The Ranchers

If the homesteaders and farmers are the yeomen of the Old West, then surely the ranchers are the princes of the land. In the more remote areas of the West, the financial clout of powerful ranchers granted them power and influence comparable to that of medieval barons. A wealthy rancher could affect the welfare of a remote settlement, his whims might determine the dispensing of justice, and his wrath would shake the earth beneath a common man's feet...

		Colonel M.J. McCormick - Owner Circle-M Ranch M.J McCormick was born in Courtmacsherry, County Cork, South Ireland on Feb 15th 1831. In 1833 his father, a trader for the Hudson Bay Company came to the Washington Territory with the family. When he was 7, his father and mother moved to Charleston SC to work as importers. When he was 15 MJ attended the Citadel in Charleston. He entered the United States Army in 1850 and served for 4 years with General Lee's command at Harper's Ferry VA. In 1854 M.J.'s father and mother died of the Scarlet Fever and he left the Army and traveled West. He appeared in Lago area sometime in 1856 with the title and deed to a large track of land north of town. When the Civil War broke out, M.J. locked the house on Eagle Butte and headed East.
		Jeb Blair - Foreman - Circle M Ranch Although born in Monroe, Butler County, Ohio, Jeb Ezekiel Blair moved to Panola County, Mississippi as a youth and made his home there. So it was perfectly natural that he should join the forces of his adopted state. Blair enlisted at the age of 17 in the Confederate Artillery. His active service took place in Mississippi and Louisiana at Iuka, Corinth, Shiloh, and Port Hudson. He was captured in July 1863, became a prisoner of war. Much of his time as a prisoner was spent at Johnson's Island, in Lake Erie, near Sandusky, Ohio. It was here that occurred the incident known to all initiates: "While a prisoner of war, he was offered his freedom on condition that he renounce his allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, but fidelity to principle caused him to remain true to the Southland." He swore the oath (the boy must have been crossin his fingers), but returned to participate in the last battle before being ultimately overcome by the Yankees and on April 6th near a stream called Saylers Creek, 6,000 confederates were captured, 1st Lt. Jeb Blair in their ranks. Being a bachelor, he was again overcome by wanderlust and he returned to Mississippi, then to Wyoming where he settled in with his "Uncle" McCormick, who was childhood friends with his father, Dr. Ezekiel Blair.
		Major J.E. Duniway - Owner Diamond D Ranch Born the summer of 1827, Jedidiah E. Duniway lived out his youth as the son of a Scottish grocer, Shamus Duniway and his wife Kathleen in the town of Murfreesboro in Tennessee. J.E. graduated at the top of his class at West Point around 1851. During his time serving in a variety of Cavalry units in the West, he met M.J. McCormick, who would become a driving force during his life. J.E. Duniway returned to Lago in August of 1863, after being wounded twice, first at Fort Donelson while serving as a Brevet Lt. Colonel under Charles Ferguson Smith on 15 February 1863. There were rumors that a Captain McCormick was serving with Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry at Fort Donelson and assisted in breaking out Nathan Bedford Forrest’s command. He has been in Lago the past two years and with the aid of his wife, recovering from his wounds received in the war. He has taken on those responsibilities necessary to make the town run as effectively as possible, during the McCormick's absence. Whether he's been a good steward remains to be seen, as his war wounds tend to flare up, incapacitating him to a certain degree. And there is still the issue with bullet still resting near his spine. Not a very advantageous place, one would say.

		Emma Duniway - Wife of J.E. Duniway Born in the autumn of 1842, Emma Darlene Margaret Duniway (Ballard) was born into a life of luxury. The youngest of six and the darling of the family there was little that she longed for, but that was before the war. Her parents, Sean Ballard and his wife Brianna, were involved in lumber with specifics of Red Cedar in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Emma was raised with the perfect delicate nature of women. She excelled in leisure reading and party planning, the ettiquette of the rich and privileged. The war brought a great many changes to her young life, buildings were burned and the women were sent north to be protected. Emma's oldest brother would never return from that war. As it ended, Emma found only more adventure in Jedidiah E. Duniway, her family friend, following him to Lago as his bride, two years ago to help him recover from his war wounds.

