Features, Meeker, Stories

K Bar T has colorful past

The K Bar T Ranch has beautiful vistas and a colorful past, dating back to a barrel of whiskey in 1884. The name of Tom Kilduff, past and present, has a long string of ties to the ranch and the Meeker area. The ranch started out as 160 acres and has grown considerably since then.
The K Bar T Ranch has beautiful vistas and a colorful past, dating back to a barrel of whiskey in 1884. The name of Tom Kilduff, past and present, has a long string of ties to the ranch and the Meeker area. The ranch started out as 160 acres and has grown considerably since then.
MEEKER I The view alone is worth the trip up the White River from Meeker. Add the history of the ranches along the way and the area is unlike any other.
From the homesteaded land, families, schools and stories above where the river forks to the north and south, down the valley to ranches that have been in the same family for more than 100 years, the area holds strong to tradition and tales handed down through the years.
Take the beautiful K Bar T Ranch just a few miles east of Meeker for example. It began with a story as unique as the man who partnered to homestead it, Thomas Kilduff, having passed on his name four generations to local well-known veteran Tom Kilduff.
The story was told in The Denver Daily Record Stockman in 1939, and certainly worth a retell.
The K Bar T Ranch was developed because of money owed for a barrel of whiskey. The story begins in 1879, when two brothers, Isaac “Ike” and Adolf Baer moved to the town of Leadville to seek their fortune during the silver boom. They went into the saloon business and eventually got into the retail and wholesale business.
Tom Kilduff was a customer of theirs and he had a saloon and hotel in nearby Kokomo. In the spring of 1884, Tom’s saloon burned to the ground. He did not know how he would pay the Baer brothers the $2,000 he owed them.
After discussion, they decided that Tom would go to Meeker and take up a ranch there. The Baer brothers would “grubstake him” and he would work the land as a partner and pay off his debt.
They all decided that Meeker was the best area as the Meeker Massacre had happened approximately five years previously, the Ute Indians had been driven west and the government had opened the land for settlers. The attraction was great for fortune seekers like these.
Tom settled on the original 160 acres. He cleared the sage brush, dug ditches, built a shack and put in crops.
Ike visited after a year and decided they needed livestock on the ranch. They tried horses first, but were much more successful with cattle. They bought their first bunch of steers from Mexico. When they got them to their ranch, they needed a brand and applied for K Bar T because it could be put on the cattle with a straight iron.
The ranch expanded and the large number of cattle demanded more land. They acquired 1,500 acres of hay meadow surrounding the original 160 acres. They continued to buy steers each spring and built their herd to an impressive 7,000 at one time.
They ran into problems after expanding. The new law limiting homesteads to 320 acres found the land surrounding their ranch occupied with dry farmers and they did not have enough room for their herd.
The the national forests opened up permits for grazing.
The Baer Brothers and Cattle Co. was granted a permit, but the partners substantially decreased their numbers. In 1913 Tom decided to sell his portion of the ranch to Ike Baer for $40,000. He paid the whiskey debt and retired.
In 1914, Adolf Baer passed away and Ike and his son continued to run the ranch.
In 1919 the ranch was sold to Edgar Manaugh, however, the Depression years were hard on everyone and he had to turn the ranch back in 1924.
The ranch returned to the Isaac Baer family. He died in 1920, but his heirs ran the ranch for some years following. It has had different owners through the years, but the hay production and beauty of the place remains the same.
Today, the ranch is still known as the K Bar T. It is used for its hay, it is winter feed ground for cattle and is renowned for its fishing.
The bed and breakfast offers a unique experience with tremendous history, all beginning with a barrel of whiskey and continuing with a family connection through Tom Kilduff, who still lives in Meeker.
This is just one example of our county holding strong to little treasures and keeping the history alive.

One Comment

  1. hello…anyone out there have a photo of edgar l manaugh……he was born in 1865 passed in 1938…he was my great grandmother (jessa manaughs) brother…… born 1880 gainesville texas…….thank you…

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@ht.1885
  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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  • The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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3 days ago
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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4 days ago
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
6 days ago
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Cowboy Carson Klinzmann on the mound for Meeker at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction last Saturday. Meeker took on the 4A Rifle Bears, losing 11-1, and the Basalt Longhorns, losing 7-3. Read the recap online at ht1885.com.
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