Bio
Myron D. Jeffers was an influential early cattleman in Montana’s Madison Valley. Born in 1833 in Hadley, New York, Jeffers grew up on a farm and trained as a civil engineer. In his early twenties, he moved west, working with survey crews across Iowa, Colorado, and Nebraska, and even pursued mining in Colorado.
In 1864, Jeffers arrived in Alder Gulch, Montana, and worked as a freighter. In 1869, he traveled to Texas, bought a herd of cattle, and trailed them to Montana, becoming the first person to complete the route in a single season. He repeated this feat the following year. By 1871, he acquired a herd of cattle for himself, bringing nearly 2,000 cattle and 37 horses over a seven-month journey. This established him as a significant stockman.
In 1872, Jeffers partnered with his brother Burt, setting up a ranch on Jordan Creek in the Madison Valley. By 1876, he established his own home, “Yellow Barn Ranch,” where he diversified his operations to include sheep. The brothers dissolved their partnership in 1880.
In 1881, Jeffers and other stockmen organized a cattle pool, leasing land on the Yellowstone River to graze cattle. While many cattle perished during the harsh winter of 1886-87, Jeffers’ cattle in the Madison Valley survived due to a milder winter.
Jeffers married at 45 and had five sons before his death in May 1900. His legacy as a pioneer cattleman helped shape ranching in Montana.
