Pioneer Cattleman In Montana : The Story of the Circle C Ranch

An historical memoir and ranch history centered on the Circle C Ranch in northern Montana and its founder, Robert Coburn, the author's father.

The book follows Robert Coburn's purchase of 30,000 acres in 1886 and his efforts to build one of Montana's leading cattle ranches despite devastating setbacks, including the catastrophic winter blizzard of 1886–87 that wiped out much of his herd. Beyond ranching, Coburn recounts colorful episodes from Montana's frontier era, featuring encounters with Chief Joseph, outlaws such as Kid Curry and Charles Siringo, the Curry–Landusky feud, cattle drives, conflicts between cattlemen and sheepherders, and visits by artist Charles M. Russell. Drawing on family memories and local history, the book paints a vivid picture of ranch life, frontier justice, and the people who shaped Montana during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.