Tempe Javitz

     Shipping Before There Were Cattle Trucks.

When Jessamine and Will were ranching at the X4 Ranch
from 1919 until the early 1930s, each fall they rounded
up the cattle they were going to sell. That’s the yearly
pay check!  AND, the only way to get their cattle to market
in those days was to drive the cattle up over the Wolf 
Mountains to the west and down the other side to the Little
Bighorn River.  At “Spear Siding”, named for her father Willis
and her uncle Doc Spear (way back when), the trains would 
stop with cattle cars, load the cattle, and then haul them
them to market.  Nowadays, cattle buyers purchase the calves 
steers, or fat two-year-olds, and arrange for huge semi-
trucks to pick up the cattle right at the ranch itself. 
No more railroading. 

Needless to say, Jessamine carried her camera horseback, and
never missed a chance to capture the events as the cattle
were moved to the railroad.  

             Heading for market over the Wolf Mtns in 1938.


         It’s a long way down those steep hills to reach the river.

Once the cowboys and cattle arrived at the Little Bighorn River, 
everyone stopped for a drink, and a cool swim to the other side.

Once across the river, the cattle were gathered into the pens and
camp is set up.  Nothing like a great cup of coffee at that very
moment!

Here is Phil and Jessie Spear enjoying a break.  Phil is Jessamine’s
younger brother.  His ranch was just west of the Little Bighorn on
Rotten Grass Creek.  Family gathers together when shipping time
needs many hands.  Yes, by this time they had those original Ford
cars, but no cattle trucks were made yet.


Time to bring the cattle into the pens.  It’s a dusty ride.

Then you have to sort them in bunches for loading onto the train.


         Heading into the chute.

 Into the chute they go, while Jessamine waves her hat to encourage
them.   And, here’s the train to take them to market.


Jessamine then hastened to gather the local working cowboys for a portrait,
before everyone headed back to their home ranches.

Here are fifteen of the Reservation pool cowboys ready to head home: 
Charley Binnon, Gus Freistad, Stanley Sloan, Hawk Schaffer, Jack Moody,
Rusty Dunn, Homer Nuen, Tex Glover, Bert Elliot, Bronc Cotton, Curley Wells,
Ole Lithander, Harry Carpenter, Jaxon Morgan, and Floyd Schaffer.

Special News:  The Museum of the Bighorns in Sheridan, Wyoming is 
currently exhibiting a series of my grandmother Jessamine Spear Johnson’s
photos from the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.  
The exhibit “Traditions of the Landscape” will be open through June.  
If you are in the Sheridan area don’t miss a chance to see this special exhibit.

Now dear reader, don’t shirk your job.  Read more of my blogs at:
https://tempejavitz.com/

Or order my book if you haven’t done so already! 
https://www.sdhspress.com/books/bighorn-visions