"You decide, is this a true story or not"

Back in the olden days in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Cattle ranching was growing into being big business. This story is about the lives of the old time cowboys. Many would work their entire life, tending cattle. When the day came and they were too old to continue the work, they had no savings, no family and no home and no place to go. 

Early in the 1900’s some of the older cowboys became aware of this and decided to do something about it. They all gathered together to find a solution to this problem. They needed to build an origination  and they knew it would take some time to get all the problems worked out, as they knew what ever they did, it would have to be breaking the law. Those that were interested continued to meet and those that thought better of taking a chance  with the law, withdrew.   

The idea was for each of them to take one or two caves from the herds they took care of.  There were always losses in breeding and raising cattle that were acceptable by most ranchers, Besides , on such a small scale, it would most likely not even be noticed. 

They would need land, a place to keep the liberated cattle, where no one could find them. There was a place up in the mountains of Montana that would fit just what was needed. It was a hidden valley, known only by a few, between Idaho and Montana, that neither state knew about or claimed,  and if they could acquire that land, it would be perfect for rising cattle. It had a river that ran from one end to the other, plenty of feed, but there were a few Bears and some Wolves. The old cowboys made a clam on the land and received a home stead  was granted and they started to make improvements on the land. Later they had formed an association.

So someone would have be there at all times. As far as anyone would know, it would be just another cattle rancher starting a new herd. The plan was working better than it was thought and the herd was growing.

The Cattle were sold with the old cowboy’s own brand on them and the ranch became one of the better ranch’s in that area. Younger cowboys were hired to work the ranch.  A Hotel for retired cowboys and ranch guests.  Was build and with in it’s self, was a thriving business.

Today, there are two such ranches, this one in Montana and another in Wyoming. The rancher's that donated the cattle also paid for the retirement plan for old retired cowboys. Now days, cowboys are called Ranch Hands and they are paid a living wage and have benefits and a retirement plans.

Those that are married and have children, still don’t have any money to Play poker or drink beer with. But then neither do I, and I have never been a cowboy, sorry! A Ranch hand, but I did run a Diary once when I was young.  All of our cows. had four valves. In the early days, the were called Tit’s………..when that was not a proper term to use.

By; Ben R.    ☺

April 27, 2013