By 1866, the period of great cattle drives had begun. Word spread that Montana offered vast grazing lands that were free for public use, though, while the price was right, it also presented some problems for ranchers. Prairie fires, wolves, blizzards, and the like were devastating. The open ranchland also invited cattle rustlers and created an ideal setting for overgrazing. By the end of the 19th century, the open range had given way to fenced pastures, and Big Horn Basin was segmented into stock farms with barbed wire. Nevertheless, ranching was a way of life and those who dreamed of being a cowboy made their way to the American West, which is exactly how Will James ended up in Montana.

Will James continues to be one of Montana’s most colorful personalities. His story is one of both mystery and mayhem that began in Quebec in 1892. Born Joseph Ernest Nephtali Dufault, the boy grew up yearning to be a cowboy. At age fifteen, he packed his spurs and headed to western Canada to fulfill his dream. In 1910, believing he had committed a serious crime, he fled for the United States. He adopted several aliases before settling on William Roderick James. During his travels, he managed to steal cattle, survive jail and a hospital stay, and attend art school.

By the time he arrived in southern Montana, the cowboy life was changing. The effects of barbed wire and the industrialization and automotive expansion into the Mountain West affected Will James’s perception of what it meant to be a true cowboy. Pining for the Old West, James, a good storyteller and talented artist, began illustrating the American cowboy lifestyle of his dreams. His art and stories helped shape the historical and cultural perceptions of the cowboy in the early twentieth century.

Perhaps best known for his award-winning book, “Smoky the Cow Horse”, Will James left his mark on Montana when he purchased 4,000 acres on East Pryor Creek in Big Horn County in 1927. He named it Rocking R Ranch and would create much of his art in his studio on the property. The studio, along with two cabins from the ranch, were moved to the Big Horn County Historical Museum in the early 2000s and are a testament to the spirit of the cowboy turned artist who loved the Old West.