Roundup

In the 1880s, days of the open range, many a roundup outfit worked this country. The spring roundup gathered the cattle in order to brand and tally the calf crop. The fall roundup gathered beef critters for shipping.

An outfit consisted of the captain, the riders, the "reps" from neighboring ranges, the cavvy or horse herd in charge of the day herder and nigh hawk, the four horse chuck wagon piloted by the cook and the bed wagon driven by his flunky. Camp moved each day.

The cowboys rode circle in the morning, combing the breaks and coulees for cattle and heading them toward the central point to form a herd. In the afternoons of spring roundup the guards kept the herd together, the cutters split out the cows with calves, the ropers dabbed their loop on the calves, took a couple of dally welts around the saddle horn and dragged 'em to the fire. There the calf wrestlers flanked and flopped them and the brander decorated them with ear notches, or dew laps, and a hot iron. It wasn't all sunshine and roses.

Erected by Montand Department of Transportation.

In 1883 Edward C. “Teddy Blue” Abbott trailed a sizable herd of Texas Longhorn cattle north to Montana Territory. Texas cattlemen speculated on the prospects of free grazing and the availability of the territory’s expansive grasslands to meet the burgeoning nation’s demand for beef. To achieve their ends, cattle barons required the skills of cowboys such as Abbott to drive large herds of cattle north from Texas. Abbott eventually led the trail drive of a second herd of cattle north on the Western Trail. Afterward, he settled in Montana and served as the Cow Boss for Granville Stuart’s DHS Ranch near Fort Maginnis in Central Montana. “Teddy Blue” would further sink his roots in the Treasure State, wed Stuart’s daughter, Mary, and established his own outfit, the 3 Deuce Ranch, near Giltedge. Abbott further distinguished himself by promoting the cattle industry as a member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Teddy Blue Abbott’s life as a cowboy may be best discovered through the book We Pointed them North: Recollections of a Cowpuncher on which he collaborated with Helena Hunt Smith.

Erected 2022 by Main Street Sculpture Committee.

☆ Trailhead

Sept. 4, 1989