One of the Montana Territory’s first sheep ranchers, Sieben built the successful and still operating Sieben Live Stock Company which raises cattle and sheep.
1847-1937 | Artist: Robert Wadsworth Grafton (1876-1936)
Impact & Accomplishments
Henry Sieben and his family emigrated from Germany to Illinois when he was five years old. At age eleven, he was orphaned, and in 1864, at age seventeen, Sieben and his brother headed west to the Montana gold fields.
They worked as farmhands and freight operators, saving to purchase their first cattle. In 1875, Henry Sieben became one of Montana Territory’s first sheep ranchers. He acquired several ranches as the Sieben Livestock Company, managing them from his Helena, Montana, home.
He co-founded the Montana Woolgrowers Association in 1883 and was active in the Montana Stock Growers Association. He and his wife funded and directed Montana’s first orphanage as well.
In 1961, Sieben was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners, and in 2012, into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
Henry Sieben circa 1936. Photo credit: Sieben Live Stock Company, Adel, Montana.
In 1864, Henry Sieben traveled on foot and by wagon from Illinois to Montana Territory. From freighting to cattle and sheep speculation, Henry was an entrepreneur. By the end of his life he had amassed two majestic ranches. His two daughters, Berneice and Margaret, each inherited a ranch and the legacy was launched.
Four subsequent generations have maintained the ranch at Adel, south of Cascade, Montana. Each generation has expanded the ranch through acquisitions or leases. After a long history as a sheep ranch, Cooper Hibbard now manages primarily cattle at the Adel ranch.
Chase and Cooper Hibbard work together closely to ensure family legacy continues and thrives. While careers take fifth generation family members in a variety of directions, commitment is strong to ensure Sieben Live Stock Co is a many generation family business.
Photo Credit: Siebel Live Stock Company. This was a ranch built on sheep. At one time, there were 12,000 ewes at Adel. In the mid-60’s, the company converted to cattle and today our sheep are a small component of the ranch business. We take pride in our registered Targhee sheep, having sold rams to producers around the West for over 50 years.
Stewardship with Vision, Episode 9: Sieben Live Stock Company Courtesy Western Landowners Alliance, September 12, 2019.