John Clay Livestock Commission

John Clay Livestock Commission
FormerlyClay–Robinson, John Clay & Company
TypePrivately held company
IndustryMeatpacking
Founded1886 (1886)
FounderJohn Clay (cattleman)
Defunct1960s
FateClosure with decline of stock yards
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
,
United States
Area served
United States
ProductsStock yards

The John Clay Livestock Commission was a livestock commission firm headquartered at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, Illinois. It had branches at eight cities with major stockyards in the Western United States. If was founded by John Clay, a Scottish-born American cattleman and financier.

History

In 1886, at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, Illinois, John Clay opened the first office of the firm,[1] Clay–Robinson. The firm was later renamed John Clay & Company,[2] and even later was renamed the John Clay Livestock Commission.[3] Clay remained head of the firm until his death,[4] after which time his namesake son took over management of the firm.[1]

The Chicago-headquartered company opened branches in eight cities housing major stockyards in the Western United States, including Denver, Colorado;[5] Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Sioux City, Iowa; South St. Paul, Minnesota; and other locations.[4]

The Kansas City branch, at the Kansas City Stockyards, opened in 1894.[6]

The firm was among the largest (if not outright the absolute largest) livestock commission firms in the United States.[7] In 1932, one Montana newspaper described the company as the "largest old line, independent commission house in the country".[8] In 1934, another Montana newspaper noted, "nearly every stockman in the [American] Northwest has at some time shipped their livestock to John Clay".[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "John Clay, 83 Dies; Noted Stockman; Retired Head Of International Livestock Association In That Trade 60 Year". New York City, New York: The New York Times. March 18, 1934. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Friend To Montana Stockmen Is Dead". The Richland County Leader. March 23, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 27 November 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Memorial To John Clay; Livestock Market Here Ceases Operations for Fifteen Minutes". The Kansas City Star. March 20, 1934. p. 10. Retrieved November 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "John Clay, Livestock Firm Head, Is Dead". The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. -The Associated Press. Mar 18, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved November 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "John Clay, Pioneer Livestock Man, Dies". Fort Collins Express-Courier. March 18, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 27 November 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Murray, Gene (January 26, 1962). "He's An Old Hand In Cow Country". The Kansas City Star. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "John Clay, Jr. Commission Man, Banker and Rancher by Lawrence M. Woods". University of Oklahoma Press. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ "John Clay Has Many Interests". Medicine Lake Wave. June 24, 1932. Retrieved November 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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