was from the Swan Cattle Co. on the Chugwater. The cattle being delivered a few miles southwest of
Wheatland in the valley of the Chug.
After making the purchase they made arrangements with A. A. Spaugh, a young and ambitious cowpuncher, to take charge of the outfit and receive the cattle. The branding being over, Mr. Manville and Mr. Spaugh came across the Platte river and rode for days over what is now Converse county looking for a headquarters ranch.
At this time there were very few ranches in this part of the country and in fact such a thing as a road was not known. It was decided after a thorough investigation to purchase the OW ranch and cattle, the ranch being situated about fifteen miles north of the present town of Lusk.
With the ranch they purchased about twelve hundred head of cattle, making their total number with those purchased of the Swan outfit about thirty-five hundred head. No more purchases were made that year, but the following year they purchased several large outfits including the U-L, ULV and V5 and others and became associated with A. R. Converse in a $1,000,000 company known as the Converse Cattle Company. This company purchased something like forty thousand head of cattle that year. Mr. Manville was made manager of the outfit and Mr. Spaugh was made foreman.
At this time these cattle were scattered all the way from North Platte, Nebraska to the head of the Sweetwater, along the Rattle Snake mountains and northwest along the Cheyenne River to the head of the Belle Fourche. To roundup this number of cattle from such a large territory was no small task, but three outfits were put out consisting of about twelve men each and all camp equipage necessary for an all summer’s roundup. The best riders on the range at that day were hired.
One outfit started at North Platte, another at the foothills of the Rattle Snake mountains, and the third along the divide at the head of the Cheyenne river, all working toward the home ranch.
At that time, cattle were purchased and the number was paid for was that given by the books of the owner. So well was the work of the different outfits that the full number was brought into the home range of the company that fall.
At the time of the purchase of these cattle, they bought the JY outfit, owned by W.C. Irving, consisting of about six-thousand head. Mr. Irving becoming a large owner in the Converse Cattle Company, which interest he had for a good many years, after which he became interested in the Ogallala Cattle Company with headquarters at Ross, Wyoming.
In 1887 the CV outfit moved to Montana where Mr. Manville became associated with John B. Kendrick, at present state senator from Sheridan county and in all probability will be democratic candidate for the United States Senate. One of Mr. Kendrick’s boys is named after Mr. Manville, being named Manville Kendrick.
For several years Mr. Manville has been at Oakdale, Nebraska, where he owned several large and well improved farms. When the Northwestern was built through this country, they named this place after the former cattle king, as had been their custom with other places along the route. The many friends of Mr. Manville at and near this place will learn with sorrow of his death.