101 Ranch

The Final Days
By Laci Jones

The 101 Ranch was a great success for several decades under first, G.W. Miller, then his three sons — Joe Miller, George Miller and Zack Miller. As all good things must come to an end, the 101 Ranch was no exception.

“There were, no doubt, many causes contributing to the break-up of the 101 Ranch, but there seem to be at least three major ones: death, debt and depression,” wrote sister, Alma Miller England in the 1937 book “The 101 Ranch.”

After the fatal car accident of George Miller in early 1929 and Joe Miller’s death of carbon monoxide poisoning two years prior, the 101 Ranch was left to the last of the Miller brothers, Zack Miller, and two of his nephews.

It was known among family members that Zack lacked the financial and management capabilities to keep the ranch, the wild west show and their other endeavors afloat. As if the loss of the two Miller brothers were not enough, Oct. 29, 1929, also known as Black Tuesday, put another nail in the coffin for the 101 Ranch.

Believing the Great Depression would not last long, the only living Miller brother signed the dotted line of a mortgage of more than $500,000 to fund the daily ranch operations, according to Michael Wallis in “Real Wild West.” Trying to keep the 101 Ranch together, Zack took the 101 Ranch Wild West Show back on the road.

Attendance of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show decreased, despite great reviews. Zack still continued to sink money into the show. The debts continued to increase as revenue continued to decrease. In a panic, Zack produced the traveling show just one more year in 1931 with the hopes to sell the wild west show.

Meanwhile, the ranch was falling apart with legal battles, economic struggles, debt and closing departments that resulted in the unemployment of loyal 101 Ranch workers. The two Miller nephews, who were dedicated to preserving the ranch their grandfather and fathers built, eventually moved on to establish their own careers.

All alone after the final unsuccessful year of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show, Zack returned to the ranch. As the creditors closed in, Zack’s last resort was to hold a conference, where he cried, “Save the ranch, preserve its traditions,” according to England. On Sept. 16, 1931, the Miller family lost control of the 101 Ranch, according to Wallis.

“If Colonel Zack Miller could have had the support of his dead brothers, there is no question but the 101 Ranch would have weathered the world’s economic upheaval as it did the panic of 1893,” England wrote.

A rancher from Winfield, Kan., Fred C. Clarke, was appointed the general operating receiver of the 101 Ranch. His original intentions included restoring the ranch to its former glory. Instead, Clarke decided to break up the land, leasing to individual farmers and liquidate all other assets in a public auction.

Everything on the ranch including saddles, implements and livestock were set to be auctioned on March 24, 1932. The only asset not to be auctioned was the White House.

The infuriated Miller brother refused to come out of the White House and referred to the auction as “legal robbery,” according to England. The Miller brother threatened to blow up the grand White House and fired a shotgun at the attorneys who tried to console him.

Zack was arrested, posted bond and returned home, where he was treated for his nervous breakdown. He honestly believed he was a victim of a conspiracy. He refused to eat or get out of bed for weeks.

By the summer of 1932, Zack recovered from his nervous breakdown. To keep part of the 101 Ranch alive, the Miller brother met with infamous gangster, Al Capone. Capone was currently in an Atlanta, Georgia, prison, serving time for tax evasion.

The plan was for Capone and his two brothers to purchase sections of the ranch for $125,000, according to Wallis. The land would be divided into 40 and 80-acre farms, operated by Italian immigrant families. While some were enraged by the potential of Oklahoma land owned by the Chicago criminals, others believed it was just a publicity stunt. Regardless, the scheme was not successful.

The ranch remained in disarray until Clarke was found guilty of gross neglect of the 101 Ranch. Zack along with two trustees became the receiver. Zack was also placed in charge of management under the stipulation of coming up with $700,000 to pay the lease within less than two years.

Going back to what he knew, he put on various small shows and attempted to partner with various people in the next two years. It was unsuccessful.

The house was foreclosed, and an injunction was filed demanding Zack leave the premises. The injunction was granted on June 3, 1936. On July 25, 1936, everything including furniture, guns and art inside the White House was auctioned off for pennies on the dollar. After his futile attempt at an appeal, he left the beautiful 22-room White House on March 29, 1937.

After he left in 1937, Zack did not have any plans for his future. In 1951, he was diagnosed with cancer and moved in with his daughter in Valley Mills, Texas. He died on Jan. 3, 1952. He wished for his ashes to be shot from a canon at the 101 Ranch in his final will, but his family could not let that happen. His funeral was held at the 101 Ranch Store, and he was buried on Cowboy Hill on the ranch.

The locals attempted to establish the ranch as a state park with no success. The land was later sold to the Federal Farm Security Administration and divided into smaller farms. The White House that once held many parties and celebrations was leveled to the foundation in 1943.

More than 80 years after the liquidation of the 101 Ranch, there is little evidence of the 101 Ranch’s existence on the banks of the Salt Fork River. The foundation of the 101 Ranch White House remains, along with a couple silos and the captive bear Tony’s den.

Today, some historians and collectors attempt to preserve the memory of the 101 Ranch. The 101 Wild West Rodeo Foundation was formed in 1960, and they have produced an annual parade and rodeo for more than 50 years. The 101 Ranch Old Timers Association, a non-profit organization, was established in 1968.

Their mission is “to preserve the history…of the Old Timers associated with the 101 Ranch. To accumulate and preserve articles and artifacts which had to do with the history of the 101 Ranch or 101 Ranch Shows, or the era of cowboys and cowgirls of the early 1900s in Kay County Oklahoma. To maintain the 101 Ranch Old Timers Museum and to accept and preserve articles and artifacts loaned to or contributed to said Museum, and further do any and all other things useful or beneficial in connection with the foregoing purposes.”

The 101 Ranch collection and 101 Ranch Old Timers Association Museum is open to the public at the Marland’s Grand Home at 1000 East Grand in Ponca City, Okla. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.101ranchota.com.

References:

Wallis, Michael. Real Wild West.

Collings, Ellsworth, Miller England, Alma. The 101 Ranch.

This article was originally published in the July 2018 issue of Oklahoma Farm & Ranch.