Bio
Peter French (1849-1897) was a prominent rancher in the western United States, particularly known for establishing the P Ranch in southeastern Oregon. Born John William French in Missouri, he moved to California as a child, where his family started a small ranch. As he sought more excitement in life, he became a horse breaker for wealthy stockman Dr. Hugh James Glenn, who eventually sent him to Oregon in 1872 with 1,200 head of cattle. French arrived in the Catlow Valley, where he discovered vast grasslands and purchased a small herd of cattle from a prospector named Porter, which included squatter’s rights to land that would become pivotal to his operation.
Over the years, French expanded his cattle empire across 160,000 to 200,000 acres, utilizing innovative land management techniques and taking advantage of legal loopholes to acquire more land. He married Glenn’s daughter, Ella, but was divorced in 1891. French’s growing wealth and influence drew animosity from local farmers, particularly over land and water rights.
French’s life was cut short when he was shot in the head by Edward Lee Olivier in 1897, resulting from a long-standing dispute over land access. Despite witness testimonies against Olivier, he was acquitted of murder. French was buried in Red Bluff, California, and his legacy continues in the community of Frenchglen, Oregon, named in his honor. His controversial death and the trial that followed became a notable part of local history.
