In 1914, Russian-German immigrants John and Freida Rupple began working as farm laborers in Johnstown. Their children continued farming in the area, raising cattle as well as sugar beets, corn, and potatoes. Along with farming and raising cattle, their grandson John and his wife Donna were active members of the Colorado Dahlia Society, winning awards statewide and breeding their own flower. Currently, the fourth and fifth generations of the Rupple Family are active in Colorado agriculture.

Johnston Ranch was homesteaded by William Henry Johnson in 1888. The crops have been corn, wheat, rye, and feed for the cattle. Beef and dairy cattle were also raised on the farm. The land is currently owned by the estate of Clarence Wayne Johnston, his grandson.

George Henry and Sarah H. Church came to Colorado in covered wagons first in 1865 and then permanently in 1869 and settled on the Church Ranch near Westminster. They were pioneers, farmers, ranchers, and water developers. Frank Church assisted and then managed his father’s ranch operations. His wife, Katherine, eventually became the ranch manager, investing and buying land and cattle.

Phillip B. Woodhams homesteaded this land in Sedgwick County in 1887. 40 acres is used as grassland for winter pasture, 10 acres houses the farm buildings and residence, and the balance is used for wheat and oats. Everett D. Woodhams, Phillip’s grandson, is the current owner.

The property was acquired by Jacob G. and Virginia W. Ward to homestead in 1889. It together with other family members’ homesteads and other acquisition property was used as a cattle ranch from 1889-1927. After 1927, the area was converted by the plow to winter wheat farming.

160 acres were filed as a timber claim by George Todd Sr. in 1888. George Todd Sr. moved to Otero County by ox team and one horse and buggy. The family, including his wife and four sons, lived in a tent until a one room house with a lean-to kitchen was built that fall. The highline irrigation canal was started in 1889 and completed in 1890. Water comes from the Arkansas River near Nepesta, Co. George’s son, George Todd Jr., farmed sugar beets, cantaloupe, hay, and corn until 1947. Since then, Carlyle R. Todd has farmed oats, alfalfa, and grass hay.

A Frenchman by the name of LaVene homesteaded the 160 acres sometime before 1889 and John Summer Sr. purchased his relinquishment in 1889 when he moved to Routt County with his wife and 12 children. A railroad was built through the property in 1908 and is still in use. Land taken by the railroad and roads on three sides cut the acreage to 154 acres. The Yampa River and Oak Creek both flow through this property of which 110 acres is irrigated meadow hayland with good water rights out of the Yampa River and Walton Creek.

Andrew J. Bliven acquired the land for the ranch in 1870. His great grandson, Harold E. Steele, and family now farm on the original homestead, raising livestock.

This ranch was homesteaded by Marietta Sheriff and her sons, Charles and Mark, in 1881. With additional purchases, at one time there were a total of 2000 acres. Charles married Alice Smith in 1886. He died in 1895 and left his part of the ranch to Alice and two sons, Brice and Charles Jr. Charles Sheriff Jr. married Adaline in 1923 and they purchased the remaining acres from Brice and Mark. 160 acres were given to son and daughter-in-law, John and Ida, and the remaining were incorporated into Sheriff Ranch Co.

Salt Works Ranch in Park County was established as a homestead , on which Charles L. Hall settled in 1862. He was a prominent businessman, investor, and legislator, who also established one of Colorado’s first industrial enterprises, the Colorado Salt Works, near his ranch headquarters. In 1862, Hall built a log house which served as a stopping point for travelers in Park County. The ranch became the headquarters of a large cattle operation, shepherded by Hall’s influential son-in-law, Thomas McQuaid.