The Coconino sun., 1927-07-01
JOSEPH DENT, PIONEER
FLAGSTAFF SHEEPMAN
PASSED AWAY SUNDAY

/ AOOEU hVFAl UUlVUAl
Joseph Dent died Sunday morning
at 4:20 at the family residence, West
Birch avenue, after being a helpless
invalid for the past ten years. Death
came peacefully. Deceased, whose
condition was due to a paralytic
stroke, last February suffered an
other seizure while wintering with his
daughter, Miss Nora Dent, in Phoe-
nix. He gradually failed from that
time until released by death. Always
appreciated his daughters faithful
care. His half brother, John Sayre,
was his constant companion.
Joseph Dent was born July 20, 1860,
near Barnard Castle in Yorkshire,
England. He was the eldest Of a
family of five, his parents being High
land Scotch who settled over the Eng
lish border where there was good
grazing for their flocks of sheep.
Joseph as a youngster trailed his faith
er with the sheep and from the age of
10 earned his own living running
sheep for his father and others. What
schooling he had was gained from
Catholic priest who ran a day school
where his pupils paid penny day
for tuition.
When not yet 20 he sought his for
tune in America. From this time on
his adventures were shared by his
Younger half-brother, Tom Sayre, who
came with him. They were headed
west, their first stop being in Ne
braska, when their funds were ex-
hausted. They worked there with cat
to Denver. Here they collected a lit
tie cash by working in the woods.
The Atlantic & Pacific railway, then
in the building, was as far west as
Winslow. The ties were laid as far
as Canyon Diablo where further prog
ress was halted for the lack of a
bridge The brothers were joined at
Winslow by Hank Lockett. Bound
for Flagstaff to cut ties for the new
railroad, the three set out afoot from
the end of the road.
They walked most Of the way from
Winslow to Flagstaff, though they
were fortunate in catching a few
rides with friendly drivers OF OK
teams. When they reached here
Lockett had nothing, Sayre 90 cents
and Dent one dolalr. They pooled
their funds and appeased their hun
ger. That was in 1881. They inn
mediately went to work in the woods
cutting ties for the railroad. Later
they bought teams with which they
hauled logs and supplies.
Interested since boyhood in sheep,
Joe and his brother saved money and
bought a little band of sheep. Later
they homesteaded at Rogers Lake.
With this home ranch and nucleus of
sheep the brothers worked hard and
prospered When winter came they
moved their bands north to Dog
| Knobs, on the present Grand Canyon
road. Here it was they built as an
experiment the first water tank. At
| that time there was an abundance OF
grass, but no water This tank proved
| the forerunner of the. multitude OF
tanks that dot the ranges and provide
water for bands of sheep all over the
mountain and desert. To these
brothers also goes the credit for first
! introducing blooded stock among their
sheep. They located Kendrick ranch
near Kendrick mountain. Upon the
| death of Tom Say9e their interests,
which had grown to successful and
wealthy extent, were sold to the
Grand Canyon Cattle company
Mr.. Dent then retired from active
business. He made several trips to
England, the last one in 1912, when
he was caught there by the World
war. After long time he returned
to the United States, when submarine
warfare was at its worst.
When his son George entered the
army, Mr.. Dent went to his ranch
north of Holbrook to look after
Georges cattle interests. 1t was
there he had the stroke which made
him helpless the remainder of his life.
and George Dent of Clarkdale. The
funeral was Tuesday afternoon at the
Federated church, under the auspices
| of the Masonic lodge, Rev. II. F. Soft
| ley officiating.