Pierre Wibaux

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'''Pierre Wibaux''' (January 12, 1858 – March 21, 1913) was a highly prominent cattle owner and ranchman in [[Montana]] during the turn of the 20th Century. He emigrated from his native France to seek business opportunities in America and was among the most successful in the second wave of "Frontier Cowboys".

'''Pierre Wibaux''' (January 12, 1858 – March 21, 1913) was a highly prominent cattle owner and ranchman in [[Montana]] during the turn of the 20th Century. He emigrated from his native France to seek business opportunities in America and was among the most successful in the second wave of "Frontier Cowboys".

Upon his return to France, he announced that he was going to travel to America to try his luck at cattle farming rather than taking over the family business in his Roubaix. With much reluctance his father agreed and gave him $10 000 to start his new venture.

Upon his return to France, he announced that he was going to travel to America to try his luck at cattle farming rather than taking over the family business in his Roubaix. With much reluctance his father agreed and gave him $10 000 to start his new venture.

==Cattle-Ranching==

==Cattle-Ranching==

In 1883 Pierre gets to America and travels to [[Chicago]] to learn more about the range stock business before investing any capital. There he meets the [[Marquis de Mores]] who tells him of the prairies in North Dakota and Montana. Wibaux and an army friend came to present-day Wibaux in 1883 and engaged in ranching.  During this time he lived in a very primitive dugout where he ate and slept during brief intervals while learning the duties of a cowboy, foreman and rancher while eating and sleeping beneath the stars.  After three years he was at the end of his resources and returned to France.   

In 1883 Pierre gets to America and travels to [[Chicago]] to learn more about the range stock business before investing any capital. There he meets the [[Marquis de Mores]] who tells him of the prairies in North Dakota and Montana. Wibaux and an army friend came to present-day Wibaux in 1883 and engaged in ranching.  During this time he lived in a very primitive dugout where he ate and slept during brief intervals while learning the duties of a cowboy, foreman and rancher while eating and sleeping beneath the stars.  After three years he was at the end of his resources and returned to France.   

In Miles City, a large building bore his name until it burned down in the 1960s. A city park stills bears his name. Wibaux Park was created using the $10,000 that Pierre bequeathed in his will to the city of Miles city for a park. The city bought the land from [[L. W. Stacy]] who had purchased the land from the estate of the deceased Judge [[Jason W. Strevell]].

In Miles City, a large building bore his name until it burned down in the 1960s. A city park stills bears his name. Wibaux Park was created using the $10,000 that Pierre bequeathed in his will to the city of Miles city for a park. The city bought the land from [[L. W. Stacy]] who had purchased the land from the estate of the deceased Judge [[Jason W. Strevell]].

==Personal Life==

==Personal Life==

Wibaux was known as a good person to work for, fair to his employees, kind and thoughtful to proven friends, but overbearing and haughty to those who tried to use him for their own purposes. He loved to display his wealth, but didn't put on airs. His horsemanship served him well first in the French army, but also on his ranch, were he would participate in some work with his hired cowboys, taking orders from his foreman on roundups and enduring cold and rain. He was a capable boxer. A little taller than average, he weighed about 200 lbs. when he first arrived in the US. He loved flowers and brought his gardener Jules Accart with him from France.  

Wibaux was known as a good person to work for, fair to his employees, kind and thoughtful to proven friends, but overbearing and haughty to those who tried to use him for their own purposes. He loved to display his wealth, but didn't put on airs. His horsemanship served him well first in the French army, but also on his ranch, were he would participate in some work with his hired cowboys, taking orders from his foreman on roundups and enduring cold and rain. He was a capable boxer. A little taller than average, he weighed about 200 lbs. when he first arrived in the US. He loved flowers and brought his gardener Jules Accart with him from France.