History
Toby’s
great, great grandfather was a ranching pioneer.
Runamuk, formerly known as the Spidel Ranch, first
came into the family's possession in 1903 when (Grandpa)
Bill Spidel and the owner, A.B. LaMott, formed a partnership
and bought 1500 head of cattle. In 1912 LaMott died and
Bill bought out his interest. In the years that followed
Bill purchased abandoned homesteads and railroad sections.
He married (Grandma) Hazel Roberts in 1917 and in 1920 her
parents bought Mrs. LaMott's remaining interest in the ranch.
In 1920 Bill acquired the Grand Champion
Polled Hereford bull at the National Livestock Show in Des
Moines, Iowa. This was the foundation of the largest herd of Polled
Hereford cattle in the United States. Bill was fond of saying "The Devil
has horns but cattle don't need em." The 5th generation
is on the ranch raising commercial cattle and offering western
hospitality to those wishing to enjoy a unique experience.
On
Roundup, Montana...there is no other place found to have the
name “Roundup”—this was once the location where cattle
ranchers gathered their cattle collectively and worked,
branded, and shipped them to market.
We await the opportunity to share
more with you about the history of not only "Runamuk", but
the surrounding area.