Addison A. Spaugh

Addison A. Spaugh, One of Earliest of Pioneers of State, Passes Away In Denver Early Today; Near 87th Year

Thon Book No. 9

A message received here early today from Denver, Colo., brought a wave of sorrow among many Lusk and Manville residents, as it told of the passing of Addison A. Spaugh, one of the earliest pioneers of this community and state. Mr. Spaugh died at his apartment in the Shirley-Savoy hotel at 2:00 o'clock this (Thursday) morning. His wife, Marguerite, was at his bedside when the end came. The deceased had reached the age of 86 years, 7 months and 29 days.

Mr. Spaugh's health had been failing for the past several years, but rapid decline in condition had been noticed since the death of a sister, Mrs. Clara Baker, in August. She had suffered fatal injuries in an automobile accident occurring south of Wheatland. This shock, along with the advanced years seemed to have brought on a general physical breakdown from which there appeared to be no hopes.

The remains will be brought to this city Sunday morning, and last services will be conducted from the chapel of the Peet funeral chapel at 2:00 o'clock Sunday afternoon, December 26th. Rev. C. B. Doughty, pastor of the Douglas Methodist church, will deliver the concluding sermon at the chapel. From here the remains will be conveyed to Manville, where the Masonic lodge will have charge with ritualistic services at the graveside. Interment will be in the Manville cemetery.

Surviving Mr. Spaugh are his wife, Marguerite, two sisters, Mrs. Rosa D. Blair, of Manville, Wyo., and Mrs. Anna M. Davis, of Kansas city, Mo.; and one brother, Billy Spaugh, of Hollywood, Calif. Besides his sister, Mrs. Baker, four brothers, Ollie, Robert, Curtis and Amos, preceded him in death.

Mr. Spaugh was one of the most colorful of all western pioneers, and his long residence in this state provided for him widespread prominence and a deep respect by all whose privilege it was to know him. Orphaned when but a small child, he came to Wyoming when a lad of but 14 years, and from that time on he claimed this as his chosen home.

After he grew to young manhood, he began to acquire land, and entered the stock-raising business for himself. He staked out on a tract of land north of Manville, to which he continued to add as the years passed, and it became the well-known "77" ranch, one of the largest singly-owned domains in this part of the state. He also at one time owned the "TJ" ranch, located northwest of Manville, which is now the property of Sam Joss.

Mr. Spaugh also became interested in politics and for years was one of the ranking Republicans of Wyoming, serving from this county in the state senate. Later years found him more of a liberal and he divided his support between both Democratic and Republican parties.

A great portion of his life - the trials and tribulations of those who helped open the West to civilization; his successes and reverses; the history of a long-past era and much other interesting data are found in the book "The Last Frontier," (by Frasier Hunt, now a war correspondent), written several years ago, and in which Mr. Spaugh is a leading character.

It is impossible at this time to cover the many phases of this man's life but we hope we shall be able to collect and pass on to our readers next week, a sketch which covers a period of almost three-quarters of a century, and is filled with many interesting, thrilling and historic events.

The Lusk Herald
January 8, 1931

Addison A.Spaugh Claims Bride on Christmas Day

The Denver Post of December 26 (1931)has the following interesting account of the wedding of Mr. Addison A. Spaugh of this county to Mrs. Marguerite Luce Palacio, in Denver, on Christmas Day:

"Unable to be married on Thanksgiving day because 165 cars of cattle were being sent out of Wyoming, which meant that the prospective bridegroom was too busy for a ceremony, Mrs. Marguerite Luce Palacio, former Denver school teacher, and Addison A. Spaugh, prominent Wyoming cattleman, oil man and former banker, were united in matrimony on Christmas.

"The ceremony was performed here at the home of the Rev. Martin E. Anderson of the Central Presbyterian Church, with Mrs. Carolyn Luce, mother of the bride, as a witness.

"The two principals have known each other for about a year and met when Mr. Spaugh was in Denver on business.

"The bride was a Spanish teacher at the old Wolcott School for Girls and also taught Spanish at North Denver High School. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

"Mr. Spaugh has been in the cattle business in Wyoming more than forty years,. He was a member of the Wyoming Legislature in 1907 and introduced the state's first branding bill, which became a law. It required state registration of cattle instead of counties.

"He was president of the Wyoming State Board of Livestock Commissioners under former Gov. B.B. Brooks.

"He has oil interests in the State and at one time was the owner of five banks in Wyoming. His home is in Manville.

"The couple were given a wedding breakfast Friday at the home of City Attorney Thomas A.Gibson and Mrs. Gibson. The couple will be at home to their friends at the Brown Place Hotel after January 1."

Note: Addison Spaugh's letter concerning the Famous Roundup of 1884, may be found in the Historical section of this website, under Roundup of 1884.

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