An Interesting Original Autograph Letter Written by a Pioneer Cowboy of Custer County (Dakota Territory) Working at the Short-Lived “Union Cattle Co.” to “Dear Mother” Back in the East, He Brags about the Company as the Largest Cattle Outfit (125,000 Head) in the American West, Urging His Hometown Friend to Immediately Move to Dakota Territory, and Talking about One of the Biggest Roundups Ever Conducted in the State; Also Delivering the Latest News about His Hard Work at the Newly-Established S&G Ranch (the Present-Day Town of Dewey) and Commenting on the Massive Wave of Migration to the West.S.&G. Ranch [near Custer City, Dakota Territory], 12 May 1884.

Octavo Bifolium (ca. 20,5x12,5 cm or 8x5 in). 3 pp. Brown ink on lined wove paper; blind-stamped papermaker’s monogram in the left upper corner of the first leaf. Foldmarks, minor stain and tears on the right margins of both leaves affecting a couple of words, but still readable, otherwise a very good letter.

Penned at the height of the Great Dakota Boom and only two years before the Big Die-Up (the disastrous winter of 1886-1887), the letter documents the activities of one of the most prosperous cattle businesses in the American West in the 1880s.

Dakota Territory, soon after its establishment in 1861 and against the backdrop of increased migration to the West, emerged as a center of the range cattle industry. In 1882, when W. Sturgis and G. Goodell founded the Union Cattle Co. in Cheyenne (Wyoming) and located the S&G Ranch in the present-day town of Dewey (Custer County, Dakota Territory), the area became home to one of the most thriving cattle businesses in the American West. “In the flush days of the cattle business the company prospered… and its heard increased to upward of 60,000 head.” (Custer County Republican. 26 January 1888. P. 3). “For many years the business proved prosperous, but then came the years in the 80’s when severe storms blotted out half the herds… which meant the financial ruin of most of those then engaged in the business.” (The Brattleboro Reformer. 21 November 1913. P. 3)

This private letter to “Dear Mother” was written by a young cowboy who apparently moved to Dakota Territory from the east during the livestock boom of the 1880s. In the text, the author, a pioneer cattleman of Custer County and a worker of the short-lived “Union Cattle Co.” describes in detail his life at the S&G Ranch (the present-day town of Dewey) with thirty-two other cowboys and proudly notes: “the company has about 125,000 head of cattle… the largest cattle outfit” in “this part of the country.” Expressing his admiration for the American West, the letter writer comments on the massive wave of migration to the west and urges his friend Edie Trout (possibly from Pennsylvania) to rush to this “country for hemarage… full of men that have come for nothing else but this trouble.” In the text, the author also talks about his hard work during one of the biggest spring roundups in Dakota Territory (the roundup gathered over 400,000 head from 20 participating cattle companies), providing notes on his daily regimen (“breakfast…hardly ever later than 5 o’clock”), ration of food (biscuits, killing beef at the roundup), future plans, state of health, etc.

The letter was written only two years before the disastrous winter of 1886-1887 threw the “Union Cattle Co.” into bankruptcy, leaving dozens of cowboys without work.

Overall, an interesting private letter documenting both the flourishing cattle industry of the American West and the massive wave of migration to Dakota Territory.

The text of the letter (original spelling and punctuation preserved): 
“Your very welcome letter received a few days since after going to Cheyenne.
I am about 225 miles north of Cheyenne. The Ranch is in Dakota about 3 miles. Custer city Dakota is our nearest town it is about 40 miles from the Ranch. We have bin having very pleasant weather here of late. I am in very good health now. We are going to stand on the Round up the 25 of this month. This company has about 125,000 Head of Cattle they are about the largest: I think they are the largest cattle outfit in this part of the country. I am very sorry I hear that you have been troubled with Rheumatism hope you are all over it before this. I think the best thing that Edie Trout can do is to come west. This is the country for hemarage. This western country is full of men that have come for nothing else but that trouble. When do you expect Uncle Rollin to come East? Has Fannie Winston given up going to school. Is Aunt Ruth going to stay in Fitchburg. We have about 32 men here at the Ranch. I have been away for about a week with 18 of the men. We just got home today for dinner. You can form some idea what 32 men that are working hard will eat. We had breakfast this morning at 4 o’clock hardly ever later than 5 o’clock. I am writing this on one end of a long table while the cook is making Biscuit on the other end all of this cattle outfit live very well. When we are on the Round up we kill a Beef - 2 or 3 days. It does not take 50 or 75 men long to eat up a Beef. 
Write me at Custer city Dakota to Union Cattle Co.
Hoping this will find all well. 
I remain your affct son Winton. 
How long is - be gone love you all.”