Torrey, Jay L., 1852-1920

Jay Lin Torrey (1852-1920) came to Wyoming in the 1890s after working as an attorney in St. Louis, Missouri, to help establish the Owl Creek Livestock Company, the Embar Cattle Company and the Anchor Cattle Company with his brother Robert Torrey (1839-1916). Jay Torrey served in the Wyoming House of Representatives (1895), before organizing the Second U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, known as "Torrey's Rough Riders" during the Spanish-American War. Composed of 600 members, the Second Volunteer Cavalry left Wyoming for Florida but were involved in a train wreck and did not ship out to Cuba. In 1906 Torrey moved to West Plains, Missouri, and established Fruitville Farms and another legal practice. Torrey married Sarah Frances Riley shortly before his death in 1920.

From the description of Jay L. Torrey papers, 1802-1941, (bulk 1886-1920) (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 27892112

Colonel Jay Linn Torrey became famous as the commander of Torrey's Rough Riders, a group of volunteer cavalry soldiers which he organized to fight in the Spanish American War. He was also the author of the famous Torrey bankruptcy act, which helped to standardize bankruptcy procedures throughout the United States.

Torrey was born in Pittsfield, Illinois, in 1852. After the death of his father he helped to support himself and his family. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, and he was admitted to the bar from the St. Louis Law School in 1876. He was prominent in the St. Louis Mercantile Club, the Elks, the Masons, and other fraternal and booster organizations. He became a leading expert in bankruptcy law and, after a 14 year struggle, he was able to get the Torrey Bankruptcy act passed by Congress.

In 1890 he moved to Wyoming's Big Horn Basin with his brother Captain Robert Torrey and established the Embar Cattle Company which specialized in horses for the U.S. Cavalry. Torrey was politically active in Wyoming and served as Republican Speaker of the House in 1893. He also served on the Wyoming Stock Growers Executive Committee.

During the Spanish-American War Col. Torrey raised the U.S. Second Volunteer Cavalry, dubbed Torrey's Rough Riders, but on their way to Cuba Torrey's train was hit in the rear by a following train. Six soldiers died and thirty-nine were wounded. While the unit recuperated and waited to reorganize in Jacksonville, Florida, more soldiers caught typhoid and malaria. The war ended and the unit was disbanded without being shipped out. After gaining fame as a rough rider Torrey was considered as McKinley's running mate at the 1900 National Republican Convention, but Theodore Roosevelt was chosen instead.

In 1906 Col. Torrey moved from Wyoming to West Plains, Missouri, and established a large farm called Fruitville Farms. He was a leading member of university, highway, agricultural, and immigration (settlement promotion) boards under Missouri's Governor Hadley. After the state capitol was destroyed in a fire, he tried to get the location of the capital changed to Fruitville without success. In 1918 he ran a surprise campaign for the United States Senate and lost by a narrow margin. Shortly before his death of pneumonia in 1920 he married his long-time friend, Sarah Frances Riley.

From the guide to the Jay L. Torrey papers, 1802-1941 (bulk 1886-1920), (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)