View source for W Bar Ranch



1887: [[Sid Tarbell]] was boss. Cowboys include [[George O. (Blocker) West]].
1888: Tarbell got tangled up in a rope on a bronc, broke his leg and died of blood poisening. [[Charlie Hoagland]] became boss. Crew went on strike at fall roundup against Hoagland, so Charley Armstrong was promoted to boss. Cowboys include George O. (Blocker) West; Bentley; [[Tom Grazier]].
1889: Armstrong quit because Wibaux wouldn't keep his choices as winter hands. Wibaux sent for [[Ben Lollis]] in Miles City to be boss.

That ranch was at the mouth of the [[Little Dry]]. It was owned by [[Pierre Wibaux]] for whom the town in eastern Montana was named. He established the [[State National Bank]] in Miles City. [[C. W. Butler]] worked there as head cashier. Once the ranch had over 50,000 cattle on the north side range. They were mostly steers that [[Jack Serruys]] bought in the south and shipped to Miles City.

That company ran two roundup wagons. [[Bill Case]] bossed one and [[Henry Coleman]] bossed the other. Once at the [[Leighton Hotel]] in Miles City, Bill Case put on a big feed for the W Bar cowboys. When all were seated, Bill rose to the occasion and said, "This feed is on the W Bar, so help yourselves to the Olivers. There are plenty more in the Panther." He was quite a cowboy and boss' He had helped trail several herds to Montana. He worked for the W Bar until it went out of business. Other cowboys on this outfit were Jack Serruys, 'Long' [[Henry Coleman]], [['Pecos']] and 'N-----' [[Bob Leavitt]].