John Clay

John Clay (1851–March 17, 1934) was a noted Scottish-born American stockman (cattleman) and financier. Dubbed the "dean of American stockmen", he worked in the American livestock industry for more than sixty years. Clay founded operated the John Clay Livestock Commission, which was one of the United States' largest commission firms. He also founded and operated a vast moneylending operation including nearly 25 banks. He managed several ranch companies, including the Swan Land and Cattle Company. He was president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association in the 1890s. He was the founder and president of the International Livestock Association (which ran the annual Chicago International Livestock show).

Early life

Clay was born circa 1851 grandfather (1824–1866),

Clay spent his childhood and early adulthood on the farm his father was a tenant of. Clay's work in ranch operations included operations in the American states and territories of Wyoming, Kansas, Texas, and California.

Early career Clay entered the livestock industry in the 1870s. He was soon employed by Scottish and English investors to purchase and oversee land and cattle investments in North America, work which brought him to the United States, Clay traveled to the United States for his work in the United States in 1874. In 1879 he traveled to Canada to manage to Canada West Farm Stock Association. That same year, he also again visited the United States. He returned to the United States again in 1882

Moneylending In 1883, Clay entered the moneylending business in earnest, giving loans to ranchmen. Moneylending quickly developed into a major business venture for Clay. that controlled a network of nearly 25 banks. The extent of his network of financial institutions was vast, though a precise size is indeterminable due to a lack of surviving records. and even later was renamed the John Clay Livestock Commission. Clay remained head of the firm until his death. Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Sioux City Iowa; South St. Paul, Minnesota; and other locations. He would continue heading the management of the company for years thereafter.

In Wyoming, he was connected with a number of actors who took violent action to combat cattle rustlers (thieves). He was suspected of playing a major role in the scheme behind the 1891 Johnson County Invasion. He denied this, saying that, in 1891, he advised Frank Wolcott against the scheme and was out of the country when it was undertaken. However, he later helped the participants in the invasion avoid punishment after their surrender. Historians are skeptical against Clay's denial of involvement. From 1923 Clay continued to hold a directorship in the association until his death the following year. who succeeded Clay as head of his the Chicago-based livestock commission. His second-eldest son was Charles Clay, who was a partner of the Quaker Oats Company. His third, and youngest, son was Alexander Thomson Clay, of the firm of the firm Pringle & Clay, W.S., Edinburgh.

Swan's second marriage was to the former Stella Rintoul.

Clay's hobbies included fox hunting on trips to his native Scotland and nearby Northumberland, England. In June 1910, it was announced that Clay would be the "master of hounds" for the next winter hunt in Northumberland. Clay often rode a horse named "Chicago" on his hunts. He continued to hunt until vision loss forced him to abandon the hobby.

Clay died of heart disease, passing at his house in Chicago on March 17, 1934, at the age of 82. He was survived by second wife. His funeral service was held at Chicago's St. Paul's Episcopal Church, while his burial was in the Canadian city of Woodstock, Ontario on March 20, 1934. On March 20, the livestock markets in the nine cities housing offices of his commission firm ceased all business activities for fifteen minutes in order to memorialize Clay, timed to coincide with the moment of Clay's burial.

In 1961, Clay was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners.