Myron D. Jeffers

Montana cattleman Myron D. Jeffers as a young man, ca. 1869-71.

Myron Deodat ("M.D.") Jeffers (September 16, 1833 - May 27, 1900) was an American cattleman and rancher, known for his three drives of cattle from Texas to southwest Montana, and for his contributions to the livestock industry in southwest Montana in the late 1800s. He was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners in 1963.[1] He established the community of Jeffers, Montana.[2]

Early life

Myron D. Jeffers was born September 16, 1833, near Hadley, Saratoga County, New York. He was the eldest of nine children.[3][4]

Career

Jeffers was inducted in 1963 into what was then called the “Cowboy Hall of Fame” (now renamed the “Hall of Great Westerners” of the “National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum”) in recognition of two accomplishments:

  • his three drives of cattle from Texas to southwest Montana in the years 1869, 1870, and 1871, which were the first such drives known to have been completed in a single year, and
  • his involvement in — and contributions to — the livestock industry in southwest Montana in the late 1800s.[1]

He kept a succinct diary of his 1871 cattle drive.[5][6]

Personal life

Myron Jeffers married Florence E. Switzer in 1878 and had five sons.[1][3]

Death and legacy

He died from a brain tumor on May 27, 1900, in New York City and was buried in the Madison Valley Cemetery in Ennis, Montana.[3][5][7]

The community of Jeffers, in Madison County, southwest Montana is named after him.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Hall of Great Westerners". nationalcowboymuseum.org. National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "Ultimate Montana - Jeffers". Ultimate Montana. July 11, 2026. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Pioneer Trails and Trials. Great Falls, MT: Madison Valley History Association. 1976. pp. 94–95.
  4. ↑ "Death of M. D. Jeffers". The Times. 1 June 1900. p. 1.
  5. 1 2 Spray, James S. (1976). Early Days in the Madison Valley. Madison Valley History Association. pp. 157–164. ISBN 0-9787605-0-6.
  6. ↑ Gustafson, R.W. "Rib" (1999). From San Antone to Bannack (First ed.). Globe Pequot. ISBN 0-912299-87-8.
  7. ↑ "Obituary for MYRON D. JEFFERS". The New York Times. 28 May 1900. p. 7.
  8. ↑ "Location of Jeffers, MT". Google Maps. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
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