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British Ranch History
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The British Ranch got its name from the original deeded owners in the 1860's. The British Land & Title Company held the deed for a sizable pasture located SE of the city of Manhattan, KS. One of the principals (a British subject) lived in Manhattan with his family for a number of years and often visited the ranch, but never lived on the ranch itself. Over the years, the owners changed, but not the name. It had been called "the British" then and still is today. Ask any cattleman for miles around and chances are they know the place. Over the years, the ranch has been the summer grazing ground for many a beef. Back then, you didn't just drive over to check on things, but lived out with the cattle for several days at a time while you rode fences, checked cattle, roped and doctored any needing attention and got a good head count and searched & gathered any strays. In the late 1800's, one cowboy's favored dog apparently died while on duty at the British. The cowboy must have spent considerable time carving a limestone grave marker to honor his faithful friend. That cowboy's modern-day counterpart found the headstone in a deep draw in the 1980's. Struck by poignancy, he took the stone home and had it built into his fireplace. One area cattleman told me of his days helping to run cattle in the British back in the 1950's. At that time, steers would arrive by rail car to the town of Alma in the early spring in order to spend the summer grazing in the Flinthills. While there is now an interstate lying between Alma and the British, then there was only a drover's road heading NW out of Alma. The cattle would be unloaded, branded and driven cross-country to their summer home. In the fall, neighbors would gather together and take turns rounding up everyone's cattle for shipping to KC, Chicago or wherever. The day would generally start around 3 am when the cowboys would saddle their mount(s) for the day. Then they would then ride cross-country to arrive at the pasture before daybreak. Once it was light enough to see, the work of gathering the herd would begin. When all the steers had been gathered from the hills and valleys and grouped together, the herd would be driven to the stockyards for shipping. Generally, summer gains amounted to some 200-300 lbs/steer from grazing the rich prairie grasses. This scenario continues throughout the Flinthills still today. Cattle now arrive by semi, but there is still the work of gathering the large pastures and corralling the cattle which generally requires the assistance of good cowboys and horses. When we purchased the property in order to expand our existing ranch, we became caretakers of the tradition. We think we're doing the long history of the Flinthills cattleman proud, carefully stewarding the prairie and sharing the beauty which has impressed generations with others. Come and see: we think you'll agree. |
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The British Ranch, part of the family ranching operations of: Downey Ranch, Inc. Joe Carpenter & Barb Downey, Managing Partners 38703 Wabaunsee Rd. Wamego, KS 66547-8918 |
