World Agriculture Directory: the home of the world's largest agriculture database. Fastest way to find events, farms and agribusiness that suit your needs. Agriculture Event Directory

Cattlemen Hall of FameBeef cattle barons, cowboys, breeders and builders from around the world

Cattle Barons and Land Owners

William Kittredge: The Silver Lake Homesteader Who Built a Western Ranch Empire

He grew up on a Silver Lake homestead and went on to run one of the larger land and cattle operations west of the Rockies.

Who Was William Kittredge?

William Kittredge (1876-1958) was a cattleman and community supporter who built a large ranching operation in south central Oregon. The Hall of Great Westerners entry describes him as a pioneering cattleman and philanthropist and records his induction in 1966. He should not be confused with the later author of the same name, whose life is covered separately by the Oregon Encyclopedia.

Silver Lake Roots

Kittredge was born on June 27, 1876. In 1894 he settled in Klamath County, Oregon, joining his father, Franklin Kittredge, a Methodist missionary and schoolteacher, on a homestead at Silver Lake. In 1899 he married Maude A. Long, who shared the ranch work, according to the museum. The sources do not describe the homestead's size or first herd.

Building a Land and Cattle Operation

Kittredge and his father built one of the largest land and cattle operations west of the Rocky Mountains, the museum says. Kittredge acquired ranches in Klamath, Lake and Harney counties in Oregon and also in California.

These were big holdings in a dry basin and range country. The Oregon History Project notes that large Harney County operations were typically owned by distant investors, which makes a locally based family operation notable.

The 103-Day Drive to Nebraska

Kittredge took part in one of the longest overland livestock drives of his era. He moved 345 horses and mules from Silver Lake to Gibbons, Nebraska, a journey of 103 days. The sources do not say who bought the animals or why Nebraska, so only the distance and time are recorded here.

The Key to Kittredge's Success

The record shows a family that started on a homestead and kept adding land, while also helping to build credit and trade institutions around it. The sources do not report finances, and nothing is claimed about debts or hardships.

  • He built on family: he worked with his father from 1894 and his wife shared the ranch work.
  • He held a spread of land across four jurisdictions, which diversified range and weather.
  • He worked on breeding, which the museum names as his area of innovation.
  • He joined industry boards, serving on the American Cattleman's Association executive board and as a Tri-State Livestock Association director.
  • He helped found the Klamath Productive Credit Association and was its president for more than two decades.

Credit, Community and Church

The Klamath Productive Credit Association gave local producers a source of loans, and Kittredge led it for more than 20 years. He also supported the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce and attended the Methodist Church. State level groups were forming in this period; Oregon State University Extension says the Oregon Cattlemen's Association was founded in 1913 in Baker County by 12 individuals.

Reading the Record Carefully

The museum's biography is the main source for this profile, and it is short. It does not give acreage totals for the Kittredge ranches, herd sizes, breeds, the names of his cattle brands or dates for each land purchase. It also does not explain why the 345 horses and mules went to Nebraska.

Because the same name belongs to a well known author, searches can mix the two men. The rancher was born in 1876 and died in 1958. The author, covered by the Oregon Encyclopedia, was born in Portland in 1932 and died in 2020. Details from one should not be attributed to the other.

Legacy

Kittredge died in 1958 and was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners in 1966. The museum says his legacy continues through his family and the agricultural traditions he helped shape. For more about western ranching families, see ranching at farm.FM and a farm.FM story on Oregon ranching.

Timeline

  1. 1876William Kittredge is born on June 27
  2. 1894Settles in Klamath County, Oregon, at Silver Lake
  3. 1899Marries Maude A. Long
  4. 1958Dies
  5. 1966Inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Kittredge the rancher?

William Kittredge (1876-1958) was an Oregon cattleman who built a large land and cattle operation from a Silver Lake homestead, with ranches in Klamath, Lake and Harney counties and in California.

What was the 103-day drive?

Kittredge moved 345 horses and mules from Silver Lake, Oregon, to Gibbons, Nebraska, in 103 days, which the museum calls one of the longest overland livestock drives of its era.

Is he the same person as the author William Kittredge?

No. The author William Kittredge (1932-2020) was a University of Montana professor. The sources reviewed do not describe any family link beyond sharing a name.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

More from the hall