		Joe Roland - Foreman - Diamond D Ranch Joe Roland came west from Kentucky, when he drew two pair against the local sheriff’s busted flush. When he decided to keep his winnings, he had to put some lead into the sheriff’s leg. On the run from small town card troubles, and a couple bad investments, (One of which was a full house that should have paid off) he soon found himself flat broke and working his way westward. Joe cowboyed his way to Lago. From St. Louis to Texas panhandle, from Montana to badlands, he drove cattle and horses all over the place. He is extremely loyal to his friends and an honest, hard worker for the Major at the Diamond D. He doesn't talk much about the war.

		McAlister - Ranch Hand - Diamond D Ranch McAlister was born in Marshall, Texas to a ranch owner of Scottish descent and his wife. He was the older of two sons. The eldest of the McAlister sons fought with Colonel Greer in the Mexican War. He was also a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle, an organization dedicated to invading Mexico in order to extend slavery. He stayed with Col. Greer into Confederate service when his cavalry regiment was sworn into it in Dallas on June 13, 1861. Josiah was loyal to his brother and aspired to be like him, thus joining the ranks of the cavalry was an easy choice for him. The two brothers fought in the war through several different commanders, until its final surrender in May 1865. On June 7, 1864, rustlers who decided that the Bar-M Ranch was an easy target as the two sons were gone to war and the hands were small in number killed his father. Upon returning from the war with his brother, Josiah, McAlister found his father’s ranch had been overgrown and all of the stock was gone. He figured that it was time to move on and left his brother to rebuild the ranch on his own. He rode north, unsure of his destination. Along the way, his horse broke its leg and he was forced to shoot it. He finally arrived in Kansas City on foot and had to sell his saddle and gun for a ticket on the stage that took him to Lago. Now, with a few dollars to his name, he hopes to start fresh and do what he knows best other than fighting in the cavalry, ranching.

Rosette Sparrow - Housekeeper - Diamond D Born as Rosette Browne on April 23, 1846, to Eoghan and Claire Browne, she spent her first few childhood years learning the trade of a baker. A humble farmhouse in the County Galway of Ireland housed her entire family of two older brothers, and three older sisters, all struggling to upkeep the family's bakery amidst the plights of the Famine. Unable to earn enough money to feed themselves and their family even on their own baked breads, the Brownes sent their children away to the most trusted of family friends who were willing to accept responsibility. Much of the Browne family had emigrated to England in the previous four years to escape the Famine, and from there, some had even moved onto the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Liam and Eleanor Sparrow, related to and formerly in residence with the Brownes of England, offered most graciously to accept Rosette into their home in Clinton, Massachusetts. And so, in 1850, Rosette, at the age of four, accompanied by her seventeen-year-old brother Seamus, boarded a ship bound for the United States. Her Aunt and Uncle Sparrow being just newlywed when they took her in so young, Rosette became a child of their own, and came to be called by their surname. She took lessons for a time, but when she was old enough, and had smaller nieces and nephews, Rosette began to nanny for the Sparrow family, caring for the children, and cooking and cleaning for the family. Her aunt and uncle paid her fairly, generously forgiving all room and board, and allowing Rosette to send all of her earnings back to her family in Galway. The family bakery had gone completely out of business shortly after the children departed, and all money earned went to efforts to re-open it once the after-effects of the Famine subsided. In 1865, the Sparrow children mostly grown, and the Brownes of Galway back on their feet, Rosette's aunt and uncle cheerfully dismissed her to go as she pleased. Their offer for her to stay was extended, but Rosette had every intention of moving forward--more specifically, west. Romantic notions and hungry curiosity to see the world outside of Clinton inspired her travel, and she spent nearly every last bit of her savings hopping trains bound westward, from state to state. She never intended to stay in any one place long, and never did... until she found herself with an empty pocket in Lago and thought it best to stay a while.

