The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-01-01

region to become mixed with them.
Each band was carefully guarded by its
oWner or by some one in his employ.
Year after year the two men stuck to
horse raising and their herds increased.
Either n of them would trade for
a good horse at any time and before
long both were recognized as the lead
for they had good stock and had built
up a reputation.
Also, each of them had expanded into
the cattle business. Their ranches ad-
joined and between them covered the
best of the Land in the Madison valley.
Although the two men were fast
friends, they became, as a matter of
fact, a little jealous of each other as
their success grew from year to year.
Join Forces for VT Brand
Then, once again, they decided to
enter partnership. In 1880 they got to-
gether M day at the old Eight Mile
house and drew up a simple agreement
that in the future they would pool is
sues They founded. the firm of Far
rell & Varney. and the VT brand was
established. Prior to that time Farrell
had used TJF as his brand. The Var
ney horses were branded with a v.
There were 700 horses in the two
bands at the time of the consolidation.
TlOll llttG Illlle Oil tltt COlllUlllSO Il6TQ
grew apace and the horse industry in
Montana took on new life. The men
had similar ideas about breeding
good SireS and mares.
The ranch prospered for many years.
It accumulated much land and the
annual income of the firm from live
stock sales frequently reached $4,000
or more. Farrell g. Varney sold horses
to the government for army purposes
for f110nr WOO SC orI yYNp FnN~a 0~-n~,
officers the commentator that the ami
mails purchased from the VT ranch
were the best stock the army had ever
had. It was claimed that the VT
horses could stand more grief and give
more service than any other stock khat
ever bore the US brand. =
The saddle horses used ON the VT
ranch itself could make 100 miles from
sun to sun and cover the trail home
the next day.
Butte furnished a market for their
heavier horses, purchased by freight
ers and ore haulers. Eastern Montana
cattle ranches came to the VT to obtain
saddle stock for their cavvies, and the
VT horses were considered tough and
wise. There was a good market in
North Dakota for VT horses. both in
h cattle country and the newly opened
agricultural regions.
Market Faded; Ranch Sold
Finally the horse business went to
the dogs. The best animals on western
farms were sold for a song. Farrell &
Varney were forced to quit. At that
time the firm had 5000 head of horses.
They were sold at prices ranging from
81 to So a head. That was in the mid
die nineties. Two years later horses
and being shipped to South Africa for
use in the Boer war, while bigger and
better ones were in demand in the
southwest where farming was under
going rapid development.
The old VI ranch passed into the
hands of John B. Welcome Of Ana
conda and after his death was pur-
chased by the Hodgens Brothers of
Butte. Its purpose was changed. Instead
OF furnishing range for thousands of
head of horses, it was put to raising
grain and alfalfa. A 12-mile i~rrigating
ditch that carried a river of water TO
formerly semi-arid benches. trans
formed them into amazingly productive
acres.
Varney died in Virginia City a few
years after the firm went out of bus;-
ness. Farrell moved to Missoula, where
he resided for many years.
Thus passed Montana's largest ey-
elusive horse ranch.
During the past few years a condition
similar to that which was responsible
for the VT brand going out of business
has existed. Tractors and automobiles
displaced the horse. Comparatively few
of them were to be found on farms
and ranches. Then came the depres-
sion and hard times, and the horse has
come back-part way at least. During
the past year market reports from all
over the country have told of the scare
lty OF horses and the growing demand
for them as farmers again sought to
harness them to their ploWs.
The biggest horse outfit in Montana
at present is that Of Chappell Broth
ers, which ranges animals in northern
Montana and sells to eastern markets.