π π’π‘π§ππ‘π π₯ππ‘ππππ₯, 1892, Mingusville (now Wibaux), MT. 777 Ranch cowboy N.P. Berry wore shotgun step-through chaps with fronts of a contrasting hide. His hat had a wide flat brim, typical for the era, but chin straps were seldom visible. The 777 brand was held by Berry-Boice Cattle Co. New York financier Dave Berry, presumably related to the rider, and general manager Henry Boice were partners, running 25,000+ head in far Eastern Montana and Western Dakota Territories. The 777 was among the first to buy imported purebred bulls, including Herefords, to improve their Texas longhorn stock. Teddy Roosevelt had owned an adjacent ranch. -Gary Coffrin
– Background –
Teddy Rooseveltβs cattle numbers were a small fraction of Berry-Boice Cattle Co. However, Roosevelt, at age 25 in 1884, convinced area ranchers to create the Little Missouri Stockmenβs Association to coordinate pool roundups, increase political influence, and provide education at a time when many ranchers came from other vocations. The young Roosevelt was elected as its first president. Roosevelt would later say, βIf it had not been for my years in North Dakota, I never would have become President of the United States.β Roosevelt was described as βa good mixer, even if he didnβt drink.β
The 1892 portrait was taken by an employee of F.J. Haynes Palace Studio Car. Several early photographers operated rail car studios that had a stove, sleeping quarters, and darkroom for developing prints, allowing pioneers far from cities to have their photo taken.
My 90 minutes of Photoshop work improved detail. (Click image to clarify view if using a PC. Itβs worth a second look. ) Fascinating documentation on the Berry-Boice Cattle Co. can be found online. The negative is held by the Montana Historical Society.