	Captain James Parker - Owner - Black Star Ranch James Parker was born on December 24, 1839, in a small town called Greasy Rock, TN. He was raised in the Clinch Mountain area of Northeast Tennessee. His father was friends with Andrew Jackson, and an abolitionist. James grew up learning Abolitionist Propoganda, and believed it. His father was a Politician who was often viewed as an outsider for his conservatire 'Whig' views, though he claimed to have no party involvement. When the war broke-out, James father, Ronald Parker was involved in a movement for East Tennessee to secede from the rest of the state, though unsuccessful, it was a widely popular idea in the area, an area of the state with very little slave ownership. James joined the war effort for the north immediately after the war broke-out, and with his father 'Yankee' connections, James was given an officer's commission as a Second Lieutenant. He fought in the Army of Ohio, fighting in Nashville, and Kentucky, then joined up with Grant's army for the Vicksburg, and Chattanooga campaign's. After the Chattanooga campaign, Parker was promoted to Captain, and became the commanding officer of the East Tennessee Mounted Infantry, and one of Grant's closest advisor's. Shortly thereafter, Grant, and subsequently, Parker was transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia. It was not long before the Rebels surrendered. After the war, Captain Parker left the U.S. Army only to return home to his dying father. His father died of Pneumonia only a month after the war ended, leaving James $10,000 in an inheritance, and the enormous plot of land the family owned. James mother died a month later of a broken heart, and James sold the land for an additional $5,000. Shortly thereafter, Parker decided to head north. He travelled through Kentucky, and Missouri, then into Kansas territory. He crosses Kansas, and made his way to San Fransisco. He stayed in San Fransisco for only a few weeks, depositing $10,000 of his $15,000 into the bank. Someone died in a card game, and a few people claimed that Captain Parker was responsible. He decided not to stay and find out the outcome... Parker arrived in what would be named Wyoming territory once more, on his way to see New York City, yet his horse died just outside of a sleepy little town called Lago, so he has decided to rest for a month or so, find a new horse. He quickly grew fond of the town, and everyone in it.... short of Colonel McCormick ... and decided he was going to stay, so he bought a little spread north of town, and took to building a ranch.
	David Jameson - Black Star Ranch Hand David Jameson was born in the great state of Tennessee in November of 1843. It was a cold hard winter that year and his parents, both farmers, tried hard to keep food and income coming in. The bad luck on the farm coninued untill David 3, where his parents were forced to sell thier farm to keep them all alive. After a month or two of unemployment, is father was hired as a stable hand on a ranch, and his mother as a maid at the same ranch. They lived peacefully, David growing up around the cattle and horses for another 5 years. When he was 8, 1851, his father became sick in the winter. His mother tried to care for him, and kept David's father alive, in varying decrees of the word, for another 2 years, making the entire income for the family, cooking, and caring for her family. By the time David's fatehr finally died in 1853, David was 10 years old, and his mother had come down sick as well. By now David had started to work on the Ranch himself, to less than ideal employers. His mother after another year became too sick to work, and at only 11 years old David was forced to support his family. His mother got better in the summer of 55, and started working again untill death finally caught her in the same year, during the winter. Now an orphan, and the Ranch owners wanting a mroe experianced man to work the ranch, they fired young 12 year old boy and through him to the mercy of the wild. He wandered around, in the woods for a month or so, living off of what he could find. Finally, and old trapper found David in the woods and brought the starving child home to his wife. The two foster parents were old enough to be David's grandparents, but they treated him like a son. They kept him and had him work a little with the trapper. His new mother taught him to read and write, a valualbe skill, as well as how to speak a few foreign languages. The year of 1860 was a huge turning point for David. By now he was 17. On a fateful day in October he was walking home from a job on the farm nad heard a series of gunshots. He ran home to find both of his foster parents dead. Murdered in their own home. The killer had left the still smoking gun on the porch, and David had