Reese River Ranches

Hess Ranch - The Hess Ranch was started by Jacob Hess sometime around 1880. In 1900 Hess lost his wife Helena and decided to sell. The ranch was sold to J.R. Wilson, and then again to Patrick Walsh, who owned the Home Ranch to the north. In 1910 a handsome 16-room brick house was built at the ranch. Sometime in the 1940s, the ranch was sold to Roy Visbeek when the Walsh family moved to Reno. Since then, the ranch has passed through other hands.

O'Toole Ranch - This ranch was originally owned by the Barretts, who ran a stage station there in the 1870s and 80s. Sometime prior to 1904, it was acquired by Joseph Walsh, who had a brick home built by John Wholey for his new bride, Kate. In 1924 or 25, Joe accidentally shot himself in the corral, and the ranch was purchased by Bartley O'Toole. The O'Toole family owned the ranch until the mid-to-late 2000s.

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