Near Studley in Sheridan County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

End of an Era

Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 6, 2017

1. End of an Era Marker

Inscription. Fent sold all his sheep by 1904 amidst falling wool prices and a growing Kansas cattle industry. By 1936 Fent still owned 80 acres of the land that held the house and outbuildings, some pasture, and the cropland south of the highway. When he died in 1937, Fent's estate provided for his family. His wife, Jennie, and his daughter, Hilda, continued to live on the ranch. Elsie married and moved to Manhattan in eastern Kansas. Jennie died in 1959, Elsie in 1975, and Hilda in 1980.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 39° 21.302′ N, 100° 10.398′ W. Marker is near Studley, Kansas, in Sheridan County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 24 east of Road 140E, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located on the Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site grounds, overlooking the west side of the ranch house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14432 East US Highway 24, Hoxie KS 67740, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. After the Pratts (here, next to this marker); Documenting the History of Sheridan County (here, next to this marker); John Fenton Pratt, Photographer (a few steps from this marker); The Story of the Stones (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Pratt Home & Cottonwood Ranch (within shouting distance of this marker); Shearing the Sheep (within shouting distance of this marker); Washhouse and Yard Fence (within shouting distance of this marker); Stained Glass Windows (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Studley.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site

Also see . . . Pratt Family. Sheepherding at the ranch declined after the death of Abraham Pratt in 1901. Fent and Tom pursued other business interests, and the sheep ranch rather quickly was converted to general farming. This transformation removed a strong British element, sheep, from the culture of the Studley community, but still fragments of the Old Country remained. (Submitted on September 15, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: The house as it appeared in 1982 image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: The house as it appeared in 1982

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 6, 2017

3. End of an Era Marker

(ranch house, west elevation, in background)

Cottonwood Ranch House (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 6, 2017

4. Cottonwood Ranch House (southwest elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 90 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 15, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.