Ranching with Roosevelt

Wyoming Connection: While his home ranches were in Dakota, his, interest in Western wildlife led to close ties with Wyoming, notably friendship with Wyoming rancher Seth Bullock. 

Additionally, there is a Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch near Dupuyer, Montana, managed by the Boone and Crockett Club

Theodore Roosevelt established two primary cattle ranches in the Badlands of the Dakota Territory (now North Dakota, near the Montana border) starting in 1883, which heavily influenced his conservation career. His main ranch was the Elkhorn Ranch, while his first was the Maltese Cross (or Chimney Butte). These ranches provided a sanctuary for him after the deaths of his wife and mother in 1884. 

The Maltese Cross (Chimney Butte) Ranch is Located 7 miles south of Medora. In 1883, he invested in this ranch, which was already in operation, making it his first foothold in the region. It was a smaller, simpler ranch compared to the Elkhorn. It was also known as the Chimney Butte Ranch. 

The Elkhorn Ranch is situated 35 miles north of Medora, N.D., along the Little Missouri River. In 1884, he commissioned Maine loggers William Sewall and Wilmot Dow to build a ranch house. The Ranch House was a large, 30-by-60-foot structure made of cottonwood logs, boasting eight rooms and a wide porch where Roosevelt spent time reading. The Elkhorn was his "main" home, chosen for its seclusion and quiet. He, along with his ranch hands, worked in both hunting and cattle ranching. It was here that he wrote several books on his Western experiences, including Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail.
The site is now managed as the Elkhorn Ranch Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It has no buildings, only foundation stones. 

The End of the Ranching Era

 The Bad Winter winter of 1886–1887, where he lost 60% of his cattle, Roosevelt left the area. His experience, though economically disastrous, spurred his dedication to conservation. 

Theodore Roosevelt's hired hands

Sylvane Ferris :One of TR's first acquaintances in the Badlands, Ferris managed the Elkhorn Ranch. After Sewall and Dow returned to Maine in 1886, Ferris also took over management of the until Roosevelt sold his interests in 1898.

William "Bill" Merrifield: Ferris’s partner at the Maltese Cross, Merrifield worked closely with Roosevelt on cattle management and often accompanied him on extended hunting trips. He remained a partner until 1892. 

Other Ranch Hands and Workers

Joe Ferris: Sylvane’s brother, who served as a hunting guide and friend to Roosevelt. He is also noted as having assisted with tasks during the
construction of the house.
Bill Rowe: A cowhand who joined Sewall and Dow during the winter of 1884–1885 to help build the house.

Henry Walz: A ranch hand who worked at the in the 1880s and later compiled scrapbooks of his time there.
(10730 Henry Walz Papers, located in the North Dakota State Library) Two scrapbooks of correspondence, news clippings, letters, photos and other memorabilia covering topics that interested Henry Walz and were related to events in his own life. Walz was a ranch hand who worked for Theodore Roosevelt at his Elkhorn Ranch near Medora (N.D.) in the 1880s. Correspondence in the scrapbooks relates to reminiscences about life in the Medora area during its ranching days in the 1880s and 1890s. News clippings show that one of Walz’s chief interests was his former employer, Theodore Roosevelt. Included are a few items form 1919 newspapers at the time of Roosevelt’s death. Other news clippings relate to railroads, elderly Civil War veterans, and tourist attractions in the northwestern United States. One of the volumes contains comments that Walz wrote under various photographs and other items. The photographs in the scrapbooks are included in the inventory below and include locomotives and workers, whaling, dog sledding, Medora (N.D.), hunting, mail boats on the Snake River.
"Hell-Roaring" Bill Jones: A local sheriff and occasional hand known for his toughness and legendary temper. He often worked near or with TR's men.
George Meyer: A young man who worked as a hunter and hand; he was one of the individuals who accompanied Roosevelt on the famous 1886 boat chase to capture thieves who had stolen his boat. George Meyer is not mentioned in the famous boat chase story because he was not actually on the boat during the pursuit. While he was a trusted hand who worked on Theodore Roosevelt’s ranch, he stayed behind to manage other ranch duties while the core team set off. Sometimes spelled Meyers) was a skilled cowhand and hunter who Roosevelt described as a "hardy, good-natured fellow". While he stayed behind during the boat chase, his daily responsibilities were essential to the survival and operation of the Elkhorn Ranch. Some of Georges ranching duties were managing Livestock. Meyer worked alongside Roosevelt to drive cattle across the treacherous Little Missouri River. In one famous instance, when a calf refused to swim, Meyer simply picked the animal up, slung it across his shoulders, and swam his horse across with it. Night Guard and Roundups: He participated in the "freezing misery" of riding night guard during fall roundups and guided trail cattle for hours at a time. Breaking Horses: As a professional cowboy, he was involved in "breaking" or training the semi-wild ponies used for ranch work. Hunting for Food: Meyer was an expert hunter. He and Roosevelt frequently went out to bag antelope, deer, and grouse, which served as the "mainstay of every meal" at the ranch. Ranch Upkeep: During the harsh winters, he helped with the grueling tasks of chopping firewood, hauling coal for the fireplace, and clearing snow during blizzards to reach the cattle. He assisted in hauling supplies from the nearby town of Medora to ensure the ranch remained stocked with flour, bacon, and sugar. Meyer occasionally assisted in law enforcement duties in the Badlands. Later in life, he even performed as a cowboy and peace officer in professional capacities.
Vic Smith: A famous hunter and scout in the Badlands who frequently interacted with the Elkhorn crew and assisted with scouting and supplying meat.

 Mary Sewall and Mrs. Dow: The wives of Bill Sewall and Wilmot Dow moved to the Elkhorn Ranch in 1885. They were essential to the ranch's daily operations, tending gardens and handling the cooking.

Extra Note:
10797 Katherine Pelissier (Kate Roberts) Papers (located in the North Dakota State Library): A scrapbook includes Mrs. Pelissier's reminiscences of life as a pioneer in the Medora DT area, photographs with Theodore Roosevelt, autographs of Madam de Mores and her daughter, letters from Dorothy Stickney, and photographs, and newspaper clippings of local events.