J. T. Irick, Cheyenne & Casper Wyoming
James T. Irick Jr. was born October 21 1889 in Gainesvlle Texas. His father at the time was a merchant and he had three sisters and two
brothers. By 1910 the family had moved to Blackburn, Oklahoma where is father, James T. SR., took up a career as a saddle and
harness maker. About 1911 young James came west and took a job in Cheyenne Wyoming working as a saddle and harness maker for F.
A. Meanea. In 1917 he was drafted and his card stated he was still employed by Meanea. He was 27 by this time. Irick was a single man
and roomed with a fellow longtime employee of Meanea's, James Hagar after Hagar's wife died. It always struck me that Irick's leather
goods looked a lot like Meanea's and now we know why! Irick eventually left the Meanea shop and went North to Casper where he
opened his own Saddlery and operated it until the early 1930s, and took out a Patent for Land in the Rattlesnake Mountains of Wyoming
in 1935 at Miller's Springs. I believe he retired at this point. Many of his outstanding leather goods turn up here in Casper from time to
time.
F. A. Meanea, Wyoming Territory, Cheyenne WY
Francis (Frank) A Meanea JR. was one of the original Wyoming Territory Saddle makers and probably one of the most desirable makers
to collect. He was born in Missouri 1849. He came West to operate a branch office of uncle's Saddle Shop, Gallup & Gallatin in
Cheyenne about 1868 and within 4 or 5 years he owned the shop outright. He was considered to be a pioneer in the Mail Order
business and from time to time his advertising cards come available online where they command many hundreds of dollars. Meanea
developed some novel aspects in leather working, especially in his beautifully made gun holsters. Improving on the popular Mexican
Loop style, he style incorporated the Cheyenne Plug (closed toe/bottom) and made a bulge in the holster on the recurve between the
skirt loops which held the holster down in the event of a 'quick draw'. His saddles were extremely well made and very popular with the
Cowboys of the West, with his design of the Cheyenne Roll (cantle). He died in 1928. Beware modern reproductions! The old antique
and original goods were stamped F.A. Meanea. Family members operating the saddle shop in the 1980's (in the same location) use the
stamp F A. Meanea CO. His saddles were so enduringly popular that one enterprising company, Tony Holmes Saddle shop, stamped
hundreds of saddles with the Meanea mark and sold them through Western Ranch man Outfitters as the "Meanea" Cowboy saddle in
the 1930's and 1940's. These saddles are stamped on the fenders, a spot in which Meanea never used. Noted Western artist Charlie
Russell owned a fully tooled Meanea Saddle.
Otto F. Ernst, Sheridan WY
Ernst was originally partnered with John Buckley in Sheridan Wyoming from 1902 until 1907 and after Buckley left, Ernst brought in
many of his family members. His brother John was master saddler, and his son Ernie joined the firm in 1921. Otto died in 1938. His
beautiful leather work remains as testament to the floral carved leather items of that time. Many reprints of his catalogues can be
found online and are a good resource for research. Popular Western artist E. W. "Bill" Gollings owned an Ernst Saddle with woolly
saddle bags which he treasured. Ernst was saddler to many of the Dudes who first stopped in Sheridan before going on to the area's
many Dude Ranches.
JS & GH Collins, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming
John S and Gilbert Collins are generally regarded as saddle makers to Buffalo Bill Cody and Teddy Roosevelt (who also owned a pair of
Collins Sealskin chaps) Learning their craft from their father in Nebraska, they originally started as Saddlers and Harness makers at
Fort Laramie in Wyoming Territory ca 1872. They had shops in Cheyenne Wyoming and Miles City Montana and marketed to Texans
driving cattle through the area. The sturdy Cheyenne Rig was famous as a preferred saddle among ranchers of the day. They also made
holsters in the Cheyenne style having the recurve bulge. Their early maker mark is a shield, which collectors look for in dating Collins
goods. The shop in Cheyenne closed in 1885. Gilbert died in 1880 and for a short while John teamed up with John Morrison and
manufactured under the name Collins and Morrison. John Collins died in 1910.
A. J. Williamson, Casper WY
Asher Judson Williamson got his start in saddle making late in life. He was born in Indiana and was a general farmer with a penchant for
leather work. He moved to Wyoming with his wife Althea Chloe, and four boys and owned his own saddle shop in Casper by 1920. After
serving in World War I, he returned to Casper and operated until about 1935 making some of the fanciest tooled saddles west of the
Pecos. Williamson died in 1954. His King Tut saddle was inspired by America's fascination of everything Egyptian when Tut's tomb was
opened in 1927. An image of the sphinx is carved into the back of the seat.
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| This page is purely for your enjoyment. The men who manufactured leather goods helped forge the young Western United States with innovative designs for working saddles and holsters. Men like Gallatin, Meanea and Williamson turned their leather craft into an art form and is the basis of all we come to know today, representative of those who shaped History. |
Kirwan, Kirwan & Nielson, Lusk WY
John William "Jack" Kirwan was born in Pennsylvania in 1885. He moved out west to Wyoming with his Missouri bride Anna around 1915.
He served in World War 1 in the Army and returned to Douglas Wyoming where he enjoyed spending time making saddles at his shop. In
the late 1930's his wife passed away and he moved to the nearby town of Lusk Wyoming where he partnered with T. C. Nielson in his
shoe shop, and together they built a reputation for finely crafted saddles under the name of Kirwan & Nielson. Kirwan died at age 54 of
influenza in 1944.
John William "Jack" Kirwan was born in Pennsylvania in 1885. He moved out west to Wyoming with his Missouri bride Anna around 1915.
He served in World War 1 in the Army and returned to Douglas Wyoming where he enjoyed spending time making saddles at his shop. In
the late 1930's his wife passed away and he moved to the nearby town of Lusk Wyoming where he partnered with T. C. Nielson in his
shoe shop, and together they built a reputation for finely crafted saddles under the name of Kirwan & Nielson. Kirwan died at age 54 of
influenza in 1944.
