HON. CHARLES L. STOUGH.

HON. CHARLES L. STOUGH.
The broad plains and rich valley lands of Wyoming have offered splendid opportunities to the stockman who grazes his cattle upon the range or in later years confines his stock in large fields, making the live stock industry one of the most important sources of wealth to the state. Active in this field of labor is Hon. Charles L. Stough, prominently known as a leading stockman. He is also a factor in community affairs and is now serving on the board of county commissioners in Fremont county, making his home in Lander. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 4, 1861, a son of Thomas Jefferson and Catherine (Hoffmeister) Stough. The mother died during the infancy of her son Charles and in 1869 the father removed with the family to Iowa, settling in Mahaska county, where Charles L. Stough was reared to manhood and acquired his education in the common schools. In 1878 he removed westward to Nebraska and in 1880 arrived in Wyoming, settling in what was then Sweetwater but is now Fremont county. He was at that time a youth of nineteen years. and for five or six years thereafter he rode the range, working for wages. About 1886 he began the cattle business on his own account, starting in a small way. He had his herd upon the open range and in 1887 he bought a ranch on Sweetwater, where he was located until 1900, when he sold that property and leased a ranch of four hundred acres four miles from Lander. He also owns a town residence in Lander, where his family has resided for the past four or five years. He handles cattle, horses and sheep, conducting a general live stock business, and in the management of his interests displays keen discernment and sagacity. He has made a close study of the needs of the stock and the breeds that can best be raised under the climatic conditions here, and his labors have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. In 1890 Mr. Stough was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Cooper, of Lander, Wyoming, by whom he had three children, two sons and a daughter, namely: Lawrence, who was killed in the Philippine islands, in 1915, while employed in the execution of a lumber contract: and Donald and Verna, both at home. In politics Mr. Stough is a stalwart republican and has taken an active part in efforts to promote the success and secure the adoption of the principles of the party. In 1890 he was elected sheriff of Fremont county and in 1892 was reelected to that office, serving for four years in a most creditable and acceptable manner, retiring from the position as he had entered it—with the confidence and goodwill of the general public. On the expiration of his second term he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature and gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement there. In 1900 he was once more elected to the office of sheriff and was continued in the position for ten years, so that he has served altogether in that capacity for fourteen years, or for a longer period than any other incumbent in the office in Fremont county—a fact indicative of his marked capability, his fidelity and his impartiality in the discharge of his duties. In 1910, while still an incumbent in the sheriff's office, he was elected to the board of county commissioners and has served continuously, being now upon his second term of four years. For four years of the period he has been chairman of the board and is most thoughtful in considering the needs of the county and promoting public progress along the lines which come within the province of his office. Mr. Stough is a member of Lander Lodge, No. 10, K. P., and he belongs to the Congregational church. He is today one of the best known men of Fremont county and one of its most honored and valued citizens. His life has been characterized by progressiveness in business affairs and by the wise utilization of every opportunity that has come his way. In public life his record is unassailable. He has ever been most true and loyal to the trust reposed in him, actuated in all that he does by a public-spirited devotion to the general good. Those who know him, and there are few men in the county of wider acquaintance, entertain for him the highest regard and speak of him in terms of warm friendship and of praise. Fremont county has indeed benefited by his efforts and Wyoming is to be congratulated upon gaining him as a citizen.

The broad plains and rich valley lands of Wyoming have offered splendid opportunities to the stockman who grazes his cattle upon the range or in later years confines his stock in large fields, making the live stock industry one of the most important sources of wealth to the state. Active in this field of labor is Hon. Charles L. Stough, prominently known as a leading stockman. He is also a factor in community affairs and is now serving on the board of county commissioners in Fremont county, making his home in Lander.
He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 4, 1861, a son of Thomas Jefferson and Catherine (Hoffmeister) Stough. The mother died during the infancy of her son Charles and in 1869 the father removed with the family to Iowa, settling in Mahaska county, where Charles L. Stough was reared to manhood and acquired his education in the common schools. In 1878 he removed westward to Nebraska and in 1880 arrived in Wyoming, settling in what was then Sweetwater but is now Fremont county. He was at that time a youth of nineteen years. and for five or six years thereafter he rode the range, working for wages. About 1886 he began the cattle business on his own account, starting in a small way. He had his herd upon the open range and in 1887 he bought a ranch on Sweetwater, where he was located until 1900, when he sold that property and leased a ranch of four hundred acres four miles from Lander. He also owns a town residence in Lander, where his family has resided for the past four or five years. He handles cattle, horses and sheep, conducting a general live stock business, and in the management of his interests displays keen discernment and sagacity. He has made a close study of the needs of the stock and the breeds that can best be raised under the climatic conditions here, and his labors have been attended with a gratifying measure of success.
In 1890 Mr. Stough was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Cooper, of Lander, Wyoming, by whom he had three children, two sons and a daughter, namely: Lawrence, who was killed in the Philippine islands, in 1915, while employed in the execution of a lumber contract: and Donald and Verna, both at home.
In politics Mr. Stough is a stalwart republican and has taken an active part in efforts to promote the success and secure the adoption of the principles of the party. In 1890 he was elected sheriff of Fremont county and in 1892 was reelected to that office, serving for four years in a most creditable and acceptable manner, retiring from the position as he had entered it—with the confidence and goodwill of the general public. On the expiration of his second term he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature and gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement there. In 1900 he was once more elected to the office of sheriff and was continued in the position for ten years, so that he has served altogether in that capacity for fourteen years, or for a longer period than any other incumbent in the office in Fremont county—a fact indicative of his marked capability, his fidelity and his impartiality in the discharge of his duties. In 1910, while still an incumbent in the sheriff's office, he was elected to the board of county commissioners and has served continuously, being now upon his second term of four years. For four years of the period he has been chairman of the board and is most thoughtful in considering the needs of the county and promoting public progress along the lines which come within the province of his office.
Mr. Stough is a member of Lander Lodge, No. 10, K. P., and he belongs to the Congregational church. He is today one of the best known men of Fremont county and one of its most honored and valued citizens. His life has been characterized by progressiveness in business affairs and by the wise utilization of every opportunity that has come his way. In public life his record is unassailable. He has ever been most true and loyal to the trust reposed in him, actuated in all that he does by a public-spirited devotion to the general good. Those who know him, and there are few men in the county of wider acquaintance, entertain for him the highest regard and speak of him in terms of warm friendship and of praise. Fremont county has indeed benefited by his efforts and Wyoming is to be congratulated upon gaining him as a citizen.