David Shirk Cattle Baron of Catlow Valley
By Steve Lent, Crook County Historian
David L. Shirk was born in 1844 in Parke County, Indiana, the eldest of nine siblings. At 22, he set out westward, embarking on a journey that would define his adventurous life. Spending years as a cowboy driving cattle from Texas to southern Idaho, Shirk's frontier spirit was matched only by his younger brother William, who joined him in 1874 as they made their way to Oregon.
In what is now Harney County, Oregon, the Shirk brothers staked their claim in the rugged Catlow Valley, where they eventually amassed 50,000 acres, controlling vital water resources. Their presence, however, brought them into conflict with Peter French, the formidable owner of the sprawling P Ranch, leading to skirmishes over land and water rights. In a notorious incident in 1889, tensions boiled over when David Shirk fatally shot one of French's employees during a dispute, a charge he later faced in court and was acquitted of.
The Catlow Valley was not only a battleground for ranching disputes but also witnessed the tumultuous Bannock War of 1878, where both Shirk brothers defended their homestead against Native American attacks. William Shirk himself narrowly escaped an ambush that claimed the lives of two teamsters, evading pursuit for miles across the unforgiving terrain.
Expanding their enterprise, the brothers acquired additional land in Guano Valley, where they diversified into horse breeding alongside their thriving cattle operations. Their ranches not only prospered but also became social hubs within the local ranching community. Such was their influence that a post office was established at their Catlow Valley ranch in 1890, later relocating to Guano Lake in 1903 and operating until 1905.
In his personal life, David married Frances Crow, a native of Kelseyville, California, and together they raised four children. As their success grew, so did their holdings, with the Guano Valley ranch expanding to 1,080 acres. In 1914, David Shirk decided to sell his extensive ranching interests to pursue new ventures, eventually settling in Berkeley, California.
David Shirk passed away on July 2, 1928, leaving behind a legacy of pioneering spirit and resilience. Frances lived on for several more years, passing away in 1943. They rest together at the Golden Gate Mausoleum in Kensington, California, a testament to their enduring bond and the adventurous spirit that defined their lives in the American West.