R. S. Ford drove 1100 cattle from Colorado to Montana Territory making him one of the first and biggest Cattle Barons in Montana. He had arrived in Montana Territory in the Virginia City and Bannack are in 1864. He was involved at that time with the Vigilante movement along with Edgerton and Stuart. He was also involved in the wagon freighting business in the early/mid 1860's in M.T. In 1873 he established a ranch near the town of Sun River. He furnished the government at Fort Shaw with beef for many years after that. He moved the Great Falls in 1891 and with two partners established the Great Falls National Bank. He was also the President of the Montana Cattle Growers Association in the 1880's and, with Granville Stuart organized the 1880's Vigilante Movement in Northern Montana. It was established to hire gunman, called "Stock Detectives" to rid the area of horse thieves and cattle rustlers. Around 20 were killed. He was a Montana Pioneer and exceptional businessman. The gold came and went but the Cattle Industry fostered by him and others has remained a Hugh industry in Montana to this day. This CDV sized cabinet photograph is by Colten, St. Louis, Mo. in 1878 when he married his wife, Sue Calahan before they traveled to Montana.
