Historic Ranch Sells
As reported in the June 19, 2010 edition of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, the Mercer 3O3 Ranch has been sold to a member of the Mercer family. The Mercer family legacy continues!
On June 1, 2010, John F. Mercer sold his 303 Ranch, located near Hyattville, Wyoming to the neighboring Paintrock Angus Ranch, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mercer and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Mercer.
John Mercer, along with his son Justin and daughter-in-law, Jenni, owned and operated the 303 Ranch since the early 1970’s. John, who had dedicated his entire life to this very successful ranching operation, decided to retire and sell the ranch. He now hangs his hat in Glenrock while Justin and Jenni will move their family to another location and continue in the ranching business.
Paintrock Angus Ranch is a commercial purebred Black and Red Angus operation that, over the years, has become a leader in the Angus Seedstock industry. Acquisition of the 303 Ranch will not only expand their carrying capacity by 500 animal units but will also provide an additional large irrigated hay base, additional spring pastures and high mountain summer pastures in the Big Horn Mountains, as well as additional winter range.
The founding of the Mercer family ranch began in May 1895 when Asa Mercer visited the Hyattville area and met Sam Hyatt, who told him of all the bench land available for farming west of Hyattville. Inspired by the possibilities offered in this beautiful setting at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains, Asa, along with his wife, three sons (Ralph, Asa Jr. and Bowman), and two daughters (Janet and Anita) moved to the Paintrock Valley in May of 1895.
The two older boys, Ralph and Asa, immediately commenced setting up camp next to a ridge on what is now Tom Mercer’s property north of Highway 31. Ralph had spent some time working for cattle outfits around Cheyenne and the lure to cowboy life was swift and complete. Janet soon married Louis Webb of Buffalo. During the first few years of establishing themselves in the Paintrock Valley, Asa’s wife Annie would often stay at the Hat Ranch with her daughter.
The boys wanted to farm and, therefore, needed water. A good headwater was located at Medicine Lodge Creek, just as it turns south under what is now Cold Springs Road. They dug the “Anita Ditch” by hand and horsepower and it took them several years to complete this project.
Ralph soon took out a homestead patent on May 19, 1903 for what is now the headquarters and homes of John Mercer and his son, Justin and what is known as the Mercer 303 Ranch that sold in 2010. He took out other patents just east of Alkali Creek along what is now Highway 31 at the present headquarters and homes of Tom and Mary Mercer and Martin and Kelli Mercer. Ralph lived at this location in a small log house. Asa Jr. built a large two-story hewn log house sided and painted white. Asa Sr. also lived there with his son after his wife’s death in 1900.
John D. Pearson and Jerry Kaufmann of Pearson Real Estate Co., Inc., a ranch brokerage firm located in Buffalo, Wyoming were hired by John F. Mercer, Inc. to sell the 303 Ranch.
