Bio
William C. Irvine (1852-1924) was a significant figure in Wyoming’s political and cattle industries. Born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he moved to the Wyoming Territory in 1872, where he became the manager of the Ogalalla Cattle Company, Wyoming’s largest cattle operation. He played a crucial role in the state’s early development, being chosen as a Democratic delegate to the Wyoming Constitutional Convention in 1889.
During the notorious Johnson County War, Irvine was involved in the conflict between cattlemen and rustlers, and he survived a gunfight in which he was wounded. In 1892, he was acquitted of charges after shooting a suspected cattle rustler. Irvine’s political career took off when he was appointed Wyoming’s state treasurer in 1903, later winning election to the office in 1904. He was instrumental in managing Joseph M. Carey’s successful gubernatorial campaign in 1910.
Elected to the Wyoming Senate in 1912, Irvine served from 1913 to 1917. During World War I, he acted as the state director of war finance, overseeing Wyoming’s financial contributions to the war effort. Irvine passed away in 1924 in Santa Monica, California. His funeral was notable, with Senator John B. Kendrick attending to honor Irvine’s service and legacy.
