The Dutton Dynasty: Ranching Legends of Montana

Written by kk November 28, 2023

They continued running the Yellowstone ranch with son John in late 1880s. Faced threats from businessman and rival ranchers.

[{"selector":"#anim-7da7ffde-0e71-41e1-b8cb-8c4053dbf8af [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1edb86ee-9e90-490b-a665-dcf195446518","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78822e82-4216-48c0-a13d-5767436de34d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.71171%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b147bdaa-c531-44aa-bbf5-e105decea396","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56039efd-fa6b-4448-a86e-2a238e4a9d4f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 73.85247%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cloud Banner

Had more children - daughter Beth in 1884. Struggled balancing family life and ranch duties

[{"selector":"#anim-8dab1931-b517-4c19-81de-60c37ed775e5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11485711-5c5e-4894-92da-b0e469ca4ca4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc14c89f-9055-469e-aacc-c5c3ec06f000","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.01488%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46b28a21-f887-424a-9efd-00f293dfb105","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed651fac-0864-4a66-9520-af7e5cf8afbc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cloud Banner

Fought government restrictions on open grazing in early 1900s. James arrested briefly for ignoring new laws.

[{"selector":"#anim-0d5a8214-d823-4570-8069-b7990d4b1a5e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dbd8dfd7-7971-45c4-90a5-08359f6b6f32","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b5fee49-43f1-4a71-b43f-a012fbfa717e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 79.83538%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e4f2035-13ed-4f8f-8632-cb78e39795b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a53f53a9-6f18-4470-bd7c-6f931e8c9e3c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cloud Banner

Took in nephew Elsa after his parents died in 1918 flu outbreak. Margaret helped raise him.

[{"selector":"#anim-912213f4-fca2-423d-a8b5-31a47134f6d6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6d2a3ea-e448-49ce-b8ac-bcf0d63ea08b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c009271-6fd2-45cb-a9b0-6b0c3c450d82","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 76.98639%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8893e3c0-5f89-4344-84ab-c04e1f872e24","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-777119b8-821c-43d8-a736-391045453d95","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(112.69349%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cloud Banner

James retired in 1910, leaving John fully in charge. Margaret still very involved with ranch life.

[{"selector":"#anim-1f25c563-a549-4679-b6ee-551d9b90507b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3453e219-36d0-4727-9ff8-e7b475c10c95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27de4f80-bde3-4849-8d3e-6b4ba435dd4d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 72.42798%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1194d0b6-07cd-440e-b8f5-99f9c426058a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fe59540-e4af-46f1-9ae6-f18a9a1c1918","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.53399%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cloud Banner

Both lived into old age, staying integral to Yellowstone community. Margaret outlived James after his death in 1912.

[{"selector":"#anim-85fd86d3-ea7c-4657-89a9-3f0504d3a60d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86d7970f-c098-4c52-8658-f312aed19bbd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbe77be4-6767-4bcd-a562-7cc1efbc0c49","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 72.42798%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e771f62-92af-4fe9-9bcd-50564634368f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a838b4ec-5b5e-418f-93bc-402a7b482fce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.53399%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cloud Banner

Details on later years scarce. Unclear if still alive by 1923 but would be very elderly.

[{"selector":"#anim-00d0c54d-2d64-4ef2-a8ef-ca1d311101b3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03a00c30-204f-4c53-8065-ba95c64cb606","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a23333a-0fd5-449e-bd4c-883d0e793e9c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 75.27699%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-410298f1-9448-4408-963e-e496adef4c8a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6cc870f2-72fc-4ce7-a766-2fbbf1317dfe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(108.85714%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cloud Banner

Their influence on Yellowstone ranch legacy continues through son John and grandchildren.

[{"selector":"#anim-f362d353-3adc-4342-9f38-ec597851b6d2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-081cce6e-2315-4a55-bfd5-21f707c8118a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d0fdf0b-201b-4572-8ac7-246056537dd0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 79.83538%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5ce17f0-5f84-478b-bcb7-056736c08634","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f9240fa-62f8-4b05-a46c-dcc4c0ddc396","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.54545%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Cloud Banner