Lifetime Leaders of Rodeo & Ranching Rodeo Ranching Great Westerner Western Entertaiment & Arts Rodeo Producers & Livestock Special Achievement Cowboy Long Rider Legacy Award

Ranching

John Leakey
1998 Hall Of Fame Ranching Inductee

 John Leakey started driving cattle on the Texas Trail in 1893 at age 17. He arrived in the North Dakota Badlands that year and began working on area ranches.

 Old timers say the young Texas cowboy had a habit of finding stray horses and cattle. He worked for Pierre Wibaux’s W Bar Ranch until 1900 and was involved in the last big North Dakota open range roundup in 1894.

 In 1904, John bought his first cattle and a ranch near Trotters. In 1910, he married Margaret Trotter, the widow of Lee Trotter, who had a ranch and four children. They sold their ranches and moved to McKenzie County with 1,000 head of cattle.

 By 1916, the Leakey/Trotter ranching operation had grown to 44,000 acres and 5,000 head of cattle. But the 1930’s were difficult, and the Leakeys lost most of their land and cattle. They later bought cattle and ran ranching operations for others.

 In 1931, John helped found and became the first President of the North Dakota Stockman’s Association. He was selected to the North Dakota State University Hall of Fame.

 He died in 1959 at age 86 and is remembered for his book “Granddad and I,” detailing his early family life in his native Texas, the wars between rustlers and ranchers in the Badlands, the trail drives from Texas and memories of his years as a North Dakota pioneer.