Why do short weeks always feel so long. Friday has finally arrived and that means another Friday Find from Stockmen's Memorial Foundation ready to satisfy those reading eyes.
This week I was supposed to go back to a hat selection, but I quite enjoy lingering at times so I bring you another brand selection. This story is behind a brand that was registered in 1888 to the Cochrane Ranch Co. as recorded in the first edition of Henderson's Northwest Brand Book.
The story is an interesting one for many reasons. First off, the Cochrane Ranch Company (Limited) was incorporated by the Dominion Government in May 1881. This is better understood as a group of a self-governing commonwealth. The members included respected Montreal businessmen Hugh MacKay, merchants William Lawrence and Charles Cassils, and manufacturers William Ewing and William Cassils. The president behind the Cochrane Ranch Co. was Senator Matthew Henry Cochrane.
In his earlier years Cochrane familiarized himself with the shorthorn cattle breed and would eventually branch out his success to Aberdeen-Angus and Hereford breeds. His efforts contributed to the improvement of Canadian and U.S. stock. Shortly after, Cochrane wanted to complete his organization and appointed Dr. McEachern a chief inspector of livestock as the resident general manager of the Cochrane Ranch Co. His subordinate was a retired North-West Mounted Police inspector, Major James Walker. This finished the gang and I will note that the company had $500,000 capitalization.
In July of 1881 the Cochrane Ranch Company's first ever brand was registered as "Flying C". A year later, in the summer of 1882, Major Walker was called upon to restock the Cochrane Ranch Co. He rode south to Montana where he would find cattlemen, Poindexter and Orr. He purchased 4,000 head of cattle. As per the contract, Poindexter and Orr lead the cattle to the "Big Hill" in Cochrane. It was now September and an early snowfall had arrived. The cattlemen warned Major Walker that the weary herd may not endure the snow, but Walker was persistent in his demands and insisted the cattlemen carry out their end of the deal and get the head to the Cochrane Ranch. Upon arriving Major Walker called it quits with the organization and the hungry cattle were left frantically grazing for hay that was never put out. Spring was non-existent in 1883 and things were beginning to look grim as a head of cattle that was 12,000 dwindled substantially to 4,000 when spring arrived late in June.
Over the next five years different successors around Cochrane Ranch Co. tried to revive the troubled farm, but between a prairie fire and constant bad luck 1888 would be the end of the ranch west of Calgary. Senator Cochrane's son briefly took over, but the declining prices in wool and mutton made it difficult to bounce back. In 1894 the last of the original Cochrane lease was sold to W. P. Warner. By 1904, Mormon settlements were a dime a dozen and the Cochrane Ranch sold its finest 66,500 acres of land to The Church of the Latter Day Saints for $6 per acre. They paid $99,000 in cash and agreed to pay $60,000 each following year until the account was square. Within a few years the lands value had risen to $20 per acre making the Mormon Church investment a very wise one.
Another interesting thing to point out is that the brand registered in 1888 was a mason square and compass. This brand stayed for one short year before it had changed its shape in 1889. The name Cochrane Ranch Co remained the same, but in 1894 changed to The Cochrane Ranche Co. Ltd. It then changed again in 1900 to The Cochrane Ranche Co. Finally in 1903 and 1907 the name remained the same, Cochrane Ranche Co. Ltd. Afterwards there were no brands registered.
I was able to find that the first cattle brand registered in 1864 in Montana was a mason square and compass and it was used by the Poindexter and Orr Ranch. The same ranch that Major Walker had purchased 4,000 head of cattle back in 1882. It makes me scratch my head as to why it was registered in Cochrane in 1888, because the ranch was on its way out and the owner at that time would have been Senator Cochrane's son. I guess we will never know the reasoning behind it.
The significance of this unknown mason square and compass brand holds plenty of history. Certainly an ancient piece of the past that lives on. Stockmen's Memorial Foundation will be having their annual Fall Roundup Dinner and Auction on Saturday, Oct. 26. It is here were you can place your wager for this mason square and compass brand. It will be placed on an intriguing piece of wood with the brand being made by L & H Branding Irons. They are the oldest and largest manufacturer of branding irons in the industry. The Livestock Identification Services will also remove Stockmen's name from the certificate and put forth the highest bidders name on it, making this antiquely brand exclusively yours.
