Cattle

William T. Hornaday is having trouble finding support in Congress for the Game Sanctuary Bill due to a number of legislators who oppose federally established game reserves. Hornaday would like Theodore Roosevelt to write to “as many senators as possible” urging them to support the bill. He also hopes that Roosevelt can write an article, for widespread publication, which is critical of the current system of game preservation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-12-26

Creator(s)

Hornaday, William T. (William Temple), 1854-1937

Gilbert S. Cryne writes to Theodore Roosevelt to introduce himself as an old admirer of his policies and work. Cryne has lived in Gladstone, North Dakota since 1882, and he remembers when Roosevelt identified with “cattle interests.” He is close acquaintances with many of Roosevelts former acquaintances and friends, and he has just completed reading Roosevelt’s African Game Trails and Jacob A. Riis’ biography of Roosevelt. He begs Roosevelt’s pardon for addressing him so personally and wishes Roosevelt a long life.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-15

Creator(s)

Cryne, Gilbert S., 1835-1917

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1884 to December 1891. Notable events include the deaths of Alice Lee Roosevelt and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s time on his ranch, the completion of Sagamore Hill, Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Edith Kermit Carow, Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt’s birth, the “Great-Dieup” of cattle in North Dakota, and the founding of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Creator(s)

Moore, Robert J. (Robert John), 1956-; Theodore Roosevelt Association

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt between January 1879 to December 1883. Notable events include Theodore Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Alice Hathaway Lee, his appointment to the New York State Legislature, and his first visit and buffalo hunt in North Dakota.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Creator(s)

Moore, Robert J. (Robert John), 1956-; Theodore Roosevelt Association

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Creation Date

Unknown

Creator(s)

Detroit Publishing Co.

Language

English

Period

Unknown

The Montana Homeseeker provides a narrative history of Pierre Wiebaux–a contemporary of Theodore Roosevelt and the Marquis de Mores–and the W Ranch–located on the border between Montana and North Dakota. While Wibaux made a fortune on cattle, the ranch is now a prime investment location for sheep herders and those in the wool trade, and a company is being organized for investors who would like to get into the business. Maps, photographs, and figures accompany the advertising material, illustrating the area and aspects of the sheep industry.

Collection

America

Creation Date

1906-09

Creator(s)

Montana Homeseeker

Howard Eaton had to return to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to see his ailing mother. She passed away on February 9. They have had good winters in North Dakota but the range has become hardened. Commissioner Roosevelt has 350 to 400 cattle and sold half his horses. Sylvane M. Ferris and Arthur William Merrifield live at the old camp and intend to sell their stock this year. Joseph A. Ferris is still tending his store but will likely close soon. Eaton hopes to return to Idaho this fall for another hunting trip.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1890-03-10

Creator(s)

Eaton, Howard, 1851-1922

Howard Eaton updates William Wingate Sewall on his recent activities. He brought in 500 steers from Texas and spent three weeks on a Killdeer Mountain roundup. Eaton also had a successful hunting trip to Idaho.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1890-01-07

Creator(s)

Eaton, Howard, 1851-1922

The weather has been fair recently but previous “sharp weather” killed many cattle and “everybody is blue as a whetstone.” At least the losses should stop the big herds from Texas. Medora, Dakota Territory, is “very dead.” A. T. Packard lost everything in a fire and moved back east. The saloon also burnt down and Joseph A. Ferris’s store had a close call. Howard Eaton is glad that William Wingate Sewall is well and he wishes he could join Sewall for some “hunting, fishing, eating apples and drinking cider.”

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1887-02-26

Creator(s)

Eaton, Howard, 1851-1922

William Wingate Sewall has 100 cattle to practice on during winter. He does not believe cattle are too hard to care for and the work has not been difficult. The country is “queer” and dirty but the soil looks healthy and the water is good. Sewall guesses there is a chance to make money with cattle and Theodore Roosevelt is optimistic. If he can make a profit, Sewall wants to get back to the “clear water and trees” soon. Overall, he thinks that Dakota Territory should have been left to the animals.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1884-08-17

Creator(s)

Sewall, William Wingate, 1845-1930

Since he last wrote, William Wingate Sewall has a new son. Mary Alice Sherman Sewall and the boy are doing well. There are 250 cows on the ranch and, even though some of them do not have calves, their herd is doing the best out of any along the Little Missouri River.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1886-08-07

Creator(s)

Sewall, William Wingate, 1845-1930

William Wingate Sewall is doing well in Dakota Territory but all they have for fruit is chokecherries and there has not been rain since June. The hot, dry weather has mostly ruined the garden. The cattle are doing well and only a few have been lost. In a postscript, Sewall estimates they have 1,200 cattle and announces that Theodore Roosevelt will be returning to the ranch soon.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1886-08-01

Creator(s)

Sewall, William Wingate, 1845-1930

William Wingate Sewall has been “holding the fort” at the ranch while the other ranch hands are on the roundup. The weather has been nice and he has been spending time tending the garden. Sewall does not think Dakota Territory is very good for farming, but the cattle are doing well. He hopes that Theodore Roosevelt will not lose money on the cattle but doubts he can ever make much profit. Sewall accompanied Roosevelt on a recent hunt and Roosevelt killed a large elk. He hopes to go on his own hunt with Wilmot Dow when the weather is cooler. Sewall is now into his last two years in Dakota Territory and it will be a “joyful day” when he returns home to Maine.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1886-06-27

Creator(s)

Sewall, William Wingate, 1845-1930

The weather is cold and the snow is over a foot deep. William Wingate Sewall is not sure how the cattle can survive in such an environment. He accompanied a group, including James Watts, a “genuine specimen of a frontier man,” to a Native American village. Watts was with General Custer the day before the Battle of the Little Bighorn and claims to have been shot seven times and hit with arrows five times. They bought several moccasins, buckskins, and a buffalo robe. Sewall’s long hair seemed to interest the Native Americans and they even braided his hair. There are opportunities in Dakota Territory but he still believes that Maine has better living conditions and hopes to return soon.

Collection

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Creation Date

1885-02-18

Creator(s)

Sewall, William Wingate, 1845-1930

Theodore Roosevelt discusses travel and hunting plans for the summer. He may be delayed if Congress holds an extra session.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1889-1895

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Commissioner Roosevelt recently traveled to his ranch; the hunting went well but his cattle were in poor condition. Roosevelt jokes that his tales of antelope will not compare to Ferguson being in the real wilds with caribou and white bear.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1894-10-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt describes the life that counts as one that is willing to take risks and work hard. Roosevelt speaks of the spirit of Washington citizens and the desire to conquer a place. Roosevelt closes his speech by quoting his motto from when he was in the cattle business: “Never draw unless you mean to shoot.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt greets a crowd in Gillette, briefly talking about his previous time in Wyoming. He discusses the changes in cattle and thanks them for being pioneers of the west.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt addresses a crowd in Jamestown, North Dakota. He discusses his previous visit to “Jimtown” and cattle, and thanks the veterans present. Roosevelt also speaks in response to a letter from a labor organization in Jamestown that he received. The letter addressed the recent trust legislation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Handwritten draft of chapter four of The Wilderness Hunter. The chapter was published as chapters four and five.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1893

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919