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John Ware, "Nigger John," horseman, rancher (b near Georgetown, SC 1845; d near Brooks, Alta 11 Sept 1905). Freed from slavery on a southern cotton plantation at the close of the American Civil War, Ware drifted west, eventually finding work on a ranch near Fort Worth, Tex. As an experienced cowhand by the late 1870s, he was employed driving herds of Texas cattle northward along the Western Cattle Trail to the distant ranges in Wyoming and Montana territories. After helping to bring 3000 head of Montana cattle to the North West Cattle Company ranch in the foothills SW of Calgary in late Sept 1882, Ware found that experienced cowboys were much in demand in this northernmost edge of the ranching frontier. He remained and worked for several of the large cattle companies before starting his own ranch in the foothills in 1890. In face of increasing settlement in 1900, Ware moved to a new ranch site along the Red Deer R east of Brooks. Here, 5 years later, a riding accident caused Ware's untimely death. The large crowd which assembled to pay their last respects marked Ware's stature in ranching and confirmed that his commonly used nickname, "Nigger John," was not intended pejoratively.

Ware, John
John Ware, rancher, and family, circa 1896 (courtesy Glenbow Archives/NA-263-1).

Author DAVID H. BREEN


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