picked it up to examine it for any clues of the killer. This turned out to be his biggest mistake, as just then several neighbors got to the house to find the young man, holding a smoking gun over the two dead bodies of his foster parents. David was tried, and sentanced to 10 years in prison. His life was brutal, but he began to accept the way things were going. The prisioners were forced to work the farmland and some ranches for local farmers and ranchers. David quickly showed himself as a good hard worker. The warden allowed him a choice of work duties on the farms, and after sampling just about every job their was he came to love horses, and working with him. Untill the year of 1863 he worked with horses, learning to ride, how to behave around them, and how to take care of them. He still kept of his hard work, showing himself respectable even by those who hated prisioners, and he was always polite (something his foster parents taught him, and a lesson the warden drove home). In the year of 1863, when David Jameson was 20, he was given a chance for parole. Graciously accepting his poral he got a job as a Stable hadn wear he continue to work with horses, under close eye of the local sherif, and discriminated against by all of the town folk. After a year of parole he made the second most important descicion of his like. He jumped ship. After a good year of traveling west, he finally makes it to Lago, were he hopes to keep his secret of being jailed and find some good work.
		Annabelle Chandler - Owner - Circle C Horse Ranch Born in a small town in Texas, Annabelle Chandler was raised around three older brBorn in a small town in Texas, Annabelle Chandler was raised around three older brothers, her parents and horses. When her mother died when she was only four, her father started teaching her how to ride and take care of horses. Growing up around only men and horses, she isn't that lady like. Everyone had a responsibility at the ranch, her responsibility was caring for the horses. She has come to love all horses, even the wild ones, she sees good in all of them. When her father decided to put down ground rules about her becoming a lady, she knew that as much as didn't want to, she had to leave. She wasn't going to stay and become a lady after all this time. Although some might have just picked up and left, she told her father she was leaving to find an employer that would use her the way she was raised to be worked. Not wasting anymore time, the next morning she got up as she normally does before anyone else. She left a note on the table telling them all know she was leaving that morning and that she would send word when she was settled. Traveling from town to town looking for a job and a place to call home. She didn't find much, but she'd stop every so often to work a few weeks in order to get money. One day, a man came to see her, said her grandfather had passed. A grandfather from her mothers side, she never even knew exsisted. He had owned a horse ranch in a town called Lago. He had left it to her. When arriving to the ranch, she saw the place needed some help, some work.. but she was determined to do it, by herself if she needed. In her grandfathers office, she found a letter addressed to her. A letter that explained all of the reasons how and why she got the ranch instead of anyone else.

		Travis Walker - Circle C Ranch Hand Travis Walker; it is said he was born on the back of a horse, quite literally. His mother was in route when her water broke. He was raised on a ranch in Colorado, his father specialized in wild horses. It did not take long for young Travis to begin riding, of course on the broken ones that were used for ranch work. He spent many hours a day upon the back of a horse and became an important figure around the family ranchstead. However, riding the tame horses was not something Travis wished to do all his life. He wished to break the stallions. Sure, growing up an only child his mother decided it was not for him to do when he was young, and despite her reservations, Travis was given the chance to work the wild ones in his teens. Travis had seen men seriously wounded, maimed and even killed in his years, yet he seemed unfazed and took to it like a fish to water. In no time, the young Walker was gaining a reputation for bring able to ride and break anything. His tenacity and unwillingness to lose was clearly evident. In his twenty-seventh year, Travis decided to leave the secluded ranch he had been raised on and take his chances elsewhere, to see the country. He made it as far as Lago, Wyoming and has decided it is as good a place as any to stay a spell. With nothing but his ability to ride horses and a bit of cash, this young stallion breaker is seeking work at a local ranch and any challanges that await him.