P a g e 2 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz These men, T. J. Farrell and O. B. Varney, after they had become partners and at the height of their prosperity had more than 6,000 horses on the range bearing the VF brand. Their mark was known all over southwestern Montana and in every big eastern horse market. Cow horses bearing the VF brand could be found upon almost every range in the west. Varney, a relative of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," was from Massachusetts. Farrell, a native of Ireland, was three years old when his parents immigrated to America, and grew to manhood in Illinois. He was a boyhood chum of the late Gen. Charles S. Warren, noted Butte character of early days, and police judge in that city for many years. Farrell, tired of farm life, ran away from home and went to St. Louis, spending several years working at the horse market there. He learned the horse business so thoroughly that he was considered one of the shrewdest judges of horse flesh ever to come to this state. When the Alder Gulch gold discoveries started prospectors trekking into the state, Varney and Farrell joined the throng. Varney freighted into Virginia City from Denver, and Farrell from Salt Lake City. Farrell arrived first. He it was who engaged in the livery business, having as an adjunct to it a horse auction sale. Varney started the horse herd. He had a camp at a spring eight miles from Virginia City, a spring which bore his name for many years afterwards. His herd headquarters were at the spring and in the vicinity he ranged the animals given into his care, delivering them to the camp whenever they were wanted. The two men became acquainted and after a time formed a partnership which lasted all during the Alder Gulch gold excitement. When the rich and shallow placer diggings were worked out, the prospectors left. There were no more horses to keep up the herd, and the livery business petered out. Then the partnership was dissolved and Farrell and Varney each entered the horse business independently. Farrell had a camp in the foothills on the west side of the Madison valley Eight Mile house. Varney established his headquarters at “Scandavine,” on the edge of a big stretch of bottom land along the east side of the river. Each of them had a hay ranch in the lower part of the valley. Farrell had 30 mares which he had picked up in trading and trafficking around, none of them thoroughPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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