Larkspur historical Society
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Jerry Reason Noe Ranch

J. R. Noe Ranch

Jerry R. Noe, brother of I. J. and William came out to Colorado, in 1881, because his brothers were already established in Douglas County. He stayed with William for a time on his homestead in Greenland. Jerry had apprenticed as a blacksmith when he was fourteen years old and this trade stayed with him his entire life, along with a love for racing horses. He was quoted in Josephine Marr’s book Douglas County a Historical Journey as saying, in regards to his trade as a blacksmith and repairing metal and alloys

“anything in the line of iron or steel.”

The next year, 1882, Jerry married Adelaine “Addie” Graves and they had four children over the next twelve years. Addie died in 1893 at the ranch and is buried in Monument. Their children were I. J. “Girth” born in 1885, Martha B. in 1886, May in 1887, and Arthur in 1889. Arthur died prematurely in 1913 when he contracted pneumonia after an operation on his appendix.

Jerry then married Mary Ellen (O’Brien) and their union brought another four children to the family:  Margaret named for Mary's mother, in 1897; Pleasant, named for Mary's father, in 1902; Walter in 1904 and Jerry, Jr. in 1906.

After renting ranches for a time, Jerry’s family lived on the William Jackman Thompson ranch purchased by I. J. Noe.  In 1897 Jerry purchased the property, which was just west of Larkspur on the Fox Farm Road. He started with 715 acres situated next to the Carr Lamb Ranch. Cattle were raised and at one time 150 head could be found on the ranch. He also grew crops of hay and alfalfa while supplementing his income as a blacksmith by shoeing horses and fixing metal items for his friends and neighbors.

In approximately 1916 Jerry began selling off pieces of his ranch. Failing health seems to be the reason for reducing his holdings. In the 1920s Jerry traveled to California and did purchase a home in 1922 in San Diego. Again, this was reported to be done for health reasons.

A flyer of the public sale of Jerry’s ranch from Wednesday, April 28, 1926, showed the sale of 48 head of cattle including milking stock, horses and four dozen chickens, mostly Rhode Island Reds. Farm machinery and tools were also sold, with over 25 farm implements included in the sale. Jerry’s blacksmith outfit was also included along with various household goods including a Majestic range, three rocking chairs and a sewing machine.

E. C. Van Diest purchased the Noe ranch as it adjoined his newly purchased property, the Diamond G. ranch.

In 1941 Jerry died in San Diego and seven years later Mary followed him.

Jerry’s ranch became, in part, the Cold Spring Ranch. The Bronston Cemetery was also a part of Jerry’s ranch, and some of the family members were buried there, having since been removed.


It's 1930 and Jerry Noe can be seen working his corn field with parts of Monkey Face and Raspberry butte in the background.


The Jerry R. Noe ranch house.

Thanks to Ancestry.com U.S. Census records, Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection, Josephine Marr’s book “Douglas County a Historical Journey” and Ida May Noe’s family history collection.

updated 10/2010