Introducing 2009 Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductee…
Andy Jones (1876-1958)
Born: July 2, 1876 at Ferris, Illinois Died: October 21, 1958 at Miles City, Montana Buried: Custer County Cemetery at Miles City, Montana
Andy Jones was born to John and Annie Denny Jones. Annie was a Cherokee Indian whose mother died on the Trail of Tears in Oklahoma. When Andy was five years old his parents moved to Texas and Andy was farmed out to work for his keep. The workplace became so unbearable that at age 14 he ran away. The next two years he learned everything he could about horses and how to be a cowboy. When he was 16 in 1892 he lied about his age and joined a trail herd as a nighthawk, a night horse wrangler, and a roustabout for the camp cook. The outfit, the XIT, gathered a herd of 10,000 cattle to trail north to Miles City. The herd was split into five bunches so it would be easier to handle. Most of the steers fattened to be sold on grass north of the Yellowstone River. The trip north made a man out of the kid, and established Andy as a trail driver from Texas to Montana. Andy worked at jobs in and around Miles City until in 1896 it was decided that another big herd would be driven from Texas and he couldn’t or wouldn’t miss out. He went on the drive to Miles City and decided to make Montana his home.
Andy punched cows for the XIT Ranch in the Miles City are for many years. He also rode for the WL and SH brands moving cattle and horses in spring and fall roundups. Andy rode with many old timers and knew many more as friends such as Bob Fudge, Calamity Jane, Bill Roberts, Teddy Blue Abbott, Dan, Tom, and Mike Gilmore and Ekalaka the Indian Woman the town of Ekalaka was named after. Andy was a stagecoach driver from Miles City to Ekalaka and drove the Powderville stage in 1898 and 1899. Andy was also a Quartermaster for the army at Fort Keogh during the time of the last Indian uprising. The Army brought them back to the reservation and Andy was in charge of supplies during this trip. To keep the wagons from rolling of skidding sideways in rough country ropes were tied from the wagons to the saddle horses and riders kept the wagons upright. This job required a second trip for Andy back to Fort Keogh for supplies.
Andy married Nella Maude Van Damant in 1907. Nella and her sister Myrtle made and sold ladies hats in a store in Miles City before Nella married Andy. Andy and Nella had two girls, Lealta Edna and Jetta Laverna. After Andy and Nella were married, Nella’s mother Mary E. Wade married John L. Scholfield who ranched north of Biddle and who became a Senator of Montana.
In 1908 Andy went to work as a teamster for the Shore Newcomb General Store hauling freight and some passengers until 1914 when he filed a homestead claim. The claim was on land across the Powder River three miles south of what is now the Biddle Store. Nella also took a claim next to Andy’s. On August 10, 1914 Andy purchased 24 cows with calves plus one bull from O. C. Cato of the XL brand. The note was to be paid by sale of the steers sold each fall. When the $1975 note was paid in full Andy got half of the whole herd and O. C. Cato the other half. This started his ranch at Biddle, Montana. (Andy’s granddaughter has the original signed note).
Andy bought a dappled Morgan two year old horse in 1919. He had the grey for about 20 years before he gave him to the Range Riders organization for the empty boots and saddle horse. Andy broke and trained his own horses and for the neighbors as well. He trained and owned one of the best cutting horses ever owned. All you had to do was show him the critter you canted to cut out and hang on if you could. In the late 1920’s Andy milked cows and sold the cream for $5 a can. They milked as many as 14 cows twice a day, besides taking care of all the other ranch chores.
In 1931 Nella died on December 14th after being ill for two years.
In 1934 Andy married Estella Thrailkill. They lived at the ranch until 1942, when Andy could no longer hire help as World War II was taking all the young men. He sold the ranch, where he had been so happy, to Hugh Kendrick. He then moved to Renton, Washington and worked in the shipyards as a shipfitter. Andy and Estella moved back to Miles City in 1945 when Estella became ill. Estella passed away in 1945. Andy worked as a guard at the Miles City Airport until the war ended. Andy did many odd jobs for the rest of his life which included welding, making a dresser for his granddaughter, carpenter work for anyone, and anything you wanted done he could and would do for you.
He loved to tell of his life in the saddle and his adventures. He led a very colorful life, but his love was a good horse between his legs, driving a herd of cattle. He was still driving a car at the age of 82 and visiting family and friends. He was enjoying life to the fullest until in 1958 he went into the hospital for a little surgery. He had a heart attack on the operating table and passed away. Andy was a big man 6’4” tall and strong as a bull with a heart of gold. A woman or a child could bring him to his knees with a tear.
