Marie Bell

Marie Jordan Bell was born in Laramie County to Iron Mountain rancher John L. Jordan and Jeannette Liggit Jordan. All Marie ever wanted to do was work outside with horses and cattle. She got her first horse at age four; broke her first horse at nine; worked extensively with her father throughout her childhood, teens, and early 20s; and helped the Swan Land and Cattle Company on their last roundup when she was in her late teens or early 20s. The spurs that the Swan gave her in appreciation are now in the collection of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. After she married John Bell, she and John leased the Polo ranch outside of Cheyenne and ran the Bell Packing plant in Cheyenne. John and Marie were able to buy the Iron Mountain Ranch in 1938. Because John continued to travel extensively with other business interests, the continuity of the ranch work fell to Marie, who saddled up every day and rode. She also managed the men who worked with her. In 1942, they bought the Polo Ranch.