Elmer Weaver was born August 7, 1895, to William and Phoebe (Thornber) Weaver in Chinook, Montana. Elmer grew up around horses, and horses and ranching proved to be his major passions throughout life. Elmer’s father William owned a saloon in Chinook and was a part of Montana’s racehorse community. His father and uncle both cowboyed in Montana in the open range days. Both rode with Charlie Russell and became good friends. Elmer visited Charlie several times when Charlie was living in Great Falls, Montana. At the age of 16, Elmer was riding as many as 19 horses at a time for the public. His two older sisters also broke horses, and Elmer would handle the money in their business venture. At the age of 17, Elmer moved to Geraldine, Montana and bought a livery stable. Over the next few years he traded horses, purchased a cattle herd, and bought and leased land in the area for his cattle. In 1914, at the age of 18, Elmer overnighted a group of horses he was trailing to Chinook from Geraldine at the ranch of Nels Hokanson. Hokanson’s ranch was about halfway between the two towns and beyond the Missouri River, which Elmer had to cross with his herd of loose horses. Hokanson later told the story of how Elmer roped a horse the next morning before heading out. Elmer’s hired man Frank Smith eared the horse down while Elmer saddled him and got on. The horse blew up and bucked around the corral. After the horse settled down, Elmer Elmer Weaver - Weaver Ranch Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Legacy Inductee 2013
turned to Hokanson and said, “I guess I am ready to go.” Hokanson let the rest of the horses out of the corral and Elmer and Frank Smith trailed them the rest of the way to Chinook. When Elmer reached Chinook, his horse was broke. According to family and Hokanson, Elmer used this technique many times. Elmer made several trips between Chinook and Geraldine over the next few years. He also trailed broke horses to Canada and traded them for unbroke horses which he would bring back to the United States to break and sell. On April 26, 1916, Elmer married Vona May Thomas in Fort Benton, Montana. Vona had ridden the train out from Missouri with her mother and brothers in the summer of 1915. Four sons were born to Elmer and Vona: Roy in 1917, Howard in 1923, Earl in 1927, and Arthur in 1929. The year 1925 proved monumental for Elmer and his family. His livery stable in Geraldine burned to the ground. He heard of a ranch for sale in the Bears Paw Mountains close to the ranch of Nels Hokanson, the same man whom Elmer had overnighted horses with 10 years earlier. Elmer always liked the country over there, so he sold what land he had and took his family across the Missouri River to the old Murphy Ranch at Warrick, Montana. Elmer handled the horses and cows, and Vona drove the team with her two little boys in the wagon. Elmer and Vona worked hard to put their ranch together. The 1930s were hard years for everyone, and the ranching community was no exception. In the fall of 1936, cows and calves were selling for $35 a pair. Since no one had any feed for cattle, Elmer was able to purchase several of these pairs. Then, along with his other cows, Elmer trailed the entire herd to Chinook, 70 miles away, and wintered them on beet tops. Over the years, Elmer bought several local ranches and his land ownership grew. In 1942, Elmer brought the first tractor to the neighborhood. In 1946, He bought a place outside of Chinook with hay ground. By this time Elmer had made his reputation as a good stockman, and he bought this place to winter his calves. Elmer and his sons would wean the calves at the home place and then trail them to Chinook to winter. They would also trail all the yearlings and dry cows they were going to sell. Elmer would then ride the train to St. Paul, Minnesota, and sell his cattle, like several ranchers in the Bears Paw Mountains did. When Elmer passed away suddenly June 16, 1952, he had succeeded in building up a large ranch with hard work and determination. This dedication made it possible for each of his four sons to own their own place. Arthur received the AX brand for horses and Earl received the XO brand for cattle. Arthur and Earl passed their ranches on to their sons - Arthur to Stan and Earl to Alan Weaver and Don Weaver. Both ranches are celebrating 100 years in 2025, still using the brands registered by James A Weaver and William Weaver. Alan and Don have helped put on the annual horse sale for Weaver Quarter Horses since its inaugural year. Elmer made a notable western contribution by being a good businessman, horseman, and cattleman. He was able to do all these things even though he left home at a young age with little in his pocket. Elmer left a legacy by settling and improving the land that made it possible for those who came after to continue in the ranching lifestyle with a rich western heritage.
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