Charles P. Shipley was born in 1864 and after a very brief apprenticeship by the ripe old age of 21 years he had his own Saddlery and Spur making business established in Kansas City, Mo. by 1885.  The Shipley Saddlery & Mercantile Company was incorporated by 1910 and like many saddleries of the period Charles P. Shipley utilized mail order as well as his retail location in Kansas City.   The saddle and tack operation of C.P. Shipley located at the Kansas City Stockyards was one of the most successful ever to operate in the West.

During the golden years of 1900 to 1930, Shipley contracted with "Texas Style" masters Oscar Crockett, J.R. McChesney, G.A. Bischoff, August Buermann and others to manufacture spurs of unique design to be sold under his name. Shipley's spurs are marked inside the heel band: "C.P. Shipley Kansas City, MO." The Charles Shipley Saddlery Company survived well beyond Charles P. Shipley who passed away in 1943 and the Company was operated by his Sons Clyde and Charlie Shipley until the closing of the business in 1972