On July 2nd and 3rd we celebrated 100 years on the Dye Ranch. I thought that I would share some or our information with you.
President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20,
1862. The Homestead Act was a United
States Federal law that gave freehold title to 160 acres of undeveloped land in
the American West. The person to whom
title was granted had to be at least 21 years of age, had to build a house at
least 12 X 14 feet and had to live in it for 5 years.
Sarah Ann Ward “Anna” came from Illinois to Montana with her
friend Mary Genre Owen to homestead near Ridgeway. They built houses side by side but each on
their own property.
Leonard “Leon” Dye left Gann Valley, South Dakota to
homestead near Ludlow, SD. He broke
horses for Andrew and Carl Giannonatti, two brothers that lived nearby, and who
had leased land near the Finger Buttes in Montana. Because of this, Leon became acquainted with
Montana. He later turned his homestead over to them, moved
his homestead rights to the Finger Buttes and took over their lease in
Montana. He then leased 90 head of mares
from the brothers and set up his operation.
On August 7, 1916 he purchased an adjoining ranch from Jim Lamb. At one time he figured that he had between
500-700 head of horses.
There were many social events at the country schools in
those early years and Anna and Leon met.
With their ranches about 10 miles apart they soon became friends and
married on May 1, 1918. They had four
children, Floy, J.O., Virginia and Robert.
When Robert was about to be born, Leon sent for the midwife who didn’t
make it in time so Leon delivered the baby.
Leon and Anna spent 30 years on the ranch. When Robert “Bobby” returned from the service
he leased the ranch from his
parents. He met Shirley Bolton whose grandfather
homesteaded north of Alzada in 1906 and brought his daughter. Winnifred married and had two children Gene
and Shirley. Bobby and Shirley were
married on June 3, 1949 and later bought the ranch. They raised six children. David, Anne, Juanita, Robert Jr. “Chip”,
Ward and James.
In March of 1986 Chip bought the ranch from his
parents. They continued to work the
ranch as a family until November 1, 1986 when Bobby died in a car accident. Chip’s mother continued to live on the ranch
with Chip until 1993 when she remarried.
